October surprise on Halloween?
This surprise in the theme of this chapter of Book 4, Rainmaker, in The Commander and the Chief series.
Halloween.
This
year, the Duke and Duchess of Yorkchestershire were throwing a costume party at
Barrett Manor. And Nova and Reggie arrived a few days early to help with the
decorating. A pleasant break in the English countryside from the hubbub of
London.
Nova
wore baggy sweatpants and a loose T-shirt as she helped alongside the servants.
All under her mother-in-law’s supervision.
But
Nova needed more rest than usual. She didn’t want to admit anything was wrong.
Though memories of her dad haunted her. Especially during his last year on
earth, before he had succumbed to cancer.
Dad
had needed a lot of breaks. Tired easily. And Nova tried to put Dad out of her
mind as she joined her mother-in-law for tea.
Regina
looked over Nova. “Is everything all right, dear?”
“I’m
fine,” Nova lied. Then changed the subject. “But, hey. It’s the end of October
already. And this time in America, we brace ourselves for the October
Surprise.”
Regina
set down her cup. “What surprise is that?”
“When
a scandal is leaked in the media,” Nova said. “Especially during an election
year. With little time for the political target to recover from the allegations.”
“Oh,
that.” Regina waved a hand. “Politics as usual. Like over here, they’re all
crooks.”
Nova
sighed. “I need to take something for my stomach.”
Regina
returned a skeptical look as Nova dismissed herself. The Duchess had her ideas as
to what was going on with her daughter-in-law. But kept her thoughts to
herself.
* * *
Anton
Orlovic had been at Barrett Manor for the last month, after he got back from
the States. He was the nephew most like Nova’s dad. He could fix most anything.
The Barrett Great House was in fine shape. But maintenance was ongoing. And
Anton had critical skills. He knew what he was doing and cared to do a good
job.
Before
long, the outside was encompassed by lit jack o’ lanterns. Trees strung with
cobwebs and bats and orange and white lights. Inside, the trappings of a
haunted mansion.
After
sunset, it was party time.
Alfie
Dawkins greeted the precession of guests. Dressed in a black mask like a
highwayman from the Regency Period.
Jane
Meyer saw to the refreshments. She wore an owl mask. Her favorite bird. And she
perfected her hoot so the guests knew she was coming. And gave a hoot.
Sir
Robert Barrett, the host, dressed as Henry VIII. Pumpkin pants. Royal robes.
Tudor flat cap. His hair and beard tinted red.
Dame
Regina, in red hair and wide dress, made a convincing Queen Elizabeth I. She
said, “Off with your heads!” like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland.
Reggie
morphed into a convincing Nikola Tesla. Dark hair with the part in the middle
and fake mustache. Dressed in a dark jacket, white shirt, waist coat. Holding a
model of a sparking Tesla coil. And he had perfected that wild mad scientist
look.
https://youtu.be/iEJNJ0rFSe8?si=0TeSZNiIHuwCME6Y
Nova
made her entrance downstairs as Wonder Woman. Her favorite female superhero. Twirling
her golden lasso of truth. But she had to alter her costume. And discreetly,
Jane had helped take out parts of the suit so it would fit.
https://youtu.be/imc_qG8Re2Q?si=KfYFJTewzDixBhWK
Anton
dressed as a cowboy and brought his rope. And Anton and Nova demonstrated their
lassoing skills. Nova caught Reggie a few times.
“You’ve
branded me already, darling.” He showed her his wedding ring. “Now, let me go,”
“But
I don’t want to let you go.” She drew him to her and they kissed.
Halloween
was also Reformation Day. It was Halloween night of 1517 that Martin
Luther had nailed his Ninety-five
Theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
https://youtu.be/ijjbtcAEOnY?si=5EjYCXNaJpG9sdvn
And
Lord Fredrick Wise reminded everyone that it was the German Prince, Frederick
the Wise, who had protected Martin Luther and made the whole Reformation thing
possible.
Wise
was tempted to come as Frederick the Wise. But it was like coming as himself. So
he came as Martin Luther. Dark cap and robe. Holding a copy of the Ninety-five Theses.
And
his wife Sharon dressed as Martin Luther’s wife and former nun, Katharina von
Bora. Ivory wimple, black dress, white apron.
Jasmyn
took little Elijah Rainmaker Barrett down from the nursery a few times. The
baby wore a beaded head band with a small eagle feather and colorful streaks of
war paint on his cheeks.
Elijah
was quite the scene stealer. The Duke’s second grandson. The last of the
Rainmaker line.
One
of the guests looked over Jasmyn’s torn jeans, tie dyed T-shirt, tattoos, spiked
hair streaked with purple, orange, and pink.
“I
love your costume, Nanny,” she said.
“What
costume, ma’am?” Jasmyn answered with wide eyes.
Eventually,
the guests settled for a big screen showing of the old cult classic, The
Rocky Horror Picture Show. Center stage was that sweet transvestite. Dr.
Frank-N-Furter. From Transsexual, Transylvania.
Many
at the party knew all the movie lines and sang along, like:
Let’s
do the time warp again.
https://youtu.be/umj0gu5nEGs?si=nUdeKQIdkq_P-cE-
The
scene came when Dr. Frank-N-Furter, off stage, hacked Dr. Scott’s nephew Eddie to
death with an ice pick. When Frank-N-Furter came out of the freezer with blood
on his gloves, Nova threw up.
https://youtu.be/pMRl55U0eDw?si=BPgG7Ou7Y0dqxzlN
That
stopped the show.
At
least paused it and sent the servants scrambling for cleanup. After which, the
show would go on, so they could party into All Saints Day.
* * *
Reggie
instructed Jane to make a special purchase at an all-night chemist. And Jane
did not seem surprised by this request.
Then
he escorted Nova upstairs and helped her undo her costume. Unzipping the back. Tugging
off the suit.
“I
see you’ve been putting on a little weight, darling.”
Nova
spun around with a look of murder in her eyes. Like if she had an ax, she’d
give Reggie forty whacks.
Reggie
snapped open his eyes. Backed away. Raising his arms in self-defense. Then Nova
sunk into the bed and broke out into heaving sobs.
“Oh,
God.” Reggie waited for Nova to calm down some.
He
shook out his handkerchief and dried her tears. Slipped a robe over her. Then
he took off his jacket and fake mustache and got comfortable for a long night.
Reggie
rubbed Nova’s back. “What’s troubling you, darling?”
“I
miss my dad.” She blew her nose.
“What
brought this on?’
“Halloween.
The pumpkins. My dad grew the biggest pumpkins. He used to take Nick and me
down to the river and suck up water into his sewer truck. Then irrigate his
gardens with it.”
Reggie
widened his eyes. “I can imagine what came out of that thing.”
Nova
wiped her tears. “We always got the biggest corn and the biggest pumpkins. And
Dad was the one that carved the jack o’ lanterns.”
Eventually,
there was a knock.
“Enter,”
Reggie said.
“Is
everything all right, Commander?” Jane asked.
“We
shall see.” Reggie received the goods. “Thank you, Jane. I’ll call if we need
anything else.”
Jane
responded with hoots.
Reggie
coaxed Nova into the loo to pee on a stick.
He
looked at the results on the indicator and arched a dark eyebrow. “No more
strong drinks for you, darling.”
“Now
it makes sense what Kaya told me.” Nova let out a breath. “Elijah’s not the
last of the Rainmakers, is he?”
Reggie
chuckled. “Surprise.”
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Happy Halloween
Happy Reformation Day
Be safe.
Your readership is appreciated.
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Photo: Halloween/Kobe/wikipedia
