Genevieve and the Two Scotties by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Chapter 2

Once again, Genevieve’s eyes were brought out of their closure by the morning’s first sun. She had slept on the couch rather than her wicker bed the prior night, and maybe due to the atypical circumstances, for the first time she had the dream about boxes, Pandoras, pooches, demons, El Dorados, Kimraborts, unclear lines, Icarus’ and Phaethons as a rewarding result for seemingly minimal innovation.

Lazily, she laid there a while and comfortably thought that she’d think about her dream before the day’s routines again caused her to forget it on this pleasant fall morning. No need to rush. No particular thoughts came. Her dream was either just too obvious to further explain or it made no sense whatsoever.

She recalled the first time she had seen a David Lynch movie.

She safely hoped that there would soon be a re-run. Now, knowing the main story; the next time she could concentrate on what was going on in the backgrounds.

Genevieve had once again become; as was often the case; comfortably complacent as soon as the community food bank

“theft” had been solved and resolved satisfactorily. Clement had taken the food in order to feed the distressed and homeless cat family; while leaving some in case of dog emergencies. As prior to the disturbance and now even more so from recent exertions;

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both physical and mental; after the main event Genevieve had drowsed and drowsed to the point of a most comfortable personal sense of desirable tranquility. All was again right with her world.

Genevieve drowsing; property of the author.

Genevieve stretched out a bit. The movement was probably involuntary and served to remove the muscular kinks which had set in overnight; something like the preparation which one does when one is about to commence some athletic activity; like walking. After that, even her naggy little hind leg; the one which had the knack for finding the rabbit hole; was grudgingly ready to go. But go where? For what? Why bother? Genevieve’s brief return to a luxurious tranquility was quite personally satisfying; yet she now also found something vaguely unsettling about the prospect of lying in bed all day with no particular

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mission. This silly and peculiar mindset was probably the result of her having been clandestinely, accidentally, and unknowingly socialized and programmed into seeking yet another accident; as was enumerated by B.F. Skinner before she was born; only to be updated by the Beatles; “Oh that magic feeling; nowhere to go.”

But, right now it seemed as if B.F. was winning the debate, at least in Genevieve’s momentary, pre-coffee state; which did not bode well for any post-coffee considerations of peace and quiet.

When some seemingly acquired compulsion fully took over, Genevieve got up in that state of quiet serenity, quickly dousing and hampering it with persistent trivialities, that same waning serenity being that which curs often nonsensically or for intended gain purposely mistake for undesirable abject boredom.

Genevieve, again in that conveniently induced state ignored her vows and turned on her laptop.

Her e-mail of yesterday had given rise to a reply she found disconcerting. Her original had read:

To: The Rapidtown Police Department

From: Genevieve

Subject: Thanks

Thank you so much. My name is Genevieve; and I have lived here in Poochville for all of my tranquil years. Recently, we had an

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incident of missing food on my block, Pacific Lane. Naturally, I was shocked and bewildered by the event; as nothing of the sort had ever previously occurred in Poochville.

A couple of great, great Officers from Rapidtown came here to investigate; Billy and Jack. In the course of their investigation, a few times they came to my residence. I have to apologize for my impolite behavior on some of those days. The best excuse I can come up with is that at the time I was totally unfamiliar with police procedure and thought that they were treating the victims as the criminals. In retrospect I now understand how they had correctly focussed on this area; as the most likely and subsequently realized suspicion was that this was some sort of “inside job,” to use the lingo.

The Officers said that they were unable to do anything at present, most often just seeking further information, but the incident was resolved for the good of everyone. And though they took no credit, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if they had something to do with that. I’ll be forever grateful in either case.

We live in a well-armed and dangerous world where second guessed, split second decisions have to be made by our

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protectors. Too many of us forget that. If not for our heroes bravery we’d be quickly overtaken by thugs.

So, the least I can do is to thank you all for enabling Poochville to continue to be the safe place that it is. And I’d especially like to thank Billy and Jack for their abilities and patience.

We don’t need any walls or travel bans here as long as we have the services of Rapidtown Officers like them.

Thanks, big guys. From now on, I’ll be rooting for the Rapidtown Raiders.

Damn. Gotta go. Who the hey is knocking on my door this time of the morning? ............ Er; I mean ‘Excuse me. I have guests.’

Ah, I’m not quite myself before coffee.

Genevieve

However, she had received a reply which tersely stated how she had been under some sort of illusion. It seemed business-like and more directly to the point as it said;

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To: Genevieve

From: Rapidtown Police Department

Subject: Thanks

We appreciate your e-mailed accolade. However, we are puzzled as to the reason. Our Police department is strained to cover Rapidtown, and has no involvement with or mandated duty to cover crime free Poochville.

Further, we do not have any officers named Billy or Jack on our force.

In any case, we regret any misunderstandings, and at the same time sincerely congratulate you and your neighbors on the satisfactory resolution of your concerns.

With kindest regards;

Rapidtown Police Department

Genevieve was shocked. Having become recently aware of false information emanating from the net, she tried again. After checking a few things, she again sent out the same e-mail. In less than a minute she received the same reply for the second time.

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Genevieve at her computer; the kind courtesy of StockFreeImages.com.

In a sense, Genevieve was now all dressed up with no idea where to go; at least cerebrally. Just after a day of thinking that everything was settled, another loose end had popped up.

Very fortunately, this time it wasn’t a matter of primary concern, like the suspected theft. This was more of a mere curiosity coupled with a wish to thank the “protectors” who had apparently come to do their often chastised best, just to disappear when things were resolved. Who were these two black Scottish terriers? And why did they come to Pacific Lane just when they were needed? And where did they go? Genevieve had her

“reason” for stimulation.

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Billy and Jack; the kind courtesy of Pexels.com under their CC0 license.

Genevieve was certain that this was not a matter for practical conjecture; surely as much as any notion she could imagine of “practical conjecture” seemed to contradict itself.

Billy and Jack had come and gone; after having efficiently been there when the problem was ripe; and leaving when it was satisfactorily resolved. That’s all there was to it; and it was enough to restore Pacific Lane; indeed all of Poochville; to a harmonious existence.

However, Genevieve could only have a chance of relieving her curious mental dilemma through finding out who Billy and Jack were and are; at the same time maybe helping herself make some sense of recent Poochville doings.

Genevieve had always had some degree of contact with all the residents of Pacific Lane. It was friendly, but not anything one could call intimate. Recent events had pushed her close to

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Clement. But this was a matter of just a few days, and she suspected that he now had his paws full with kittens. Being an old friend she was certain that if she asked he would go; while he really would rather be home to take care of his new children.

Genevieve didn’t want to put Clement or herself in that position.

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