Chapter 5: "Young Love, First Love, Filled With True Devotion"

School was over and the summer was here. Lesley celebrated by getting a family portrait taken of herself with the two boys. She felt like it was the end of an era and she wanted to mark it with a keepsake memory.

They took a picnic one day to the Appaloosa Fair and there Lesley casually mentioned the new neighbours to Luke Hans.
"Apparently they're called Fisher," she said to a sweaty and hungry Luke Hans. "They've moved here from the west coast. Not sure what he does, but she's an artist of some kind. There are two girls who look about your age Luke. The older one is called Marjorie, the other is Cleo. You should go over and welcome them to the neighbourhood. I don't think they go to your school though, they probably go to that private place, Dribbledine."
Luke zoned out as his Mum rambled on about the Fishers.

 But a few weeks later while they were throwing a ball in the front yard, Luke smirked at Jethro and said "How much will you dare me to go over to the Fishers house and see if I can spy on one of those mystery girls?"

 "I'll give you five bucks if you can spot one without getting caught." laughed Jethro. Neither he nor Luke had gotten an eyeball on either Marjorie or Cleo who were rapidly becoming myths in his opinion.

 Luke dropped the ball straightaway and in his best stealth mode crept up the driveway of the old Darnell mansion keeping his eyes peeled for anyone coming out of the front door.

 He decided to go around back and see if he could peek into any of the windows. there were plenty of bushes around there for cover, but he felt like a bit of a perv if he had to be honest.

All the windows were too high for him to see in and something was rustling behind him in the undergrowth. He was getting a little freaked out. But the sweet thought of taking $5 off Jethro drove him on.

He snuck onto the front porch where he could get a look in through the big french style windows on either side of the entry. And sure enough there was a large built man, probably Mr Fisher talking with a dark haired girl. The girl was so beautiful, Luke Hans made a loud gulping sound that attracted the attention of Mr Fisher within, who turned to look at what had made the sound.

 Just in time, Luke Hans dived over the ballustrade into the bushes below and held his breath as Durham Fisher looked around the porch area curiously.

 ___ ~___

 One evening in late Autumn Luke went to the movies to see "Sim Wars: Unpixelated". He exited the theatre behind the dark haired girl he'd seen in the house next door. He felt a surge of bravado and decided to follow her as she passed Maloney's the Irish bar, which old Esme Curley had just been thrown out of, even though she was wearing pants tonight. Luke skirted Esme quickly just as the girl turned around.

They came face to face so suddenly Luke almost crashed into her.
"Ugh, sorry!" he spluttered. His eyes wide with shock. Up close this girl was even more amazing.
 There was an uncomfortable silence. "She probably thinks I'm stalking her...." thought Luke, floundering for something cool but sensible to say. "Wait a minute - I am!" He chastised himself silently for acting like a freak.

 "Were you following me?" the girl eventually asked, staring coolly into his eyes, unblinking. After they'd stood for a minute and when it became obvious that Luke had lost the use of his vocal chords, she said "Who the hell are you?"

Finally the busted gears in Luke's brain began to grind again and he explained "Sorry, ummm I'm Luke Hans Diarmid. I wasn't following you ....well I was actually, but not in that way....I mean I recognised you, so I thought I would....ugh," he gulped a dry swallow, this was sounding worse than creepy, "I mean...I just wanted to introduce myself because I'm...." He made house shapes with his hands and side by side motions with his arms. ".....your neighbour!" That sounded better. "Not a stalker or a pervert. I don't follow girls around in the dark at all usually...."  he laughed.

Stop talking Luke, he yelled at himself silently. He was blowing this big time. He could tell by the look on her face.

"I live next door to you. I'm Luke." he stated again finally for good measure.
 "Oh. Right. Luke." The girl eyed him up and down.
After a brief pause she said "I'm Marjorie Fisher. Nice to meet you."
Relief flooded through Luke's body. She wasn't going to blow a whistle or spray mace at him or knee him in the groin!

Feeling he had nothing left to lose, Luke Hans went in for the kill. "Would you like to have a coffee sometime? With me, of course. I meant a coffee with me...together?"

He held his breath.

"Sure." Marjorie said. As bells rang in his head, trumpets blew a fanfare, lions roared and bombs went off in a blaze of fireworks somewhere behind his eyes, Marjorie shrugged and said simply "Come over on Friday afternoon?"

Luke thought they were the most beautiful words anyone had ever said to him.

When Friday came, there was a sudden cold snap and a light dump of snow. Luke donned his coat and headed over to the Fisher house. He felt reasonably calm, it was just a friendly cup of coffee, until Mrs Fisher opened the door.

 Tessa Fisher was the most intimidating woman Luke Hans had ever met. She oozed a confident, superior air, that matched the huge mansion whose threshold she stood guarding. When Luke introduced himself and asked if Marjorie was home, Tessa eyed him coldly and never cracked a smile. Luke felt very small and somewhat inadequate.

"Yes, Marjorie is expecting you. Do come in." Tessa intoned without a hint of welcome.

 She showed Luke into the front sitting room. It was lavishly decorated with antique furniture, gold brocade drapes, dark wood panelling. Luke stared at an ancient looking marble statue on a plinth. His heart started beating fast and erratically. He knew they were wealthy, because this was a big house, but he had not visualised that wealth. They were RICH. Panic rose within his chest, as he realised he was not in anyway up to their standards. He was just Luke, who lived next door in a ramshackle, unimpressive cottage.

He was just contemplating making a run for it, when he heard a noise behind him.

He turned to find the most delightful sight he could have wished for - Marjorie Fisher was standing watching him. She greeted him calmly in low husky tones "Hello, Luke. It's good to see you again. How are you?"

Luke didn't know how he was exactly. Panicky, overwhelmed, scared, wonderstruck, impressed? He rushed over to Marjorie and began complementing everything in sight.

"This place is amazing!" he raved. "I've never seen so much wood, it's on all the walls...."
"It's mahogany." Marjorie offered helpfully.
 "...and gold and statues and furniture and all this old looking stuff....I had no idea..." Luke was lost for words. Marjorie just smiled.

"It's just stuff." she said, nonchalantly. "My Mum is a collector, she likes to buy art and beautiful objects from all over the world. The house is crammed with it all."

Luke was mesmerised by the dark pools of Marjorie's eyes, she was standing so close to him  and he felt so happy that without thinking or hesitating Luke said "But you're the most beautiful thing in this house."

What was he doing!? He wanted to kick himself, but he was apparently hypnotised.

He thought he'd blown it but he noticed Marjorie's expression softened. A smile played softly around her eyes and she moved slightly closer to him. Her skin seemed to have an unearthly glow. She seemed like an exotic creation from another world.

"I think you and I are going to be very good friends, Luke Hans." said Marjorie, without the slightest hint of sarcasm. "I'm really looking forward to getting to know you." Luke was not breathing again. Everything she said seemed loaded with possibilities. He felt beads of sweat break out on his forehead and neck and begin to dampen the collar of his shirt. Was this actually happening to him? Stay cool! He yelled at himself.

Marjorie showed Luke around the house and they chatted and laughed and Luke felt more relaxed, but still awestruck. When they came back into the sitting room her sister Cleo was standing there. Marjorie introduced him, but Cleo gave him only a cursory glance and then acted as though he wasn't even there. But Marjorie seemed more and more charming and attentive. Luke thought this was all going extremely well.

Then all hell broke loose.

 

Marjorie's mother stormed into the room. Luke thought she may have been listening in to their conversation from another room. She was angry and she launched in on Marjorie with no reservation.

"Just what do you think you're playing at young lady?" her voice was harsh and bitter. "You think you can drag the dregs of the town over here and boyfriend them, do you? You will behave with a little more...no! A lot more decorum. Have some self respect and stop shaming me! We moved here for a fresh start, a better quality of society and I WILL NOT HAVE YOU FLAUNTING MY STANDARDS." She gestured in Luke's direction with a sneer.

Luke was so shocked he automatically jumped backwards and shielded himself with one of the carved marble pillars nearby. He felt scared of Mrs Fisher and embarrassed for himself. But also protective of Marjorie. As Tessa's tirade of abuse went on, Marjorie stood her ground impassively and did not react at all to the outburst. This impressed Luke and so he stepped forward to support Marjorie.

"Ummm Marjorie, I guess I'll just go...." he said quietly, as Tessa stalked away with her nose in the air.

But Marjorie turned and took hold of Luke's hands.

"No." she said forcefully. "No one talks about my boyfriend like that and gets away with it. Please, I apologise for my mother's....opinions. She is very rude. She had no right to say those things in front of you....my guest."

Marjorie looked into Luke's eyes for a long time and he knew she would change his life, and he would do anything to make her happy.