Chapter 131

I landed at the Bud, waved at Bud during the turn-around, taxied to the hangar and shut down. The yoga/dance/woodshop was in session. First person I saw that I knew was Alice Lovissa Olsen.

She immediately accosted me.

“Where have you been, Missy!” Accusative tone, ‘mom’ look.

“Cozumel, Mexico. Why?” What did I do?

“I had to stay home,” the wave of her hand included the neighborhood.

“I thought you were going home ... home.”

“Daddy had David launch the boat. At the moment, I have no idea where home is ... probably Florida or the Bahamas. In case you haven’t notice ... it’s spring.”

“Alice, it’s 64 degrees ... I’m freezing.”

“64 ... and we’re going on a picnic. Cold pizza, cold KFC, beer and soda.”

“Picnic? Alice ... it’s 64 out.”

“Yup ... no ants.”

“There is that,” I said, “But ... I’ve just come from the eighties... 10 days,”

Alice said, “eleven.”

“Eleven ... and 64 is damn cold.”

“That’s the diference ... compared to 11 days of 80’s,” Alice said, “We’ve just had 10 days of 30 or colder... 64 is damn warm.”

Adam and I cuddled in the 106F hot tub until we crinkled and wrinkled ... sure ... it wasn’t freezing freezing but it was damn-all cold ... and a Texas breeze kicked in... 10 mph ... gusts to 30.

Down here along the river it can get pretty damn windy ... and it did.

We were ready to collect the torpedo heater ... metal walls in the house ... when the ‘kids’ came in from the picnic. Drat! The Kerosun stack would have to do.

Okay, Okay, Okay ... Allright already ... it’s not a Japanese Kerosun heater. It’s a Protemp Kerosene/Diesel Radiant Heater. It’s made in China ... Kerosun heaters aren’t available in the Princessapality ... parts? yes ... heaters? no. I need to talk to Junior about that.

“What?” she said.

“DON’T DO THAT!” I said ... as I pried myself off the ceiling.

“Do what?”

“Just pop in because I thought about you.”

“Okay,” she said.

Gone.

“Damn it all, Junior.”

She came back.

“What?”

“Kerosene space heaters.”

“Great idea.”

Gone again.

Two seconds and she was back ... with an Ontario made prototype.

“Try it ... write a review ... I’ll be back.”

When Junior leaves she leaves a hole ... the air rushes to fill the hole. It’s not lightning thunder ... it’s just a little ‘pop’ ... but it does make a noise ... and Alice ... you remember Alice ... said, “Junior?”

“Yup,” I said.

“New heater?”

“Prototype.”

“Can I use it ... my house is freezing.”