Chapter 6

When Surprise showed up, Tyche was ... uhm ... flabergasted.

Tyche and Alice were at the River School just off Lorado Drive ‘being seen’ when Two, of the fabulous red head and magical boobs, and Auntie Surprise walked over from the Spad Hangar and had stolen the two men the youngsters were interested in. Men is a misnomer ... Alice likes men from 22 or so, Tyche wasn’t certain and didn’t know. What she did know was Surprise was a lot like Sultry Wench.

Then Surprise ‘borrowed’ Tyche’s 544 Volvo and wouldn’t give it back.

Ah! Even worse ... the house Surprise was ‘renting’ during her Temp position ... was HUGE ... and on the river ... on both sides of the river. That wasn’t necessarily so. The house was river view ... the house land was 2 acres on the city side of the river and 107 acres on the east side. Ms Walters had neglected to mention that the main airport runway was not exactly aimed at the mansion ... but it wasn’t missing by much.

AND ... AND ... AND ... next door was a trailer park! That wasn’t mentioned either. The whole of the original Spanish Land Grant was subdivisions, trailer parks and the ‘experimental’ Austin Water Center for Environmental Research ... and only the gods knew what shenanigans They were up to. At least they weren’t blowing things up.

Surprised, Surprise took a long hard look at the house ... decided it would make a great place for her International executives...”Maybe they’ll quit” she told Junior ... and bought it.

Junior suggested furnishing the home ‘in the grand style.’

‘Antiques,’ said Surprise.

“At least old stuff,” said Junior.

They both laughed.

Local antique dealers thought they had a ‘fish’ when she and Junior walked into the ‘furniture district. But ... not only did she know the local market value ... her compadre knew the price of the market in Europe, Quebec, Hong Kong and Australia. They BOTH knew fakes when they saw them ... no help there.

“This much, delivered, and not a penny more.”

When the dealers were recalcitrant, Surprise arrived at the Auctions and Estate sales. She out bid the bargain hunters. She was willing to go a dollar higher ... every time ... and she knew when to quit. Dealers found themselves bidding over profit.

After the sale closed, Surprise appeared just as a dealer had made a deal to NOT buy something they had jacked the price on ... and MADE them buy it. She brought her own ‘heavies’ and would not be coerced.

“You either sell it at bid price or sell it to me at my final offer ... your choice.” She furnished her new home with bargains.

Junior had the advantage at garage, yard and church bazaars ... she didn’t have to drive. And she seemed to know when, exactly, a dealer had wheedled bottom dollar and paid a buck more.

After the house was as she liked it ... she set about obtaining keepers.

She hired a bunch of hispanic kids, they papered the trailer park with ‘house and yard help wanted’ fliers.

Hired isn’t exactly correct. Her ‘water views’ included a private beach, the beach was over run with mostly Mexican teens ... where the girls are, the boys are sure to follow.

The first day, Surprise watched ... from ‘cover.’ Day two was when she showed up with the Sheriff. The Sheriff brought the truant officer. Very sneaky, Surprise.

She let the axe fall where it may ... day three ... at 2 o’clock ... she was springing the real surprise on her part time daughter.

When she walked into the lecture room, both Tyche and Surprise said, with totally different manners of inflection, “Surprise!” One exclamation and one question. “Surprise?”

Class over, she ‘clatched’ with the department, and arranged a house party on Friday. She wanted Saturday, but nobody ... and I do mean nobody ... fucked with Texas Football.

The arrival Friday at Seven was anticlimactic ... the house was perfect ... the staff were trained ... and the guest of honor was the Princess. Tyche was Not invited.

“I’m pissed, mom.”