Читать книгу The Rassi - Sherman E Hister - Страница 5

They wake on the beach to the waves rolling in then out before the fire is relit for breakfast. Gudanga shows Fin his way of fishing the surf for a morning morsel. After catching enough for breakfast Finto and Gudanga pass the remaining bottle of the sweet island nectar back and forth while the fish cook over fire. As happy as can be, they eat the cooked fish chuckling with one another. They kick the fire out with sand, and throw the uneaten fish parts back into the sea. It was time they made their way to the small landing strip on the island so Fin could board the plane to go back home. “I’ll always treasure this, our memory of finding an iridescent pearl,” Finto says this to Gudanga with a big smile before boarding the running plane. In the middle of shaking hands Gudanga also smiling puts a hand to Finto’s shoulder and says, “Always, it will be our iridescent memory.”

As Finto lifts off the dirt runway airing above the island’s tropical tree-covered landscape he pulls a wadded up cloth from his pocket. He peels back its layers and exposes the end of his treasure hunt. As the plane turns a beam of the sun’s light shines through the cockpit making the pearl luster like it had before, this time out of the water. Fin catches the gleam in his eye then quickly rewraps the cloth, and shoves it back into his pocket.

As soon as Finto made it back to his home land he headed for a jewelry shop. For years it seems Fin has passed this shop always knowing it was where he wanted to buy Jules a ring. On entering the shop for the first time, Finto meets the owner, an older gentleman.

“How can I help you?” the owner asks.

“Well,” the Rassi explains, “I need to make a ring out of this.” Pulling the wad of cloth from his pocket, Finto hands the gentleman the precious bundled-up cargo.

The store owner opens the cloth saying with surprise, “Amazing.”

The reason for the pearl, Finto goes into detail about the process it took to retrieve the sea gem, but more importantly he explains why and for whom. “She has always wanted a pearl from the sea.”

The gentleman is intrigued by Finto’s tale feeling a relative closeness to him like he has known Fin for years. “How will we get the ring size without her knowing?” the owner asks.

Fin looks through a hole he created with his index finger rolled up against his thumb saying, “It’s this size.”

They both share a small chuckle and the owner who goes by the name Charles A. Haskins gets out his measuring tape. By the end of their first acquaintance they had already collaborated on a one of a kind.

Because of the pearl’s distinct luster and the length he went to get it, Fin wanted the ring to be an original. Fin decides on a rare silver band with cut to fit diamonds surrounding the—mother of pearl. They agree that the pearl should be sunk down into the band so the diamonds are positioned around the middle of the sphere-shaped gem. Charles and Fin shake on a job well done before the Rassi leaves so Mr. Haskins can get to work.

Finto immediately searches out Jules who he had not seen for too long now. Jules was usually busy running her parents unusual estate. She also battles a certain condition that affects her at times. What affects her stops her in life a few days each episode. Since she has no way of knowing when this happens she decided to do what she does best. By being her own boss she wouldn’t have to explain herself for taking days off. Jules is more compassionate than most, and loves to give to those who are helpless. This could be called her passion in life. On the day Fin returns to see his friend Jules she is in bed at her home. Fin lets himself in, and goes to her bedside.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Jules says to her friend.

“How are you Jules?” he says grabbing her hand and holding it in his. “I missed you, how do you feel?”

Jules smiles and says, “The usual for a day like today.”

Fin leans forward feeling her with his cheek then kissing her forehead. “What can I do?”

The kiss makes Jules smile and she says, “I could eat some ice cream to cool me down.”

Fin kisses her forehead again then the hand he was holding as he gets up to go get her ice cream. “Can I have some?” He asks before clearing the doorway.

Jules throws an extra pillow in his direction and says, “Of course.”

Fin returns with two bowls of ice cream and spoons. Jules slides herself up to a sitting position. “Thank you Finster, I’ve been trying to talk myself into making it to the kitchen, but I’m really drained today.”

With a mouthful he maneuvers his tongue around the cold cream saying, “I like to get you stuff.”

Jules shortly laughs behind a smile. “So where have you been dare I ask?”

Bright-eyed and slightly unprepared, Fin awkwardly says after clearing his throat, “Well I was on a short business extravaganza.”

“An extravaganza huh…Is that why you smell like wine?”

Fin grabs the collar of his shirt saying, “Really?” smelling it. “I guess I do, little detour on a job well done.”

“Am I going to get the details of this trip or are you going to keep this one secret?”

Fin smirks responding openly. “Not now, but you’ll hear the story eventually.”

Jules tilts her head slightly before spooning another bite saying, “Oh really there’s a story?”

Fin quickly fills his mouth with ice cream. The large bite sends a painful jolt to what feels like the center of his brain, swallowing the icy chunk to end the pain. “Woo, too much!” Jules can’t keep from laughing at the Rassi who pinches the bridge of his nose for relief. Jules and Fin talk in the same manner late into the night without notice. Jules falls to sleep then the Rassi.

In the morning Jules opens her eyes, and feels back to normal. She turns to look at the one she loves who is sleeping face down in between pillows. She laughs at this then rubs his back softly with her hand with a smile on her face. She hears a faint growl. Fin is waking up. She kisses his back then goes to use the shower leaving the trusty soul to wake. Fin rolls off the bed onto the ground making a thud loud enough for Jules to hear, which she grins at as the water washes the soap off of her body. She gets back to Finto wrapped head to toe in towels and says, “Do you do that every morning even when you’re not with me?”

Finto finishes the set he is on answering in a short breath, “I try to!” Fin noticing Jules’ change, grabs her playfully wrestling her onto the bed.

“And why do you, because you’re…”

Fin finishes,“…because my grandfather told me to exercise everyday. He used to tell his secretary to hold all his calls…”

Jules finishes “…to hold all his calls once a day so he could exercise in his office?”

Fin laughs. “If you know why do you ask?”

“Because I know how much you love to talk about him.

And I like how excited you get when you do.”

“He is the best man I’ll ever meet.” Fin gets her with a kiss then finishes his routine before going to the kitchen.

Jules follows tugging on the Rassi’s shorts as he calls to her, “Pancakes,” with her responding, “Pancakes.”

The coffee is brewing before the butter starts to melt in the pan. Jules whips the batter as the Rassi pours more milk in. The coffee is brewed adding an aromatic splendor to a good morning then they give thanks before they eat making two large stacks disappear one faster than the other’s.

Jules makes her way to the sink to leave her plate returning to the table to finish her glass of milk while watching Fin eat. “Are you going to the farm today?”

Fin looks up from his food to respond, “I was planning on it, would you want to go?”

Jules takes a big gulp of milk before answering; “I would love to,” removing a milk mustache with the side of her hand. “Do I have time to do some stuff here in town before we go?” “Yeah sure.” Fin gets up from the small round table for two, tilting his head back, downing the rest of his milk as he lifts his syrup soaked plate. Jules sticks her leg out to poke him playfully.

When Fin gets to the sink he sets his dishes to the side grabbing the front of the sink to swish the milk around in his mouth. After swallowing the end of breakfast, Finto turns the faucet on. Before cleaning the breakfast dishes, Finto leans under the faucet to get a mouthful of water for a final rinse then gathers what he needs to wash after swallowing. Jules looks at the paper a little longer then goes to Fin’s side to give him a kiss on the cheek before returning to her bedroom to get dressed for the day. The Rassi is soon to follow after the last dish is dried. He puts on yesterday’s clothes then helps Jules make her bed. Fin sits on the edge of the bed while Jules takes her hair out of the towel she had wrapped around her head. Fin asks how long she’ll be before they can leave. She says for only an hour or so, which gives Finto an idea. “I need to run by the bank and the grocery.” Jules does what she needs to dry her hair while Fin watches. When she is almost ready to leave Fin heads to the kitchen because he is still hungry. Jules swings by the kitchen to get a kiss good-bye before she is out of the house. Fin listens to her car drive in the direction she is heading and dashes out the door.