Читать книгу The Rassi - Sherman E Hister - Страница 8

The following morning is early rising so they could make their way to the city. Finto does his early-morning rituals of prayer and pledge’s his allegiance to his country. Breakfast is eggs, bacon, and fruit. Fin follows Jules in the black rumbler leaving the farm. Jules has plenty to do that day, and Finto wants to question the court summons he received in the mail the day before. Dressed in a suit which is unusual attire for the Rassi, worn out of respect, he gets out in front of the courthouse. Without wasting any time, Mr. Negrassi goes to the front entrance. He walks directly to Drexel Sprine’s office. Finto approaches a portly woman sitting behind a desk who fumbles over her desk’s contents to press the intercom announcing that Mr. Sprine was needed by someone.

“Uhurrrum…Mr. Sprine?” “Yes, what is it.”

Finto stands at attention in front of the secretary’s desk, arms behind back, watching the woman work the intercom with her curl-ended grin. With a practiced pitched tone, the high squeal woman says, “A Mr. Negrassi is here.” The sound of rapid motion comes from the office. “Send him in.” The woman stands, and opens the door for the Rassi who has yet to speak. Fin enters the uncomfortable office that smells of coffee and poor hygiene.

“Please sit, Finny, ole buddy, ole pal.” Drexel Sprine goes to the only window to let some light in through the blinds.

The Rassi does not sit, but keeps his posture as before. “I received a note from you in the mail, Sprine. And I want to know why?”

Drexel walks back to his brown leather chair. Reaching for his steaming coffee mug, Drexel uses a hand to hold back his tie leaning forward. “Well, we can discuss whatever it is you would like to discuss.”

Finto was prepared for the usual games, so he pulls the envelope from his pocket stepping forward, and placing it on Sprine’s desk. “You know why I’m here.”

Drexel Sprine takes a sip of his coffee. “How’s Jules, is she feeling well?”

“Come on Sprine, don’t waste my time, I’m not wasting yours. What is this?”

Drexel smiles and looks at the folded-over envelope on his desk. “I’m guessing you read what was sent to you in the mail. So I’ll see you on the scheduled court date.”

Finto doesn’t stay any longer than that he just leaves. Drexel is somewhat surprised by the Rassi’s brief exit. Fin doesn’t make too many visits to the courthouse, and is wondering more about the progress of the ring. So he makes his way to Charles Haskins shop. He goes in to say “hello” to Mr. Haskins. By chance, the storeowner operator was diligently working his trade. Charles was shaping the ring band to fit the approximate size Fin gave him.

“Well hello there,” Mr. Haskins looks up from what he was doing to welcome Finto. “Come and take a look.”

Fin handles the ring band rotating it under the light. The work resembled that of a veteran hand, “Fantastic Mr. Haskins,” Finto hands the ring back.

Mr. Haskins takes a look for himself. “Should be done in well…about a week.”

Finto goes over an imaginary calendar in his head. He wonders where he will be in a week. Ah yes, court, he thinks to himself. “Splendid,” Fin says, “much sooner than what I would have guessed.”

After leaving an envelope of a certain amount, Finto announces his departure. “Well off I go Mr. Haskins, have a good day.”

Mr. Haskins does not pay any heed to the amount sitting next to him. Instead, he falls into focus over the ring he begins to work on again. Charles couldn’t think of anything else he’d rather be doing. “Good-bye, Finto Negrassi, oh wait a minute.” Charles Haskins stops the Rassi from exiting the store. “Is there a match tonight?”

Fin smiles, “Yes there is, and a good one it’ll be. This reminds me.” Fin makes his way back over to the work area. “Seems someone found out about my precious cargo. I received a court summons deeming the pearl an illegal transport.”

Mr. Haskins raises a hand and says, “No one will ever know it was here.” Then lowering it back to what he was doing.

Finto turns and leaves.

The black rumbler sits between two white lines at Park Lake. The Rassi stretches beside his trusty transport. He ties his trainers with a double knot before the last article of clothing change. He swaps his buttoned shirt and tie for a comfortable cotton short sleeve. It’s a hot one already, Fin

could feel his shirt soaking up his moisture as he moves towards the trail. Instead of running the edge of the lake, he makes his way to the trees. Some may think this might not be a good idea before a game, but Fin does this regularly to be able to play. He sees what he likes, and feels good when he’s finished. Finto walks off his run before leaving. The black rumbler is no longer in the lines, but taking the road out of Park Lake.

He reaches Jules residence, but Jules was not there. So he parks his rumbler out of sight, and hides in some bushes to surprise her. With the shade of a tree overhead, Finto cannot control his bobbing head. The bob puts him to sleep. Jules arrives as Fin deeply sleeps in the early part of the afternoon. When Jules gets to her door she notices something in her peripheral. She turns to look bouncing backward a step from being startled by a person sleeping in her bushes. Leaning forward to pear off her step, Jules takes a closer look at the sweaty headed person. “That’s…” she says with a frustrated look turning into a mischievous smile, she unlocks the door. Jules enters the house leaving her keys attached to the open door.

Dropping her bag in the hallway, she turns into an opening leading to another part of the house. The sound of pots clang before running water can be heard. The ending sound of a container nearly being filled turns off the faucet. Jules reenters the hallway holding a large cooking pot by its handles. She crosses the threshold as quiet as possible, hoping not to disturb the slumberer. Then in one motion she douses the Rassi. He is standing before he wakes dripping from head to toe.

“You got me,” he says stepping out of the bushes.

“You’re just as ornery as you’ve always been. Where do you think you’re going?”

Fin unconsciously climbs the steps to go inside. “I want to get out of these clothes.”

“You’re not going in there. You’re all wet.” Fin blankly looks at Jules confused. “Well what am I supposed to do?”

Jules begins to laugh. “Take off the wet clothes, or stand out here until you’re dry.”

Fin can’t take her seriously with such a ridiculous request, and tries passing by to go inside.

“I’m serious, Fin.” Jules sticks an arm out stopping the Rassi.

“Really?” he says surprised. “Will you just get me a towel?” Jules stands her ground, “I know why you were hiding.” Fin pleads, “It was meant to be a joke. You know, funny ha, ha. You really think I’m going to strip down to my knickers just to go inside. I’ll clean up the water with a towel after I change.”

Jules goes to the door slightly closing it with her body in between the door and its frame. “Make a decision. I can’t wait all day.”

“Fine.” Finto sheds his soaked attire down to his under shorts, and instinctively hands them to Jules. “Are you happy now?” Fin says with a frustrated tone, shifting his weight towards the door.

“Not yet, funny ha, ha remember,” Jules says with her voice full of laughter before closing the door clicking the lock, stranding the Rassi almost bare on the front step.

“Jules,” Fin begins to shout, but catches himself. “I’m sorry let me in…Jules…this isn’t funny.” The Rassi turns to see if anyone else was around, but they weren’t. He dashes to the black rumbler to drive back around, and park in front of Jules’ house.

Finto dresses in the driver’s seat putting on his football uniform. He walks up to the front door. Curious to see if Jules will let him in, Finto knocks the knocker while ringing the doorbell. With little hesitation, the door is yanked open, and Jules appears to be more annoyed than before. She can’t keep from smiling when she notices Finto was smiling. She lets him in, and they eat lunch.

Before the evening’s match, the constant duo go to the children’s hall. They visit with as many of the children as possible. Most of the hall’s residents were without anyone to care for them. The children come from all over the world rescued from an uncertain fate. The children’s hall was built to accommodate an abundance of the almost lost. Each part of the hall is decorated in a different country’s culture. The idea was to keep the children aware of where they came from in case one day they would like to move back to where they are from. Every country from which a child came from is honored by the country’s flag being flown everyday. When the children reach a certain age, they are given guidance, and helped to pursue their own future.

The children are nurtured from the time they arrive to the hall until they decide to leave, still welcome to return and visit, which they always do. The children’s hall provides a stellar education for students to learn in a hands-on environment. The hall’s education is also open to the community’s children. The Lockharts believed this was important to incorporate the children who live in families with the children of the hall. This kept the hall and the community open to one another purposely, so that the orphaned children grew up feeling welcome and comfortable.

The staff was comprised of grown returned students, educated teachers, volunteers, and a religious order the Rassi helped escape persecution from their homeland. The religious order did not teach the children, but led by example with their harmonist devotion to peace and service as a way of life. The religious order known as the Tewks, were also put in charge of all the properties maintenance because they were such gifted craftsman.

The children’s hall was very dear to Jules because it was founded by her mother and father who had both spent their lives never knowing their own families. Jules cared for every aspect of the home with her heart. She knows every child and what they needed. Not just that they need to eat and that they need to drink, but that they need to feel. She could be every mother each child needed. They all knew her this way. She was able to give them peace, satisfying their need for a mother’s love. She cared for each child as if each were her own. Her mother was this way. When it was time for Finto to leave for the evening’s match, everyone gave their good-byes. Finto was no stranger to the children’s hall. This is where he met Jules.