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A Pleasant Story - Chapter Twelve - Darren's Dream
Back to: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Eleven - Daniel's Outing Next: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Thirteen - Don On The Prowl




A Pleasant Story
Chapter Twelve
Darren's Dream

Darren Dreamer woke up happily and immediately headed for his easel to do some painting before the carpool arrived to take him to his new job. His studio looked quite different than it had a few days ago; a new job was not the only thing he'd changed in his life.

Darren had sold everything he could get a few simoleons for and gotten caught up on all the household bills. He felt much more secure now that the repo man was not threatening to take his things.

But that was not the only thing contributing to his newfound happiness; he'd seen Cassandra a few nights before and had had the distinct impression that she might love him, just as he had long loved her. And she'd finally dumped that sleazeball, Don Lothario!





Darren whistled cheerily as he painted, then was pulled from his art by the sound of a car horn. He'd gotten a job in the architecture career which, while not being quite as fulfilling as working as an artist, would pay the bills much better. Strangely, in Pleasantview, one didn't need a college degree to work in that career track, while one DID need one to work as an artist. But he liked it, so far, and was meeting some new friends at work.

He twirled into his work clothes and hollered a "So long!" at his son Dirk, busy on the phone, as he left.




Dirk returned his father's wave, then went off to school when the bus arrived. When he got home, he was surprised to find his girlfriend, Lilith Pleasant, waiting for him. She didn't look too happy.

He moved toward her to kiss her hello, but she moved back.

"Wait Dirk, I need to talk to you," she said.

Oh no, thought Dirk, that's never good to hear.

"Um what is it?" he asked.



"I'm afraid we need to break up," she said. "I want to focus on my studies so I can get into college, and I won't have the time for you anymore. And I don't need to get busted for sneaking out again."

Dirk protested, "But we don't have to do that anymore! Please don't Lilith! We're going steady!"

Lilith felt sorry for him, but her mind was made up and she told him so.

Dirk spoke angrily. "FINE THEN! We're through! I don't care! Why don't you just get lost?"





"I'm sorry Dirk," she said, and turned to leave.

His angry words belied his real feelings; as she left he waved sorrowfully and whispered softly, "Goodbye, Lili." He sadly remembered their first kiss as he watched her leave.







Dirk went into the house and cried a little. When he had calmed down, he picked up his homework and tried to do it--anything to distract him from how his heart felt like it had been trampled by a stampede of wildebeest.




When his Dad got home he was already in his room and ignored his greetings. Darren might have sought him out to find out what was wrong, but he was so focused on calling Cassandra to ask her out that he wasn't paying attention to his son's needs.

Darren called her and asked if she'd accompany him that evening to Bernard's Botanical Dining, a charming restaurant downtown that wasn't too expensive, but had a beautiful setting with lots of trees and flowers.





After he got dressed, his imagination got carried away and he dreamed of the moment when he might ask her to marry him. Maybe tonight? Or would that be too soon? This would be only their first official date.

Darren was getting ready to leave when he heard some muffled sounds coming from Dirk's room.

"Son?" he called, "Are you okay in there? I'm getting ready to go out."

He heard some sniffing, then Dirk said, "Yeah, I'm okay! Leave me alone!"

Darren insisted, "You don't sound okay. Please come out here and talk to me."

Dirk complied and flopped on the couch.

"What," he stated.




"You don't seem well, Dirk--is something wrong? Anything I can help with?" Darren asked kindly.

"I told you I'm fine, Dad! I don't want to talk about her!"

Darren worried that Dirk might be upset he was going out with Cassandra. The death of his mother had been devastating to young Dirk, and he hadn't grown up too well as a result. Could he be angry his Dad was going to date again?

"I thought you liked Cassandra?" Darren said inquiringly.



Dirk said scornfully, "I do like Cassandra! This isn't about her!"

Darren continued to press him, and finally Dirk blurted out, "It's Lilith! She dumped me!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, son," Darren said. "And I won't insult you by saying there are plenty of fish in the sea, or that you're young and you'll get over it--I know how much it hurts to be dumped. Would you rather I didn't go out tonight? I could stay here and we could talk?"

Dirk wiped his eyes on the back of his sleeve. "No, it's okay Dad--I'm actually going out tonight too. I got a job delivering packages and tonight is my first delivery."

"Oh, that's great!" Darren said. "I didn't know you were looking for a job! Who are you working for?"

Dirk replied, "A guy named Abbadon. He gave me a package that needs to be delivered. It's good money, and if I do a good job I can deliver more stuff."

"Well, that sounds fine, son. Just don't be out too late, okay? In this town, you could get abducted by aliens or something!"




"Dad!" Dirk laughed, "That's not funny!"

Darren agreed they probably shouldn't joke about it since Cassandra's mother had been abducted by aliens, then hugged his son and headed out on his date.


Darren and Cassandra arrived at the restaurant and were seated at a lovely table by the fountain. They hungrily perused their menus.




They chatted of inconsequential things with the easy comraderie of old friends, but Darren found it hard to keep his mind on what Cassandra was saying; he had only one thing on his mind.




When their food arrived, Cassandra sniffed and said, "Oh, this looks so good! Thank you for bringing me here! I haven't been out for a pleasant meal in too long!" Darren assumed she was referring to her relationship with Don Lothario, who had a reputation for being the cheapest of escorts and depending on his looks to enthrall his many dates. They both turned their attention to the delicious and beautiful plates.




Darren then told Cassandra about his new job and she excitedly questioned him about it.

"That sounds great!" She said, "But do you enjoy the work? That's what's most important."

He assured her that he was enjoying it, and she responded that he'd probably look great in a hard hat!





Darren tried to turn the topic to more romantic subjects, but a very loud woman was telling jokes right next to their table, and a man he didn't know was staring at them silently. It always amazed Darren how people in Pleasantview behaved when they were out in public--he had even seen people start kicky-ball games right in front of cash registers in stores while shoppers were trying to pay for their purchases!




The food was delicious, but Cassandra seemed to be deflecting his efforts to get romantic during the meal. His suspicions were confirmed when Cassandra placed her hand over his.

"Darren, I know we both feel the same, but I'd like to take this slowly. I JUST broke up with Don, and I'm still a bit hesitant about getting too involved, too soon. Is that okay?"

Darren thought that it was NOT okay--he'd been waiting and hoping for her for such a long time that he wanted them to jump into love as soon as possible. So he lied as he replied, "Of course. There's no rush at all."



"But how about a dance?" he suggested.

Cassandra agreed and they wandered over to the bare grass under the willow tree.

Darren was ecstatic to finally be holding her in his arms. Yes, going slowly wouldn't be too bad if it was all like this! He didn't even mind the willow tree branches tickling his ear.

When their dance ended, Cassandra kissed him softly and said, "Thank you, dear friend."





Darren floated on clouds on his way home, then went into his backyard to look at the grave of his wife, Darleen. While her death had been difficult for him, and harder on Dirk, he admitted that he didn't really miss her all that much. She'd been stubborn in life and constantly persisting in trying to do things she couldn't do, like cooking. That had actually led to her death, because she had insisted on trying to roast marshmallows over a giant bonfire and had fallen in. Darren had warned her not to go near it, but Darleen never listened to anyone once she'd decided to do something.

It had been hard to lose his wife, but once he'd adjusted, he hadn't missed her angry and demanding personality.



Suddenly, Darleen's ghost leapt from her grave and snarled at him menacingly.



Darren jumped back and yelled at her departing ghost, "THIS IS WHY I DON'T MISS YOU! What the hell! You are as mean as a ghost as you were in life!"



The memory of this fright would haunt him forever.





Darren shook his head, then noticed that Cassandra was quietly walking to his front door with a big bouquet of flowers. That meant she'd thought they'd had a dream date! Darren smiled happily as he went inside to check on Dirk.




Darren opened Dirk's door slowly, trying to make no noise so as not to wake him, and was shocked to find the bed empty. He checked his watch. "It's after midnight! Could his job be going this late?"




Darren tried to get some sleep on the couch while he waited for Dirk to get home, but his nap was fitful and restless. Finally, he heard small sounds coming from outside, and went out to the sidewalk to wait for Dirk to arrive.




As Dirk approached, he asked sternly, "And where have you been this late?"

Dirk approached him and said, "Don't be mad at me! I think there is something bad going on! And I think Dustin Broke is mixed up in it! I don't want him to go to jail!"



Darren asked him to explain, and Dirk told him that the package he was supposed to deliver had broken open, and lots of jewelry had fallen out.

"Dad," he said, "I thought I was delivering office supplies or something! Why would anyone hire a kid to deliver jewelry? So I went to the address where I was supposed to take it, and it was a skeevy old house, not an office. It was way out on the outside of town near the mountains, and really spooky-looking. I waited around just to see what was going on, and I saw Dustin Broke go in with a package."

"He's Brandi Broke's son, right? The one whose husband died a few years back?" Darren asked.

"Yeah," Dirk said. "I don't know him that well, but I've seen him around school. He's going out with Lilith's sister."

Darren asked, "So what did you do with the jewelry? Did you take it in?"

Dirk shook his head. "No, I was too scared. The place looked seriously creepy. I just waited until nobody was looking, then I came home."

Darren patted Dirk's shoulder and said, "You did the right thing. Give me the package, and I'll take it down to the police station tomorrow when I get a break at work."

Dirk gave the jewelry to his Dad, then yawned and said, "I'm tired! School tomorrow! I'm going to bed!"



Darren smiled as he looked after his son. That was a good kid. As he went to go inside, he noticed Cassandra's date flowers on the front porch and took them inside to a place of honor in the kitchen.

When Darren got his lunch break the next day, he went over to the police station to turn in the jewelry Dirk had given him. There was an officer inside sitting at a desk.




Darren entered the building and greeted the officer.

"Hi, I'm Darren Dreamer. My son found some jewelry and I wanted to talk to someone about turning it in."



The officer introduced himself as Carl Copper, then asked Darren to explain where his son had found the jewelry and who had given it to him.

Darren said, "The man he was supposed to work for is named Abbadon, but he didn't know his first name."

Darren then gave the rest of the details Dirk had told him, without mentioning Dustin's part in it. He didn't want to get him in trouble!

The officer responded oddly. Instead of asking more questions, or simply acknowledging what Darren had told him, he just stood there.



Darren waited, but the officer still just stood there, stretching or tapping his fingers.




Finally Darren said, “Would you like the jewelry?”

Carl shook his head as though waking and said, “Oh yes!”


Carl then thanked him for coming to the police station and told Darren they'd examine the jewelry to see if it matched any current missing reports.

"Tell your son he did the right thing to not deliver the package. That sounds like a shady business, all right," Carl said.

Darren then thanked him and handed over the package, and left to go back to work.



Carl stowed the package in a cabinet, then dialed the phone.

"It's me. We've got a problem. The Dreamer kid got suspicious and told his Dad. Want me to take care of him?"

Click Next: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Thirteen - Don On The Prowl to continue...

 
Back to: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Eleven - Daniel's Outing Next: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Thirteen - Don On The Prowl
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