Ortega Family Adventures: Part 8

Ortega Family Adventures
Pizza and Games

A

s she opened the door to her family's apartment, Selena said, "I am sure mom will be OK with it."
         The girls came in, took off their shoes, and left them in the utility room next to the front door. Walking past the kitchen they paused.
                   "How did it go?" Mrs. Ortega asked.
                   "It was ... uh -" Selena started.
         "Bedlam. I never thought I'd use that word since I learned it but it describes the Hartnu's aparment right now," Sheena interrupted.
         Selena gave her mother a questioning look.
         "It means ... a lot of strange or crazy things happening at the same time," Mrs. Ortega said.
         "OK. Yeah, it was like that. Then the five of us joined in," Selena said.
         "Five?"
         "Yes. Iona, Iulia, and Irina went with us to carry all the clothes," Selena answered.
         "Oh my. That's like seventeen people in that apartment!"
         "Yeah, it felt like a million!" Sheena said.
         "Mom, can Sheena stay with us tonight?" Selena asked.
         Mrs. Ortega thought for a moment then said, "I think so."
         "Sheena is staying tonight?!" Banu said. He'd just walked up with Max in tow.
         "Yes. That means you and Max are going to sleep in the living room. Banu, Max, can you -" Mrs. Ortega started.
         "Camping!" Banu said to Max, then added. "We're going camping!"
         Max was quiet for a moment then his face lit up and he yelled, "Camping!"
         The boys then ran in the the room they shared with Selena.
         "Oh my. I don't want to force them to camp. I am sorry. I will make it work with the Hartnu's," Sheena said.
         "Oh they aren't going camping. They are only going to sleep in the living room," Mrs. Ortega said then added. "Whenever they have to do that, the little weirdo's call it camping. I have no idea where they got that idea from; we have never taken them camping. It's some boy thing, I think. Even my husband will join in."
         "Oh. That sounds like something my brothers would do," Sheena said, then looked down, and started quietly sobbing.
         "Oh no. Sheena what's wrong?" Mrs. Ortega asked.
         "I miss my brothers," Sheena whispered.
         Mrs. Ortega gently picked up the weeping Hare, hugged her, and said, "You poor thing. The last few days have been so traumatic. You have been so brave. You are safe here. Just let it out."
         Sheena clung to Mrs. Ortega and sobbed. Mrs. Ortega waved Selena away.
         
         Selena entered the room she shared with her brothers. She stood staring at the boys as they were putting clothes in backpacks.
         Banu turned and looked at her, then asked, "Why are you staring at us like that?"
         "It's ... I -" Selena started to speak, stopped, then said. "Sheena has two older brothers and they didn't make it through the portal-thing. She just started crying. I was thinking what I would do if you ... if I didn't ..."
         Banu walked over to his sister and gave her a hug. She hugged him back. Max joined them.
         "OK. Now you are squeezing me too much!" Selena said.
         They separated, and Banu said, "I won't leave you. Ever."
         "Me neever," Max said.
         "I won't leave you either," Selena said.
         They separated, and Banu and Max went back to the closet and their backpacks.
         "Should we take bathing suits? What if there is a lake?" Banu asked Max.
         "I am pretty sure there isn't a lake in the living room," Selena said.
         "Mind your own business. You aren't going," Max said.
         "OK," Selena said, while she rolled her eyes. She turned to her bed and started putting things away.
         The boys discussed hiking shoes, and umbrellas (in case it rains) before they finished packing. They rolled up two blankets, picked up their pillows, then marched out the door while they sang "A-camping we go".
         Once outside the room, Banu halted and said, "Max, we need to get snacks for camping!"
         Max nodded and followed Banu into the kitchen.
         They stopped when they saw Sheena being held by Mrs. Ortega.
         "Is Sheena alright?" Banu asked.
         "Yes. She is missing her family," Mrs. Ortega said.
         "My brothers didn't make it over," Sheena said, her voice muffled by Mrs. Ortega's shoulder.
         The boys stood silent for a moment then Banu said, "Well, Max and me, will be your brothers until your real ones come over. Right, Max?"
         Max nodded.
         Sheena pulled herself away from Mrs. Ortega and asked, "You will?"
         Both Max and Banu nodded.
         She wiggled a little and Mrs. Ortega put her down. Sheena stepped over to Banu and gave him a hug, then did the same to Max.
         "Thank you, I feel a little better now."
         "You should go see Selena in their room to sort out sleeping arrangements," Mrs. Ortega told her.
         Sheena nodded then went into the room where Selena was.
         "We just need a few snacks for our camping trip!" Banu said as he and Max stepped over to the snack cupboard.
         "Oh, my little weirdos," Mrs. Ortega said as she watched the boys select snacks.
         
         "Selena, how old are you?" Sheena asked Selena once she stood in the children's room.
         "I am eight."
         "Are you tall for an eight year old Human?"
         "Yeah. A little. In my class there are six Trolls, three Elves, four Dwarves, two Gnomes, eight Humans, and seven that have mixed parents. I am the tallest of the Humans. Almost as tall as the Troll boys. How old are you?"
         "I will be ten next month."
         "Oh," Selena said with disappointment, then continued. "That means you'll be in a different class than me."
         "Oh. That's OK, though. We can still be friends after school."
         "Yeah!"
         They then talked about the beds and Sheena tried laying on them. Max's was too short. Banu's was the right size but she tried Selena's on the top of the bunk bed anyway.
         "This smells like Banu sleeps up there with you," Sheena said after climbing down.
         "Yeah. Sometimes he gets ... worried and can't sleep alone," Selena answered.
         "Oh. Where did he come from?"
         Selena told him what she knew.
         "Oh that is terrible! His family just abandoned him at a train station?"
         "Yeah. It was his grandfather that dropped him off," Selena said then stepped over to the door to pull it closed, then added. "I overheard papa telling mama that his parents are not alive anymore. They decided not to tell him, yet."
         "That poor little bear. He ... is so kind and gentle. It must have been really hard for his grandfather to let him go. I wonder why he did it."
         Selena shook her head and said, "I don't know."
         
         "So, Max, we should put the campfire right here in front of the TV. Do you want to sleep on the floor or the log?" Banu asked his brother as he pointed at the floor and the couch.
         "Floor."
         The boys gathered some short, foam sticks from a game and placed them in a pile in front of the TV and pretended to light it on fire. They sat with their hands out as if they were warming them on the fire.
         
         The front door opened and Mr. Ortega stepped in. He removed his shoes, hung his coat up then stepped into the kitchen.
         "Hello, sweetheart. How was your day?" he asked before hugging her from behind.
         She leaned back into his hug and said, "It has been remarkable!"
         "Really, tell me all about it. But first do you want to order in a Pizza?"
         "That is a really good idea. We have a guest for to night, and maybe a few nights. She is a preteen Hare named Sheena that came through a portal last night."
         "What? A portal here? That close?"
         "Yes. Somewhere on the other side of the orchards but on this side of the road. She has three sisters and two parents with her. The others are staying with the Hartnus. I understand it's a little crowded there tonight, so she is staying with us. They boys are 'camping' in the living room."
         "Camping? Hmmm."
         "Oh not you too!" She said with mock shock, then added. "Maybe we should really go camping. Having to actually sleep in a sleeping bag outside ... no, no, that wouldn't change a thing would it?"
         He smiled, shrugged, pulled out his phone, and called a number. When they answered he put in an order for pizza. Mrs. Ortega pulled out her phone when it rang, then stepped out of the kitchen.
         "Mom! You are back?" Mrs. Ortega asked.
         She listened for a few minutes then said, "Tonight is fine. We are ordering in pizza. There should be more than enough. Ferm always orders too much."
         She listened again, then said, "Seven is fine. We should be done eating by then."
         Mr. Ortega joined her just as she said, "Pops is bringing dessert? What is he ... never mind. It'll be good no matter what it is. Can't wait to see you and for you to meet Banu."
         "Love you, see you at seven," Mrs. Ortega said then tapped her phone.
         "So are we waiting to seven to eat?" Mr. Ortega asked.
         "No, Mom and Pops are at some state dinner until 6:30pm, so can't get here until 7. So, it will just be the six of us for dinner."
         Mrs. Ortega knocked on the children's bedroom door, then opened it and asked, "Sheena could you come out here for a moment."
         Sheena stepped out and stood looking at Mr. Ortega.
         "This is my husband, Fermin Ortega," Mrs. Ortega said.
         "I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Ortega. I am Sheena Classnu." Sheena curtsied as she talked.
         "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sheena. You are welcome to stay with us for as long as you need to," Mr. Ortega said.
         "Thank you. You have all been so kind," Sheena started to cry again.
         This time Mr. Ortega picked her up and held her gently, and said 'there there' over and over. Eventually she calmed down again and he put her down.
         "I am sorry. I -" Sheena said but was interrupted.
         "There is nothing to be sorry about. You have been through a something very scary. And now you are having to live in a place you don't know with people you don't know well. That would overwhelm anyone. You are very brave," Mr. Ortega said softly.
         Sheena nodded.
         Selena stepped out of her room and asked, "What's going on?"
         "We are having pizza for dinner and your grandparents are coming over," Mrs. Ortega said.
         "Pizza? And Meemaw and Poppy? They are back?" Selena asked.
         "Yes, it's been three years but their trip is finally over," Mrs. Ortega said.
         "We should tell Max and Banu!"
         "You are going to be the only one that remembers them. Max was only two and Banu never met them. We'll wait until they are here to introduce them," Mr. Ortega said.
         "Oh right. OK," Selena said.
         The girls went back into the children's room and Mr. and Mrs. Ortega went into the living room. Max and Banu were watching a cartoon about camping. Mrs. Ortega sat down on the couch and Mr. Ortega went down the hall to their bedroom.
         "We are going to have pizza for dinner," Mrs. Ortega said to the boys.
         "Pizza and camping! This is the best night ever!" Banu said as the both stood up and did an impromptu dance around the 'campfire'. Mrs. Ortega smiled as she relaxed on the couch.
         About a half hour later the doorbell rang. Mr. Ortega answered it and brought in two flat boxes. He places them on the dining table, then stepped into the living room and announced that the pizzas were here. He also knocked on the children's room door and said the same thing.
         Everyone gathered at the table and sat. Mr. Ortega passed out paper plates and distributed cups. There were bottles of soda pop and fruit juices on the table.
         "What is this?" Sheena asked as she looked at a slice of vegetarian pizza that Mr. Ortega placed on the plate in front of her.
         "Pizza!" Banu said as he gobbled his slice down.
         "Is flat bread with a tomato sauce, cheese, and vegetables baked," Mrs. Ortega answered.
         "Oh. I've never seen this before," she took a bite, chewed, swallowed then said. "I like it. I think my sisters would like it too."
         "That's good. I had four of them delivered to the Hartnu's," Mr. Ortega said.
         "Wow, Dad, that was really nice," Selena said.
         "Thank you, Mr. Ortega. They really needed that, I think," Sheena said around mouthfuls of pizza.
         They spent the rest of the meal filling Mr. Ortega in on what happened that day.
         Once dinner was over they cleaned up and retired to the living room to watch a movie. Sheena was impressed with the TV and all the movies they had. She said that in her world TVs were really expensive and they couldn't afford one, yet.
         
         At 7pm sharp, the doorbell rang. Mr. Ortega answered it and found two older people standing there. The woman looked like an older version of Teresa, just a little shorter. The man was a few centimeters short of Fermin with short gray-brown hair, white 'mutton chop' sideburns, and go-tee.
         "Darryl! Maddy! Come in. Come in," Fermin said as he waved them in.
         "Thank you, Fermin," Darrryl said as he passed carrying a cover tray.
         "MOM!" Teresa leapt up from the dining table and hugged her mother tightly.
         "OK! OK! T, let me breath!" Madeline said after a moment.
         Darryly dropped the tray off on a kitchen counter and joined the others in the dinning room area. Teresa hugged him.
         "I have missed you guys so much. So much has happened since you left," Teresa said.
         "MEEMAW!" Selena almost screamed when she walked into the dinning room and saw her grandmother.
         They hugged and Selena began to cry tears of joy. The other children showed up with Sheen and Banu hanging back behind Max.
         "Max? Look how tall you are," Darryl said then added. "Come here and let me look at you."
         Max slowly walked up to him then quietly asked, "Poppy?"
         "Yep. That's me. You remember me a little bit, right?"
         Max nodded and said, "A little."
         Selena let go of her grandmother, squeezed passed Max, and hugged Darryl as she said, "Poppy. I missed you so much. Why were you away so long?"
         "I missed you, too. We got stuck in Madagascar during a terrible storm. Then we stayed to help the people cover while our ship was being repaired."
         Meema turned to Max, knelt and talked to him quietly. He looked puzzled then smiled. She stood up slowly.
         "Banu, please come here, and meet your grandparents," Mr. Ortega said.
         Banu walked slowly forward, then stopped, and sniffed. He looked at Poppy with a puzzled expression.
         "I am Selena's and Max's grandmother. I am also your grandmother now. You can call me 'Meemaw' if you like," Madeline said.
         Banu turned as if almost in a trance, and looked at her. Then he shook himself and said, "Hi Meemaw. I am Banardu Toller the ... I mean ... Banurdu Ortega the ... first?"
         "Well, Mr. Toller-Ortega. It is a pleasure to meet you, finally," Madeline said.
         "Yes. It is a pleasure, ma ... Meemaw," Banu said then he turned back to Poppy, cocked his head to one side, and asked, "Have I met you before?"
         Poppy looked uncomfortable as he sighed, and said, "Yes, we have met before. Do you remember the train station?"
         Banu nodded, then his mouth opened, he turned and ran into their bedroom.
         "I am sorry, Darryl. He is pretty shy," Mr. Ortega said.
         "He also has an excellent nose; as all of his kind do," Darryl said cryptically.
         Banu came back out clutching a small stuffed owl. He slowed down then walked up to Poppy, held out the owl, and said, "You gave me this at the train station."
         Poppy smiled, and said, "Yes, Banu I did. It was all I could do at the time. I wanted to take you with me but ... well it was a complicated situation. I waited with you until the ladies from the foster care showed up. It was the most I could do, at the time, for you and your grandfather."
         "Grandfather? You know my grandfather?" Banu asked.
         "Yes, I do. I have know him for a very long time."
         "Where ... where did he go?"
         "I will find out and bring him here. The situation you were in," Poppy said, paused, then continued. "It was very dangerous for you and him. He had something that some very unscru ... mean people wanted. He tried to hide you to keep you safe."
         Banu stood for a moment then started crying. Poppy picked up the little bear-boy, hugged him, and said, "You have always been such a brave bear; it's OK to cry. I will find your grandfather."
         Banu clung to Poppy until he stopped sobbing. Poppy set him back on the floor. Banu stood next to Poppy.
         "Sheena, I know it's been a long day. These are the last new people you have to meet tonight. I promise," Mrs. Ortega said.
         Sheena stepped forward, curtsied then said, "I am Sheena Classnu. I am pleased to meet you both."
         Madeline said with a big smile, "Well aren't you the cutest!"
         "You remind me of a very brave professor I met during the war. I am please to meet you, too." Poppy said, then a worried look came over his face. He reached into an inside pocket of his jacket, and pulled out a small tin box. He laid it on the table, and opened it. There were a variety of colored crystals in the box. He chose a pink one and turned back to Sheena.
         "Sheena?" He asked her.
         She nodded.
         "You are in some pain around your left ear, correct?"
         She nodded then winced.
         "I believe I can heal that. Would you like me to do that?"
         "I don't understand," she said as she approached him cautiously.
         "Different worlds, different technologies. In this one, they use crystals like this one, for a lot of different things. Healing is one of them. These can help heal wounds on the body's surface. It won't set a bone but it will help it heal after it is set," Poppy said as held the crystal in front of her.
         "Wow. We didn't have anything like that," Sheena said.
         "Here hold it," Poppy said as he handed they pink crystal to her.
         She took it, looked it over, the a look of wonder came on her face, and she said, "Oh. It ... it makes my fingers tingle. And ... and I feel like it wants me to do something but I don't know what."
         "Interesting. You are a sensitive," Poppy said as he took the crystal back from her, then added. "The crystals are not sentient as we think of it, but they have a need to fulfill their function. With training one can learn to guide the crystal and also listen to it."
         "Can I hold it?" Banu asked.
         "Yes, of course. But first let me help Sheena with her hurt ear. If you are willing I can heal the injury to your left ear. Do you want me to do that?"
         Sheena stood quiet for a moment, reached up and touched the root of her left ear, winced, then said, "Please."
         'OK. I am going to hold your left ear up to take some strain off the ligaments around the root. That is what appears to be the problem. Then I will touch the crystal to where it hurts. You might feel the same 'tingly' sensation there that you felt in your hands," Poppy gently lifted her ear, touched the crystal to the base of her ear. He moved the crystal around the area for half a minute, then pulled it back letting go of her ear.
         "How is that?"
         Sheena moved her head around and her ears, then said, "The pain is gone. You fixed it. Thank you!"
         "My pleasure. Is anything else bothering you?"
         "No, just that. I can't wait to tell my sisters about this," Sheena said as she stepped away.
         Poppy then handed the crystal to Banu. The little bear-boy held it gently and stared into it. He handed it back and said, "I didn't feel anything."
         "That is OK. Not everyone does," Poppy said, the rose and asked. "I brought cookies, who wants some?"
         "Cookies!" Banu and Max said in unison.
         Poppy stepped into the kitchen, returned with a large tray with a variety of cookies on it. Everyone took a few and stood around the table eating them.
         
         "How about we leave your parents to talk to Meemaw, you and I have a game night?" Poppy asked.
         "Game night! Yay!" Selena practically shouted.
         "What's a 'game night'?" Banu asked as the kids and Poppy moved into the living room.
         "That's where Poppy play games with us!" Selean
         "What game shall we start with?" Poppy asked.
         "Candy Mage," Selena said.
         Max frowned but didn't say anything.
         "How about this: Selena picks the first game, Max picks the second one, Sheena picks the third, then Banu picks one?" Poppy asked.
         Max looked a little disappointed, then nodded.
         Poppy asked, "Max, why don't you and I play as a team?"
         "'K," Max said then sat down next to Poppy.
         "I think we should be the train engine, what do you think?"
         "Train."
         The others selected their tokens and they started playing. The first game took a half and hour. Selena won.
         "OK Max. What do you want to play next?" Poppy asked.
         "'Hippos." Max said.
         "What?" Poppy asked.
         "It's called 'Hungry Hippos'. Here, I'll get it," Banu said as he got up, went to the game shelf and brought back a box with colorful hippopotamuses on it.
         "Oh. It's only for four people," Selena said as they pulled out the board and parts.
         "That's fine Max and I will stay a team. He can show me how to play," Poppy said, then asked. "Is that OK with you Max?"
         Poppy was sitting cross legged on the floor and Max was sitting on Poppy's calf. Max looked back and nodded his head.
         They played 'Hungry Hippos' three times, before they decided to play 'Crystal Citadel'. That was Banu's choice. It was a board game with a black and red tower in the center of the board with several 'tracks' winding around the board from the starting point. There were action cards and penalty cards and dice that needed to be thrown every turn by each player. Each player selected a character and put their token in the starting box. Max got bored and restless after only ten minutes. He got up and went into the kitchen.
         
         Mr. and Mrs. Ortega, and Madeline sat at the dining room table talking about the trip Meemaw and Poppy had been on.
         "The storm was bad but the aftermath was worse. We couldn't just leave. Darryl just about wore himself out helping people. I spent a lot of time purifying water and food," Madeline said, took a sip of her tea, then added. "It was about three months before things were back to normal, then we had to do the mission we went there to do. It was just as well as our ship was damaged and it took six months to get replacement parts."
         "That sounds terr ... what is it sweety?" Mrs. Ortega asked Max as he walked up to the table.
         "They're playing citididil. I don't like it."
         "I heard you playing 'Hungry Hippos'; was that your choice?"
         Max nodded.
         "Well it's only fair that others get to choose," Mrs. Ortega said, then looked at the clock on the wall and continued. "It's almost bedtime. Why don't you get your bath done now."
         Mr. Ortega stood, and said, "Lets get your pajamas and then go to the bathroom."
         Max nodded glumly.
         
         Mrs. Ortega stepped into the living room, and watched the game.
         "Sheena, what's your 'Quest' card say?" Poppy asked.
         "Your boot is broken. You need to repair it. Roll a skip next turn, roll dice. Four or higher, move on, else wait one more turn," Sheena said, then added. "Darn it! I was a head of Poppy."
         "Well, at least you aren't stuck in the swamp for another turn," Banu said with a frown.
         Selena rolled her die, moved her token on a track divided into squares on the board, then groaned. Her token landed on 'Side Quest'. She drew a 'Side Quest' card and read it out loud. 'You have to get the Mood Ring of Chari. Roll the die five times, add up each roll. If the number is above twenty-five you move on, else you lose a turn.'"
         Sheena helped Selena with the arithmetic; Selena only got twenty-one.
         Mrs. Ortega asked, "Poppy, how much longer will the game last?"
         "Looks like about twenty five minutes more."
         "Good, Max is taking his bath now. That should have the rest of them ready for bed by 9:30," Mrs. Ortega said then left the room.
         
         An hour later the adults were gathered around the dining room table, each with a mug in front of them. They were quiet for a moment then Mr. Ortega, Fermin, asked quietly, "Darryl, how do you know Banu's grandfather?"
         "I met him while we were both in the Wizard War. He came to a HERU that I was assigned to."
         "HERU?" Mrs. Ortega, Teresa, asked.
         "Healing and Resurrection Unit," Madeline answered, then added. "That's were I met your father."
         "You met dad at a HERU?" Teresa asked.
         "Yes. He came in with a broken leg. I was in for a burn on my right thigh," Madeline answered, then added. "He was so handsome in that dark recon uniform."
         They looked a Darryl who said, "Different time, different unit. I was assigned along the Northeast section of the border. All our recons were Foxes, Wolves, or Bears."
         "I don't know how to ask this," Fermin started to say then fell silent.
         "I know. It's about Banu. I will tell you what I can. It started with Maddy," Darryl said.
         "What?" Maddy said, confused, then said. "Oh. My premonition."
         "You had a premonition?" Teresa asked?
         "Yes. It was that you were going to get another child. It was a sound one. All I heard was '... been with us such a short time, I can't believe how much I love that little guy ...' It didn't feel like it was about Max," Maddy said.
         "By the gods! Fermin said that a couple of years ago!" Teresa said with shock on her face.
         "I don't remem ... wait, I did say that," Fermin said.
         "A short time after that I got a call from Banu's grandfather. He was in serious trouble and wanted help in hiding Banu from some really bad people. We came up with a scheme to us the Coast Express train to get him out of Los Osos and up her, where they were unlikely to look for him. He would continue on North, creating a diversion. I pulled a few strings and got Banu into the local Foster care without alerting the state Foster care department. If they'd've known, they would have returned him to Los Osos for placement," Darryl said.
         They fell silent for a time.
         "Did you ..." Teresa started to ask.
         "No. No magic spells. You had already mentioned that you wanted another child. I did mention Fostering the last time we talked before that blasted trip," Darryl said.
         "So what happened?" Teresa asked.
         "We are part of a exploration group. We got assigned a four month mission to Madagascar and India. Once we were on the ship, they insisted we not make any contact with anyone outside the group we were in until we reached Madagascar. It should have taken three weeks to get there, a couple of months helping the locals and exploring the fauna and flora, then on to India for another month, then three or so weeks to get back. That horrendous storm that lasted three weeks did so much damage to the island and our ship that it took a year and a half, well closer to two years to complete just the Madagascar portion of the mission," Maddy said, the added. "Please, lets talk about something else. We'd like to forget about it for a while. How is your jobs?"
         They made small talk for another hour, then Darryl and Maddy left.