Untitled Novel - Chapter Thirteen

It was then that Marcus noticed the small sign just to the right of where Navette parked. “Private Drive – No Parking – Vehicle will be towed at owner’s expense. If you didn’t read this sign until too late you can claim your vehicle at Value-Tow 234-5678.”
“Navette, I think I know where the Jeep is.” Marcus then pointed to the sign.
Navette was angry with herself for not seeing the sign. “Well, what do we do now?”
“I think Navajo Joe’s is still open. Let’s go call the number and then we can get a taxi to take us there.”
“What a night to leave my cell at home.”
“Can you remember the number?”
“Sure it’s 234-5678.”
“How silly of me to think that you couldn’t remember the number.”
Navette and Marcus pulled on the door of Navajo Joe’s. When it opened they could see that there were still a few patrons inside. Since there was no one at the front door they walked up to the bar and asked to borrow a phone. The bartender told them they would have to use the pay phone near the restrooms.
“What was that number?”
“Surely you are joking?”
“No I’m not. You said you could remember the number.”
“234-5678.”
Navette dialed the number and, to her delight, someone answered. She was afraid she would get an after hours message from an answering service. Navette told the person why she was calling and discovered that they did have the Jeep. “Wow, you do take credit cards. No you can’t leave now I need to get the Jeep.” Marcus could extrapolate from the conversation three facts: they had the Jeep, it was going to cost a lot to get it and the people were about to leave. “Where are you located?” “We can be there in fifteen minutes. Can you stay there that long? “Oh thank you.”
“Well, they have the Jeep, It is going to cost a lot, and they are going to wait for us.”
“Two hundred and fifty dollars. It’s only about two miles to their place, but we have to get a taxi. See if you can find the number for a taxi.”
“234-6789.”
“Oh come on. How do you know the number for the taxi?”
“It is written on the advertisement just above the phone.”
“Wise guy.” Navette punched Marcus with her fist. Her blow landed dead on his injury that he had received earlier in the day. Navette immediately realized what she had done. “Oh Marcus, I am so sorry.”
Marcus was still feeling some pain from his gunshot, but he told Navette it was ok. “Go ahead and call the taxi.”
They keep looking at the clock on the wall counting down every minute it took for the taxi to arrive. They finally heard the horn and hurried out the door to the taxi. Navette told the taxi driver where to take them. They were there in just a matter of minutes. Marcus paid the taxi driver, but asked him to wait to make sure the people had waited for them. Marcus and Navette walked up to the door which was locked, but there was a doorbell with a sign directly above. The sign said to ring doorbell for service. Marcus pushed the button and heard the bell, but no one answered. He pushed it again. “Ok, Ok, I’m coming.” This was the voice that Navette had heard in the previous telephone conversation. Marcus waved back at the taxi driver letting him know that it was ok to leave.
“You must be Tolkowsky.” Before Navette could answer he continued. “Your Jeep is in the back and that will be $250.00.” Navette gave him a credit card and he swiped the card though the card reader and pushed in the amount. “Here is your receipt. Now I will take you to your car.” They walked through the back door of the office and down a dark corridor that led to another door. They could see light through a second door. It must have been locked for the evening because the guy had to unlock it to go outside. “There it is over there.” He pointed to a blue Jeep, but Navette’s jeep was red.
“I’m sorry but that is not my Jeep.”
“Well that’s the Jeep we picked up at Navajo Joe’s.”
“You must be mistaken. There must be another Jeep.”
“We had only one call and that is the Jeep we towed.”
Now what were they going to do? That was the thought going through Marcus’s mind.
“May we use your phone?”
There was nothing to do but call Peter and he would come to get them.
The guy let her use his phone and as she was dialing the phone she changed her mind and decided to call Emerald instead. He was much more congenial lately and maybe he would help them locate the Jeep.
“Hi, Emerald. I’ve got a problem.”
Navette began describing the events of the evening to Emerald and all of a sudden the phone conversation greatly changed. “You what? Get yourself over here and pick us up.” Navette told Emerald where they were and how to get there.
“Emerald has the Jeep. He took it from Navajo Joe’s. Is he in trouble!”
“I’m sorry mister but there has been a mistake and my brother took the Jeep without me knowing. I am sorry for your trouble.”
“Why did Emerald take the Jeep?”
“Because he and Jennifer wanted to go on a beach run with some friends. This type of thing happens to Emerald when he gets with this girl. He becomes irresponsible and does silly things. Do you suppose it is love?”
“Well, I suppose it could be. Love will make you do some foolish things.”
“You guys will have to step outside. I am going to lock up now. I have been here since 5 a.m. and I’m ready to leave. Marcus and Navette again apologized for keeping him so late and they understood his desire to leave. Anyway, Emerald would be here shortly. He was at Navajo Joe’s when Navette had called.
Emerald drove up and the headlights shined directly onto Navette and Marcus.
“I hope you guys had a good time.” Navette said as she was climbing into the passenger seat. Marcus made his way past Navette and climbed into the back seat behind her.
“We did.” Emerald said. “But, I now feel bad about leaving you guys stranded. I had intended to have the Jeep back before you left.”
“Couldn’t you have asked first? Never mind, just get us home.”
Marcus stayed quite during this confrontation. He was just happy that Navette found the Jeep. “Life is good,” he thought.
The words didn’t last long. Navette turned a glance at Marcus and he was reclined back into his seat and this time Navette felt sure he was napping. But, his eyes opened as she was turning back around. He was tired, but not asleep. He was thinking about the early morning and the sunrise service. He had not been to such a service in a good while - since he and his mother would go when he was just a child. He knew this would be nothing like that experience though. This time he would be going to a huge and famous church.
Arriving back at the house, everyone quietly entered and made their way to their respective bedrooms, trying not to disturb Peter and Bright. It would be only a few hours until they would be leaving for the sunrise service. All went directly to bed in hopes of getting some sleep before Peter woke them.
Marcus, however found himself thinking about the day, how much he had enjoyed the time with Navette. Even though they had a terrible beginning, the day turned out well. In fact the day was so eventful that it seemed like three different days. The first part of the day brought the suspense, physical aspects, fear, and remorse. The second part was like meeting a new family and sharing bits of family traditions. The third part was tightening the bond between him and Navette. This had been a day of rivalry, revelry and romance. Marcus thought this was “a good day.”
“Emerald, Navette, Marcus – We leave for sunrise service in thirty minutes. Ok, guys give me a sign.”
“I’m up Dad.” Navette was the first one to give Peter the response he was looking for. Shortly after Emerald called Peter from his Blackberry to let him know that he was awake. Marcus had heard Peter and then Navette but didn’t know how to respond, so he didn’t. Navette, not sure if Marcus had heard Peter’s wake up call, went and knocked on Marcus’s door, then opened it and partially stepped in and called to Marcus.
“Marcus, are you awake?”
“Yes, but isn’t it awfully early?”
“Don’t you remember that we are going to sunrise services today?”
Marcus did remember and he couldn’t tell if he was excited or fearful about the service. But, he needn’t share this with Navette now, he just needed to respond. “Thanks for reminding me.”
It wasn’t long until Peter was again heard shouting: “Is everyone ready?”
Emerald, Navette and Marcus exited their room like the three musketeers ready for battle. One, two, three and away we go. They made their way down the stairs and gave the salute to Peter that indicated that his orders had been followed and they were ready to proceed.
Navette was still a little angry with Emerald but decided to invite him to ride to the service with her. It was a good move; Emerald continued to show a change of attitude which Navette was noticing. She wanted to encourage this change as much as possible. Emerald accepted her invitation.
“Marcus, this time you sit in the front seat and I will ride in the back.”
Navette noticed this generous remark. “Emerald, you are a changed man.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just take it as a compliment.”
It was still dark and the temperature was chilly. The Jeep was not the best vehicle for freeway driving. Emerald was getting some wind from where the window was not completely covering the opening.
“Marcus, would you mind closing the window?”
Marcus had just a little touch of claustrophobia and reluctantly closed the window. Marcus had always left a window cracked when riding in an automobile. But, he understood Emerald’s need to block the wind.
“Jennifer just couldn’t quit talking about you Marcus; you made quite an impression on her.”
“What do you mean, couldn’t stop talking about him?” Navette revealed just a little portion of jealously.
“Well, I had been talking about Marcus and the incident with Johnny yesterday morning and I guess when she finally met him, his presences solidified the person I had been talking about and it made quite an impression on her. So much that I became jealous.”
“You jealous? I can’t believe that.”
Navette was making light of this because Emerald was constantly showing signs of jealously. At least, before yesterday. Navette swelled with jealously also. Especially since Marcus made the comment last night about open relationships. Even though it was in response to a facetious statement that Navette had made. She did notice last night that there was a little spark between Marcus and Jennifer.
“Is Jennifer seeing anyone on a regular basis?”
“Not really. She has dated one of the guys in the band some, but she says that he is just a little too weird for her. He likes those games like “Grand Theft Auto,” which is something she detests.”
“She has been a friend for a long time and we remained friends even after we stopped dating. I thought that she had changed, but maybe it was me that changed and not her. I think this incident with her liking Marcus has made me realize the feeling I have for her is still there.”
Was this Navette’s brother or is it an imposter? This is more like the Emerald of high school years. She had thought he had lost all feelings for anyone except himself, but now she thinks he sees something in others that he advocates.
Marcus decided that he should join in the conversation and say something in support of his feelings toward Navette. Not that it was necessary. He was just feeling the desire from within his heart.
“Emerald, I love your sister very much, and I have no interest in Jennifer, other than, calling her a friend. So Emerald there is no need to be jealous.”
This warmed Navette’s heart; however, she still felt a deep concern over someone else’s interest in Marcus. Maybe not jealously, but a little possessiveness still remained. It was now daylight and they were getting close to their exit.
“Alright boys we need to find the exit. I lost Dad a good ways back. I don’t know the address or even the street name to use the GPS, but, the Silver Cathedral is visible from the freeway. Just help me look for it because the exit is before the cathedral and not past it. It will be to the left of the freeway.”
“I’m not sure what it will look like.” Marcus said.
“Oh, you will know it when you see it. It looks like silver, but it is all glass.”
“There, I see a huge reflection up ahead.”
“That’s it. And there is my exit.”
Navette took the exit and then the signs appeared directing them to the Silver Cathedral. The traffic was heavy. This meant that many people were going there for this service.
The Church sat high upon a hill but once they turned off the freeway they lost sight of it. The signs were easy to see and they had no difficulty knowing when to turn. In fact, it seemed like all they had to do was follow the line of traffic in front of them. “Look there are Mom and Dad.” The familiar white Lexus was three automobiles in front of them. However, the two cars in front of them were also white Lexuses.
Peter pulled into the first parking space he saw and Navette pulled in beside him. Peter got out of the car and said to Navette. “I see you were able to keep up with me.” Navette just motioned with her head to affirm.
It was a long walk to the Cathedral and everyone was walking with a very spirited pace. Once there, it was a remarkable scene. The sun was bouncing off the glass like a facet of a diamond reflecting light. It seemed like everyone arrived at the same time and they were entering through the double doors like ants entering their nest. “Just grab a seat.” Peter said, pointing to the first seats that were available. It seemed like all entering behind us were doing the same: like it was a ritual. It didn’t take long for the building to be filled to capacity. Marcus looked at his watch and it was 6:29: The service would start in one minute. Just then the organ began to play. There was a massive series of pipes extending upward; some almost touching the ceiling. This sound was something that Marcus had not heard before. It was bellowing through those massive pipes like the veracious roar of a lion. It stopped ever so suddenly; however, it must have done so purposely, to get their attention. Marcus looked at his watch again and it was exactly 6:30.
A choir began to sing and their voices filled every inch of the building. No way could you do anything other that watch and listen. Dr. Shuber always has a guest and this morning it was a vocalist that no one had heard before. Dr. Shuber however, gave him enormous accolades with special mention to his vocal capabilities. Those in attendance were just wondering why they haven’t heard of him before today. Normally Dr. Shuber interviews a well known guest and then he will have them perform. But, this time, he wanted the guest to perform first. The well-dressed gentleman stepped up to the microphone and the orchestra began to play. When he began to sing, the whole crowd began to gasp and applaud for they had never heard anything as beautiful as the sound that was coming through this persons vocal cords. Why, why has no one heard of this remarkable voice? The crowd continued to applaud and you could hear shouts: bravo, bravo. When the gentleman finished his long and well performed arias the crowd continued to clap and shout accolades of amen and bravo for another minute or two.
Dr. Shuber came to the microphone and said to the crowd: “Now you understand why I wanted you to hear him first.” The crowd continued to clap and shout amen. Dr. Shuber came to the microphone and instructed the crowd with these words. “If you will settle down I will tell you who this gentleman is and where he has been all his life.” The crowd immediately settled down: so quite that you could have heard a whisper. “His name is Paul Potts. He is a mobile phone salesman from South Wales. Remarkable, is he not?” The crowd started the clapping again only this time in unison. They were requesting another song. Dr. Shuber told the audience not to worry they would get another song from Paul later in the service. The crowd took this to mean it was time for Dr. Shuber's message and that Paul would be back later. The crowd settled down, after all Dr. Shuber was a noteworthy speaker and this is why the crowd came. Dr. Shuber delivered a wonderful message of the cross and why Jesus Christ is our reason for the season. The message reached deep inside Marcus and reminded him of his many years without attending services, he now felt he belonged back in church.
Paul came back for one last song and this time it was a traditional favorite: Easter Song. This was even more beautiful than the first song and left the crowd stunned. After the crowd settled down, they were dismissed and every one left spiritually rejuvenated.
Peter, Bright, Navette, Emerald and Marcus left with very little to say. Peter looked at them with joy in his face and said to them all: “What a great day this is.”