I DID IT! I survived! Hunter Mulder officially completed her first year of school. Strike up the band and let's break out the ginger ale. I feel like celebrating. They said it couldn't be done, but I proved 'em wrong. /And/ I did it with style. Totally blew the Honours Averages out the window for my class. Even Dad was impressed.
Speaking of, Dana said he ran out of here a few minutes before Gram dropped me off. He didn't tell her where he was going (Nothing out of the ordinary there), but he wasn't agitated or acting weird (Like anyone could tell the difference). I wasn't worried since Dana wasn't.
I sensed him before he opened the door; I had to adjust myself because of all the energy radiating from him. He looked more excited than Q2 at mealtime. Anyway, he closed the door and walked straight to the middle of the room. Poor Dana. I could tell she was preparing herself for another long case in some forgotten place. Her shoulders slumped for a minute and then lifted as she accepted her fate. "Nice to know someone around here really can appreciate a long lunch."
Dad shrugged out of his black trenchcoat (Does anyone know why they wear these things when it's like 90 degrees out?) and turned to her with a puzzled look. "Huh?" The man can be so poetic when he wants. "Oh, sorry, Scully. It took a while waiting in line."
"In line for what?"
We should have known he had something planned with how he sidestepped the question. "So, Squirt. How does it feel to have a whole year under your belt? I bet right now you're happy we put you in school."
Is he for real? Yeah, right. "Keep saying that and maybe someone will believe your delusions." And maybe Santa Claus really does exist. Oops, I forgot. Never mind. "I suppose I'm as happy as anyone can be who's just been released after torture." I smiled my most wicked smile. "And I owe it all to you." If I wasn't hoping for some brothers or sisters in the future, guess who'd be getting a couple of sizes too small briefs for Father's Day.
"Hehe." He seemed nervous all of a sudden. I wonder why? "Are you ladies about ready to go?"
"To go where?" Dana was playing it safe. Always best when dealing with Fox Mulder. "And why were you standing in line earlier."
Dad sighed. He knew he was going to have to tell us what was up or Dana wasn't going to let us leave. "All right. I was only trying to surprise two of my favourite ladies, but I guess you don't trust me enough to follow." We both gave him /the look/. "Umm, silly thought." Another sigh. Boy, this must be major. This was more emotion in the last five minutes than the whole month of May. "To celebrate the successful completion of the school year by my daughter, I have reserved us a table for an early dinner at her favourite restaurant. I have also, through great turmoil and strain, procurred three tickets to the movie, "The Lost World" on its opening night."
I screamed as I launched myself at him. I couldn't believe he had gotten tickets! All the theatres around had been sold out since the beginning of the week and even the screenings they were doing to take care of the overflow sold out within minutes. This was so great! I love Jeff Goldblum. He's my new favourite actor since the other one married the bimbette. I don't care what /anyone/ says; her parents had to be on some pretty amazing stuff to name her after a beverage. "How?"
"I have my ways." He winked at Dana. "So, now will you follow me?"
"As long as it isn't to some strange, unknown island where the animals really get /into/ the visitors, sure. Wouldn't miss it for the world."
We gathered our things and headed for the door. "You know, Scully. There have been reports of strange animal lifesigns on ...."
6:23 pm
At first, when Dad had suggested we head to the theatre early, I thought he was exaggerating about the crowds. I mean, it wasn't like this was the premiere of another Star Trek movie or anything. But, when we arrived, I had to revise my opinion. The place was packed and over half of the 24 screens were showing it. My dad flashed his tickets and the usher showed us to our line. We were like seventh in place which kind of guaranteed us some pretty good seats. "Would you ladies like something from the concession stand before the mad rush?"
Dana and I could only stare at him. After /that/ meal, how could he possibly have anywhere to put it. "No, thank you, Daddy." I decided to score some Brownie points with Dana. "I really don't think you should be getting anything from there either. Though it might say it's low cholesterol, that popcorn oil could still fell a cow. And, the wieners used for the hot dogs aren't 100% beef; heaven knows what they made them out of. And, don't get me started on those syrup-fests they call sodas."
"I think he gets the idea, Hunt." She was laughing. Hard. "I am impressed; I couldn't have done better myself."
"Yeah, I now know who she's been spending too much time with."
6:55 pm
Our seats were fantastic! Dead center. We'd be able to look the T-Rex right in the eye. My dad was on one side of me and Dana was on my other. Either way, if it got to be too rough, I was covered with cringe-protection.
The audience started cheering and whistling as the lights lowered and the previews started. I began my list of things I wanted to see this summer. It's never too early to get promises from Daddy.
____________________________________"Oh, now. I can't believe they'd actually have a spread like that and only give the kid a sandwich."
"Why not? You've seen how Hunter eats. She's probably just as finicky."
"Well, whatever she was, she's about to become lunch." I can be so bloodthirsty at times.
_____________________________________"Omigosh, there he is! He is so tall!"
"And not too shabby in the looks department."
"The ears take away from him. Kind of skewers the whole Leading Man persona."
"This from a man with that nose."
_____________________________________"I like her. She seems neat."
"That's only because she's just like you. The mouth on that kid rivals yours."
"Bet she can't set fire to your ties with a thought though."
"She's got you there, Mulder."
_____________________________________"You know, he's right there really isn't too much of a family resemblance."
"You don't look like me, but you're mine."
"Point noted and filed."
_____________________________________Does anyone else here find this a little like looking in the mirror? We've got a smart-mouth, but intellectually-enhanced daughter, a sarcasm-dripping man that no one ever listens to and a red-headed woman totally wrapped up in science. I think somebody's been reading my journals."
"Stop panicking. It's not completely true-to-our-life: the woman is his girlfriend."
"Your point considering where you are and who you're with on a Friday night." Neither one could say a word. Go fig!
____________________________________"Ewwwww."
"Oh, my."
"Anyone care to make a wish?"
____________________________________"Okay. This is getting weirder by the minute. Now, we have a bald guy calling the shots and an icky guy with an agenda all his own who has a nasty vice. The man and the woman are arguing with them. I don't know about you guys, but if Max Fenig shows up, I'm outta here."
"Hunter, relax. There is no way this even remotely resembles our lives."
"Uh, Scully. The guy with the cowboy hat. Does he look familiar?"
"Eeek!"
_____________________________________"I was just thinking about a trip to the little boys room, but after that, no way - no how."
_____________________________________"Does anyone think that guy kind of looks like a Rat?"
_____________________________________"Oooooh, I hate that music."
"Check out the puddles of water."
"How would you like to wake up with that breath all over you?
"I think he's trying to tell you something, Dana."
______________________________________"Run!"
"Yucky!"
"Well, it looks like Fenig's gone again. But something tells me he won't be returned this time."
"Not unless he's a natural fiber source."
_______________________________________"I can't watch this!"
"Run!"
"I feel sorry for that poor kid having to run all over the place after her dad."
"It would never happen like that in real life."
"Look. It's Phoneboy to the rescue!"
______________________________________"Are you two okay? For a minute after the screams, I thought I had lost you. It's all right, Hunter. Do you need me to lift the armrest so that I can hold you through the rest of the movie?"
"Uhhh, Dana. The girly scream didn't come from this /girl/."
"Well, it was scary! I couldn't help it."
______________________________________"Man, that kid can cry."
"Yeah, she probably just realized she did all of that work for only a fourth of the pay."
______________________________________"I can't believe he did that!"
"I wonder if that one's attached or like the other one?"
"Why do they have to be in the middle of everything?"
"You can't be serious, right?" Hmmmm. "Sammi was thinking about going to law school there. Maybe I should suggest this movie to her?"
_____________________________________"I hope that didn't bring back bad memories for you, Scully. But if it did, from the looks of it, it was over pretty quickly."
_____________________________________"I wouldn't go down there if I were you."
"As if you could give advice about not going into dangerous situations."
______________________________________"Awww. Look. A nice family moment."
"I wonder how much he got paid doing that cameo?"
"A whole helluva lot more than government wage."
"They really remind me of you guys after you've been on a case."
"Hunter!"
______________________________________9:15 pm
"That was great! Thanks, Daddy." I had to give him a hug. He had come through yet again.
Dana reached up and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Yeah, Mulder. Tonight was good."
"Well, I appreciate you both allowing me the privilege of escorting such lovely ladies for a night on the town."
"Ooooh, Dana. I think we've trained him well."
May 26th, Memorial Day
Vietnam War Memorial
1:07 pm
This was our third stop today. The whole extended family had gathered this morning in support of DA. We all wanted to let him know we honoured the friends he'd lost and how thankful we were that he had come home.
All through the stops and the watching of the parades and such, DA had held up pretty well, but I could feel the emotion rolling off of him here. It didn't take a person with gifts to notice how his hand shook as he outlined the names of his friends and comrades. Gram moved beside him and put her arm around him and just for a moment, he leaned on her. To me, that said a lot more about their relationship than anything else.
We watched as, together, they took a few steps back and DA raised his arm in a salute. He stayed that way for several minutes, with tears streaming down his face and I was never more proud of him.
I think everyone was. And, I'm sure none of our family will forget that day for a long time. I certainly won't and it's my hope that everyone else keeps it in mind as well.
The End