The residence hall was cold and mostly empty save for the few students who stayed behind unable to travel back home for the holidays. So Xavier slept most all day Saturday not venturing off campus and late that evening alone in his tiny dorm room Xavier became bored listening to Radio 4, so he cracked open the Bible his sister Felina sent him. He fell asleep half way through the book of Ecclesiastes, resting peacefully under his down comforter, until he arose early the that Sunday morning. Xavier hurried to dress himself and call for a taxi to take him out to Heathrow where his sisters plane was scheduled to land around half past eleven. Xavier was anxious to see his sisters whom he had not seen since the following days after the accident at the St.Regis cup. His heart raced with anticipation as he waited outside the gate for the jumbo jet to land.
Now the plane was delayed for about twenty minutes, Xavier began to worry a deep stirring feeling of dread built up in his heart and mind as each minute ticked by, he waited impatiently for the plane to pull up to the jet way. Just as he grew more worried, right before he was about to go up to the desk and inquire as to the delay, the gate announcer came over the loud speaker saying 'Flight Number 4762 from Buenos Aires is landing and will be arriving at International Gate Number 48, shortly.' Here a relief swept over him and the group of people gathered there at the terminal. Xavier walked over to large glass wall of windows as he looked out on the tarmac watching the huge British Airways jet pull up to the causeway. After a few minutes the passenger began to disembark, but each one, to Xavier's shock, had a look of terror mixed with relief as they passed by running up to their loved ones embracing one another tightly. This was strange for all the passengers face's were pale as if they had all seen a ghost.
"My Brother!" Felina shouted as she laid eyes upon Xavier a note of stress in her voice.
"My Sisters!" he answered with a rich clear voice that did their frightened hearts good to hear.
The two attractive, well dressed, young ladies ran over to Xavier throwing their arms around his neck and weeping a little as they trembled in his arms. As he held them tightly to his body he felt the nervous anxiety in their energy so he asked "My darlings what happened? Everyone looks as if someone just walked over their grave."
"Oh God Xavier it was horrible!" Serena said through her tears.
Felina tried to stop shaking for a moment as she composed herself wiping away the little tears welling up in her eyes. "We were out over the ocean, the plane hit turbulence, we lost altitude." she said through panting breaths. "People were screaming! Babies were crying! I actually grabbed the knee of the gentleman sitting next to me, I think I drew blood with my fingernails." Felina said with embarrassment "See, that man limping away over there." she pointed out calling after the man saying "I am so sorry! Please forgive me sir!"
The man turned back with a nervous smile and said "It's quite alright madam, merely a flesh wound."
"I do not ever want to fly again!" Serena said her mind filled with thoughts of crashing into the Atlantic and never living to see her seventeenth birthday.
"Ssh, ssh, You are safe. You are here with me now. We are still a family. Everything will be alright." Xavier said as he comforted his sisters, whom he towered over and they too remarked how much taller, and tanner he was now since the last they had seen one another. So after a few deep, calming breaths the trio found the driver their mother had arranged to take them to the hotel, and out about town during the duration of the girls stay in London. Now were it not for the fact that Aphina, Xavier's mother, had taken away Xavier's car, the hired driver and sedan would not have even been necessary. Regardless Xavier and his sisters were relieved to get out of the airport. Now when Xavier learned his mother had booked two rooms at the Savoy for his sisters stay he was even more delighted. For though he had traveled all over the world and stayed at some the finest hotels with his family Xavier enjoyed the comfort and luxury of this hotel above all else by far.
His sisters were very tired from their perilous journey but the hunger in their tiny stomachs outweighed their need for sleep so the trio went out for a nice light lunch talking and laughing together, the girls telling him funny stories and the latest gossip from home. Xavier was all smiles as he sat next to his beautiful, dark eyed sisters whom he loved with all his heart and soul.
Then the conversation turned to Xavier when Felina and Serena asked how he was getting along at school, if he was able to make any new friends. "No, not at school really, they still treat me like an outsider." he sighed knowing his lack of his family's money and his nationality prevented him from socializing like he used to. "However," he gave a soft smile when he said "I have met someone, outside of the University."
"Oh?" Felina smiled "A nice young English girl perhaps."
"No, no. I met this guy named Norman Pierce, and he very well may have saved my life!" Xavier said as his sisters gave a strange look of confusion so he told them all "Remember when I called you crying, homesick, and you told me about the money you left in the bible for me?"
"Yes?" Felina said recalling the phone call and the money.
"Well, I will tell you, I went out that night for dinner and a few drinks and I ran into a spot of trouble." Xavier relayed the story of the night, however Xavier failed to relay any information about the jewelry they had taken and the money etc... Xavier was embarrassed and ashamed to let his sisters know just what exactly he was up to. Now as they listened to the tale Felina became upset by the 'revenge beating' her brother had received at the hands of those 'Goddamned Polo players' as she refered to them. Serena was just relieved her brother was alright.
"So where is this Norman? I would very much like to meet him and thank him for saving you." Felina asked thankful her brother had someone to help him when she was not there to protect him.
"I am sure he would love to meet the both of you too. I am always going on about you both. I am sure he feels as if he knows you already. I have shown him your photograph." Xavier told them and he was delighted to have the two of them meet his friend.
Now the plane was delayed for about twenty minutes, Xavier began to worry a deep stirring feeling of dread built up in his heart and mind as each minute ticked by, he waited impatiently for the plane to pull up to the jet way. Just as he grew more worried, right before he was about to go up to the desk and inquire as to the delay, the gate announcer came over the loud speaker saying 'Flight Number 4762 from Buenos Aires is landing and will be arriving at International Gate Number 48, shortly.' Here a relief swept over him and the group of people gathered there at the terminal. Xavier walked over to large glass wall of windows as he looked out on the tarmac watching the huge British Airways jet pull up to the causeway. After a few minutes the passenger began to disembark, but each one, to Xavier's shock, had a look of terror mixed with relief as they passed by running up to their loved ones embracing one another tightly. This was strange for all the passengers face's were pale as if they had all seen a ghost.
"My Brother!" Felina shouted as she laid eyes upon Xavier a note of stress in her voice.
"My Sisters!" he answered with a rich clear voice that did their frightened hearts good to hear.
The two attractive, well dressed, young ladies ran over to Xavier throwing their arms around his neck and weeping a little as they trembled in his arms. As he held them tightly to his body he felt the nervous anxiety in their energy so he asked "My darlings what happened? Everyone looks as if someone just walked over their grave."
"Oh God Xavier it was horrible!" Serena said through her tears.
Felina tried to stop shaking for a moment as she composed herself wiping away the little tears welling up in her eyes. "We were out over the ocean, the plane hit turbulence, we lost altitude." she said through panting breaths. "People were screaming! Babies were crying! I actually grabbed the knee of the gentleman sitting next to me, I think I drew blood with my fingernails." Felina said with embarrassment "See, that man limping away over there." she pointed out calling after the man saying "I am so sorry! Please forgive me sir!"
The man turned back with a nervous smile and said "It's quite alright madam, merely a flesh wound."
"I do not ever want to fly again!" Serena said her mind filled with thoughts of crashing into the Atlantic and never living to see her seventeenth birthday.
"Ssh, ssh, You are safe. You are here with me now. We are still a family. Everything will be alright." Xavier said as he comforted his sisters, whom he towered over and they too remarked how much taller, and tanner he was now since the last they had seen one another. So after a few deep, calming breaths the trio found the driver their mother had arranged to take them to the hotel, and out about town during the duration of the girls stay in London. Now were it not for the fact that Aphina, Xavier's mother, had taken away Xavier's car, the hired driver and sedan would not have even been necessary. Regardless Xavier and his sisters were relieved to get out of the airport. Now when Xavier learned his mother had booked two rooms at the Savoy for his sisters stay he was even more delighted. For though he had traveled all over the world and stayed at some the finest hotels with his family Xavier enjoyed the comfort and luxury of this hotel above all else by far.
His sisters were very tired from their perilous journey but the hunger in their tiny stomachs outweighed their need for sleep so the trio went out for a nice light lunch talking and laughing together, the girls telling him funny stories and the latest gossip from home. Xavier was all smiles as he sat next to his beautiful, dark eyed sisters whom he loved with all his heart and soul.
Then the conversation turned to Xavier when Felina and Serena asked how he was getting along at school, if he was able to make any new friends. "No, not at school really, they still treat me like an outsider." he sighed knowing his lack of his family's money and his nationality prevented him from socializing like he used to. "However," he gave a soft smile when he said "I have met someone, outside of the University."
"Oh?" Felina smiled "A nice young English girl perhaps."
"No, no. I met this guy named Norman Pierce, and he very well may have saved my life!" Xavier said as his sisters gave a strange look of confusion so he told them all "Remember when I called you crying, homesick, and you told me about the money you left in the bible for me?"
"Yes?" Felina said recalling the phone call and the money.
"Well, I will tell you, I went out that night for dinner and a few drinks and I ran into a spot of trouble." Xavier relayed the story of the night, however Xavier failed to relay any information about the jewelry they had taken and the money etc... Xavier was embarrassed and ashamed to let his sisters know just what exactly he was up to. Now as they listened to the tale Felina became upset by the 'revenge beating' her brother had received at the hands of those 'Goddamned Polo players' as she refered to them. Serena was just relieved her brother was alright.
"So where is this Norman? I would very much like to meet him and thank him for saving you." Felina asked thankful her brother had someone to help him when she was not there to protect him.
"I am sure he would love to meet the both of you too. I am always going on about you both. I am sure he feels as if he knows you already. I have shown him your photograph." Xavier told them and he was delighted to have the two of them meet his friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment