After All These YEARS

Thirty

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

No One's POV

As if Irene weren't freaking out enough on the patio, the appearance of a helicopter above, nearly sent her over the edge.

"It's a monster." Irene shrieked, as she pointed to the helicopter as it zipped by.

Lisa immediately took Irene's hand and assured her it was not monster but a flying machine. Seeing that she'd had enough, Lisa then rolled Irene back to her room, all the while trying to explain the various forms of modern transportation. Irene only half listened however as she was still quite rattled.

After Irene was eased into bed, she quickly fell asleep, having been worn out by her little trip to the patio.

Lisa at that point lowered her head and slumped into a chair. Lisa was most certainly getting the feeling, that things were not going as well as she hoped. "Fuck."

Irene slept for a while, waking just before lunch. Lunch was fine, save for the fact that Lisa was forced to explain what Jello was. Lisa hated Jello more than any other food in existence, her mom made it all the time for dinner when she was growing up. That wobbling food substance constantly reminded of her of tense, quiet and uneasy dinners at the Manoban household. It's never easy growing up in a house where your parents hate each other.

"So as I explained, it's called Jello. It comes in many flavors and can be used in different ways, in salads, as a dish by itself and many say it's fun." Lisa explained, in a rather matter of fact tone of voice.

"Oh..." Irene said as she put some on her plastic fork and watched it the red colored substance wobble. Irene then shoveled it in her mouth.

"I like this Jello. Do you like Jello?"

Lisa shuddered and glared at the rather innocuous looking half eaten square of Jello on Irene's tray. "No I hate it, its evil."

"So I shouldn't eat it then?" Irene said puzzled.

"No eat it if you like it, just keep it out of my sight. I can't stand to eat or even look at Jello."

Irene quickly finished off the Jello and continued with her lunch. Irene had calmed down slightly since this morning but still felt very uneasy and scared about what she had seen. Strange looking buildings and flying machines, she understood none of it.

Just after lunch, Ella arrived to see how Irene was doing. Lisa had previously explained to Irene who Ella was and how she had helped Lisa. Irene greeted the elderly woman with utmost courtesy and thanked Ella for her generosity.

Once Ella expressed a desire to hear more about the Victorian age and what it was like, Irene seemed to perk up a bit.

Lisa at this point excused herself to take a break and get something to eat. Though things weren't going so well, Lisa hoped once they got home things would go better.

Irene and Ella spoke for more than an hour and Ella very much enjoyed the 1st hand descriptions of live in the Victorian era. Irene enjoyed speaking of her time and what it was like. Ella just before she left thanked Irene for the wonderful talk and invited her to come over sometime and have dinner sometime after she got settled.

For the next three days Lisa did her best to acclimate Irene to the modern world. The next day Lisa went to the library and got some children's pictures books. She figured children's books would be the best way for Irene to learn. One book was of various types of houses and buildings. Another book was about all types of transportation and a third was just a pictorial book of various places in the world.