Growing Up (106)

Bella arrived at class early she had four classes today. Before class started a girl came in and asked for her.

"Sorry, Professor Cameron asks if you can come to his class at lunchtime please."

"Tell him I'll be there." Bella said.

She finished her History and English class before lunch then headed to her Business class to talk to her teacher. She assumed it was on the advance class.

David was sitting in his office when she came into the class.

"Come in Bella." He called out.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked.

"Yes, I want you and Zane to come to my house tonight for dinner. My mother wants me to bring Babs home and I think it would be best if you are with her."

"Let me check." Bella pulled out her phone.

"Hey, Miss me already today?" Zane said.

"Always but that's not why I called. Professor Cameron asked us to go with Babs to a dinner with his mother."

"When?" Zane asked.

"Tonight"

"Time?"

"What time tonight?" Bella asked David.

"Seven" he said.

"Seven"

"Bella I don't like this but if I don't go I know you will so count me in. Bella, we can't keep bailing your sisters out." Zane said.

"I know and Thank you. I'll see you tonight." Bella hung up.

"He agreed but was a little upset. You said you could protect my sister did you not?."

"I know this is the only help I need from you. She still does not trust me and I know she would agree to this dinner if you are there. I also know your husband would have me killed if I invited you and not him. Since you take a bodyguard everywhere."

"Ok, I'm going to lunch now." Bella then left.

She sat in the park to eat and read her book.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇ THE GLASS DOG cont.

Next morning he entered the wizard's room with the glass dog under his arm and set it carefully upon the table. It was a beautiful pink in color, with a fine coat of spun glass, and about its neck was twisted a blue glass ribbon. Its eyes were specks of black glass and sparkled intelligently, as do many of the glass eyes worn by men.

The wizard expressed himself pleased with the glass-blower's skill and at once handed him a small vial.

"This will cure your rheumatism," he said.

"But the vial is empty!" protested the glass-blower.

"Oh, no; there is one drop of liquid in it," was the wizard's reply.

"Will one drop cure my rheumatism?" inquired the glass-blower, in wonder.

"Most certainly. That is a marvelous remedy. The one drop contained in the vial will cure instantly any kind of disease ever known to humanity. Therefore it is especially good for rheumatism. But guard it well, for it is the only drop of its kind in the world, and I've forgotten the recipe."

"Thank you," said the glass-blower, and went back to his room.

Then the wizard cast a wizzy spell and mumbled several very learned words in the wizardese language over the glass dog. Whereupon the little animal first wagged its tail from side to side, then winked his left eye knowingly, and at last began barking in a most frightful manner—that is, when you stop to consider the noise came from a pink glass dog. There is something almost astonishing in the magic arts of wizards; unless, of course, you know how to do the things yourself, when you are not expected to be surprised at them.

The wizard was as delighted as a school teacher at the success of his spell, although he was not astonished. Immediately he placed the dog outside his door, where it would bark at anyone who dared knock and so disturb the studies of its master.

The glass-blower, on returning to his room, decided not to use the one drop of wizard cure-all just then. "My rheumatism is better to-day," he reflected, "and I will be wise to save the medicine for a time when I am very ill, when it will be of more service to me."

So he placed the vial in his cupboard and went to work blowing more roses out of glass. Presently he happened to think the medicine might not keep, so he started to ask the wizard about it. But when he reached the door the glass dog barked so fiercely that he dared not knock, and returned in great haste to his own room. Indeed, the poor man was quite upset at so unfriendly a reception from the dog he had himself so carefully and skillfully made.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇

At four David was waiting for Babs when she walked out of the Animal Shelter. He opened the passenger door and she slid in.

"Hello" She said.

"Hello, how are you doing?" David asked.

"Good, we got six dogs ready to be adopted today."

"Sounds good. Babs I need to ask you something, hear me out before you answer." David said.

"Ok" She said with a puzzled look.

"My mother threw a fit last night and the only way to calm her down was to promise to bring you to dinner tonight. I already talked to your sister Bella and Zane and her are willing to attend with you."

Babs sat there fiddling her hands. She thought back to her talk with her father. "Tell Bella she is not needed."

"Babs, please I really need you to trust me."

"I am not saying I won't go, I will go with you tonight. I don't need my sister to be there. I don't want to use my sister anymore. I also want to trust that you will protect me." Babs said.

"Ok, I can live with that. Call Bella." He said as he was driving.

Babs dialed and Bella answered right away.

"Hey, what's up?" Bella said.

"You and Zane will not be needed. Tell him thank you but you two spend some time together instead."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Zane already help me enough I don't need him to always protect me. Dad and I talked and this is between the grandmother and me."

Bella said goodbye and was glad her sister was finally growing up.