the tree

the young woman motioned the two
travelers to follow her and fonca
and speed stepped over the doorjam
and into a large foyer.

fonca surveyed the hall and
noticed that there was a huge
umbrella stand to the side in the
form of a giraffe with no head
but there was a red umbrella
sticking out of it fully opened
and following the line of the
umbrella fonca saw the giraffe's
head floating in a space above
the top of the umbrella.

fonca took it all in and followed
cub and the young woman into a round
circular room.

it had a plush pink couch which circled
half of the room and was situated under
a huge bay window.

the sun was streaming in
and the woman turned and put the baby
in a fenced in enclsoure which she called
a keepsake and the baby started to crawl,
stand and then finally settled down with
a small tall that made a popping noise
every time she nibbled on what appeared to
be an ear of what seemed to be some sort of
a biscuit that she found in the corner.

all right, said the young woman do sit down.
can i get you something to drink or perhaps
you are hungry.

no, said fonca that is all right.

speed looked at fonca.

and then spoke up.

yes, i could use something to drink
we have been out for a few hours
and we haven't had any lunch.

i'll have sam prepare somehting for you.

she picke dup a small white chess piece on
the board in front of her.

fonca looked it was the knight
and the young woman gave it one shake
and the sound of a soft bell sounded.

almost immediately there was
a young black man
standing in the doorway.

fonca looked at him
he seemed familiar
but fonca knew she had never met him before
cub went over and sniffed his leg pants
and decided there was nothing unusual about him.

the black man was about 50
and he had on a green shirt with rolled up sleeves
and his pants were black. the collar was open
at the neck.

you rang marilyn

the young woman looked at sam annoyance in her eyes
but she said nothing.

yes, said marilyn
we have two guests and i would like you to prepare
a late lunch for them.

is chicked salad okay said the woman to
fronca

yes, that is fine said fonca

put mine in a bowl and leave out the onions said speed.
i don't like onions.

and bring them something to drink.

what would you like said the woman

water the two travelers said at the same time.
water it is then said marilyn.

sam smiled at the two
he was sooo dark said fonca
and she couldn't help but notice his white teeth.
she had never seen such white teeth.

sam caught her looking at his teeth and
he said, yes, they are white aren't they.

fonca was embarassed and looked away.

sorry she mumbled.

no,that is quite all right, said sam.

that's one of my two good features.

what;s the other said speed.

sam, looked at speed and said in
a low voice that speed had to strain his
ears to catch what he said.

and sam said with a twinkle in his eye.

why, speed he said, it's my infallible good humor
of course. i thought you would have guessed.

speed wrinkled his nose and looked hard at this
man.