[November 21st] [The Rockford Files-related] Chronicles of a Friendship, 21

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Title: Chronicles of a Friendship, scene 21
Day/Theme: November 21st - The Gingerbread House
Series: The Rockford Files (using characters from The Queen of Peru episode)
Character/Pairing: Ginger Townsend, Lou Trevino, Mike Trevino, Nell and Bradford, a bunch of kids
Rating: K/G

Out of all the pieces, I've definitely got the biggest kick writing this one.


By Lucky_Ladybug

The weekend some of Lou and Mike’s cousins were in town visiting friends, Lou felt it would only be polite to visit them. Mike, he told Ginger, was already over there.

“I wouldn’t have to stay long,” Lou said. “You wouldn’t even have to go if you don’t want to.”

Ginger grunted. “I’m willing to meet more of your family,” he said, “but I don’t want to be around a long time, either.”

“Syl’s more in touch with Nell and Bradford than I am,” Lou said. “They’ve got three kids now. And they’ve already made friends with some more in the neighborhood.” He gave Ginger a weak smile. “So there might be as many as six or eight kids running around.”

From Ginger’s expression, he didn’t think that sounded pleasant at all. But he simply pulled his coat somewhat protectively around him as he said, “That’s to be expected from people who enjoy children as much as Nell and Bradford.”

“Do you still want to come?” Lou asked, hesitant. He wanted Ginger to be there; he liked for his extended family to meet his best friend, his adopted immediate family. But he didn’t want to put Ginger into a situation that Ginger would not be able to easily tolerate.

“I’ll come,” Ginger answered, and prayed he would not seriously regret it.
****
The sounds of children running wild in the house were audible from inside the car. As Lou shut off the engine, even he looked a little uneasy.

Ginger was absolutely tense. “It sounds like the Charge of the Light Brigade,” he said flatly.

“Oh boy.” Lou ran a hand through what was left of his hair.

“What about the people they’re staying with?” Ginger wondered. “Do they have children too?”

“Uh . . . you know, I didn’t ask,” Lou realized. His hand hovered near the door handle. “Should we give it a try or just drive off?”

Ginger stared at the house. “Do they know we’re coming?”

“Not specifically,” Lou said slowly, “but Mike might’ve mentioned something.”

Ginger considered that. “Let’s try it now, before we lose all courage. We might not have enough strength to come back another time.”

Lou nodded. “Okay. I just hope it won’t be too crazy for you. Or for me,” he added. “I like kids, but too much is too much.” He opened the door and stepped out while Ginger was getting out on the opposite side.

The door flung open before either of them could reach the porch. “Hiiii!” yelped a four-year-old boy in a white T-shirt and blue shorts. “I’m John. Who’re you?”

“I’m your cousin Lou,” Lou replied, gently amused by the kid while cringing at the volume of his greeting. At his side, Ginger winced.

“Oh,” said the kid, in a tone that could either mean he did or did not know who Cousin Lou was. “And are you another cousin?” he asked Ginger.

“No,” Ginger answered. “I’m your cousin Lou’s . . . friend.” He had been about to say mate, but had decided the British slang should probably be left behind in this case. They had enough trouble with their next-door neighbor misinterpreting their relationship without putting ideas in an impressionable kid’s head.

The boy immediately accepted that. “Okay!” he chirped. “Come in!” He held the door open wider.

“Thanks,” Lou said as he and Ginger headed for the steps.

Ginger leaned in close. “Are you sure that this tyke is your relation?” he asked low.

“Well . . .” Lou looked a bit helpless. “I know Nell and Brad have a John. But I guess I don’t know if it’s this John.”

They stepped into the entryway, and utter bedlam. Kids were screaming and running in glee all over the entryway, the parlor, the living room, and back again. Delightful smells were wafting from the kitchen, as well as less delightful, playful war cries and one of Ginger’s least favorite words: “Ooops.”

John was unfazed. “You can take your coat off in the house,” he chirped to Ginger.

“Thank you, but I’ll keep it on,” Ginger replied. Hopefully it would signal that they weren’t planning to stay long.

“You’re cold?” John said incredulously.

“I grew up where it was often cold,” Ginger grunted.

“It must be faaaar away from here!” John said, spinning around with his arms outstretched for emphasis.

“Quite far,” Ginger agreed, somewhat stiffly.

“Can you get your mother, John?” Lou interrupted, hoping that the mother was Nell and not some stranger—particularly since Lou had already introduced himself as a cousin.

“Sure!” John said, tearing past into the kitchen.

A shy girl with long, dark hair and a purple-and-white dress peeked out of the kitchen after seeing John race by. Smiling a bit, Lou bent to look at her. “Hi, Honey.”

“Hi,” she all but whispered with a little smile.

Ginger looked exasperated. Either they were talking far too loud or much too quiet. With all the pandemonium around them, he could hardly hear her.

The girl looked from Lou to Ginger, questioningly.

“I’m Lou,” said Lou. “This is my friend Ginger.”

That got somewhat of a bigger smile. “Your name is Ginger?” She looked to the Englishman, her deep brown eyes curious. “Really?”

“Yes,” Ginger responded.

She hugged her teddy bear. “I like it.”

“And what is your name?” Ginger returned.

“Mandy,” she answered.

“Is that short for Amanda?”

She nodded.

“Are you one of Nell and Bradford’s kids?” Lou wondered. He didn’t remember an Amanda or Mandy, but he supposed he could just be mistaken.

“No; I live down the street,” she said, pointing with her right forefinger.

“Oh. You’re just visiting, huh?”

“Yeah. The new kids are fun.” She turned, glancing back into the kitchen. “Excuse me.” And she hurried out of sight.

Lou straightened. “She’s a nice kid.”

“Now if they could all just be as quiet as her, we might actually be able to carry on more of a normal conversation,” Ginger said. “We might even be able to hear them without straining ourselves.”

“That’d be nice. Hey, do you see Mike anywhere?” Lou wondered, glancing around the rooms.

Ginger walked farther inside and to where the living room was in view. “Over there, in the corner,” he said. “I haven’t the vaguest idea what he’s doing.”

Lou came over to look. Mike was sitting at a table, scrawling something in a notebook while absently listening to the radio and half-singing along with the nonsensical lyrics.

Ginger gave Lou a flat look. Lou just shook his head in disbelief.

Picking their way over the kids and toys scattered in their path, they made their way to the corner. Mike was so occupied in his activity that he didn’t even look up. (Or perhaps all the whoops and hollers drowned out Lou’s attempt at calling a greeting.) On the radio, the song continued to blare away and Mike continued to sing along at various points.

I’m a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world
Life in plastic
It’s fantastic!

The song was filled with double entendres and other suggestive lines and Lou was soon cringing. Ginger simply stared at Mike, who seemed oblivious to what he was hearing and occasionally singing along with. “My brain has been broken,” Ginger told Lou.

Lou shrugged helplessly.

As they arrived, Ginger crossed his arms and stood over Mike. “Do you have any idea of the utterly mindless drivel you’re spouting?”

Mike jumped a mile, the pencil almost flying out of his hand. When he realized that Ginger was standing right next to him, he instantly began to imitate the color of a beet. “Uh . . . hi, Ginger. Lou. The tune’s catchy. I’m not even paying attention to the words! I guess they’re getting stuck in my head anyway?”

Lou reached over and snapped off the radio. “Yeah, they are. And if you don’t know what you just sung, I’m not sure I wanna tell you.”

Mike flushed even deeper. “Nell and Brad are in the kitchen,” he offered, deciding a change of subject was definitely in order. “They asked if you were coming, Lou, so they’ll be happy to see you.”

“Is their kid John running around in a white shirt and blue shorts?” Lou asked.

“I . . . think so,” Mike said slowly. “Actually, Lou, there’s so many kids running around here that I’m having a really hard time keeping track of who’s who.”

“No kidding.” Lou peered at the notebook page. “Hey, what’s this?”

Mike perked up a bit. “Well, remember how Ma and our aunts used to make these gingerbread houses for the holidays?”

Lou nodded. “Yeah.”

“Nell wanted to know if I could remember them well enough to draw one,” Mike said. “The kids want to make them today and she thought it’d be neat if they looked like the ones she grew up with.”

“Oh.” Lou turned the notebook to face him more. “Hey, this is pretty good, Mike. If it was colored in, it’d look good enough to eat.”

Mike looked pleased at the praise. “You really think so?”

Lou nodded. “Yeah.”

Ginger examined the sketch as well. He had to admit, it really was quite well-done. “I wouldn’t have expected this of you, Michael,” he remarked.

Mike wasn’t entirely sure if Ginger was being as positive as Lou was, but from the tone of his voice, Mike was tentatively going to decide that Ginger liked it too. “I’ve always kind of liked drawing,” he said with a shrug. “With me it’s just a hobby, though. You and Lou have to draw things for work sometimes, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Ginger was startled from further conversation—if he would have made any—by the sudden appearance of Nell. “Oh! Lou, it’s so good to see you!” she gushed, giving him a hug.

Momentarily startled, Lou recovered quickly and smiled as he hugged the tall woman back. “Hey, Nell. I wasn’t sure if you’d think I was Syl,” he half-joked.

“Oh, Syl still has a mustache,” Nell replied. Pulling back, she blinked at Ginger in confusion. “Are you Lou’s roommate?”

“Flatmate, I suppose,” Ginger responded automatically. Roommate to a British fellow such as he made him think of sharing a room instead of an entire dwelling-place. Since their release from prison, he and Lou only shared a room sometimes in their work-related travels, when they could locate one with two beds. Ginger continued, “But that sounds superficial, really.”

Lou nodded. “Ginger’s my best friend,” he said, “not just someone I share a house with.”

Finally recognition showed in Nell’s eyes. “So you’re Ginger!” she smiled. “I’m not sure what I was expecting after everything I’ve heard about you, but I have to say you don’t fit any of the vague ideas I had in my mind.”

Ginger grunted. “I get that reaction from many people.”

“Oh, I hope I didn’t offend you,” Nell stammered. “It’s just that I was expecting someone . . . taller? Maybe more muscular?”

Ginger gave a slight nod. “Many people do.”

“Don’t let that fool you,” Lou hurried to say. “A lot of people have got hung up on that and regretted it.”

Mike nodded in firm agreement. “You know that song Don’t Mess Around With Jim?” he blurted. “And this other guy eventually comes in and mops the floor with Jim? That’s Ginger. The other guy, I mean, the one they thought would lose. And instead he slices up and shoots Jim.”

Lou stiffened, suddenly getting the almost uncontrollable urge to facepalm. Mike was making Ginger sound like a monster. “Uh . . . yeah, but when Ginger attacks somebody it’s not anywhere as graphic as in the song,” he hurried to say. “And Ginger doesn’t go after people unless they need goin’ after. You know, like if they’ve hurt me and he’s being protective.”

Nell nodded, seeming unfazed. “We’ve heard you’re a very loyal friend, Ginger,” she smiled at him.

Ginger nodded as well, inclining his head slightly to the side.

Suddenly nervous, and worrying that he had made a faux pas, Mike rambled on, “Yeah, he is. I swear I didn’t mean anything out of sorts with what I said. I was just trying to say that Ginger is more formidable than he looks and that song made me think of him just now and . . .” He trailed off, seeing how Ginger was looking at him. Maybe he had better clam up before he dug himself deeper into a hole.

As Nell glanced to him, she caught sight of his sketch and beamed. “Oh, this is wonderful, Mike! And it looks easy to make, too. That’s good for kids with short attention spans.” She picked up the notebook and looked to Lou and Ginger. “The kids have been bouncing off the walls to make gingerbread houses. They’ve even rounded up several new neighborhood friends to join them. Will you be sticking around for it?”

Lou opened his mouth to respond when what looked a white spurt of whipped cream flew past the open doorway leading to the kitchen. “I don’t think so,” he said quickly. “We just wanted to drop by and say Hello while you’re here. We’ll see Brad and the kids and then I think we’ll have to go.”

Ginger was in complete agreement, although by this point he would be content to simply flee now instead of daring to stay another moment.

“Mike said you’re both really busy,” Nell said sympathetically. “And it is kind of wild in the kitchen, I know. You’re both wearing such nice clothes. It would be a shame to damage them.” She closed the notebook and carried it with her to the doorway. “I’ll tell you what—I’ll get Brad and the kids to come out here. They’re not allowed to take food out of the kitchen area, so there won’t be any edible projectiles.”

Lou chuckled. “Thanks, Nell.”

She smiled. “No problem.”

With that she headed for the kitchen, ducking as another white spurt flew overhead. “Hey! What have I told you kids about playing with food?” she scolded.

“What’s a gingerbread house then?” one little voice piped up.

Lou shook his head. “The kid’s got a point,” he mused. “I used to tell Mike that making gingerbread houses was the only time we were allowed to play with food.”

“At least you’re supposed to be making a skillful creation as opposed to being completely reckless,” Ginger grunted. “Although I never understood the purpose of turning food into artwork. It’s wasteful unless you’re going to eat it, and if you’re going to eat it, why bother shaping it into a decoration first?”

Lou smirked. “I’m not sure I ever got the point, either, but it was still fun.”

Finally Nell returned, with Brad and what looked like nearly a dozen children in tow. “Hello there, Lou,” Brad boomed with a smile.

“Hey, Brad,” Lou greeted, tightly gripping Brad’s hand. “It’s good to see you.” He indicated Ginger. “This is my best friend, Ginger Townsend.”

Brad reached to shake Ginger’s hand, and suddenly Ginger knew why Lou had gripped Brad’s hand so tight. One could be overwhelmed by Brad’s handshake otherwise.

“So you’re the infamous Ginger,” Brad smiled. “There’s a lot of stories going around about you in the family.”

“Perhaps some of them are even true,” Ginger half-quipped.

Lou stared at the procession of kids. “Most of these aren’t yours, are they? Last I heard, you had three.”

“That’s right,” Brad nodded. “Then our friends here have five, and the rest are from up and down the street. Say hello to Lou and Ginger, kids.”

An immediate chorus of “Hi, Lou and Ginger!” rang through the living room.

Off-key, but admittedly cute, Ginger thought grudgingly to himself.

“Nell tells me you two have to run out of here,” Brad said, peering at Lou.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Lou nodded. “We just wanted to stop in and say Hey. Good luck with your gingerbread houses.”

“We’ll need it,” Nell said with a brave smile.

Suddenly thinking of something, Lou said, “I hope you’ve got enough adults to supervise.”

Brad nodded. “There’s us, and our friends the Daniels, and Mike, if he’s staying.”

Mike hesitated, looking as uncomfortable at the thought of so many kids as Lou and Ginger felt. “Well, gee, I don’t know,” he said slowly.

Lou winced. He hated the thought of leaving them without enough people to go around. Three kids were overwhelming for one person. He wondered if four adults were enough to handle twelve kids. He looked to Ginger, not sure what to do.

Ginger scowled, receiving the silent message. If the kids were older it would probably be fine. But none of these looked older than six.

He could tell Lou worried that it wouldn’t be right to leave right now. But Lou also didn’t want to stay when he had told Ginger they could leave. Essentially, he was leaving the decision of what to do up to Ginger. And Ginger didn’t want Lou to worry for the rest of the day.

“Perhaps we could squeeze a bit more time out of our busy schedules to pitch in and assist,” he said at last, partially through gritted teeth.

Lou looked to him in a bit of surprise. “Are you sure, Ginger?”

Ginger looked back. “I believe so. What do you think?”

Lou slumped back with a smile that was both relieved and apologetic. “I think so.”

Mike stared at them. “Well, maybe I could stick around too,” he said slowly, not wanting to be outdone and wanting to help if Lou and Ginger were going to do so.

“Great!” Brad declared. “Then there’ll definitely be enough people to go around.”

The kids whooped, punching the air with their fists and rushing to the kitchen.

Lou looked to Ginger. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” he whispered.

“So have I,” Ginger said flatly.

Mike cringed.
****
Such feelings were definitely not unfounded. The next hours were filled with absolute madness. Ginger was relieved that he had determined to hide his coat in the coat closet, as well as to remove his suit coat and vest.

Somehow the gingerbread houses got made. But considering the fact that whipped cream and gumdrops and toothpicks were adorning every part of the kitchen as well as the houses, it really seemed quite a miracle that it had happened.

After hurried goodbyes and hugs from some of the kids (“Have a gumdrop!” John told them as he pressed the candy into their hands), Lou and Ginger finally managed to escape to the car. Exhausted, they slumped back in the seats.

“I’m really sorry about this, Ginger,” Lou groaned.

“Don’t be,” Ginger grunted. “I could tell you were concerned that we needed to remain. However . . .” He brushed a dollop of whipped cream out of his hair and shook it off his finger out the door. “We are never doing this again. Ever.”

Lou nodded in complete agreement. “At least we stopped Billy from finding out what would happen if he stuffed gumdrops up his nose and in his ears,” he mumbled. “Even if that made him put them all in his mouth at once, instead.”

“But we weren’t able to catch the culprit who plugged up the kitchen faucet with a gumdrop,” Ginger returned. “Nor the imp who stuck gumdrops all over the tackboard.”

“Or the one who pasted them to the wall with whipped cream.” Lou took out the car keys and moved to start the engine.

Suddenly he was aware that Ginger was staring at him. “What is it?” he blinked. “They didn’t stick any gumdrops on me, did they?!”

“No,” Ginger said. “But,” he added matter-of-factly, “there’s a spot of whipped cream on top of your head.”

Lou’s jaw dropped. “Ohh . . . !” He pulled out a handkerchief and swiped it across his head. “Did I get it?”

“Yes.” Ginger leaned back and waited for them to leave.

Lou sighed, shoving the handkerchief back in his pocket before starting the engine and beginning to back out of the driveway. “. . . They are cute kids, though,” he said after a moment. “Kind of wild and adventurous, but cute. They don’t mean any real harm.”

“I suppose.” Ginger watched the house go by. Through the picture window in the parlor, he could see the kids waving like mad. “The only one who didn’t get into mischief on her own was Amanda. And even she got dragged into it by some of the others.”

“Speaking of Amanda . . .” Lou slammed on the brakes. He had just seen the quiet girl hurrying out the door and trying to get over to them.

She went to the passenger side and Ginger reluctantly opened the door. “I’m sorry everything was so crazy in there,” she said. “I know you didn’t really want to stay; you did it because your friend was worried that you needed to and you didn’t want him to worry.”

Ginger raised an eyebrow. “You’re an awfully perceptive child.”

“I don’t really like when it gets wild, either,” she explained. “And I’m really sorry that I let Billy and Tommy talk me into their idea of putting gingerbread on the wall. I knew I shouldn’t when I saw a piece up there.”

Ginger grunted. “It’s a pity you didn’t decide that before it got up there.”

“I know. Will you ever come around again?” she asked.

Ginger glanced at Lou, who answered. “Probably not. We were just here because Nell and Bradford are my cousins, and they’re going to be leaving soon.”

“Oh.” She shifted, looking even shyer. “May I hug you goodbye?”

Ginger imagined he looked fairly floored. He wasn’t sure what surprised him more—that she wanted to hug him even though she had perceived something of the truth about him or that she had asked first. John and a couple of the other kids had simply glomped, no questions asked.

“Yes,” he said at last.

She beamed and leaned in, hugging him gently. Then, pulling back, she went around to the other side of the car. Lou opened that door and she hugged him as well. Lou hugged back.

“You’re both nice people,” she declared. “I wish you’d come again.”

“Well . . . maybe if Nell and Bradford come back,” Lou said. Glancing quickly at Ginger, he added, “Or we could just come to see you sometime.”

“Would you?” Her eyes sparkled with hope. “I live back there.” She pointed. “There’s just three houses after the Daniels’ house and mine.”

“We’ll see,” Ginger said gruffly.

“There’d just be me,” she promised. “Not everyone else.”

Ginger nodded. “Then perhaps.”

Encouraged, Amanda stepped back onto the sidewalk. “Okay,” she smiled. “Goodbye!”

“See you around,” Lou replied.

“Goodbye,” Ginger echoed.

Shutting the car doors, they continued their journey down the street.

Lou smiled a bit. “So you don’t object to the idea of going to see her sometime?”

“I suppose not,” Ginger acknowledged. “She certainly isn’t such a headache to be around.”

“It wasn’t all nuts,” Lou said. “Sometimes it was kind of fun, wasn’t it?”

Ginger was about to retort, but paused and fully considered the notion. “There was something pleasant when things were quiet enough to think,” he conceded. “It was a welcoming atmosphere.”

“Yeah.” Lou nodded. “It feels like that when families and friends are having good, wholesome times together.”

Ginger settled into the seat. “I’ll be content to experience it when just the two of us are having good, wholesome times together,” he declared.

Lou fully agreed. “How about we have a relaxing evening?” he offered. “We can pick up a pizza and just chill out with a good movie at home or something.”

Ginger considered that and nodded in approval. “Let’s.”