Snowstorm Author; Eileen Thomson Email: indigotoast@yahoo.com Rating: PG Summary: A July Nicfic Challenge story, using the words, bohemian, duchess and leech Authors Notes: The finished product you see benefited from the expert handling of Suzanne and Linda. Are you tired yet? --+-- Finished for the day, Nick gladly leaves Allgeheny Court House. He stops at the top of the stairs and is transfixed at the streets covered in snow. He takes a deep breath. The way the snow cleans everything and the way it smells, is something that Nick loves. Alvin is standing out in the snow trying to get his coat fastened. "Hey, Alvin. Your car still in the shop?" "Yes, today of all days!" "I have to drop some stuff at my father's house. I'll be glad to give you a lift." "Sure you don't mind?" "Not a bit. Which is the best route to take?" "The Duchess Bypass would be easiest, I think" Nick puts on Mega Death and starts the car. Alvin rolls his eyes and thinks. *Small price to pay for getting home tonight.* They have just come off the bypass when traffic slows and then stops. A traffic cop comes up to the car and tells them a lorry has jack-knifed and they will be held up for a while. Alvin turns to Nick and asks him to put on better music if they are going to be stuck for any time. Nick turns off the CD and turns to Alvin. "So, talk to me Alvin. Tell me a story to pass the time." Nick is feeling quite light hearted and is happy to sit and watch the snow come down. He knows they are not far enough out to get seriously stuck. "Tell you a story! Who do you think I am? Your father? "Okay, then, Trivia: Did you know that a can of Diet Coke will float in water but a can of Regular will sink?" Alvin looks at him in amazement. "What kind of rubbish is that?" "Trivia. I like trivia!" "Why?" "Because at times like this I can annoy the living daylights out of people like you." Nick roars with laughter. For a while they sat in silence. Then Alvin started to talk. "When I was just starting out, I was not completely sure I was in the right job. I met a young boy called Stephen. He was bright, and a good kid. His family had all been killed in a car crash the year before. He had no relatives and was put into the system. I could not come close to imagining how he felt. father, mother and two brothers all killed in one crash. His legs were crushed and had to be amputated by the knees. My heart went out to him, but I never seemed to be able to find the words to comfort him. Of course Social Services couldn't find him a permanent home and he was placed in the care of a couple who fostered out quite a lot of kids. We didn't have a clue what was going on in that house until Stephen hanged himself. They were all being systematically abused. It was the worst time of my life. I failed him." Nick looked over in horror. "What made you think of him just now?" "He lived just over there; every time I pass, I resolve not to let another kid down." "Alvin. You didn't let him down. Social Services should have picked up on something. It wasn't your fault." "I live with it!" Nick was quiet for a moment then said. "Trivia: Did you know that a Japanese artist once made a copy of the Mona Lisa entirely out of toast?" "That can't be true!" Silence fell again, then Nick started to speak. When I was thirteen and at boarding school there was a teacher who scared me to hell and back. He never touched me but he always held onto me for long enough to make me nervous. I was going home to my Dads for a few days at mid term break and this teacher came up to me. He put his hand on the small of my back, and I just stood there. I was petrified. Too scared to even walk away. I suppose because I didn't move he thought he would go further. He moved his hand down my back and touched my butt. That got me moving I can tell you! When I got to my Dad's house I was going to tell him but I chickened out at the last minute. I went to bed that night and woke up screaming and trying to punch the living daylights out of my Dad. He took me downstairs and made me tell him everything. The next day I was left with Judge Stanton and my Dad went off, all the color leeched out of his face and he looked real scary. He came back later and told me that the teacher was gone and he would not be getting another place with children. I suppose that was the first I knew that my Dad really cared for me. The snow fell softly outside the car and Nick and Alvin sat, each lost in their own thoughts. Nick broke the silence. "Trivia. You'll like this one Alvin. 84.000 people are injured by teapots each year." "Oh I don't believe you, Nick. Why do you fill your head with such nonsense?" Nick howled with laughter. "Come on. Your turn" Alvin turns to Nick. "I was in love once. Her name was Ruth. She was a free spirit and I adored her. She dressed the way she thought a bohemian should dress. All scarves and jangling bracelets. She looked more like a gypsy, but she was a happy soul. She left me because I was too serious, too conforming, too restricting. I saw her a few years ago and she has five kids." Alvin stops talking and looks intently at the young lawyer in his charge. " Nick, Lulu is not for you." Nick looks shocked as Alvin continues. "She will burn you out. No, don't say anything, hear me out. Lulu is one of the finest and most caring people I have working for me, but she is needy, and you can't give her all she needs, so, she will pick at you until you bleed. She could run around your emotions with a chain saw and not notice that she is hurting you. She will take everything you have to give, then leave you because it's not enough. Better that you stick with Melissa. She has a kind heart and will be there for you when you need comforting." Nick stares at Alvin shock on his face. "How do you know about… Melissa?" "Hydrangea, Alvin says knowingly. "I'm Thespian." Nick groans. "How many more people do I know at this Club?" "Come visit us, come and see." Nick is alone with his thoughts and they are not particularly good. *Alvin a member! Who next he wonders.* "Trivia?" "No more junk or I'm walking home," Alvin laughs" "Did you know? Sister Boom-Boom was a transvestite nun who ran for mayor in San Francisco." Nick rolls about in his seat tears starting at the corner of his eyes. "I like that one." "I always thought you were a bit unstable, but I know now for damn sure!" "You know Alvin, I remember my Mom made up a story about a house, and in it, it had a room for everything. And a room for Nick" he whispers softly. "The strange thing is I can't ever remember my Mom actually speaking about that house--- just my Dad. What do you think that means?" Alvin looks at Nick. "Maybe it is important for you to know that your Dad is in that house for you." Alvin pauses, worried in case he gets this wrong. "Nick, do you love your Dad?" The traffic starts to move just then and Nick says. "Last one." "No," groans Alvin. "Please, not another one." "I feel I just have to, chortles Nick. "Here goes. TADA! At the turn of the last millennium, Dublin, Ireland had the largest slave market in the world, run by Vikings." Alvin, his head in his hands, says, "Why on earth would you want to know that?" "Did you know that?" asks Nick "No, I didn't" "Then that's why I wanted to know it!!" "Just drop me here Nick it will be easier to get back onto the road for you." Alvin hops out of the car. Before he slams the door, he bends over and says, "Some unwanted advice for you. When you get in to your Dad's house, give him a hug." "Alvin, sometimes I don't like you very much but I respect you. I think that's better." Nick thinks about Alvin's advice on his way to his Dad's house. By the time he arrives he has made a decision. "Dad, I'm here, put the coffee on. It was an horrific trip, and I could do with warming up." Burton comes out to meet Nick, and Nick puts his arms round him and hugs him briefly. Then he quickly says, "Going to the bathroom, won't be a minute." Burton stands in the kitchen and puts his hand to his face where Nicks had touched a moment before, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. "My boy!" Suzanne I added the bits you suggested and it looks much better for it. Thank you for making me look good!!!