Meanwhile, the celebrity deities were having quite a conversation. Zeus said, “Well, I’ll be. The last time Hera took this much interest in anyone, it was Jason and his Argonauts, and that was to pursue her own interests. I had no idea she was so upset over Europa.”
“Ah, a woman scorned.,” Isis replied.
“I thought I’d bust a gut when Bill started flirting with Hera,” Mercury chuckled.
Zeus exclaimed, “Who did he think he was?”
“Take it easy,” Isis warned. “Don’t throw any thunderbolts. He was just nervous and couldn’t think of anything else to say.”
“No offense, Zeus, but Hera wasn’t all that appealing. She was about one half step up from a bag lady and smelled twice as bad,” Mercury chuckled.
“Don’t be disrespectful. She is the queen of Olympus,” Zeus reminded him.
Isis countered, “But she’s got a great sense of humor!”
“Maybe,” Zeus sniffed, “but I think this was beneath her dignity.”
Sitting on Demeter’s couch, Hera snorted, “Beneath my dignity? I bet he’s not thinking about my dignity when he makes those puppy dog eyes at Isis.”
Demeter said, “Well, it’s after five. That’s means it’s happy hour and I’ve worked up quite a thirst.”
After a couple of martini’s the goddesses were glad to see the contestant’s train pull up to Dortmund, but even more relieved when Bill, Jane and all their luggage were standing on the platform.
Bill said, “I’ve got to find a phone. Let’s just hope they’re at the hotel.”
He picked up one of the bags and Jane said, “What are you doing?”
“I was going to move everything a little closer to the station.”
“But there’s a bench here. Just leave me be.”
“There’s bench down there too and it’s in the shade.”
“Maybe so, but I can’t carry myself one inch further, much less a piece of luggage.”
“Come on, I’ll carry the luggage. I’ll even carry you.”
“Well, if you carry the luggage, I might make it.”
“That’s my girl.” After transporting the luggage to the shaded bench, Bill sat next to his wife with a concerned look on his face. “Are you going to be OK?”
“I don’t suppose they’d have a Dr. Pepper in the terminal.”
“Probably not, but I’ll see what I can find.”
Bill was gone for awhile, but he came back empty handed. “I can’t believe this!! These guys are crazy. They wouldn’t take American money.”
“Well, this isn’t exactly a gateway city.”
“I could have understood if it were just coins, but I offered one guy a $10 bill for a can of Coke. He just said, ‘nein.’”
Jane shook her head, “Thank you for trying, but you did get Ludgar didn’t you?” Bill nodded. “How long will it take for someone to get here?”
“Actually he didn’t say. There was a lot going on in the background. You know they’re having the rehearsal dinner.”
Not much happened after that. The celebrity deities recapped the highlights of the journey up to that point and Demeter poured some more martinis.
Then a small car careened into the Dortmund parking lot. Two men got out and scanned the platform. Bill jumped up and waved. “Are you Ludgar’s friends?” The driver shouted.
Bill nodded and started gathering luggage. Jane would have picked up a bag, but Bill said, “Just get in the car. These guys can help me.” It wasn’t that easy. Only two bags fit in the trunk. The rest had to be placed around the passengers in the car. Even the driver had a bag in his lap.
Hera stood. “Well, it’s been a fun day, but I need to get home. I need to have something ready when Zeus comes home for dinner or I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Demeter saw her friend to the door and watched as Bill and Jane arrived at the 5 star hotel in Bad Laar. Tammy saw them come through the door and greeted them, introducing the few guests who’d lingered at the rehearsal dinner. She finished up by saying, “I’m afraid there’s not much left on the buffet. Should we order you something?”
Bill assured Tammy they weren’t at all hungry and Jane’s eyes bored holes into him. Jane fell onto a nearby sofa and tried to make small talk, but she was barely coherent. Bill went off with Ludgar to get his key. Then he returned with bellhops to carry the luggage. Demeter turned off the scrying bowl.
jane sadek 