The Fantastic Voyage of Nattie Nevers

THE FANTASTIC VOYAGE OF NATTIE NEVERS

"If she rings that little silver bell again, I'm going
in there and - - -."

"Now Erin, remember she's just a sick old lady."

"It's not the bell, M'am. It's her. Like she's always
calling me, Frenchie. My home is in Kilkenny. I'm proud of
my heritage. Why can't she just call me Erin? It was a sad
day I left my Ireland and begin working for her"

"I know it's not easy, but she's not going to change.
All her life she's been head strong. We had a real French
maid from Paris. For 15 years Mom called her Fraulein.
Drove her crazy too. She does it just to irritate."

"It's a life long mean streak, that's what it is."

"Among the well to do it's called being eccentric.
Erin, she's not going to change. You'll either have to cope
with it or leave. The money's good?"

"Aye, but the abuse ---"

* * * * *

Nattie Nevers graduated from a prestigious Midwest
women's college in 1941. Her torrid love affair with a
wealthy young man lasted only a few months when he left for
the army and the battle fields of World War II. Weeks later
she found she was pregnant.

The father to be was elated at the prospects of a
family and informed his parents of the situation and his
intentions of marrying Nattie during his first leave. Four
months later his plane was lost while flying the hump in
Burma.

His parents accepted Nattie as a daughter-in-law. When
the twins were born, they showered her with attention and
money. They offered her their home and their name. She
banked their financial gifts for the welfare of the twins
but continued to live alone and raised the two girls as Kim
and Kelsey Nevers.

* * * * *

"Come in, Kim. I have something important to say to
you, and Kelsey, don't you interrupt with your stupid
questions. Frenchie, leave the room. When I want you, I'll
ring.

"Girls, I've got a lot of money. It started with the
small fortune your grand parents gave us when you were born.
I took that money and bet it on a young negro named Cassius
Clay. He was a pugilist with a winning spirit. People
criticized me for betting on him. He seemed a bit uppity
for them. But I wasn't marrying him, just betting on him to
win.

"Clay and I did all right. Even when he changed his
name to Ali something, I kept betting and he kept winning.
Soon you two can split up those millions after the lawyers
get through robbing me."

"Oh, Mom, ---"

"Shut up Kelsey, and listen.

"All my life I've been a traveler. Not just gawking
and taking pictures but participating, learning, enjoying.
Something you two never could do.

First trip was to Nepal. Katmandu. You were too young
to remember, but I remember. Lived at the monastery for
three months. Prayer wheels, Spartan surroundings,
studying, meditating, montras. One hell of a language to
master. But, by God, in the end I taught those monks what
the meaning of life is. If you know what I mean."

"Mother!"

"Shut up, Kelsey.

"Those guys just weren't going anywhere. Nice
religion, dedicated, peaceful, but if I went back today it
would be just the same, prayer wheels and meditation.

"Anyway, we went home and your grand-parents were
delighted to have you back. Ali won a couple of big ones,
and we were off again, this time to Paris.

"I thought that the world center for arts and social
refinement was just the atmosphere that we three needed. In
those two years while you learned French, I had my fill of
museums and national landmarks. This Merry Widow had a hard
time carrying on any affairs with two ten year olds in tow.
About the only thing I got out of France was the second
worse maid I ever had."

"Mother, I don't think you're being fair to Erin."

"Shut up, Kim.

"After Ali won us more gold, we went to Alberta. You
girls really loved the Dukhobors. After one year we were
speaking Russian and growing grain. Spirituality, concern
for each other, participating in communal life, it was
great.

"Remember their confrontation with the Canadian
Government? In protest we all took off our clothes and
paraded around naked? You girls really enjoyed the nudity.
The way you stood around and stared.

"Kelsey, don't even say it.

"Nudity may be the reason I left the Dukhobors. I
reached the age where I started to sag in front and behind,
and no longer felt comfortable parading.

"After you girls got married, certainly not to the men
I would have picked, I took that ten month, round the world
cruse. I saw sights and people ---. Had dinner with a
prostitute in Hong Kong. Showered under a waterfall in
Bali. Beat the washing with a stick at stream side.
Fingered leg irons and shackles on the Gold Coast. Slept in
a grass hut with seven people, two dogs, and a cow. Walked
a day in the Out Back and collapsed from the heat. Fished
with naked Indians on the Amazon. Cleaned a giant lizard
and ate it.

"When I got back from that trip I planned the rest of
my life. One year at home and two years abroad, and that's
the way I lived it. If only I could last to be two -- three
hundred years old. So many places. So many people. So
many cultures.

"I saw a doctor last week. He said my heart would give
me another thirty days if I was lucky."

"Oh Mother."

"Quit sniveling Kelsey. That's not what I asked you
here for.

"Travel has been my life --- my passion. Well most of
my passion. During the past few days I have been concerned
with the thought of some seed of immortality --- beyond that
of living through my children and their offspring by their
dim witted husbands.

"I have a plan so that I can travel for the next ten
thousand years. You remember my favorite statue, the white
marble Athenian woman. I bought her in 1957 in Greece. The
shopkeeper said she was an original and wanted two million
dollars. I said she was a cheap abused copy and would only
give two thousand. He snapped that up.

"Right now she is at the stone masons. A cavity is
being opened in her head. When I die, I want to be cremated
and the ashes placed in that cavity. The opening will be
plugged and hidden."

"Mother, I couldn't."

"I know you couldn't, Kelsey. That's why I have
arranged with lawyers to handle the details. They'll do
anything for money."

"So then what, Mother. Do you want to be sent on
another round the world tour?"

"Close Kim. But I'm not interested in a tour. I want
to be a part of a culture, learn a language, meet people,
live intimately with them.

"When all is ready, I want you to call an auction house
and sell the statue. I'll go with the highest bidder to
their home or garden. There I'll stay to become a part of
his or her life until they tire of me or die, and then I'll
move on. Through the ages I'll absorb all that I have only
glimpsed of in my eighty short years."

"How beautiful, Mother."

"Now where is that useless maid. Frenchie, it's supper
time."

* * * * *

"I have $27,000 for the marble Greek statuary. Do I
hear 28. 28 once. 28 twice. Sold, to the gentleman for
$27,000."

"Oh, there she goes, Kim. Who do you suppose that
buyer is?"

"His turban and robe tells me she's going to enjoy this
trip. So long, Mom. We'll wait for you in Heaven."

END

Story ID:	611
Written by:	Dick Dunlap (bio, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Fiction
Location:	Chicago Illinois USA
Year:	2003
Person:	Nattie Nevers