Hi all and since it's Christmas Day I'll give you faithful readers the next chapter of our Bessie's amazing adventure tale a week ahead of time. Anyhow, as I mentioned before, Chapter 4 here is more of the same with introducing us to the main characters. Have fun - and Happy Holidays!

Chapter 4; The Rest of Bessie’s Crowd

As the girls again started for home a boy’s voice rang out, “Hey ladies, wait up!” Trotting down the school’s steps and waving his arm, Ravi Gavaskar's white-toothed grin shown strobe-like from his dark complexion. Except, on joining them his mouth abruptly turned down beneath a deep frown.

Surprised at seeing her classmate look so glum, which he rarely did, Lulu asked before he could explain, “What is it Wiz? You just get virally hacked or something?”

Ravi’s well-deserved tag, Cyber Wizard, was due to his uncanny ability to burrow past any and all security barriers and to shield against anyone sneaking past his own. He laughed mirthlessly, “That’ll be the day, some pea-brain pulling that on me! Nah, I just saw our exam grades and I totally blew it!”

          Practically a soulmate with cybernetics and knowing how he felt, Lulu tried consoling him. “Without Alex’s tutoring I’d’ have done no better you know.”

          Whistling through his teeth, he nodded, “Yeah, I should’ve listened to him. You girls did great but I got a lousy B-minus. Man, I wanted that A!”

          Considering her own grade Nina was not the least sympathetic. “Come on, Wiz, quit the whining! Studying instead of gaming and hacking would’ve gotten you one.”

Fully agreeing, Lucy switched to chastising, “She’s right, especially that cute little stunt you’ve bragged about this whole past week.”

“What was that?” he asked.

Not to be left out with picking on him, Bessie wagged a finger. “You know, hacking the Pentagon! My god, one of these days you could start World War III!”

          He held up his hands. “I can’t hold back! It’s such a charge getting past all those firewalls and snooper shields!” Then he went slump shouldered. “Anyway, our brainy guy did give us a fair enough warning about Hollingsworth’s exam.”

          A genial deeper voice broke in, “Do I hear you dumb sophomores using my name in vain?”

Snuck up from behind, Alex Ricci was very tall and sturdily built. Placing his large hands on Ravi’s shoulders and rocking him from side to side, Alex looked down at him in mock sorrow, “I grieve for your stupid B.”...then snorted, “Not! Wiz, I told you Hollingsworth would ambush you guys with quantum mechanics. That’s why I got after you…?” He nodded toward Bessie and Lulu. “…and these two to know that stuff!” Grinning at both girls, he gave them a thumbs-up. “Nice going by the way.”

          One of the school’s top science students, Alex Ricci’s chosen career path was Theoretical Physics. Now a junior, when eventually graduating he would have enough earned credits with college-level courses to enter any school he wanted. Meantime Mr. Hollingsworth, his mentor, had easily talked him into being an adjunct student instructor for this term’s lab work. Drawn toward these more promising sophomores from the very start, he gregariously scooped up Nina right along with them. And lucky for her that he did.

          Nina avoided math like the plague but in order to graduate she had to complete two semesters of a science course. Hoping and praying her two honor roll GF’s could nurse her through Hollingsworth’s Physics class, she bit the bullet and enrolled. And so far-so good. But any more chit-chat over this horrible stuff and she was afraid she’d puke. Pointing toward home, she said to Bessie and Lulu, “Great, you’re heroes! Now we’ve got to go!”

Again not listening, Bessie smiled back at Alex. “Well, Brain Boy, coming from you that says a lot, so thanks!” Back on day one in lab Bessie was pleasantly surprised to find that she and he shared an unbridled enthusiasm for the sciences. Since that time their mutual liking had only grown, ‘til now, in fact, it was deeper than either dared to admit. Both still tap-dancing around this by unspoken agreement, they held it down to what felt more comfortable; their own special brand of bantering back and forth and good-naturedly debating various science-based problems.

Alex reiterated with another thumbs up but higher than before. “Hey, you always do great on these exams. But this time, Bean, you were nothing short of fantastic…”  Fitting in a laugh, he added, “…for a dumb sophomore!”

          Bessie’s smile faded. Tall and skinny back during her freshman year, she was promptly nick-named String Bean, soon shortened to Bean. Having since added some curves to her slender figure this no longer fit. But the same as most once given a tag, hers, to her growing annoyance, had stuck. Biting off a heated retort, she thought the summery day was too nice for getting upset about something as stupid as that.

          As Alex resumed his ragging of Ravi, his victim shrugged it off. “Hey, I got what I got and cramming for that mess is history. Now we can check out those new games from England at Video-Plus!”         

          Their interest rekindled in both World Wars, the British currently exported video games featuring their part in the major battles. Forever fascinated by war games, Covington’s youth, mostly the guys, were snapping up whatever Covington Mall’s video store had in stock.

          Alex said, “Yeah, Ben said he wants to try them, too.”     

          A year older than Alex, Bessie’s brother Ben’s gamer skills rendered him nearly unbeatable, including by his sister and her little group, their own talents with cyber-space notwithstanding. Also a top athlete, Ben mainly hung out with his fellow jocks. But relishing gaming as much as sports, he always made time to play Alex and Ravi, two of his favorite opponents. If they weren’t available, then sure, he'd lower himself to play his young sis.    

          Bored by the gabbing about war games, Nina pointedly looked away at two other boys walking past. The one sitting next to her in history class promptly received her best on-stage smile. When he returned one just as wide her moment was made. Turning to Bessie and Lulu, her smile grew sly. “I’ve got to start working on Owen. He doesn’t know it yet but he’s taking me to this latest movie I’m dying to see. Oh – and if he passes that test, he’ll be my co-star in the next school play I direct!”

They all laughed. Once Nina set her sights on a guy, he was usually quick to join her sizable male fan club and do whatever she wanted him to.  

Bessie’s eyes stayed on Alex. Though betting he would like to ask her out too, she hadn't seen any sign from him that he would. Of course, for all she knew, he might be showing her plenty of them. But being so caught up with school studies and doing home research was leaving her still all but clueless about these girl-meets-boy routines.

Disgusted with her for this, Nina was lately tutoring her with the wiles of attracting men. Only yesterday she took Bessie aside in the hallway after seeing her miss another chance to reel Alex in. She’d scolded, “My god, girl, you like him and I know he likes you! A lot! If you want him to ask you out, then start by making him jealous! Trust me - you do it right, this works better than anything!”

          Giving this a try on seeing Alex again later, Bessie promptly gushed to him about her enormous penchant for some other guy she actually couldn't have cared less about. Watching his face, she saw not so much as a twitch.

          He gave her another chance this instant. “So, Bean, how come you’re not into British war games? Your main guy Winston Churchill was major in both those world wars you know.”

          Drawing a deep breath, she did her best imitation of being love-struck. “Oh-yes! We’re studying what he did in World War I and I’m…! I mean, I feel like…!”

Her stumbling made him ask, “Say it! Like what!?”

A total idiot!-she thought. Aloud she burbled, “I’m head over heels for him! Not only a brave soldier, he was a brilliant leader! In fact, if he hadn’t been married and I could go back there, I’d…um…! I’d do…!” –What? Marry him? “Something!” she finished lamely. Suddenly wanting to be somewhere else, like Mars for instance, she eyed him to see how he took it.

          He didn’t even blink. “Yeah, he was pretty cool.”

          Her ploy falling with a resounding thud, she dropped back to bantering again. “Oh? And what do you know about him? Nothing, except what you guys see in your silly war games!”

Shrugging “Whatever,” he turned back to Ravi.

          Hands palms up, Bessie faced Nina and mouthed silently – Now what?

Shaking her head with a sad little smile, Nina stage-whispered, “Don’t quit - you just need more rehearsals!” As she spoke a car exited the school’s student parking lot and turned toward them. Recognizing the three boys in front, she nodded, “Aha! Here comes your brother with two other guys. If they stop, watch what I do.”

          Sure enough, the car pulled over to the curb. Seated on the passenger side, Ben called out loudly through the open window, “Hey Bean! We’re going to Markham’s car lot so I can check out some wheels! Next we’ll be at Julio’s, so tell mom not to wait on me for dinner!” Julio’s Pizzeria was the favorite local hangout.

          Bessie knew he liked shouting the Bean thing to annoy her. She usually ignored this when he did it at home. But hearing it yelled in public like this really grated on her nerves. Testily she yelled back, “Fine, Butt Brain! Just buy something I can drive and not some stupid oversized pick-up truck!”

          Ben laughed, “You can drive it when you’re sixteen and get a permit! For now Bean old girl, you just keep on pedaling that bike of yours!” He beckoned Alex and Ravi. “How about coming with? We’ve already had a short football practice for tomorrow’s game, so after Julio’s we’re off to Video Plus. You guys can help me pick out some war games and we’ll play at my place!”

           Dad Rob and partner Marsh Perry started their computer accessories business five years ago. Rob’s top rate management skills and Perry’s innovative genius with head-mounted displays and hardware acceleration made their company, Virtual-Scope, a success from the get-go. As a result the Howard household had headgear and other computer ware scattered from one end to the other. The place was perfect for both of Ben’s and Bessie’s crowds to play video games to their hearts content. When Ben’s pals weren’t around Bessie would sometimes be invited to join in. And fine with her, this a welcome break from keeping her-self solely centered on the sciences in general and cosmology in particular. More often than not, this last also had Bessie, while using the latest models of her dad’s VI headsets, fully immersed within the cognitive extra-terrestrial environments shown on NASA DVDs. Into the bargain, their parents good naturedly put up with their teenagers having their friends over.

          Ravi shook his head. “Thanks, but I already bought into a challenge by this big deal gamer guy in Madison. The stuff I need to kill him with is at home, so I’ve got to go!” His motor scooter was parked near the school’s bike racks. Before walking to it, he gave Lulu a hopeful look. “Your place is right on the way, kind of. Need a ride?” It actually wasn’t, not by eight city blocks. 

          Also quite taken with him, Lulu normally enjoyed riding seated behind him on his powered-up motor scooter. But she too was so currently caught up in her home project with hardware-design that she hardly had time to hang out with Bessie and Nina let alone with him. And besides, walking home together after school was strictly reserved by the three of them as their all-important girl time. Especially when having to plan out an entire weekend.

          She returned an honestly sad smile. “Not today, Wiz, but thanks.”

          Untypically, his face fell for the second time today. “Well, maybe later or whenever.” Saying this as if – OK, no big deal – (which it actually was) he threw her a wave over his shoulder and headed for his scooter.         

          Alex said to Ben, “I’ll come, so long as we hurry it up at the car place and get over to Julio’s. I’m freaking starved!” Bessie’s smile reappeared when he turned to her. “Probably see you later at your place.” Knowing how dedicated she was to astronomy, he poked, “Unless you’re out back and head over heels about Mars!"And then, “But if you’re not, do some gaming with us, OK?” Before she could answer, he hurried to the car and climbed in back.

          Earlier, the boy passing by was one thing, but Nina had drooled over Ben since sixth grade. Seizing the moment she nudged Bessie, “Now watch!” Flashing him a dazzling smile, she cooed, “Don’t say hi to me or anything, Ben darling!”

          The car was still at the curb, the driver waiting for an opening to pull out into traffic. Ben appreciatively looked Nina up and down like every other boy in the school. Except? Though liking her well enough, he made sure to keep it strictly friendly. She being so close to his sis, the last thing he wanted was to get tangled up between the two of them.

He replied off-handedly, “Well Miss Hollywood, you’re joined to my sister’s hip, so my greetings to her go to you too! Anyway, if it’ll make you better, then hi!” He pointed at Bessie, “And don’t you wander off with her later and get lost! Did you read your text from Dad? He sent it to both of us.”

          The school forbade text messaging or cell calls during classes. Bessie shook her head, “He told me about it last night, I think. But no, I haven’t checked my Smarty yet.” Pulling hers from a pocket, she thumbed it, then gave a start. “Oh, he is bringing them home!”

          Ben answered, “Yeah and he’s hotter than ever for us to try these new VI’s out. So, catch you later!” With that, the car pulled out.         

Watching it drive away, Nina said, “I know you think your brother’s a total pain, but he is definitely one hot item.”

          Bessie rolled her eyes, “He’s an idiot!” then added with a smirk, “You didn’t lure him in too well!”

          As the car turned at the next corner Nina threw it a merry wave. “Not this time but just you wait.” Giving Bessie a wide smile, she became British, “You see, my deah, ‘tis the same as you. I meah-ly need mo-ah rehearsals!”

          “Uh-huh! Too bad he’s too dim to pick up on your performances.”

          A few other girls were heading in the opposite direction. One called out, “Hey, we’re going to Julio’s! Are you guys?”

Nina called back, “No can do this time! All three of us have got too much other stuff!” After tossing them a wave, she looked at her watch. “And even if we could, by now it’s mobbed. My god what I wouldn’t give for a car!”

That said, the three of them started for home.