STORIES
182 - Found
2014
Trey Qualina Lu Harmonia
A few days later in the foyer ...
TREY:
… And she turned up, after being gone for almost a week.
QUALINA:
Lu told me, and now you have your two girls living here.
TREY:
I think it's best. I should warn you, my Harmonia isn't always well. It’s
not her fault. She was put under a youth spell that went wrong. She
can't handle her longevity, so every few decades she wanders off
and re-invents herself. We were lucky to find her so quickly.
QUALINA:
I can imagine. She seems fine to me and I think she's a delight.
As a matter of fact, she told me that she and I become close friends
- in my future. So if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.
TREY:
Maybe we can discuss it another time, over coffee?
QUALINA:
I'd enjoy that. Now don't worry about Harmonia. I assure
you we're like one big family here. We may not always
get along, but we look after one another just the same.
Meanwhile, in the living room ...
LU:
He's late, again.
HARMONIA:
He's only a little late, no need for ya to get all snippy about it.
LU:
Forty-two minutes is not a little late, and I'm not snippy.
HARMONIA:
Has it been that long already? I don't know how ya manage to keep
rack of time so accurately. Is there a clock in your head just ticking
away? Must be quite irritating. I'll bet we’re up to forty-three minutes
now and daddy's still not here. Do ya wanna know why?
HARMONIA:
… I'll tell ya why. It's cause he's too busy flirtin' with
that pretty red headed gal, Qualina.
LU:
If he's with her he may forget about us altogether.
HARMONIA:
Now don't be foolish, he'll be along any minute now
you just wait and see.
QUALINA:
Lu and Harmonia - look who stopped by to see you..
TREY:
Harmonia!
Harmonia jumps up and …
HARMONIA:
Daddy!
TREY:
What a reception. Perhaps I should let you wander off more often.
HARMONIA:
I missed you daddy, and I don't need to go a wanderin' to do that.
QUALINA:
It's so nice to see such a happy reunion. I can tell you adore your girls.
HARMONIA:
Oh there's more than just the two of us, lots more.
Daddy keeps very busy.
TREY:
Harmonia!
HARMONIA:
What? I ain't lying. I lost count long ago of all my siblings.
Louisa keeps track of the family tree, bless her heart.
LU:
It's a full time job. By the way daddy, it's nice to
see you too. I'm doing very well, thank you for asking.
HARMONIA:
Ya'll have to forgive Louisa, she's bein’ snippy.
It's your fault daddy, ya know she can't abide tardiness.
TREY:
I didn’t realize I was late...
QUALINA:
Oh Lu, I'm so sorry this is entirely my fault. Y our father and
were chatting. Had I known you were waiting ...
LU:
It's all right, he's here now and that's all that matters.
And Harm, I'm wasn’t snippy.
HARMONIA:
Uh-huh. So daddy, is Qualina goin' to keep an eye on me for ya'll?
TREY:
Honey, it's not as if I'm spying on you. I'm concerned for your well being.
HARMONIA:
Well then Qualina, ya'll need to know the truth. They think I'm crazy,
and between you and me, there are times when I'm happy to oblige
them. Now don't you worry, I promise not to be crazy on you.
QUALINA:
That's awful nice of you. Oh my, where are my manners?
Excuse me - I’ll go get some refreshments.
HARMONIA:
I'll come along and help. That'll give daddy and Louisa plenty
of time to talk about me.
TREY:
Now Harm, your sister’s just going to get me up to date on all your …activities. We're only going to discuss how to best take care of you.
HARMONIA:
And I'm sure I'll appreciate all your trouble.
LU:
What do you think?
TREY:
She's feistier, that's for sure. And the last time I spoke to her she had a thick Greek accent. Now she sounds like …
LU:
Dolly Parton?
TREY:
… Or close to it. How did that happen?
LU:
It's my fault. After she was released from the hospital, we watched 'Steel Magnolias'. The following morning she woke-up with a whole new dialect.
TREY:
I think it's charming. Otherwise she's OK, right? No more blackouts.
LU:
Not yet.
TREY:
Well that's good. Remember last time? She insisted she had lost her way and woke up in heaven ...
LU:
She’s still sticking to that story. The doctors said it
may be best to humor her and I agree.
