TERRA EMPIRE: ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR
Episode 14: PIGURA CONTAINS AN OLD PHOTO
Jordan cannot stop his admiration for Lana's house when he arrives at the three-story house in the Sunnydale neighborhood, in the middle of San Francisco. Lana tells her that her father bought this ancient house about ten years ago because it was cheap. As cheap as the numbers Lana mentioned, for Jordan it was not affordable by Sally with her odd job.
After doing renovations with several renovations then this house becomes much better than its initial appearance. This house has a complete section that is a requirement of an ideal home such as a terrace, living room, main room or family room, living room, workspace, room, dirty kitchen, clean kitchen, clean kitchen, and, and so forth. The parts called Jordan are not functional but it turns out important to support the comfort of this house to live in.
What makes Jordan even more fascinated is when Lana can turn on or off the lights, air conditioning, or musical equipment in every room just by talking.
Lana explained with a smile to see the funny look of her friend who seemed tacky to find something that was familiar to her at her home, “Garasiku also has the facility to open the door automatically. So I do not need to bother opening when daddy is late coming home from the office.”
In short, this house is a combination of Victorian house with modern style a smart house that has all the facilities to set all the activities automatically.
“Woow, your house is amazing,” Jordan said. “Your father built all this?”
“His advanced equipment, yes. In addition he accompanied the builder to restore most of this junkyard ten years ago.”
“You should call him the best dad in the world. I also want to have a father who can give this house to me,” Jordan laughed.
“Oh, what happened to your father?”
“I don't know my father. Sally and I were left in the orphanage by mom because she was unable to take care of us,” Jordan's expression turned sad.
“Aduh, sorry yes..I don't know..”.
“Sally probably knew who my father was, because he was ten years old back then, but she never said anything to me about the man.”
“Do you know your mother?”
“Unfortunately no,” Jordan shook her head. “I was a baby when I was handed over to the orphanage with Sally.”
“Means you guys are very close, yes! You and your brother.”
“I don't know how the so-called close,” Jordan shook his head. “What I felt was that Sally thought of me as a burden. He has to work hard, not just to support himself but me. In addition, because of me, he who used to live with Mom so come entrusted in the orphanage.”
“I understand what it's like to have no mother. Fortunately there is a Father who covers up the shortcomings,” comments Lana.
“What's the matter why your mother?”
“My mom died since I was born,” change Lana replied with a sad face. “My parents had a car accident while they were on their way to Santa Barbara to attend a seminar invitation where my father was a speaker there. In the middle of the road there was tragedy. Their car went into the ravine. My father, who escaped death, tried to help critical mother. The actual creation tool that will be the object of presentation at the seminar managed to extend my mother's life to the hospital and gave birth to me, only after that.”.
Lana could not continue the story, Jordan nodded in understanding, “I'm sorry to hear it.”
“Means we have something in common to share, yes.” comment Lana.
“Is this your mother?” Jordan asked as soon as he found a large frame hanging on the north wall of the building, just above the fireplace, which was the Victorian-style reinforcement the house displayed.
The pigura contained a picture of a pair of happily smiling grooms and ladies. The groom wears a black tuxedo accompanied by a bow tie, while the bride wears an ivory lace dress with a bouquet of red roses in hand. Both of them raised their ring fingers to show off the diamond ring embedded there. From the photo, Jordan knows that Lana got her blonde hair from her mother and blue eyes from her father.
“The only old photos Dad has retained. You may not believe it but this photo was made with ancient technology when they still had to use film rollers and photo washing process.”
“She's beautiful..your mother..” praise Jordan.
“Thank you,” suddenly someone replied to Jordan's comment.
The shocked Jordan spontaneously turned around and found the man in his early fifties standing at the end of the hallway of the central hall. The shoulder-length gray hair, intelligent face, and dark chin of a recently shaved beard reminded Jordan of the face of the all-time genius scientist Albert Einstein. It was just that this man was wearing thick glasses, which made him appear even smarter, without anyone needing to test how deep his knowledge was.
There was barely much change to the man's face with what Jordan saw in the wedding photo just now, other than maybe his hair that turned grey from the previous one black. The man stands in a dapper suit of turtle neck t-shirts, corduroy pants, and a black suit indicating that he is indeed preparing to go to a big event in his office that Lana told him about.
The man's expression twitched comically to the two teenagers standing in the room. Jordan immediately felt awkward, realizing how this situation indeed seemed ridiculous. With Lana having teary eyes, and no matter how long the man had been listening to their chatter, it was understandable that the man would have the thought that Jordan looked like it was making Lana cry, she said, which he did in their house…
“I thought you'd introduce Daddy first with him, Lana?” the man gave a kiss and hugged his daughter while still glancing at Jordan.
“Sure..Jordan, introduce my Dad.This is my schoolmate, Jordan..”.
Jordan greeted the man, My name is Jordan Cross, Mr. McQueen.”
“Halo Jordan, I am Archibald McQueen,” the man replied to Jordan's hand post. He saw Jordan with his blue eyes, as blue as the eyes of his son, Lana. “You're one generation in Lynbrook?”
“Yes, sir!” Jordan nodded. “In some lessons like biology, science, history, our English Literature one class.”
Lana interrupts, maybe to close the chance the father wonders more, “I invited him here to accompany me to dinner because Daddy will have a gala event tonight at the office. It just so happens that Jordan's brother also has to be overtime tonight. Poor him no one made him food. So I thought..”.
“Play once you...” god Archibald McQuenn. “...as if like you can just cook.”
Lana's face meets red, “Not so. Nana usually cooks a lot for our dinner, especially if Daddy is at home. So I think Jordan can help us spend it.”
“Kok sounds like I'm a food-sucking machine,” Jordan is laughing loudly.
“Daddy forgot to tell you.. Nana can't task tonight. There's his family who's sick and he has to help take care of.”
“Hah? A timing? Why didn't Nana tell me?” Lana surprise.
“That's. He only found out about it this afternoon and was in a hurry because of it. So he didn't have time to tell you maybe. He also just texted Daddy that he left the keys in the usual place when Daddy wanted to go home for a while this afternoon.”
“Did Nana not leave food for us?”
“I didn't find anything, the hell was the time to go home.”
“Yaahh...” Lana's face looked disappointed, she turned to Jordan. “Sorry, yes! I don't know. Then we'll go to Pizza Marzano for dinner.”
“How about you guys just come to the gala event at my office? Dinner is provided there too, kok!”
Lana groans, “Her words must be long and boring. We could go hungry before the invitation allowed to eat.”
Archibald McQueen laughs, “You can take the food first. After that, during the event you can invite your friend to look around the factory. I don't think it's a problem, is it Jordan? Anyway, tomorrow you guys have a weekend off, don't you?”
Jordan smiled, “I don't think it's a problem, sir! I'll just tell Sally so she doesn't have to worry.”
“Sally? She's your mom?”
Jordan chuckles, “Not! She's my sister.”
“Oh, good! Also tell him that you will meet the President later.”
Hearing that Lana was flabbergasted, “President, dad? You mean President Tramp?”
“Yeap! Howard Tramp.”
“Wooow,” Lana suddenly excited. “Can I take a picture with him later?”
Mr. McQueen clapped his hands with an amused face to see his daughter so excited, “Not only take pictures but also you can chat with her. Well, then let's go..”.
***
