Once Again

By Léa Elizabeth

Jump to new as of April 9, 1999

Posted on Sunday, 21 March 1999

"Elzbieta!"

Elizabeth Bennet cracked open one eye at the sound of her mother's voice. Blinking sleepily, she squinted out the window. It was raining...again. Groaning, she turned around in bed, flipped her covers over her head, and burrowed her face in the pillow.

"Elzbieta!" came her mother's voice again, more insistently.

With an irritated sigh, Elizabeth poked her head out from underneath her coverlet. "What?!!" she yelled.

"It's Five-Thirty!" her mother called.

"So?"

"We are supposed to be at the club at Seven! Are you getting ready?"

"No."

Elizabeth heard her mother let out an exasperated sigh. "Well, then," she said, "will you be ready within the next hour?"

"No!" Elizabeth called, turning again and hiding her head under the covers.

For a moment, there was complete silence, then Elizabeth heard the furious pounding of feet on the stairs. A second later, her bedroom door was flung open and her covers were ripped back from her body.

"Now, then, young lady," Mrs. Bennet said, glaring angrily at her daughter, "I want you up and out of that bed by the time I count to three. One....two....three!"

Elizabeth lay in bed for a moment and smiled placidly at her. It amused her to no end that her mother persisted in treating all her children as if they were still in the second grade. Even more hilarious, however, was the look on her mother's face when her efforts failed miserably.

Mrs. Bennet looked at her with a mixture of exasperation and anger. "Well!" she finally said.

Elizabeth grinned and rolled out of bed. "I'm up, Mama," she said, heading over to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

"I don't know why you insist on taking afternoon naps," Mrs. Bennet said, following her to the bathroom. "It's like pulling teeth to get you awake again."

"If you had to get up as early as I do, you'd take naps, too," Elizabeth mumbled through a mouthful of toothpaste. "We can't all sleep in until nine o'clock."

Mrs. Bennet chose to ignore this remark and moved on to a separate topic. "What do you plan on wearing tonight?" she asked with interest.

Elizabeth wiped her mouth on a hand towel. "I don't know," she said, walking back to her bedroom. "What do people wear to these sorts of things?"

Mrs. Bennet moved eagerly to her daughter's closet. "I thought maybe that pretty yellow dress you wore to Elsa Parkserin's wedding last year."

"It's not yellow; it's gold," Elizabeth said, stripping out of her sweatpants and T-shirt. "And I don't think so, Mama. I'd feel distinctly overdressed. Besides, it's too cold outside to wear something like that."

Mrs. Bennet shrugged. "Just a suggestion."

"What's Jane wearing?" Elizabeth asked, flopping down on her bed and clicking on her electric razor.

"Something white, I believe," Mrs. Bennet said. "Don't worry about Jane. She'll look beautiful as always.

As if on cue, Jane Bennet knocked gently on the door and stepped inside the room. Mrs. Bennet cast her an admiring glance and then looked triumphantly at Elizabeth.

"See?" she said. "She's absolutely lovely."

Jane laughed. "Thank you, Mama," she said. "Are you going to be ready to leave in half an hour, Elizabeth?"

"Yeah, yeah," Elizabeth muttered. "I'm getting there. Pick something out of my closet, will you, Jane?"

Jane stepped lightly over to the closet, paused for a moment as she gazed inside, and then pulled out a dark blue suit. "This okay?" she asked her sister.

Elizabeth nodded. "Perfect," she said.

Mrs. Bennet wasn't so easily convinced. "A suit?" she said. "Are you a woman or a man, Elizabeth? We aren't going to a business meeting, you know."

"This is a very feminine suit, Mama," Jane said in her sister's defense. "See how the pants kind of flow...with that slight flare at the bottom. And the waist is cinched."

"And it has a low neckline," Elizabeth added with a smile. "That should make you happy, Mama."

Mrs. Bennet looked at her daughter as if she was uncertain whether or not she was making fun of her. "I'm going downstairs to find your father," she said finally. "I want to make sure he filled the car with gas."

"Remind him that we have to leave a little earlier than usual," Jane said. "The roads by the British Country Club are so muddy when it rains...it's going to be slow moving for the last two miles or so."

"I'll remind him," Mrs. Bennet called as she walked down the stairs.

Jane flopped down in a small, white armchair. "I'm looking forward to this evening," she said. "It's been a long while since I've been out and about."

"Well, if you're looking for a wild evening," Elizabeth said, "I would suggest visiting that night club on the corner of Marshailkovska. It appears to have quite a following."

"I don't think that's really my scene," Jane said. "I think the little performance at the club tonight will suit me just fine."

Elizabeth smiled. "Thinking of all the marines that will be there?" she asked, slipping into her blue suit.

Jane looked at Elizabeth with wide eyes. "Why no," she said. "Of course not."

"Of course not," Elizabeth echoed with mock seriousness.

"Elizabeth, really!" Jane said. "I am not looking to meet a man."

"Ah, but they're all looking to meet you," Elizabeth said, laughing. "Jane, you've only been here two weeks and already every man in the Embassy is in love with you."

"Oh, Liz, please!"

"I'm serious," Elizabeth said. "Didn't you see them all looking at you in the Commissary the other day?"

Jane blushed, bit her lip, and said nothing. Elizabeth walked over to her dresser and began brushing her hair. After a moment, she stopped and gazed at her sister.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to embarrass you."

"It's all right," Jane said. "But I want you to know that I really am not looking to meet a man."

"Okay," said Elizabeth, nodding. "But I hope you won't run and hide should someone happen along."

"I don't expect to meet anyone tonight," Jane said.

"Ah," said Elizabeth with a wide smile, "but that's when you usually do meet someone. When you least expect it."

"Elzbieta! Janka!" their mother called from downstairs. "Hurry up! I don't want to be the last one there!"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Jane.

"Coming, Mama!"

Chapter 2

Posted on Monday, 22 March 1999

"Honestly, David," Mrs. Bennet said to her husband as they were shown to their table later that evening, "why must you drive so fast? Those last two miles gave me such a headache."

"You told me you didn't want to be the last one here," Mr. Bennet said. "Next time, I'll simply do what I want to do."

Elizabeth and Jane smiled at each other. It seemed there was never an end to their parents' bickering.

"Good evening, Bennets!"

The family turned to see a tall, blue-eyed young man come bounding toward them.

"Oh, it's Charles Bingley," breathed Mrs. Bennet to her husband. "He and Jane would be so perfect together."

Jane blushed at her mother's words and nervously grabbed Elizabeth's hand.

"Dobry wieczor, Charles!" said Mrs. Bennet with one of her ingratiatingly charming smiles. "We are so happy you could come tonight."

"Oh, I wouldn't miss the Embassy Follies for the world," Bingley declared. "If nothing else, I have to see the Marines do their annual drag show."

"It's that good, huh?" Mr. Bennet said with a smile.

"Oh, it's a hoot!" Bingley exclaimed. "They've done it every year for the last three years, and it just keeps getting better and better."

"How exciting!" Mrs. Bennet said. "We're really looking forward to it." She paused and glanced at Jane. "Uh, Charles, I haven't introduced you to my daughter yet. Jane, this is Charles Bingley, our political counselor at the Embassy."

Bingley turned and gave Jane one of the most admiring glances she had ever received. "Glad to meet you, Miss Bennet."

"I am very happy to meet you, Mr. Bingley."

"Oh, come now," said Mrs. Bennet. "There is no need to be so formal. We all know each other very well, and so will you. Call each other Jane and Charles."

"Mama," Elizabeth hissed, embarrassed.

"That's all right, Elizabeth," Bingley laughed. "I have to admit that I don't really like being called 'Mr. Bingley.' Too formal for my taste. You can call me Charles, Miss Bennet."

"Then you can call me Jane," replied Jane.

"See there!" said Mrs. Bennet, beaming. "I told you!"

"Yes, Franciszka," Mr. Bennet said. "You told us. Now, sit down."

"How long have you been here, Jane?" Bingley asked while the rest of the family seated themselves.

"About two weeks."

"You live in the U.S.?"

"Yes...well, I did," Jane said. "I was living in Indiana."

"Really?" Bingley asked. "I graduated from Purdue. I didn't know your family was from Indiana."

"We're not," said Jane. "But my father was raised there, and my aunt and uncle still live there."

"Indiana's a great state," Bingley said enthusiastically. "I spent some really good years there."

"And the people are so lovely," Mrs. Bennet joined in loudly. "Why, just look at you, Charles. You graduated from an Indiana University, and you're such a fine politician."

"Franciszka," said Mr. Bennet, "I don't think we should get onto the subject of Indiana politicians."

"Why not?" Bingley asked curiously.

"Dan Quayle," Elizabeth mouthed at him.

Mr. Bennet rolled his eyes at the ceiling. "An embarrassment to us all," he groaned.

Bingley chuckled and turned back to Jane. "How much longer do you think you'll be here?" he asked.

"Oh...um..." Jane stuttered. "I'm not...well, I haven't...I...uh..."

"She's not sure yet," Elizabeth interjected hurriedly. "Right now, she's on vacation and that's that, right, Jane?"

Jane smiled weakly. "Right."

"Hey, Bingley! Do you think you could spare us a moment of your time?"

Bingley turned and smiled at someone across the room. "Hold on a minute, Doyle!" he yelled. He turned back to the Bennets. "I've got to go," he said. "My act is number three on the program, and I think Doyle wants to do some last minute rehearsing."

"Doyle's performing tonight?" Mr. Bennet said with an amused chuckle. "Boy, isn't that something? I didn't think he had a talent."

Bingley leaned in. "He doesn't," he muttered. "But don't tell him that. He thinks he's God's gift to music."

"What exactly is he doing?" Elizabeth asked.

"He's singing," Bingley replied. "And I'm the lucky one he chose to play the guitar."

"Oh, he could have asked Elizabeth or David," Mrs. Bennet said. "They both know how to play the guitar."

"Thank God he didn't," Mr. Bennet muttered.

"How 'bout you, Liz?" Bingley asked. "Wanna give it a whirl?"

"Ha!" Elizabeth snorted. "No, thank you!"

"You're sure?" Bingley said. "I'd have no problems in letting you do the honors."

"Thank you, Charles," said Elizabeth sweetly. "But I wouldn't want you to miss out on your five minutes of fame."

"Bingley!" Doyle bellowed from across the room.

"Coming, Doyle!" Bingley yelled. He smiled at the Bennets. "Well, I'd better go, then. But stop by at intermission. I have some guests I'd like you to meet."

"Sure," said Mr. Bennet.

"Such a nice young man," Mrs. Bennet said. "I think he really liked you, Janka."

Jane grimaced. "Mama, please!"

"Well, didn't you notice how he talked to you?" Mrs. Bennet asked. "So interested!"

"Franciszka, just because a man is friendly, it doesn't mean that he has a sexual interest in a woman," Mr. Bennet said. "Look at Elizabeth. Lots of men like her, talk to her, hang out with her. But very few of them ask her out."

"Is that a compliment, Dad?" Elizabeth asked dryly.

"Well, that's just because Elizabeth is so fussy," said Mrs. Bennet. "No man can ever satisfy her."

"Well, before we get onto yet another discussion about my love life," Elizabeth said, "may I point out that the show is about to start?"

"You may," said Mr. Bennet. "So hush up, Franciszka."

Chapter 3

Posted on Thursday, 8 April 1999

As the curtain closed and the lights came up for intermission, Jane turned to her sister with a smile. "I think I must agree with Charles Bingley," she said. "The Marine drag show was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Silly, dumb, almost moronic...but hilarious."

Mrs. Bennet was still giggling across the table. "The sight of Russ in that Madonna get-up was the best part of the whole thing," she said. "Especially when he started the pelvic thrusts. Oh, dear! Lydia would have loved it!"

Mr. Bennet snorted. "I have no doubt of that," he said, standing. "Anyone care to accompany me to the bar?"

"I'll come, Dad," Jane said, grasping her father's arm.

"Oh, me too!" said Mrs. Bennet, taking her husband's other arm. "We have to get Jane talking to Charles again."

"Mother, please!" said Jane as they made their way to the door.

Elizabeth twiddled her earring and stared blankly at the thronging crowd around her. She hated intermission. She had no interest in visiting people or grabbing something to drink. She just wanted the damn show to start again.

"Did someone die, Liz, or are you just in a bad mood?"

Elizabeth smiled as Charlotte Lucas sat down next to her. "Let's just say I feel too tired to be here," she said shortly.

Charlotte smiled sympathetically. As Mr. Bennet's assistant in the American Embassy's Agriculture department, she had seen a lot of Elizabeth since the family had moved to Warsaw the previous August. She knew that she had several students in her classroom at the American school that troubled her.

"Who is it now?"

Elizabeth sighed. "Jakub Dorawa," she replied. "He is such a sweet kid, but he really shouldn't be in an American school."

"Why?"

"The child can hardly speak any English," Elizabeth explained. "This is his first year in an American school and he's already in the fifth grade. It's very difficult for a child of that age to begin learning a new language. How can we expect him to be fluent in the matter of a few months?"

"Surely other students in the school exhibit similar problems?" Charlotte asked.

"To some extent, yes," Elizabeth said. "But Jakub is different. He is really severely learning disabled. Considering what the Polish school system is like, he should be far beyond the fifth graders here. But instead, he's functioning at a second-grade level. I suppose that's one of the reasons his parents placed him in an American school. They must have thought he might do better here."

"There's no chance of that?"

"This school is not equipped for children like him. We have 2 ESL teachers and 1 LD teacher and none of them are qualified to handle him on their own."

"So who gets the responsibility?"

"Me," Elizabeth groaned. "The sad part is that I know that if I don't get through to him, no one else will. God, I wish I had done some special ed. in college!"

Charlotte smiled gently. "Elizabeth, if anyone can get through to this child, I'll bet you can. You're a wonderful teacher. Obviously, your principal must have faith in you. She put him in your class."

Elizabeth ran her fingers through her short, dark curls. "I guess you're right," she said. "But sometimes I can't help but dread going to school in the mornings."

"Would a drink at the bar revive your spirits?" Charlotte asked.

Elizabeth nodded. "Perfect."

"Besides," Charlotte added as they left the room, "I heard Charles Bingley say that he wanted to introduce you to someone."

"I hope that 'someone' is the good-looking man I saw him sitting with during the show," Elizabeth said. "Now, he would really revive my spirits."

"He's that cute, huh?" Charlotte asked.

Elizabeth nodded silently and pointed to the bar where Charles and Jane sat with their backs to a very tall, very handsome, very sullen-looking young man.

"Hmmm," Charlotte murmured appreciatively.

"My thoughts exactly," Elizabeth said. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, Charlotte, I just remembered something I absolutely had to tell Jane." Flashing her friend a saucy grin, she brushed a stray curl from her forehead and walked casually over to the bar.

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