The Comings And Goings

Under the byline of Cornwall and Adaire, Toronto Press posted a very favourable review of the Ashton Hills presentation of Nigel's play, in spite of the fact that when saying goodbye, Nigel accidentally knocked the cigarette from Virginia's holder, burning a small hole in her Jones of New York, silk skirt. The play ran unchanged, for the entire summer, boasting three more sellouts, and a bevy of stellar reviews in the Paisley Park Press. The relationships among the cast, both in the play and in real life however, changed dramatically.

The celebration party at Forbidden City had been a huge success, releasing egos like flocks of doves as patrons clamored for autographs and snapshots of the giddy group. Victor, while behaving the perfect host, directing his minions with sharp commands and slashing hand gestures, maintained a scrupulous eye on Susan from behind a stand of leafy bamboo. Seated next to a helplessly perspiring Nigel, her discrete ministrations beneath the tablecloth went unnoticed around the table, mainly due to the fact, that several others were involved in the same activity.

The end of August brought slightly cooler weather, and with the tourists gone, business returned more or less to normal with just a few of the stores flogging stock brought in for the holidays at reduced prices. The Labour Day holiday sparked several house parties and a giant celebration of fireworks and picnic lunches in Paisley Park. Captain Rajflsak toured the pond non-stop with celebrants; his boat's whistle crying plaintively over the cheerful cacophony of exploding rockets and screaming children. The teasing scent of grilled hotdogs and sausage drifted across the crowded park, and balloons drifted up into the tall trees, pursued by the wails of disappointed toddlers and replaced quickly by their harried parents.

The excitement and brief celebrity, inspired by the play, gradually diminished and soon the players were once again, the bankers, the dentist, the lawyers and the retailers. Life on The Pathway, however, changed forever.

#8 Paisley Pathway

Jean Gregorio developed a sudden yearning to learn piano, and after several rounds of bitter arguing with her husband Allen, they bought a Baby Grand and hired Ross as her teacher... they continue to make beautiful music together. Allen, his limp barely visible and without pain, immersed himself in his hardware business, spending many nights at the store reviewing inventory and billing. In public, they still appeared their usual selves, but it was their private lives where they indulged their real living.

#4 Paisley Pathway

Daryl Osborne continued to mope about the house trying for more and more revealing glimpses of Grace Winston across the garden, ultimately investing in a telescope, which he hid in his closet, for those increasing periods when Tiffany was away from the house. Her reason to Daryl, for being away, was a creeping boredom that led to her taking a part time job at the hardware store, checking inventory and filing invoices. The accidental injury to Allen had actually prompted an uncharacteristic remorse, and she spent a good deal of time consoling him on the large leather couch.

#10 Paisley Pathway

William and Shelia Croft discovered a new energy in their marriage with Shelia, emerging from the experience of public appearance, filled with a new confidence and a more carefree attitude. Candy remained the center of her attention, her routines still adhered to rigidly, but the constant worry and concern vanished, and at night, in bed, William basked in the unabashed emotion of his newly discovered wife. Demand for Mary as baby sitter increased exponentially.

#1 Paisley Pathway

Ivan Bader retired from the utilities commission, devoting his new free time to the construction of a large garden shed; he was going to tackle the cultivation of roses, he explained to his wife Gertrude, who wisely ignored his transparent explanation, using it instead as an excuse, since she could be of no useful assistance, to spend her days, and some evenings, in town... shopping. Inevitably, these trips led to Arthur Paisleys reclusive estate, where the couple engaged in reviving old memories of their working days together.

#5 Paisley Pathway

Grace Winston settled into a very satisfying routine of doctor surgeon by day and sexual dilettante by night. Her seduction and surprisingly easy conquering of Jeffrey Richardson, a goal she had been determined to meet, proved, over time, to be exactly what she had hoped and expected. Augmenting these rhapsodic moments were equally enjoyable sessions with Donald Gregg, whose apparent loss of confidence was gradually restored by attentive nurturing and support. As a prurient side benefit, on the few nights she was alone, Grace contrived to leave her curtains open allowing Daryl's telescope full coverage of her personal rituals. One foray with Ellen and Denise ended in amicable agreement that it wasn't really what any of them wanted... or for that matter, needed.

#7 Paisley Pathway

Denise Cowley moved in with the Richardsons, citing power of sale of her rented condominium, with no prospects for financially manageable accommodation, as an excuse. She and Ellen spent all their time together, painting and decorating, designing and making clothes for one another and isolating Jeffrey almost to the point of non-existence. Arlene, although angry and upset at first, grew to accept her mother's relationship with Denise, spurred by her accidental witnessing one night, of her father disappearing through the Winston patio doors, while she and Carlos sat panting in the Begarra's garden swing. The situation at home was actually a boon for Arlene. Ellen and Denise paid her little attention, constantly involved as they were, with their hobbies... usually in the bedroom. And the fact that her father spent more and more nights away from home, ostensibly under a heavy workload, and sleeping at the office, coincided quite curiously with a similar situation at Carlos' house.

#6 Paisley Pathway

Antonio's life turned dramatically after the theatre production closed, when women began showing up at the funeral home seeking cosmetic advice. When the visits, and the ultimate unavoidable counseling became too time consuming, he struck a bargain with Serge Tressore, to open a beauty section in the back of Fawn Do, where the two new partners, working every day and most evenings, thrived in their successful enterprise. Henry Matute was promoted to director, and took over practically all of the management of the funeral parlour. Carmela, exulting in her new freedom, spent most of it in the garden shed, or rather, Ivan's new garden shed, honing and refining her skills as a dominatrix, with Ivan as her subject. Carlos immediately exploited the home vacancy with Arlene, practicing and refining their own skills, with the aid of a copy of the Kama Sutra smuggled from the college library.

#3 Paisley Pathway

Milo remained the sole casualty of the summer. When his approach to the theatre critics before the party had been rebuffed with a less than complimentary reception, he sought out Amanda to assuage his bruised ego. It was not the same. Certainly, she was still the same ripe, stimulating partner behind the closed office door, but less frequently. Her sudden embrace of a need for physical fitness, manifesting in the enrolment for tennis lessons at the Ashton Hills Country Club, kept her away from the office every lunch hour, and indeed for more than a few afternoons. As tennis pro, Ramon had keys to all parts of the club, his favourite being the steam room, where on those tennis lesson afternoons, he and Amanda slid deliciously against one another, filling the cubicle with more than manufactured steam. Melaine exhibited a new interest in the business affairs of the home, taking over the financial duties previously tended by Milo.

With increasing frequency, she found it necessary to visit the bank... dealing directly with the manager. Behind the closed blinds of Cal's office, she learned to, diversify her investments, discover the benefits of compound interest, appreciate the advantage of regular deposits, and when they had collapsed exhausted onto the small couch, to revel in the knowledge that she was finally, far more than simply Milo's showcase wife.

#2 Paisley Pathway

Cal Amarca continued his ritual exercises and toning his body to maintain its youthful athletic form- only now, he had a dual purpose. With Melaine's confessed spying out in the open, he rearranged his room and the lighting to give her the most bang for her buck... a worthy decision that paid tenfold with each of her subsequent visits to his office. There were no strings in the relationship, each gleaning their own privately sought rewards with great satisfaction. Even Tilly had given up her self-righteousness to the point where she actually covered for her employer during some of his private counseling sessions.

#9 Paisley Pathway

Donald Gregg consoled his broken heart over Denise by burying himself in his business. As sale figures rose, he realized that he had spent too much time treading water, frittering it away on questionable socializing, and cheating himself of lucrative profits. The fact that Grace had taken a personal interest in his well-being certainly didn't hurt. As a matter of fact, he found himself learning a tremendous amount about women under her tutelage. As an eminent surgeon, Grace brought particularly exhilarating insights and experimentation to his lessons. He still saw Denise occasionally, shopping or just on the street. One particular lunch hour, they even joined in a, for old time's sake tumble, under a blanket in the park. The imagined magic was definitely gone. Denise talked for quite a while afterward, explaining her situation with Ellen, and how she felt, how they both felt, that this was a true and happily acceptable fact of their lives. They remain casual friends.