"Ok, now what was the Zimmerman Telegram all about?" Ignatius's wife quizzed him hoping that she could trip him up at least once. The two had been playing these little history trivia games for hours now. They were driving deeper and deeper into the Rainey Blue Forest. The rising sun was shining its blinding light through the tall trees that were blocking them in on all sides, not a single house in sight only a long-paved road ahead.
"Well it came from Germany, the Germans sent it to Mexico." he answered quickly making a sharp left turning down a nearly concealed dirt path. "Germany tells Mexico that if they attack the U.S. they would get the land they lost back. Then low and behold the U.S. finds out about the telegram and they declare war on Germany. And so, we entered World War 1, that's the basics of it."
"Correct again Mr. Bellamy!" she said merrily clapping her hands together. "You are the smartest person in this car right now." She leaned over and placed her shoulder on his.
He snickered. "Now Marigold don't put yourself down like that. You are wonderfully smart," he said looking at her with a smile. The cute cluster of tiny freckles that were dashed on her nose and under her big chocolate brown eyes, made his smile grow, she was just so adorable to him. Her smooth tawny, yellowish-brown completion was turning a slight shade of red on her somewhat chubby cheeks when she heard his compliment.
"You're so sweet too!" she cooed placing her head on his shoulder. Her helmet of thick wooly hair brushed against his face. The small chestnut brown coils tickled his neck and stubbled jaw.
"And besides we can't forget Crackers in the back. He's the second smartest person in the car," Ig teased. As soon as Iggy mentioned the bull terriers name the white beast sprang up from the cardboard box filled back seat and strained to get at his owner's face. He yelped happily clawing his way between the too.
"Yeah, and your funny too." Goldie sarcastically said moving over to the right letting the dog get better access to her husband's face. "Sic 'em Crackers." The dog lunged to attacked his unwilling target.
"Oh, cut it out boy! Stop that!" But no matter how hard Iggy tried to pry the fat bull terrier off he wouldn't stop showering him with wet kisses. "I don't want to die by drowning in dog spit!" He managed to shove the dog off for a second but he sprung right back only to stick half his tongue in Ig's mouth as he complained. "I knew this was how I was going to die," he shrieked after spitting out the extra drool that Crackers left in his mouth.
"Alright Crackers wrap it up, get off," Goldie ordered prying her beloved pooch away from her now drenched in slobber husband.
"Thanks. But you're a day late and a dollar short." he said taking his glasses off to wipe them clean of thick gobs of drool. "I can't see a darn thing now."
Goldie chuckled. "Don't you worry, I'll take care of it," she reached over and plucked his glasses from his face.
"Hurry up though, you know I'm as blind as a bat." Ig said squinting his pale grey eyes and clutching the steering wheel tighter. Everything was an eye watering blur, all the trees clumped together making a huge blot of green. "I think I'm supposed to turn down this dirt road, maybe?" He propped his torso forward frantically trying to see anything familiar.
She reached inside her purse and took out his trusty eye glass cleaner spray and cloth. While digging around she noticed a pamphlet with the words Ambrose Academy written in bold crimson letters. She sighed and slumped in posture. She proceeded to clean the smudged glasses, hysterical thoughts raced in her mind. "You know," she paused thinking if she should bring her thoughts to light, "I'm going to miss you while you're at work, I get so lonely while your away." She slightly tilted her head down staring at her pink purse. "I hate being alone."
"I know dear," he spoke tenderly, "but look at it this way, we get a great old house, we can have fun in the city on the weekends, and I'm sure you'll make a few new friends."