Youth's Mist

Youth's Mist Ch 5

Joven

Ah, sweet success! I made it to the Central Control Room, after having stopped by our Dewstone Holding Bank for the coins and deposit slip. The Central Control Room really isn't much of a room, but rather a converted house with flat screen monitors filling two of the three walls. The house has a kitchen, a bathroom, one bedroom, and a storage room holding an array of different kinds of elixirs and oils produced here in our town. The monitors are not to stalk our fellow Dewbies, but to assure our under-fountain utopia remains a mystery. Thanks to the modern advancements in technology, we have sensors placed around all four entrances to the Dewstone tunnels in the park.

Sliding the glass doors open, I greet Hank and Stan who are sitting by the desk facing the monitors. Both men are close to being 60 years old, gray hair and have been friends since their high school days. There's even a rumor they carved their names into the bottom of the city water tower in Burlap. Construction done on the water tower about 40 years ago makes it impossible to verify, but it does make the men something of a local legend amongst the Dewbies.

"Hey, Joven!" They both greet me with a nod and elbow bump. "Umm, you're kind of early for your Girl; it's still three hours till noon. Just couldn't wait a moment longer huh?" says Stan.

"My Girl," I deny with a shake of my head, "No, not My Girl. I just enjoy chilling with you guys at noon. Can't a guy want bro time? I bet you wouldn't be saying much if I had come through that door holding a couple of burgers from "Bovine's Better," they both drop their heads and look towards my two empty hands.

"Dude, that's just mean," says Stan.

"So, you shouldn't assume I'm just here for nefarious reasons. I'm the Dewstone Honorable Council Head Master. I could be here because a serious threat was made against us—maybe a bomb has been planted at the UpAbove Park. Or, more likely that your wives sent me here to see if either of you is cheating on your lower cholesterol diets," I add with a raised eyebrow, trying not to laugh. "So, just give me a tunnel code and I'll be on my way," hoping they won't go back to my Mystery Girl habit because it's starting to look like she's not much of a mystery around here like I thought.

"Joven," Hank starts to check off a mental list with his finger marking the air around him. "You come here every weekday at noon, and every evening on Saturday and Sunday. Dude, just go up and say hi to her, what do you have to lose?"

What do I have to lose? He's killing me! Um, hello, my self-respect, my self-confidence, or, most tragically my Man Card.

"Sure," I say rolling my eyes, "I'll just walk up to her and say "Hi, whatever her name is (and I'm secretly betting it's something really hot and sexy). I've been watching you for years, I think you're really pretty. Oh, and I live underneath your feet. That doesn't sound creepy at all huh!"

"Well, I wouldn't say it like that," Stan laughs.

"I bet you could be on the evening news or in the newspaper if you just dip and give her a kiss right then," laughs Hank.

"Nope, that's not today boys. I just need to get to UpAbove bank and be back before noon. Is the pass clear?" I ask. Stan turns and checks the monitors for any foot traffic near all the tunnels entrances.

"Yep, grab the Daily Elixir from the blue cabinet and take the north path. Remember to wait for the green light above the door before exiting the tunnel."

Giving a nod of thanks and grabbing the correct elixir, I head out the back of Central Control to the elevators that will take me to a series of tunnels. Getting off the elevator, I turn left to take the North path. The tunnels are stone arched pathways, and chiseled into the stone many, many years ago are the arrows that lead me to my destination. Before the invention of the elevator, I've been told there are stairs or a path of some sort located behind some of the stone walls, but I've never looked for them.