BOTTICELLI struggled to get Jennifer off of him. “Simonetta.” he said.
“Call me Jennifer.”
“Whatever.” said Botticelli, “Listen to me. You’re a model, I’m an artist. We have to act professionally.”
Realizing this, Jennifer knelt down to pick up the sheet and wrapped herself saying “I’m sorry.”
“That’s alright.” said Botticeli.
After that, Jennifer went back to the changing room to get her clothes back on..
++++++
Simonetta took Marty to her house. Upon arriving, they were greeted by house servants. Then, a man came in saying “Simonetta.”
“Marco.” replied Simnotta as they both embraced.
“Simonetta.” said Marco, “What is it? You’re home early. Is Botticelli ill?”
“No.” said Simonetta.
“Then, why aren’t you at the studio?”
“Because someone else took my spot.”
“You mean Botticelli let you go? How can…”
“No. Just replaced me with someone else. Someone who looks like me.”
Marco gasped in astonishment. “You mean that there’s another you running around the city?” he exclaimed.
“Yes.” said Simonetta.
“Well, at least you don’t have to worry about having to run into Count
Tannenio any more.” said Marco. Then, he noticed Marty and asked “Who’s
he?”
Simonetta looked at Marty and said “This is Alexander Dumas. He’s from Monte Cristo.”
Marty shook hands with Marco saying “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Simonetta.” said Marco, “A word with you a minute, please?”
“Of course.” said Simonetta. Turning to Marty, she said “Can you excuse us a minute?”
“Sure.” said Marty.
++++++
Taking Simonetta aside, Marco asked “Simonetta where did you meet this man?”
“At a tavern.” said Simonetta.
“A tavern?” exclaimed Marco, “What were you doing in a tavern?”
“Hiding from Count Tannenio.” said Simonetta.
“He was following you again?” exclaimed Marco, “I’m going to over to his villa and tell him off. Anyway, what happened once you arrived at the tavern?”
“I ran into Alexander who mistook me for his beloved-except it seems that she was no longer his beloved.” said Simonetta, “They had a falling out a while back.”
Marco peared into the room where Dumas was standing and said to Simonetta “Do you know who he looks like?”
Looking at Dumas, Simonetta said “I know. I thought I was over him.” Her face began to have a very sad look on it.
“And Dumas.” said Marco, “You said he mistook you for his beloved.”
“Yes.” said Simon, “I bore her resemblance. I didn’t know it until I arrived at the studio.”
“The model that took your place today.”
“Yes.” said Simonetta, “And it wasn’t easy getting there. After running into Dumas, Tannenio arrived and started bothering me. Dumas interceded by making off with me. Tannenio and his men chased after us and when they caught up with us, Prince Lorenzo de Medici arrived with his men and told Tannenio and his men to leave. After that, I was escorted to the studio with Dumas by the prince and when we arrived, there was Dumas’s beloved posing in my spot causing today to be the worst day of my life.”
Marco comforted his wife saying “There, there. There must’ve been a reason why this had to happen.”
“But what?” asked Simonettta.
They both looked at the newcomer with interest.
++++++
The town crier came down the street proclaiming “Come one, come all to the festival at the prince’s palace courtyard. Ale, food and entertainment for all. It takes place this Saturday.”
Marty and the Vespucci’s went out and picked up a flier. Marty looked at it, it featured music by Julio Louisa Criers della città. Far out! said Marty to himself, Maybe a little party will get my mind off of Jennifer.
++++++
Botticelli took Jennifer to the Medici Palace where she met Prince Lorenzo close up. She didn’t get a chance to see much of him due to the distraction of having Marty and her look-alike in the studio. But now she got a good glimpse of him and never met such a handsome man in her life until now. Up till now, the only man she new was Marty.
“So you’re that other Simonetta.” commented Lorenzo.
Flattered, Jennifer said “Yes.”
“I’m having a festival in my courtyard this Saturday and I want you to come.”
“Cool” said Jennifer.
Both prince and painter looked at each other asking “Cool?”
“Sandro.” asked the prince, “What does she mean by ‘cool’?”
“Don’t ask me.” said Botticelli, “That’s the first time I heard
that word used that way.”
“I would like to know about this woman.” insisted the prince, “She is so much like my Simonetta.”
“Of course.” said Botticelli.
Turning to Jennifer, the prince said “Simonetta, you’ll spend the night here. My servants will prepare the guestroom for you. Meanwhile, you will dine with me tonight.”
“Alright.” said Jennifer, “I get to dine with a prince.” Already, a smile came to her face.
“Your highness.” said Botticelli, “If you don’ t need me here, I
would like to go now.”
“By all means.” said the prince.
Turning to Jennifer, the painter said “I’ll see you at the studio tomorrow. Good bye.”
“Bye.” said Jennifer.
After Botticelli left, the prince said to Jennifer “My servants will show you to your room. There, you will be given some wardrobe for you to chose for dining tonight.” He called for his servants who came in. Indicating to one of them, this one probably the majordomo, he said “Follow this man.”
Jennifer did. Once there, Jennifer looked around and sat on the bed that was there saying “I like it!” She got up and went to the dresser and looked herself in the mirror. Picking up a brush and a comb she started doing her hair. Already, she was beginning to forget about Marty.
Then, a woman entered with a rack of dresses for Jennifer to choose. The woman herself bore the resemblance of her mother.
“Mom?” asked Jennifer.
“I beg your pardon?” asked the woman servant.
“Well, you look so much like my mother.” said Jennifer.
“Was she pretty?” asked the woman.
“She is.” said Jennifer, “I mean-was.”
“What happened to her?” asked the woman as Jennifer was selecting the dress to wear for the dinner.
“Well, she hasn’t been…I mean she went away.” said Jennifer.
“She abandoned you?” asked the woman.
“No, not really.” said Jennifer who was trying to avoid telling her that she was a time traveler from the future and that she’s here to fall back in love with Marty so she and he would return to the twentieth century. So, she said “Listen, I would like to get ready for dinner, uh-what’s your name?”
“Prudencia.” said the lady.
“Prudencia?” asked Jennifer, “My mother’s name is Prudence.” She notice the woman going behind her and asked “What are you doing?”
“Helping you change your clothes.” said Prudencia.
“Well, I can…” then realizing that she was still in the 15th century, Jennifer said “Alright.” At that, Prudencia started to help Jennifer change.
++++++
She sat at a long table opposite the prince. They were given some salad for appetizers and each had a flagon for wine. The prince ordered his servants to serve drinks but Jennifer refused.
“What’s wrong?” asked the prince.
“I’m not old enough to drink yet.” said Jennifer, “At least for the next two years.”
The prince laughed. “How old are you?” he asked.
“Nineteen.” said Jennifer.
“So?” said the prince, “What does being twenty-one have anything to do with drinking wine?”
My God. said Jennifer to herself, I forgot. I’m in the 15th century and this is Europe. There is no minimum drinking age. I’d better explain something. So she said “Where I come from, the drinking age is twenty-one.”
The prince’s eyes lit up. “That is fascinating.” he said, “When’s your birthday?”
“October 29th.” said Jennifer.
“Well, happy birthday.” said the prince, “We should have a celebration.”
“Why, thank you.” said Jennifer, “But you see…” Then, she stopped in mid-sentence. Wait a minute! she said to herself, Am I going to explain to him that it’s impossible, that I have to go back to the future next week when I know that Doc’s going to keep me and Marty here week after week until I fall in love with him again which is crazy because I don’t want anything to do with that bastard anymore. Besides, like I said I’m staying here for the rest of my life. So she said “Cool.”
The prince looked at Jennifer asking “Is there a reason why I like to say that word ‘cool’?”
“Oh, it’s an expression.” said Jennifer, “Anyway, I would like to have my birthday celebration here at your place.” Then, she picked up her flagon saying “And I’ll have some wine.”
At that, the prince had the servants pour Jennifer a drink. Then, the food came in. Jennifer’s eyes lit up. It featured was a huge pig with an apple in it’s mouth.
To eat in royalty. said Jennifer to herself, I never thought it would ever happen. They should me now. The ham was cut up by the servers and given to both participants of the feast.
“You know, I saw this on TV once.” said Jennifer.
The prince looked up at her saying “What’s TV?” he asked.
“Television.” said Jennifer.
“What’s that?” asked the prince.
“Oh it’s-you’ll find out.” said Jennifer. Then, to herself she said In five hundred years. Then, she said “I saw this show where they had a big roasted pig with an apple in it’s mouth. But it wasn’t really an apple, it was a baseball painted red.”
“What’s baseball?” asked the prince.
Jennifer. she said to herself, You’re forgetting that you’re in the 15th century. Stop telling your host about 20th century technology. She started to eat saying “This is good. What’s for desert?”
The prince looked at her and laughed. Jennifer laughed back.