Venus in Venice: The Goddess of Love's Dinner Party

Eva sees Dag wandering down the alley and calls her back.

She gives Dag directions to the pub, but suggests she change clothing first. "I know you're quite capable of protecting yourself, m'dear, but it's really not a good idea to walk into a pub wearing only a bathrobe. Not even in Venice."

She sends Dag back upstairs to look through her closet while she alerts the gondolier.

"Lorenzo, your services are needed. Dasha needs you to take her to The Thirsty Dog."

"B-b-b-but I cannot leave Miss K alone here! She ees sleeping!"

"Well then, who else do we have that could escort her?" Eva looks around, considering her staff. Vicenzo is busy in the kitchen and Clarienne is busy upstairs doing last-minute alterations to one of her gowns for Dag. The others are all busy serving guests.

"I suppose I will have to take her myself," the goddess decides. She takes a jeweled dagger out of a side drawer in the hall table and hides it under her skirt, just in case. It is not wise for ladies to roam the pubs of Venice at night unarmed. Especially not this particular pub. Eva shudders at the thought of what may happen. The Thirsty Dog has a most unsavory reputation.

Hey, who knew that you'll get a real dog at the Thirsty Dog pub?

Eva and dag each got one. The palazzo puppy will be happy to have some company. We named them Pacino and Benigni.

As I crossed my Rialto I could see the din of iniquity.

"In the mean time, Francis met the Dys and engaged in an anarcho-delirious conversation about the compared merits of fruit shaped boobs.

The girls then came, attracted by our laughing.

Dag began to say: La vita è bella..."

There's that handsome Frenchman, Eva.

Actually, Venus. I felt rather sad about seeing cavfancier, so I thought that I would try and make myself smile.

Eva
Eva, why don't we ask Edgar Blythe to write a poem-song for us to sing as a paean to Cavfancier tomorrow? We could have a ripping song fest that Cav would approve of, no doubt.

BBB

"What a good idea, BBB! Would you ask him, please?" Eva hopes Edgar will agree.

Eva is delighted with the new doggies and promises to let them sleep anywhere in the palazzo they like. "No cages for these darlings!" she vows. Benigni, the curly-haired chocolate spaniel, licks her face and Eva gives him another cuddle before handing him back to the jeans-clad girls.

"Would the two of you like to join our little party?" she asks. The girls are thrilled beyond words. They agree to take Pacino and Benigni back to the palazzo for Dag and Eva. The girls will look beautiful once Clarienne Boniface, the goddess' couturier, finds gowns for them.

"Why, there you are, Francis!" She spots the Frenchman in the crowd at the bar. Gathering her friends, she insists they return to the palazzo. "Why should we pay for drinks in this dingy place when there is better fare...and much more attentive service!...at my palazzo?" she whispers.

She senses their elegant attire is beginning to attract some unsavory attention. A drunken fisherman at the end of the bar, still reeking from the day's catch, is fingering the beading on the back of Dag's dress without her noticing.

Letty rummages through her souvenirs and finds a photo of wee Austin. Can't have a dinner party without that spaniel to sit at the buffet and beg for scraps.

While edgar is feverishly composing a song, Letty locates Cav's favorite poet, Walt Whitman, and decides to read it.



Although this was a poem for Lincoln, Paul would love it, she decides

Hush'd Be the Camps Today
by: Walt Whitman

Hush'd be the camps today,
And soldiers let us drape our war-worn weapons,
And each with musing soul retire to celebrate,
Our dear commander's death.

No more for him life's stormy conflicts,
Nor victory, nor defeat--no more time's dark events,
Charging like ceaseless clouds across the sky.

But sing poet in our name,
Sing of the love we bore him--because you, dweller in camps, know it truly.

As they invault the coffin there,
Sing--as they close the doors of earth upon him--one verse,
For the heavy hearts of soldiers.

I didn't know Cav liked Whitman. But now that you've said that, I can well imagine why.

Thank you.

I don't think I have the intellect for that. Anyway, right now, I have family matters to attend. My daughter, Jean, is having surgery Wednesday morning. I don't fully understand the situation. At first, I was told she had a mass near a lung, that did not appear cancerous, but it was thought surgery was in order. The surgery is scheduled; now they are speaking about a cyst. The docter told her that the procedure may collapse the lung. She will be hospitalised a week to a week and a half.

Edgar
Edgar, I'm so sorry to learn that your daughter is ill. Sounds like it's something the doctors can handle well for her even though it's scary for you.

BBB

I'm sorry to hear that, edgar. You, Jean and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how it goes.

Me too, Edgar.

In the kitchen, she stops to listen to the news from upstairs.

She puts her energies into cakes to make them happy, and to keep herself distracted.

littlek stops whistling as she rounds the corner and sees all the long faces. She listens long enough to get an idea of what's going on..... "Edgar, I'm sorry, too. Is this the same daughter who was having headaches?"

"WOW!" Eva exclaims. "Those are SOME cakes! Cav would be proud!"

The goddess is impressed.

The door was ajar

Eva notices a newcomer wandering through the courtyard and stops him.

"Excuse me, I don't believe we've met. I'm Eva, and this is my palazzo. I do hope you're enjoying yourself. Were you a friend of Cav's?"

"Hello Eva, I'm epenthesis. Enjoying myself thoroughly thanks, fabulous soiree. I don't know anyone here Eva, other than by reputation."

"You're welcome here in any case," Eva says, motioning to Vincenzo to refill the newcomer's glass.

"The party has died down a bit, but it can keep going as long as anyone's interested. Unfortunately, I have to leave in the morning for about a week. In fact, I need to go pack now. Would you (or someone) please keep an eye on things for me? There is more than enough food, drink and entertainment to last that long."

Everyone wishes Eva a bon voyage...and she's off. The remaining guests look at one another hesitantly, then race to the champagne-filled pool.