“A Room For Bar”

by Jo and Stacey

Bar stepped inside Sid's house, his head turning as he looked around. It wasn't exactly his personal taste in decor, his tending more toward natural woods and soft plaids, but it certainly was impressive...and immaculate. He'd been known to have a dust bunny or two under his couch. "It's splendid, Brother," he said, "quite splendid."

"It is, isn't it," Sid smiled. "Did it all myself."

"You must like glass," Bar commented, noting how many things were made from it.

"You don't know about...glass?"

"What do you mean? What's there to know about glass?"

"I...."

Just then Kate began to descend the blue, spiral staircase and Bar's eyes went to her. Sid held his hand out, taking Kate's as she neared the bottom. "My wife," he said proudly. "The most beautiful woman in the Glen."

Bar smiled. The woman was, indeed, beautiful.

"Darling," Sid continued, "I'd like you to meet my brother, my half-brother, from Maine."

"You're... brother? I thought you said you were an only child, Sid?" Kate asked, her mouth open at the sight of Bar standing there next to Sid.

"Well, I was, um, given up for, um, adoption at birth." Sid made a rather sorrowful face. "A thing I never speak of.  My father evidently went back to his home state and, um, had a second son. I've only seen him once before, briefly, and didn't really know who he was." He looked at Bar with an odd smile. "Not until just now, in fact."

"Bar Harbor," Bar said, stepping forward, a genuine smile on his handsome face. "A sister-in-law! I'm so pleased! I didn't know."

Kate smiled back at him, "So very nice to meet you, Bar," she said, looking him up and down. "Wow, forgive me for staring, but I just can't get over the obvious resemblance between the two of you. You sure you're only half-brothers, then?"

"Different Mums," Bar explained. "Guess Dad's genetics were stronger."

"Yes, I guess they were," Sid added. "Anyway, Bar, this is my lovely wife, Katherine. She's being fruitful right now and multiplying and replenishing the earth."

"Ah, wonderful!" Bar said, pleased that Sid was able to quote scripture. "And I must say being with child suits you, Katherine. You positively glow."

"Thank-you, Bar, what a nice thing to say," Kate blushed, "I must admit, though, I rather feel as big as a house with the way my belly is expanding." She gave it a little pat, rather self conscious by the expression on Sid's face as she did so.

"Ah, no, Katherine! It's a beautiful kind of expansion, the best there is. You've got new life in there, growing life, and there's nothing better than that. The size is just a reflection of that, of the great mystery of what a woman can do. You should be proud of it. It's a grand thing. I've always wished I might have children some day. Just haven't been lucky enough to find the right woman like Sid here has." He moved his eyes from Kate to his brother. "You are a lucky man, Sid, truly blessed."

Sid was still looking at the curve of his wife's belly, finding it entirely loathsome. "What? Oh, yes, I'm terribly lucky."

"What a lovely thought, Bar," Kate beamed at him. "I'll try to keep that in mind each time I go in for a weigh-in at the doc's." She wrapped an arm around Sid's, pulling him close, "I think I'm the lucky one, though, having Sid scoop me up as a wife. With genes like yours I'm certain you'll find yourself a nice woman to settle down with, Bar. Which reminds me, how long will you be staying with us?"

Bar looked appraisingly at Sid. "I, um, well, I'm not sure."

Sid was looking just as appraisingly back at Bar. There was much he needed to discover about this...this...whatever he was. "Why, Bar! You've come so far...and just to find...me. You simply must stay a while. Where ARE you staying, by the way?"

"No where, not yet. I flew into Brisbane, rented a car, and came straight here."

"You've not been to the Glen yet then?" Sid asked.

"Only drove through, asked how to find your house."

"Well, there's nothing in that village that's good enough for a, um, brother of mine to stay at. Do say you'll honor me with your presence right here in my humble abode...for the time being."

"You're sure? I wouldn't want to impose. I could always...."

"Nonsense! I want you here under my own roof."  He could keep a much better eye on him that way, could do little experiments to find out what made him tick. Bar obviously believed his mother was entirely human. Sid needed to discover more about that, much more. Of course, Bar believed his 'father' was human, too. Had the same man created both of them? If so, why? What did this person think had gone wrong in LA? That would mean him, that it was considered something was wrong with him, which was simply ridiculous. Whatever it was, that person had gone across the country and then made a second nanotech. How nanotech WAS Bar? And with whom had he been programmed? And... why?

"Oh, Sid! I couldn't ask for a better brother, really I couldn't!! Your welcome is even better than I'd dared hope. And you, Katherine, is it all right with you? I couldn't possibly stay if you...."

"Certainly it's all right with Katherine," Sid interrupted. "Why wouldn't it be? And I have a private room you can use here on the first level just beyond my music room. Katherine and I have our suite upstairs. This way you'll have your privacy."  He also had the room completely wired and could watch and hear any and everything Bar might do. There was the little matter that he'd never mentioned this room to Katherine and so she had no idea it even existed.

When Kate heard this her eyebrows went up and she looked suspiciously at Sid. She cleared her throat, making a mental note to ask her husband about it later, then smiled at Bar, "I'm sure you'll be very comfortable here, Bar. Which reminds me, is there anything special you'll be requiring... food-wise, while you're staying here? Sid doesn't... umm...eat much, actually, so if there's anything you might require special please let me know and I'll be happy to pick it up for you at the market."

"Why, thank you, Katherine. How kind of you. Being a native of Maine, I'm quite partial to blueberries and lobster, but since I'm in Australia now, I'd like to try whatever they have here. Do you suppose I might find some vegemite? I've always wanted to try that. But don't worry. I can eat anything, anything at all. I'm not terribly particular. Except for beets. I don't like beets."

"Of course, anything you like, Bar," Kate smiled brightly, "It will actually be nice having someone to eat with. Not that Sid isn't great company during meals," she added quickly,
smiling at Sid, "but it sometimes can be... um... awkward, being the only one... um... eating."

"I'm sorry to hear of your digestive problems, Sid," Bar said, real concern on his face. At least his brother did look fit and healthy anyway, which was a relief.

"I'm used to it. Doesn't bother me. I imagine you'd like to get settled in...brother. Let's get your bags and I'll show you to your room."

Sid helped Bar carry in his suitcases, then led the way through the living room, down a hallway to a room with comfortable furniture and a magnificent array of surround sound equipment. He pressed a flat white button on the white wall, and a panel slid aside, revealing yet another room. It had no windows but there was a large, comfortable-looking bed with lavender bedding, a desk, two purple chairs, a dresser. Sid opened a door, indicating a closet, then another. "You'll have your own bath."

"Um, nice," Bar said, rather appalled at the colors and the lack of windows. He wasn't at all sure how comfortable he'd be here, but he didn't want to offend his brother and would just have to make the best of it. "Thank you so much for your hospitality," he added, trying to cover his discomfit.

"Nothing's too good for a brother of mine," Sid replied. "We'll just leave you now, let you get settled."  With that, he whisked himself and Katherine through the panel, which slid shut behind them.

Bar walked to the panel. It was so smoothly done that he couldn't discern the edges of it, couldn't tell where it opened. He also couldn't seem to find the white button that would control it from the inside. "Sid!" he called, but his voice simply bounced back from the sound-proofed walls. Suddenly all he wanted to do was stand on some rocky crag with the wind in his hair and watch the waves crashing. He felt closed-in and hollered as loudly as possible, "SID!!"

"Come, darling," Sid smiled to his wife. "Let's go back upstairs. I wasn't nearly finished when my brother arrived."