“What I find mind boggling is the fact that George Washington and Ben Franklin didn’t know about dinosaurs. Can you imagine if Franklin had known about them.”
“Mind boggling. I’ve thought about that too,” said Shawna.
“Have you ever thought about it when you’re digging up dinosaur bones, you know, on one of your adventures?”
“Not really,” said Dr. Shawna Greene, who was a paleontologist. “But I have thought about the fact that way back when, people would find fossils and think they found sea monsters, or dragons, or giants.”
“Speaking of giants…you know, the first time I saw a Sasquatch, a Bigfoot, that night I thought about it when I was sitting by the fire back at the cabin. What if Benjamin Franklin had seen a Sasquatch.”
“I’m sure he would have learned it’s language and habits within a week. The man was brilliant. Maybe the same if Jane Goodall had been in contact with them. Imagine her with a baby Squatch.”
“You don’t believe they exist.”
“Aside from the one famous Patterson/Gimlin film there is no physical evidence. None of the other photographs look even remotely real.”
“New species are found every single day,” said Warren Templeton. Despite the fact that he was a somewhat famous cryptozoologist, Shawna didn’t believe a word he said.
Shawna thought cryptozoology was like religion. If it made the believer feel good and enhanced their life then who was she to judge. If it became obsessive and did harm then it wasn’t a good thing.
“You have a point,” said Shawna. “New species are found every year. I mean, mostly insects and small species of birds and mammals, but some larger animals continue to be discovered. But Warren, Bigfoots are huge, and they’re supposed to be organized, organized with a culture. The idea that we humans haven’t been able to find them seems a bit far-fetched.”
A waiter came up and refilled their wine. Shawna kicked off her heels, and then suggested they move outside to the deck. The ballroom was huge, but she needed some air. Plus, she’d given a talk earlier that night and right now didn’t feel like answering questions for strangers.
“Let me throw something at you,” said Warren, as they looked out over the lights of the city. “How about vampires and werewolves? I know you’ve always been interested in them. You were always reading Robert McCammon books and Anne Rice, not to mention you’re a Dracula expert.”
“That’s fiction. You know, just for fun.”
Warren took Shawna’s arm and gently pulled her close. “I met with some vampire hunters last week. They said they have proof vampires are real.”
“You don’t have to whisper. Nobody can hear us. Proof? Like Bigfoot proof? Like space alien little green men proof? Like let’s all meet at Area 51 proof?”
“Real proof. They were talking about people who never get old.”
“Like who? People who live in old run down Victorian homes and wear old musty top hats, or people who live like rich coke heads from the 1980’s and still look like they’re 21?”
“Both are options.”
“If there are vampires why aren’t the police finding bodies drained of blood all over the place?”
Warren ignored Shawna’s comments. “They showed me photographs of people who lived in the 19th Century, and photos of the same people in the 1950’s and now. They all look the same.”
“Doppelgangers,” said Shawna. “That doesn’t prove anything. My dad looked just like his grandfather.”
“Shawna, you’re not robbing the cradle. Your boyfriend Andrew is a vampire.”
“Now I know you’ve gone completely insane.”
Warren pulled out his phone and pulled up some photos. “There he is. Except for the hair and clothing, he looks exactly the same. 1882, 1900, 1931, 1942, 1960, 1973, 1983, 2010, and 2024. They were all taken of him on a stage. He was singing in all of them.”
“So, these guys look the same.”
“He is at least 20 years younger than you Shawna. No offense, you look great. Any man would want to be with you, but…”
“I’ve told you before that Andy is older than he looks.”
“They said he is 172 years old.”
“He’s 52.”
“He looks 32.”
“Good genetics and sunscreen.” Shawna smiled and held out her hand. A tall man with long brown hair came towards them. He took her hand then kissed her.
“Warren, so good to see you,” said Shawna’s boyfriend Andy. “Sorry I’m late Shawna, I was detained by some obnoxious paparazzi. Anytime I give a concert they follow me around for weeks.”
“I hate those assholes,” said Shawna.
“They’re like vampire hunters, and I’m their vampire,” said Andy, as he winked at Warren, and gave him a quick flash of fangs.
“Did they follow you here?” Warren asked, trying to stay cool, and not pee his pants.
“No, I took care of them,” said Andy.
Warren felt a cold chill down his spine and the hair on the back of his next and on his arms stood up.
“Why Warren, you look as if someone drained you of all your blood. Maybe you should sit down for a bit,” Andy said as he touched Warren’s should with an ice cold hand.
“That’s ok. Thank. I, uh, have to be going. It was good catching up with you Shawna.”
“You too Warren,” said Shawna. “I hope you find your Sasquatch or Bigfoot or whatever.”
“Sure,” said Warren as he left, almost running off the deck.”
“Poor Warren,” said Shawna. “You shouldn’t mess with people that way. What happened with the paparazzi, or should I say vampire hunters?”
“I took care of them. Can you believe they slashed the tires on my car. That is the third time this year. By the way, your friend Warren will forget he saw me flash my pearly white fangs at him tonight, and those photos he saw of me, or the fact that I was born in 1852. Now I’m just some ordinary guy, with a very hot girlfriend.”
He brushed his lips across Shawna’s then gave her a hug, under the stary night sky. As for Bigfoots, Andy knew a thing or two about them, but that would have to wait for another night.
~ end
Vampire Maman 