Disclaimer
This story is rated PG and contains no material out of character of Animaniacs.
This is an independent work of fiction with
no connection whatsoever to WB. The artists and creators disavow any knowledge
of and do no officially sanction the events in this story. This work is meant
to be the owners own personal look into what may have become of Minerva Mink.
Minerva is trademark WB. Meggie is (C) Shelly P. All other characters are
(C) the owner of this page. This story is Copyright © 2002 by Ross Snyder.
This story may not be sold or used for commercial profit in any form or fashion.
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THE MINERVA MINK STORY
"Three Generations"
Chapter 16
Wednesday Morning:
Stephanie was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes as Minerva’s Mustang roared down the highway, heading away from Burbank, and making it’s way toward the Hollywood Hills area.
The little mink hadn’t been particularly happy with having to get up so early, pack her things, bathe, and get into the car, especially after being up so late the night before.
Minerva though, had been up twice as early as her niece, putting papers together, getting one of her best suits and skirts put together, and packing her briefcase for what she had to do today.
“It’s still going to be a little while before we get there sweetie, so why don’t you just lean back and get some more rest okay?”
Stephanie rubbed her eyes absently, and pushed the passenger side seat back into a reclining position. “But where is it were going Aunt ‘Nerva?”
“Hey, if I told you that, it wouldn’t be a surprise now, would it?”
“I guess not.” Stephanie rolled over on her side as best she could and decided that some rest probably wasn’t a bad idea after all.
*********************
When Stephanie opened her eyes about an hour and a half later, California’s beautiful yellow sun was finally shedding the last of it’s early morning orange, and getting ready to bake the beaches and the bathers that lay on them.
She returned her seat to it’s normal position and strained her neck to see out the window. The highway they had been on earlier had been replaced by a suburb setting, and soon they entered a gated community, not unlike the one Sawyer lived in.
“Where we goin’ again Aunt Nerva?”
Minerva turned her head for a moment to notice that her niece was awake and then returned to look at the road. The sun glinted off her sunglasses as she moved, and made Stephanie squint her eyes.
“I told you. It’s a surprise. Now keep your shorts on, were almost there.”
The Mustang rolled down several streets, all of which looked the same to Stephanie, before they turned off into a private drive, that took them over a small hill, and away from the rest of the homes.
The side road took them back behind a huge row of pine trees, obvious planted strategically to keep the grounds from being seen from the road. There were three humongous gardens, one on the left of the road, one on the right, and the third, complete with an American Flag pole in the center, where the road looped around in front of the house and rejoined itself.
“Oooooo.” Stephanie said eyeing the gardens, each filled with a particular kind of flower. “Look at all the tulips Aunt Nerva! And Roses! And Johnny Jump-ups! And Cris... Crishana... Crishish....”
“Chrysanthemums sweetie.”
“Right! Them too!”
And, looming up like something from an old movie, was one of the biggest houses that Stephanie had ever seen. Easily three stories tall, it resembled an old southern mansion, with a large stone walkway that went from the road up to an ornate front double door.
Six white pillars supported the second floor of the home and each window was adorned with white billowing curtains. There were also six huge yellow ribbons tied to each of the pillars, and one on the bottom of the flag poll in the center garden.
“Who lives here Aunt Nerva? The President?”
Minerva giggled and shook her head. “No sweetie. But someone just as important if not more, to me.”
The Mustang started to slow down as they made the loop and eventually came to a stop just at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the front door.
Minerva got out and opened the trunk, removing Stephanie’s suitcase and setting it down on the first step.
Just then, the huge oak front door opened and out stepped an older mink woman in a simple white house dress and rose colored apron. She started down the stairs toward the car, her dark reddish blonde hair tied into a long braid behind her head, and a little pair of bifocal glasses, not unlike the ones Minerva often wore, perched on the end of her nose.
Stephanie almost broke her seatbelt trying to get out of the car and as she leapt from her seat, bolting up the front steps, she start to cry.
“Grammy?! Grammy!!”
Diana Mink knelt down so she could scoop up her granddaughter in a big hug and lift her up into the air. Stephanie wrapped her arms around the older woman’s neck and pressed her face against her.
“Ohhh, how’s Grandma’s sugah pie?”
“I missed you so much Grammy!”
“I missed you too darlin’.”
She set Stephanie back on the ground, but kept the little girls hand tightly closed in her own, which pleased her granddaughter greatly.
“And how ‘bout you stranger? Y’all hardly come see us anymore, it’s a wonder I even recognize ya.”
Minerva picked up Stephanie’s suitcase, and carried it up to where her mother stood, before setting it back down to embrace her.
“I’m fine mom. It’s good to see you too.”
Diana placed both hands on Minerva’s shoulders and stood back a little from her. “Well, let me get a good look at ya. *Sigh* My baby ain’t a baby anymore, huh? You look healthy honey, slim and trim too.”
“Ah, you know it’s not pretty being me mom.”
Both Mink’s twittered giving Stephanie giggles in stereo.
“Besides, you aren’t looking half bad yourself.”
This was true. Minerva’s mother sported the same slim, ample figure, long beautiful hair, and air of female superiority that she did, and even though gray was starting to invade her hair, along with wrinkles creping around the edges of her eyes, she was still quite an attractive woman. Easily as head turning as her daughter, there was no question of where Minerva had inherited her looks.
Stephanie reached up for her grandmother’s hand again and Diana took it leading her up toward the house.
“So I get to say here with you today Grammy?”
“Sure enough. And tomorrow, and Friday too.”
Stephanie leapt up in the air and let out a joyful “Yippee!”
“I figure it’s bound to be more fun for you to stay here for a couple of days, then me dragging you around on business like I’ve been.”
“But, wont papa be mad if he finds out?”
Both mother and daughter answered in unison. “What your father doesn’t know wont hurt him.”
Stephanie pondered that for a moment, then decided that it sounding like a good plan. Besides, she didn’t care what kind of righteous indignation she caught from Corrie as so long as she got to spend time with her grandmother.
“And speekin’ of papas, you had better come in and say ‘Howdy’ to your own.” Diana said over her shoulder.
Minerva was stopped mid-stride by her mother’s comment. “Daddy is here? Right now?”
“Sure enough. Just got back last night. Thought I would have a little surprise for you.” The elder mink opened the front door and ushered Minerva and Stephanie into the biggest foyer room either had ever seen.
A huge stairwell rose off the floor like a cobra from it’s woven basket, just before it split in two and gave access to the upper second floor. Beautiful polished wood floors greeted them and Stephanie gasped in awe at the crystal chandelier above their heads.
“Mom, I just love what you’ve done with this place! It’s amazing!”
Diana smiled and placed a hand on her throat. “And can you believe they were gonna tear it down? I do declare, some folks have no appreciation for fine architecture such as this.
“Howevah I can’t take total credit. Your father did most of the work, I just made sure he did it right.”
Again the two older minks giggled. Stephanie would have too, if she hadn’t been so busy checking out the dumbwaiter next to the stairs. She had heard of them, but never actually seen one in real life.
Diana took Stephanie’s suitcase from her daughter and gave her a nudge toward the left side of the house. “I’m gonna get Stephanie set up in her room, so you go and see your father. He’s in the den.”
Minerva watched as her mother and niece started to climb the big stairs to the second floor before heading off to find her father.
The first room to the left looked to be some kind of formal sitting room, with pictures hung on the wall, and several chairs and ‘love seats’ about.
The second, was obviously the den, with a large oak door and the smell of pipe tobacco slipping out from cracks around it. Minerva walked up and gently pushed it open, surprised when it didn’t creak.
Inside were several bookcases that encircled the room, each filled with different leather bound books and several small pieces of art or busts. The walls were covered with pictures of family, of which Minerva spotted her and Corrie’s graduation photo’s, and a huge map of the US that sat perched above a mahogany desk, flanked by two flags, Old Glory and California’s state flag.
A ornate fireplace simmered softly with a morning fire, it’s mantle adorned with military awards, medals, and more pictures of Minerva and Corrie, sadly more the former than the latter.
There was also her grandfathers Congressional Medal Of Honor that he had won at Anzio in 44'. Framed in a velvet lined case, it sat next to a photo of her grandfather taken just before he left for Italy. A young, brash looking man, eerily resembling Corrie, grinned out from under his helmet, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, as two friends slapped him on the back.
Minerva remembered him telling her and Corrie about the war, but only in the vaguest of terms. They had sat in awe of these stories, and though he down played his involvement, insisting that someone else deserved his medals more than he did, there had always been an unspoken understanding of just what this man had been a part of overseas.
She had loved him almost as much as her own father and regarded him in a way some children did comic book super heros. She only wished Stephanie could have known him...
Then, in the center off it all, a huge black leather chair with matching ottoman dominated the room. There sat Major General Robert Mink, in black slacks, white button up shirt and tie, reading the Wall Street Journal, old fashioned German pipe hanging from his mouth.
Minerva stepped in, doing her best not to make a sound and stood before the chair, saluted, then said crisply, “Second Lieutenant Minerva Mink reporting for duty, sir!”
Robert wasn’t startled in the least, or if he was didn’t show it. He only folded his paper over, removed his pipe and stood. Examining his daughter with sharp blue eyes, he reached up to thumb his nose, and run a hand through his crew cut blond hair that was also starting to show it’s first real attempts at going gray.
Finally, he sat his paper and pipe down and said, “At ease soldier.”
Minerva relaxed, then in one simple jump, wrapped her arms around her father’s neck and squeezed him earnestly. “Oh daddy! I’m so glad to see you!”
Robert hugged his daughter tightly, lifting her from the floor and pressed his nose into her hair. “It’s good to see you too honey.”
Minerva’s father was a good foot and a half taller than both her and her mother, and it seemed to them both, had always smelled of Old Spice and sweet pipe tobacco.
A Vietnam veteran, bringing home two Purple Hearts and a flurry of silver and bronze stars for leading his men through the jungle, Robert had worked his way through the military ranks, finally landing himself a position with the top brass inside the Pentagon.
Strict and firm, but always fair, he loved his family and his country, doing his utmost duty to both at all times.
“So how did you manage to sneak away this time? Don’t tell me you went AWOL?”
He chuckled, releasing his daughter and giving her a gentile kiss on the forehead. “Nothing of the sort. I have base inspection and troop speeches to make. God bless the volunteer army. There is nothing that can equal it.”
She smiled, knowing full well what he meant. “Oh, and I brought your granddaughter to spend a few days.”
“Stephanie? Where is she?” He raised his brows and stuck his pipe back into the corner of his mouth and added, “I take it your brother doesn’t know about it?”
“No, he doesn’t. Mom is getting her situated in her room. I’ve got some business to attend to in the next couple of days, and I really didn’t want to have to drag her all over while I did it. I figured she would have a much better time with you and mom, here for a couple of days.”
“Business?” Robert said with a raised brow.
Minerva pulled herself up to sit on the edge of the desk and smiled. “Ya, I’ve decided to start my own business. While I’m down here, I want to hit up a few old friends for investment. I’ve already got a few takers, but I’m going to need a lot more before I can really get started.”
“Well good for you sweetie. It’s like I’ve always said...”
“There are followers, and there are leaders. But only one of them really makes any money.” She finished his line for him and he grinned.
“Exactly.”
Just then, the door opened and Stephanie and Diana returned, the little girl smiling broadly. Her face lit up as she saw her grandfather and quickly closed the distance between them.
“Grandpa! Grandpa!”
Robert lifted the little girl up into his arms and growled. “Bear-hug!”
“Ack! No Grandpa! Hahaha–blah! Your squeezin’ the air out of me!”
“Good! And how is my sweet little Granddaughter?”
“Oh did she? Now, she knows full well that children are not allowed on the base.”
Minerva blurted a laugh, and waved her hand in front of her to dismiss his statement. “Please! Who was the only sixteen year old at school that knew how to fire a Heckler and Koch MP5K?”
Robert only chuckled and gave Stephanie another squeeze. “Skills every woman should have. We most certainly can go see the tanks, and maybe even a ride in one.”
The little girl looked like she was about to burst at the seams with excitement. “This is like Christmas, but a million times better!”
They all laughed happily, but a quick glance at her watch told Minerva it was time to go.
“Well, I hate to drop and run, but if I don’t get going I’ll be late for my first appointment.”
She again hugged her father tightly around the neck. “Bye daddy. I’ll see you again Friday night.”
“Okay honey. You take care of yourself, and visit more often! Your mother is going decoration crazy while I’m gone and she’s going to curtain and doily us out of house and home. Come and keep her occupied for me.”
Diana placed a hand on her hip and made a mock scowl at her husband. “I’ll get you for that later.”
“I will daddy. And you behave yourself little Missy. I’ll see you Friday night too.”
In all the excitement of being at her grandparents, Stephanie had forgotten that she probably wouldn’t be staying with her aunt again this week, and suddenly, she felt very sad at the prospect.
“Okay Aunt ‘Nerva. Thank you for letting me stay with you. I had lots of fun.”
Minerva noticed her niece’s sudden mood shift and kissed her gently on the nose. “Your welcome Steph. You know your always welcome to come stay with me, anytime.”
“I’ll walk you out to you’re car darlin.” Diana said, opening the den’s large door and then following her daughter outside.
*********************
They stopped at Minerva’s car, Diana covering her eyes from the sun, and Minerva dawning her sunglasses.
“So where ya’ll headed today?”
Clicking the unlock button on her key ring, Minerva opened the drivers door and leaned on it.
“Believe it or not, I’m going to see Newt.”
“Gingrich?”
Minerva looked at her mother oddly for a moment before bursting out in giggles. “No, no! Newt the ‘Dippy Daschund’” she pronounced with her fingers, “that I use to work with. Word is he made a killing on the stock market a few years back, and I’ve not seen him in a while. I like to rub elbows with my old friends now and again, and I’ve not really seen him since last years WB reunion.”
“Sounds good. Looking for a few investments huh?”
“Who told you that?”
Diana motioned with her hands, making a short gesture to indicate Stephanie.
“Well, that does have a little to do with it. Plus I’m going to see Lola too. She wants me to have dinner with them and stay the night. I’m probably going to take her up on it. That way I can get up extra early, get home and get over to Corrie’s. I’m going to clean the house up, so at the very least he can have a clean home to come back to.”
“Sounds like a plan darlin’. You going to call your new guy friend too?”
Minerva jerked her head up to look at her mother, then grinned devilishly. “I’m going to have to sew that girls mouth up. The snitch.”
Diana only smiled. “Oh, if it wasn’t for my little spy, I wouldn’t hear anything about your life.”
“Well,” She shrugged, her blonde hair bobbing, “He’s nice and I like him. He had the guts to call me and take us out for dinner, so that’s a plus. And it doesn’t seem to affect how he reacts to me knowing that I’m the Minerva Mink. But don’t worry, it’s only touch and go right now, and it’s not like I’m going to jump in bed with him or anything.”
“I should think not. I believe I raised you better than that.”
“You learn from example mom.”
This pleased Diana, and she allowed herself a little smile. She had made Robert work darn hard for her affections, and there hadn’t been even the slightest possibility of any sexual activities until there was a gold band on her finger.
Even when he volunteered for duty in Nam, Robert wouldn’t even discuss it, and rather, gave her a promise ring, making it clear that he had every intention of coming home in one piece.
It was this kind of understanding, and love for one another that kept their marriage solid all these years. Diana had always hoped it would rub off on her children, and it appeared that it had.
“You better get, darlin’. Call me when you get there okay?”
“Sure mom.” Minerva got in behind the wheel and was amazed that, no matter how old she got, her mother always said that, and she always called.
End Of Chapter 16