In this Episode, Nola's new habit of misplacing things is starting to become a real problem.

The next morning finds a very tired Nola, dressed and sitting at the kitchen table, desperately trying to stay awake. As she drinks black coffee, and listens to a morning radio show, the lights suddenly dim and then become bright again.

"God, I hope that electrician that Bridget called didn't get his wires mixed up."

Bridget comes down stairs with a cheery, out-of-the-ordinary smile on her face. "Good morning, Nola."

"What's so good about it?"

"My, we are grumpy today."

"Listen, Kathie Lee, I'm not in the mood for this. I had a terrible night's sleep last night, all because I didn't have my special pillow."

"Your special pillow?"

"You know, that little black and white print one that I saved from the old couch on Thornway Road. You haven't seen it, have you?"

"No, Nola. I haven't seen it. Maybe it got mixed up with the laundry, when you washed the sheets. Why are you so worried about that old thing anyway?"

"Hey, believe me, I had some great dreams with my head on that pillow. But I didn't have it last night, and that's probably why I had a nightmare about you and. . "

"Me and who?. You weren't going to say Quinton, were you? Nola, I have to tell you something about that." Bridget, who has already decided that at this point in the game it would be much better to keep Nola as a friend, continues, "Quinton was just comforting me. You see, Hart sent me a letter last night saying that he and Dinah have run off together."

"Really? So he was comforting you? That's all that is was?"

"Yes, really, Nola that's all it was. She adds,"at least for now," under her breath.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. But I was about to ask you if you could do an itsy, bitsy favor for me."

"Like what?"

"Will you pick up Peter from day school today?"

"Why can't you?"

"Because I'm going somewhere this afternoon."

"Where?"

"If you must know, I'm going to the nuthouse."

"Bridget, I've always known you need help, but don't you think voluntary commitment is a little drastic?"

"Ha. Ha. Nola, I am going to the wacky wing to see Roger."

"Now, why would you want to go see that basket case?"

"Hey, he is Peter's grandfather. And besides, I think he should know that his wife ran away with his son. Maybe he could have one of his friends at the Agency kill them or something."

"And I thought I could be vindictive. All right. I'll do it, I've got to go pass the day care anyway. That's right near the jewelry store."

"What are you going to the jewelry store for?"

"If you must know, it's because they do repair work there, too, and I thought it was about time I had my engagement ring fixed. One of the stones fell out of it awhile back and I've been putting off getting it fixed."

"You're not going to start wearing it again or you?" Bridget asks shocked.

"No, but I thought it was time I give it to J. That way, if he ever meets that special someone, who by the way is not Michelle, then he can give it to her. Keep it in the family. If was after all, Quinton's mother's. I don't think you've ever seen my ring, have you Bridget?"

"Ah, no. I haven't. Why do you ask?"

"I was just going to show it to you. Even with the one stone missing, it really is dazzling." Nola goes over to her purse and takes out a velvet pouch "See Bridget, here it. . . Oh my God!. . ."

"What's wrong, Nola?"

"It's not in here. I put it in here yesterday, but I didn't have a chance to get by the jewelers."

"Nola, are you sure you didn't go by the jewelers and drop it off, and maybe you just forgot about it?"

"Bridget, I am not that absent-minded."

"But just think about it. You've lost your brush, your 'Hollywood is for Lovers' cup, your special pillow. And now your ring. And you have been under a lot of pressure lately, with all that stuff about Quinton and Jessica, and those stories you made up about Zachary being your boyfriend It's only natural for you to be a little confused right now."

"Bridget, I am not confused."

"Gosh, Nola, I didn't mean to insult you. Listen, I'm going to go upstairs and get dressed. Are you going to be okay?"

"I think so. Uh, Bridget, by the way, did you notice the boarding house lights dimming on and off this morning?"

"No, Nola, I didn't notice that at all."

To Be Continued

Okay, have we all figured out by now where this one is leading?

After Bridget went upstairs, Nola tried to go over the events of the previous day in her head. It had been a busy day. Could she have dropped the ring over at the jewelry store and then forgot about it? She did have so much going on in her life; it could be possible to let one thing slip her mind.

Nola got the phone book and looked up the number for the jewelry store, and then picked up the phone to dial. As soon as she put the handset to her ear, she heard Quinton's familiar voice saying, "Did you take care of it?" and then Bridget answering him, "Yes, Quinton, I did just like you told me to, but I don't know how much longer I can keep this up without actually driving Nola crazy."

Nola waited until they had hung up and then she put the receiver down. Her mind was racing a million miles a minute as she sat back down at the table. "What is Quinton up to now? And how is Bridget involved? And what did she mean about actually driving me crazy?"

And just then the lights dimmed again.

Nola felt almost dizzy, as she laid her head down on the table. "I'm beginning to misplace things, things that are dear to me. Quinton has some sort of scheme going with Bridget. And those damn lights, dimming over and over. It's almost like that movie, Gaslight' with Ingrid Bergman, Angela Lansbury and Charles Boyer. Ingrid Bergman's husband was trying to drive her crazy...trying to drive her crazy.

As Nola's mind drifts off, she finds herself clothed in an early turn of the century dress. Then Bridget comes down the stairs and begins speaking in a very cockney accent.

"Mum, Will you be needing anything else tonight? Mum, are you feeling well? You look quite pale?"

"Bridget, why are you talking to me like that. And of course, I"m well, why wouldn't I be?"

""Mum, you know what the master says, You haven't been feeling yourself lately. What with misplacing things and going on about those lights dimming."

"But I did see the lights dim, didn't you?

"No mum, I didn't"

"Where is the master?"

"Here he comes now."

Quinton enters dressed as the master of the house and speaking with a very Charles Boyer' type accent.

"Ah, Nola, I see you are up. Good, I must ask you for something."

"What is it, Quinton?"

"My mother's ring. You still have my mother's ring. I think it is time we gave it to our son."

Uh, Quinton . . ."

"What's wrong? Why do you look so pale? Are you feeling ill again?"

"I'm not ill. It's just that I. . ..I lost the ring."

"You what? You lost my mother's ring! How could you be so absent-minded!"

"I don't know. It must have fallen out of my purse. I'm sorry. . .I'm sorry."

"Nola, what is going on with you? First your brush, then your cup, your special pillow, and now my mother's ring. I think it's time that you admit what is going on here."

"What is going on here?"

"I think it's quite obvious. Nola, you are going insane."

"I'm not going insane. Why would you say that?"

"Nola, I think it's time you knew the truth. Your Great Uncle Harvey was as mad as a hatter. and it appears you inherited that madness."

"Quinton, I know that my Great Uncle Harvey was nuts. He used to tell us kids that he was Eleanor Roosevelt. But he was only my uncle by marriage. If I am crazy it's because you drove me insane. Hey, wait a minute, is that your plan I heard you discussing with Bridget? Are you two trying to drive me insane? Well, let me tell you, two things, Quinton R. Chamberlain. First, your plan is not going to work. If those years I spent with you in that spooky house, with all those crazy characters running around, didn't drive me crazy, then I don't think anything ever could."

You said two things. What's the other?"

That is the worst Charles Boyer imitation I've ever heard."

Suddenly Nola comes back to reality as Bridget taps her on the shoulder.

"Nola, I think you fell back to sleep."

"Yeah, I must have. Bridget, I'm not insane."

A confused Bridget answers her, "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say."

Then the lights dim once again, and Nola says to herself, "But if I stay in this damn house a minute longer, I will be."

As soon as Nola has walked out the door, the announcer on the radio says, this is "WJZE. I have a report here from the Springfield Electric Authority Due to excessive power use, expect some brown-outs all during the day. So put some power surge protectors on those computers, and if your lights begin to dim on and off, remember it's the brown-outs, not anyone trying to gaslight you. Now back to your all your favorite oldies from the eighties.

to be continued

Go to next chapter of "Sometimes You Get A Second Chance"