sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Sweet thank you, so nice to have more chapters when one is laid up.
Premonitions
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#16c.
It was the end of October that started the problem. Halloween, to be precise. Christy wanted to go to the church "Harvest party", fully intending to ditch that party and go to the party the "Singing Cats" were having. A real Halloween party with boys and spooky, haunted rooms and every thing a real party needed.
Cheryl said no, Ev said no and Christy stayed awake at night thinking of a way to do what she wanted. Finally she hit on a diversion plan, that would keep the adults busy and allow her to slip away.
Poorly thought out, and impossible to implement, Christy tried her best. It backfired when Cheryl went to her daughters's room to get Christy to babysit Joey while she helped Ev chase cows. The slightly open window spoke volumes. Cheryl stood in the doorway of Christy's room growing madder by the second.
One look at her face told Ev all he needed to know. The cows were rounded up and put back in the corral. Ev nailed the window shut in Christy's room and took the room door off it's hinges. All of her clothes, personal things were boxed up and put in the basement If Christy wanted them back, she could earn the privilege. They settled in to wait for her return.
She called in by 10pm, begging Ev to come get her. She was in a situation she couldn't handle, and was really scared. Ev went tearing down the driveway in the old Ford and stopped the 'party' cold by bursting in like a wild man. The Pastor was an unwilling 'guest' that Ev stopped by the church to pick up. His daughter was clearly the ringleader, and most astonished to have been discovered by her Dad.
Both the Harvest party and the Halloween party were rapidly disbanded, parents called to come get their children, and Ev called the Sheriff's department and vowed to press charges against those parents that wouldn't come when he called them. It was a community scandal that rocked the foundation of the church.
Ev didn't get any thanks that night, but Christy had to suffer listening to the phone ring constantly the next day as grateful parents called to say thank you. Worst of all, her Mom was way more mad than her Dad, and Christy got the privilege of caring for Joey on a 24 hour basis, under her mother's watchful eyes. Joey didn't care who carried him, as long as they did.
Christy begged that a week's worth of punishment was long enough, but Cheryl just snapped, "We'll talk about this in two months." and stomped away. The teen got up early to start breakfast, after listening to Joey cry at intervals all night long, she did the dishes, laundry, made the butter, cooked the meals, cleaned the house and worked at the schooling that Cheryl piled on with no mercy.
"If you want to be grown up, this is the place to start and this is what it is like." Cheryl and Ev repeated day after day. By Christmas time, Christy was a different person with a deep understanding of what caused a person to be called a grownup.
Clora watched but did nothing, not even when Christy begged she was gonna die from exhaustion if she didn't get some sleep.
Christy's punishment was the topic of a lot of discussions around the farm, but no one interfered. It wasn't their business and Ev and Cheryl were fair people in the long run. So they supported the parents as they spent a real rough two months.
Will and Willie spent many an hour talking about Christy's foolishness, trying out different scenarios that might have happened, and through the young girl's mistake, Willie learned a lot about life. He also interviewed at a couple of close academies, and chose one not far away from the farm. He and Will talked, and Willie chose to board at the school, living the full school experience. Tall, thin and very muscular, he was immediately invited to the basketball court.
Will rattled around the house suffering from empty nest syndrome, driving Clora and Mark crazy. As the winter progressed, Will worked harder than ever. The orchard was emerging as a picture perfect example. Will's interest was eventually captured by heritage fruits and he jumped in with both feet. He took Extension classes, learning to graft, spray, prune and pollinate with the bees.
He finally relaxed and became a proud father, attending his son's games. Everyone else relaxed also.
Thanksgiving was a lavish affair at the main house. Food from the fields, trees, hoof and hive. When the meal was finished Clora offered another prayer of thanks for the health and happiness of the family and the blessings of protection for those away from it's warmth. It suited the day and the celebration, and caused more comparisons between Clora and Grandmother.
There was snow on the ground that stayed and accumulated day after day. The farm went about living, overcoming the difficulties by slogging on through. Wayne increased his route by training one of the horses to pull a modified snow mobile trailer with his stock of flour, sometimes milk and butter, sometimes eggs and chickens, beans and oats.
He was open to trades slowly collecting furniture for his house, along with the excess that people collect that they have no use for, when they are hungry. As the winter progressed, the demand for beans and flour was greater than any other food substances.
It was bound to happen, he had seen the knot of hooligans shadowing him through town. Wayne carefully let his weapon be noticed, but it didn't deter the hungry young men. The shotgun blast from the small brick house changed the gang's ideas. The skinny woman shot at the snow covered sidewalk in front of the advancing bullies, peppering the leader's with chips of ice and concrete. Wayne, with his back to the front of the house, was saved from a certain beating and robbery by the homeowner. He offered his thanks by bringing in the rest of his wares in gratitude. It wasn't much, but it was obviously more than she had, as thin as she was.
Deena Solengren was scrappy, hungry and looking for work. Wayne was always a sucker for a lost puppy, so he hired her to ride shotgun for him, covering his back while he worked.
They were a strange sight walking the streets of town, the two tall, thin bundled up peddlers and Donny the short fat gelding. The sheep bell on Donny's halter ringing in the snowy weather to announce their arrival. The gang waited until the week before Christmas, when the frugal housewives opened their purses to buy a bit extra for the holiday meal. Deena saw them coming and they stopped in the park next to the bandstand. Wayne reached under the boxes for the second shotgun and his 30-30.
Covered by the band shell canopy behind them, they pulled a reluctant Donny into the pit below the orchestra and waited for the problem they knew was coming. The gang had pistols and they peppered the peddlers like a angry ice storm. Deena let loose with one blast that put a couple of the dudes down with screaming results.
It was quiet and the early darkness crept like a blackout curtain across the park. Wayne could barely make out the moving shadows when the police arrived. The two injured men were hauled to the hospital under guard, and Wayne and Deena walked carefully back to the farm. After putting Donny away, Wayne drug Deena up to the main house for supper.
Mark and Will had suited up in winter gear and met them at the door, intending to look for the missing Wayne.
Bringing large bowls of steaming hot chicken soup to the table, Clora invited Deena to stay and eat. Teeth chattering with the cold, she agreed instantly. It was an interesting tale they had to tell, underscoring the dangerous problem they needed to solve before returning to town.
It was the end of October that started the problem. Halloween, to be precise. Christy wanted to go to the church "Harvest party", fully intending to ditch that party and go to the party the "Singing Cats" were having. A real Halloween party with boys and spooky, haunted rooms and every thing a real party needed.
Cheryl said no, Ev said no and Christy stayed awake at night thinking of a way to do what she wanted. Finally she hit on a diversion plan, that would keep the adults busy and allow her to slip away.
Poorly thought out, and impossible to implement, Christy tried her best. It backfired when Cheryl went to her daughters's room to get Christy to babysit Joey while she helped Ev chase cows. The slightly open window spoke volumes. Cheryl stood in the doorway of Christy's room growing madder by the second.
One look at her face told Ev all he needed to know. The cows were rounded up and put back in the corral. Ev nailed the window shut in Christy's room and took the room door off it's hinges. All of her clothes, personal things were boxed up and put in the basement If Christy wanted them back, she could earn the privilege. They settled in to wait for her return.
She called in by 10pm, begging Ev to come get her. She was in a situation she couldn't handle, and was really scared. Ev went tearing down the driveway in the old Ford and stopped the 'party' cold by bursting in like a wild man. The Pastor was an unwilling 'guest' that Ev stopped by the church to pick up. His daughter was clearly the ringleader, and most astonished to have been discovered by her Dad.
Both the Harvest party and the Halloween party were rapidly disbanded, parents called to come get their children, and Ev called the Sheriff's department and vowed to press charges against those parents that wouldn't come when he called them. It was a community scandal that rocked the foundation of the church.
Ev didn't get any thanks that night, but Christy had to suffer listening to the phone ring constantly the next day as grateful parents called to say thank you. Worst of all, her Mom was way more mad than her Dad, and Christy got the privilege of caring for Joey on a 24 hour basis, under her mother's watchful eyes. Joey didn't care who carried him, as long as they did.
Christy begged that a week's worth of punishment was long enough, but Cheryl just snapped, "We'll talk about this in two months." and stomped away. The teen got up early to start breakfast, after listening to Joey cry at intervals all night long, she did the dishes, laundry, made the butter, cooked the meals, cleaned the house and worked at the schooling that Cheryl piled on with no mercy.
"If you want to be grown up, this is the place to start and this is what it is like." Cheryl and Ev repeated day after day. By Christmas time, Christy was a different person with a deep understanding of what caused a person to be called a grownup.
Clora watched but did nothing, not even when Christy begged she was gonna die from exhaustion if she didn't get some sleep.
Christy's punishment was the topic of a lot of discussions around the farm, but no one interfered. It wasn't their business and Ev and Cheryl were fair people in the long run. So they supported the parents as they spent a real rough two months.
Will and Willie spent many an hour talking about Christy's foolishness, trying out different scenarios that might have happened, and through the young girl's mistake, Willie learned a lot about life. He also interviewed at a couple of close academies, and chose one not far away from the farm. He and Will talked, and Willie chose to board at the school, living the full school experience. Tall, thin and very muscular, he was immediately invited to the basketball court.
Will rattled around the house suffering from empty nest syndrome, driving Clora and Mark crazy. As the winter progressed, Will worked harder than ever. The orchard was emerging as a picture perfect example. Will's interest was eventually captured by heritage fruits and he jumped in with both feet. He took Extension classes, learning to graft, spray, prune and pollinate with the bees.
He finally relaxed and became a proud father, attending his son's games. Everyone else relaxed also.
Thanksgiving was a lavish affair at the main house. Food from the fields, trees, hoof and hive. When the meal was finished Clora offered another prayer of thanks for the health and happiness of the family and the blessings of protection for those away from it's warmth. It suited the day and the celebration, and caused more comparisons between Clora and Grandmother.
There was snow on the ground that stayed and accumulated day after day. The farm went about living, overcoming the difficulties by slogging on through. Wayne increased his route by training one of the horses to pull a modified snow mobile trailer with his stock of flour, sometimes milk and butter, sometimes eggs and chickens, beans and oats.
He was open to trades slowly collecting furniture for his house, along with the excess that people collect that they have no use for, when they are hungry. As the winter progressed, the demand for beans and flour was greater than any other food substances.
It was bound to happen, he had seen the knot of hooligans shadowing him through town. Wayne carefully let his weapon be noticed, but it didn't deter the hungry young men. The shotgun blast from the small brick house changed the gang's ideas. The skinny woman shot at the snow covered sidewalk in front of the advancing bullies, peppering the leader's with chips of ice and concrete. Wayne, with his back to the front of the house, was saved from a certain beating and robbery by the homeowner. He offered his thanks by bringing in the rest of his wares in gratitude. It wasn't much, but it was obviously more than she had, as thin as she was.
Deena Solengren was scrappy, hungry and looking for work. Wayne was always a sucker for a lost puppy, so he hired her to ride shotgun for him, covering his back while he worked.
They were a strange sight walking the streets of town, the two tall, thin bundled up peddlers and Donny the short fat gelding. The sheep bell on Donny's halter ringing in the snowy weather to announce their arrival. The gang waited until the week before Christmas, when the frugal housewives opened their purses to buy a bit extra for the holiday meal. Deena saw them coming and they stopped in the park next to the bandstand. Wayne reached under the boxes for the second shotgun and his 30-30.
Covered by the band shell canopy behind them, they pulled a reluctant Donny into the pit below the orchestra and waited for the problem they knew was coming. The gang had pistols and they peppered the peddlers like a angry ice storm. Deena let loose with one blast that put a couple of the dudes down with screaming results.
It was quiet and the early darkness crept like a blackout curtain across the park. Wayne could barely make out the moving shadows when the police arrived. The two injured men were hauled to the hospital under guard, and Wayne and Deena walked carefully back to the farm. After putting Donny away, Wayne drug Deena up to the main house for supper.
Mark and Will had suited up in winter gear and met them at the door, intending to look for the missing Wayne.
Bringing large bowls of steaming hot chicken soup to the table, Clora invited Deena to stay and eat. Teeth chattering with the cold, she agreed instantly. It was an interesting tale they had to tell, underscoring the dangerous problem they needed to solve before returning to town.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Oh boy! Sandy may not like this at all!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#17a.
Deena took forever to eat her bowl of soup. The crackers were eaten, not crumbled in the broth and she didn't look at the cheese. Clora watched her carefully, puzzled by the emaciated woman's behavior. Wayne left for his place and Sandy showed Deena her room up stairs.
During the night, Clora woke to the sounds of retching in the upstairs bathroom. Deena was sick and Clora made a trip up to the second floor to see what was the matter.
An ashen faced Deena stood at the sink. One hand scrubbing her face with water and the other clutching her stomach. Weaving and bobbing unsteady on her legs, the woman squeaked out a 'come in' when Clora knocked softly.
"May I help in some way?" Clora inquired. "You really look sick."
"It's my gall bladder," Deena whispered as she slid to the floor in a faint.
Deena took forever to eat her bowl of soup. The crackers were eaten, not crumbled in the broth and she didn't look at the cheese. Clora watched her carefully, puzzled by the emaciated woman's behavior. Wayne left for his place and Sandy showed Deena her room up stairs.
During the night, Clora woke to the sounds of retching in the upstairs bathroom. Deena was sick and Clora made a trip up to the second floor to see what was the matter.
An ashen faced Deena stood at the sink. One hand scrubbing her face with water and the other clutching her stomach. Weaving and bobbing unsteady on her legs, the woman squeaked out a 'come in' when Clora knocked softly.
"May I help in some way?" Clora inquired. "You really look sick."
"It's my gall bladder," Deena whispered as she slid to the floor in a faint.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Done the GB things myself. It sucks.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yeah same here on the gall bladder. Glad they straightened Christy out. Umm how about a new woman for Will boy 
.
.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#17b
Deena slid to the floor between the counter and the tub edge. Had she been anything but skinny, she wouldn't have fit in the narrow passage way. Clora tried to move her, but couldn't. Speeding down the hall, Clora knocked on Sandy's door.
"Sandy, come help. I need you. Wake up!" Sandy sat upright in a startled motion, sleep washing down her face as she struggled to come awake. "Wha..what's the matter?"
"It's Deena, she's sick and I can't get her off the floor, I need help," Clora stressed again.
Sandy swung her feet to the floor and shivered. "Oh it's cold. How the heck did she get on the bathroom floor?" she dutifully followed Clora down the hall.
"Eww, it stinks in here. What she'd do, heave?" Sandy bent over and she and Clora tried to pull Deena out of the bathroom.
"We need Will, go get him," Clora panted. "I don't want to wake up Mark unless I have too, he's still awful sick."
Sandy knocked on Will's door and was going to stick her head inside, when it opened.
"What's happening?" he was throwing on a old bathrobe. "Sounds like a herd of elephants tromping through the house."
"Close, Deena collapsed in the bathroom and we can't move her."
Will picked up the comatose Deena and easily scooted her towards the door. "Now what I do with her?" he asked as he picked her up.
"Back in her room I suppose, she said something about her gall bladder." Clora worried that the woman might be beyond help.
"Will, would you go get Wayne? We need some information about her, we don't even know where she lives or where her family is," Clora fretted as she fussed pulling the covers over the woman. Will went to get the lanky man.
"Gads, she's as skinny as a broomstick," Sandy remarked. "Look how tight her jaw skin is, and the pattern of her ribs, I bet she hasn't eaten in months. Ya know she may have that problem people get when their gall bladders aren't working, I forget what it's called but it is kinda bad."
Both women sat waiting for Will and Wayne to return. Deena made no movements except for breathing.
Both men came bounding up stairs, "Good grief," Wayne commented the moment he laid eyes on Deena. "She looks sick."
"Yea Sherlock," Sandy drawled, "brilliant deduction."
"Hey, I didn't know she was ill," Wayne protested. "She really helped me today and I thought the right thing to do was feed her cause she looks awful thin."
"She needs to go to the hospital," Will was feeling for her pulse. "This is really a sick woman."
Deena slid to the floor between the counter and the tub edge. Had she been anything but skinny, she wouldn't have fit in the narrow passage way. Clora tried to move her, but couldn't. Speeding down the hall, Clora knocked on Sandy's door.
"Sandy, come help. I need you. Wake up!" Sandy sat upright in a startled motion, sleep washing down her face as she struggled to come awake. "Wha..what's the matter?"
"It's Deena, she's sick and I can't get her off the floor, I need help," Clora stressed again.
Sandy swung her feet to the floor and shivered. "Oh it's cold. How the heck did she get on the bathroom floor?" she dutifully followed Clora down the hall.
"Eww, it stinks in here. What she'd do, heave?" Sandy bent over and she and Clora tried to pull Deena out of the bathroom.
"We need Will, go get him," Clora panted. "I don't want to wake up Mark unless I have too, he's still awful sick."
Sandy knocked on Will's door and was going to stick her head inside, when it opened.
"What's happening?" he was throwing on a old bathrobe. "Sounds like a herd of elephants tromping through the house."
"Close, Deena collapsed in the bathroom and we can't move her."
Will picked up the comatose Deena and easily scooted her towards the door. "Now what I do with her?" he asked as he picked her up.
"Back in her room I suppose, she said something about her gall bladder." Clora worried that the woman might be beyond help.
"Will, would you go get Wayne? We need some information about her, we don't even know where she lives or where her family is," Clora fretted as she fussed pulling the covers over the woman. Will went to get the lanky man.
"Gads, she's as skinny as a broomstick," Sandy remarked. "Look how tight her jaw skin is, and the pattern of her ribs, I bet she hasn't eaten in months. Ya know she may have that problem people get when their gall bladders aren't working, I forget what it's called but it is kinda bad."
Both women sat waiting for Will and Wayne to return. Deena made no movements except for breathing.
Both men came bounding up stairs, "Good grief," Wayne commented the moment he laid eyes on Deena. "She looks sick."
"Yea Sherlock," Sandy drawled, "brilliant deduction."
"Hey, I didn't know she was ill," Wayne protested. "She really helped me today and I thought the right thing to do was feed her cause she looks awful thin."
"She needs to go to the hospital," Will was feeling for her pulse. "This is really a sick woman."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Ohhh thank you Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#17c.
"I'll get the car," Will offered. "We'll need to put her in the back seat. I'd call the ambulance, but that's a spendy option she may not be able to afford. I'd guess she doesn't have any money, or she'd have taken care of the problem before now."
Wayne and Will took her downstairs in a blanket with only a few bumps and slaps. The hospital wasn't thrilled to have a obvious charity case land on their doorstep. In the end Wayne had to cosign to get Deena treated. It was her gall bladder after all, and she was backed up with poison. It took three days to help her system clear out the bile so she could be operated on.
Wayne felt it was his obligation to check on Deena's house, and Deena while she was in the hospital. She hardly spoke, cried a lot and didn't want to eat. Finally Wayne got Clora and Sandy to visit Deena to see if they could determine what was wrong.
"I can't pay, for any of this." She indicated the room and her small incisions. "I have no money."
"Well hell, if that's all that's bothering you, consider it a repayment against you saving my life," Wayne stuck his head in the door from where he had been listening in the hall.
Deena shook her head no, refusing to accept his convoluted logic.
"Deena, please don't worry," Clora broke in before the rest of them lost their cool in a game of 'no I won't--yes you will' bantering.
"We have work you can do around the farm, a lot of things you could do if you are interested," Clora offered a life line of self respect to Deena.
Sandy watched the whole scene with pursed lips and a suspicion she wasn't going to like what was going to develop out of this situation. Wayne had a bright interest in his countenance and a liveliness he had been lacking for a long time. Wayne was interested in Deena, even if he didn't know it yet. Sandy leaned against the wall with a black scowl plastered on her face, and her arms tightly crossed.
Clora sighed. Here they went again with the Sandy/Wayne difficulties. She for one was ready for them to settle their on and off interest in each other. Clora knew for a fact Wayne had not asked Ben for his blessing to marry Sandy, so If he had any doubts she was all for him waiting until those doubts were settled, but Lordy the in between drama was hard to live with.
In the end, Deena came to the farm because the gang trashed her house. Wayne drove slowly by the gutted brick so Deena could see the damage the fire had done. Spray painted slogans defaced the bricks she had hand scrubbed, the windows were broken out and holes chopped in the porch. She cried all the way to the farm.
Clora rubbed her forehead as Wayne and Will helped the still sobbing woman into the house, and realized that Houston, they had a problem. Clora grabbed her coat and fled down the hill to Cheryl's kitchen.
Cheryl was sitting in the living room reading while Christy toiled in the kitchen peeling potatoes and making cookies with baby Joey in the sling around her shoulder.
Christy poked her head in the room and asked if the ladies would like tea. Upbeat and cheerful, she brought the refreshment in as soon as the water boiled. Clora thanked her and asked for the chance to hold Joey, she needed cuddle time. Christy looked to her mother for confirmation, and then passed the small infant to her Aunt.
Clora started telling Cheryl what was happening up at the house. Laughing so hard she spilled her tea, Cheryl wiped her eyes and put her cup and saucer down before she spilled more. "I don't envy you," she gasped, laughing again. "Perhaps Sandy will broaden her horizons with people she meets at school, I think that would be best for her. She and Wayne are not in love, they have been brought up together and are comfortable with each other."
"Thank you," Clora tickled Joey as she talked. "That's the way I read the situation, but I didn't want to be wrong. It's beginning to feel like an armed camp up there." Clora visited a while longer and then left to get supper started.
Mark walked in and tossed his books on the desk. Clora came from the kitchen to greet him and knew instantly that his demons were fighting to get out and take hold. He looked like a skittish colt in a pen with a rattlesnake. On the verge of going out of control.
"I'll get the car," Will offered. "We'll need to put her in the back seat. I'd call the ambulance, but that's a spendy option she may not be able to afford. I'd guess she doesn't have any money, or she'd have taken care of the problem before now."
Wayne and Will took her downstairs in a blanket with only a few bumps and slaps. The hospital wasn't thrilled to have a obvious charity case land on their doorstep. In the end Wayne had to cosign to get Deena treated. It was her gall bladder after all, and she was backed up with poison. It took three days to help her system clear out the bile so she could be operated on.
Wayne felt it was his obligation to check on Deena's house, and Deena while she was in the hospital. She hardly spoke, cried a lot and didn't want to eat. Finally Wayne got Clora and Sandy to visit Deena to see if they could determine what was wrong.
"I can't pay, for any of this." She indicated the room and her small incisions. "I have no money."
"Well hell, if that's all that's bothering you, consider it a repayment against you saving my life," Wayne stuck his head in the door from where he had been listening in the hall.
Deena shook her head no, refusing to accept his convoluted logic.
"Deena, please don't worry," Clora broke in before the rest of them lost their cool in a game of 'no I won't--yes you will' bantering.
"We have work you can do around the farm, a lot of things you could do if you are interested," Clora offered a life line of self respect to Deena.
Sandy watched the whole scene with pursed lips and a suspicion she wasn't going to like what was going to develop out of this situation. Wayne had a bright interest in his countenance and a liveliness he had been lacking for a long time. Wayne was interested in Deena, even if he didn't know it yet. Sandy leaned against the wall with a black scowl plastered on her face, and her arms tightly crossed.
Clora sighed. Here they went again with the Sandy/Wayne difficulties. She for one was ready for them to settle their on and off interest in each other. Clora knew for a fact Wayne had not asked Ben for his blessing to marry Sandy, so If he had any doubts she was all for him waiting until those doubts were settled, but Lordy the in between drama was hard to live with.
In the end, Deena came to the farm because the gang trashed her house. Wayne drove slowly by the gutted brick so Deena could see the damage the fire had done. Spray painted slogans defaced the bricks she had hand scrubbed, the windows were broken out and holes chopped in the porch. She cried all the way to the farm.
Clora rubbed her forehead as Wayne and Will helped the still sobbing woman into the house, and realized that Houston, they had a problem. Clora grabbed her coat and fled down the hill to Cheryl's kitchen.
Cheryl was sitting in the living room reading while Christy toiled in the kitchen peeling potatoes and making cookies with baby Joey in the sling around her shoulder.
Christy poked her head in the room and asked if the ladies would like tea. Upbeat and cheerful, she brought the refreshment in as soon as the water boiled. Clora thanked her and asked for the chance to hold Joey, she needed cuddle time. Christy looked to her mother for confirmation, and then passed the small infant to her Aunt.
Clora started telling Cheryl what was happening up at the house. Laughing so hard she spilled her tea, Cheryl wiped her eyes and put her cup and saucer down before she spilled more. "I don't envy you," she gasped, laughing again. "Perhaps Sandy will broaden her horizons with people she meets at school, I think that would be best for her. She and Wayne are not in love, they have been brought up together and are comfortable with each other."
"Thank you," Clora tickled Joey as she talked. "That's the way I read the situation, but I didn't want to be wrong. It's beginning to feel like an armed camp up there." Clora visited a while longer and then left to get supper started.
Mark walked in and tossed his books on the desk. Clora came from the kitchen to greet him and knew instantly that his demons were fighting to get out and take hold. He looked like a skittish colt in a pen with a rattlesnake. On the verge of going out of control.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Hee Hee, I was a rotten child!
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Poor Sandy. I feel for her. She deserves better than Wayne anyway! Hrmph.
And here I was hoping Wayne and Sandy would finally settle down. Should have known better. 
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Ah man the heartache of so called love. Mark needs to see whats important in life and learn to go with the flow lol.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#18
Clora took a deep breath and said in a low, calm voice," Before you come in, would you go check on Donny. Wayne wants to use him tomorrow and said he appears to be limping." All the time she was asking for forgiveness for the sin of lying.
Mark appeared to consider her request and simply turned around and went back outside, headed for the barn. Clora shut the door behind him and sagged against it in relief. Next she went in search of Sandy, putting her in charge of supper and cleanup. Quickly she made a couple of sandwiches, poured two mugs of strong coffee, grabbed her coat and carefully walked to the barn.
Mark had Donny backed into a stall and was running his hands up and down the Hafflinger/Fjord pony's legs. "He has a bit of swelling along the tendon, but shouldn't be a problem. He's tough and if he had a couple of day's off, he would resolve it naturally. The way it sounded from Wayne, he really needs a different plan and shouldn't go back to town until he does."
Mark sneezed and stopped long enough to blow his nose. He worked Donny over good, touching the entire gelding. Donny stood still loving the personal attention from his favorite person, if he had been a cat, he would have purred. Instead he blew slobber on Mark's shoulder, smelling deeply of the man scent.
"You're right," Clora agreed as she passed Mark a sandwich and the mug of coffee. "I think it's way to dangerous not to have a idea how to protect yourself and the products. I'm well aware that hungry people are desperate people, but this went well into mob and riot mentality. If we have a gang terrorizing the town, that has to be taken care of."
Mark leaned against the stall wall and took a bite of cheese sandwich. "Thanks for remembering that I don't like to smell of meat when I'm working with the horses," he offered with a smile. Donny was very interested in what Mark was eating, so Mark gave him a crust of bread with homemade mayo on it. The gelding was a clown and hammed it up by lifting his upper lip and snorting. Each goofy antic destressing the tightly wound Mark.
"It was a bad day today Clora. Dad was on campus and acted a stupid fool. He had a full up, temper tantrum when he found me in class. I was taking a test, and my professor kicked us both out. I have to see the Dean tomorrow before I can go back in and take a makeup test. I automatically won't get a top grade, and if that juvenile display by my father prevents me from graduating with a perfect 4.0, I'm gonna go ballistic," Mark warned with grim determination.
"Well, I thought the Dean was a fair man that would listen when I met him at the open house, give him a try tomorrow." Clora tried to keep her tone as neutral as possible. It was hard to hold the mug with your fingers crossed for luck, but Clora had a huge incentive to use all the best she could obtain. Mark was so close to being finished with his schooling, Clora didn't want anything interfering with his goal.
"Clora, do you ever get tired of having so many people around all the time? You take care of all of us, and you never say a cross word." Mark invited his wife to sit on a bale of straw next to him. Donny sidled up close, and if it would have been possible, he would have sat in Mark's lap.
"Move over you butterball," Clora pushed on the horse's shoulder, not getting anywhere. Donny turned around and gave her the haughty, 'HAH, you're not the boss of me.'glare. Clora said indignantly, "Did you see that, that mutt gave me the 'look', and he's a horse." Mark crossed his leg and used his foot to push Donny a ways away, protecting Clora's feet.
"Well do ya?" Mark persisted, wanting Clora to be honest with him. "We have to sneak out to the barn to have a personal conversation, and I bet we won't be out here another ten minutes before somebody comes looking for you with a problem they could have solved themselves."
Clora sighed. "Yes I need a break now and then; but let me tell you about the dust up that's getting ready to happen." quickly she gave him the short version of what was happening between Wayne, Sandy, Deena and Will.
Mark laughed, "this family thrives on drama. Really big, heaped up, stacked up with whip cream on top drama. I don't know how you keep your sense of balance," Mark relaxed as he teased his wife. The chance to de-stress with only the non judgmental animals and share a private supper with his wonderful wife, going a long way to restoring his balance in the world.
"I worry that there is so much commotion happening all the time, you don't get the opportunity to study as you should," Clora asked for Mark's honest opinion. It was Mark's turn to heave a big sigh. "Sometimes," he admitted, "but it's so close to being finished, I can handle from here on out. Four more weeks to the end of the semester, then I'm done. Formal graduation is in May, but I'm done at Christmas and can get a job and support my wonderful, amazing, beautiful wife in the manner she needs to be accustomed to."
Clora turned her face to stare full on at Mark and using the worst southern drawl he had ever heard, she batted her eyes coquettishly at him. "Why I do declare Mr. Mark, you do say the most outrageous things," and she dipped her fingertips lightly on his coat sleeve.
That earned Clora a kiss that ended up not being private as Sandy barged in the door. "Hey, are you two gonna come eat? I want to be done in the kitchen."
Clora whispered that there was apple cobbler and Mark whooshed her to her feet. "lead on, I'm still hungry," he enthused. "How are you tonight Sandy?" he greeted his sister in law with a tease. "Got in any trouble lately?"
"Not yet," Sandy grumbled, "but it still may happen tonight. It's disgusting in there. The woman is barely strong enough to sit at the table and take nourishment, and those two idiots...well, their just idiots that's all."
"If I were you," Mark said conversationally, "I'd go look up a hot blooded, young man with a bronzed physique and a wallet full of money and become a kept woman." Sandy started laughing and Clora pretended to be scandalized at his words. They were still laughing when they came in the back door.
Deena looked up, her eyes pleading with Clora to deflect the smothering attention from the two men.
"Deena, Sandy and I want to kidnap you for a while. We have some clothes we pulled out of storage and you look like you might be the same build as Walt's wife. Gentlemen, you are dismissed, we have lady things to attend to." Clora had spoken, and wise men don't mess with the cook.
Mark headed out of the room with a bowl of cobbler and cream, talking to Wayne about Donny's right front leg. Will tagged along with his coffee cup and a cookie, looking over his shoulder to wink at Clora.
Deena sat at the table rubbing at a monstrous headache. Closing her eyes, she rotated her head trying to pop the tension away.
"Thank you so much. I don't want to hurt their feelings, but I'm just not interested," and she stopped talking to take a drink of water.
"Well, your gonna have to beat them over the head with a 'no'", Sandy counseled, "they don't do subtle in any form."
Sandy seemed a tad more friendly as she processed the 'I'm not interested,' statement, pushing the plate of cookies toward the thin woman.
"These cookies are like eating a meal," Deena observed as she hefted a oatmeal raisin that covered the palm of her hand.
"Our Grandma's recipe," Sandy said proudly. "Hey, do you like skirts, dresses or jeans? We've got all three, com'on down to the basement and have a look,"
Clora took a deep breath and said in a low, calm voice," Before you come in, would you go check on Donny. Wayne wants to use him tomorrow and said he appears to be limping." All the time she was asking for forgiveness for the sin of lying.
Mark appeared to consider her request and simply turned around and went back outside, headed for the barn. Clora shut the door behind him and sagged against it in relief. Next she went in search of Sandy, putting her in charge of supper and cleanup. Quickly she made a couple of sandwiches, poured two mugs of strong coffee, grabbed her coat and carefully walked to the barn.
Mark had Donny backed into a stall and was running his hands up and down the Hafflinger/Fjord pony's legs. "He has a bit of swelling along the tendon, but shouldn't be a problem. He's tough and if he had a couple of day's off, he would resolve it naturally. The way it sounded from Wayne, he really needs a different plan and shouldn't go back to town until he does."
Mark sneezed and stopped long enough to blow his nose. He worked Donny over good, touching the entire gelding. Donny stood still loving the personal attention from his favorite person, if he had been a cat, he would have purred. Instead he blew slobber on Mark's shoulder, smelling deeply of the man scent.
"You're right," Clora agreed as she passed Mark a sandwich and the mug of coffee. "I think it's way to dangerous not to have a idea how to protect yourself and the products. I'm well aware that hungry people are desperate people, but this went well into mob and riot mentality. If we have a gang terrorizing the town, that has to be taken care of."
Mark leaned against the stall wall and took a bite of cheese sandwich. "Thanks for remembering that I don't like to smell of meat when I'm working with the horses," he offered with a smile. Donny was very interested in what Mark was eating, so Mark gave him a crust of bread with homemade mayo on it. The gelding was a clown and hammed it up by lifting his upper lip and snorting. Each goofy antic destressing the tightly wound Mark.
"It was a bad day today Clora. Dad was on campus and acted a stupid fool. He had a full up, temper tantrum when he found me in class. I was taking a test, and my professor kicked us both out. I have to see the Dean tomorrow before I can go back in and take a makeup test. I automatically won't get a top grade, and if that juvenile display by my father prevents me from graduating with a perfect 4.0, I'm gonna go ballistic," Mark warned with grim determination.
"Well, I thought the Dean was a fair man that would listen when I met him at the open house, give him a try tomorrow." Clora tried to keep her tone as neutral as possible. It was hard to hold the mug with your fingers crossed for luck, but Clora had a huge incentive to use all the best she could obtain. Mark was so close to being finished with his schooling, Clora didn't want anything interfering with his goal.
"Clora, do you ever get tired of having so many people around all the time? You take care of all of us, and you never say a cross word." Mark invited his wife to sit on a bale of straw next to him. Donny sidled up close, and if it would have been possible, he would have sat in Mark's lap.
"Move over you butterball," Clora pushed on the horse's shoulder, not getting anywhere. Donny turned around and gave her the haughty, 'HAH, you're not the boss of me.'glare. Clora said indignantly, "Did you see that, that mutt gave me the 'look', and he's a horse." Mark crossed his leg and used his foot to push Donny a ways away, protecting Clora's feet.
"Well do ya?" Mark persisted, wanting Clora to be honest with him. "We have to sneak out to the barn to have a personal conversation, and I bet we won't be out here another ten minutes before somebody comes looking for you with a problem they could have solved themselves."
Clora sighed. "Yes I need a break now and then; but let me tell you about the dust up that's getting ready to happen." quickly she gave him the short version of what was happening between Wayne, Sandy, Deena and Will.
Mark laughed, "this family thrives on drama. Really big, heaped up, stacked up with whip cream on top drama. I don't know how you keep your sense of balance," Mark relaxed as he teased his wife. The chance to de-stress with only the non judgmental animals and share a private supper with his wonderful wife, going a long way to restoring his balance in the world.
"I worry that there is so much commotion happening all the time, you don't get the opportunity to study as you should," Clora asked for Mark's honest opinion. It was Mark's turn to heave a big sigh. "Sometimes," he admitted, "but it's so close to being finished, I can handle from here on out. Four more weeks to the end of the semester, then I'm done. Formal graduation is in May, but I'm done at Christmas and can get a job and support my wonderful, amazing, beautiful wife in the manner she needs to be accustomed to."
Clora turned her face to stare full on at Mark and using the worst southern drawl he had ever heard, she batted her eyes coquettishly at him. "Why I do declare Mr. Mark, you do say the most outrageous things," and she dipped her fingertips lightly on his coat sleeve.
That earned Clora a kiss that ended up not being private as Sandy barged in the door. "Hey, are you two gonna come eat? I want to be done in the kitchen."
Clora whispered that there was apple cobbler and Mark whooshed her to her feet. "lead on, I'm still hungry," he enthused. "How are you tonight Sandy?" he greeted his sister in law with a tease. "Got in any trouble lately?"
"Not yet," Sandy grumbled, "but it still may happen tonight. It's disgusting in there. The woman is barely strong enough to sit at the table and take nourishment, and those two idiots...well, their just idiots that's all."
"If I were you," Mark said conversationally, "I'd go look up a hot blooded, young man with a bronzed physique and a wallet full of money and become a kept woman." Sandy started laughing and Clora pretended to be scandalized at his words. They were still laughing when they came in the back door.
Deena looked up, her eyes pleading with Clora to deflect the smothering attention from the two men.
"Deena, Sandy and I want to kidnap you for a while. We have some clothes we pulled out of storage and you look like you might be the same build as Walt's wife. Gentlemen, you are dismissed, we have lady things to attend to." Clora had spoken, and wise men don't mess with the cook.
Mark headed out of the room with a bowl of cobbler and cream, talking to Wayne about Donny's right front leg. Will tagged along with his coffee cup and a cookie, looking over his shoulder to wink at Clora.
Deena sat at the table rubbing at a monstrous headache. Closing her eyes, she rotated her head trying to pop the tension away.
"Thank you so much. I don't want to hurt their feelings, but I'm just not interested," and she stopped talking to take a drink of water.
"Well, your gonna have to beat them over the head with a 'no'", Sandy counseled, "they don't do subtle in any form."
Sandy seemed a tad more friendly as she processed the 'I'm not interested,' statement, pushing the plate of cookies toward the thin woman.
"These cookies are like eating a meal," Deena observed as she hefted a oatmeal raisin that covered the palm of her hand.
"Our Grandma's recipe," Sandy said proudly. "Hey, do you like skirts, dresses or jeans? We've got all three, com'on down to the basement and have a look,"
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Not interested huh? Let's see where that leads. Poor Mark. I don't understand what his father's problem is. Well, other than he needs somebody to open a can on his head 
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Lol BAD.
Thank you Pac.
Thank you Pac.
kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Borg got caught. That's his problem. He's probably paying for his actions in all areas of his life. And he wants to blame the Hansons' for his decisions. But he can't because 1) he will get in even more trouble, and 2) the Hansons' are quite capable of kicking him out. So he goes for the target he can get at - his son who is involved with the Hanson that outed him. He not only wants to hurt the Hansons, he wants his son away from them now that it won't do him any good.
And Mark is already having problems dealing with what his Dad did. Now his Dad is dumping on him and trying to cause him problems. There's going to be a break. From the sounds of it, it won't be the one his Dad wants. Maybe the Dean will step up and ban Mark's Dad from campus. Here's hoping that Mark can hold it together through this. But on the bonus side, Clora and Mark are married so Borg doesn't get to make medical decisions regarding Mark anymore. That negates one of Borg's tricks, even if Borg doesn't realize it yet.
(Oh, and geez, I wouldn't have been through BS like this with family before....... just not the extensive dramatics and conspiracies)
And Mark is already having problems dealing with what his Dad did. Now his Dad is dumping on him and trying to cause him problems. There's going to be a break. From the sounds of it, it won't be the one his Dad wants. Maybe the Dean will step up and ban Mark's Dad from campus. Here's hoping that Mark can hold it together through this. But on the bonus side, Clora and Mark are married so Borg doesn't get to make medical decisions regarding Mark anymore. That negates one of Borg's tricks, even if Borg doesn't realize it yet.
(Oh, and geez, I wouldn't have been through BS like this with family before....... just not the extensive dramatics and conspiracies)
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#19
It was late into the night and Mark was sleeping, Clora wasn't.
She lay still, listening to Mark breathe heavy as his cold was still hanging on. She had done every thing in her 'cure the cold ' box, and had decided that if Mark wasn't better by Friday, he needed to see the Doctor. That was a call that Mark didn't take lightly; and Clora didn't want to pressure him, until it was necessary.
Clora had taken her problems to God; knowing the pass she got tonight on heading off Mark's full blown PTSD episode had to have come from on High. In the cool, dark night it was easy to see Mark had been correct about the fact they had little privacy and less time together than most newly weds.
Clora prayed once again, for strength and obedience to do her Father's Will. During the middle of her prayer, there was a soft tap tap at the bedroom door. Before she could get up and answer the door, Sandy stuck her head in and loudly whispered; "Clora, I can hear Deena crying and she's been crying for a really long time. What should we do?"
"Nothing," Clora said wearily. "Deena's a big girl and will ask for help when she wants it. Sandy, please go back to bed, I need to sleep and so do you." Sandy backed out and sort of closed the door quietly.
"What did I tell you," Mark mumbled as he turned over. "Nothing happens in this family that you don't get involved."
Clora reached over and found Mark's hand and held it warmly. There wasn't any thing she could say. He was right.
Down in his dark house, Wayne sat pondering the future. The sleeting rain beat against the windows, another night of freezing cold for those without heat. His heart hurt for the children that were cold and hungry, he felt miserable that he couldn't help them all. It was a pain that wouldn't leave his heart or his conscience that their were kids in his original state of affairs. Grandma had rescued him without asking questions, and Wayne decided he needed to do the same. Now he needed to figure a way to get it accomplished.
Wayne needed to do some thinking about Sandy. She was getting real impatient that he hadn't asked Ben for his blessing on their marriage. He had thought he loved Sandy; and then this Deena gal had come on the scene. He felt his interest perk up like never before, and was real annoyed when Will acted like he was a real suave lady's man.
The more he thought about the jumble that was his life, the no direction plan that just happened rather than being goal oriented, Wayne fretted until he started to sweat. Jittery and unable to concentrate, he walked around his sparsely furnished house touching his few possessions. The longer he paced, the more overwhelmed he felt, until running the woods was the only solution he could think about.
Wayne got his things together and found his pack, poncho and layered on his cold weather gear. Banking his fire, he laid a stick on the counter as a sign to Ben that he had gone to the woods. Suddenly he couldn't stand to be inside one minute longer, and threw himself out the door.
The cold sleet blasted full in his face and dripped ice rivulets into every nook and cranny not protected by his wind whipped poncho. Outside in the cold, Wayne took a deep lungful of air. Already he felt calmer, and being outside in the elements was a battle he felt anxious to win. He took off headed for the tree farm land and then past the boundaries of time and reason.
Sandy stood at the window and watched the hunched over figure heft the pack to his back and stride out. He was quickly swallowed up in the darkness. She looked out into the night with sad eyes, not seeing anything but an empty future.
The cold miserable weather was working hard to provide the most damage to the people by causing depression and a profound hopelessness. It blanketed and smothered cheerfulness, reasonable thinking and hope. Christmas was coming and most people didn't care, or have any money to do anything about it.
It was late into the night and Mark was sleeping, Clora wasn't.
She lay still, listening to Mark breathe heavy as his cold was still hanging on. She had done every thing in her 'cure the cold ' box, and had decided that if Mark wasn't better by Friday, he needed to see the Doctor. That was a call that Mark didn't take lightly; and Clora didn't want to pressure him, until it was necessary.
Clora had taken her problems to God; knowing the pass she got tonight on heading off Mark's full blown PTSD episode had to have come from on High. In the cool, dark night it was easy to see Mark had been correct about the fact they had little privacy and less time together than most newly weds.
Clora prayed once again, for strength and obedience to do her Father's Will. During the middle of her prayer, there was a soft tap tap at the bedroom door. Before she could get up and answer the door, Sandy stuck her head in and loudly whispered; "Clora, I can hear Deena crying and she's been crying for a really long time. What should we do?"
"Nothing," Clora said wearily. "Deena's a big girl and will ask for help when she wants it. Sandy, please go back to bed, I need to sleep and so do you." Sandy backed out and sort of closed the door quietly.
"What did I tell you," Mark mumbled as he turned over. "Nothing happens in this family that you don't get involved."
Clora reached over and found Mark's hand and held it warmly. There wasn't any thing she could say. He was right.
Down in his dark house, Wayne sat pondering the future. The sleeting rain beat against the windows, another night of freezing cold for those without heat. His heart hurt for the children that were cold and hungry, he felt miserable that he couldn't help them all. It was a pain that wouldn't leave his heart or his conscience that their were kids in his original state of affairs. Grandma had rescued him without asking questions, and Wayne decided he needed to do the same. Now he needed to figure a way to get it accomplished.
Wayne needed to do some thinking about Sandy. She was getting real impatient that he hadn't asked Ben for his blessing on their marriage. He had thought he loved Sandy; and then this Deena gal had come on the scene. He felt his interest perk up like never before, and was real annoyed when Will acted like he was a real suave lady's man.
The more he thought about the jumble that was his life, the no direction plan that just happened rather than being goal oriented, Wayne fretted until he started to sweat. Jittery and unable to concentrate, he walked around his sparsely furnished house touching his few possessions. The longer he paced, the more overwhelmed he felt, until running the woods was the only solution he could think about.
Wayne got his things together and found his pack, poncho and layered on his cold weather gear. Banking his fire, he laid a stick on the counter as a sign to Ben that he had gone to the woods. Suddenly he couldn't stand to be inside one minute longer, and threw himself out the door.
The cold sleet blasted full in his face and dripped ice rivulets into every nook and cranny not protected by his wind whipped poncho. Outside in the cold, Wayne took a deep lungful of air. Already he felt calmer, and being outside in the elements was a battle he felt anxious to win. He took off headed for the tree farm land and then past the boundaries of time and reason.
Sandy stood at the window and watched the hunched over figure heft the pack to his back and stride out. He was quickly swallowed up in the darkness. She looked out into the night with sad eyes, not seeing anything but an empty future.
The cold miserable weather was working hard to provide the most damage to the people by causing depression and a profound hopelessness. It blanketed and smothered cheerfulness, reasonable thinking and hope. Christmas was coming and most people didn't care, or have any money to do anything about it.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Mr. Pac and I will be gone a few days on our monthly trek to the doctor. Chapters will be hit and miss. Thanks for reading.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Take care Pac, and be safe.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Hope u will be safe. Thank you for the chapter.
Jeepcats 3
Contributing Member
Totally enjoy the saga!
Have a safe trip and good vibes for the doctor visits!
Jeepcats3
Have a safe trip and good vibes for the doctor visits!
Jeepcats3
I just want to echo the sentiments expressed already - best wishes and prayers for Mr Pac's healing and appreciation to you for sharing your talent with us!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Oh, we didn't have a very good trip.
Mr. Pac had a heart attack during his mylogram CT. He now has a CID...a defibrillator and pacemaker and a long stretch of confused memory and every bit and more of his back pain. Some days...... Will try to get something written later tonight.
Mr. Pac had a heart attack during his mylogram CT. He now has a CID...a defibrillator and pacemaker and a long stretch of confused memory and every bit and more of his back pain. Some days...... Will try to get something written later tonight.
