Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#260b
"Hey, I think we should have a meeting. Ma, what do you think?" Milo looked around to the nods of the clan.
"You or Toby will have to host. The apartment is too small, and no way are we going in the main house." Clora looked at her sons and daughters in law, for an invitation, and there were hasty glances between Honey and Rennie as they waited for the other to speak.
The long drown out silence grew almost painful, when Toby took a deep breath and issued the invitation. "Come to our house, " and got a pained look from Rennie.
Clora looked at Mark and gave him an equally pained look. It was time for the children to start shouldering the burden of the clan gatherings, and on the surface, they seemed very reluctant to step up and assume the responsibility.
Walking to Toby's, Mark and Clora walked together and were talking about the gatherings that happened at Walter's farm.
"I miss the closeness we had, despite the individual strengrh's and weaknesses. So many of us have died, and here we are, the core group of our family surviving." Clora said softly.
"I'm afraid I don't have the same nostalgic memories that you do," Mark was candid. "I had lots of problems there; mainly Ben and Borg. It makes me wonder how much of the farm survived the flood, and I have to confess that I was confounded that Evie had such a fixation on the place. Either it was a desire to help that old man, or she felt ill and had a burning need to get the rest of you settled before the various factions of you drifted apart. It seemed to be a last ditch effort."
"At the time, I would have argued strongly that you didn't know what you were talking about. Now, with time and situtations under my belt, I can't agrue with your logic. There were so many terrible events that happened there, I was beginning to wonder if we had been abandoned by God." Clora almost whispered.
"Really?" Mark was amazed, "I can't imagine you saying that."
"I was ashamed to be so weak. It took the miracle of Tessee being conceived that strengthened my resolve and belief. I have never told you how despertly I wanted to have children, and each year as I grew older, the less likely it seemed that I would be a mother. Then God put us together in that helicopter, and I took one look at you and my heart was flooded with peace. Then I knew, you were the one."
"I've always wondered how you knew. Clora, what a gift you have been to me. Look what you have done for me and our children, a treasure of belief and solidarity in God's salvation."
The two of them walked through the door to Toby's place and Mark seated his beautiful wife in a chair, standing behind her proud and humbled by her strong faith.
"Hey, I think we should have a meeting. Ma, what do you think?" Milo looked around to the nods of the clan.
"You or Toby will have to host. The apartment is too small, and no way are we going in the main house." Clora looked at her sons and daughters in law, for an invitation, and there were hasty glances between Honey and Rennie as they waited for the other to speak.
The long drown out silence grew almost painful, when Toby took a deep breath and issued the invitation. "Come to our house, " and got a pained look from Rennie.
Clora looked at Mark and gave him an equally pained look. It was time for the children to start shouldering the burden of the clan gatherings, and on the surface, they seemed very reluctant to step up and assume the responsibility.
Walking to Toby's, Mark and Clora walked together and were talking about the gatherings that happened at Walter's farm.
"I miss the closeness we had, despite the individual strengrh's and weaknesses. So many of us have died, and here we are, the core group of our family surviving." Clora said softly.
"I'm afraid I don't have the same nostalgic memories that you do," Mark was candid. "I had lots of problems there; mainly Ben and Borg. It makes me wonder how much of the farm survived the flood, and I have to confess that I was confounded that Evie had such a fixation on the place. Either it was a desire to help that old man, or she felt ill and had a burning need to get the rest of you settled before the various factions of you drifted apart. It seemed to be a last ditch effort."
"At the time, I would have argued strongly that you didn't know what you were talking about. Now, with time and situtations under my belt, I can't agrue with your logic. There were so many terrible events that happened there, I was beginning to wonder if we had been abandoned by God." Clora almost whispered.
"Really?" Mark was amazed, "I can't imagine you saying that."
"I was ashamed to be so weak. It took the miracle of Tessee being conceived that strengthened my resolve and belief. I have never told you how despertly I wanted to have children, and each year as I grew older, the less likely it seemed that I would be a mother. Then God put us together in that helicopter, and I took one look at you and my heart was flooded with peace. Then I knew, you were the one."
"I've always wondered how you knew. Clora, what a gift you have been to me. Look what you have done for me and our children, a treasure of belief and solidarity in God's salvation."
The two of them walked through the door to Toby's place and Mark seated his beautiful wife in a chair, standing behind her proud and humbled by her strong faith.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#260c
"Ok, we all saw the plane. What do you think?" Toby opened the meeting by virtue of it being his house.
No one said a word.
"Dad, what's your take?" Milo finally spoke up. "Any ideas of what we might be dealing with?"
"First of all, we have been across enough country and heard reports of how the living is, here in the states. I frankly don't have a clue as to how there is a plane in the sky, or where it is from. Toby, your thought on non Christian nations being absolved and vanquished from the earth is interesting. But, we really don't know.
I know I don't have any answers, so if there are other solutions, let's hear'm." Mark spoke low and assured, a voice of calm in the highly excited room.
"Realistically," Honey spoke up, "there has to be some sort of trade going on, as we don't grow coffee here in the states; yet it has been available. Boats, I suppose," she gestured toward the South and the deep water ports. "Did Corbin ever say where he re-supplied?"
"I believe St. Louis, so there has to be boat traffic up the Mississippi. I guess I didn't pay a lot of attention, and now I wish I had the facts." Toby sighed.
"I'm not as worried bout the plane as I am of the unusually cold weather," Tess spoke up. "This is just insane to be so cold in the Carolinas in July. So what's the best guess as to why?"
Toby cleared his throat, "I'm guessing a fairly large volcanic eruption. There's enough particulates in the air that the sun isn't strong, so the earth isn't warming up like it should. I don't have a thermometer, but I'm guessing it's right around 60ish. That's gonna play hell getting some of the garden to grow; so my next question will be, what can we use for a greenhouse type covering?"
No one said a word.
"Ok, we all saw the plane. What do you think?" Toby opened the meeting by virtue of it being his house.
No one said a word.
"Dad, what's your take?" Milo finally spoke up. "Any ideas of what we might be dealing with?"
"First of all, we have been across enough country and heard reports of how the living is, here in the states. I frankly don't have a clue as to how there is a plane in the sky, or where it is from. Toby, your thought on non Christian nations being absolved and vanquished from the earth is interesting. But, we really don't know.
I know I don't have any answers, so if there are other solutions, let's hear'm." Mark spoke low and assured, a voice of calm in the highly excited room.
"Realistically," Honey spoke up, "there has to be some sort of trade going on, as we don't grow coffee here in the states; yet it has been available. Boats, I suppose," she gestured toward the South and the deep water ports. "Did Corbin ever say where he re-supplied?"
"I believe St. Louis, so there has to be boat traffic up the Mississippi. I guess I didn't pay a lot of attention, and now I wish I had the facts." Toby sighed.
"I'm not as worried bout the plane as I am of the unusually cold weather," Tess spoke up. "This is just insane to be so cold in the Carolinas in July. So what's the best guess as to why?"
Toby cleared his throat, "I'm guessing a fairly large volcanic eruption. There's enough particulates in the air that the sun isn't strong, so the earth isn't warming up like it should. I don't have a thermometer, but I'm guessing it's right around 60ish. That's gonna play hell getting some of the garden to grow; so my next question will be, what can we use for a greenhouse type covering?"
No one said a word.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Many thanks Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#261
"So, we're just gonna let the plane drop?" Milo halfway challenged the group.
"Well then, tell us what you think we should do about it," Dory challenged right back. "It seems to me that providing a greenhouse of sorts is way higher priority for current food production, than a plane that wont feed us one bit." Almost snippy in her frustration of the airplane, Dory called out Milo's worrying about a subject they couldn't change.
"I guess, nothing." Milo finished lamely. "Both seem out of reach at the moment." he added quietly. "Almost as bad as cleaning out the tunnel, how'er we gonna get that done?" He looked around the room for suggestions and was met with blank stares.
Mark held his say, encouraging the rest of the clan to brainstorm and come up with ideas. Clora reached up and put her hand over his, as it rested on her shoulder.
Toby spoke up. "I counted four panes of glass that need to be repaired in our houses. One for me, one for Milo and two in the main house. We have six panes available, if we take them out of the cabin where the tunnel ends. So right off hand, we don't have enough glass to erect a greenhouse. The best idea Rennie and I have come up with, is to put stones around the heat loving plants to use as a heat sink. Hopefully the sun will warm them, and if there are other suggestions, let's hear them."
Toby took a deep breath and looked at Dory. "In future meetings, if you don't have anything positive to say, then I request you say nothing. We don't need you sniping at us with caustic words. We respect and honor all people and their opinions. Is that very clear and well understood?" Toby stood tall, and it was clear to see he was very angry.
"Yes," Dory's tone was just short of snippy, and then she looked around and noticed she certainly wasn't in the majority opinion. "Yes," she moderated her voice, "I'm sorry, it's just that I'm so frustrated. We came all this way, to wind up in no different circumstances than we had in Iowa. That's not clear thinking, and to spend three months of hard travel to get here is not the best use of our time and resources. What can we do, to grow and re-supply ourselves here; that we couldn't do in Iowa?"
There it was, the 700 pound elephant in the room.
"It was the danger Dory, everyone that stayed in Belnap has been killed. That's why we moved away from there; and if you resented the trip here, why did you come?" Tess snapped at her friend.
"Do we know for sure that everyone was killed. How can we be certain, has someone come by at told you the facts?" Dory was hot and on a roll, frustrated at the cumbersome way the clan operated.
"It happened, you're just gonna have to take my word for it. We have some of the members that weren't at home during the raid and they are trying to get themselves here. There are five of them coming, so we need to clear the tunnel and make the main house livable. Look Dory," Tess was stern and unsmiling; "you may not like the way we operate here, but we've run our business this way longer than you have been associated with us. So it really boils down to, hold your tongue or leave."
The cold hard facts in stark terms had Dory blinking rapidly, and understanding that if she wanted to stay, her preferred manner of meeting and solving problems was going to have to go by the wayside.
"I apologize," she said contritely, and sat down and tried to make herself invisible.
Toby nodded, and looked at Milo. "The floor is yours, you have any ideas?"
"Not really, I need to confer with Honey, but the rock idea sounds workable. I think we would have to go to the quarry to get rock big enough to be of any use."
Tess stirred, like she had an idea to present. "We might try composting between the rows, that does heat, and it might benefit the plants, or provide heat for the rocks."
"Good idea," Toby approved. "We've got the manure making factories, and although horse manure is not the ideal, it's what we have to deal with. Ok people, we need ideas, let's have'm."
There were shrugs and blank looks. Toby said they would spend the day working on home projects, and then tomorrow would be spent in more plowing and enlarging the garden.
"So, we're just gonna let the plane drop?" Milo halfway challenged the group.
"Well then, tell us what you think we should do about it," Dory challenged right back. "It seems to me that providing a greenhouse of sorts is way higher priority for current food production, than a plane that wont feed us one bit." Almost snippy in her frustration of the airplane, Dory called out Milo's worrying about a subject they couldn't change.
"I guess, nothing." Milo finished lamely. "Both seem out of reach at the moment." he added quietly. "Almost as bad as cleaning out the tunnel, how'er we gonna get that done?" He looked around the room for suggestions and was met with blank stares.
Mark held his say, encouraging the rest of the clan to brainstorm and come up with ideas. Clora reached up and put her hand over his, as it rested on her shoulder.
Toby spoke up. "I counted four panes of glass that need to be repaired in our houses. One for me, one for Milo and two in the main house. We have six panes available, if we take them out of the cabin where the tunnel ends. So right off hand, we don't have enough glass to erect a greenhouse. The best idea Rennie and I have come up with, is to put stones around the heat loving plants to use as a heat sink. Hopefully the sun will warm them, and if there are other suggestions, let's hear them."
Toby took a deep breath and looked at Dory. "In future meetings, if you don't have anything positive to say, then I request you say nothing. We don't need you sniping at us with caustic words. We respect and honor all people and their opinions. Is that very clear and well understood?" Toby stood tall, and it was clear to see he was very angry.
"Yes," Dory's tone was just short of snippy, and then she looked around and noticed she certainly wasn't in the majority opinion. "Yes," she moderated her voice, "I'm sorry, it's just that I'm so frustrated. We came all this way, to wind up in no different circumstances than we had in Iowa. That's not clear thinking, and to spend three months of hard travel to get here is not the best use of our time and resources. What can we do, to grow and re-supply ourselves here; that we couldn't do in Iowa?"
There it was, the 700 pound elephant in the room.
"It was the danger Dory, everyone that stayed in Belnap has been killed. That's why we moved away from there; and if you resented the trip here, why did you come?" Tess snapped at her friend.
"Do we know for sure that everyone was killed. How can we be certain, has someone come by at told you the facts?" Dory was hot and on a roll, frustrated at the cumbersome way the clan operated.
"It happened, you're just gonna have to take my word for it. We have some of the members that weren't at home during the raid and they are trying to get themselves here. There are five of them coming, so we need to clear the tunnel and make the main house livable. Look Dory," Tess was stern and unsmiling; "you may not like the way we operate here, but we've run our business this way longer than you have been associated with us. So it really boils down to, hold your tongue or leave."
The cold hard facts in stark terms had Dory blinking rapidly, and understanding that if she wanted to stay, her preferred manner of meeting and solving problems was going to have to go by the wayside.
"I apologize," she said contritely, and sat down and tried to make herself invisible.
Toby nodded, and looked at Milo. "The floor is yours, you have any ideas?"
"Not really, I need to confer with Honey, but the rock idea sounds workable. I think we would have to go to the quarry to get rock big enough to be of any use."
Tess stirred, like she had an idea to present. "We might try composting between the rows, that does heat, and it might benefit the plants, or provide heat for the rocks."
"Good idea," Toby approved. "We've got the manure making factories, and although horse manure is not the ideal, it's what we have to deal with. Ok people, we need ideas, let's have'm."
There were shrugs and blank looks. Toby said they would spend the day working on home projects, and then tomorrow would be spent in more plowing and enlarging the garden.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Your characters have been posing tough questions Ma'am. Coupled with being pursued by the unknown assassins, unseasonable weather, presence of another apparently irretrievable, evil-from-birth child, the urns (can't forget them) and who ever butchered the folks at the Carolina residence and far from least, contrails in a post-cleansing world, my VISIO is stressed - even getting a RAM upgrade hasn't been quite enough. I have an i5 processor & 16 gigs of RAM and my PC slows appreciably when I try to sort through the whole thing.
I rarely have to admit this but you've got me in a true conundrum so, like the rest of the flock, I'm going to wait for this to all unfold.
Good job. Thanks.
G.
I rarely have to admit this but you've got me in a true conundrum so, like the rest of the flock, I'm going to wait for this to all unfold.
Good job. Thanks.
G.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Good ideas Pac. Great story.
steamroller
Contributing Member
Thank you, Great story.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#262
On the walk back to the barn apartment, Mark and Clora were discussing Dory in low tones. "I've always known that single women were Trouble with a capital T. This one is a regular pot-stirrer, why is she with us anyway?" Mark was perturbed.
"She's here because this is where God want's her to be. She's waiting, when he gets here, our problems will be taken care of." Clora whispered.
"Waiting?" Mark said a touch loud, "good heavens, she doesn't fancy Gary does she? That would be a mistake with out an end.."
"No, not Gary; but I'm not sure he'll get here in time. They've joined up with Jerry and Abby." Clora lowered her voice further, the closer they got to the barn where Tess and Dory were standing by the bench.
Clora and Mark went inside and the triplets asked to join them, naturally hoping for a cookie or two. It certainly wasn't a hard sell to get Granddad involved in the cookie caper, and Clora smiled and put the cookie bowl on the table.
"Thank you Grandma and Granddad, these are very good cookies," three voices melded together.
"Your welcome," Clora replied as she carefully allotted two cookies each. "I'm sorry to short you guys, but we have to be very careful with our food. We want to have enough to last the winter into next Spring when the garden is in production."
"Oh boy," Daniel sighed hard, "more beans and rice. I sure would like some scrambled eggs. I miss them a lot." Peter missed pancakes and Paul missed peaches.
"Grandma takes pretty good care of us. Whenever she has anything extra, she shares with us all, and I appreciate all her hard work." Mark finished his cookie and broke his last cookie into thirds and shared with the boys.
"Thanks Granddad," Paul smiled the same angelic smile that Ben used to give them. Mark was struck by how much the boys resembled Ben in facial features and when he thought about it, they sounded the same. No wonder he had caught Tess looking at her boys with a sad, sad smile.
The boys finished and scampered outside, leaving Mark and Clora to discuss the plane. "I don't have any information about the plane, and it was so high and fast it was impossible to see if it had any markings." Clora reported softly.
"Well, I was plumb astonished. So some where, normal life is happening." Mark scratched his chin, then rubbed the back of his neck; a sure sign that he was feeling conflicted.
On the walk back to the barn apartment, Mark and Clora were discussing Dory in low tones. "I've always known that single women were Trouble with a capital T. This one is a regular pot-stirrer, why is she with us anyway?" Mark was perturbed.
"She's here because this is where God want's her to be. She's waiting, when he gets here, our problems will be taken care of." Clora whispered.
"Waiting?" Mark said a touch loud, "good heavens, she doesn't fancy Gary does she? That would be a mistake with out an end.."
"No, not Gary; but I'm not sure he'll get here in time. They've joined up with Jerry and Abby." Clora lowered her voice further, the closer they got to the barn where Tess and Dory were standing by the bench.
Clora and Mark went inside and the triplets asked to join them, naturally hoping for a cookie or two. It certainly wasn't a hard sell to get Granddad involved in the cookie caper, and Clora smiled and put the cookie bowl on the table.
"Thank you Grandma and Granddad, these are very good cookies," three voices melded together.
"Your welcome," Clora replied as she carefully allotted two cookies each. "I'm sorry to short you guys, but we have to be very careful with our food. We want to have enough to last the winter into next Spring when the garden is in production."
"Oh boy," Daniel sighed hard, "more beans and rice. I sure would like some scrambled eggs. I miss them a lot." Peter missed pancakes and Paul missed peaches.
"Grandma takes pretty good care of us. Whenever she has anything extra, she shares with us all, and I appreciate all her hard work." Mark finished his cookie and broke his last cookie into thirds and shared with the boys.
"Thanks Granddad," Paul smiled the same angelic smile that Ben used to give them. Mark was struck by how much the boys resembled Ben in facial features and when he thought about it, they sounded the same. No wonder he had caught Tess looking at her boys with a sad, sad smile.
The boys finished and scampered outside, leaving Mark and Clora to discuss the plane. "I don't have any information about the plane, and it was so high and fast it was impossible to see if it had any markings." Clora reported softly.
"Well, I was plumb astonished. So some where, normal life is happening." Mark scratched his chin, then rubbed the back of his neck; a sure sign that he was feeling conflicted.
Dumb Blonde
Contributing Member
Good gods! Is she waiting for the Doc?
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Many thanks Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#263
Toby and Rennie were having an 'after the meeting' meeting over tea.
"What will it take to have the main house livable again? Toby, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with everyone crowding in here; that's why I didn't speak up and invite before you did." Rennie was feeling out of sorts about the unintentional, but never the less mess, left behind.
"Rennie, eventually Ma and Dad will be gone and as the oldest son, it's pretty much my expected duty to be in charge. If we don't have the meetings here, then we will have to move into the main house so the continuity can continue. As to what it's going to take; well we have to clean the tunnel. Flat out, we don't have a good way to do the job, and no protective gear to wear, and no stomach for the job."
"I don't want you to do that, how are we going to keep you from being contaminated?" Rennie stubbornly shook her head.
"Someone will have to help Dad, it's a two man job."
Rennie didn't look happy. "Toby, all this moving and problems; can we please find a way to get rid of all these abnormal problems that plague us. Living is difficult enough; without these scary moments dropping in."
"That sounds good on the outside," Toby tried to make a small joke, "but it's the way it's always been. God has blessed us so mightily, but along with that has come mighty problems to wait on Him for solution. Have faith Rennie, eventually it can and will be given to us."
"I'm scared Toby, with the weather as cold as it is and the growing season stymied, and Clora and Tess say there are other clan members still coming, where are we going to get enough food to see us through. I haven't seen any game other than a few rabbits, no deer at all. What is going to carry us through the winter?" Rennie was having a mini crisis of faith.
"I can't answer that Rennie; only that we have to be doubly cautious with the food we have. As soon as we get the garden expanded once again, perhaps a couple of us can go exploring to see if there is established cities, or supply stores, or some sort of trading areas."
"That's not smart to leave us undermanned. Besides, what is the real reason Gary left with that awful child. That Ricky is a danger to us all, and I sure don't want him around our children. Ricky acts just like that TJ child, like he is possessed."
There it was. The not so hidden and hostile assessment of Ricky that every one was feeling, and not wanting to voice out loud.
"I think Gary sees a lot of himself in Ricky. The odd man out and out of step with the entire world. Ma and Dad worked and worked with Gary, trying to bring him into our fold, and they finally let him join the Marines and let them run some sense in him. The way I understand it," Toby chuckled, "Gary was a hard nut to crack and spent a lot of time bucking the system. He's an excellent soldier, but seems like he functions better within a military regimen."
"I find him creepy," Rennie was positive in her estimation of her brother in law. That's why I'm so happy to be here in our own place. No room for some of those misfits."
Toby nodded and picked up the cups and placed them in the sink. Taking the broom, he started sweeping the littered floor. The crush of people leaving Rennie's spotless floors with mud crumbs from the uncertain weather.
Going outside to sweep the walk where most of the mud had been scraped off, Toby was thinking that Rennie certainly wasn't like Ma.
Toby and Rennie were having an 'after the meeting' meeting over tea.
"What will it take to have the main house livable again? Toby, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with everyone crowding in here; that's why I didn't speak up and invite before you did." Rennie was feeling out of sorts about the unintentional, but never the less mess, left behind.
"Rennie, eventually Ma and Dad will be gone and as the oldest son, it's pretty much my expected duty to be in charge. If we don't have the meetings here, then we will have to move into the main house so the continuity can continue. As to what it's going to take; well we have to clean the tunnel. Flat out, we don't have a good way to do the job, and no protective gear to wear, and no stomach for the job."
"I don't want you to do that, how are we going to keep you from being contaminated?" Rennie stubbornly shook her head.
"Someone will have to help Dad, it's a two man job."
Rennie didn't look happy. "Toby, all this moving and problems; can we please find a way to get rid of all these abnormal problems that plague us. Living is difficult enough; without these scary moments dropping in."
"That sounds good on the outside," Toby tried to make a small joke, "but it's the way it's always been. God has blessed us so mightily, but along with that has come mighty problems to wait on Him for solution. Have faith Rennie, eventually it can and will be given to us."
"I'm scared Toby, with the weather as cold as it is and the growing season stymied, and Clora and Tess say there are other clan members still coming, where are we going to get enough food to see us through. I haven't seen any game other than a few rabbits, no deer at all. What is going to carry us through the winter?" Rennie was having a mini crisis of faith.
"I can't answer that Rennie; only that we have to be doubly cautious with the food we have. As soon as we get the garden expanded once again, perhaps a couple of us can go exploring to see if there is established cities, or supply stores, or some sort of trading areas."
"That's not smart to leave us undermanned. Besides, what is the real reason Gary left with that awful child. That Ricky is a danger to us all, and I sure don't want him around our children. Ricky acts just like that TJ child, like he is possessed."
There it was. The not so hidden and hostile assessment of Ricky that every one was feeling, and not wanting to voice out loud.
"I think Gary sees a lot of himself in Ricky. The odd man out and out of step with the entire world. Ma and Dad worked and worked with Gary, trying to bring him into our fold, and they finally let him join the Marines and let them run some sense in him. The way I understand it," Toby chuckled, "Gary was a hard nut to crack and spent a lot of time bucking the system. He's an excellent soldier, but seems like he functions better within a military regimen."
"I find him creepy," Rennie was positive in her estimation of her brother in law. That's why I'm so happy to be here in our own place. No room for some of those misfits."
Toby nodded and picked up the cups and placed them in the sink. Taking the broom, he started sweeping the littered floor. The crush of people leaving Rennie's spotless floors with mud crumbs from the uncertain weather.
Going outside to sweep the walk where most of the mud had been scraped off, Toby was thinking that Rennie certainly wasn't like Ma.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
No, no one is as excepting as another person can be. But Rennie was his pick.
THank you Pac.
THank you Pac.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
and "No room for some of those misfits." Perhaps fundamentally not really of a Christian mind set?No, no one is as excepting as another person can be. But Rennie was his pick.
Perhaps a more severe pruning of limbs awaits? Its happened before ......
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#263b
In Milo's house, almost the exact same conversation was taking place. Minus the snarky comment about Ricky being possessed however.
Honey and Milo had kinda skirted around the issue of Ricky and his disobedient personality. Milo didn't have much to say, his interaction with Ricky had been a series of disappointing run-in's over discipline. Not only had Ricky suffered from the situtation, so had Milo.
Milo felt like a failure. Contemplating his long list of sins, he couldn't pinpoint when and where his parenting had gone off the tracks, but he definitely felt de-railed.
Honey had already felt the sting of failure, going over and over all the events that had brought them to this point. Robbie seemed like a good kid, but then Mark had a hand in changing Robbie's line of thinking. Suddenly, Honey wasn't too sure they deserved Mila, if they had such a dismal record of being parents.
Milo finally hit on the idea that the first born natural son of both he and Toby had extreme problems. TJ was Toby's first natural boy, and Ricky was his.
"Hey Honey, I need to run over and talk to Ma for a minute, wanna come?"
"No, go ahead. Mila needs a nap and so do I." Honey called out.
Milo stopped to see if Toby was free, and found his brother leaning on a broom, staring out into the green canopy of the trees behind his house.
Hey," Milo called out. "I need to talk to Dad about a theory I've come up with. Wanna come along. I was gonna ask Ma, but I think this is a better Dad conversation."
"Really," Toby questioned, "yeah I guess so. Be back in a few," he hollered into Rennie and she replied "OK."
Mark had them come outside when the two men appeared with their serious faces.
In Milo's house, almost the exact same conversation was taking place. Minus the snarky comment about Ricky being possessed however.
Honey and Milo had kinda skirted around the issue of Ricky and his disobedient personality. Milo didn't have much to say, his interaction with Ricky had been a series of disappointing run-in's over discipline. Not only had Ricky suffered from the situtation, so had Milo.
Milo felt like a failure. Contemplating his long list of sins, he couldn't pinpoint when and where his parenting had gone off the tracks, but he definitely felt de-railed.
Honey had already felt the sting of failure, going over and over all the events that had brought them to this point. Robbie seemed like a good kid, but then Mark had a hand in changing Robbie's line of thinking. Suddenly, Honey wasn't too sure they deserved Mila, if they had such a dismal record of being parents.
Milo finally hit on the idea that the first born natural son of both he and Toby had extreme problems. TJ was Toby's first natural boy, and Ricky was his.
"Hey Honey, I need to run over and talk to Ma for a minute, wanna come?"
"No, go ahead. Mila needs a nap and so do I." Honey called out.
Milo stopped to see if Toby was free, and found his brother leaning on a broom, staring out into the green canopy of the trees behind his house.
Hey," Milo called out. "I need to talk to Dad about a theory I've come up with. Wanna come along. I was gonna ask Ma, but I think this is a better Dad conversation."
"Really," Toby questioned, "yeah I guess so. Be back in a few," he hollered into Rennie and she replied "OK."
Mark had them come outside when the two men appeared with their serious faces.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Last edited:
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Big thank you Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#263c
"Oh I don't think that's so," Mark dismissed the theory Milo put forward.
"Don't dismiss it so quickly, it's a problem with no answer right as yet. What are we going to do if Gary gets back and Ricky hasn't changed. Ricky might as well be a pariah, the mama's here don't want him infecting their children. I will say, I'm willing to move and take his influence away from the kids here. Honey and I don't like the idea of leaving, but we are out of ideas as to how to change Ricky's behavior." Milo looked out the distance toward the South, not wanting to look his father and brother in the eye.
"Don't get upset until Gary and Ricky get back. Gary understands the feeling, and he also has the ability to cause change in young boys." Mark commented.
"That's for sure," Toby outright laughed. "He is the original hardheaded Linderman, so he knows all the tricks."
Mark rubbed the side of his nose.
"Having an uneasy feeling?" Toby asked. "You usually don't do that unless you have a conflict within."
"It's the tunnel. It has me stumped as to how safely remove the heap of slime. It has to be cleaned, but how?" Mark complained.
"I don't have a clue as how to do it safely," both Milo and Toby said together. And Milo made a face as he explained his predicament. "Honey doesn't want me to be down there, then bring the germs home to Mila."
"Rennie says the same thing. So, realistically, who and how are we going to get the tunnel cleaned out?"
There were no clear cut answers. It was Toby who ventured the idea that maybe Gary would do it, as he had no family or children.
Mark was silent for a long time. "This disappoints me to hear you boys say that. Despite having families or not, one person is not valued or dis valued more than the other around here. Please do not let yourself or your wives think in that direction."
That was a direct hit on the exact discussions that had taken place with the women. Both Toby and Milo had the grace to blush at the implications, but didn't say a word.
Tess and Dory walked to the garden. "We need to expand by half. A lot more corn and beans and squash. How about a three sisters type of planting?" Dory suggested as she bent down to take a handful of dirt to check it's cohesiveness.
"It's about right to plant, I just wish it wasn't so cold." Tess looked up to see her boys come running. "Ma, Ma, Grandma found a cow."
"Did she now,' Tess laughed. "And to think this time, Dad didn't even have to leave. You boys had better show me where this marvelous animal is, you wouldn't be wanting to have milk to drink, would ya?"
Three very excited boys jabbered and hollered and jumped up and down; pointing at the back side of the barn. Clora's apron could be seen flapping in the breeze, as the triplets pulled their mother as fast as they could toward the barn.
It was black and white, and so old that Dory teasingly said, "I think it needs crutches."
"Oh, this is a wonderfully sweet cow. I think she needs a home. Look how skinny she is," Clora was gushing and petting and the cow mooed and batted her eyelashes like a old lady flirting.
"Boys, run quick and tell Granddad we have a cow, and he didn't even have to leave," Tess was laughing so hard, and Dory was looking at her like she was crazy. Tess tried to explain, and wasn't doing a very good job as she was laughing.
Mark said "Grandma found what?" and everyone had to come see the ancient Holstein.
"Oh I don't think that's so," Mark dismissed the theory Milo put forward.
"Don't dismiss it so quickly, it's a problem with no answer right as yet. What are we going to do if Gary gets back and Ricky hasn't changed. Ricky might as well be a pariah, the mama's here don't want him infecting their children. I will say, I'm willing to move and take his influence away from the kids here. Honey and I don't like the idea of leaving, but we are out of ideas as to how to change Ricky's behavior." Milo looked out the distance toward the South, not wanting to look his father and brother in the eye.
"Don't get upset until Gary and Ricky get back. Gary understands the feeling, and he also has the ability to cause change in young boys." Mark commented.
"That's for sure," Toby outright laughed. "He is the original hardheaded Linderman, so he knows all the tricks."
Mark rubbed the side of his nose.
"Having an uneasy feeling?" Toby asked. "You usually don't do that unless you have a conflict within."
"It's the tunnel. It has me stumped as to how safely remove the heap of slime. It has to be cleaned, but how?" Mark complained.
"I don't have a clue as how to do it safely," both Milo and Toby said together. And Milo made a face as he explained his predicament. "Honey doesn't want me to be down there, then bring the germs home to Mila."
"Rennie says the same thing. So, realistically, who and how are we going to get the tunnel cleaned out?"
There were no clear cut answers. It was Toby who ventured the idea that maybe Gary would do it, as he had no family or children.
Mark was silent for a long time. "This disappoints me to hear you boys say that. Despite having families or not, one person is not valued or dis valued more than the other around here. Please do not let yourself or your wives think in that direction."
That was a direct hit on the exact discussions that had taken place with the women. Both Toby and Milo had the grace to blush at the implications, but didn't say a word.
Tess and Dory walked to the garden. "We need to expand by half. A lot more corn and beans and squash. How about a three sisters type of planting?" Dory suggested as she bent down to take a handful of dirt to check it's cohesiveness.
"It's about right to plant, I just wish it wasn't so cold." Tess looked up to see her boys come running. "Ma, Ma, Grandma found a cow."
"Did she now,' Tess laughed. "And to think this time, Dad didn't even have to leave. You boys had better show me where this marvelous animal is, you wouldn't be wanting to have milk to drink, would ya?"
Three very excited boys jabbered and hollered and jumped up and down; pointing at the back side of the barn. Clora's apron could be seen flapping in the breeze, as the triplets pulled their mother as fast as they could toward the barn.
It was black and white, and so old that Dory teasingly said, "I think it needs crutches."
"Oh, this is a wonderfully sweet cow. I think she needs a home. Look how skinny she is," Clora was gushing and petting and the cow mooed and batted her eyelashes like a old lady flirting.
"Boys, run quick and tell Granddad we have a cow, and he didn't even have to leave," Tess was laughing so hard, and Dory was looking at her like she was crazy. Tess tried to explain, and wasn't doing a very good job as she was laughing.
Mark said "Grandma found what?" and everyone had to come see the ancient Holstein.
RememberGoliad
Veteran Member
I'm really wondering about the need for the tunnel. Why not fill the dang thing in anywhere it has a vent, and basically bury the dead? If a tunnel's that important, dig another one.
Of course, ma'am, if the having of a poisoned tunnel is crucial to your story, then I will apologize in advance
Thank you PAC for so many years of lessons, entertainment, and discussion!
Of course, ma'am, if the having of a poisoned tunnel is crucial to your story, then I will apologize in advance
Thank you PAC for so many years of lessons, entertainment, and discussion!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
LOL don't be too sure Moldy, that there's not a goat involved. Anything can happen. If I can think it, it will get in the story someway. LOL.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac .
.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Now that's sort of scary because we know you have a rather vivid imagination Ma'am
G.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#264
The elderly cow regally accepted the cooing and petting, Tess holding one boy at a time to reach out and drop a few pats on the cow's back.
"She's bony," Paul said as he touched the cow's hide. "Where does the milk come from?"
Dory chuckled as she looked at Tess's face, and the patient Tess shot her a dirty look.
The cow raised up her head and gave a long Mooooo.
Everyone stopped to listen and dog gone if there wasn't an answering Mooo from back in the brush. People stared at one another, and then at another old arthritic cow daintily picking her way through the brush.
"I bet they don't give a quart apiece," Mark grumbled, but shaking his head at the excited look on Clora's face.
"Oh, they only need some good grass and water, some brushing and some oats and we will have milk, butter and cream. How wonderful that will be."
Both cows were admired, invited to inspect the barn and it's accommodations.
The clan was trooping inside when the first cow gave another long mooo, and it was answered by a sound that ran cold shivers down Mark's spine.
Baaaaa, the sound was faint, but loud enough to strike fear and rage in Mark's heart.
"What was that?" Clora called out, "I thought I heard a ………….."
"Nothing," Mark shouted over Clora's cut off sentence. "Nothing at all." he repeated.
"Mommy, Mommy, it's a nanny, can we keep her please?" Three little voices begged so sweetly as the nanny walked into the barn like she owned the place.
The good fortune was exclaimed over, and as the sun came out from behind the clouds, a large black terrifying shadow appeared in the barn doorway.
The billy had arrived.
The elderly cow regally accepted the cooing and petting, Tess holding one boy at a time to reach out and drop a few pats on the cow's back.
"She's bony," Paul said as he touched the cow's hide. "Where does the milk come from?"
Dory chuckled as she looked at Tess's face, and the patient Tess shot her a dirty look.
The cow raised up her head and gave a long Mooooo.
Everyone stopped to listen and dog gone if there wasn't an answering Mooo from back in the brush. People stared at one another, and then at another old arthritic cow daintily picking her way through the brush.
"I bet they don't give a quart apiece," Mark grumbled, but shaking his head at the excited look on Clora's face.
"Oh, they only need some good grass and water, some brushing and some oats and we will have milk, butter and cream. How wonderful that will be."
Both cows were admired, invited to inspect the barn and it's accommodations.
The clan was trooping inside when the first cow gave another long mooo, and it was answered by a sound that ran cold shivers down Mark's spine.
Baaaaa, the sound was faint, but loud enough to strike fear and rage in Mark's heart.
"What was that?" Clora called out, "I thought I heard a ………….."
"Nothing," Mark shouted over Clora's cut off sentence. "Nothing at all." he repeated.
"Mommy, Mommy, it's a nanny, can we keep her please?" Three little voices begged so sweetly as the nanny walked into the barn like she owned the place.
The good fortune was exclaimed over, and as the sun came out from behind the clouds, a large black terrifying shadow appeared in the barn doorway.
The billy had arrived.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
lol good one, goats. Thank you.