Story Clora's House of Gathered Up Children
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you, yep Gary needs taken into hand.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
A whole bunch of military men with leadership experience can't recognize when a member of their command is being exercised to passed the point of exhaustion and starved? Are they trying to kill her, get her to leave on her own and take her chances out in the world or do they not give a d@##?
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#80b
"Sit down Gary, I need to ask you some questions," Milo, the magnificent red headed warrior of the Linderman Clan made his request, but he wasn't asking, he was telling.
"First of all, do you realize there is a difference between men and women?"
Gary gave Milo one of those 'are you daft and/or crazy looks' and leaned back in the old kitchen chair. "Reasonably so, I'd say, why?"
Milo ignored his question. "Are you aware of what happens to women when they don't carry enough internal fat?"
Gary stared at Milo and gave a classic shrug of his shoulders.
In several concise sentences, Milo informed the clueless man that most of the women had stopped their monthly cycles because they didn't have enough internal fat to sustain the hormones. "That happens to concentration camp inmates, haven't you seen the pictures of hairless, pasty white skeletons standing by their bunks?"
Gary nodded, "Yeah, I've seen'em. They really do that?" he was referring to women.
"They do." Milo looked hard at Gary. "Were you by chance standing behind the door when they passed out smarts, hell man, Doc Tricia says Jainey may never recover enough to have children. You've put them all in a state of Ketosis, and that means their body is cannibalizing itself."
"Whoa,......no kidding? Really?"
"Really."
"Oh."
"I can't believe your that flippin stupid," Milo growled. "Didn't you ever take health class?"
"Nope," Gary looked like he was telling the truth, so Milo drew up a chair and proceeded to enlighten the man with the facts, for the next two hours.
"Really?"
"Yes Really," Milo was so angry he could have smacked Gary.
"Huh,"
"Don't you read or watch TV or get on the internet?" Milo grilled the middle Thompson kid. "Everything is slanted toward selling sex. Haven't you had girlfriends?"
"Yeah," Gary was acting like he was really puzzling over what Milo had told him.
"Do you read at all?" Milo was beginning to figure the problem out. "Look at magazines, play games on the computer, or any thing like that?"
Gary shook his head no, "Nah, I don't have time for stuff like that."
"You can't read, can you?" Milo was fairly certain he was correct.
"No," Gary's voice was so quiet, he was hard to hear.
"We gotta fix that Gary, how are you going to get through life not knowing what your signing your name too?" Milo was deeply concerned.
"I just stay out of those situations, besides, I can sign my name."
"I've got to share this with Ma and Dad and get their input on this, but I'm tellin ya right now, ease up on the women. Jainey specifically, is not to do any exercises. She's sick enough Tricia may not be able to pull her out of the decline."
"Oh crap, are you talking, like dying?" Gary seemed non plussed and totally amazed.
"I am. I have another task you are going to do. Honey is going to give you a mental health workup tomorrow, we are seriously concerned you've been hit on the head too many times."
"Sit down Gary, I need to ask you some questions," Milo, the magnificent red headed warrior of the Linderman Clan made his request, but he wasn't asking, he was telling.
"First of all, do you realize there is a difference between men and women?"
Gary gave Milo one of those 'are you daft and/or crazy looks' and leaned back in the old kitchen chair. "Reasonably so, I'd say, why?"
Milo ignored his question. "Are you aware of what happens to women when they don't carry enough internal fat?"
Gary stared at Milo and gave a classic shrug of his shoulders.
In several concise sentences, Milo informed the clueless man that most of the women had stopped their monthly cycles because they didn't have enough internal fat to sustain the hormones. "That happens to concentration camp inmates, haven't you seen the pictures of hairless, pasty white skeletons standing by their bunks?"
Gary nodded, "Yeah, I've seen'em. They really do that?" he was referring to women.
"They do." Milo looked hard at Gary. "Were you by chance standing behind the door when they passed out smarts, hell man, Doc Tricia says Jainey may never recover enough to have children. You've put them all in a state of Ketosis, and that means their body is cannibalizing itself."
"Whoa,......no kidding? Really?"
"Really."
"Oh."
"I can't believe your that flippin stupid," Milo growled. "Didn't you ever take health class?"
"Nope," Gary looked like he was telling the truth, so Milo drew up a chair and proceeded to enlighten the man with the facts, for the next two hours.
"Really?"
"Yes Really," Milo was so angry he could have smacked Gary.
"Huh,"
"Don't you read or watch TV or get on the internet?" Milo grilled the middle Thompson kid. "Everything is slanted toward selling sex. Haven't you had girlfriends?"
"Yeah," Gary was acting like he was really puzzling over what Milo had told him.
"Do you read at all?" Milo was beginning to figure the problem out. "Look at magazines, play games on the computer, or any thing like that?"
Gary shook his head no, "Nah, I don't have time for stuff like that."
"You can't read, can you?" Milo was fairly certain he was correct.
"No," Gary's voice was so quiet, he was hard to hear.
"We gotta fix that Gary, how are you going to get through life not knowing what your signing your name too?" Milo was deeply concerned.
"I just stay out of those situations, besides, I can sign my name."
"I've got to share this with Ma and Dad and get their input on this, but I'm tellin ya right now, ease up on the women. Jainey specifically, is not to do any exercises. She's sick enough Tricia may not be able to pull her out of the decline."
"Oh crap, are you talking, like dying?" Gary seemed non plussed and totally amazed.
"I am. I have another task you are going to do. Honey is going to give you a mental health workup tomorrow, we are seriously concerned you've been hit on the head too many times."
Dosadi
Brown Coat
thank you Mrs. PAC
come on Janie, pull on through and be OK.
Come on Gary wake up and learn to read. (I can't imagine not reading, don't really remember ever not being able to read and write)
When I was about 2 or so Mom won a contest for an Encyclopedia Britannica and I had read all the way through that before I started first grade. Didn't have TV or internet, did have a AM radio, but mostly it never got played except by Mom or Dad. Remember getting a TV when I was about 8 or so. Was a very big deal, we got 2 and then later on 3 whole channels. Still spent more time with a book. My kids get a kick outta me telling em a paperback in my hip pocket was my version of a game boy.
Didn't hurt that Mom and Grandmother were both teachers. They insisted I learn reading and writing. Great Grandmother would read to me and correct my penmanship when I could barely walk.
Well I"m a rambling mode today aren't I? LOL
Thanks again
Dosadi
come on Janie, pull on through and be OK.
Come on Gary wake up and learn to read. (I can't imagine not reading, don't really remember ever not being able to read and write)
When I was about 2 or so Mom won a contest for an Encyclopedia Britannica and I had read all the way through that before I started first grade. Didn't have TV or internet, did have a AM radio, but mostly it never got played except by Mom or Dad. Remember getting a TV when I was about 8 or so. Was a very big deal, we got 2 and then later on 3 whole channels. Still spent more time with a book. My kids get a kick outta me telling em a paperback in my hip pocket was my version of a game boy.
Didn't hurt that Mom and Grandmother were both teachers. They insisted I learn reading and writing. Great Grandmother would read to me and correct my penmanship when I could barely walk.
Well I"m a rambling mode today aren't I? LOL
Thanks again
Dosadi
Dumb Blonde
Contributing Member
I can remember the first book I managed to read on my own when I was about 5 years old. Green eggs and ham. (Dr Seuss) I was so excited with the wonder of being able to decipher the letters. Been hooked ever since.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you pac, lol hit on the head to many times,
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thanks for more of your fantastic story Pac. I sure hope Janie has a full recovery and that Gary steps up and learns what he needs to know to be the instructor he needs to be for the clan to survive and multiply.
Wayne
Wayne
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
PAC I really like how you develop your characters and story line. Just when I think someone or something is figured out you take the story off in some completely new and unexpected directions or surprised us with something that leaves me thinking; "Wow! didn't see that coming.". I can't wait to see what you have in store for Gary and Jainey.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
OldGreyMare.
Plenty. Hee hee.
Plenty. Hee hee.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#81
While the ladies of the clan rested from the over vigorous workouts, it became priority number one to have Gary evaluated and assessed.
From Honey's standpoint, it would have been a better test if Jainey could have helped, but that was one seriously sick woman. Nothing was mentioned about her condition, but Gary could feel the censure from the women. That Milo had stepped in at Honey's insistence to end the women's revolt before it got out of hand, spoke well to his growing leadership abilities.
Milo, Toby and Robert were listening to Gary answer the questions Honey was asking him. Slowly a pattern was emerging. Close to every sixth question was answered in a hazy, brain fog manner.
Gary was showing close to a ten minute alert and capable attention span. Thinking past the ten minute mark, on the same problem, and he went fuzzy and blank.
Mark was invited to sit in on the referral, as Honey explained her findings. Gary was there, listening, and Honey carefully timed herself to speak on the same problem no more than nine minutes apiece. As she jumped back and forth with her test scores and findings, on one subject and then another, the leaders of the clan got a peek into the unsettled conditions in Gary's mind.
Honey picked up her paperwork and tapped it on the table. "It is my opinion, subject to medical confirmation, that Gary still has swelling in his brain. If agreeable to the leaders here, I am relieving him of all exercise duty. I propose he restrict all vigorous movement, wear a blindfold to stop visual stimulation, and semi sound dampening earplugs. I am going to take my findings to Tricia and discuss this with her. Gentlemen, if this were happening under normal circumstances, Gary would be operated on to relieve the swelling and pressure on his brain. This is serious, and we need to do what little bit we have available, to help."
Honey left the room to find Tricia, and they sat down in Jainey's bedroom to discuss Honey's conclusions.
Tricia was giving Jainey a sponge bath, the woman's towel covered form so thin that she was almost flat on the mattress. "Jainey has to own some of this," Tricia said briskly. "This is the second or third time she has let herself go over the edge of exhaustion. She's not a stupid woman, she has to know she is pulling her own weight. What's your take on all this?"
Honey sighed deep. "She's in love with him. If he told her to jump over the moon, she'd die trying, rather than give up and disappoint him."
Gary was standing outside the room door, listening. He had come to ask Honey a question, and found out he was the topic of discussion.
Honey continued on. "Jainey was a foundling, much like the Thompson kids. Raised in a foster home with an older couple that were probably older than her grandparents. I'd venture to say she has no idea of what a healthy, romantic situtation should consist of. The problems between Milo and myself at the beginning of our journey, didn't give her any basis for a firm foundation. She loves him and he has been so cold and distant and plain down right mean to her, I don't think she cares to live."
"As the survivor of a terrible beginning to Bruce and myself, I understand." Tricia finished her work. "That gives me the background to understand her coma-like depression. I don't think she's going to live Honey. Jainey has no reason to stay in this world. I would estimate she has maybe two weeks, and she'll be gone."
Gary had heard enough. He went to the atrium and let himself in, to sit in the almost sound proof room and think. His head hurt terribly, the pressure headaches a gnawing pain he had no relief from. He had tried talking to Ma's God, to see if He could help the pain stop, and there was no answer.
Some times, God waits patiently for the people He wants to help to realize that He alone is the answer. Perhaps it was this way with Gary, as he sat the first week in the sun warmed room with his blindfold on.
Clora watched him carefully as he moved around the house and every so often he would walk down the hall and go in Jainey's room. Lemmie went to stop him and Clora caught her cook's arm and shook her head no.
That was how Gary discovered, when he was whispering to Jainey, that his headaches eased.
While the ladies of the clan rested from the over vigorous workouts, it became priority number one to have Gary evaluated and assessed.
From Honey's standpoint, it would have been a better test if Jainey could have helped, but that was one seriously sick woman. Nothing was mentioned about her condition, but Gary could feel the censure from the women. That Milo had stepped in at Honey's insistence to end the women's revolt before it got out of hand, spoke well to his growing leadership abilities.
Milo, Toby and Robert were listening to Gary answer the questions Honey was asking him. Slowly a pattern was emerging. Close to every sixth question was answered in a hazy, brain fog manner.
Gary was showing close to a ten minute alert and capable attention span. Thinking past the ten minute mark, on the same problem, and he went fuzzy and blank.
Mark was invited to sit in on the referral, as Honey explained her findings. Gary was there, listening, and Honey carefully timed herself to speak on the same problem no more than nine minutes apiece. As she jumped back and forth with her test scores and findings, on one subject and then another, the leaders of the clan got a peek into the unsettled conditions in Gary's mind.
Honey picked up her paperwork and tapped it on the table. "It is my opinion, subject to medical confirmation, that Gary still has swelling in his brain. If agreeable to the leaders here, I am relieving him of all exercise duty. I propose he restrict all vigorous movement, wear a blindfold to stop visual stimulation, and semi sound dampening earplugs. I am going to take my findings to Tricia and discuss this with her. Gentlemen, if this were happening under normal circumstances, Gary would be operated on to relieve the swelling and pressure on his brain. This is serious, and we need to do what little bit we have available, to help."
Honey left the room to find Tricia, and they sat down in Jainey's bedroom to discuss Honey's conclusions.
Tricia was giving Jainey a sponge bath, the woman's towel covered form so thin that she was almost flat on the mattress. "Jainey has to own some of this," Tricia said briskly. "This is the second or third time she has let herself go over the edge of exhaustion. She's not a stupid woman, she has to know she is pulling her own weight. What's your take on all this?"
Honey sighed deep. "She's in love with him. If he told her to jump over the moon, she'd die trying, rather than give up and disappoint him."
Gary was standing outside the room door, listening. He had come to ask Honey a question, and found out he was the topic of discussion.
Honey continued on. "Jainey was a foundling, much like the Thompson kids. Raised in a foster home with an older couple that were probably older than her grandparents. I'd venture to say she has no idea of what a healthy, romantic situtation should consist of. The problems between Milo and myself at the beginning of our journey, didn't give her any basis for a firm foundation. She loves him and he has been so cold and distant and plain down right mean to her, I don't think she cares to live."
"As the survivor of a terrible beginning to Bruce and myself, I understand." Tricia finished her work. "That gives me the background to understand her coma-like depression. I don't think she's going to live Honey. Jainey has no reason to stay in this world. I would estimate she has maybe two weeks, and she'll be gone."
Gary had heard enough. He went to the atrium and let himself in, to sit in the almost sound proof room and think. His head hurt terribly, the pressure headaches a gnawing pain he had no relief from. He had tried talking to Ma's God, to see if He could help the pain stop, and there was no answer.
Some times, God waits patiently for the people He wants to help to realize that He alone is the answer. Perhaps it was this way with Gary, as he sat the first week in the sun warmed room with his blindfold on.
Clora watched him carefully as he moved around the house and every so often he would walk down the hall and go in Jainey's room. Lemmie went to stop him and Clora caught her cook's arm and shook her head no.
That was how Gary discovered, when he was whispering to Jainey, that his headaches eased.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thank you Pac I hope Gary and Janie come out of this situation, a loving couple living in Gods will and word.
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#81b
Gary started talking to Jainey. First he apologized for the way he had treated her, then he talked about what the members of the clan were doing, then he apologized for the way he had driven her to exercise.
Every other sentence was an apology. He didn't think she heard him, there was no movement or recognition on her part. But, It made Gary feel better to atone for his behavior.
A lot of the time, his words played in an endless loop of repeating phrases. As he talked to Jainey, he was basically sitting still, not over-stimulating his mind, just saying what ever crowded out the headache.
The attention from Gary had been going on for two weeks and Jainey was still alive. Then Clora took a small cup of warm broth in the room, handed Gary the spoon and said "please feed her." and then walked out.
Gary put the spoon in the cup and it clinked; while he used his free hand to push up his blindfold. He was totally shocked to see what Jainey had become. This was the first time he had seen her without his blind fold. His mouth worked soundlessly and tears filled his eyes. Blinking against the muted light in the room, Gary stared at the cup and spoon and then back to the unmoving person on the bed.
He sat the cup on the bedside table and pulled the sheet back and stared at the woman. She was a rack of bones, grotesque with shrunken skin hollowed between her ribs. He remembered she had once been very vibrant and smelled like flowers. Very tenderly, he drew the sheet up, sat down in his chair laid his head on her bed and cried.
Clora was in the hallway, guarding the door to Jainey's room. She sent everyone away, including Tricia and Mark. Mark was unhappy, he could hear Gary in the room talking and crying and he was upset at the impropriety, of a man in Jainey's room. Clora simply shook her head no, and motioned them away.
Gary told Jainey all about the terrible things he had seen and done in the war. He talked about the child he had rescued and returned to the parents, walking boldly into the hostile village carrying the three year old along with his full armor and battle packs.
He told her how scared he had been, rifle barrels showed from every where and Gary walked into the nest of snipers not saying a word. He found the ancient man that was the village elder and put the boy down off his shoulder. There had been a woman's piercing cry that the boy answered and he went running off. Gary had looked at the elder and nodded his head. Turning around, he walked back out, expecting at any second he would be shot. There was no movement in the sweltering hot day as he walked back to camp. Once there, he took off his battle gear, drank some water and went to heave his guts in adrenalin rushed stress.
Gary, nor his fellow soldiers, nor his commanding officers, ever knew they did not die the next day, from the attack that had been planned. One man and one small child saved countless lives with one small gesture of good will and bravery.
Gary purged his stress, nightmares and suffocating memories to Jainey. In the hallway, Clora wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled. She understood Gary might have scrambled his brain, but he had as much PTSD as anything else. Beginning the healing process by finally being able to talk about the terrors that plagued him.
(Folks,
the above chapter is dedicated to a young man named Tom who was grievously wounded and burned in a car bomb detonation. He was nineteen years old at the time, away from home and across the world for two weeks, when he was injured. He committed suicide this week, unable to face the rest of his future with the pain that racked him every minute. I inherited this young man from my oldest daughter, when she committed suicide. She had started writing to him through a church project, and he needed support and I needed to make a difference if I could. He was 28 years old on Monday and dead on Tuesday. Rest in Peace Tom.)
Gary started talking to Jainey. First he apologized for the way he had treated her, then he talked about what the members of the clan were doing, then he apologized for the way he had driven her to exercise.
Every other sentence was an apology. He didn't think she heard him, there was no movement or recognition on her part. But, It made Gary feel better to atone for his behavior.
A lot of the time, his words played in an endless loop of repeating phrases. As he talked to Jainey, he was basically sitting still, not over-stimulating his mind, just saying what ever crowded out the headache.
The attention from Gary had been going on for two weeks and Jainey was still alive. Then Clora took a small cup of warm broth in the room, handed Gary the spoon and said "please feed her." and then walked out.
Gary put the spoon in the cup and it clinked; while he used his free hand to push up his blindfold. He was totally shocked to see what Jainey had become. This was the first time he had seen her without his blind fold. His mouth worked soundlessly and tears filled his eyes. Blinking against the muted light in the room, Gary stared at the cup and spoon and then back to the unmoving person on the bed.
He sat the cup on the bedside table and pulled the sheet back and stared at the woman. She was a rack of bones, grotesque with shrunken skin hollowed between her ribs. He remembered she had once been very vibrant and smelled like flowers. Very tenderly, he drew the sheet up, sat down in his chair laid his head on her bed and cried.
Clora was in the hallway, guarding the door to Jainey's room. She sent everyone away, including Tricia and Mark. Mark was unhappy, he could hear Gary in the room talking and crying and he was upset at the impropriety, of a man in Jainey's room. Clora simply shook her head no, and motioned them away.
Gary told Jainey all about the terrible things he had seen and done in the war. He talked about the child he had rescued and returned to the parents, walking boldly into the hostile village carrying the three year old along with his full armor and battle packs.
He told her how scared he had been, rifle barrels showed from every where and Gary walked into the nest of snipers not saying a word. He found the ancient man that was the village elder and put the boy down off his shoulder. There had been a woman's piercing cry that the boy answered and he went running off. Gary had looked at the elder and nodded his head. Turning around, he walked back out, expecting at any second he would be shot. There was no movement in the sweltering hot day as he walked back to camp. Once there, he took off his battle gear, drank some water and went to heave his guts in adrenalin rushed stress.
Gary, nor his fellow soldiers, nor his commanding officers, ever knew they did not die the next day, from the attack that had been planned. One man and one small child saved countless lives with one small gesture of good will and bravery.
Gary purged his stress, nightmares and suffocating memories to Jainey. In the hallway, Clora wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled. She understood Gary might have scrambled his brain, but he had as much PTSD as anything else. Beginning the healing process by finally being able to talk about the terrors that plagued him.
(Folks,
the above chapter is dedicated to a young man named Tom who was grievously wounded and burned in a car bomb detonation. He was nineteen years old at the time, away from home and across the world for two weeks, when he was injured. He committed suicide this week, unable to face the rest of his future with the pain that racked him every minute. I inherited this young man from my oldest daughter, when she committed suicide. She had started writing to him through a church project, and he needed support and I needed to make a difference if I could. He was 28 years old on Monday and dead on Tuesday. Rest in Peace Tom.)
stjwelding
Veteran Member
My prayers go out for you Pac, God's strength and peace be with you always,and for Tom that he be at peace, now and forever with his Heavenly Father God Almighty.
Wayne
Wayne
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Make my heart for them all.
Others have already said it well. Peace to you for doing what you could. I am sad for both Tom and your daughter. Sad that our world could not provide them with the comfort they were seeking. Grateful that our world produces fine folk like you who give all they can to those who suffer so, and then share insights with us so we, too, may learn. Bless you, dear friend.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
PAC ((((hugs)))) the digital ones just don't seem to work any where near as well.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Thank you for being there for your beloved daughter and Tom. And for all who are blessed with the writing you share with us.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Thank you,
I appreciate the support. This has made me terrible sad. It's hard not to dwell on the people in my life that have passed away, so many gone. Pac.
I appreciate the support. This has made me terrible sad. It's hard not to dwell on the people in my life that have passed away, so many gone. Pac.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
There is an old saw about a Protestant arriving in Heaven and seeing each different denomination in the Christian section. The Catholics were partying so hard they didn't know anyone else was even there. That's how I like to think of ones up stairs. Not "gone", just happily enjoying the rewards of a good life, well lived and keeping the food hot, the wine cold and the hugs ready until I join them.
Sammy55
Veteran Member
(((Oh, Pac.))) Hugs to you!! And prayers for your peace of mind!!
I agree with Old Gray Mare. I like to think that they in Heaven are happily enjoying their lives with God until we below join them.
I also hurt so bad for those who experience such deep physical and/or emotional/mental pain that they just do not think they can live anymore. While I understand their "need" to end their pain permanently, they don't understand the permanent pain they leave with those who are left behind.
Prayers for Tom and your daughter and all those who ended their pain.
And many, many prayers for those they left behind with even more pain.
I agree with Old Gray Mare. I like to think that they in Heaven are happily enjoying their lives with God until we below join them.
I also hurt so bad for those who experience such deep physical and/or emotional/mental pain that they just do not think they can live anymore. While I understand their "need" to end their pain permanently, they don't understand the permanent pain they leave with those who are left behind.
Prayers for Tom and your daughter and all those who ended their pain.
And many, many prayers for those they left behind with even more pain.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#82
Gary sat by Jainey's side for three days, talking and bringing the demons to His, light. Outside the bedroom door, Clora sat in a chair guarding the room and praying for the hurting souls, contained inside. Gary had given voice to the terror, the inhumanity and the vacant eyed stare of the dead. The cost of war, love of country and pride for accepting one of the markers that denotes a free man, liberty for everyone. Now the men, had been joined by those women that felt the same way.
At the retreat, one man found that giving voice to the smothering savagery, eased the crippling headaches and allowed him to start thinking in a more normal manner. Gary had trained himself to function with the stabbing pain in his head, but the decisions were as haphazard as faulty thinking.
Clora put her man to bed with a quiet reminder that he of all people understood PTSD, and how it crippled. Mark had nodded and rubbed her hand on his cheek, an apology. Clora had kissed him and smiled that special secret look she had for him alone. It was an affirmation between them, they were connected as a couple and she deferred to him on the matters that he understood, and he to her when she understood the situtation better.
Clora had patted his shoulder, and moved to sit in the chair outside the door. The next morning, Clora took more broth to Gary. "Jainey has to eat. She will follow your directions." Clora told him calmly.
Gary spoke to Jainey, telling her it was time to eat, he had food and for her to open her mouth. Gary spooned the broth, his hand shaking so badly there was a trail of brown broth dots across the sheet. Some of it got in Jainey's mouth, some on her chin and some down her neck. But she finally accepted the food.
Clora listened to him coax and cajole, Gary finally realizing that he knew Jainey loved him, but she didn't know the depth of his feelings toward her. When Clora heard what she wanted to hear, she got up from the chair and joined the group in the kitchen. She didn't need to stand guard any longer.
Honey and Tricia sent her questioning looks, and Clora smiled serenely. "God has provided," was her response, and she beamed at the assembled group.
Indeed, God had provided the necessary healing to start both Gary and Jainey on the path to recovery. It wasn't easy, the road was full of bumps and stones, thunder and lightening; but they learned, built trust and traveled with faith.
It was a red letter day when Gary carried the weak Jainey to the atrium for twenty five minutes of sunshine.
"I can't explain it," Tricia shook her head and watched Jainey reach her hand over to place it on Gary's huge paw.
Tricia got a lump in her throat. She was missing Bruce so much. He hadn't been home since the bombings, and the only reason she wasn't hysterical with grief was the fact that Clora assured her that Bruce was still alive.
The man in question showed up four days later. Thin as a rail with a bushy salt and pepper beard and long hair tied back in a low ponytail, Bruce walked in the house when Mark called the dogs off, picked up his wife and buried his head in her shoulder and walked to their apartment. Seconds later, Phoebe hustled out with the children and was beaming with delight.
Bruce was so different, little Eddie Ammons didn't recognize his father. Tony had been young enough that Bruce's voice was his trigger sound, and Tricia saw the wounded anguish that Bruce couldn't hide. He and others had done all they could. Finally they had run out of everything, food, bandages, medicines; and the ones they fought so hard to save, perished anyway. Bruce sat in his chair and shaded his eyes. Tricia hugged her man that had given all he possibly could, and they consoled one another.
Gary sat by Jainey's side for three days, talking and bringing the demons to His, light. Outside the bedroom door, Clora sat in a chair guarding the room and praying for the hurting souls, contained inside. Gary had given voice to the terror, the inhumanity and the vacant eyed stare of the dead. The cost of war, love of country and pride for accepting one of the markers that denotes a free man, liberty for everyone. Now the men, had been joined by those women that felt the same way.
At the retreat, one man found that giving voice to the smothering savagery, eased the crippling headaches and allowed him to start thinking in a more normal manner. Gary had trained himself to function with the stabbing pain in his head, but the decisions were as haphazard as faulty thinking.
Clora put her man to bed with a quiet reminder that he of all people understood PTSD, and how it crippled. Mark had nodded and rubbed her hand on his cheek, an apology. Clora had kissed him and smiled that special secret look she had for him alone. It was an affirmation between them, they were connected as a couple and she deferred to him on the matters that he understood, and he to her when she understood the situtation better.
Clora had patted his shoulder, and moved to sit in the chair outside the door. The next morning, Clora took more broth to Gary. "Jainey has to eat. She will follow your directions." Clora told him calmly.
Gary spoke to Jainey, telling her it was time to eat, he had food and for her to open her mouth. Gary spooned the broth, his hand shaking so badly there was a trail of brown broth dots across the sheet. Some of it got in Jainey's mouth, some on her chin and some down her neck. But she finally accepted the food.
Clora listened to him coax and cajole, Gary finally realizing that he knew Jainey loved him, but she didn't know the depth of his feelings toward her. When Clora heard what she wanted to hear, she got up from the chair and joined the group in the kitchen. She didn't need to stand guard any longer.
Honey and Tricia sent her questioning looks, and Clora smiled serenely. "God has provided," was her response, and she beamed at the assembled group.
Indeed, God had provided the necessary healing to start both Gary and Jainey on the path to recovery. It wasn't easy, the road was full of bumps and stones, thunder and lightening; but they learned, built trust and traveled with faith.
It was a red letter day when Gary carried the weak Jainey to the atrium for twenty five minutes of sunshine.
"I can't explain it," Tricia shook her head and watched Jainey reach her hand over to place it on Gary's huge paw.
Tricia got a lump in her throat. She was missing Bruce so much. He hadn't been home since the bombings, and the only reason she wasn't hysterical with grief was the fact that Clora assured her that Bruce was still alive.
The man in question showed up four days later. Thin as a rail with a bushy salt and pepper beard and long hair tied back in a low ponytail, Bruce walked in the house when Mark called the dogs off, picked up his wife and buried his head in her shoulder and walked to their apartment. Seconds later, Phoebe hustled out with the children and was beaming with delight.
Bruce was so different, little Eddie Ammons didn't recognize his father. Tony had been young enough that Bruce's voice was his trigger sound, and Tricia saw the wounded anguish that Bruce couldn't hide. He and others had done all they could. Finally they had run out of everything, food, bandages, medicines; and the ones they fought so hard to save, perished anyway. Bruce sat in his chair and shaded his eyes. Tricia hugged her man that had given all he possibly could, and they consoled one another.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Fantastic post !!!! Pac, you are such a blessing to all of us, Thank You and I pray for God's blessings on you and your.
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#82b
Bruce had been home for three days when they had the next attack. Boldly, in broad daylight, a squad of twelve fired on the house. Sherrie, Mara and Lemmie were out in the garden when the bullets started flying. Crawling on the ground next to the fence, they waited close to the gate.
Mark started picking off those attackers he could see, a loose knit force of ineffective cannon fodder.
"Another test," Milo was muttering. "Every one hold your fire. Dad and I are going to draw their fire and expend their ammo, be ready to fire when I give the word."
Bullets flew back and forth for several hours. The attacking force were extremely poor marksmen, and one by one they got careless and then were shot by Mark, Milo, Toby, Robert or Gary. Bruce, Lou, Cody, Hank and Ben formed the wall of last resistance in the house around the women and children.
Children were trained by their Mothers to stay down, stay away from windows, and to obey instantly. TJ, Robbie, Barry and Eddie had slingshots, a weapon they were being trained in using. Phoebe cared for the triplets, Tony and Lyric, freeing the mothers to watch duty at all ends of the house. Even Jainey took a post, keeping to the shadows, but watching the upper side of the house from her bedroom.
The individual clan snipers each kept count of the downed attackers, all had 12, and Gary had 13. The consensus was that Gary had most likely miscounted, the clan thinking back to his wonky brain.
Gary said nothing, but when the bodies were counted, there were 13 dead attackers. The scared ladies were escorted from the garden, and the bodies were disposed of in the same fashion as the first group.
There was an immediate family meeting and the plans and people were decommissioned. For so many of them and such young children, it went well.
Bruce had been home for three days when they had the next attack. Boldly, in broad daylight, a squad of twelve fired on the house. Sherrie, Mara and Lemmie were out in the garden when the bullets started flying. Crawling on the ground next to the fence, they waited close to the gate.
Mark started picking off those attackers he could see, a loose knit force of ineffective cannon fodder.
"Another test," Milo was muttering. "Every one hold your fire. Dad and I are going to draw their fire and expend their ammo, be ready to fire when I give the word."
Bullets flew back and forth for several hours. The attacking force were extremely poor marksmen, and one by one they got careless and then were shot by Mark, Milo, Toby, Robert or Gary. Bruce, Lou, Cody, Hank and Ben formed the wall of last resistance in the house around the women and children.
Children were trained by their Mothers to stay down, stay away from windows, and to obey instantly. TJ, Robbie, Barry and Eddie had slingshots, a weapon they were being trained in using. Phoebe cared for the triplets, Tony and Lyric, freeing the mothers to watch duty at all ends of the house. Even Jainey took a post, keeping to the shadows, but watching the upper side of the house from her bedroom.
The individual clan snipers each kept count of the downed attackers, all had 12, and Gary had 13. The consensus was that Gary had most likely miscounted, the clan thinking back to his wonky brain.
Gary said nothing, but when the bodies were counted, there were 13 dead attackers. The scared ladies were escorted from the garden, and the bodies were disposed of in the same fashion as the first group.
There was an immediate family meeting and the plans and people were decommissioned. For so many of them and such young children, it went well.