Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
steamroller
Contributing Member
Very good, thank you.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
A very big thank you.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Folks,
Tonight and tomorrow night will be late times for me. I just got in, and still need to make supper.
Flash flood took out quite a bit of fence, and it has to be repaired. Pac.
Tonight and tomorrow night will be late times for me. I just got in, and still need to make supper.
Flash flood took out quite a bit of fence, and it has to be repaired. Pac.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Always something. Take care.
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Family and friends make a difference.
Death does come to little ones that do not have enough to eat especially in cold weather. I have walked old cemeteries and looked at the old tombstones of so many young ones that passed over. Sad.
Thanks Pac for your poignant story.
Texican...
Death does come to little ones that do not have enough to eat especially in cold weather. I have walked old cemeteries and looked at the old tombstones of so many young ones that passed over. Sad.
Thanks Pac for your poignant story.
Texican...
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
ALWAYS something needs seeing to when you have any sort of disruptive weather ma'am. Not to worry; we'll be here when you're done pulling wire.
G
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#61
The storm intensified, and Donny had trouble getting back to the house. Twice, he missed the house in the wind driven, heavy snow. While he was in the barn, he checked on the horses, made sure they had hay and water. He briefly thought about Mark having to care for all the workhorse ladies, and then shrugged. There wasn't anything he could do about it, right at the moment.
Nothing had changed in the house, when he finally got there.
"It's really bad outside, I'm going to string a rope from the back porch to the wood shed, but I need help getting as much wood as possible in here, especially before dark. Sally, what are you going to cook for supper?" Donny was looking at the gathering that hadn't moved a muscle while he had been outside.
Sally turned teary eyes his way, and shook her head. "We're not hungry," she whispered, "the thought of eating is gross."
"I'm hungry," Donny said forcefully. "I don't want to get weak and sick like the rest of you, so I'll bring in wood while you get something cooking." Maybe he shut the kitchen door a bit more strongly than he needed to, but he was telling himself that life had to go on, and he needed fed to keep on doing it.
Sally roused herself to get up and look in the boxes of food. There was nothing there that was a quick fix, for supper. Sally was busy staring at the 20 pound sack of rice when Donny came in with the first armload of wood.
"Cotton, I need your help, I want you to open the door for me when I get to the porch. That means you will have to stand here and listen to my boots stomp off snow and then open the door, please."
Donny had already discovered he had to tell them exactly what he wanted done. They needed specific orders and there was no forward thinking or offers to help. "Use the really big pot, fill it 3/4 of the way full of water and when it boils, dump in four cups of rice. Rice doubles, so that will be eight cups of rice. You will need to stir it every couples of minutes to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan." he told Sally.
The young teen nodded and put the large caldron in the sink and started pumping the handle.
Donny worked bringing in wood, until the kitchen was noticeably cooler in temperature from the cold wood.
"How much are you gonna bring in?" Cotton asked curiously.
"Well, tell me how long the blizzard is going to last?" Donny asked as he came in with the last load.
"I dunno, is that what is going on outside? A blizzard?"
"Yes, haven't you been in one before?" Donny couldn't believe that Cotton was that dumb.
"We just always stayed inside and it snowed. No body ever called it a name."
Donny shucked his coat and hung it on the peg by the door. There was a little spider that skittered from the wood stack, and he waited until it got close and stepped on it, not wanting to call attention to the fact there were creepy crawlys coming in on the wood.
Donny looked around, and the oil lamps hadn't been cleaned, there was no hot water heating for wash up, and children huddled in a mass near the stove.
Rummaging through the cupboards before it got to dark to see inside, Donny found several more big pots, filled them, and put them on the stove to heat.
"Who's the next oldest girl? We need to get her hands washed and get her to set the table." Donny was thinking out loud.
"Teena, will you come wash and get bowls on the table." Sally spoke to the huddle of kids. A small, skinny girl slowly got up and walked quietly to the sink. "Use lots of soap," Sally directed, and turned to stir the rice.
Donny used a small sauce pan to pour the semi warm water over Teena's hands, and he got a small smile. Using a large bowl, he filled it with the warmish water and used some of the soap the Clora sent over to wash the lamp chimneys.
So went the rest of the afternoon. Kids ate rice topped with canned tomatoes that Donny mashed with a fork into mushy sauce.
The storm intensified, and Donny had trouble getting back to the house. Twice, he missed the house in the wind driven, heavy snow. While he was in the barn, he checked on the horses, made sure they had hay and water. He briefly thought about Mark having to care for all the workhorse ladies, and then shrugged. There wasn't anything he could do about it, right at the moment.
Nothing had changed in the house, when he finally got there.
"It's really bad outside, I'm going to string a rope from the back porch to the wood shed, but I need help getting as much wood as possible in here, especially before dark. Sally, what are you going to cook for supper?" Donny was looking at the gathering that hadn't moved a muscle while he had been outside.
Sally turned teary eyes his way, and shook her head. "We're not hungry," she whispered, "the thought of eating is gross."
"I'm hungry," Donny said forcefully. "I don't want to get weak and sick like the rest of you, so I'll bring in wood while you get something cooking." Maybe he shut the kitchen door a bit more strongly than he needed to, but he was telling himself that life had to go on, and he needed fed to keep on doing it.
Sally roused herself to get up and look in the boxes of food. There was nothing there that was a quick fix, for supper. Sally was busy staring at the 20 pound sack of rice when Donny came in with the first armload of wood.
"Cotton, I need your help, I want you to open the door for me when I get to the porch. That means you will have to stand here and listen to my boots stomp off snow and then open the door, please."
Donny had already discovered he had to tell them exactly what he wanted done. They needed specific orders and there was no forward thinking or offers to help. "Use the really big pot, fill it 3/4 of the way full of water and when it boils, dump in four cups of rice. Rice doubles, so that will be eight cups of rice. You will need to stir it every couples of minutes to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan." he told Sally.
The young teen nodded and put the large caldron in the sink and started pumping the handle.
Donny worked bringing in wood, until the kitchen was noticeably cooler in temperature from the cold wood.
"How much are you gonna bring in?" Cotton asked curiously.
"Well, tell me how long the blizzard is going to last?" Donny asked as he came in with the last load.
"I dunno, is that what is going on outside? A blizzard?"
"Yes, haven't you been in one before?" Donny couldn't believe that Cotton was that dumb.
"We just always stayed inside and it snowed. No body ever called it a name."
Donny shucked his coat and hung it on the peg by the door. There was a little spider that skittered from the wood stack, and he waited until it got close and stepped on it, not wanting to call attention to the fact there were creepy crawlys coming in on the wood.
Donny looked around, and the oil lamps hadn't been cleaned, there was no hot water heating for wash up, and children huddled in a mass near the stove.
Rummaging through the cupboards before it got to dark to see inside, Donny found several more big pots, filled them, and put them on the stove to heat.
"Who's the next oldest girl? We need to get her hands washed and get her to set the table." Donny was thinking out loud.
"Teena, will you come wash and get bowls on the table." Sally spoke to the huddle of kids. A small, skinny girl slowly got up and walked quietly to the sink. "Use lots of soap," Sally directed, and turned to stir the rice.
Donny used a small sauce pan to pour the semi warm water over Teena's hands, and he got a small smile. Using a large bowl, he filled it with the warmish water and used some of the soap the Clora sent over to wash the lamp chimneys.
So went the rest of the afternoon. Kids ate rice topped with canned tomatoes that Donny mashed with a fork into mushy sauce.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac, with what he has learned form Mark and Clora just may turn those kids into thinkers yet.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#62
Bright and early the next morning, was actually low overhead clouds with occasional bursts of wind driven snow flurries.
Mark looked at the drifts of snow between his place and the tall house that was Donny's, and opted to put the goods that Clora had accumulated on a pack horse. Leading the animal out the lane and down what had been the main road past the town, he stopped at the store in time for the morning coffee gettogether.
After an hour of talk and coffee, Mark, Seamus and Millie walked out to Donny's house. Well, Millie rode sidesaddle on the pack horse as she didn't have the correct winter gear to brave the deep snow.
All three adults were astonished at the mob of children and the lack of food. The house was warm, but all the kids, including Sally were sitting around the stove, doing nothing.
"Donny is out in the wood shed splitting wood," the oldest looking boy volunteered the information. "He probably didn't hear you come in."
Mark looked around, "don't you have any beans or rice cooking for lunch?" he asked, trying not to sound critical, but failing.
"Oh, ah yeah, I was just getting started on cooking." Sally stood up and looked almost helplessly at the pots on the counter.
"How many of you, are there dear?" Millie took off her coat and went to wash her hands. There was cold water, as no water was heating on the stove. "My dear," Millie kindly instructed, "you need to have a pot of water heating all the time. Use your oldest pot, it will get mineral deposits, but pour the warm water out into the shallow pan, don't contaminate the heating water. You will need it for warm drinks also."
"Seven of us," Sally barely whispered, "and Donny makes eight."
"Remember to fix him a triple portion," Millie pointed out. "Fill your biggest pot and plan on eight cups of dry rice. Where are your beans, lets get them soaking. Young man, please get a broom and sweep up the mud, dirt and litter," she pointed at Cotton. "You," she gestured to Teena, "wash your hands and get a rag and wipe the table. Mr. Seamus and Mark, please unload what you've brought and put it there on the counter. Young man," this time she motioned to Mahon, "you operate the door for the men. You and you," Mattie and Bubbles were next, "you girls find dish towels and start drying the dishes I wash. You, young lady, start putting the dishes on the table when the girls hand them to you." this time it was Ada that had the job .
Within fifteen minutes, Millie had the kitchen crew organized. "See how much easier it is when everyone helps, this way, nobody has to do too much. Who has been doing your dishes?"
On and on, every question that Millie asked, it had been Donny doing the work. "Why shame on you children, you all have to help."
"We just lost our Mom and Dad and two brothers and a sister, and two other babies last week." Sally tried to excuse the lax behavior.
"All the more reason to keep working, they ain't coming back, but one person, even if it is Donny, cain't do all that's necessary for a group this big. You kids gotta help.
Mark and Seamus got the pack horse unloaded and Mark went to the woodshed for Donny. "I've got Seamus here," he told the young man. "Also Millie to stand up for Sally, but we have to get a move on. They do have responsibilities back at home."
It was a quick wedding, and everyone of the younger children made sure the table was between them and the huge man wearing a skirt.
Bright and early the next morning, was actually low overhead clouds with occasional bursts of wind driven snow flurries.
Mark looked at the drifts of snow between his place and the tall house that was Donny's, and opted to put the goods that Clora had accumulated on a pack horse. Leading the animal out the lane and down what had been the main road past the town, he stopped at the store in time for the morning coffee gettogether.
After an hour of talk and coffee, Mark, Seamus and Millie walked out to Donny's house. Well, Millie rode sidesaddle on the pack horse as she didn't have the correct winter gear to brave the deep snow.
All three adults were astonished at the mob of children and the lack of food. The house was warm, but all the kids, including Sally were sitting around the stove, doing nothing.
"Donny is out in the wood shed splitting wood," the oldest looking boy volunteered the information. "He probably didn't hear you come in."
Mark looked around, "don't you have any beans or rice cooking for lunch?" he asked, trying not to sound critical, but failing.
"Oh, ah yeah, I was just getting started on cooking." Sally stood up and looked almost helplessly at the pots on the counter.
"How many of you, are there dear?" Millie took off her coat and went to wash her hands. There was cold water, as no water was heating on the stove. "My dear," Millie kindly instructed, "you need to have a pot of water heating all the time. Use your oldest pot, it will get mineral deposits, but pour the warm water out into the shallow pan, don't contaminate the heating water. You will need it for warm drinks also."
"Seven of us," Sally barely whispered, "and Donny makes eight."
"Remember to fix him a triple portion," Millie pointed out. "Fill your biggest pot and plan on eight cups of dry rice. Where are your beans, lets get them soaking. Young man, please get a broom and sweep up the mud, dirt and litter," she pointed at Cotton. "You," she gestured to Teena, "wash your hands and get a rag and wipe the table. Mr. Seamus and Mark, please unload what you've brought and put it there on the counter. Young man," this time she motioned to Mahon, "you operate the door for the men. You and you," Mattie and Bubbles were next, "you girls find dish towels and start drying the dishes I wash. You, young lady, start putting the dishes on the table when the girls hand them to you." this time it was Ada that had the job .
Within fifteen minutes, Millie had the kitchen crew organized. "See how much easier it is when everyone helps, this way, nobody has to do too much. Who has been doing your dishes?"
On and on, every question that Millie asked, it had been Donny doing the work. "Why shame on you children, you all have to help."
"We just lost our Mom and Dad and two brothers and a sister, and two other babies last week." Sally tried to excuse the lax behavior.
"All the more reason to keep working, they ain't coming back, but one person, even if it is Donny, cain't do all that's necessary for a group this big. You kids gotta help.
Mark and Seamus got the pack horse unloaded and Mark went to the woodshed for Donny. "I've got Seamus here," he told the young man. "Also Millie to stand up for Sally, but we have to get a move on. They do have responsibilities back at home."
It was a quick wedding, and everyone of the younger children made sure the table was between them and the huge man wearing a skirt.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
In from working on the barn, thank you.
steamroller
Contributing Member
About time they learn to be more responsible, thank you.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#63
"You may kiss the bride," Seamus intoned solemnly, and all the young kids gasped out loud. They has never seen Sally kiss anyone, they didn't do kissing in their family, and 'SHE' was gonna kiss a boy on top of the craziness they were all experiencing.
Sally stood real still, closed her eyes tightly and puckered up. Donny, was actually in the same quandary, he had never kissed a girl, so he grabbed Sally by the shoulders and closed his own eyes and came in for a hot landing.
It was hot alright, noses bumped hard, and there was a squeal from Sally as her hand automatically flew up to protect her hurting nose. Her hand in a knife blade movement clipped Donny hard on the upper lip just under his nose.
Donny jumped back from the surprise pain and forgot he still had a solid grip on Sally's shoulders. He toppled Sally into his off balance body and they went down hard. Donny bounced his head off the table leg and went down for the count. His floppy right arm continued it's downward gravity pull, connecting with the back of Sally's head and smashing her small but now bleeding nose into the large metal zipper of Donny's vest.
Mark sighed hard. The children were screaming, Seamus was laughing with a booming sound just under breaking the sound barrier, Millie was tisking harder and louder than Mark had ever heard before. All that was missing was a dog barking and Helga screaming 'volves.'
"Millie, get a rag for Sally's nose," Mark tried to establish order. "Kids," he said forcefully and loudly. "Stop that screaming and crying, RIGHT NOW!"
That order was stern enough to stop Seamus from laughing, as he bent over to pick up Sally and sit her in a chair.
"Holy moley," Cotton blurted out at the top of his lungs. "That guy wears a shirt with no underwear."
Mark couldn't help it. He burst out laughing, more at Seamus's affronted expression, than the subject matter. Even Millie giggled a little, and the kids stopped crying so loudly to try and understand what was going on.
"Is he dead?" Sally asked with a muffled voice, the rag stemming the nosebleed.
"I sure hope not," Mark belted out, "I don't want this kind of responsibility," he said under his breath. "Millie, is there another rag with cold water for the back of Donny's head?"
"The rice is boiling over," Millie cried, and stumbled over the youngest girl in her haste to get to the stove. Ada screamed as Millie stepped on her hand, and that brought Donny around. He went to sit up and was rushed by Sally who launched herself off the chair in her haste to get to her new husband. The force of her tackle sent Donny's head back into the table leg and he collapsed with a small whimper.
Seamus let out a booming laugh that scared the small ones and they started crying anew.
"You may kiss the bride," Seamus intoned solemnly, and all the young kids gasped out loud. They has never seen Sally kiss anyone, they didn't do kissing in their family, and 'SHE' was gonna kiss a boy on top of the craziness they were all experiencing.
Sally stood real still, closed her eyes tightly and puckered up. Donny, was actually in the same quandary, he had never kissed a girl, so he grabbed Sally by the shoulders and closed his own eyes and came in for a hot landing.
It was hot alright, noses bumped hard, and there was a squeal from Sally as her hand automatically flew up to protect her hurting nose. Her hand in a knife blade movement clipped Donny hard on the upper lip just under his nose.
Donny jumped back from the surprise pain and forgot he still had a solid grip on Sally's shoulders. He toppled Sally into his off balance body and they went down hard. Donny bounced his head off the table leg and went down for the count. His floppy right arm continued it's downward gravity pull, connecting with the back of Sally's head and smashing her small but now bleeding nose into the large metal zipper of Donny's vest.
Mark sighed hard. The children were screaming, Seamus was laughing with a booming sound just under breaking the sound barrier, Millie was tisking harder and louder than Mark had ever heard before. All that was missing was a dog barking and Helga screaming 'volves.'
"Millie, get a rag for Sally's nose," Mark tried to establish order. "Kids," he said forcefully and loudly. "Stop that screaming and crying, RIGHT NOW!"
That order was stern enough to stop Seamus from laughing, as he bent over to pick up Sally and sit her in a chair.
"Holy moley," Cotton blurted out at the top of his lungs. "That guy wears a shirt with no underwear."
Mark couldn't help it. He burst out laughing, more at Seamus's affronted expression, than the subject matter. Even Millie giggled a little, and the kids stopped crying so loudly to try and understand what was going on.
"Is he dead?" Sally asked with a muffled voice, the rag stemming the nosebleed.
"I sure hope not," Mark belted out, "I don't want this kind of responsibility," he said under his breath. "Millie, is there another rag with cold water for the back of Donny's head?"
"The rice is boiling over," Millie cried, and stumbled over the youngest girl in her haste to get to the stove. Ada screamed as Millie stepped on her hand, and that brought Donny around. He went to sit up and was rushed by Sally who launched herself off the chair in her haste to get to her new husband. The force of her tackle sent Donny's head back into the table leg and he collapsed with a small whimper.
Seamus let out a booming laugh that scared the small ones and they started crying anew.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Well they say it all 'comes naturally' but ....obviously this was NOT part of either's upbringing
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
What a start.
steamroller
Contributing Member
Really enjoy the infrequent calamity in this story .
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#64
"Stop," Mark roared, effectively ending the various laughs, cry's, twitters and groans. "Sally, you will kill him if you keep that up."
Sally jerked her self back and stared almost hostilely at Mark. "Really," she snipped, and then she ruined her bravado by starting to cry. "I didn't mean too, I just want him to be alright."
"Sally," Donny whispered, "let me sit up," and he floundered around until Seamus reached down with a steel hand and grabbed Donny by the shirt collar and hauled the hapless young man upright.
"Ohhh," Donny rubbed the back of his head, "that smarts." He coughed and felt around behind him for a chair. Sinking down into the old wood chair, he slumped on his elbows. "Wow," he teased Sally, "you're really explosive."
The words were meant to lighten the atmosphere, however they caused Sally to burst into fresh tears. "Oh, I hurt you," and she really ratcheted up the volume and waterworks.
When Sally cried, everyone cried.
It took Millie to stop the unbelievable scene. "Sally, get over here and stir the rice or your lunch is gonna burn. The rest of you kids, I gave you jobs to do, now get cracking and get them done."
It was the mother's tone in Millie's voice, and kids hopped with alacrity to do as they were told.
Mark and Seamus were acting like they wanted to leave right away, and Millie barked at them to sit down, she wasn't ready to go, but it wouldn't be much longer. When the table was set and the food ready to be dished out, Millie grabbed her coat and nodded to the men. She was ready.
"Congratulations on your marriage, may you have a long, blessed life," Millie said as she opened the back door, "well gentleman, please take me home. George will be wanting his noon meal."
The two men mumbled something they hoped was appropriate for a newly married couple and Seamus hoisted Millie on the back of the pack horse.
Back at the store, Millie thanked Mark and Seamus and hurried into the store to check on the status of the coffee pot and then dash upstairs to check on her lunch cooking.
Mark excused himself to hurry home, he was hungry after smelling Donny's and then George's lunch aromas. Besides, with just the two of them in the house, Clora was doing some fancy cooking to liven up the sameness of the rice and beans regimen.
"Stop," Mark roared, effectively ending the various laughs, cry's, twitters and groans. "Sally, you will kill him if you keep that up."
Sally jerked her self back and stared almost hostilely at Mark. "Really," she snipped, and then she ruined her bravado by starting to cry. "I didn't mean too, I just want him to be alright."
"Sally," Donny whispered, "let me sit up," and he floundered around until Seamus reached down with a steel hand and grabbed Donny by the shirt collar and hauled the hapless young man upright.
"Ohhh," Donny rubbed the back of his head, "that smarts." He coughed and felt around behind him for a chair. Sinking down into the old wood chair, he slumped on his elbows. "Wow," he teased Sally, "you're really explosive."
The words were meant to lighten the atmosphere, however they caused Sally to burst into fresh tears. "Oh, I hurt you," and she really ratcheted up the volume and waterworks.
When Sally cried, everyone cried.
It took Millie to stop the unbelievable scene. "Sally, get over here and stir the rice or your lunch is gonna burn. The rest of you kids, I gave you jobs to do, now get cracking and get them done."
It was the mother's tone in Millie's voice, and kids hopped with alacrity to do as they were told.
Mark and Seamus were acting like they wanted to leave right away, and Millie barked at them to sit down, she wasn't ready to go, but it wouldn't be much longer. When the table was set and the food ready to be dished out, Millie grabbed her coat and nodded to the men. She was ready.
"Congratulations on your marriage, may you have a long, blessed life," Millie said as she opened the back door, "well gentleman, please take me home. George will be wanting his noon meal."
The two men mumbled something they hoped was appropriate for a newly married couple and Seamus hoisted Millie on the back of the pack horse.
Back at the store, Millie thanked Mark and Seamus and hurried into the store to check on the status of the coffee pot and then dash upstairs to check on her lunch cooking.
Mark excused himself to hurry home, he was hungry after smelling Donny's and then George's lunch aromas. Besides, with just the two of them in the house, Clora was doing some fancy cooking to liven up the sameness of the rice and beans regimen.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
thank you.PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Folks,
I am so blessed. We have inside water as of today. I have been busy WASHING and feeling so very happy. I'll be back tomorrow late. Thanks. Pac.
I am so blessed. We have inside water as of today. I have been busy WASHING and feeling so very happy. I'll be back tomorrow late. Thanks. Pac.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#65
"It sure did get quiet in here. Who was that guy in the skirt and what's he doin bein so silly as to wear a skirt in weather like this?" Cotton asked in a loud voice.
Donny chuckled as he explained to the group that Seamus was a Scotsman, and true Scots wore kilts like Seamus did. "He's also our minster, along with Dad."
"I'm sure glad our Dad never wore no skirt, that would be hard to live with, 'cause I ain't never." Cotton was very definite about his choice of clothes.
"Kids," Donny intervened, "we wait to eat until the blessing has been said. No matter how little or how much we have to eat, we always thank God for whatever it is. Cotton, I will say the thanks right now and for supper. You will be responsible for saying Breakfast blessing tomorrow, so be thinking on what you want to say." Donny concluded.
There was no talking as Donny dished up bowls of rice with green bean sauce, just the clink of spoon against the bowls.
Andy and Judy shared a quick lunch. "How come your brother hasn't been around pestering us?" Judy asked as she put the dishes in the sink.
"I dunno," Andy answered shortly. He really didn't like Judy's question, but it seemed petty to complain about it. "He's just moody, I guess." Andy wanted to explain that since they had gotten married, Judy was a whole lot different than she had been. She was bossy and aggressive and always ready to pick on every little thing he said or did.
Andy didn't care if she wanted to call the shots on what they did or where they went, just not all of them. He was busy thinking that it must be two weeks since he had seen Donny, when he missed Judy speaking to him.
She got right in his face and started berating him for never listening to her, when Andy suddenly had enough. Pushing her away, he stood up, went to the door, grabbed his coat and went outside to the barn. He knew full well why no one came to visit, or why they weren't invited anywhere. It was Judy's waspish attitude and criticism that never seemed to let up; it made the rest of the family uncomfortable to listen to it.
Andy cleaned the barn, he had four of the expecting workhorse ladies plus his own two saddle horses. There was always a chore to do, and lately the horses were better company than Judy. He was putting off having a confrontation with her, and he couldn't really say if it was cabin fever or if they were at odds that couldn't be overcome.
The more he got to thinking about his situtation, the more Andy thought about getting another opinion. Perhaps Dad with his many years of experience, could explain what he, Andy, was doing wrong. or.... not wrong.
Clora took one look at Andy's face, put coffee and cookies on the table and went to the back bedroom to go through the closets and trunks.
"It sure did get quiet in here. Who was that guy in the skirt and what's he doin bein so silly as to wear a skirt in weather like this?" Cotton asked in a loud voice.
Donny chuckled as he explained to the group that Seamus was a Scotsman, and true Scots wore kilts like Seamus did. "He's also our minster, along with Dad."
"I'm sure glad our Dad never wore no skirt, that would be hard to live with, 'cause I ain't never." Cotton was very definite about his choice of clothes.
"Kids," Donny intervened, "we wait to eat until the blessing has been said. No matter how little or how much we have to eat, we always thank God for whatever it is. Cotton, I will say the thanks right now and for supper. You will be responsible for saying Breakfast blessing tomorrow, so be thinking on what you want to say." Donny concluded.
There was no talking as Donny dished up bowls of rice with green bean sauce, just the clink of spoon against the bowls.
Andy and Judy shared a quick lunch. "How come your brother hasn't been around pestering us?" Judy asked as she put the dishes in the sink.
"I dunno," Andy answered shortly. He really didn't like Judy's question, but it seemed petty to complain about it. "He's just moody, I guess." Andy wanted to explain that since they had gotten married, Judy was a whole lot different than she had been. She was bossy and aggressive and always ready to pick on every little thing he said or did.
Andy didn't care if she wanted to call the shots on what they did or where they went, just not all of them. He was busy thinking that it must be two weeks since he had seen Donny, when he missed Judy speaking to him.
She got right in his face and started berating him for never listening to her, when Andy suddenly had enough. Pushing her away, he stood up, went to the door, grabbed his coat and went outside to the barn. He knew full well why no one came to visit, or why they weren't invited anywhere. It was Judy's waspish attitude and criticism that never seemed to let up; it made the rest of the family uncomfortable to listen to it.
Andy cleaned the barn, he had four of the expecting workhorse ladies plus his own two saddle horses. There was always a chore to do, and lately the horses were better company than Judy. He was putting off having a confrontation with her, and he couldn't really say if it was cabin fever or if they were at odds that couldn't be overcome.
The more he got to thinking about his situtation, the more Andy thought about getting another opinion. Perhaps Dad with his many years of experience, could explain what he, Andy, was doing wrong. or.... not wrong.
Clora took one look at Andy's face, put coffee and cookies on the table and went to the back bedroom to go through the closets and trunks.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
"Uh, Dad, do you have time to talk to me?" Andy asked when Mark came in the kitchen.
"Sure," Mark agreed easily. "Shoot." as he sat down and motioned Andy to do the same.
"Oh, you mean start talking," Andy fumbled his response. "Well, it's me and Judy, I don't know what to say, do or plan, that will make her happy. She's just after me all day long and half the night, always with the sharp word, or blah, blah, blah." Andy threw his hand up in frustration. "She has changed so much, I catch myself looking at her like she's a stranger, with the name of the woman I married."
"Andy, what Judy is attempting to do is a form of abuse. It would be the same thing if you were doing that to her. To put it in tight words, she is extracting justice from you for putting her through the turmoil of your breakup. In more tight words, you didn't start out marriage on an equal basis to form a lasting relationship. Didn't you have to agree to a lot of different conditions before Judy would say she would marry you?"
"Yeah, but I never thought she actually meant them. I agreed because she wanted me to." Andy stared out at the occasional snowflake swirling around the window pane. "Geeze, she had so many of them, I can't even remember all of them. But she sure can."
"You are going to have to go back and re-negotiate the beginning of your marriage. Write down your goals, write down the goals you want the both of you to accomplish together, write down her goals. I wouldn't be surprised that you both have many of them in common. I want you to read your bible concerning the proper place for the man and the woman in a marriage. Part of Judy's problem is that she is running over you and she feels no respect for you.." Mark said quietly.
"Oh," Andy fiddled with the coffee mug handle. "But she has good ideas," he sighed. "I want her to walk and talk and plan with me, you know, like you and Ma do."
"Then you need to reclaim your status as an equal partner. It's a give and take, and I make it sound like it's always 50-50, but it never is. There is always an imbalance, a 60-40, a 70-30, and it swings back and forth. It's not a hard and fast rule, a line drawn in the sand; however," Mark looked soberly at Andy, "there has to be a final decision maker, and that's the job God gave to the husband."
"Oh, does she ever get to have the majority?"
"Yes, in the short answer. If her logic and reasoning is the correct answer to the situtation, then a wise man weighs those facts and acknowledges that she has made the correct decision. If you both make your decisions through prayer and sound biblical reasoning, then as you follow God's plan for marriage, you have harmony."
"oh,"
"That's why God made a marriage between a man and a woman. Both of you will approach the same problem differently, and neither of you is totally wrong,...or right." Mark concluded.
"Oh, crimminey. How's a guy supposed to know where he stands in all these problems?" Andy moaned. "I'm gonna tell Donny to never get married, for sure."
"Andy, how long has it been since you have seen or talked to Donny?" Mark questioned sharply.
"A while," Andy replied sheepishly. "Why? is he in trouble or something?"
"Not yet," Mark said cryptically. "It wouldn't hurt if you went to visit him, he's down in the place that he claimed as his farm. It wouldn't hurt if you took Judy along to visit, it would do the both of you good."
"Yeah, I might just do that. I also might have to go alone, Judy was pretty hot when I left the house. This is happening on account that we are pretty young, isn't it?" Andy tried to sound adult and wise.
"Yes." Mark was definite. "But you both stood up before God and gave your word that marriage between you, was what you wanted. Now you have to work at making it work."
"Thanks Dad, I knew you could set me straight." Andy leaned over the table to shake Mark's hand and seemed almost surprised that a couple of cookies jumped into his grip as he straightened up.
"Ma's are still the best, but I never let on to Judy that sometimes her cookies are terrible."
Andy grinned at Mark as he put his coat on and went for the door. Mark grinned back. "Now see," he spoke softly, "that was one of the criteria I had for marrying Ma, she had to make fantastic cookies." and Mark bit into a cookie and waved goodbye to Andy. Mark wanted that cookie eating machine out of the house before he decided he needed more cookies. That young man had a wife that could make him his own treats.
Andy had barely closed the back door before Clora came breezing into the kitchen and stopped to plant a kiss on the top of Mark's head. "He didn't want any cookies?" she teased.
"I didn't want him to have any, Mark firmly put his arm around his wife. "He can get his own wife to make him cookies, and darn well stay out of mine."
Clora laughed with a fond smile.
"Sure," Mark agreed easily. "Shoot." as he sat down and motioned Andy to do the same.
"Oh, you mean start talking," Andy fumbled his response. "Well, it's me and Judy, I don't know what to say, do or plan, that will make her happy. She's just after me all day long and half the night, always with the sharp word, or blah, blah, blah." Andy threw his hand up in frustration. "She has changed so much, I catch myself looking at her like she's a stranger, with the name of the woman I married."
"Andy, what Judy is attempting to do is a form of abuse. It would be the same thing if you were doing that to her. To put it in tight words, she is extracting justice from you for putting her through the turmoil of your breakup. In more tight words, you didn't start out marriage on an equal basis to form a lasting relationship. Didn't you have to agree to a lot of different conditions before Judy would say she would marry you?"
"Yeah, but I never thought she actually meant them. I agreed because she wanted me to." Andy stared out at the occasional snowflake swirling around the window pane. "Geeze, she had so many of them, I can't even remember all of them. But she sure can."
"You are going to have to go back and re-negotiate the beginning of your marriage. Write down your goals, write down the goals you want the both of you to accomplish together, write down her goals. I wouldn't be surprised that you both have many of them in common. I want you to read your bible concerning the proper place for the man and the woman in a marriage. Part of Judy's problem is that she is running over you and she feels no respect for you.." Mark said quietly.
"Oh," Andy fiddled with the coffee mug handle. "But she has good ideas," he sighed. "I want her to walk and talk and plan with me, you know, like you and Ma do."
"Then you need to reclaim your status as an equal partner. It's a give and take, and I make it sound like it's always 50-50, but it never is. There is always an imbalance, a 60-40, a 70-30, and it swings back and forth. It's not a hard and fast rule, a line drawn in the sand; however," Mark looked soberly at Andy, "there has to be a final decision maker, and that's the job God gave to the husband."
"Oh, does she ever get to have the majority?"
"Yes, in the short answer. If her logic and reasoning is the correct answer to the situtation, then a wise man weighs those facts and acknowledges that she has made the correct decision. If you both make your decisions through prayer and sound biblical reasoning, then as you follow God's plan for marriage, you have harmony."
"oh,"
"That's why God made a marriage between a man and a woman. Both of you will approach the same problem differently, and neither of you is totally wrong,...or right." Mark concluded.
"Oh, crimminey. How's a guy supposed to know where he stands in all these problems?" Andy moaned. "I'm gonna tell Donny to never get married, for sure."
"Andy, how long has it been since you have seen or talked to Donny?" Mark questioned sharply.
"A while," Andy replied sheepishly. "Why? is he in trouble or something?"
"Not yet," Mark said cryptically. "It wouldn't hurt if you went to visit him, he's down in the place that he claimed as his farm. It wouldn't hurt if you took Judy along to visit, it would do the both of you good."
"Yeah, I might just do that. I also might have to go alone, Judy was pretty hot when I left the house. This is happening on account that we are pretty young, isn't it?" Andy tried to sound adult and wise.
"Yes." Mark was definite. "But you both stood up before God and gave your word that marriage between you, was what you wanted. Now you have to work at making it work."
"Thanks Dad, I knew you could set me straight." Andy leaned over the table to shake Mark's hand and seemed almost surprised that a couple of cookies jumped into his grip as he straightened up.
"Ma's are still the best, but I never let on to Judy that sometimes her cookies are terrible."
Andy grinned at Mark as he put his coat on and went for the door. Mark grinned back. "Now see," he spoke softly, "that was one of the criteria I had for marrying Ma, she had to make fantastic cookies." and Mark bit into a cookie and waved goodbye to Andy. Mark wanted that cookie eating machine out of the house before he decided he needed more cookies. That young man had a wife that could make him his own treats.
Andy had barely closed the back door before Clora came breezing into the kitchen and stopped to plant a kiss on the top of Mark's head. "He didn't want any cookies?" she teased.
"I didn't want him to have any, Mark firmly put his arm around his wife. "He can get his own wife to make him cookies, and darn well stay out of mine."
Clora laughed with a fond smile.