sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Very big thanks.
Story Nann
- Thread starter Kathy in FL
- Start date
Sammy55
Veteran Member
I hear ya, Kathy! We only had 2 kids, and while they helped with housework to some extent, they really didn't like working in the garden. Now I hear them telling their kids about when they HAD to weed the garden! LOL!! Between the 2, we have 3 grandkids, and at least 2 of them do like, to some degree, to do a little garden work. But it's only to a small degree.
Both my and my dh's parents are gone now, but boy do I remember the sandwich generation days! Kept us hopping, that's for sure!! I'd love some of those days back if we could have the folks back.... (sigh)
Thanks for the new chapters! And new information!
Both my and my dh's parents are gone now, but boy do I remember the sandwich generation days! Kept us hopping, that's for sure!! I'd love some of those days back if we could have the folks back.... (sigh)
Thanks for the new chapters! And new information!
Lake Lili
Veteran Member
Kathy, I hear you and I have only one on either side of my sandwich... but there are days when the "meat in the sandwich" is just not holding up. And every Monday, I get to started the Covid dance of will they or won't they reopen and need me back. I've had 4 days of work since January... which is leaving me lots of research time... and lots of Gr12 homeschooling time.... Pulling up the big girl panties and getting back to it. Hoping it eases for you too.
Lili
Lili
Sorry for being MIA for a couple of days. I'm swamped. We are up here at our BOL checking on things and picking up from the recent windstorms. Had a big limb down across our road that just proves keeping a chainsaw in the vehicle when we come up here is a good thing because it means we don't have to walk in to get the one that stays here. Hubby played George Jones and drove the zero turn home from the tractor place. [insert eye roll here] He thinks it is hilarious. Me, not so much. Following him with my hazards on going a hair over 10 mph for several miles just doesn't do it for this girl, especially when even in the country traffic happens. There's a song called "International Harvester" by Craig Morgan that plays in my head every time he does it. Oh Lordy, Lordy. (snicker, giggle)
It's gonna be a twofer today because I don't know how much time I'll have to write/post. More spring cleaning, picking up fallen limbs that are blocking our trails on our 40, trying to have a little fun with hubby going side-by-siding if the weather cooperates, some bonfires (again if the weather cooperates), and trading out some of my library. Ninety percent of my paper library stays here and my electronic stuff and my binders are in my office at the primary. I need to get out my canning books and prep some new recipes for Mom and I to try out ... mostly convenience meals I'm thinking.
Mom and I have a new plan/activity. Once a week she fixes a big meal and we share and then I'll do the same. It means that at least one night a week we don't have to cook but there's still a full meal on the table when the gents get hungry. And it's fun. LOL. Or it will be until the new wears off. Gotta find your fun where you can these days. I'm also teaching her some new-to-her recipes for raw vegan stuff (not my lifestyle, I just like the occasional inclusion in my meal plan). I'll try and post some of the recipes in Granny's kitchen.
# # # # #
Chapter 17
“Sorry Dump,” Mitch said around a stretch and yawn right before sitting down and propping his feet up on the foot stool the way Uncle Hy used to.
“Sorry for what?” I asked.
He twisting his neck like he was working the kinks out. “Was supposed to be a day off.”
I had an easy answer for that. “Hey, I didn’t have to chop wood. Now that’s a day off.”
Mitch snorted. “You would look at it like that.”
“’Cause it’s true,” I told him.
“Hmmm. Well, day off or not, we got some work done.”
I nodded. “And a plan to do some more.”
“That too,” he said. “Hey, you need help with the dishes?”
“Nope. All done,” I said as I turned to go back to the kitchen.
“Where ya going?” he asked by way of stopping me.
I turned and answered, “Uh … well you usually like to have some quiet at the end of the day.”
“Well … you don’t make that much noise. You can sit in here if you want. Unless you’ve got something to do.”
I shook my head. “Not tonight. I think I’m finished with being constructive and useful for the time being.”
“Door locked? Dogs out?” he asked prepared to stand up and do it if it wasn’t.
I slowed his get up by answering, “Yep and yep.”
Settling into the chair but leaning forward and grabbing something on the end table he told me, “Good. C’mere and I’ll put some more salve on your hands.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I told him, still embarrassed a bit about how much I had liked it last time.
“You don’t like it?”
“Of course I do. I just don’t want to cup up your peace.”
He shook his head. “You don’t. You never have. You, nor Dale either. Could get on my nerves but that wasn’t all your fault. I … er … can be irritating on purpose.”
I tried not to snicker at his admission but without much success.
“All right now, you want this on your hands or not?” he asked grinning a bit himself.
“You don’t have to.”
“You said that already. C’mere and sit here.”
Pleased that I could give in without looking too needy I asked, “Like last time?”
“Uh huh. You need to start wearing gloves more often or your hands are gonna get all tore up.”
I knew it but I hate wearing dirty gloves and I hadn’t figured out how to wash the leather work gloves without ruining them. By the time he was finished I was nearly dozing. Not paying much attention I moved to the sofa and then slowly slid sideways.
In a near normal tone of voice Mitch said, “Your birthday is coming up pretty soon. Gonna be the big one-seven.”
“Whoopee,” I said, not too enthused simply because Dale wouldn’t be around.
“You wanna do something?”
“Eh, well …” I gave it a moment’s though and then answered, “Go fishing and maybe have a picnic for lunch?”
A little surprised he said, “You’re easy to please. Most girls like a fuss.”
I shrugged. Grammy had occasionally had something to say on the subject but hadn’t made a habit of it. I reminded him, “Some do. Some don’t. You know how most of Mom’s family was about that sort of thing. Was against their religion. Dad doesn’t like it either but for different reasons; I think it brings up bad memories from when he was a kid. Mom isn’t like she was raised to be but there’s still never been a fuss over birthdays and holidays. It was never a big deal for Dale and I … well at least once we each turned double-digits. Dale and I would make a game of it between us, but we always kept it under the radar so Mom and Dad wouldn’t feel obligated to say something.”
Mitch sighed, more uncomfortable with his memories than I am with mine. “Hmmm. Dad … he’d overcompensate sometimes. I guess ‘cause … you know the story.”
Trying to keep him from going into a funk I told him, “Yeah, this family tree we share does seem to have a standout number of knotheads and nuts.”
It worked and he chuckled. “You spent way too much time with Grammy. You’re starting to sound like her.”
“That’s not all bad.”
Out of no where he says, “We’re barely related.”
Sitting up I said, “Hey, that’s not nice.”
“I … er … just mean … we’re family but not blood and …” Making a face of frustration he said, “Look, you better get to bed. Gonna be a long day tomorrow.”
Not willing to give the subject up I asked, “What did I do wrong? Why would you say that?”
“Hush Dump. I didn’t mean to upset your feelings. That’s not what I meant at all. The last thing I meant was to hurt you.”
“Then …”
“Dump … Nann … I’m bad at this stuff so I’m just gonna have to say it and hope for the best.” He took a deep breath then said, “I was gonna see what you thought of me giving you a kiss.”
Well that shut me up for all of five seconds. “Kiss? Why?”
“’Cause I want to. But I’m not sure you’d give me a chance to bring you around to the idea. Are you against it?”
“To be honest I’ve never thought … well … not even Stan mentioned kissing. He just didn’t like being the only one without a girlfriend and he was nice, and I was convenient.”
Mitch growled, “Boy is a bigger peckerwood than I thought. You stay away from him if he shows up with your family. He ain’t fit for you.”
Taken aback by his tone I said, “Uh … okay? But …”
Like it was more than just a little important Mitch asked, “You gonna let me talk you around to a kiss?”
I really wasn’t sure how to take how the conversation was going. “Well, if you want to … uh … but only a kiss. And no telling anyone even if it makes you sick.”
He blinked in surprise. “The things you say. And I’m not talking about right here and right now … we’ll work our way that direction.” I was more relieved than I wanted to admit. Until he added, “First comes other stuff.”
“What … er … other stuff?” I asked suspiciously.
He smiled and explained, “A little bit of teasing but mostly just sitting, holding hands, that sort of thing.”
“Why do I get the feeling that sounds a whole lot simpler than it’s gonna turn out to be?”
All Mitch did was grin.
It's gonna be a twofer today because I don't know how much time I'll have to write/post. More spring cleaning, picking up fallen limbs that are blocking our trails on our 40, trying to have a little fun with hubby going side-by-siding if the weather cooperates, some bonfires (again if the weather cooperates), and trading out some of my library. Ninety percent of my paper library stays here and my electronic stuff and my binders are in my office at the primary. I need to get out my canning books and prep some new recipes for Mom and I to try out ... mostly convenience meals I'm thinking.
Mom and I have a new plan/activity. Once a week she fixes a big meal and we share and then I'll do the same. It means that at least one night a week we don't have to cook but there's still a full meal on the table when the gents get hungry. And it's fun. LOL. Or it will be until the new wears off. Gotta find your fun where you can these days. I'm also teaching her some new-to-her recipes for raw vegan stuff (not my lifestyle, I just like the occasional inclusion in my meal plan). I'll try and post some of the recipes in Granny's kitchen.
# # # # #
Chapter 17
“Sorry Dump,” Mitch said around a stretch and yawn right before sitting down and propping his feet up on the foot stool the way Uncle Hy used to.
“Sorry for what?” I asked.
He twisting his neck like he was working the kinks out. “Was supposed to be a day off.”
I had an easy answer for that. “Hey, I didn’t have to chop wood. Now that’s a day off.”
Mitch snorted. “You would look at it like that.”
“’Cause it’s true,” I told him.
“Hmmm. Well, day off or not, we got some work done.”
I nodded. “And a plan to do some more.”
“That too,” he said. “Hey, you need help with the dishes?”
“Nope. All done,” I said as I turned to go back to the kitchen.
“Where ya going?” he asked by way of stopping me.
I turned and answered, “Uh … well you usually like to have some quiet at the end of the day.”
“Well … you don’t make that much noise. You can sit in here if you want. Unless you’ve got something to do.”
I shook my head. “Not tonight. I think I’m finished with being constructive and useful for the time being.”
“Door locked? Dogs out?” he asked prepared to stand up and do it if it wasn’t.
I slowed his get up by answering, “Yep and yep.”
Settling into the chair but leaning forward and grabbing something on the end table he told me, “Good. C’mere and I’ll put some more salve on your hands.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I told him, still embarrassed a bit about how much I had liked it last time.
“You don’t like it?”
“Of course I do. I just don’t want to cup up your peace.”
He shook his head. “You don’t. You never have. You, nor Dale either. Could get on my nerves but that wasn’t all your fault. I … er … can be irritating on purpose.”
I tried not to snicker at his admission but without much success.
“All right now, you want this on your hands or not?” he asked grinning a bit himself.
“You don’t have to.”
“You said that already. C’mere and sit here.”
Pleased that I could give in without looking too needy I asked, “Like last time?”
“Uh huh. You need to start wearing gloves more often or your hands are gonna get all tore up.”
I knew it but I hate wearing dirty gloves and I hadn’t figured out how to wash the leather work gloves without ruining them. By the time he was finished I was nearly dozing. Not paying much attention I moved to the sofa and then slowly slid sideways.
In a near normal tone of voice Mitch said, “Your birthday is coming up pretty soon. Gonna be the big one-seven.”
“Whoopee,” I said, not too enthused simply because Dale wouldn’t be around.
“You wanna do something?”
“Eh, well …” I gave it a moment’s though and then answered, “Go fishing and maybe have a picnic for lunch?”
A little surprised he said, “You’re easy to please. Most girls like a fuss.”
I shrugged. Grammy had occasionally had something to say on the subject but hadn’t made a habit of it. I reminded him, “Some do. Some don’t. You know how most of Mom’s family was about that sort of thing. Was against their religion. Dad doesn’t like it either but for different reasons; I think it brings up bad memories from when he was a kid. Mom isn’t like she was raised to be but there’s still never been a fuss over birthdays and holidays. It was never a big deal for Dale and I … well at least once we each turned double-digits. Dale and I would make a game of it between us, but we always kept it under the radar so Mom and Dad wouldn’t feel obligated to say something.”
Mitch sighed, more uncomfortable with his memories than I am with mine. “Hmmm. Dad … he’d overcompensate sometimes. I guess ‘cause … you know the story.”
Trying to keep him from going into a funk I told him, “Yeah, this family tree we share does seem to have a standout number of knotheads and nuts.”
It worked and he chuckled. “You spent way too much time with Grammy. You’re starting to sound like her.”
“That’s not all bad.”
Out of no where he says, “We’re barely related.”
Sitting up I said, “Hey, that’s not nice.”
“I … er … just mean … we’re family but not blood and …” Making a face of frustration he said, “Look, you better get to bed. Gonna be a long day tomorrow.”
Not willing to give the subject up I asked, “What did I do wrong? Why would you say that?”
“Hush Dump. I didn’t mean to upset your feelings. That’s not what I meant at all. The last thing I meant was to hurt you.”
“Then …”
“Dump … Nann … I’m bad at this stuff so I’m just gonna have to say it and hope for the best.” He took a deep breath then said, “I was gonna see what you thought of me giving you a kiss.”
Well that shut me up for all of five seconds. “Kiss? Why?”
“’Cause I want to. But I’m not sure you’d give me a chance to bring you around to the idea. Are you against it?”
“To be honest I’ve never thought … well … not even Stan mentioned kissing. He just didn’t like being the only one without a girlfriend and he was nice, and I was convenient.”
Mitch growled, “Boy is a bigger peckerwood than I thought. You stay away from him if he shows up with your family. He ain’t fit for you.”
Taken aback by his tone I said, “Uh … okay? But …”
Like it was more than just a little important Mitch asked, “You gonna let me talk you around to a kiss?”
I really wasn’t sure how to take how the conversation was going. “Well, if you want to … uh … but only a kiss. And no telling anyone even if it makes you sick.”
He blinked in surprise. “The things you say. And I’m not talking about right here and right now … we’ll work our way that direction.” I was more relieved than I wanted to admit. Until he added, “First comes other stuff.”
“What … er … other stuff?” I asked suspiciously.
He smiled and explained, “A little bit of teasing but mostly just sitting, holding hands, that sort of thing.”
“Why do I get the feeling that sounds a whole lot simpler than it’s gonna turn out to be?”
All Mitch did was grin.
Chapter 18
Mitch said, “Sit here beside me. You can lean your head over like you were if you want to.”
Pulling myself together I said, “No ‘cause that’s mean teasing. Look, I know I sounded like a know-nothing idiot for a few minutes, but I’m not as stupid as I was probably acting; you caught me off guard is all. I’ve seen the Crew boys get confused by – or worse, hurt by – girls who treated them like scratching posts. It’s even happened to Dale. I need to know, have I been teasing you or something? Because it’s unfair and I didn’t mean to.”
He shook his head. “Don’t overthink it Dump and complicate what’s been so easy to this point. See, it’s like this … we work good together. You’re easy to be around. You’re not a crybaby.”
With resignation I added, “And I’m … convenient.”
He shook his head. “Uh uh, not the way you’re thinking it.”
Needing to know I asked, “Then if I’m convenient how do you think of it?”
Like he had really thought it out he answered, “You’re easy to be around, don’t nag at me … or at least no more than I’m likely due … and I don’t have to waste time explaining things all the live long day. You get things the first time around and don’t make me have to tie myself in knots.”
“Uh …”
“And you let me be the man. You’re fine with me being the boss dog so long as I do my job. That counts for more than you know. And remember when I explained how a guy doesn’t want to wonder about how many other guys have been handling … er …”
My face felt as hot as a rocket stove.
“Well, its pretty obvious you haven’t been handled much.”
Getting upset I gave him a look and said, “This car is in pristine condition I’ll have you know. I only intend on having one driver, thank you very much!”
That only made Mitch grin but after a moment he got more serious. “I told you I’m no good at this Nann but … if you give me a chance … I’ll prove that I’m not just out for a test drive or short-term rental. We just need to move slow … and make sure we don’t do anything that will set your parents against me before I have a chance to …”
“To what?” I asked when he stopped talking.
Obviously concerned he answered, “To prove I’m not messed up like when I was a kid. That while I might not ever be doctor or lawyer material, that I am man enough not to do what my bio-mom and her mom did. I don’t have those kinds of problems.”
Surprised he even bought it up I said, “No, no you don’t. And Mom and Dad already know that. They never would have let me spend so much time up here if they worried about that being true. My parents are strict – compared to most anyway – but they aren’t unreasonable. It’s more likely Dale that could prove a problem.”
“As it should be,” he said surprising me. “He’s your big brother. It’s his job to be a pain in the ass. So … you gonna sit here, or you gonna run?”
Instead of answering I sat back and looked over at him. “I don’t know what you want me to do.”
“Just sit. Let me do the doing … when it’s time.” Again his words were a relief. “For now, just sit. We can listen to the quiet and soak it up. Even the frogs are giving us a break tonight despite it feeling like rain is coming.”
And that’s what we did until about the time we normally head to bed. That’s when we heard them. After a glance at one another, we stepped out onto the porch and looked up.
“Mitch?”
In a tone that said he was giving it some thought he answered, “Bombers. Must be above the cloud cover ‘cause I don’t see no lights. Heading south from the sound of things so they’re probably ours. If this is for a dawn raid they’re … no that’ don’t make sense.” Then we heard a far away whistling sound and saw brightness increase way off on the horizon.
Suddenly dead serious Mitch told me, “Nann, start filling water containers and moving them down to the cellar. Next, any food we got upstairs needs to go down. After that comes the valuables. Move. Don’t freeze up on me, hear?”
I started with the water as he’d told me while Mitch started pulling stuff in off the porch – including the dogs who were acting weird – and closing and locking the shutters on the outside and the black out curtains on the inside.
I had just taken down the last crate of jars and had started to wonder where Mitch was when he came in with the dolly loaded down with stuff from the workshop.
“Anyone asks, if you can’t get out of answering, you tell ‘em we had to sell a bunch of stuff to get medicine for the old folks and to pay the taxes. If pushed say we had to give some to a neighbor to make them leave us alone but we ain’t seen ‘em for a couple of months or so, got it?”
More scared than I wanted to admit I asked, “You … you think someone might come?”
“Better safe than sorry. I just don’t know which side it will be. It ain’t just the enemy we need to be concerned about. Vigilante groups follow the battles and some of them people seem to think living off the land means living on the fruits of other people’s labor. They’re the bane of the active military and the militia groups who they give a bad name to ‘cause most people don’t know there’s a difference.”
Nodding at his answer I asked, “I’ve moved the last of the food. You want me to help with this?”
“No. Get the house valuables and move ‘em into the storm room. Be as neat about it as you can but move fast. Thank gawd we already packed your family’s stuff down there.”
About 2 o’clock in the morning the waves of planes let up and the bombing run finally ended. Just in time for both of us to catch our second wind.
Mitch said, “Sit here beside me. You can lean your head over like you were if you want to.”
Pulling myself together I said, “No ‘cause that’s mean teasing. Look, I know I sounded like a know-nothing idiot for a few minutes, but I’m not as stupid as I was probably acting; you caught me off guard is all. I’ve seen the Crew boys get confused by – or worse, hurt by – girls who treated them like scratching posts. It’s even happened to Dale. I need to know, have I been teasing you or something? Because it’s unfair and I didn’t mean to.”
He shook his head. “Don’t overthink it Dump and complicate what’s been so easy to this point. See, it’s like this … we work good together. You’re easy to be around. You’re not a crybaby.”
With resignation I added, “And I’m … convenient.”
He shook his head. “Uh uh, not the way you’re thinking it.”
Needing to know I asked, “Then if I’m convenient how do you think of it?”
Like he had really thought it out he answered, “You’re easy to be around, don’t nag at me … or at least no more than I’m likely due … and I don’t have to waste time explaining things all the live long day. You get things the first time around and don’t make me have to tie myself in knots.”
“Uh …”
“And you let me be the man. You’re fine with me being the boss dog so long as I do my job. That counts for more than you know. And remember when I explained how a guy doesn’t want to wonder about how many other guys have been handling … er …”
My face felt as hot as a rocket stove.
“Well, its pretty obvious you haven’t been handled much.”
Getting upset I gave him a look and said, “This car is in pristine condition I’ll have you know. I only intend on having one driver, thank you very much!”
That only made Mitch grin but after a moment he got more serious. “I told you I’m no good at this Nann but … if you give me a chance … I’ll prove that I’m not just out for a test drive or short-term rental. We just need to move slow … and make sure we don’t do anything that will set your parents against me before I have a chance to …”
“To what?” I asked when he stopped talking.
Obviously concerned he answered, “To prove I’m not messed up like when I was a kid. That while I might not ever be doctor or lawyer material, that I am man enough not to do what my bio-mom and her mom did. I don’t have those kinds of problems.”
Surprised he even bought it up I said, “No, no you don’t. And Mom and Dad already know that. They never would have let me spend so much time up here if they worried about that being true. My parents are strict – compared to most anyway – but they aren’t unreasonable. It’s more likely Dale that could prove a problem.”
“As it should be,” he said surprising me. “He’s your big brother. It’s his job to be a pain in the ass. So … you gonna sit here, or you gonna run?”
Instead of answering I sat back and looked over at him. “I don’t know what you want me to do.”
“Just sit. Let me do the doing … when it’s time.” Again his words were a relief. “For now, just sit. We can listen to the quiet and soak it up. Even the frogs are giving us a break tonight despite it feeling like rain is coming.”
And that’s what we did until about the time we normally head to bed. That’s when we heard them. After a glance at one another, we stepped out onto the porch and looked up.
“Mitch?”
In a tone that said he was giving it some thought he answered, “Bombers. Must be above the cloud cover ‘cause I don’t see no lights. Heading south from the sound of things so they’re probably ours. If this is for a dawn raid they’re … no that’ don’t make sense.” Then we heard a far away whistling sound and saw brightness increase way off on the horizon.
Suddenly dead serious Mitch told me, “Nann, start filling water containers and moving them down to the cellar. Next, any food we got upstairs needs to go down. After that comes the valuables. Move. Don’t freeze up on me, hear?”
I started with the water as he’d told me while Mitch started pulling stuff in off the porch – including the dogs who were acting weird – and closing and locking the shutters on the outside and the black out curtains on the inside.
I had just taken down the last crate of jars and had started to wonder where Mitch was when he came in with the dolly loaded down with stuff from the workshop.
“Anyone asks, if you can’t get out of answering, you tell ‘em we had to sell a bunch of stuff to get medicine for the old folks and to pay the taxes. If pushed say we had to give some to a neighbor to make them leave us alone but we ain’t seen ‘em for a couple of months or so, got it?”
More scared than I wanted to admit I asked, “You … you think someone might come?”
“Better safe than sorry. I just don’t know which side it will be. It ain’t just the enemy we need to be concerned about. Vigilante groups follow the battles and some of them people seem to think living off the land means living on the fruits of other people’s labor. They’re the bane of the active military and the militia groups who they give a bad name to ‘cause most people don’t know there’s a difference.”
Nodding at his answer I asked, “I’ve moved the last of the food. You want me to help with this?”
“No. Get the house valuables and move ‘em into the storm room. Be as neat about it as you can but move fast. Thank gawd we already packed your family’s stuff down there.”
About 2 o’clock in the morning the waves of planes let up and the bombing run finally ended. Just in time for both of us to catch our second wind.
Just in case y’all didn’t believe me. Here’s my George Jones re-enactor. Lol. Drove that blasted thing nearly five miles because it was too close to closing time to go get the trailer to pick it up. Ayieee. He wanted it first thing for some mowing and didn’t want to wait. Gotta love the man but he is stubborn as all get out. Lol
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Twofers require no explanation Kathy, just a thank you from us ...... as for driving the zero turn home, be thankful there was no cross-country rally component. Besides, he's adding to the family 'remember when ...' legacy which we all need to access, sometime.
Don't overdo it but I'm sure you'll find some use for the downed tree limbs.
Looks like action on all fronts is ramping up for Nann & Co
Thank you, ma'am.
Don't overdo it but I'm sure you'll find some use for the downed tree limbs.
Looks like action on all fronts is ramping up for Nann & Co
Thank you, ma'am.
"International Harvester" was filmed not too far from where I used to live. Love the song and sentiment. I think you should have had it going and the speakers bumping loud right behind him the whole way. I mean if you've already got the disco flashers going... go big or go home!!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you, oh oh, the war is getting closer.
Play this for Scott. Tim Hawkins - Pretty Pink Tractor - Official Music Video - YouTube
Sammy55
Veteran Member
Wow! Great to have two chapters and more excitement. I could do without the war scenario, but will (and have already) learned something from the ramp up. Thanks, Kathy!
Enjoy your not-so-down time and I hope you find a few minutes for the fun time! Nice toy! I hope your hubby enjoys it and gives you a chance to have some fun on it, too!
Enjoy your not-so-down time and I hope you find a few minutes for the fun time! Nice toy! I hope your hubby enjoys it and gives you a chance to have some fun on it, too!
Dannab1
Contributing Member
Love it! Had to go watch the International Harvester video on YouTube.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Thank you and hope your time up north goes well.
Chapter 19
“You able to do a little more? Clouds cleared and the moon is full tonight so I haven’t needed a lantern. I’d like to try and get a few more things done while the getting is good. But if you’re tired …” Mitch asked after noting approvingly that I had moved all the photo albums and such as being a “family valuable.”
“No. I got my second wind,” I answered.
He nodded. “Good enough. Here’s what I’m thinking. There’s no way to protect the silo but we’ll try and save some of the grain. I’m gonna fill the metal 55-gallon drums with the corn, pull ‘em up Grammy’s ramp then you’re gonna need to help get ‘em down the cellar stairs.”
Trying to keep my brain in the right gear I said, “I thought we were going to use those barrels for the honey.”
“Gotta do what we gotta do Dump. We can’t afford to lose all the corn.”
Then I had a thought ‘cause Mom had always been on me about working smarter, not harder when it came to my chores and it worked with just about every other area of life too. “What about the old coal chute? We can move the barrels empty down the to the cellar. Position them beneath the chute and then use a wheelbarrow or … or something to …”
Mitch looked at me then said, “I’m glad it was you Nann. If things had to happen the way they have, I’m glad it was you that came.”
Pleased because I knew a compliment when I heard one, I said, “Me too Mitch.”
# # # # #
Dawn was breaking and I was fixing a quick breakfast of a farmhouse omelet, cheese toast, and a pot of coffee.
The smell had Mitch coming in off the porch. “You drinking too much coffee Nann. For that matter so am I. We gonna need to cut back or there’ll be none left before the long days of summer gets here.”
Long days? I wasn’t loving the idea of more long days like the one we were living right then, but I let it go and said, “I know, it’s making my teeth yellow. I’m going to need to use baking soda on them pretty soon.”
“Then don’t make a full pot this morning.”
“We need it today at least. I’ll back off as soon as my head doesn’t feel like it is going to cave in. How were the animals when you were out there getting the eggs for me?”
Accepting the change of topic he answered, “About like the dogs. Nervous from their schedule being off, but not fritzy like last night. I’m surprised the chickens had eggs to be honest. If nothing more happens over the next two days I wanna take a run over to the pole barns at the Delray place. We need to accelerate our plans. We’ll move the bees first.”
“That’ll make them happy,” I said sarcastically feeling nearly as cranky at the idea as the bees were likely to be.
“No choice at this point. Probably have to use the flat bed trailer for it. Then we’ll move as many of those empty barrels as we can. And … and Nann?”
“Yeah?” I said as I stood up from taking the cheese toast out of the oven.
“I want you to … to stop looking like a girl.” The look on my face must have been something else because he wouldn’t meet my eyes and the top of his ears grew fire engine red. “Wear them cover-alls you used to help me rebuild the hog pen in. And tuck your braid in your shirt and wear a hat.”
Suddenly realizing what might be worrying him I asked, “You think … that there could be men like … like PeeDee out there?”
He cleared his throat. “I know there are. But I can’t say where out there they are. Just better safe than sorry. I’m gonna take care of you Nann, but you need to help me by not marking yourself a target anymore than you can help.”
There’s some things you just have to accept in life. “Okay. I guess about like when we’d go Venturing with other crews. Some crews were great and had no problem with the co-ed aspect … some not so much.”
“Yeah well I always thought it a little weird myself but you and Dale seemed to make it workt. But this isn’t just co-ed stuff … this is camouflage. I don’t want anyone noticing you’re female so leave the belt off the coveralls.”
A little disgusted after having just discovered it could be fun being the girl I said, “I’ll look … oh whatever. I’m not out to win a beauty contest.”
“No contest. You are a handsome young woman and I want you to feel that way … but not at the expense of safety and security. Understand what I’m trying to say?”
I surprised him by giving him a hug and saying, “I get it. You’re trying to … to keep me in pristine condition.”
“Yeah,” he said returning my hug with a quick one of his own. “Even if I never get to take you out of the show room I wanna take care of you.”
We both stepped back, a little embarrassed.
Changing the subject again I said, “Well that’s for later. What else do we do today?”
Following along he answered, “Whatever we can do that is close to the house. I don’t want anyone, regardless of which side they are on, wandering through and getting nosey and not being here to stop them. Did you say some of the onions are ready for harvest?”
“They should be starting this month. I don’t know if any are ready right this second though. I haven’t pulled one to check them.”
“We’ll let’s check everything in the gardens, put the nets on the strawberries, and I think I saw some burdock like you were wanting over behind the chicken coop. That’ll keep us close to the house and clear off your list.”
It sure would. I asked him, “What about your list?”
“Taken care of what I can for now. Gonna have to wait and see what’s going to happen – if anything – over the next couple of days. After that we need to get them barrels and hives. Then, depending …”
When he stopped talking because he was thinking I got his attention by asking, “Depending?”
He nodded like he’d come to a decision. “I want to check out the other places up here, see what’s been left behind or forgotten about. And …”
“And?” I prompted again when he looked concerned.
“And I wanna fix us and the dogs up a spot down in the cellar. If the bombing runs get closer, it’ll be best to wait ‘em out down there. Flying shrapnel can go through these old wooden walls like a hot knife through butter. Seen it happen more than once with my own eyes. Depending on how close things get we may need to abandon the house completely but that’s a last resort and I don’t really have my head on tight enough to think about that right now.”
“Leave the house? I don’t wanna do that,” I said with a shiver.
“I know Nann, but we need to have us some contingency plans. We’ll focus on securing the farm first and hopefully that’ll be enough. But hope isn’t a plan.”
Understanding what he meant even if I didn’t like it I said, “Well you can’t eat hope either and the noise your stomach is making says you’re hungry. Try this omelet instead and maybe that will help both of us figure some things for just in case.”
“You able to do a little more? Clouds cleared and the moon is full tonight so I haven’t needed a lantern. I’d like to try and get a few more things done while the getting is good. But if you’re tired …” Mitch asked after noting approvingly that I had moved all the photo albums and such as being a “family valuable.”
“No. I got my second wind,” I answered.
He nodded. “Good enough. Here’s what I’m thinking. There’s no way to protect the silo but we’ll try and save some of the grain. I’m gonna fill the metal 55-gallon drums with the corn, pull ‘em up Grammy’s ramp then you’re gonna need to help get ‘em down the cellar stairs.”
Trying to keep my brain in the right gear I said, “I thought we were going to use those barrels for the honey.”
“Gotta do what we gotta do Dump. We can’t afford to lose all the corn.”
Then I had a thought ‘cause Mom had always been on me about working smarter, not harder when it came to my chores and it worked with just about every other area of life too. “What about the old coal chute? We can move the barrels empty down the to the cellar. Position them beneath the chute and then use a wheelbarrow or … or something to …”
Mitch looked at me then said, “I’m glad it was you Nann. If things had to happen the way they have, I’m glad it was you that came.”
Pleased because I knew a compliment when I heard one, I said, “Me too Mitch.”
# # # # #
Dawn was breaking and I was fixing a quick breakfast of a farmhouse omelet, cheese toast, and a pot of coffee.
The smell had Mitch coming in off the porch. “You drinking too much coffee Nann. For that matter so am I. We gonna need to cut back or there’ll be none left before the long days of summer gets here.”
Long days? I wasn’t loving the idea of more long days like the one we were living right then, but I let it go and said, “I know, it’s making my teeth yellow. I’m going to need to use baking soda on them pretty soon.”
“Then don’t make a full pot this morning.”
“We need it today at least. I’ll back off as soon as my head doesn’t feel like it is going to cave in. How were the animals when you were out there getting the eggs for me?”
Accepting the change of topic he answered, “About like the dogs. Nervous from their schedule being off, but not fritzy like last night. I’m surprised the chickens had eggs to be honest. If nothing more happens over the next two days I wanna take a run over to the pole barns at the Delray place. We need to accelerate our plans. We’ll move the bees first.”
“That’ll make them happy,” I said sarcastically feeling nearly as cranky at the idea as the bees were likely to be.
“No choice at this point. Probably have to use the flat bed trailer for it. Then we’ll move as many of those empty barrels as we can. And … and Nann?”
“Yeah?” I said as I stood up from taking the cheese toast out of the oven.
“I want you to … to stop looking like a girl.” The look on my face must have been something else because he wouldn’t meet my eyes and the top of his ears grew fire engine red. “Wear them cover-alls you used to help me rebuild the hog pen in. And tuck your braid in your shirt and wear a hat.”
Suddenly realizing what might be worrying him I asked, “You think … that there could be men like … like PeeDee out there?”
He cleared his throat. “I know there are. But I can’t say where out there they are. Just better safe than sorry. I’m gonna take care of you Nann, but you need to help me by not marking yourself a target anymore than you can help.”
There’s some things you just have to accept in life. “Okay. I guess about like when we’d go Venturing with other crews. Some crews were great and had no problem with the co-ed aspect … some not so much.”
“Yeah well I always thought it a little weird myself but you and Dale seemed to make it workt. But this isn’t just co-ed stuff … this is camouflage. I don’t want anyone noticing you’re female so leave the belt off the coveralls.”
A little disgusted after having just discovered it could be fun being the girl I said, “I’ll look … oh whatever. I’m not out to win a beauty contest.”
“No contest. You are a handsome young woman and I want you to feel that way … but not at the expense of safety and security. Understand what I’m trying to say?”
I surprised him by giving him a hug and saying, “I get it. You’re trying to … to keep me in pristine condition.”
“Yeah,” he said returning my hug with a quick one of his own. “Even if I never get to take you out of the show room I wanna take care of you.”
We both stepped back, a little embarrassed.
Changing the subject again I said, “Well that’s for later. What else do we do today?”
Following along he answered, “Whatever we can do that is close to the house. I don’t want anyone, regardless of which side they are on, wandering through and getting nosey and not being here to stop them. Did you say some of the onions are ready for harvest?”
“They should be starting this month. I don’t know if any are ready right this second though. I haven’t pulled one to check them.”
“We’ll let’s check everything in the gardens, put the nets on the strawberries, and I think I saw some burdock like you were wanting over behind the chicken coop. That’ll keep us close to the house and clear off your list.”
It sure would. I asked him, “What about your list?”
“Taken care of what I can for now. Gonna have to wait and see what’s going to happen – if anything – over the next couple of days. After that we need to get them barrels and hives. Then, depending …”
When he stopped talking because he was thinking I got his attention by asking, “Depending?”
He nodded like he’d come to a decision. “I want to check out the other places up here, see what’s been left behind or forgotten about. And …”
“And?” I prompted again when he looked concerned.
“And I wanna fix us and the dogs up a spot down in the cellar. If the bombing runs get closer, it’ll be best to wait ‘em out down there. Flying shrapnel can go through these old wooden walls like a hot knife through butter. Seen it happen more than once with my own eyes. Depending on how close things get we may need to abandon the house completely but that’s a last resort and I don’t really have my head on tight enough to think about that right now.”
“Leave the house? I don’t wanna do that,” I said with a shiver.
“I know Nann, but we need to have us some contingency plans. We’ll focus on securing the farm first and hopefully that’ll be enough. But hope isn’t a plan.”
Understanding what he meant even if I didn’t like it I said, “Well you can’t eat hope either and the noise your stomach is making says you’re hungry. Try this omelet instead and maybe that will help both of us figure some things for just in case.”
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Jeepcats27
Senior Member
thank you for the new story!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you very much.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
OK but you know what's going to happen when more characters are introduced right?
Fortunately, I have a 10-pack of note pads plus my VISIO upgrade should be here today ....
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
shoot, there aren’t that many. What’s another dozen or so?
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Yeah, not so much the head count; it's more the generations & 1st-3rd & more distant cousins, widows wedding BILs, out-of-wedlock show-ups, adoptees -- did I miss any potential sources of family confusion?And then there's always some sort of treasure or resource hinted at ....
TGFC (thank god for coffee)
Pardon my manners: and thank you Ma'am.
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ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
And then there's always some sort of treasure or resource hinted at ....
TGFC (thank god for coffee)
Pardon my manners: and thank you Ma'am.
So, a story with one, maybe two simple uncomplicated characters with no hidden agendas or backgrounds is more up your line? Me, two!
Ha! yeah, right!
Chapter 20
“I don’t understand,” I said a week later as we were fishing and collecting the next batch of crayfish we’d caught in the traps.
“What don’t you understand Dump?” Mitch asked as he stretched and cracked his back, working out some of the tension we’d both been dealing with.
In frustration I answered, “All the worry and work and nothing happened.”
He shook his head. “That we know of.”
“Huh?”
“That we know of,” he repeated. “Just ‘cause there’s no news on the radio and we haven’t seen anything with our own eyes doesn’t mean we imagined it all and that the work wasn’t worth doing for just in case.”
“But …”
“Nann, be glad nothing happened around here this time. Next time we might not be so lucky.”
I sighed. “That’s not a happy thought.”
“These aren’t happy times.”
Noticing him grimacing I asked, “Another headache?”
“Getting’ one.”
“Maybe you should go back to wearing Grammy’s glasses more.”
He shook his head gingerly. “They cut down my peripheral vision. Stop worrying it to death.”
“I’m not,” I said ignoring his mild crankiness. “But I am gonna look in Grammy’s books and see if there is a tea or compress or something that could help. There’s no sense in suffering if you don’t need to. Look out, you got a nibble on the middle pole.”
Mitch rolled his eyes but stopped helping me bundle up the chickweed and wild mustard that I’d been gathering long enough to set the hook and reel in his second trout.
As I stood with my empty basket to go see what else I could find he said, “Don’t go so far this time. We’ll get that wild ginger tomorrow. I don’t like the idea of you out of sight.”
Part of me wanted to fuss but I knew he was just being a guard dog and “the man” so I nodded and told him, “I’ll get more greens then. I think I saw Garlic Mustard and some nettle to go with the chickweed. And some of the morels on the other side of the …”
“Uh uh. I can’t see you over there and …” The he threw up his hand and I knew to shut my mouth on the complaint on the end of my tongue. Mitch had his head cocked and then said, “Dammit. That’s jets. Those are for precision strikes. We need to pack up. Now.”
We didn’t exactly scramble back but it wasn’t a slow march either. When we got back to the house Mitch turned to me and asked, “Nann, anything you don’t want to lose? C’mon. Think quick.”
“Yeah, I’ll run upstairs and get that basket of stuff you told me to keep handy.”
He was already moving down the hall to his room. Over his shoulder his said, “Grab your pillow and stuff. Might as well set up our beds down in the storm shelter if we’re gonna have jets flying this close.”
“But …”
“Now,” he ordered.
I knew the tone. It meant shut up and do what I say. So I did. Yeah. I know. But I’m not worried about some feminist reading me the riot act anytime soon about letting myself get bossed around by some man. Not to mention Mitch is a guy with experience.
I ran up the stairs, nearly tripping in the dark because of the closed shutters, and grabbed the laundry basket of my belongings that still needed to be moved down to the storm shelter in the cellar. It was heavier than I realized it would be so I carried it down and then ran back up to grab my bedding. On that trip down Mitch met me at the bottom and picked up the basket for me and followed me down to the shelter area.
“Nann …”
“Huh?” I responded as I realized the only “bed” in the shelter was an old fold up bed that held a full-size mattress.
“I … I didn’t mean to snap.”
Blinking in surprise I turned and gave him a hug. “You’re just doing your job Boss Dog. Tell me what you need me to do next.”
I felt him give me a brief hug back before easing us apart and telling me, “I’m gonna go clean those fish then grill ‘em.”
“Um … how about putting them in some aluminum foil with a little butter and lemon juice and then using the coals from the wash water fire. I think it can be started back up with just a little kindling.”
Giving me first a surprised then considering look Mitch said, “You know, you make this easy.”
“Uh …”
“Set the beds … er …” he stopped when he finally noticed the same thing I had. “Uh …”
Trying to hide how strange I felt I said, “Neither one of us has cooties. If you’ll be a grown up, I’ll pretend to be one too.” I was trying to be nonchalant but while I got an A for effort Mitch sensed I was as uncomfortable as he was.
Finally he snorted at my play and went along by saying, “You do that. Now figure out how to save the work we did on those crawdads and greens and we’ll be set.”
“I’m working on it,” I told him because I had been. “In the meantime let’s just set them in the freezer. Those frozen water bottles in there should give us time to figure something out.”
“Water containers?” he asked going down the list of necessities.
“Topped them off while you got the eggs this morning.” As an idea popped into my head it must have shown on my face.
“Worrying about the feather dusters?”
“Yeah. But … but actually I was thinking. I can save some of the eggs we have by …”
With a surprised look – the good kind – he said, “Please say Grammy taught you how to pickle eggs.”
I grin. “Yep.”
He threw up both hands in a victory sign then said, “Good deal Lucille.” Just as quickly he became serious once again. “Now stay down here unless I call you up.”
Well, I tried not to be upset beyond what I was already feeling but it wasn’t easy. I had a lifetime of being used to Daddy and Dale bossing me but being bossed by Mitch was different. He could be rough whether he meant to be or not, and Dale had explained things … well, most of the time.
After doing a little of what my mother derisively called dithering, I made the bed up and tried not to think too hard about possibly sharing it with a grown man; even if I had known him my entire life and until recently only had cousinly type feeling for him. After that I put away the things in my basket and then saw Mitch had a pile of his own that I neatened up in a small end table we’d brought down to hold a lantern.
From there I used a short ladder and tied a length of rope onto a crosspiece of lumber nailed between two joists that supported the ceiling. I used one of my camp carabiners and did my best to string up a little privacy for changing clothes. It was while I was doing that that I realized we’d need a few more “creature comforts” if we were gonna be stuck in the storm cellar for any length of time on a regular basis. First and foremost, we were gonna need a way to secure some bathroom facilities and I knew exactly what to use but not where to put it.
It got to where it was dangerous for Grammy to wander around in the house at night – she’d nearly broken her hip on one such occasion when I’d been there. Uncle Hy had bought a camp toilet and attached one of those medical toilet stools with arms and set it in the corner of her bedroom. I thought she’d be embarrassed by it but instead she’d used it as an opportunity to tell me how people did it in the olden days … “thunder mugs,” chamber pots, slop buckets, just all sorts of stuff. I also remembered there was an old-fashioned dressing screen in the attic because I’d wrestled it up there when Grammy had gotten some weird hair right before one of Uncle Hy’s … Grammy’s … geez, a shirt tail cousin to me somehow anyway … came to visit. The woman was close to my dad’s age and treated me like a hired girl instead of family. I caught her getting nosey and taking pictures when no one was looking.
Well when she wasn’t looking I took the memory card out of her phone and changed some settings, including her password. She took off in frustration a few hours later. Uncle Hy may have been older but he wasn’t naïve or stupid. He could read all of us cousins like we were books in the primary section a small library in a backwards town. When he asked me what was up I didn’t even bother fibbing. I told him, and then gave him the memory card which he downloaded. A couple of pictures nearly had me think of eye bleach – the woman apparently got around if you know what I mean – but the rest of them were of antiques and heirlooms in the house.
I did a little online investigation at Uncle Hy’s prompting and found she had accounts on Ebay, Etsy, and a couple of other online sales sites. In the process I found a picture of something that had gone missing after he last visit. Everyone had thought Grammy had misplaced it … but obviously not. On my own, after Uncle Hy said to just keep it between us and he’d make sure she didn’t come out for a visit anymore, I left some nasty reviews and a few other and sundry things to spike her online reputation. I was in the middle of thinking about Uncle Hy’s comments when he found out what I’d done when I nearly came out of my skin at the feel of hands on my shoulders.
“Whoa Dump. I called your name but you didn’t answer.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “Was thinking.”
“Didn’t look like fun.”
“Oh. Well. Just stuff I guess. It started off being about what else would be useful or needful down here and kinda got away from me into other memories.”
“Uh …”
To distract me from asking about those other memories I said, “I want to bring down the camp toilet from Grammy’s room. There’s an old dressing screen in the attic we could use. A couple of lawn chairs and your foot stool can fit over here. A bed curtain might be nice if I can figure a way to make one and hang it up. And maybe we should look up in the attic for anything else useful.”
A little surprised he said, “Well, when you get going you do get going.”
“Too much?”
“Naw. More than a couple of good ideas in there. And I just had one of my own. I’m gonna start moving every hay bale and roll I can find and use ‘em to barricade the animal barn walls the best I can. It won’t stop everything, but it will at least deaden the sound and maybe keep ‘em calmer. If there’s enough, I’ll do the same to the tractor barn. You reckon you can help by sewing that camouflage netting we took from the Winters place back together? Might be able to use it to cover that one side of the barn that sticks out from under the trees. Glad Dad never got around to painting the barns red like Grammy wanted.”
“Looks like we’ve both been thinking.”
“It ain’t a bad thing,” he said.
“No it’s not,” I said. Then I asked, “Did you see where the jets went?”
It was about that time we both felt something funny through our feet. I looked down then looked at Mitch only he was already sprinting up the stairs. “Stay here!” he ordered again, and I did my best not to spit in frustration.
“I don’t understand,” I said a week later as we were fishing and collecting the next batch of crayfish we’d caught in the traps.
“What don’t you understand Dump?” Mitch asked as he stretched and cracked his back, working out some of the tension we’d both been dealing with.
In frustration I answered, “All the worry and work and nothing happened.”
He shook his head. “That we know of.”
“Huh?”
“That we know of,” he repeated. “Just ‘cause there’s no news on the radio and we haven’t seen anything with our own eyes doesn’t mean we imagined it all and that the work wasn’t worth doing for just in case.”
“But …”
“Nann, be glad nothing happened around here this time. Next time we might not be so lucky.”
I sighed. “That’s not a happy thought.”
“These aren’t happy times.”
Noticing him grimacing I asked, “Another headache?”
“Getting’ one.”
“Maybe you should go back to wearing Grammy’s glasses more.”
He shook his head gingerly. “They cut down my peripheral vision. Stop worrying it to death.”
“I’m not,” I said ignoring his mild crankiness. “But I am gonna look in Grammy’s books and see if there is a tea or compress or something that could help. There’s no sense in suffering if you don’t need to. Look out, you got a nibble on the middle pole.”
Mitch rolled his eyes but stopped helping me bundle up the chickweed and wild mustard that I’d been gathering long enough to set the hook and reel in his second trout.
As I stood with my empty basket to go see what else I could find he said, “Don’t go so far this time. We’ll get that wild ginger tomorrow. I don’t like the idea of you out of sight.”
Part of me wanted to fuss but I knew he was just being a guard dog and “the man” so I nodded and told him, “I’ll get more greens then. I think I saw Garlic Mustard and some nettle to go with the chickweed. And some of the morels on the other side of the …”
“Uh uh. I can’t see you over there and …” The he threw up his hand and I knew to shut my mouth on the complaint on the end of my tongue. Mitch had his head cocked and then said, “Dammit. That’s jets. Those are for precision strikes. We need to pack up. Now.”
We didn’t exactly scramble back but it wasn’t a slow march either. When we got back to the house Mitch turned to me and asked, “Nann, anything you don’t want to lose? C’mon. Think quick.”
“Yeah, I’ll run upstairs and get that basket of stuff you told me to keep handy.”
He was already moving down the hall to his room. Over his shoulder his said, “Grab your pillow and stuff. Might as well set up our beds down in the storm shelter if we’re gonna have jets flying this close.”
“But …”
“Now,” he ordered.
I knew the tone. It meant shut up and do what I say. So I did. Yeah. I know. But I’m not worried about some feminist reading me the riot act anytime soon about letting myself get bossed around by some man. Not to mention Mitch is a guy with experience.
I ran up the stairs, nearly tripping in the dark because of the closed shutters, and grabbed the laundry basket of my belongings that still needed to be moved down to the storm shelter in the cellar. It was heavier than I realized it would be so I carried it down and then ran back up to grab my bedding. On that trip down Mitch met me at the bottom and picked up the basket for me and followed me down to the shelter area.
“Nann …”
“Huh?” I responded as I realized the only “bed” in the shelter was an old fold up bed that held a full-size mattress.
“I … I didn’t mean to snap.”
Blinking in surprise I turned and gave him a hug. “You’re just doing your job Boss Dog. Tell me what you need me to do next.”
I felt him give me a brief hug back before easing us apart and telling me, “I’m gonna go clean those fish then grill ‘em.”
“Um … how about putting them in some aluminum foil with a little butter and lemon juice and then using the coals from the wash water fire. I think it can be started back up with just a little kindling.”
Giving me first a surprised then considering look Mitch said, “You know, you make this easy.”
“Uh …”
“Set the beds … er …” he stopped when he finally noticed the same thing I had. “Uh …”
Trying to hide how strange I felt I said, “Neither one of us has cooties. If you’ll be a grown up, I’ll pretend to be one too.” I was trying to be nonchalant but while I got an A for effort Mitch sensed I was as uncomfortable as he was.
Finally he snorted at my play and went along by saying, “You do that. Now figure out how to save the work we did on those crawdads and greens and we’ll be set.”
“I’m working on it,” I told him because I had been. “In the meantime let’s just set them in the freezer. Those frozen water bottles in there should give us time to figure something out.”
“Water containers?” he asked going down the list of necessities.
“Topped them off while you got the eggs this morning.” As an idea popped into my head it must have shown on my face.
“Worrying about the feather dusters?”
“Yeah. But … but actually I was thinking. I can save some of the eggs we have by …”
With a surprised look – the good kind – he said, “Please say Grammy taught you how to pickle eggs.”
I grin. “Yep.”
He threw up both hands in a victory sign then said, “Good deal Lucille.” Just as quickly he became serious once again. “Now stay down here unless I call you up.”
Well, I tried not to be upset beyond what I was already feeling but it wasn’t easy. I had a lifetime of being used to Daddy and Dale bossing me but being bossed by Mitch was different. He could be rough whether he meant to be or not, and Dale had explained things … well, most of the time.
After doing a little of what my mother derisively called dithering, I made the bed up and tried not to think too hard about possibly sharing it with a grown man; even if I had known him my entire life and until recently only had cousinly type feeling for him. After that I put away the things in my basket and then saw Mitch had a pile of his own that I neatened up in a small end table we’d brought down to hold a lantern.
From there I used a short ladder and tied a length of rope onto a crosspiece of lumber nailed between two joists that supported the ceiling. I used one of my camp carabiners and did my best to string up a little privacy for changing clothes. It was while I was doing that that I realized we’d need a few more “creature comforts” if we were gonna be stuck in the storm cellar for any length of time on a regular basis. First and foremost, we were gonna need a way to secure some bathroom facilities and I knew exactly what to use but not where to put it.
It got to where it was dangerous for Grammy to wander around in the house at night – she’d nearly broken her hip on one such occasion when I’d been there. Uncle Hy had bought a camp toilet and attached one of those medical toilet stools with arms and set it in the corner of her bedroom. I thought she’d be embarrassed by it but instead she’d used it as an opportunity to tell me how people did it in the olden days … “thunder mugs,” chamber pots, slop buckets, just all sorts of stuff. I also remembered there was an old-fashioned dressing screen in the attic because I’d wrestled it up there when Grammy had gotten some weird hair right before one of Uncle Hy’s … Grammy’s … geez, a shirt tail cousin to me somehow anyway … came to visit. The woman was close to my dad’s age and treated me like a hired girl instead of family. I caught her getting nosey and taking pictures when no one was looking.
Well when she wasn’t looking I took the memory card out of her phone and changed some settings, including her password. She took off in frustration a few hours later. Uncle Hy may have been older but he wasn’t naïve or stupid. He could read all of us cousins like we were books in the primary section a small library in a backwards town. When he asked me what was up I didn’t even bother fibbing. I told him, and then gave him the memory card which he downloaded. A couple of pictures nearly had me think of eye bleach – the woman apparently got around if you know what I mean – but the rest of them were of antiques and heirlooms in the house.
I did a little online investigation at Uncle Hy’s prompting and found she had accounts on Ebay, Etsy, and a couple of other online sales sites. In the process I found a picture of something that had gone missing after he last visit. Everyone had thought Grammy had misplaced it … but obviously not. On my own, after Uncle Hy said to just keep it between us and he’d make sure she didn’t come out for a visit anymore, I left some nasty reviews and a few other and sundry things to spike her online reputation. I was in the middle of thinking about Uncle Hy’s comments when he found out what I’d done when I nearly came out of my skin at the feel of hands on my shoulders.
“Whoa Dump. I called your name but you didn’t answer.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “Was thinking.”
“Didn’t look like fun.”
“Oh. Well. Just stuff I guess. It started off being about what else would be useful or needful down here and kinda got away from me into other memories.”
“Uh …”
To distract me from asking about those other memories I said, “I want to bring down the camp toilet from Grammy’s room. There’s an old dressing screen in the attic we could use. A couple of lawn chairs and your foot stool can fit over here. A bed curtain might be nice if I can figure a way to make one and hang it up. And maybe we should look up in the attic for anything else useful.”
A little surprised he said, “Well, when you get going you do get going.”
“Too much?”
“Naw. More than a couple of good ideas in there. And I just had one of my own. I’m gonna start moving every hay bale and roll I can find and use ‘em to barricade the animal barn walls the best I can. It won’t stop everything, but it will at least deaden the sound and maybe keep ‘em calmer. If there’s enough, I’ll do the same to the tractor barn. You reckon you can help by sewing that camouflage netting we took from the Winters place back together? Might be able to use it to cover that one side of the barn that sticks out from under the trees. Glad Dad never got around to painting the barns red like Grammy wanted.”
“Looks like we’ve both been thinking.”
“It ain’t a bad thing,” he said.
“No it’s not,” I said. Then I asked, “Did you see where the jets went?”
It was about that time we both felt something funny through our feet. I looked down then looked at Mitch only he was already sprinting up the stairs. “Stay here!” he ordered again, and I did my best not to spit in frustration.
Jeepcats27
Senior Member
What a nice surprise, but dang Cliff is hanging out!
beaglemama
Contributing Member
Thank you, Kathy!