This is a tender story with a lot of love between family members. I was especially interested in the info about the rubber. Never think about it coming from afar when we just go to Farm & City and get whatever we want. That is so true of so many things. You have a real knack of highlighting how much our world CAN change in just a few decades if we don't pay attention to what is going on around us all the time. A bit scary if you ask me!
Story Neighbours
- Thread starter Lake Lili
- Start date
Lake Lili
Veteran Member
Chapter 50…
Looking vastly better, John sat straighter in his seat. He had hated to show any weakness in front of these windbags but a body did what it did, and Lordie his was tired. He cast a beady eye over the lot of them.
“Mr. McConnell,” asked Congressman from North Dakota, “How has the world changed? I didn’t know about… well about most of what you have told us.”
“Now today," said John, "In this Federation of United States of North America, we have been blessed. We have had a chance to start again with common goals of survival and family. North America is such an interesting place. For a time, we were not isolated from the rest of the world but connected by a land bridge. For a time a population lived there until some 16,500 years ago the glaciers melted and the people migrated south. Over time repeated populations of people and animals migrated from Asia across the bridge and met others headed back. From the beginning of the history of people, we have been a continent of migration. We spread out and settled this vast space, lived and loved and fought each other. Civilizations rose and fell. In time, migration came the other way. Roman shipwrecks show what happened to those caught in the Gulf Stream. Ancient written codices in the Americas talk of white men. Religious texts detail fantastical voyages by Irish monks. When my mother was a child a historian and explorer, Tim Severin*, showed that the instructions were accurate. He rebuilt the leather boat and sailed it to North America across the Stepping Stones. They were followed by the first European settlers in 1000AD. Leif Ericson and his intrepid band settled in L’Anse Aux Meadow on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland. They called it Vinland. In the late 1400s the age of exploration began in earnst and Cabot, Columbus and Hudson joined with a host of others to explore what was for them a New World. But it wasn’t an empty world. So the Europeans came and decimated and settled and for 500 years they grew, evolved politicially, and were joined by countless others who repeated the pattern of those that came across the land bridge.
“We still call ourselves Americans or say we are from the US but it doesn’t mean what it did when I was a child. None of you have an enth of the power your predecessors had and that was a wise decision implemented after the War. You each serve as a voice for your constituents from Alaska to Florida from the Republic of Texas to the ice caped islands of Nunavut, from the Mexican Federation to the Sovereign Nation of Quebec.
“The Sovereign Nation of Quebec, now that is a nightmare combination of Pequiste dreaming and Hello! Magazine. Based on the politics of my childhood, who would have ever thought that they would have declared independence only to invited the Pretender to the French throne, the Duc d’Orleans, and made him King? I guess they decided that because King Pierre Gaston Francois D’Orleans of Quebec was the son of Gaston Francois Henri D’Orleans and Savannah Peters, eldest daughter of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly, that he was the best combination of French pretenders, lesser English royalty and a Quebec-born nationals. Since King Pierre went on to marry Marguerite Trudeau, great-granddaughter of Pierre Elliot Trudeau and granddaughter of Justin Trudeau, it was packaged just about as nicely as a Quebecer could want. They spend a lot of time patting babies, cutting ribbons and pouring maple syrup in a sugar shack. They took over the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. In honour of their roots, King Pierre, Queen Marguerite and their children were regularly seen in a bright red canoe.
“The Constitutional Monarchy of Atlantic Canada is now ruled by the grandson of James, Viscount Severn, the only son of Prince Edward of England. King Edward I of Atlantic Canada is I’m sure a fine man, but what could have ever induced him to come and take on that role is beyond me. I’m sure that he and his Queen look very spiffy on tea towels and china mugs.
“The funny thing about North America is that they always seem endlessly fascinate with European royalty and there have been lots of them hanging around without jobs since parts of the EU became an Islamic State. The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland became rigorous at routing Islam out and re-declaring themselves Protestant Christian nations. It was a close thing for Germany with all its guest workers and students. Italy ended up being protected by and absorbed into the Austro-German Empire. The Pope had his wings clipped but remained on the Throne of St. Peter. Indulgences were no longer allowed for sale.
“Greenland, Iceland, the Faroes and the other Scandinavian countries became the Union of Scandinavian Nations and they were ruthless at defending their borders. There were few incursions and I suspect that they are feasting on reindeer to this day.
“England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales went hardline. You had to be Anglo with both parents born in the UK in order to be able to stay. Otherwise you were given a hundred pounds and a plane ticket. You refused and they shot you. If you had served in the British military and honourably discharged, you were given a dispensation but England was for the Anglo-English. Attendance at Church, be it Anglican, Catholic or the local Chapel was mandatory.
“France, Spain and Portugal became Islamic states, although the Portuguese Avós Corvo became highly feared. ‘Avós’ roughly translates to grandmothers and ‘corvo’ translates as raven. Little old ladies in black were the most highly feared of suicide bombers, like women in burkas they were everywhere and yet invisible.
“Turkey had seized most of its neighbours, including Greece and finished the Cyprus nonsense for good. Russia had reabsorbed most of its satellites and the Iron Curtain had been lowered again.
“Israel had held out for a long time, but finally sheer numbers forced their backs to the sea. Some tried to recreate Masada but for it to have meant anything the invaders would have had to have understood. They didn’t and they didn’t care. As well you know things have since settled down over there and the Holy sites of Judaism and Christianity are again opened for viewing as sacred to roots of all three faiths.
“India continued on its way. Pakistan and Afghanistan imploded and then divided into multiple small tribal entities. The Pashtun people returned to their hardline tribal ways. Kashmir reemerged as a vacation destination for the sub-continent and a cross-roads between the north and the south. The houseboats were all fixed up and available for rent again.
“China swept south and incorporated all of the south sea islands to the coast of Australia. While they loomed heavily for a bit, they pulled back deciding a place to sell their goods was better than handling the fractious lot. The ethnic Han did well for a while before the smaller ethnic groups rose up and dismantled the whole thing again. Tibet became free and the Dali Lama returned home. Mongolia by being clever with its narrower-gauge train tracks, prevent the Chinese from being able to come in and bombing yurts might make for good target practice but it gives a poor return. Japan and South Korea bombed the heck out of North Korea.
“You know,” paused John. “There was no surprise when Sub-Sarahan Africa removed its European imposed borders and returned to tribal nations. Actually warfare there decreased markedly. The borders may have made sense to a cartographer but they never took into account the people there. South Africa was a mess for a long time. The Afrikaners rose again and cleared much to the Transvaal to what it had been like when they first arrived. Now I am not going to start a fight on this issue so you go read the history – not the politics, get your historians to dig out the source articles on the initial settlements. Few peoples are all good or all evil and despite the black/white racial issues both sides were right and both sides wrong.
“In South American, the Incan Federation rose. Comprising of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, the largely Native populations have built themselves anew after the devastation of what they are calling the Spanish Occupation. Argentina is still its own nation, although Uruguay and Paraguay petitioned to join the Argentinian nation. Brazil has become one of the most dangerous places on earth after the Amazonian tribes rose up and slew what they called the Ghost People in their Termite villages. At the north end of the continent the Columbian Federation is holding tight to the Panama Canal and they dream that someday the boats will come back. Central America has joined the Mexican Federation and its native peoples have finished off the drug dealers who went bust when their North American market collapsed. They too are recovering from the Spanish Occupation and the Drug Wars. When Popocatepetl erupted, millions died and Mexico City was completely buried. Perhaps one day like Pompeii it will be excavated but not for a long time.
“The world does not stand still while countries implode. Our falling apart ripped the fabric of more than a few nations, but like us they are rebuilding on different lines. Mistakes can be learned and not repeated. That is the lesson to take from our history. You know a wise man used to coach a football team in Baltimore. He used to say that winning is not important, anyone can do it. Learning to loose is important, but he said that to really W.I.N. you need to know What is Important Now.”
John stopped. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am going to leave you with that. We have had a second chance at this game. This time we need to W.I.N. Do not fail us because there may be no third chance. Know what is important right now - your family, your faith, participating and doing the right thing with courtesy.”
He stood and gathered his canes. Pointing one at a young guard, he said.
“Please take me to the train. I am going home.”
**THE END**
©2014 J. L. Kennedy
======
*Tim Severin has recreated a number of historical mythical voyages from Jason and the Argonauts, through to Simbad the Sailor. His book on the St. Brendan Voyage is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. For sheer adventure few things beat sailing an ox-hide boat across the North Atlantic. Some of the trip was filmed and there are clips on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB2EsZhzVtE
Looking vastly better, John sat straighter in his seat. He had hated to show any weakness in front of these windbags but a body did what it did, and Lordie his was tired. He cast a beady eye over the lot of them.
“Mr. McConnell,” asked Congressman from North Dakota, “How has the world changed? I didn’t know about… well about most of what you have told us.”
“Now today," said John, "In this Federation of United States of North America, we have been blessed. We have had a chance to start again with common goals of survival and family. North America is such an interesting place. For a time, we were not isolated from the rest of the world but connected by a land bridge. For a time a population lived there until some 16,500 years ago the glaciers melted and the people migrated south. Over time repeated populations of people and animals migrated from Asia across the bridge and met others headed back. From the beginning of the history of people, we have been a continent of migration. We spread out and settled this vast space, lived and loved and fought each other. Civilizations rose and fell. In time, migration came the other way. Roman shipwrecks show what happened to those caught in the Gulf Stream. Ancient written codices in the Americas talk of white men. Religious texts detail fantastical voyages by Irish monks. When my mother was a child a historian and explorer, Tim Severin*, showed that the instructions were accurate. He rebuilt the leather boat and sailed it to North America across the Stepping Stones. They were followed by the first European settlers in 1000AD. Leif Ericson and his intrepid band settled in L’Anse Aux Meadow on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland. They called it Vinland. In the late 1400s the age of exploration began in earnst and Cabot, Columbus and Hudson joined with a host of others to explore what was for them a New World. But it wasn’t an empty world. So the Europeans came and decimated and settled and for 500 years they grew, evolved politicially, and were joined by countless others who repeated the pattern of those that came across the land bridge.
“We still call ourselves Americans or say we are from the US but it doesn’t mean what it did when I was a child. None of you have an enth of the power your predecessors had and that was a wise decision implemented after the War. You each serve as a voice for your constituents from Alaska to Florida from the Republic of Texas to the ice caped islands of Nunavut, from the Mexican Federation to the Sovereign Nation of Quebec.
“The Sovereign Nation of Quebec, now that is a nightmare combination of Pequiste dreaming and Hello! Magazine. Based on the politics of my childhood, who would have ever thought that they would have declared independence only to invited the Pretender to the French throne, the Duc d’Orleans, and made him King? I guess they decided that because King Pierre Gaston Francois D’Orleans of Quebec was the son of Gaston Francois Henri D’Orleans and Savannah Peters, eldest daughter of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly, that he was the best combination of French pretenders, lesser English royalty and a Quebec-born nationals. Since King Pierre went on to marry Marguerite Trudeau, great-granddaughter of Pierre Elliot Trudeau and granddaughter of Justin Trudeau, it was packaged just about as nicely as a Quebecer could want. They spend a lot of time patting babies, cutting ribbons and pouring maple syrup in a sugar shack. They took over the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. In honour of their roots, King Pierre, Queen Marguerite and their children were regularly seen in a bright red canoe.
“The Constitutional Monarchy of Atlantic Canada is now ruled by the grandson of James, Viscount Severn, the only son of Prince Edward of England. King Edward I of Atlantic Canada is I’m sure a fine man, but what could have ever induced him to come and take on that role is beyond me. I’m sure that he and his Queen look very spiffy on tea towels and china mugs.
“The funny thing about North America is that they always seem endlessly fascinate with European royalty and there have been lots of them hanging around without jobs since parts of the EU became an Islamic State. The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland became rigorous at routing Islam out and re-declaring themselves Protestant Christian nations. It was a close thing for Germany with all its guest workers and students. Italy ended up being protected by and absorbed into the Austro-German Empire. The Pope had his wings clipped but remained on the Throne of St. Peter. Indulgences were no longer allowed for sale.
“Greenland, Iceland, the Faroes and the other Scandinavian countries became the Union of Scandinavian Nations and they were ruthless at defending their borders. There were few incursions and I suspect that they are feasting on reindeer to this day.
“England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales went hardline. You had to be Anglo with both parents born in the UK in order to be able to stay. Otherwise you were given a hundred pounds and a plane ticket. You refused and they shot you. If you had served in the British military and honourably discharged, you were given a dispensation but England was for the Anglo-English. Attendance at Church, be it Anglican, Catholic or the local Chapel was mandatory.
“France, Spain and Portugal became Islamic states, although the Portuguese Avós Corvo became highly feared. ‘Avós’ roughly translates to grandmothers and ‘corvo’ translates as raven. Little old ladies in black were the most highly feared of suicide bombers, like women in burkas they were everywhere and yet invisible.
“Turkey had seized most of its neighbours, including Greece and finished the Cyprus nonsense for good. Russia had reabsorbed most of its satellites and the Iron Curtain had been lowered again.
“Israel had held out for a long time, but finally sheer numbers forced their backs to the sea. Some tried to recreate Masada but for it to have meant anything the invaders would have had to have understood. They didn’t and they didn’t care. As well you know things have since settled down over there and the Holy sites of Judaism and Christianity are again opened for viewing as sacred to roots of all three faiths.
“India continued on its way. Pakistan and Afghanistan imploded and then divided into multiple small tribal entities. The Pashtun people returned to their hardline tribal ways. Kashmir reemerged as a vacation destination for the sub-continent and a cross-roads between the north and the south. The houseboats were all fixed up and available for rent again.
“China swept south and incorporated all of the south sea islands to the coast of Australia. While they loomed heavily for a bit, they pulled back deciding a place to sell their goods was better than handling the fractious lot. The ethnic Han did well for a while before the smaller ethnic groups rose up and dismantled the whole thing again. Tibet became free and the Dali Lama returned home. Mongolia by being clever with its narrower-gauge train tracks, prevent the Chinese from being able to come in and bombing yurts might make for good target practice but it gives a poor return. Japan and South Korea bombed the heck out of North Korea.
“You know,” paused John. “There was no surprise when Sub-Sarahan Africa removed its European imposed borders and returned to tribal nations. Actually warfare there decreased markedly. The borders may have made sense to a cartographer but they never took into account the people there. South Africa was a mess for a long time. The Afrikaners rose again and cleared much to the Transvaal to what it had been like when they first arrived. Now I am not going to start a fight on this issue so you go read the history – not the politics, get your historians to dig out the source articles on the initial settlements. Few peoples are all good or all evil and despite the black/white racial issues both sides were right and both sides wrong.
“In South American, the Incan Federation rose. Comprising of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, the largely Native populations have built themselves anew after the devastation of what they are calling the Spanish Occupation. Argentina is still its own nation, although Uruguay and Paraguay petitioned to join the Argentinian nation. Brazil has become one of the most dangerous places on earth after the Amazonian tribes rose up and slew what they called the Ghost People in their Termite villages. At the north end of the continent the Columbian Federation is holding tight to the Panama Canal and they dream that someday the boats will come back. Central America has joined the Mexican Federation and its native peoples have finished off the drug dealers who went bust when their North American market collapsed. They too are recovering from the Spanish Occupation and the Drug Wars. When Popocatepetl erupted, millions died and Mexico City was completely buried. Perhaps one day like Pompeii it will be excavated but not for a long time.
“The world does not stand still while countries implode. Our falling apart ripped the fabric of more than a few nations, but like us they are rebuilding on different lines. Mistakes can be learned and not repeated. That is the lesson to take from our history. You know a wise man used to coach a football team in Baltimore. He used to say that winning is not important, anyone can do it. Learning to loose is important, but he said that to really W.I.N. you need to know What is Important Now.”
John stopped. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am going to leave you with that. We have had a second chance at this game. This time we need to W.I.N. Do not fail us because there may be no third chance. Know what is important right now - your family, your faith, participating and doing the right thing with courtesy.”
He stood and gathered his canes. Pointing one at a young guard, he said.
“Please take me to the train. I am going home.”
**THE END**
©2014 J. L. Kennedy
======
*Tim Severin has recreated a number of historical mythical voyages from Jason and the Argonauts, through to Simbad the Sailor. His book on the St. Brendan Voyage is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. For sheer adventure few things beat sailing an ox-hide boat across the North Atlantic. Some of the trip was filmed and there are clips on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB2EsZhzVtE
Last edited:
Lake Lili
Veteran Member
Thank you for taking the time to read my first story. I have very much appreciated your comments and input. If you see obvious holes in the story, please PM me and I'll go back and try to plug them. If you would like a pdf, please PM me and I'll send you one.
As with all the stories submitted here, I retain all copyright to the story but copying for personal usage is permitted - you just don't get the pictures you would get with the pdf.
Thanks for the fun! Lili
As with all the stories submitted here, I retain all copyright to the story but copying for personal usage is permitted - you just don't get the pictures you would get with the pdf.
Thanks for the fun! Lili
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you, I will miss reading your story 
.
.
fastback08
Veteran Member
I have enjoyed your story immensely. I hope there is another on the way.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
I have greatly enjoyed your story.
My only comment on style, is that it would be great to see more paragraph breaks.
Hope you post this on amazon and make a bit of change with the kindle market.
My only comment on style, is that it would be great to see more paragraph breaks.
Hope you post this on amazon and make a bit of change with the kindle market.
maineforlife
Contributing Member
No.......it can't end!! It was so good. You are a talented, fantastic writer. I would like more please.
maineforlife
Contributing Member
5 weeks left!! Just had my shower today, it was a beautiful day in Maine with sunny skies. Just like my sweet girl was being welcomed not only by friends and family but by the whole state.
Laurane
Canadian Loonie
Now we are back from AZ and settled (or almost unpacked), I had to check the last page. What a summary of a world change!.......and it could be that way, but I sure hope it doesn't take as long as your story implies. Though with massive changes, come hardship and hurt. Guess I will be done and gone by the time anything too serious happens in N. America LOL
I would love the PDF please......and thank you.
I would love the PDF please......and thank you.
Personal observation, most of the 'blue' states are controlled or strongly influenced by their large cities/metropolitan areas and 'red' states are not. I would expect more urban warfare in these cases, but the power that be would want the battles away from their power base and to keep their support from knowing their losses.
So true. Regardless of how the trauma occurred, the patient's personality can be changed. After my mother had a stroke, she became impatient and demanding.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Bump for all enjoying their Christmas/Solstice holidays. Thank you for such a fine story.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yeah I saw that when it happened, I thought ohhhhhhhhhhhh no.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
I had just settled down and saw this at the top of the Stories list.
I know that story! I thought but to be sure, I read it again. Hey I could have been wrong and then I'd have missed out.
Just as good today and possibly even more relevant than when you first posted it.
Of course, you hitting on Socialists, Global Muslimifcation etc rang all my bells, again.
Thank you Ma'am.
I know that story! I thought but to be sure, I read it again. Hey I could have been wrong and then I'd have missed out.
Just as good today and possibly even more relevant than when you first posted it.
Of course, you hitting on Socialists, Global Muslimifcation etc rang all my bells, again.
Thank you Ma'am.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Sadly for us, it take LL a while to get things out but; its always worth the wait.
kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
That's okay. I'm enjoying her new one and hopefully it will keep chugging along.
Lake Lili
Veteran Member
Well I will finish homeschooling the kiddo come December - he graduates grade 12 then... so perhaps I'll have more time. Great feedback helps. Thanks!
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Feeding, watering and educating a HS Senior plus day-to-day in our world and entertaining us?
Did you have a third arm grafted on or something?
