Story So that your love may be complete.
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#257b
Mark stood up and had a certain thought flash through his mind. "A long time ago, in a place far away from here," he said softly, "I was having a crisis of faith and terrible self doubts, and a certain lady told me that God had given us the tools to do as He asked, and we were to never give up on account of our children." Mark went to clear the cooking utensils from the tailgate so he could move the pickup.
"That sounds like something you would say Clora," Millie was calm and reasonable as she looked at her sister in law. The two ladies sitting on a board bench Karl had cobbled together, close to the fire.
"I did," Clora acknowledged with a sigh. "I'm just not sure I have another 'start over' in me, There is really no choice. The alternative is to die, and I'm not ready for that to happen. I'm tired, and the 're-do' is looking impossibly enormous from where I sit."
"When there is no hope, you go to the One that holds all the hope." Millie replied, folding her hands and bowing her head.
Clora did the same, her work rough hands and head with it's grey streaked hair bent as she prayed her problems to God. As had happened before, when Clora prayed that God's will be done, there was a small sliver of sunshine that fell on her from above. It touched no one else, and watching eyes were dumbfounded at the sight.
Kids shushed their brothers and sisters and Millie looked up at the sudden silence, catching a glimpse of Clora and the ray of light.
Mark turned around with his hands full of cooking kettles, alerted by the sudden silence, to see Clora and the sunshine touching her. He closed his eyes and said his own prayer of thanks. Clora had her faith and everything would be alright.
Millie was transfixed, she opened her mouth to say "Praise the Lord" and no words came out.
TJ was the closest child to Clora and he held out his hand and walked toward the praying woman, reaching over her head to touch the side of the sunshine with his fingers. He looked up at Mark with an astonished O on his lips, and then back at his hand.
The little hole in the clouds that allowed the brightness to peek through, held fast, spilling the golden sunshine all over Clora. Kids from everywhere walked slowly and softly over to Ma, to reach out and touch the shining light over her head. It was warm, very warm and it made their fingers tingle.
Wayne and Millie, Karl and Helga later told themselves they had never seen anything like that before, and Helga crossed herself several times for the magnificent beauty they had witnessed.
Mark stood there praying with cooking kettles in each hand, equally stunned by the sight. Milo lifted John up so he could touch the sunshine, then Luke and Liz. The babies not quite understanding what was happening, but wanting to touch because the rest of the kids had done so.
Clora's lips were soundlessly moving as she whispered her prayer, feeling the peace that is there for the asking and the renewal of spirit that happens when you walk with God.
This was the third time Mark had seen Clora blessed with something that defied understanding, and he had to get on his knees. When Mark dropped down, the kids did the same, and the Linderman's felt the power of faith.
Wayne accepted the sight with wide eyes, looking at Millie to confirm she was seeing the same thing he was.
Liz crowded close to Clora and Clora automatically opened her arms and gathered her in. That sent all the children to be hugged, as Ma enfolded them all with love.
Robert bent down and picked up Sam, as they stood close behind Clora. Sam reached out to touch the sunshine ray and asked in his gravelly voice, "Is that God?"
Mark could only nod yes.
Mark stood up and had a certain thought flash through his mind. "A long time ago, in a place far away from here," he said softly, "I was having a crisis of faith and terrible self doubts, and a certain lady told me that God had given us the tools to do as He asked, and we were to never give up on account of our children." Mark went to clear the cooking utensils from the tailgate so he could move the pickup.
"That sounds like something you would say Clora," Millie was calm and reasonable as she looked at her sister in law. The two ladies sitting on a board bench Karl had cobbled together, close to the fire.
"I did," Clora acknowledged with a sigh. "I'm just not sure I have another 'start over' in me, There is really no choice. The alternative is to die, and I'm not ready for that to happen. I'm tired, and the 're-do' is looking impossibly enormous from where I sit."
"When there is no hope, you go to the One that holds all the hope." Millie replied, folding her hands and bowing her head.
Clora did the same, her work rough hands and head with it's grey streaked hair bent as she prayed her problems to God. As had happened before, when Clora prayed that God's will be done, there was a small sliver of sunshine that fell on her from above. It touched no one else, and watching eyes were dumbfounded at the sight.
Kids shushed their brothers and sisters and Millie looked up at the sudden silence, catching a glimpse of Clora and the ray of light.
Mark turned around with his hands full of cooking kettles, alerted by the sudden silence, to see Clora and the sunshine touching her. He closed his eyes and said his own prayer of thanks. Clora had her faith and everything would be alright.
Millie was transfixed, she opened her mouth to say "Praise the Lord" and no words came out.
TJ was the closest child to Clora and he held out his hand and walked toward the praying woman, reaching over her head to touch the side of the sunshine with his fingers. He looked up at Mark with an astonished O on his lips, and then back at his hand.
The little hole in the clouds that allowed the brightness to peek through, held fast, spilling the golden sunshine all over Clora. Kids from everywhere walked slowly and softly over to Ma, to reach out and touch the shining light over her head. It was warm, very warm and it made their fingers tingle.
Wayne and Millie, Karl and Helga later told themselves they had never seen anything like that before, and Helga crossed herself several times for the magnificent beauty they had witnessed.
Mark stood there praying with cooking kettles in each hand, equally stunned by the sight. Milo lifted John up so he could touch the sunshine, then Luke and Liz. The babies not quite understanding what was happening, but wanting to touch because the rest of the kids had done so.
Clora's lips were soundlessly moving as she whispered her prayer, feeling the peace that is there for the asking and the renewal of spirit that happens when you walk with God.
This was the third time Mark had seen Clora blessed with something that defied understanding, and he had to get on his knees. When Mark dropped down, the kids did the same, and the Linderman's felt the power of faith.
Wayne accepted the sight with wide eyes, looking at Millie to confirm she was seeing the same thing he was.
Liz crowded close to Clora and Clora automatically opened her arms and gathered her in. That sent all the children to be hugged, as Ma enfolded them all with love.
Robert bent down and picked up Sam, as they stood close behind Clora. Sam reached out to touch the sunshine ray and asked in his gravelly voice, "Is that God?"
Mark could only nod yes.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you so much Pac. yes once the shock is over we know we can lean on the Lord.
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Clora's new kitchen
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#258
Sam smiled, he understood Ma loved God and the sunbeam proved God loved Ma. It was thrilling to the children to see proof.
It was thrilling for Millie to see proof. She had loved God all her life, dedicating her heart to His will and service; but nothing had ever proved to her that He ruled the world like that small little ray of sunshine.
Millie had reached up to feel the warm light and felt the tingle it caused. She had no words to explain how, in a dark and cloudy morning, sunshine spilled on Clora.
Mark understood, it was Clora's God reminding him, by sending proof of His power. He was in charge, and Mark might have had tears in his eyes, but he didn't seem able to tear his gaze away from Clora.
If Wayne had ever needed evidence that Grandma Evie's God was working in their lives, he had seen the proof with his own two eyes. He had been at the lodge when Clora had been sitting on the steps praying and there had been sunshine on her; but it had been a long time ago, and he had forgotten how the picture had made him feel.
It had actually been Ben that dismissed the light, saying it was a break in the clouds, nothing more. Wayne had wondered at the time what had caused Ben to be so hard hearted and arrogant, and now, clarity let Wayne know that Ben had been jealous, very jealous and it had tainted his heart.
Clora smiled as she realized she had a double full armful of children and she gloried in the feeling. Sighing, she moved and the sunbeam faded away.
"Ma, we saw you talking to God." Tess said in her very direct manner.
"I was," Clora smiled that serene smile that encompassed the whole family. "I was asking God to strengthen me and I needed to walk in His will with faith. He will provide."
In the distant times that lay ahead for Clora's sons and daughters, she would have no idea of what that sunbeam was capable of causing in their lives. It took Benny twenty years to become a minister, and he never spoke of how profoundly he had been affected, that gray and hopeless feeling day. He had watched his mother pray, and God answer. He held that in his heart until his dying day.
Robert, the eldest of the Thompson children had accepted the premise of God; but looking at the burned ashes of their home and town caused severe doubts as to why a loving God would let such destruction happen. Years later, he came to understand God was sending him proof of a idea that he couldn't hold in his hands, but he could feel in his heart.
In the space of time, one woman's love of God affected the lives of seventeen people for the rest of their lives.
Clora didn't know her affect, she only knew that she had to go forward with faith. "Are you going to check out Milo's idea?" she asked Mark and he nodded.
"I want the rest of you children to be alert and cautious while I'm gone," Mark issued orders. "We are vulnerable and have supplies that most other people don't, and they want and need badly enough to fight for."
Mark looked at his hands and he couldn't for the life of him, understand why he was holding two cooking pots. He shook his head, and set the pots on the ground as Helga came bustling over to help clear the cooking clutter.
Mark and Milo took off down the road, the rain that threatened, starting to sprinkle on the windshield.
The hotel was a ruined shell of cinder block with peeling stucco, a sagging screen door on rusty hinges, and a tile roof missing pieces. It was dusty, dirty, full of litter and previous party's garbage. It was big enough for them all, and Mark and Milo went back to get the clan.
Sam smiled, he understood Ma loved God and the sunbeam proved God loved Ma. It was thrilling to the children to see proof.
It was thrilling for Millie to see proof. She had loved God all her life, dedicating her heart to His will and service; but nothing had ever proved to her that He ruled the world like that small little ray of sunshine.
Millie had reached up to feel the warm light and felt the tingle it caused. She had no words to explain how, in a dark and cloudy morning, sunshine spilled on Clora.
Mark understood, it was Clora's God reminding him, by sending proof of His power. He was in charge, and Mark might have had tears in his eyes, but he didn't seem able to tear his gaze away from Clora.
If Wayne had ever needed evidence that Grandma Evie's God was working in their lives, he had seen the proof with his own two eyes. He had been at the lodge when Clora had been sitting on the steps praying and there had been sunshine on her; but it had been a long time ago, and he had forgotten how the picture had made him feel.
It had actually been Ben that dismissed the light, saying it was a break in the clouds, nothing more. Wayne had wondered at the time what had caused Ben to be so hard hearted and arrogant, and now, clarity let Wayne know that Ben had been jealous, very jealous and it had tainted his heart.
Clora smiled as she realized she had a double full armful of children and she gloried in the feeling. Sighing, she moved and the sunbeam faded away.
"Ma, we saw you talking to God." Tess said in her very direct manner.
"I was," Clora smiled that serene smile that encompassed the whole family. "I was asking God to strengthen me and I needed to walk in His will with faith. He will provide."
In the distant times that lay ahead for Clora's sons and daughters, she would have no idea of what that sunbeam was capable of causing in their lives. It took Benny twenty years to become a minister, and he never spoke of how profoundly he had been affected, that gray and hopeless feeling day. He had watched his mother pray, and God answer. He held that in his heart until his dying day.
Robert, the eldest of the Thompson children had accepted the premise of God; but looking at the burned ashes of their home and town caused severe doubts as to why a loving God would let such destruction happen. Years later, he came to understand God was sending him proof of a idea that he couldn't hold in his hands, but he could feel in his heart.
In the space of time, one woman's love of God affected the lives of seventeen people for the rest of their lives.
Clora didn't know her affect, she only knew that she had to go forward with faith. "Are you going to check out Milo's idea?" she asked Mark and he nodded.
"I want the rest of you children to be alert and cautious while I'm gone," Mark issued orders. "We are vulnerable and have supplies that most other people don't, and they want and need badly enough to fight for."
Mark looked at his hands and he couldn't for the life of him, understand why he was holding two cooking pots. He shook his head, and set the pots on the ground as Helga came bustling over to help clear the cooking clutter.
Mark and Milo took off down the road, the rain that threatened, starting to sprinkle on the windshield.
The hotel was a ruined shell of cinder block with peeling stucco, a sagging screen door on rusty hinges, and a tile roof missing pieces. It was dusty, dirty, full of litter and previous party's garbage. It was big enough for them all, and Mark and Milo went back to get the clan.
Last edited:
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#258b
Clora swallowed hard when she saw the hotel. Taking a deep breath, she thanked God for shelter and went inside to see what could be done.
They had one old, half used up broom that Teddy had used to sweep the bus out, and Clora tied a handkerchief over her nose and went to work creating a clean spot for her family.
Mark and Wayne, with Milo and Robert loaded the animals and moved the rigs to their new home. Kids were restricted to the bus until the men had a chance to walk the area for hazards.
The derelict hotel sat about three car lengths away from the road, the plain box shape flanked by two wooden porticoes as an enter and exit shade for the paying guests.
Once a thriving resort with lake swimming, walking trails, bicycling and genteel Southern relaxation in the Carolina mountains; Lake Powers was typical of vacation destinations in the '40's and '50's.
The back side of the building held the parking lot and curved driveway. The expanse beyond that had once been an extensive yard and garden flanked by graceful, shading willow trees. Stone rimmed flower areas and the small bubbling creek that the developers had split to run along the two sides of the lawn, as it emptied into the lake.
Long abandoned by the newer requirements demanded by wealthy people for their upscale entertainment, the hotel fell from grace and into ruin.
Mark and Karl went out to investigate the area, finding the tangled over growth almost impossible to wade through.
Mark went back into the dust Clora was raising as she swept and told her the back yard was off limits until they could get a portion cleaned. "I don't want to trust that there aren't snakes out there by the water, not a good situation."
Clora nodded.
Wayne and Millie had moved their pickup under the left side of the sun shelter to keep their belongings out of the rain. Helga was trying to organize space for cooking in the kitchen. Finally she told Karl to look for a hose, using water was the only way they were going to be able to create cleanliness.
In the decrepit garage off to the right of the hotel, Karl found a brittle old plastic hose and he attached it to the standpipe outside the kitchen door. The rusty water spit and dribbled as air in the lines was pushed out. Using his thumb, Karl clamped off half the weak stream of water, and started spraying down the kitchen. Rivulets of dust and age ran down the walls to puddle on the cracked linoleum floor.
It took more than an hour to wash and rewash the kitchen of years of dust and grime. As the final move, Karl went to the back wall and started moving the dirty water out toward the door. Helga appeared with a push broom that had a broken handle, bending over and brooming the water out the door.
Helga's bent over back side was a terrible temptation to a fun loving husband with a hose in his hand and the water 'might' have been drifting closer and closer, when a stern "ahem," was heard from the doorway.
Clora shook her finger at Karl and he grinned mightily.
"Yous sprays mees, ud yous vill liff to regrets it," Helga snapped as she quickly figured what was going on.
"Ohs, iss that's a dare?" Karl said softly, "I noes tink you should bee giffing the orders." and he had an alarming glint in his eye.
Helga said "phifft," and then there was a yowl of outrage. Karl sprayed Helga with a booming laugh, "I tolds you nots to bee giffing the orders," he repeated, "I ams the mans, you ares the voman's. You needs to remembers who iss in charge."
"Phifft."
Another spray and yell.
Clora shook her head and walked back to the front door and let crazy Karl bedevil Helga for all he was worth. They carried on in the kitchen for twenty minutes, until both of them were wet and smiling at each other.
Mark popped in the front door to see what the noise was about, and watched Helga get a third and fourth spray of water.
Raising his eyebrow, he backed out just as quick. "Do you want me to go upstairs and check out the second floor?" he asked from the safety of the outside wall.
"Yes please," Clora was laughing, "It's still hard for me to go up and down stairs."
Mark was chuckling himself as he climbed the stairs.
Clora swallowed hard when she saw the hotel. Taking a deep breath, she thanked God for shelter and went inside to see what could be done.
They had one old, half used up broom that Teddy had used to sweep the bus out, and Clora tied a handkerchief over her nose and went to work creating a clean spot for her family.
Mark and Wayne, with Milo and Robert loaded the animals and moved the rigs to their new home. Kids were restricted to the bus until the men had a chance to walk the area for hazards.
The derelict hotel sat about three car lengths away from the road, the plain box shape flanked by two wooden porticoes as an enter and exit shade for the paying guests.
Once a thriving resort with lake swimming, walking trails, bicycling and genteel Southern relaxation in the Carolina mountains; Lake Powers was typical of vacation destinations in the '40's and '50's.
The back side of the building held the parking lot and curved driveway. The expanse beyond that had once been an extensive yard and garden flanked by graceful, shading willow trees. Stone rimmed flower areas and the small bubbling creek that the developers had split to run along the two sides of the lawn, as it emptied into the lake.
Long abandoned by the newer requirements demanded by wealthy people for their upscale entertainment, the hotel fell from grace and into ruin.
Mark and Karl went out to investigate the area, finding the tangled over growth almost impossible to wade through.
Mark went back into the dust Clora was raising as she swept and told her the back yard was off limits until they could get a portion cleaned. "I don't want to trust that there aren't snakes out there by the water, not a good situation."
Clora nodded.
Wayne and Millie had moved their pickup under the left side of the sun shelter to keep their belongings out of the rain. Helga was trying to organize space for cooking in the kitchen. Finally she told Karl to look for a hose, using water was the only way they were going to be able to create cleanliness.
In the decrepit garage off to the right of the hotel, Karl found a brittle old plastic hose and he attached it to the standpipe outside the kitchen door. The rusty water spit and dribbled as air in the lines was pushed out. Using his thumb, Karl clamped off half the weak stream of water, and started spraying down the kitchen. Rivulets of dust and age ran down the walls to puddle on the cracked linoleum floor.
It took more than an hour to wash and rewash the kitchen of years of dust and grime. As the final move, Karl went to the back wall and started moving the dirty water out toward the door. Helga appeared with a push broom that had a broken handle, bending over and brooming the water out the door.
Helga's bent over back side was a terrible temptation to a fun loving husband with a hose in his hand and the water 'might' have been drifting closer and closer, when a stern "ahem," was heard from the doorway.
Clora shook her finger at Karl and he grinned mightily.
"Yous sprays mees, ud yous vill liff to regrets it," Helga snapped as she quickly figured what was going on.
"Ohs, iss that's a dare?" Karl said softly, "I noes tink you should bee giffing the orders." and he had an alarming glint in his eye.
Helga said "phifft," and then there was a yowl of outrage. Karl sprayed Helga with a booming laugh, "I tolds you nots to bee giffing the orders," he repeated, "I ams the mans, you ares the voman's. You needs to remembers who iss in charge."
"Phifft."
Another spray and yell.
Clora shook her head and walked back to the front door and let crazy Karl bedevil Helga for all he was worth. They carried on in the kitchen for twenty minutes, until both of them were wet and smiling at each other.
Mark popped in the front door to see what the noise was about, and watched Helga get a third and fourth spray of water.
Raising his eyebrow, he backed out just as quick. "Do you want me to go upstairs and check out the second floor?" he asked from the safety of the outside wall.
"Yes please," Clora was laughing, "It's still hard for me to go up and down stairs."
Mark was chuckling himself as he climbed the stairs.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#258c
"Mark?" Clora stopped him half way up the stairs. "Do you know how to swim?"
"Yes, well. Why?"
"That's an awful big lake out there for our kids to play in." Clora said in a scared voice. "I've never been swimming." she was looking out the door at the organized group following Wayne as they went adventuring at the lake edge.
"Really Clora, you've never been swimming?" Mark came back down stairs with a frown on his face.
"I've never had more than about five inches of water to go wading in," Clora wasn't paying attention to Mark, she was frightened to see her children that close to the lake. "A deep hole in our creek when I was growing up, might have been ten inches deep." her voice betrayed her.
Mark put his arm around Clora, she really was frightened of the water. Once again he reflected on the differences in their upbringing. Mark was a qualified diving instructor in snorkel and scuba. He had done dives off the cliffs in Acapulco, in Greece and many of the Mediterranean islands.
"I'll teach them, and you if you want to learn," Mark said confidently. Kissing the tender spot just below her ear. What ever would have been said next was drowned out by Karl's bellow of surprise.
In the kitchen, Karl and Helga were making up. Helga reaching with her hands to tenderly touch his face, and at the last moment using her left hand to push the hose with it's cold water down the front of Karl's pants.
Chuckling a wicked sound of amusement, Helga sauntered out the door and then ran to safety like her feet were afire.
Down by the water Wayne and Millie could hear the shouts in the hotel. "I wonder if something is wrong," she worried.
"Sounds to me like things are getting right," Wayne said with heavy meaning and then laughed.
"Mark?" Clora stopped him half way up the stairs. "Do you know how to swim?"
"Yes, well. Why?"
"That's an awful big lake out there for our kids to play in." Clora said in a scared voice. "I've never been swimming." she was looking out the door at the organized group following Wayne as they went adventuring at the lake edge.
"Really Clora, you've never been swimming?" Mark came back down stairs with a frown on his face.
"I've never had more than about five inches of water to go wading in," Clora wasn't paying attention to Mark, she was frightened to see her children that close to the lake. "A deep hole in our creek when I was growing up, might have been ten inches deep." her voice betrayed her.
Mark put his arm around Clora, she really was frightened of the water. Once again he reflected on the differences in their upbringing. Mark was a qualified diving instructor in snorkel and scuba. He had done dives off the cliffs in Acapulco, in Greece and many of the Mediterranean islands.
"I'll teach them, and you if you want to learn," Mark said confidently. Kissing the tender spot just below her ear. What ever would have been said next was drowned out by Karl's bellow of surprise.
In the kitchen, Karl and Helga were making up. Helga reaching with her hands to tenderly touch his face, and at the last moment using her left hand to push the hose with it's cold water down the front of Karl's pants.
Chuckling a wicked sound of amusement, Helga sauntered out the door and then ran to safety like her feet were afire.
Down by the water Wayne and Millie could hear the shouts in the hotel. "I wonder if something is wrong," she worried.
"Sounds to me like things are getting right," Wayne said with heavy meaning and then laughed.
Last edited:
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac 
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Wow amazing story Pac, thank you for the amazing chapters. You are such a Blessing to us.
May Gods Blessings be with you and your family.
Wayne
May Gods Blessings be with you and your family.
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#258d
"Getting right?....OH!..." Millie finally caught on. Wayne looked up and winked and Millie blushed. They were standing on a rocky slope and rocks were going in the water at a high rate of speed. John, Luke and Liz were giggling and crowing every time they made a splash. The older boys were throwing for distance, and were making a pretty fair showing.
There were minnow, frogs and who knows what else along the shore, and Wayne stood looking over the lake and wondering if there were fish. A little row boat just might be the thing to look for, with Wayne conveniently forgetting he didn't have a clue how to swim. Oh well, maybe Mark knew how and would teach them. He was kinda looking forward to seeing Millie in a bathing suit, and it gave a devilish gleam to the eye he turned in Millie's direction.
"What in the world are you thinking about?" Millie gasped. "I've never seen such a look on your face. Are you alright?"
"This is the Big Bad Wolf speaking," Wayne was so quiet and serious Millie wasn't sure she had heard him correctly. "All the better to see you with, my dear." and he grinned wolfishly.
"OH! NO you don't, not in front of all these kids." Millie was laughing as Wayne grabbed her and kissed her soundly.
Behind them, Milo was talking to Robert as they moved down the shore line to find better rocks. "I swear, every time we turn around, some one of our parents are kissing. It's enough to give a guy a complex."
"Well have you ever thought about it?" Robert was thinking out loud. "I mean it looks like it might not be too bad, especially if they weren't mean and rough like Tally. That girl kissed you on the cheek, what did that feel like?"
"I dunno," Milo explained. "She did it so fast I could barely feel it. But, it wasn't like getting hit or anything." Both boys nodded, it was rough growing up, they decided.
The weather got a little windy, bringing in a harder spatter of rain. "Hey guys, we'd better head for shelter," Wayne called out and the bunch walked away from the water, up across the road and into the hotel. The big empty lobby that Clora had been sweeping was just right for running, and the triplets started trotting around in a big circle. Sand flew everywhere over the floor Clora had just cleaned.
Mark turned Clora around so she couldn't see what was happening. "Is that what I think I'm hearing?" Clora said with defeated humor.
"Yes." Mark and Clora stood in the doorway and listened to their kids play and laugh. "That's a good sound to hear," Mark said firmly. "I don't ever remember laughing like that when I was young, there was never any play and nothing to laugh about. Life was so serious, and there was always an agenda for me to follow. Another skill to master so I could be pushed on to the next one. No, this is wonderful. More wonderful than you can imagine."
Clora's arm gently went around Mark and they stood close, gathering up memories to fill Mark, as he had none of his own. In the middle of nothing, they had everything; riches on earth enough to make their love complete.
It started raining outside, pouring buckets of water with the crack of lighting and the rumble of overhead thunder. The adults all said their thanks for shelter from the storm.
"Uh Dad," Milo interrupted Mark and Clora's stolen moment. "There's a guy driving in and he looks like Grandpa Warren."
"Getting right?....OH!..." Millie finally caught on. Wayne looked up and winked and Millie blushed. They were standing on a rocky slope and rocks were going in the water at a high rate of speed. John, Luke and Liz were giggling and crowing every time they made a splash. The older boys were throwing for distance, and were making a pretty fair showing.
There were minnow, frogs and who knows what else along the shore, and Wayne stood looking over the lake and wondering if there were fish. A little row boat just might be the thing to look for, with Wayne conveniently forgetting he didn't have a clue how to swim. Oh well, maybe Mark knew how and would teach them. He was kinda looking forward to seeing Millie in a bathing suit, and it gave a devilish gleam to the eye he turned in Millie's direction.
"What in the world are you thinking about?" Millie gasped. "I've never seen such a look on your face. Are you alright?"
"This is the Big Bad Wolf speaking," Wayne was so quiet and serious Millie wasn't sure she had heard him correctly. "All the better to see you with, my dear." and he grinned wolfishly.
"OH! NO you don't, not in front of all these kids." Millie was laughing as Wayne grabbed her and kissed her soundly.
Behind them, Milo was talking to Robert as they moved down the shore line to find better rocks. "I swear, every time we turn around, some one of our parents are kissing. It's enough to give a guy a complex."
"Well have you ever thought about it?" Robert was thinking out loud. "I mean it looks like it might not be too bad, especially if they weren't mean and rough like Tally. That girl kissed you on the cheek, what did that feel like?"
"I dunno," Milo explained. "She did it so fast I could barely feel it. But, it wasn't like getting hit or anything." Both boys nodded, it was rough growing up, they decided.
The weather got a little windy, bringing in a harder spatter of rain. "Hey guys, we'd better head for shelter," Wayne called out and the bunch walked away from the water, up across the road and into the hotel. The big empty lobby that Clora had been sweeping was just right for running, and the triplets started trotting around in a big circle. Sand flew everywhere over the floor Clora had just cleaned.
Mark turned Clora around so she couldn't see what was happening. "Is that what I think I'm hearing?" Clora said with defeated humor.
"Yes." Mark and Clora stood in the doorway and listened to their kids play and laugh. "That's a good sound to hear," Mark said firmly. "I don't ever remember laughing like that when I was young, there was never any play and nothing to laugh about. Life was so serious, and there was always an agenda for me to follow. Another skill to master so I could be pushed on to the next one. No, this is wonderful. More wonderful than you can imagine."
Clora's arm gently went around Mark and they stood close, gathering up memories to fill Mark, as he had none of his own. In the middle of nothing, they had everything; riches on earth enough to make their love complete.
It started raining outside, pouring buckets of water with the crack of lighting and the rumble of overhead thunder. The adults all said their thanks for shelter from the storm.
"Uh Dad," Milo interrupted Mark and Clora's stolen moment. "There's a guy driving in and he looks like Grandpa Warren."
Nature_Lover
Wait! What?
Thank you Pac.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thanks Pac, another great chapter.
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#258e
The Land Rover drove as close to the door as possible. The ancient old man that got out, leaning on his cane, walked with studied preciseness to reach the door.
Father looked at son, and Mark could see the emotion boiling over in his Dad's eyes.
Clora stepped back to allow Warren to enter, but Mark wouldn't let go of her, and Clora twisted to the side and spun her bad ankle. With a small cry, she started to go down. Mark reached for his wife and Warren reached for his daughter in law; both of them getting a hand on Clora and jerking her awkwardly from one side to the other.
Inky in the coat room heard Clora cry, he hit both men from the side with a deep growl, sprawling them on the floor. Standing over the duo, Inky slobbered as he protected his Mistress. If Mark or Warren twitched an eyelash, he growled and vibrated his teeth.
Clora tried to sit up, struggling to gain a purchase on the slick wood floor. Helga peered over the half wall from the kitchen and launched herself into the lobby with a blood curdling shriek. "Miss Clora, Miss Clora," she cried, running and slipping on the sand the triplets had flung around on the floor.
The last thing Mark did, as the cook's rapidly advancing form came toward him at warp speed, was close his eyes and say, "God have Mercy."
From behind him, Mark heard Warren say, "Dear God, she's gonna crash us."
She did.
Wayne was laughing so hard, as was Karl. Millie had her hand over her mouth and one hand protectively around Joe, and the triplets came running to throw themselves onto the pile of scrambled humans.
Helga's head hit Mark's arm, rudely pushing him into Warren and Warren hit the wall and went "oomph," and then was deathly still.
When Mark started to rise to untangle himself from the cluster, Inky pounced hard, growling his murderous intent. Mark went down and stayed down for his own protection.
In the aftermath, the only sound was Clora wimpering.
Helga, when she impacted Mark, hit the side of his pocketed Glock and raised a good sized bump on the top of her head. The Glock imprinted well into Mark's ribs, and John, when he threw himself into the fun, bounced Mark's nose on the floor and caused a nosebleed.
"Inky...off." Clora was trying to say and couldn't be heard over the dog's growls. Clora's ankle hurt so much that she passed out. Only then did the laughing men realize there were serious consequences to what had happened.
"Inky, OFF," Wayne roared, as he knelt beside Clora, gathering her hand in his and looking with anguish at her foot.
"MARK!" Wayne was bellowing, "Get over here and help Clora, she's hurt.!"
Inky reluctantly let Mark up, and he allowed Mark to crawl over to Clora. Bleeding all over the floor, himself and then Clora when he got there. Mark pulled his handkerchief from his pocket to hold his nose.
Helga was rolling herself over trying to get to her feet and was unable to do the deed. Karl came to help and wasn't enough strength and he looked to Wayne for help.
"She can stay there for all I care." Wayne roared. "This time people really got hurt and if Clora loses her foot because of Helga's irresponsibility, I will make her life miserable for the rest of her life."
Helga commenced bawling with all her heart. Her feelings hurt by the harsh truth.
Warren finally got his breath and started flexing the various parts of himself he hoped weren't broken. Every thing seemed to be working, but he couldn't get up. Luke and Liz were sitting on the small of his back, yelling "Giddiap Grandpa, go horsey," and they were bouncing in excitement.
Milo and Robert rushed over to pick the two off Grandpa, and stand Warren up. Then they went to help Karl get Helga up. They couldn't.
Mark sat up and touched Clora's face with his free hand. Her eyes fluttered and she gasped, "my ankle, it hurts so much I'm going to be sick." The only side she could roll to was into Mark, and Clora heaved all over his leg.
Mark sent a thunderous, flat eyed stare at Helga and she cried harder.
It took Millie issuing calm orders to get people moving as they should. "Teddy and Benny and Tess, please go up stairs and see if there are any chairs up there. Warren needs to sit down, a chair will help Helga get up and Mark, Wayne needs to drive you and Clora to the hospital."
When Wayne drove Mark and Clora away, the silence got long and tense.
"Welcome Warren, where the hell have you been?" Millie was one mad woman. "Someone ought to horse whip you for the pain you have caused."
The Land Rover drove as close to the door as possible. The ancient old man that got out, leaning on his cane, walked with studied preciseness to reach the door.
Father looked at son, and Mark could see the emotion boiling over in his Dad's eyes.
Clora stepped back to allow Warren to enter, but Mark wouldn't let go of her, and Clora twisted to the side and spun her bad ankle. With a small cry, she started to go down. Mark reached for his wife and Warren reached for his daughter in law; both of them getting a hand on Clora and jerking her awkwardly from one side to the other.
Inky in the coat room heard Clora cry, he hit both men from the side with a deep growl, sprawling them on the floor. Standing over the duo, Inky slobbered as he protected his Mistress. If Mark or Warren twitched an eyelash, he growled and vibrated his teeth.
Clora tried to sit up, struggling to gain a purchase on the slick wood floor. Helga peered over the half wall from the kitchen and launched herself into the lobby with a blood curdling shriek. "Miss Clora, Miss Clora," she cried, running and slipping on the sand the triplets had flung around on the floor.
The last thing Mark did, as the cook's rapidly advancing form came toward him at warp speed, was close his eyes and say, "God have Mercy."
From behind him, Mark heard Warren say, "Dear God, she's gonna crash us."
She did.
Wayne was laughing so hard, as was Karl. Millie had her hand over her mouth and one hand protectively around Joe, and the triplets came running to throw themselves onto the pile of scrambled humans.
Helga's head hit Mark's arm, rudely pushing him into Warren and Warren hit the wall and went "oomph," and then was deathly still.
When Mark started to rise to untangle himself from the cluster, Inky pounced hard, growling his murderous intent. Mark went down and stayed down for his own protection.
In the aftermath, the only sound was Clora wimpering.
Helga, when she impacted Mark, hit the side of his pocketed Glock and raised a good sized bump on the top of her head. The Glock imprinted well into Mark's ribs, and John, when he threw himself into the fun, bounced Mark's nose on the floor and caused a nosebleed.
"Inky...off." Clora was trying to say and couldn't be heard over the dog's growls. Clora's ankle hurt so much that she passed out. Only then did the laughing men realize there were serious consequences to what had happened.
"Inky, OFF," Wayne roared, as he knelt beside Clora, gathering her hand in his and looking with anguish at her foot.
"MARK!" Wayne was bellowing, "Get over here and help Clora, she's hurt.!"
Inky reluctantly let Mark up, and he allowed Mark to crawl over to Clora. Bleeding all over the floor, himself and then Clora when he got there. Mark pulled his handkerchief from his pocket to hold his nose.
Helga was rolling herself over trying to get to her feet and was unable to do the deed. Karl came to help and wasn't enough strength and he looked to Wayne for help.
"She can stay there for all I care." Wayne roared. "This time people really got hurt and if Clora loses her foot because of Helga's irresponsibility, I will make her life miserable for the rest of her life."
Helga commenced bawling with all her heart. Her feelings hurt by the harsh truth.
Warren finally got his breath and started flexing the various parts of himself he hoped weren't broken. Every thing seemed to be working, but he couldn't get up. Luke and Liz were sitting on the small of his back, yelling "Giddiap Grandpa, go horsey," and they were bouncing in excitement.
Milo and Robert rushed over to pick the two off Grandpa, and stand Warren up. Then they went to help Karl get Helga up. They couldn't.
Mark sat up and touched Clora's face with his free hand. Her eyes fluttered and she gasped, "my ankle, it hurts so much I'm going to be sick." The only side she could roll to was into Mark, and Clora heaved all over his leg.
Mark sent a thunderous, flat eyed stare at Helga and she cried harder.
It took Millie issuing calm orders to get people moving as they should. "Teddy and Benny and Tess, please go up stairs and see if there are any chairs up there. Warren needs to sit down, a chair will help Helga get up and Mark, Wayne needs to drive you and Clora to the hospital."
When Wayne drove Mark and Clora away, the silence got long and tense.
"Welcome Warren, where the hell have you been?" Millie was one mad woman. "Someone ought to horse whip you for the pain you have caused."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
OH noooooooooo moar moar. Thank you Pac.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thank you Pac
Wayne
Wayne
Whooeee~ PAC, you have the most delicious way of describing things. But this one could have serious consequences so I shouldn't have laughed. But the situation just sounded humorous. And Inky, my goodness, you could go a long ways before finding such a good personal protector as he is. Thank you PAC for this delightful episode.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#259
Clora had often referred to Millie as an undiscovered treasure. Millie was also the iron fist in the rose scented velvet glove. In a matter of minutes after Wayne left to drive Mark and Clora to the hospital, Millie had the place jumping.
Tearing a strip off Warren for wherever he had been for so long incommunicado, she took one look at the hysterical Helga and put a quick stop to the theatrics.
"Stop that sniveling Helga, get up and get out in the kitchen and get lunch." Millie ordered briskly.
"Karl, have you and the boys unloaded the cow and horse. Get them to water and stake them in the grass."
"Tess, grab those babies and get the sand out of their shoes and socks. Gary, you get the broom and sweep up that sand."
"Benny, you and Teddy get the pots and pans out of the bus for Helga and bring them to the kitchen please. What happened to the rest of the morning's milk? We need to make potato soup Helga. Benny grab a pan of potatoes while your out there and bring in the camp stove."
Millie might have been small but she was mighty when the opportunity needed decisive measures.
From upstairs, the kids brought down several straight back kitchen chairs, and Warren was given one to sit out of the way. Cautiously he sank down, wondering if the decades old wooden furniture would hold him. His slam into the wall had really hurt, and he hoped that it hadn't torn loose anything that needed to remain stitched together.
Inky, Red and Bootsie were banished outside, Inky's slobber was a nasty mess Millie wasn't going to put up with on the floor.
"Tess, please take the babies to the potty, we don't need any messes."
And it went on like that for the rest of the morning. Even when Millie was sitting and feeding Joe, she always had a list in her mind of the next move that needed to be made.
Karl, Milo and Robert opened the doors to the main floor bedroom suites and looked them over. The closest one to the bathroom was designated as Mark and Clora's, so she didn't have to travel so far.
The rooms were dirty and trash filled, but gloves and the application of the broken handled push broom solved that problem. There were no beds, but the sleeping bags were brought in and the cases of clothes.
They needed access to the stored foods in the bus.
Helga was pouting in the kitchen. She really hadn't intended to have potato soup for lunch, but Miss Millie wasn't giving her any say so. It got so bad with the pan thumping and muttering that Millie got up and marched into the kitchen.
"Alright Helga, that's enough!" Millie was very much in command and she believed Clora gave the cook way to much leeway and impertance when it came to voicing her Kazakh opinions.
"You can either get with the program or get out. We need to have lunch for the clan, and then we need to start supper. If you can't or won't do what you need to do, go and don't hang around and eat their resources. Have you got beans on to soak, are you cooking rice? Don't stand there in the kitchen and pout. Get moving."
Millie had them all moving in high gear. Helga was wiping her nose on her sleeve and looking astonished; her feelings hurt and worry about Miss Clora upper most in her mind.
Millie had a cure for that also.
"Helga, this is your second warning. Clora got hurt, but your desire to help caused severe problems with the able bodied men that we need here for protection. If you can't get your self together and get going, get out of the kitchen and let me get the work done. If I have to give you a third warning, you are fired."
Helga evidently figured that Millie would stand good on her decision, and she got busy.
Lunch was indeed potato soup, as way to use up the morning's milk before it soured in the heat.
After lunch, Karl and Robert were dispatched to clean out the stock trailer. "We don't know if we will be here or somewhere else," Millie declared, "but the trailer needs to be ready. Milo and Teddy, what about the rooms upstairs? Are they livable, and is there an attic that might have stored furniture in it?"
The boys dispatched themselves in a hurry to go find out.
"Tess, please put the babies down for a nap in Clora's room. You may have to lay with them until they fall asleep, but they're so tired they're crabby and fussy. That's an added annoyance we don't need. Gary and Lou, you help Helga with the dishes. Helga, how is the rice coming, we need that for snacks about 3pm."
Millie had the idea that Clora asked her kids to do chores and then worked with them and the kids slacked off and often left Clora to finish the work herself.
And Helga, that woman was plain lazy. She had slowed down to the point of a snail's pace, and there again, Clora was picking up the cook's slack. If Helga couldn't do the work, they needed another cook. Just because Helga was tired, didn't mean the clan didn't need to eat on time.
Millie was correct in thinking that Clora was going to be off her feet entirely, when she got back. Millie had also seen the way Mark was holding his ribs, so that was going to be a complication. Karl and Helga were taking terrible advantage of Clora, and by necessity, it would be stopped.
Warren was glad he was out of Millie's way, over in the shadows. He couldn't do much and the chair was so uncomfortable he was having trouble sitting. No way however, did he want to leave. It had been a problem to find the family, when he got to town and discovered the town gone. He had gone to the Plantation house and then followed footprints in the road to the present location.
If Warren thought he hadn't come under Millie's scrutiny, he was very much mistaken. "Do you have any sleeping gear in your car? If you don't, what do you intend to do about tonight? There is no extra bedding here, and we have to sleep on the floor." He was next in line for Millie's decisive actions.
Clora had often referred to Millie as an undiscovered treasure. Millie was also the iron fist in the rose scented velvet glove. In a matter of minutes after Wayne left to drive Mark and Clora to the hospital, Millie had the place jumping.
Tearing a strip off Warren for wherever he had been for so long incommunicado, she took one look at the hysterical Helga and put a quick stop to the theatrics.
"Stop that sniveling Helga, get up and get out in the kitchen and get lunch." Millie ordered briskly.
"Karl, have you and the boys unloaded the cow and horse. Get them to water and stake them in the grass."
"Tess, grab those babies and get the sand out of their shoes and socks. Gary, you get the broom and sweep up that sand."
"Benny, you and Teddy get the pots and pans out of the bus for Helga and bring them to the kitchen please. What happened to the rest of the morning's milk? We need to make potato soup Helga. Benny grab a pan of potatoes while your out there and bring in the camp stove."
Millie might have been small but she was mighty when the opportunity needed decisive measures.
From upstairs, the kids brought down several straight back kitchen chairs, and Warren was given one to sit out of the way. Cautiously he sank down, wondering if the decades old wooden furniture would hold him. His slam into the wall had really hurt, and he hoped that it hadn't torn loose anything that needed to remain stitched together.
Inky, Red and Bootsie were banished outside, Inky's slobber was a nasty mess Millie wasn't going to put up with on the floor.
"Tess, please take the babies to the potty, we don't need any messes."
And it went on like that for the rest of the morning. Even when Millie was sitting and feeding Joe, she always had a list in her mind of the next move that needed to be made.
Karl, Milo and Robert opened the doors to the main floor bedroom suites and looked them over. The closest one to the bathroom was designated as Mark and Clora's, so she didn't have to travel so far.
The rooms were dirty and trash filled, but gloves and the application of the broken handled push broom solved that problem. There were no beds, but the sleeping bags were brought in and the cases of clothes.
They needed access to the stored foods in the bus.
Helga was pouting in the kitchen. She really hadn't intended to have potato soup for lunch, but Miss Millie wasn't giving her any say so. It got so bad with the pan thumping and muttering that Millie got up and marched into the kitchen.
"Alright Helga, that's enough!" Millie was very much in command and she believed Clora gave the cook way to much leeway and impertance when it came to voicing her Kazakh opinions.
"You can either get with the program or get out. We need to have lunch for the clan, and then we need to start supper. If you can't or won't do what you need to do, go and don't hang around and eat their resources. Have you got beans on to soak, are you cooking rice? Don't stand there in the kitchen and pout. Get moving."
Millie had them all moving in high gear. Helga was wiping her nose on her sleeve and looking astonished; her feelings hurt and worry about Miss Clora upper most in her mind.
Millie had a cure for that also.
"Helga, this is your second warning. Clora got hurt, but your desire to help caused severe problems with the able bodied men that we need here for protection. If you can't get your self together and get going, get out of the kitchen and let me get the work done. If I have to give you a third warning, you are fired."
Helga evidently figured that Millie would stand good on her decision, and she got busy.
Lunch was indeed potato soup, as way to use up the morning's milk before it soured in the heat.
After lunch, Karl and Robert were dispatched to clean out the stock trailer. "We don't know if we will be here or somewhere else," Millie declared, "but the trailer needs to be ready. Milo and Teddy, what about the rooms upstairs? Are they livable, and is there an attic that might have stored furniture in it?"
The boys dispatched themselves in a hurry to go find out.
"Tess, please put the babies down for a nap in Clora's room. You may have to lay with them until they fall asleep, but they're so tired they're crabby and fussy. That's an added annoyance we don't need. Gary and Lou, you help Helga with the dishes. Helga, how is the rice coming, we need that for snacks about 3pm."
Millie had the idea that Clora asked her kids to do chores and then worked with them and the kids slacked off and often left Clora to finish the work herself.
And Helga, that woman was plain lazy. She had slowed down to the point of a snail's pace, and there again, Clora was picking up the cook's slack. If Helga couldn't do the work, they needed another cook. Just because Helga was tired, didn't mean the clan didn't need to eat on time.
Millie was correct in thinking that Clora was going to be off her feet entirely, when she got back. Millie had also seen the way Mark was holding his ribs, so that was going to be a complication. Karl and Helga were taking terrible advantage of Clora, and by necessity, it would be stopped.
Warren was glad he was out of Millie's way, over in the shadows. He couldn't do much and the chair was so uncomfortable he was having trouble sitting. No way however, did he want to leave. It had been a problem to find the family, when he got to town and discovered the town gone. He had gone to the Plantation house and then followed footprints in the road to the present location.
If Warren thought he hadn't come under Millie's scrutiny, he was very much mistaken. "Do you have any sleeping gear in your car? If you don't, what do you intend to do about tonight? There is no extra bedding here, and we have to sleep on the floor." He was next in line for Millie's decisive actions.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Wow who would of ever though that Millie would step up to the chalange of taking charge. Thank you for the chapters Pac. Fantastic story!
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#259b
Given the opportunity, Millie was a woman that got things done. Quiet to the point of being overlooked and dismissed, Millie had her light under a bushel, that is, until it was needed.
"I don't have any bedding with me," Warren admitted. "I had no idea what had happened in town until I got here." if he thought that was going to get him excused, he was sadly mistaken.
Millie was thinking hard. She could always call Wayne and have him bring back a sleeping bag. They really need two more camp stoves and dish soap.
"What did you bring in the line of food?" Millie fished in her pocket for her list and pencil stub.
Warren was very quiet, and when Millie looked up, he had a blank look on his face. Obviously nothing, she guessed.
"Warren, you are as bad as Ben and Twila. The three of you eat here and breeze in and out, never stopping to consider you are a drain on Mark and Clora's resources. Honestly, what are you thinking?"
Ever since Millie had come on board with the clan, she had always made sure they would be welcome in any situation by hard work and any provisions they had on hand.
Warren raised his eyebrow. He guessed he hadn't been thinking.
"I ought to toss you out on your keister," Millie reprimanded her half baked relative. "Did you think to come with toothpaste? Or were you just going to help yourself to what ever was available? Everybody homes in on Clora's good nature and sets up camp and announces, 'I'm here, aren't you lucky.' Well I'll tell you something buster, the anguish Mark and Clora had over your 'supposed' death, was awful to see and very real. And you waited more than eleven months to come back and contact them...unbelievable."
Millie was fired up and unloading a load on Warren. "I'm going to tell you a few things Warren Donaldson, and I expect you to hear them loud and clear. Wayne and I don't care what ever fancy shadow government agency you work for, if you want to be a part of this family you will have to consider their feelings and act like a member that cares for them with honesty. And don't you go pulling that tight and closed up attitude with me. You're not that important."
Warren was blinking at the woman's attack, unsure how to proceed.
In the kitchen, Helga was so pleased to hear Warren on the receiving end of Millie's 'reorganization' that she forgot her manners and inserted her opinion out loud.
"That's enough out of you Helga. We didn't ask for your opinion and it's not wanted or needed. You have no reason to make any comments. Your job is to cook, do you understand?" Millie flashed her orders instantly at Helga. Helga got all tight and pinched up, but didn't say anymore.
Karl was standing at the back door to the kitchen, in time to hear Helga get her dressing down. This one, he thought, is going to make a big difference to the day to day living of the family. It had been needed.
"I am so ashamed of everyone here," Millie said loudly, very much aware the children were hanging around the front doorway. "You are lazy and sneaky. How many of you volunteered to help sweep this morning? None of you, that's who, me included. Your mother is not supposed to be on her feet, and what was she doing, making excuses so you kids could run around. From now on each one of you will actively look for work to do to help the family, if you don't, you get less food. Your Mom and Dad are trying to give you food and shelter, and there are enough kids here to give them a hand. Do you understand?"
Millie turned around to look at the mass of kids that were looking everywhere but at her.
"I've watched Clora and you kids garden this summer. You children worked about two hours every morning and then flopped in the shade. Now tell me who was still out in the garden working for another hour at least, on the foot she was supposed to have up. And how many times did she come in and start lunch and supper, plus doing the canning. This is an outrage, the way you are behaving and taking advantage of your Mother." Oh my, Millie was mad.
"Clora is going to be very lucky if she doesn't lose her foot and be on crutches or in a wheel chair for the rest of her life. Do you want to be the children that contributed to that?"
It was very hard to listen to Aunt Millie. What she was saying was true, and the Linderman kids were ashamed of their attitudes.
"When your mother gets here, she is not going to be able to work and I am going to see that she doesn't. I don't care if you kids work from sunup to sundown, that's what your mother is doing every single day, and you are not exempted in any way, shape or form. She is going to be the director and you will do the work. I need kids upstairs helping each other clean out enough rooms for sleeping tonight, and if there are any fights or fussing, those children will come down and work with me."
It was a threat the kids took seriously.
Warren was quiet, not wanting to call attention to himself. Millie's tongue was sharp.
"Now Warren," Millie took up from where she left off. "what do you propose to do about sleeping tonight?"
Given the opportunity, Millie was a woman that got things done. Quiet to the point of being overlooked and dismissed, Millie had her light under a bushel, that is, until it was needed.
"I don't have any bedding with me," Warren admitted. "I had no idea what had happened in town until I got here." if he thought that was going to get him excused, he was sadly mistaken.
Millie was thinking hard. She could always call Wayne and have him bring back a sleeping bag. They really need two more camp stoves and dish soap.
"What did you bring in the line of food?" Millie fished in her pocket for her list and pencil stub.
Warren was very quiet, and when Millie looked up, he had a blank look on his face. Obviously nothing, she guessed.
"Warren, you are as bad as Ben and Twila. The three of you eat here and breeze in and out, never stopping to consider you are a drain on Mark and Clora's resources. Honestly, what are you thinking?"
Ever since Millie had come on board with the clan, she had always made sure they would be welcome in any situation by hard work and any provisions they had on hand.
Warren raised his eyebrow. He guessed he hadn't been thinking.
"I ought to toss you out on your keister," Millie reprimanded her half baked relative. "Did you think to come with toothpaste? Or were you just going to help yourself to what ever was available? Everybody homes in on Clora's good nature and sets up camp and announces, 'I'm here, aren't you lucky.' Well I'll tell you something buster, the anguish Mark and Clora had over your 'supposed' death, was awful to see and very real. And you waited more than eleven months to come back and contact them...unbelievable."
Millie was fired up and unloading a load on Warren. "I'm going to tell you a few things Warren Donaldson, and I expect you to hear them loud and clear. Wayne and I don't care what ever fancy shadow government agency you work for, if you want to be a part of this family you will have to consider their feelings and act like a member that cares for them with honesty. And don't you go pulling that tight and closed up attitude with me. You're not that important."
Warren was blinking at the woman's attack, unsure how to proceed.
In the kitchen, Helga was so pleased to hear Warren on the receiving end of Millie's 'reorganization' that she forgot her manners and inserted her opinion out loud.
"That's enough out of you Helga. We didn't ask for your opinion and it's not wanted or needed. You have no reason to make any comments. Your job is to cook, do you understand?" Millie flashed her orders instantly at Helga. Helga got all tight and pinched up, but didn't say anymore.
Karl was standing at the back door to the kitchen, in time to hear Helga get her dressing down. This one, he thought, is going to make a big difference to the day to day living of the family. It had been needed.
"I am so ashamed of everyone here," Millie said loudly, very much aware the children were hanging around the front doorway. "You are lazy and sneaky. How many of you volunteered to help sweep this morning? None of you, that's who, me included. Your mother is not supposed to be on her feet, and what was she doing, making excuses so you kids could run around. From now on each one of you will actively look for work to do to help the family, if you don't, you get less food. Your Mom and Dad are trying to give you food and shelter, and there are enough kids here to give them a hand. Do you understand?"
Millie turned around to look at the mass of kids that were looking everywhere but at her.
"I've watched Clora and you kids garden this summer. You children worked about two hours every morning and then flopped in the shade. Now tell me who was still out in the garden working for another hour at least, on the foot she was supposed to have up. And how many times did she come in and start lunch and supper, plus doing the canning. This is an outrage, the way you are behaving and taking advantage of your Mother." Oh my, Millie was mad.
"Clora is going to be very lucky if she doesn't lose her foot and be on crutches or in a wheel chair for the rest of her life. Do you want to be the children that contributed to that?"
It was very hard to listen to Aunt Millie. What she was saying was true, and the Linderman kids were ashamed of their attitudes.
"When your mother gets here, she is not going to be able to work and I am going to see that she doesn't. I don't care if you kids work from sunup to sundown, that's what your mother is doing every single day, and you are not exempted in any way, shape or form. She is going to be the director and you will do the work. I need kids upstairs helping each other clean out enough rooms for sleeping tonight, and if there are any fights or fussing, those children will come down and work with me."
It was a threat the kids took seriously.
Warren was quiet, not wanting to call attention to himself. Millie's tongue was sharp.
"Now Warren," Millie took up from where she left off. "what do you propose to do about sleeping tonight?"
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#259c
"Have Wayne bring me a sleeping bag please," Warren was trying to be a neutral as possible.
Millie looked at her watch. Wayne had been gone for more than an hour, so he should be somewhere where he could write a list. Calling her husband, Millie smiled at Joe.
Wayne was indeed in the hospital waiting room, and Millie patiently coaxed him through the list she wanted. Millie understood that if Clora was in a crisis, Wayne reacted badly; so she was calm as she told him what to get. "One good sleeping bag, seven air mattresses, two more camp stoves and fuel canisters, water..as much as you can get, a chair for Clora, Mark and Warren. Five brooms, cleaning solution and dish soap. Rice cereal, and a cooler with ice. How are things going?"
Millie listened as Wayne told her about Marks two broken ribs, and the fact that Clora would be in the hospital overnight. It's bad Millie." Wayne's voice was scared and had a hint of panic.
"You and Mark need to get the supplies and come out here tonight. We need the protection. Clora is safe in the hospital, no one knows she is there. But we are having interested traffic on the road, and could never hold off an attack. At three o'clock we are going to have a prayer session here, so you may join in where you are. Wayne," Millie's voice was full of confidence, "you are strong." she finished calmly, sending him their trigger phrase to settle his nerves.
Wayne said some appreciative but mushy words on the other end of the connection, and Millie smiled at Joe again.
"Helga, if you would please have the rice ready at three. I want the older boys to have two cups worth with a teaspoon of sugar and milk. The smaller kids can start out with one cup and a half teaspoon of sugar and milk."
"Nons, noes sugar," Helga said automatically, as she kept her head down to keep her annoyance from showing. Miss Millie was getting to be too much for Helga to keep her mouth shut.
There was silence in the room, and when Helga did look up, Millie was stalking purposely into the kitchen.
"Helga, I think you misunderstood. I wasn't asking you to put sugar on their rice, I WAS TELLING YOU. The kids need the sugar boost in the middle of the afternoon. The vitamins and carbs in the rice with sugar and milk is much better for them than all those cookies. That's the reason they were eating so many of them, for the sugar boost. If you can't have it ready at three like I asked nicely this morning, THEN GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!."
Helga jerked like she had been shot. Vell if Miss Millies thoughts she could do it, then let's her; Helga got a crafty look in her eye, Miss Millie vould soon learns the truth.
Millie spun around and confronted Karl leaning against the kitchen door. "Please tell Helga if she walks out of the kitchen to keep on walking down the road. This is number three, and I will not put up with any more."
Karl started to say something to Helga and the woman erupted with a spewing of Kazakh. Millie didn't know a single word of Kazakh, but she had a good imagination.
Millie walked to the screen door and opened it. "OUT," she said, grabbing Helga and pulling her to the outside. "You are FIRED. Get your stuff and get out."
All of a sudden Helga burst into tears to cover her dreadful mistake. She had called Millie's bluff and never expected the pint sized woman to call her. Karl was just shaking his head. So many times he had warned Helga that she was way out of bounds with her mouth and attitude, now look what she had gotten them into. They were being sent away.
Helga drug her feet getting her things and loading them into Karl's pickup; giving Millie plenty of opportunity to change her mind and invite them back. It didn't happen. Millie knew she couldn't back down.
The Kazakh couple finally drove away, this time Helga's tears were for real.
That was how Lemmie and Hank came to work for Mark and Clora, and the Linderman's hadn't been home to hire them; but it was the best move for all concerned. Millie well understood that when it is God's plan, it happens without a hitch. It was a seamless transition.
The prayer session happened precisely at 3pm. The rice was dished out and eagerly eaten, and rice and beans with meat sauce ready for supper.
Mark and Wayne showed up with the requested items, and the kids did the dishes.
"Have Wayne bring me a sleeping bag please," Warren was trying to be a neutral as possible.
Millie looked at her watch. Wayne had been gone for more than an hour, so he should be somewhere where he could write a list. Calling her husband, Millie smiled at Joe.
Wayne was indeed in the hospital waiting room, and Millie patiently coaxed him through the list she wanted. Millie understood that if Clora was in a crisis, Wayne reacted badly; so she was calm as she told him what to get. "One good sleeping bag, seven air mattresses, two more camp stoves and fuel canisters, water..as much as you can get, a chair for Clora, Mark and Warren. Five brooms, cleaning solution and dish soap. Rice cereal, and a cooler with ice. How are things going?"
Millie listened as Wayne told her about Marks two broken ribs, and the fact that Clora would be in the hospital overnight. It's bad Millie." Wayne's voice was scared and had a hint of panic.
"You and Mark need to get the supplies and come out here tonight. We need the protection. Clora is safe in the hospital, no one knows she is there. But we are having interested traffic on the road, and could never hold off an attack. At three o'clock we are going to have a prayer session here, so you may join in where you are. Wayne," Millie's voice was full of confidence, "you are strong." she finished calmly, sending him their trigger phrase to settle his nerves.
Wayne said some appreciative but mushy words on the other end of the connection, and Millie smiled at Joe again.
"Helga, if you would please have the rice ready at three. I want the older boys to have two cups worth with a teaspoon of sugar and milk. The smaller kids can start out with one cup and a half teaspoon of sugar and milk."
"Nons, noes sugar," Helga said automatically, as she kept her head down to keep her annoyance from showing. Miss Millie was getting to be too much for Helga to keep her mouth shut.
There was silence in the room, and when Helga did look up, Millie was stalking purposely into the kitchen.
"Helga, I think you misunderstood. I wasn't asking you to put sugar on their rice, I WAS TELLING YOU. The kids need the sugar boost in the middle of the afternoon. The vitamins and carbs in the rice with sugar and milk is much better for them than all those cookies. That's the reason they were eating so many of them, for the sugar boost. If you can't have it ready at three like I asked nicely this morning, THEN GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!."
Helga jerked like she had been shot. Vell if Miss Millies thoughts she could do it, then let's her; Helga got a crafty look in her eye, Miss Millie vould soon learns the truth.
Millie spun around and confronted Karl leaning against the kitchen door. "Please tell Helga if she walks out of the kitchen to keep on walking down the road. This is number three, and I will not put up with any more."
Karl started to say something to Helga and the woman erupted with a spewing of Kazakh. Millie didn't know a single word of Kazakh, but she had a good imagination.
Millie walked to the screen door and opened it. "OUT," she said, grabbing Helga and pulling her to the outside. "You are FIRED. Get your stuff and get out."
All of a sudden Helga burst into tears to cover her dreadful mistake. She had called Millie's bluff and never expected the pint sized woman to call her. Karl was just shaking his head. So many times he had warned Helga that she was way out of bounds with her mouth and attitude, now look what she had gotten them into. They were being sent away.
Helga drug her feet getting her things and loading them into Karl's pickup; giving Millie plenty of opportunity to change her mind and invite them back. It didn't happen. Millie knew she couldn't back down.
The Kazakh couple finally drove away, this time Helga's tears were for real.
That was how Lemmie and Hank came to work for Mark and Clora, and the Linderman's hadn't been home to hire them; but it was the best move for all concerned. Millie well understood that when it is God's plan, it happens without a hitch. It was a seamless transition.
The prayer session happened precisely at 3pm. The rice was dished out and eagerly eaten, and rice and beans with meat sauce ready for supper.
Mark and Wayne showed up with the requested items, and the kids did the dishes.
Pac, thank you for more story!
Some people just won't learn from their mistakes. Maybe Clora will finally heal, without Helga's "accidents". She should be grateful she could leave, Mark was about ready to take her out in the lake and "Float Check" her.
Growing up rice with milk and sugar was a standard breakfast at my home. I like it much better than oatmeal and it is easier on the digestion.
Some people just won't learn from their mistakes. Maybe Clora will finally heal, without Helga's "accidents". She should be grateful she could leave, Mark was about ready to take her out in the lake and "Float Check" her.
Growing up rice with milk and sugar was a standard breakfast at my home. I like it much better than oatmeal and it is easier on the digestion.