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Post by papaof2 on Jul 13, 2014 22:51:30 GMT -6
Chapter 95 - Friday noon
"Bill, I found a tank of propane by the fridge at the old school. It's the same size as the one on the forklift and the gauge shows better than half full."
"Very good, Alex. I have no idea how much we'll be using the forklift today, but things will certainly be faster and easier with it running. Do you have the tools needed to swap the tanks?"
"Arnold said there's a jobbox-size toolbox on the rail-laying car that should have everything we need."
"I'm so pleased to be working with people who have their act together. Brenda Halliday, their comms tech, has enough working radios for one person in every working group. It's actually a bit strange to be getting updates by radio instead of a runner, but I'll certainly not complain about having good comms. The scouts who went out earlier on horseback will be able to let us know of any changes in the building status far enough in advance for us to make any needed changes to our plans."
~~~
"Paring Knife, this is Apple One."
"Go ahead, Apple One."
"The on-foot team sees no evidence of entry since the previous visit. Wasp team has set up a perimeter as planned. No contacts."
"Roger, Apple One. ETA 15 minutes. Paring Knife out."
"Hal, where did you come up with these unit designators?"
"Sergeant Mason, more from the work tomorrow than today. People will be peeling the skins off all the pallets to see what's inside."
"I guess there's a degree of logic in that - makes more sense than a lot of the call signs that I've used before."
"Brenda calls those 'dart' designators - as in someone threw a dart at a dictionary and they used whatever words the dart hit."
"That could certainly explain 'Mother Chicken' having control of 'Chocolate Bar'."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 13, 2014 22:54:40 GMT -6
Chapter 96 - Friday afternoon
"Everything loaded that we planned for, Arnold?"
"Yes, Sergeant Mason, plus a few additional pallets that we were able to make room for. I'm glad we had that spare tank for the forklift, or we'd still be pulling pallet jacks by hand."
"Always good to have the right tools and enough of them. Any word from the scouts?"
"Things are still quiet on the perimeter. Because we finished loading early, the advance team has already headed out to check the tracks on the way back. Being on horseback gives you a much closer view of things than being in any vehicle."
"And the horse is also an active warning system, as a couple of people found out when the their horses spotted snakes."
"This is certainly a different environment than any of us ever thought we'd be serving in: scouting on horseback, getting intel from a little girl's dreams, working with Chinese troops. I guess our ROTC advisor really knew what he was talking about. He said 'No matter what you expect, reality will be different'. He's been absolutely correct."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 13, 2014 23:01:56 GMT -6
Chapter 97 - Friday evening
"I think we have time to unload at least the trailers and then we can see about things that are to be moved to Sam's barn for sorting tomorrow."
"We'll have enough people for the sorting, Bill?"
"Alex, if I mention it to the grandkids, I'll bet that all of them will want to help."
"I'll ask Kyle and Bobby when I get home."
"I'll ask Debbie and her kids if they want to help. That little incident with Sherrie has her paying attention to everything that's going on. I'll remind her to bring a pillow to sit on if she wants to help, although that pillow seems to be a permanent attachment at the house."
"Having had my share of gunshot injuries, I can very much understand her attachment to a pillow, Sam."
"I bet you can, Bill."
~~~
"Everything unloaded, Arnold?"
"Yes, Sergeant Mason. Since we finished up early at the warehouse, we've had plenty of daylight for unloading. You have someone who can check out the medications and the herbals?"
"Between Doc Wilson and Elaine Dixon, they should be able to identify just about everything, legal or not."
~~~
"Jack, before you and your family leave, I have a package that Lexi needs to take with her."
"What's in it, Grandpa?"
"Something special to the family. Don't open it until after you brush your teeth."
"What does brushing my teeth have to do with family?"
"You'll just have to wait to find out. And remember to take your toothbrush home with you."
~~~
"Bedtime, Lexi. Pajamas and brush your teeth."
"Yes, Mommy."
"When you finish, come open the package."
"What does 'LHOP' stand for?"
"I can make a guess, but that might spoil the surprise."
"OK, I'll untie the bow. It's books! It's the Little House books! Grandpa remembered! Will you read me tonight's chapter?"
" Do you know which chapter that is?"
"The dollar bill! Grandpa used the same kind of bookmark."
"You're probably getting your story at the same time the other kids are."
"That's almost like still being with them."
~~~
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Post by kaijafon on Jul 14, 2014 6:55:33 GMT -6
Thank you for all the MOAR!!!!
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Post by biggkidd on Jul 14, 2014 6:58:10 GMT -6
Thank you I enjoy this story so much. Maybe because I have a couple daughters in the same age range and they often want to help.
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Post by crf78112 on Jul 14, 2014 11:12:58 GMT -6
Thank you papaof2, great to visit with the family, that's how you make it feel as I read this story.
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 14, 2014 19:42:26 GMT -6
Chapter 98 - Saturday morning
"Seems quieter when Lexi isn't here."
"Could it be that you kids don't talk as much when there are three of you as when there are four, Terry? Four means you can have two different conversations going at the same time."
"I think that might be it. You're smart, Grandpa."
"I know. Every time one of you hugs me, some of your smarts rub off on me."
"You're silly."
"No, I'm smart. You just said so."
"Grandpa!"
~~~
" Do we get to drive the buggy?"
"Of course. Do you remember the way to Mister Sam's?"
"Yes"
"Un huh."
"Yes."
"Brush your teeth. Get dressed in some old clothes- something that you won't miss if it gets too dirty to ever get it clean again..."
"Really?"
"Yes, really, Terry. We don't know what may have been spilled on or around the pallets you'll be sorting, so there could be toothpaste or oil or paint or who knows what that might get on your clothes. One of you needs to get the garden gloves you used. I think there's also a pair for Mike out there."
"Anything else, Grandpa?"
"Your weapons and your BOB's."
"Why?"
"Because you'll be working in a treasure house today. If there are any more people out there like the rogue MAG groups we've had to deal with, they might try to take the things we've recovered."
"Why the BOB's?"
"Because the weather doesn't look good. Check the barometer and then go look out the windows on the west side of the house."
"It's just like it was before the storm that took down the big tree across the road."
"So we might not be able to get back today. I'm sure Mister Sam can provide us a dry place to sleep, but you'd probably rather have your sleeping bag than a blanket over a handful of hay."
"I'll get the gloves."
~~~
"Mrs. Dixon, why are there little plastic bags of seeds in the baby clothes?"
"Abby, someone hid what they thought were marijuana seeds in the middle of the pallet of kids' clothes. These seeds and plants look like marijuana but they're a distantly related flowering herb, one that will only grow in a greenhouse here."
"Maybe you could teach all the kids about herbs and making medicine when Cousin Alice gets the one room school going?"
"I was a teacher before I got serious about the herbals, so that's something I can do. You have good ideas, Abby - other people could do much of what I do and the information would be available to many more people. This plant you found is what I need to make the afib medication for your Grandpa. I need to talk to him."
"I'll go get him."
"Thank you, Abby."
~~~
"Is the plant all you need, Elaine?"
"No, Bill. Since we don't have working machines to make tablets out of the ground roots, I'll need some high proof grain alcohol to dissolve the powder in. That solution will be diluted with water and have some flavoring added to make a liquid that you can swallow without burning a hole in your throat."
"Moonshine we can make. My grandfather's still has been stored - disassembled - in one of the barns for a long time - with the more delicate parts in the basement of the house - and I have copies of his 'recipes'. With a little help to move things, I can have the still going in a couple of days and produce some very good 180 proof shortly after that."
"No rush. I'll need to start some of the seeds in a sunny window and move the plants to the greenhouse when they're big enough. The roots won't be large enough to use until they're at least three or four months old. You can plan your brewing around that."
"There's still time to plant more potatoes, so I'll plan on using some for making mash. I can easily justify using sugar for medicinal purposes. Since making medications will be a long-term enterprise, I could also plant some sugar beets."
"Any grain alcohol not used for your medication can be used to make other medications, whether for something administered by mouth or something such as an anti-bacterial for skin injuries. I also have a couple of formulas that make ticks release from your skin and they need alcohol."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 14, 2014 20:45:37 GMT -6
Chapter 99 - Saturday noon
"Everyone wash up and come grab lunch. We're doing sack lunches because there's not enough room for everyone to sit in the house and I think we might beat the storm if we do it this way."
"Kids, do what Mister Sam said. There are several places to wash in here and his flush toilets out here will work after it rains."
"Just like yours, Grandpa?"
"Yes, Abby."
"It's gettin' dark."
"Remember the storm a week or so back, Terry? We lit a lantern so your Uncle Jack could find the house."
"No lanterns today, Bill. Too much chance of losing everything if we had a fire. When the rain starts, we'll close the doors and windows and use the LED lights that are powered by the batteries that the solar panels charge. We'll have a maximum of 6 hours of light, but I doubt that anyone will still be here then."
"Just by looking at the piles of plastic wrap from the pallets, I can tell a lot has been done. Some of those piles are taller than I am."
~~~
"Mrs. McNabb, what kinds of sandwiches are these?"
"'H' for ham salad, 'C' for chicken salad, 'P' for ..."
"Peanut butter?"
"Yes, Abby. And with grape jelly. There's also a small slice of pound cake in each bag."
"From the cakes we helped you bake this week?"
"Yes, Mike. You get a sample of your work today."
"Thank you."
"You're all very welcome. I've heard good things about the work you're doing today."
~~~
"Grandpa, can we get home if it's raining?"
"If it's just rain, Abby, we can all huddle under a tarp and stay mostly dry in the buggy. We won't go out if there's lightning, as it's too dangerous. Same if the wind is too strong."
"How will you know how strong the wind is?"
"There are some 'rules of thumb' about how a flag flies and the speed of the wind."
"I know that a flag just hangs there when there's no wind and it stands up when there's a lot of wind but you make it sound like there's a lot of information between being still and flying."
"Actually, there is. Let me show you with this towel. If the flag is thin and light, like most small flags, you estimate the angle between the flag and the flagpole. You divide that angle by four to get the approximate wind speed."
"How do you know what the angle is?"
"You'll get the details later on in school, but straight out is 90 degrees, so halfway down from that would be 45 degrees and so forth. I'll draw you a little sketch on this bag."
"Oh. I see."
"I thought you would, Abby."
"You can divide 45 by 4 in your head?"
"Yeah, Mike. It's about 11."
"You said small flag, Grandpa. What's different about big flags?"
"Big flags are made of heavier material, so they don't move as easily as the smaller flags do. If the flag doesn't move at all, then the wind speed is below 11 miles per hour, which is usually abbreviated to MPH. If the flag flaps occasionally, the wind is 12 to 18MPH. If the flag flaps over its entire length, the speed is 19 to 24. If it's partially extended and flaps quickly, the speed is 25 to 31. If it's fully extended, the speed is 32 MPH or higher."
"Can you tell the difference between 32 and 42?"
"No, Mike. It looks much the same."
"Is there a flag up somewhere outside?"
"Look out the window on your left, Abby."
"There's a flag on the house. From your sketch, it's about 30 degrees. That makes the speed about 8 MPH."
"Very good, Abby. Now look out the other side and tell me about the sky."
"The clouds are getting darker. Does that mean it's gonna rain soon?"
"Probably. We'll work a couple more hours and leave if it's not raining then. We all have chores that we need to finish."
~~~
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Post by ydderf on Jul 15, 2014 0:36:05 GMT -6
papaof2 Thanks for the characters and the story. I hope they/it stay with us for chapter after chapter.
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 17, 2014 19:50:37 GMT -6
Chapter 100 - Saturday afternoon
"I know that all of you worked hard doing the sorting, but there are still some outside chores to be done, plus the baking."
"We're baking inside because of the rain? Won't the house get hot?"
"Yes, Terry. The house will be uncomfortably warm, but we have commitments to the people who asked us to bake things for them last week at Trade Day."
"I guess we gotta do it."
"Yes, you 'gotta'. Remember that there's wind with today's rain, so if we open a couple of windows that are sheltered from the rain, we will get some air movement in the house."
"That's what the thingies over the windows are for?"
"Abby, the awnings protect from the rain and also provide shade from the sun."
"Is there enough firewood and kindling?"
"I think another half box of firewood will be all that's needed, Mike."
"I'll get it."
"Thank you. When your outside chores are finished, you may want to shower to get off the dirt you collected while sorting."
"Me first!"
"No, me!"
"No, neither of you girls. Mister Gene, then Mike so Gene can time him, then me. Abby and Terry can guess the flip of this quarter to see which one goes first."
"Heads!"
"Sorry, Terry. It's tails. Abby goes first. However, I will be watching the time so she leaves you enough water. Don't give me that look, little girl. I warned you three times about where the beehive had been dropped and you still managed to get more sticky stuff on you than I thought was there. Maybe if I hadn't given you the nickname 'Honey', you wouldn't have had to ride home wrapped in plastic from the pallets?"
~~~
"These all the dirty clothes?"
"Yes, Grandpa."
"Whose turn to do laundry?"
"Mine, but I thought we wore clothes that you didn't care it they ever get clean."
"Abby, I made that comment so you would pick clothes that you probably wouldn't otherwise have worn at all. They're still usable, so they still go through the laundry process."
" Do I add extra soap because they're so dirty?"
"Yes, about half again as much."
"Anything else?"
"A little bleach, but let me help you with that container so the bleach doesn't get spilled directly on any of the clothes."
"OK. But where do we hang the clothes? We can't use the clothesline outside when it might rain more."
"This clothes tree."
"That skinny thing's not a tree."
"Watch how the branches come out as I open it up and how the strings look like the top of a tree."
"That's neat. Any special way to hang stuff on it?"
"Short things on the lower lines; long things on the upper lines. If it seems to be leaning to one side, move clothes to the other side to balance it."
"I can do that."
~~~
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Post by kaijafon on Jul 18, 2014 12:23:46 GMT -6
oh how many times I hung clothes in the house to dry! lol! But some of the best things are sheets and towels dried out on the line on a hot windy sunny day!!!
thank you!
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 18, 2014 14:12:20 GMT -6
If we didn't have a functioning dryer, I suspect that lines would be strung over at least one of the bathtubs (3 full baths in this house) to handle the most drippy things (hand-wringing clothes does not get nearly as much water out as a spin cycle or andold clothes wringer (whether manual or part of a washing machine). I have the scrub board that my maternal grandmother used to wash clothes in the bathtub. She never had a washing machine of any kind. When I was in elementary school, my mother had a wringer washer that was set up on the back porch. Yes, I learned how to use it ;-) Filled with a garden hose plus some water heated on the stove in a large pot. Drained into the back yard. If in a SHTF scenario, probably be good to collect the wash and rinse water for use on the garden and washing vehicles (at least the windows) if vehicles were in use.
Without power, we could hang things outside to dry on a nice day or, on a not-so-nice day, in the kitchen (tile floor) or the garage (concrete floor) or the basement (concrete floor). I'd vote for the garage on the not-so-nice days to keep the house less humid, as well as on many nice days to avoid bird deposits and wind-blown dust.
I have rope and wire that could provide at least 100 feet of clothesline. That would allow for 5 lines in the 20x20 garage. The garage has two windows and the doors can be opened/closed manually. Just need to make a screen that would work with the garage door up 6 inches or so and a way to lock those doors in any position when operating them manually. The screen would allow for some airflow but keep birds and insects out. Not sure if there's wire or fiberglass screening in the basement (my mental inventory isn't perfect), but know there's some weedblock cloth which would work, as I don't need to see out through this screen, and there's some 2x2 to make the frame.
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 18, 2014 17:10:05 GMT -6
Chapter 101 - Saturday evening
"You girls should find yourselves some lightweight pajamas or maybe a tee shirt and shorts to sleep in. The house is still warm from the baking we did today."
"Can we get two chapters tonight?"
"I think that might be possible, Terry."
"Are you trying to make up for all the dirty work we did today?"
"No, because you weren't the only people doing 'dirty work' today, Abby. Maybe I just appreciate that you kids are always willing to help."
"It's even better that we found the stuff so Mrs. Dixon can make the medicine you need. I still want you to give me away when I get married."
"And when will that be?"
"When I'm in college. But he doesn't know yet that he's gonna ask me."
"And who is this mysterious 'he'?"
"I can't tell before he decides to ask me. It might make him think he has to."
"Abigail Williams, you are something else."
~~~
============
Hi, it's me again.
The rain is gone and there's a full moon, so I'm sitting by the window where there's light to write by. I may be awake a long time tonight but not because I have a lot to write. I almost goofed up really bad tonight. I was talking about the stuff we found to make medicine for Grandpa. I told him again that I want him to give me away when I get married. He asked "When?" and I told him "when I'm in college" and that the future groom didn't know yet. Then he wanted to know who it was! But I can't say yet. I shoulda just shut up after I said I wanted him to give me away.
It's exciting to know some of the things I know about the future, but I gotta remember what Grandma Betty said: 'You may know about certain things before they happen, but even if it's hard, some of those things you must not reveal until their time.' When I get started talking something that's important to me, it's sometimes really hard to stop before I say too much. I don't think Grandpa will keep after me for answers, but Mike and Terry may not let go of it. I gotta tell them not to mention it to anyone else. I hope they'll listen.
============
~~~
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Post by kaijafon on Jul 18, 2014 17:55:29 GMT -6
ah now I'm wondering what else she knows!!!! thanks so much!
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Post by crf78112 on Jul 19, 2014 7:21:00 GMT -6
Papaof2, I use clamps similar to this to secure my roll up door. They can be clamped above and below any roller to hold the door in any position. www.irwin.com/Tools/locking-tools/the-original-locking-c-clamps-with-swivel-padsIf we didn't have a functioning dryer, I suspect that lines would be strung over at least one of the bathtubs (3 full baths in this house) to handle the most drippy things (hand-wringing clothes does not get nearly as much water out as a spin cycle or andold clothes wringer (whether manual or part of a washing machine). I have the scrub board that my maternal grandmother used to wash clothes in the bathtub. She never had a washing machine of any kind. When I was in elementary school, my mother had a wringer washer that was set up on the back porch. Yes, I learned how to use it ;-) Filled with a garden hose plus some water heated on the stove in a large pot. Drained into the back yard. If in a SHTF scenario, probably be good to collect the wash and rinse water for use on the garden and washing vehicles (at least the windows) if vehicles were in use. Without power, we could hang things outside to dry on a nice day or, on a not-so-nice day, in the kitchen (tile floor) or the garage (concrete floor) or the basement (concrete floor). I'd vote for the garage on the not-so-nice days to keep the house less humid, as well as on many nice days to avoid bird deposits and wind-blown dust. I have rope and wire that could provide at least 100 feet of clothesline. That would allow for 5 lines in the 20x20 garage. The garage has two windows and the doors can be opened/closed manually. Just need to make a screen that would work with the garage door up 6 inches or so and a way to lock those doors in any position when operating them manually. The screen would allow for some airflow but keep birds and insects out. Not sure if there's wire or fiberglass screening in the basement (my mental inventory isn't perfect), but know there's some weedblock cloth which would work, as I don't need to see out through this screen, and there's some 2x2 to make the frame. Sent from my IdeaTabA2109A using proboards
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 19, 2014 16:34:27 GMT -6
Chapter 102 - Sunday morning
"Rise and shine, sleepyheads. Breakfast is on the table."
"Why didn't you wake us up to help, Grandpa?"
"Because I thought that the kids who almost went to sleep before I finished the second chapter probably needed a little more sleep, Terry."
"You're nice."
"Come eat your pancakes. The wagon is loaded for Trade Day, so all you need to do is eat, brush your teeth, and get dressed for the day."
" Does 'getting dressed' include weapons and BOB's?"
"Weapons any time you're outside and BOB's any time you're off the property, Mike."
~~~
"Can we drive the buggy, Grandpa?"
"I don't know, Terry. Are you able to?"
"May we drive the buggy?"
"Yes. On the way to church by reverse alphabetic order; on the way back home by reverse age order."
"Alphabetic would be Abby, Mike, then me. Reverse means I get to go first?"
"Yes."
"And it's Mike, Abby, then me on the way back?"
"Very good, smart girl."
~~~
"Morning, Bill, Gene."
"Morning, Sam, Debbie."
"Bill, Sherrie wants to sit with Abby and Terry and Jerry wants to sit with Mike. Do you think all these kids could behave if we let them sit together?"
"I know two girls who will not like the consequences if they don't behave."
"I know a boy who won't like my consequences either."
~~~
"What kind of consequences was your Grandpa talking about, Abby?"
"Maybe something small like no bedtime story. Maybe something big like mucking out the stalls by myself for a week."
"I think Mom would have me cleaning out the goat pen."
"Whispering where they can hear us during church will get us in trouble 'cause whispers carry. We just hafta talk real soft but if we can't be soft enough, Grandpa found these neat writing pads that you use a plastic pen thingie to write on, then lift the cover to erase it. We could write notes or play hangman."
"OK."
"I wanna play too."
"Terry, Lexi is two rows back. You wanna sit with her or bring her up here?"
"I'll go ask her."
~~~
"Abby, what's in this heart on the pad?"
"Just some scribbles."
"Like 'AW' isn't you and 'MS' isn't Mike?"
"Not so loud. He might hear you."
"Nah. He and Jerry are too busy comparing pocket knives."
"Jerry was interested in my knife on Monday. I don't think he's ever seen a girl with a gun and a knife before. And certainly not someone that has one knife blade sharpened for cutting things and the other blade sharpened for whittling wood."
"You can sharpen blades for different things?"
"Yeah. Grandpa's been teaching me lots of stuff about the knife and some of the other tools."
"Tools?"
"He can build or fix most anything and I want to learn how 'cause not much stuff is being made so you need to know how to build stuff and fix things."
~~~
"Abby, who's that boy by Mr. Black?"
"That's Josh Bowman, Sherrie. He's 14. He and his sister live with Uncle Carl and Aunt Mabel."
"That's Patty's brother? He's a hunk!"
"Sherrie, you're too loud."
"Sorry, Mom."
"You want to use the writing pad?"
"No, I'll just talk softer. Can you introduce me to Josh?"
"They usually come by our table. Stay with us after church and I'll introduce you."
"Thanks. I met him when I was at the sleepover for Patty's birthday when she was nine, but then he was just a skinny kid with braces. He's changed a lot!"
" Do you have any pictures of you at that age?"
"Yeah. I hated smiling for pictures because my braces were all you could see."
"What do you think he thought about you?"
"Oh, Jeez. Probably that I was a skinny kid with braces?"
~~~
"Before the service is dismissed, I want to remind everyone that school starts back on Tuesday. I understand that all the students the teachers know about have been contacted. If you have questions or you want to verify schedules or coordinate transportation, you need to talk with Alice Black. She'll have a table near the front of the Trade Day lot."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 19, 2014 16:37:02 GMT -6
Chapter 103 - Sunday noon
"I see a lot of baked goods, Abby. You kids must have been busy this week."
"Aunt Kate, we did a lot yesterday after we got back from sorting stuff."
"Baking inside because of the rain? Wasn't the house hot?"
"Not too bad with the right set of windows open."
"I remember a lot of days when we had to open the right set of windows to catch any available breeze when I was a kid."
"What's in the wagon Lexi's pulling?"
"Terry, that's the other part of the baking for Trade Day."
"We have that many people getting bread and cakes from us?"
"Mostly bread, but an increasing number of cakes. People still have birthdays and I think some are celebrating birthdays that happened months ago and they couldn't get a cake."
"Where's Mike?"
"Lexi, Mike and Mister Gene have a table in the next row. They're selling some of the leather stuff they make."
"Thanks, Abby. I'll go see what they have."
~~~
"Alice, are you ready for Tuesday?"
"As ready as we're likely to be, Kate. I think the few weeks of school we'll have before dismissing for the summer so the kids can help in the gardens and fields will get the kids back in the mindset of being in school. Maybe the novelty of one room schooling will pique their interest."
"I hope so. They've missed so much school and learned so many hard life lessons that something even a little bit close to 'normal' - such as organized schooling - should be good for them."
"We'll find out in a couple of days."
~~~
"Sherrie, they're coming."
"OK, Abby. What can I do with the pillow?"
"Just leave it on the folding chair."
"Hi, Abby."
"Hi, Josh. This is my friend Sherrie McNabb."
"Hi, Sherrie. You looking forward to being in school this week?"
"I am now."
"What's the pillow for?"
"Somebody got hurt last week."
"Uncle Carl said someone got shot in the bu-, uh, backside when the bad guys attacked your house. I know how much that hurts..."
"You do?"
"Yeah, it happened to me from a ricochet when Patty was learning to shoot. I'll probably never let her forget it. She said at least the scar won't show when I'm in my swim trunks, but a girl might have a problem with that."
"Yeah, she might."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 19, 2014 16:41:15 GMT -6
Chapter 104 - Sunday afternoon
"Sam, do you have any idea why Sherrie is in the mood she's in? She seems a little distracted, but she's been pleasant and helpful the entire time we've been here - she's never like that at Trade Day."
"You should thank Abby. She introduced Sherrie to Josh Bowman."
"Josh Bowman?"
"One of the kids that Carl and Mabel took in. The young man who's carrying a load to their wagon for Mabel right now. He's about Sherrie's age."
"I see a very handsome young man. No wonder Sherrie's happy. The question is, will the side effects of that introduction will last?"
"We'll know this week - they'll be seeing each other at school. Josh seems to be an accomplished fix-it guy. Carl took the beehive that was dropped during the sorting yesterday and an undamaged one to see if Josh can make parts to repair the damaged one. I wonder if his 'fix-it' skills could be applied to some of the old farm machinery? Guess I should go ask Carl."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 19, 2014 16:45:45 GMT -6
Chapter 105 Sunday evening
"Kids, Kate and Lexi will be here tomorrow because Jack and Hal will be doing some underwater inspections at the dam. I want you to get an early start on your chores so you'll have some time to spend with Lexi."
" Does that mean we'll get 'lectricity back this week?"
"No, Terry. They aren't that far along. If all goes well tomorrow, they'll probably start testing the generators on Tuesday to verify whether they still work."
"Why wouldn't they work?"
"Mike, we don't know for certain that no mice or rats or squirrels got into the control room or the generator room, so it's possible that there's damage to the wiring or equipment that we didn't find."
"So they have to run each generator to be sure it works. How do they know it the lines out to the houses and stuff are OK?"
"They've checked the wiring to a few houses along each of the major distribution lines so they can see if power gets out to the end of each line. Those houses may get power for a few minutes as each generator is tested."
"A few minutes? I want the 'lectricity back all the time!"
"Sorry, Terry. Even when everything is working again, we'll only have power for perhaps two or three hours a day."
"That's not very much."
"It's enough to keep the fridge cold if we limit how many times the door is opened. And no standing there with the door open while you decide what you want."
~~~
"Whatcha cooking, Grandpa?"
"A surprise, Terry."
"I'm very surprised. I haven't seen ground beef in months."
"Gene, I brought up some canned cooked ground beef from Yoder's to go with one of the things we found yesterday."
"Manwich! Yummy!"
"I thought that might get a positive response, Abby."
"But where'd you get the buns?"
"Not buns. English muffins. Something your Aunt Kate is experimenting with and she sent a bag of them for us to try."
"Can I have one with honey for breakfast tomorrow?"
"I don't know, Terry. Are you able to?"
"May I have one for breakfast?"
"If you don't go through all of them tonight. I think you inhaled the first one. Remember there's also mac and cheese."
" Double yummy!"
~~~
"Bedtime, kids. Brush and floss and get your pajamas."
"We gotta floss, too?"
"You're supposed to have been doing that already, Terry, but maybe the mint-flavored flossers will make it more pleasant."
"Supper was fun, Grandpa. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Abby. We'll be doing mostly simple, nourishing meals as we've done in the past but sometimes we need a little fun in our diet."
"You're nice. Read to us?"
"Of course."
~~~
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Post by biggkidd on Jul 19, 2014 18:24:42 GMT -6
Great thanks
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 20, 2014 20:02:02 GMT -6
Chapter 106 - Monday morning
"Rise and shine, girls. We have company coming today."
"Aunt Kate and Lexi!"
"Yes. You get dressed, then go ring the bell on the back porch for Mister Gene and Mike then you can help with breakfast."
"Were there any muffins left?"
"Yes, Terry. The mac and cheese bowl was scraped dry but that just meant you had fewer Manwiches."
~~~
"What's 'marmalade', Grandpa?"
"It's like jelly, Terry, but this is made from oranges and has some tiny bits of the rind in it."
"Yuck!"
"You might change your mind after you taste it. Like the Manwich last night, it was something that was passed out yesterday to families with kids."
"I'll try it."
"OK, Abby. Here's a muffin half for you with orange marmalade on it."
"It's tangy, but it's also sweet. Can I have another one?"
"Are you able to?"
"May I have another one? I think they're yummy!"
"Here you go. Teresa! Remember your manners. If you want one, ask, don't try to grab the one Abby asked for."
"I'm sorry, Grandpa. May I try one?"
"Here you go."
"It's strong, kinda like the dark honey is strong. Can I... may I have another one?"
"Since you inhaled that one, I think so. It looks like Mike and Gene have inhaled theirs as well. Finish your eggs and we'll clear the table. I think we can tell your Aunt Kate that the English muffins are a success. There's just one left in the bag."
~~~
"Abby, what's with Terry? Your Grandpa barely raised his voice, he just called her Teresa instead of Terry. She got really quiet and I thought she was gonna cry."
"Mike, Grandpa is the first person to really care about us in a long time. He gave us a place to live, fed us and took care of us when were hurt or had bad dreams. At first, he said he'd keep us until someone permanent could be found and he always called us Abigail and Teresa. When we'd been here a little while, it felt like family so we asked him to call us Abby and Terry like our real family had done. When he's unhappy with us, he calls us Abigail and Teresa. I know he loves us and he'll probably take always care of us regardless of what we do, but it's scary when it sounds like he might not want us for family anymore."
"He's not your real grandfather?"
"He takes care of us like we were family and nothing's more real than that."
~~~
"Hello the house."
"Hello, Kate and Lexi."
"Aunt Kate, we ate all but one of the English muffins."
"That many for breakfast, Terry?"
"No, we had fun food for supper last night. Mac and cheese and Manwich on the English muffins."
"So they work OK as sandwich buns, Abby?"
"Un huh. And they're really good. If Grandpa hadn't fixed the mac and cheese, we'd have eaten all of them last night."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 20, 2014 20:15:56 GMT -6
Chapter 107 - Monday noon
"Tomorrow is the first day of class at Miss Alice's one room school, so I thought you kids might want to do something special on your last day of freedom. It may still be a little cool but it's a sunny day and we can try out the swimming hole in the pond in the south pasture."
"Swimming, Grandpa? Sounds good but I don't have a swim suit and neither does Terry."
"Abby, you need to check what's left in the box your Aunt Mabel sent..."
"No, me first!"
"No, me!"
"Lexi, I think there are several swim suits in the box so there may be one that will fit you also."
"OK, Grandpa. I'll go look when the tornado of clothes stops."
"I think that might be wise."
~~~
"I might have guessed - Terry in pink, Abby in blue and Lexi in neon orange. Grab a towel and a shirt to cover up with while we travel and you can help Kate fix a picnic lunch."
"OK."
"Can we have races and stuff?"
"Yes, Mike. My watch is waterproof, so I can wear it and time your races."
"Bet I can hold my breath underwater longer than any of the girls."
"We can time that as well. Terry, remember to get the plastic bags for your cast."
"Yes, Grandpa. We gonna ride over to the swimming pool?"
"It's a swimming hole, Terry. Just a section of the pond that's roped off and where I check the bed of the pond for trash before we use it. No rides. It's just a short walk."
"Well, Dad, now I know why you wanted some hard-boiled eggs. You want them deviled or just peeled and sliced in half?"
"Ooh! I love deviled eggs. Can I help make them?"
"Thank you, Abby. Wash your hands and you can help crack and peel."
"Can we help, too?"
"Yes, Terry. We'll need the picnic basket that's on the first shelf on the right in the basement. Lexi, there's a deviled egg plate in the lower cabinet behind you. What kind of sandwiches?"
"Can we do hot dogs over a campfire?"
"I think we can try that, Mike, but you'll have to help gather wood and cook."
"I'll do it."
~~~
"One more set of laps and then we'll eat. On your mark. Get set. Go!"
"Go, Abby!"
"Go, Mike!"
"They're really close, Gene."
"Yes, Bill. Abby's faster off the line and for the first couple of laps, but then Mike slowly passes her. She'd win a sprint and he'd win a marathon."
"I win!"
"But not by much."
"I know, Abby. You're really good."
"Really good for a girl?"
"No. I had to work hard to pass you,. You're just a really good swimmer. But I bet I can hold my breath longer."
"Grandpa, can you time us?"
"Let's time all of you, not just you and Mike. When I count to three, all of you take a deep breath and sit on the bottom of the pond. I'll note the time when each of you comes up."
"OK."
"One. Two. Three."
"You think any of them will do anything stupid to win? Like staying down too long?"
"No, Kate. But that's also the reason they're in the shallow water where we can see them - just in case."
"I see movement."
"Neon orange - Lexi is 45 seconds. Not surprising as she's probably not been in a contest like this before. And here comes pink - Terry is 1 minute 4 seconds. And here comes Mike - 1 minute 30 seconds."
" Dad, I'm worried about Abby."
"Not to worry - she's apparently done this before. I see a trickle of air from her mouth and she's up at 2 minutes and 5 seconds. That's pretty impressive."
"How'd I do?"
"Not bad, Mike, but Abby's the clear winner. How'd you learn to do that, Abby?"
"Sometimes Crystal would hold our heads under water in the swimming pool at the trailer park, Grandpa. She said it was to remind us who was in control and that she could kill us if she wanted too - and if it happened in the pool everyone would think it was an accident. If I let a little air out I could stay down longer and when she saw it she thought I was drowning and would let go."
"Come here for a hug. I'm sorry I brought up a bad memory."
"That's OK. It's fun when we're playing a game and I'm just doing it because I want to."
"Glad you're having fun."
"Can we do the hot dogs?"
"Isn't wood for the campfire your responsibility, Mike?"
"I better get busy."
~~~
"Grandpa, I know Lexi is going to Miss Alice's school, but are you gonna be our teacher or send us there?"
"Terry, I think I'll send you to Miss Alice's school while it's in session, although we'll still work here on getting you caught up. For a couple of reasons."
"Like what?"
"Like you won't get to see Lexi except on the weekends if I teach you, Abby. And most of the time you won't get to be with other kids except at church and Trade Day."
"You're right, Grandpa. I'd miss Lexi if I didn't see her all week - and it was fun having all the kids here for the party!"
"Then I'll have you up in the morning in time to ride in with Alice. Remember that the teachers need to be at school before the kids to get things ready for the day."
"Like what?"
"Putting lesson assignments on the board or getting the wood stove lit in the winter to get the room warm, Terry."
"Oh. If we go with Cousin Alice in the winter, we'll need the big coats and stuff 'cause it'll take a while to get the place warm."
"Very good, smart girl."
~~~
"I hear a horse galloping."
"Yes, Kate, and there's a dust cloud moving up the road. I think that's Royal. Hey, Jack! This way!"
"Whoa, Royal."
"Get your horse to the other side of the ropes and let him drink. What's up that you're here at full speed?"
"We'd finished checking the intakes and were loading things back on the diving barge when the strap on one of the SCUBA tanks broke and it fell in the water. Hal followed it down and it's caught in the grate for the #3 generator. He tied a rope to it and brought the rope up to be tied to the barge so the tank can't go down any deeper, but we'll need someone to go inside the grate and move the tank to the correct angle for us to pull it out of the slanted grate..."
"Can you just leave it there and use the other generators?"
"Wish we could, Mike, but that would give us two problems. First, we couldn't use the #3 generator, so a fourth of our capacity and generator life would be lost. Second, the vibration of another generator running and the suction from an active intake could move the tank and suck it into an active intake. That would damage the turbine and we don't have the people or facilities to get it repaired."
"Then I guess you gotta get it out."
"Yes, we 'gotta'. That's why I'm here. The openings in the grate are too small for any of the adults so we're down to asking you kids. I think Mike and Abby are small enough to fit through but strong enough to lift the tank, but we'd have to give you some quick SCUBA lessons first. Before you answer, it will be cold, dark except for the lights we take with us and you'll be maybe 50 feet underwater. The grate opening will let your body through but we'll have to unstrap your SCUBA tank and have you push it through the grate ahead of you. You won't be able to strap the tank back on once you're inside, so you'll be holding it with one arm and moving the dropped tank with the other one."
"I don't want Abby doing something dangerous but she's faster than me in the water and she can hold her breath a lot longer."
"I didn't know she was that good in the water. Thanks, Mike."
"Abby, you're important as future mother, farmer, teacher and who knows what else you may do. Think about this before you answer: power is not important if there is no one there to use it. Having more people and having them able to do for themselves are both more important than having power."
"I understand, Grandpa, and I love you, too. I know it needs to be done and we're the right size to do it. Mike can come with us as backup if I'm not strong enough to move the tank that was dropped. Do we need to ride horses back?
"No, Abby. Harold is using the gasoline powered pump on the party boat to refill the SCUBA tanks Hal and I used so we have time to take the buggy. Before you ask, you can all come and each of you can have a turn driving."
"We need other clothes if we're gonna be in the buggy."
"Just jeans and a shirt over their swimsuits and some shoes for Mike and Abby for the trip to the dam. Terry and Lexi can get out of their swimsuits and get in all dry clothes. Abby and Mike can take a full change of dry clothes to wear on the way back as it could be after dark and will be cool then. Remember your BOB's and weapons."
"Yes, Grandpa."
~~~
" Dad, once when I was talking with Sara Wiseman about Abby, I said that Abby was the most mature nine year old I'd ever known. I had almost said "the oldest nine year old" and now I'm thinking that might have been more correct. She sometimes sees things as someone with much more age and experience would see them."
"I know, Kate. She sometimes reveals things - such as Crystal holding her head under at the pool - that would have left most kids terrified, but she seems to have used it as a learning experience. I get the feeling that there's still a lot that we don't know about her or her experiences. On the bright side, we're not in Salem, Massachusetts, and it's not the 1600's."
"You think someone would have accused her of being a witch?"
"Probably both of them. How else would the people of Salem have responded to girls who dreamed about things that would happen in the future?"
" Did either girl say anything about a bad dream?"
"No. While not a good event, perhaps it's not bad enough to be on their dream 'radar' because there's no direct threat to any of us."
~~~
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Post by millwright on Jul 20, 2014 20:40:58 GMT -6
Things are pickin' up again.
I'm caught up now.
Thanks for the moar.
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Post by ydderf on Jul 21, 2014 14:58:07 GMT -6
Thanks for the NEW. As I got no response on sharing my muse food I had to throw it out grin.
I wait with bated breath for new chapters!
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 21, 2014 21:28:59 GMT -6
Chapter 108 - Monday afternoon
"Abby, Mike. Normally you'd get several hours of SCUBA lessons before you even got in the water, let alone having you attempt what we need you to do today, so I'll just hit the most important things. Also, diving is usually 'buddy system' where you have one other diver with you, but Hal and I will both be with whichever of you is down today. We're going to the practice tank that's down one level. It's in the dark except for the lights we have, so will be a good practice area. Everyone else is welcome to stay up here and enjoy the sun or watch the fish jump."
~~~
"What a pretty dog!"
"Stay away from Queenie, Terry. She's mean."
"No, she's hurt. Watch her walk. She moves her left back leg funny."
"You're right. I'd never noticed that before. I guess you were in just the right place to notice the difference in her right and left legs."
"Queenie, will you let me check your leg? Good girl. Lie down here while I run my hand along... Ow!."
"What is it, Terry?"
"Something sharp sticking out of her leg. Do you have big tweezers or little pliers?"
"We have lots of tools, Terry. You pick the one you think will work best."
"This one with this other one for backup. Mr. Dennison, can you hold her head and Grandpa hold her leg? I think this might hurt coming out but then it will be better. Do you have anything to put on it, like the alcohol and 'roxide Aunt Kate put on Abby's ear?"
"'Roxide'?"
"Hydrogen peroxide, Harold."
"Sure, got both and some antibiotic ointment in this first aid kit."
"We need the collar thingy the vet uses to keep them from chewing on an 'owie'."
"I can make that from a plastic milk jug and some gaffer's tape."
"I've seen duck tape but what is 'gaffer's tape'?"
"A stronger version of duct tape. I have Queenie's head. You got that leg, Bill?"
"I'm good. Pull slowly so we don't do more damage, Terry."
"Yes, Grandpa. I'm pulling but it's not moving. Aunt Kate, can you do it?"
"Yes, Terry. You have a good grip on her leg, Dad?"
"Yes."
"Wow! I don't think she liked that. Her howl made my ears hurt."
"She wasn't happy about being held down either, Terry, but it seems Dr. Terry and Dr. Kate did a good job. Queenie doesn't flinch when I move her leg. Kate, let's get it bandaged and the cone in place then we can turn her loose."
"I also want to clean and bandage the cut Terry got when she was checking Queenie's leg."
"It's just a scratch, Aunt Kate."
"Even scratches need good care when we don't know what Queenie might have gotten into."
"OK."
"Looks like she's moving OK, Harold. What was in her leg?"
"I chased off some kids who were shooting matchstick and needle darts from clothespin guns several months ago. I guess one of them got Queenie in a vulnerable spot. Seems I just lost my vicious yard dog, though. If she's not hurting, she'll want to play with everyone who comes to the gate."
"She looks part Australian sheep dog. Is she?"
"Half that and half lab."
"Harold, you have a smart dog with a history of herding. I think you can train her to keep the 'herd' outside the fence."
"That sounds do-able. Guess she's going back to check on her pups. They're past being weaned, but it's hard to get them away from her. I usually wind up locking Queenie in the shed so I can get the pups away from her to give them away."
"Well, she's doing something different today - she's got one by the scruff of the neck and she's headed for Terry."
"Is this puppy OK, Queenie? That sounds like a happy 'woof'. Are you giving the puppy to me? I think that little dance is a 'yes'. Grandpa, can we keep him?"
"Harold?"
"Bill, if Queenie trusts Terry enough to offer her the pick of the litter, I trust Terry to care for that pup."
"OK, Terry, you have a fine puppy. Remember that you have to housebreak him and yardbreak him."
"'Yardbreak'?"
"Yes, teach him that the farm animals are not to be chased and the chicken house is not to be raided for eggs and so forth."
"Will you help me teach him, Grandpa?"
"Of course."
~~~
"This stuff is heavy. I can't swim with this on me."
"Abby, once you're in the water, the tank has enough buoyancy that it just does float. That means that it won't weigh much at all when you wear it."
"OK. What's first?"
"First is how to turn on the air - this valve right here."
"I don't hear any air coming out."
"It doesn't until you tell it to. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth, bite down a little to keep it in place, then blow out a little air - like blowing up a balloon."
"It works!"
"That's the first and most important lesson, Abby. The second lesson is almost as important because the only way you can 'talk' underwater is with your hands - remember that your mouth is full. We'll cover just the most important hand signals."
~~~
"That's a lot of signals."
"Actually, Mike, that's just the minimum we think you'll need today. There is one other thing to get attention underwater. Use this wrench to hit the side of the tank. Noise like that carries a long way underwater and three bangs on the tank will be our emergency signal if something goes wrong."
"What could go wrong?"
"A rope could break, the lights could fail, you could get stuck somewhere..."
"OK, OK, that's enough! Can we go over the hand signals one more time?"
"Of course, Abby."
~~~
"How long will you be down, Jack?"
"If all goes as planned, between 30 minutes and an hour. A full tank of air should be good for a couple of hours at the depth we'll be working, so there's a wide safety margin."
"OK. Be careful, Jack, and come back breathing."
"Yes, Kate. Abby, you ready?"
"Yes, Uncle Jack."
"We'll be roped together going down and coming back up and you'll be on a tether rope when you go inside the grate. Instead of you jumping or falling back into the water, I'll let you down and you can hold onto Hal while I get in."
"Abby, try your air."
"I see it works and you remembered 'thumbs up'. Very good. Remember it's hand signals only until we're back up and we can't 'hear' you unless we see your hands. That means touch us on the arm or something to get our attention. I got that 'thumbs up'. Elevator going down."
~~~
" Dad, it seems like a long time. Do you think they're OK?"
"It's barely been 30 minutes, Kate. That's the minimum time Jack gave. I see three patches of bubbles from time to time, so they all seem to be OK."
"That's good."
"Wait a minute. I'm only seeing two patches of bubbles. There and there. One of them is in trouble."
"Grandpa, is there anything we can do?"
"Pray, Terry."
~~~
"Looks like they're coming up."
"How many?"
"I see two."
"Who's missing?"
"The two I see look to be adults."
"What happened to Abby?"
"Looks like there's something on one diver's back."
"What?
"I think Abby is on Jack's back."
"She's OK?"
"Maybe. It's hard to tell through the water."
~~~
"Grandpa!"
"I'm here, Peanut. Want to tell me about it?"
"If I can have a very long hug."
"As long as you want and here's a towel to go with it."
"Bill, Abby is an amazing young lady. Can't say 'little girl' because I never heard of a little girl who can do what she did."
"Keep talking, Jack. We want to know everything."
"We got down with no problems and Abby got unstrapped from the tank and pushed it through the grate ahead of her like a pro. She couldn't lift the dropped tank high enough with one hand, so she braced her feet against the side of the intake and used her shoulder to lift the tank. Hal pulled it out and gave the rope three tugs for them to pull it up. Abby came back through the grate but she dodged a fish that came at her and the tank banged against the grate. We got her tank strapped back on and started up when she grabbed my arm and pointed at her mouthpiece. I was going to signal her to blow out but her cheeks were already puffed out, so something was wrong with her air supply. She grabbed by arm again and pointed to the parts bucket on my belt, then mimed putting it over her head. I wasn't sure how that would help, but I didn't have a better idea so I dumped the parts in my bucket into Hal's bucket and handed my bucket to Abby. She put it over her head, got behind me and got the bucket in my exhaust air stream. I've been with adults who were more frightened to learn how to do shared breathing than Abby was in much worse circumstances. I'm very proud of my relatively new niece."
"When the water in the bucket was down under my chin, I took out the mouthpiece and I could breathe again - just like the old-timey diving helmets."
"If it had to happen, better that Abby was there than me. I may swim a little faster in the long stretches, but she's smarter and she can hold her breath longer."
"You're right, Mike. Both of those things were in Abby's favor to get back up to the surface today."
"Jack, Hal. What went wrong? That tank is from the retreat's party boat, but the gauge showed full when I checked it. Abby, I'm so sorry."
"Jack, looks at the scratches on the gauge dial. You think the indicator was dragging and didn't show the true pressure until it got bumped going through the grate?"
"Very likely, Hal. We need to mark that gauge as suspect and see if we can find a replacement."
"Abby, I'm so sorry. I feel like I'm responsible for almost getting you killed."
"It's OK, Mr. Dennison. It was an accident and I'm fine now."
"Abby, let's get you into dry clothes and go home. I think we've had enough excitement for today. Kate would you go with her to the changing area on the dive barge?"
~~~
"Grandpa, can I get a hug all the way home?"
"If that's what you want."
"Bye, Abby, Terry. See you at school tomorrow."
"Bye, Lexi. See you tomorrow."
"Where'd the puppy come from, Grandpa?"
"I think Dr. Terry should explain that."
"' Dr. Terry'?"
"When I saw Mr. Dennison's dog, it looked like she walked funny..."
~~~
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