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Post by kaijafon on Jul 22, 2014 1:48:24 GMT -6
You have ME holding my breath!!! thank you!!!
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 22, 2014 8:28:55 GMT -6
Chapter 109 - Monday evening
"Bedtime is close, kids. Do the usual."
"We know, pajamas, brush, floss."
"That's right."
"Can we get two chapters tonight?"
"Normally I would limit you to one chapter on a night before a school day but I think you need a little more time to calm down tonight."
~~~
"Abby, why are you out of bed? You need to be up early tomorrow because you have chores to do before you leave for school."
"Grandpa, can I sit in your lap and get a hug?"
"Of course. Come here."
"I need to tell you something."
"Yes?"
"I knew what was gonna happen at the dam today. That's why I went first."
"Explain it to me?"
"It was in my dream. That's how I knew to use the bucket."
" Do you have any idea how frightened for you Hal and your Uncle Jack were down there with you when it happened? Or the rest of us were when one set of bubbles went away?"
"I'm sorry, Grandpa, but I had to do it that way."
"Had to?"
"Yes. Even if I told Mike what would happen and how to get air, I didn't think he could hold his breath long enough to do it."
"You risked yourself for Mike?"
"I woulda done it for anyone. I knew how to be safe when the air stopped but no one else would have."
"Sweet girl, as much as my wanting to protect you tells me I should punish you for not telling us your dream, I think you were right not to tell us - this time."
"Why am I 'sweet girl'?"
"Because you care so much for other people."
" Do we hafta tell the others?"
"I think it might be appropriate."
"But I don't want Mike to think that he owes me for keeping him safe."
"I understand, Abby. Your secret is safe with me. But if something like this happens again, I want you to trust me with your dream."
"Thank you. You're the best Grandpa ever."
"I kinda like you."
"I know."
"You have Bear?"
"He's waiting on my pillow."
"OK, scoot to bed."
"I'll get there faster if I walk."
"I know. We've had this conversation before."
"Come kiss me goodnight again?"
"Yes, Peanut."
~~~
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Post by ydderf on Jul 23, 2014 13:12:44 GMT -6
Thanks for the additional chapters. Interesting idea using the bucket as a diving helmet. All the diving I've done each regulator had a second mouthpiece in case of emergencies. As they say necessity is the mother if invention.
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 30, 2014 9:04:00 GMT -6
Chapter 110 - Tuesday morning
"Rise and shine, girls."
"It's too early, Grandpa. The sun is barely up."
"Country kids get up early to do chores before school. You're kids, this is the country and you don't eat until your chores are done."
"What about Mike?"
"I rang the bell on the back porch. Mike waved on his way to the barn, so you're already late. Remember to wear old clothes for chores and to wash up and change to school clothes before breakfast. I think you might want to make a good impression on the first day."
" Do we hafta?"
"Hafta what?"
" Do chores or eat breakfast or make a good impression?"
"Not 'or'. It's 'and'. I expect you to do all those things. The revised chore list is on the fridge so you'll know which things should be done before you leave for school and which can wait until you get back home."
"Yes, Grandpa."
~~~
Ding! Ding!
"What kind of bell is that?"
"That's the bell on your school bus, Terry."
"I thought we were riding with Cousin Alice?"
"You are, so her wagon is your school bus."
"What kinda bell makes that sound?"
"Old junk."
"What?"
"An old brake drum from a car."
"Brakes go 'Ding'? I thought they only made screechy noises."
"Abby, the disc brakes on newer cars did the screech to tell people it was time to fix the brakes. Brake drums are a much older technology. Brush your teeth, get your BOB's and weapons and get on the bus."
"You're silly, Grandpa. But you're fun, too."
"Remember your lunches. There's water to drink at school, but there's cool milk in your thermos."
"Yummy!"
~~~
"Hi, kids.
"Hi, Cousin Alice or is it Miss Alice?"
"Cousin Alice when there are no other students, Abby. Miss Alice when other students are present."
"There are other kids in the wagon..."
"But all these kids live at our house and know that you and Terry are family - the 'students' are the ones we pick up later. What did you do yesterday on your last day of freedom for a while?"
"Grandpa took us to the swimming hole and we had races and a hold-your-breath contest and a picnic. It was fun 'til Uncle Jack came racing up on Royal."
"Racing, Terry?"
"They had a problem at the dam and needed someone small enough to get inside the grate but strong enough to move a big SCUBA tank, so Mike and Abby got lessons so they could help. Abby went down first 'cause she's faster and can hold her breath longer. But her tank ran out of air..."
"What? How'd you get back up without air?"
"She's smart and she can hold her breath a long time. She made a diving helmet out of a bucket and filled it with Mister Jack's exhaust air."
"You're right, Mike. She is smart. I've been SCUBA diving several times and no one ever mentioned being able to do that. Why didn't you say something, Abby?"
"It's not a big deal and I don't want you telling everyone. I didn't do anything special. I just did what I could where I was needed."
"Scoot a little closer to me so I can give you a hug for 'doing what you could'. Abby, I know you just want to be like everyone else, but you're not - you're one terrific kid. I won't mention this and the rest of my group won't if they don't want me to discover that there are some stalls that haven't been mucked very well and that those stalls need to be scrubbed on their knees with a brush and soapy water..."
"Stewart, I told you they'd know."
"Shut up, Allen."
"Enough from you two boys - just be aware that if I know, my Dad knows and he's just waiting for the right time. Abby, if the subject comes up in class I'll have to acknowledge it and tell what I know. Remember that Mr. Dennison has a family and I'm sure that Hal told some of the ROTC people. Even if we don't have radio, TV or newspapers, there's still a grapevine that works."
"I guess I can't stop that."
"No. You can't."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 30, 2014 9:07:36 GMT -6
Chapter 111 - Tuesday noon
"What happened yesterday, Abby? I dreamed about you Sunday night but the dream was weird. Daddy wouldn't tell me anything except that you helped them at the dam. I know there was more to it 'cause him and Mommy did a lot of whispering."
"I'll tell you, but please don't tell anyone else. It's not a big deal, I just did what I could."
"So what did you do?"
"They needed someone small to go through a grate on the intake at the dam and move a SCUBA tank that got dropped and was stuck in the grate. Me and Mike both learned some about SCUBA diving. I went first because I'm a little faster and can hold my breath a little longer."
"There's gotta be more to it. In my dream you had a bucket over your head."
"The gauge on the SCUBA tank was stuck and the tank ran out of air on the way back up. I put the bucket over my head and filled it with air from Uncle Jack's exhaust air. Like I said, it's not a big deal."
"I won't tell anyone, but you should expect others to find out. You oughta plan on telling everything."
" Don't teachers want you to write about what you did while you were out of school?"
"Sometimes, Mike."
"Would you rather write about shooting people to keep others safe or write about what happened yesterday?"
"Terry, I'd rather write about planting the garden or the races and the picnic at the swimming hole."
"Good luck getting off that easy."
"She's right, Abby. I even had to write a 'What I Did for the New Year' report in second grade."
"I guess you're right, Mike. Maybe if I tell it, people won't make up stories about what they think happened. But what if they don't believe me?"
"You could ask Mr. Dennison to come and tell what happened. It's his dam so no one will think he's telling it to make you look good."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 30, 2014 9:10:52 GMT -6
Chapter 112 - Tuesday afternoon
"Sherrie, wait up."
"Why, Josh?"
"That bolt action rifle is too slow if a group of dogs comes after you."
"I thought they got all the wild dogs."
"As Mr. Mason said 'just the slowest and dumbest ones'. My Glock holds thirteen rounds and I have two more mags for it. I'll walk you home and maybe I can talk to someone there about a better gun for you."
"Thank you, Josh."
~~~
"Hello, Josh. Why are you here?"
"I didn't think Sherrie was safe from the dogs with that slow bolt action rifle, so I walked her home."
"Thank you, Josh. That's very considerate of you."
"Yes, ma'am. Is there another gun Sherrie could use? Maybe a pistol or a shotgun?"
"Why don't you ask Sam when he gets back with the steam tractor?"
"I've always wanted to learn how to run one of those. Do you think Mister Sam would teach me?"
"He did say something about looking for a helper - you can ask him when he gets here. Would you kids like some milk and cookies while you wait? These cookies were made with the last of our chocolate chips."
"Yes, ma'am!"
~~~
"Hello, Josh. I heard you were pretty good at fixing things."
"Mr. Green, you musta been talking to Uncle Carl."
"I have been. Would you be interested in helping me with maintenance on the wood gas and steam machines?"
"Very much, sir. I've always wanted to drive a steamer."
"I could use the help. Maybe a couple of hours each day after school? And all day when you're not in school?"
"I'll have to ask Uncle Carl 'cause I wouldn't be there to help with the chores."
"You do that. I think there should be some pay in addition to you getting to drive a steamer."
"Sam, Josh walked Sherrie home from Carl's place because he thought the rifle would be too slow a defensive weapon if she had to fight off feral dogs."
"Thank you, Josh. What would you suggest as a weapon for Sherrie?"
"Either a pistol with a big magazine- like my Glock - or a shotgun that holds at least five shells."
"Good choices, son. I'll have Sherrie practice with both and see which she is most comfortable with."
"If Uncle Carl says it's OK to help you, I could walk Sherrie home tomorrow and start work then. I could come over in the mornings and walk her to the school wagon until she gets some practice with her new weapon."
"Thank you, Josh. I guess you better get back home so you can get your chores done. We'll see you in the morning."
"Yes, sir. Bye, Mrs. McNabb. Bye, Sherrie."
"Bye, Josh."
"Sherrie, you also have chores to do."
"I'll get right on them, Mom."
~~~
"You OK with my suggestions, Debbie?"
"Yes, Sam. I think Sherrie matured a year today, what with having another teen tell her how dangerous it is out there and offering to keep her safe. I don't think she ever encountered anything like that in her little circle of self-centered girlfriends from before. And she's certainly mellowed a great deal from Josh's attention. If I were her age and had - as she described him Sunday - 'a hunk' like that concerned about me, I'd certainly want to keep the adults around me happy about his presence."
"So you're also under his spell?
"No, but I do remember being thirteen and having a crush on an equally handsome boy who was fourteen."
"And you eventually got him to the altar. I should go pick out a couple of guns for Sherrie to try. I doubt that we can get any shooting time today, but I'll plan for it tomorrow. In the meantime, I think she'll be safe. At least she won't come to bodily harm - although I can't predict about heartbreak."
~~~
"Grandpa, what's that noise?"
"That's the sound of progress, Abby."
"What?"
"That's the refrigerator - we just got power back for a little while."
"We got 'lectricity?"
"Yes, Terry, although I don't know for how long. We're one of the test houses and we may only have power for a few minutes today. Remember that the announcements about power being available again haven't been made at church and Trade Day yet. This is just a test and you're not to mention it to any other people - whether kids or adults."
"The 'lectricity won't be on all the time?"
"They're verifying that some of the repaired lines are OK, so power only long enough to make some measurements and then it'll be switched to another area for tests there."
"When does it happen for real?"
"At least a couple of weeks for us, Mike. Some people might get power sooner; others will be later. There aren't a lot of people available to work on restoring power - food production is more important because everyone needs to eat and not everyone has enough food put back for hard times. The available workers have repaired the main distribution lines and enough other lines for today's tests, but the remaining repairs will take longer - remember that they will announce at church and Trade Day when they need help. One of the bucket trucks did start and there was about 250 gallons of diesel in the tank at the dam, so things will go faster than if the repairs were all being done by hand. When all the lines are repaired and they know the approximate number of houses in each area, they'll make announcements about which hours power will be on where. They'll also lay out a plan for downtime for maintenance."
"But not on all the time like it used to be?"
"No,Terry, just part of the day. A fridge or freezer can stay cold if it has power a few hours a day and it's only opened a few times..."
"Can we bake in the 'lectric oven instead of with wood?"
"We'll see what the schedules are for power being on. If that schedule works with our time available to bake, then we'll do that. If not, you now have a lot of experience cooking with wood and we'll continue that."
"But the fridge will work and make ice?"
"I think Terry wants to make ice cream."
"I sure do, Abby. We didn't have any at your birthday party and I can't remember the last time I had some."
~~~
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Post by ydderf on Jul 30, 2014 10:42:30 GMT -6
I'm caught up again,sigh, thank you for all the work kind sir.
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Post by papaof2 on Jul 30, 2014 13:43:59 GMT -6
Chapter 113 - Tuesday evening
"Bedtime, kids."
"We know, Grandpa. Pajamas, brush, floss."
"Then have at it."
~~~
"Can we have two chapters tonight?"
"No, Terry. It's a school night, so only one chapter."
"But we got two last night."
"Last night followed a scary afternoon and I thought getting you calmed down from that was more important than another fifteen minutes of sleep. Considering how fast Abby crashed last night, maybe I should have limited you to one chapter then as well."
"How did Abby crash?"
"She fell asleep sitting up, with her journal in her lap. I heard a noise and when I knocked on the door, neither of you answered. I opened the door to check and Abby was asleep sitting up and the journal was on the floor. Since Terry didn't hear me knock either, both of you were very tired so only one chapter tonight."
"OK."
~~~
============
Hi, it's me again. I didn't write last night. I did get out the journal and the pen, but Grandpa told me this morning that he heard something hit the floor just a few minutes after I went to bed the second time and when he came and knocked on the door there was no answer, so he checked the room and my journal was on the floor. I fell asleep sitting up before I got one word written! He said it was an 'adrenaline letdown' (I know that's spelled right - I looked it up in the dictionary at school today) and when I looked lost he explained that adrenaline was something your body makes when you're in trouble so you can run faster or longer or whatever you need to do to be safe. But when the trouble is over, it leaves you really tired. I guess I was tired if I fell asleep sitting up with the journal in my lap. I did tell Grandpa last night that I had dreamed about the things at the dam and knew the tank would run out of air but I knew how to be safe so I went first instead of Mike. He thought I was some kind of hero but I just did what I knew was best for all of us. It hasn't made the grapevine at school yet - at least all the kids aren't talking about it. Miss Alice wanted me to write it all down for her to read to the class tomorrow, but I was busy with other things today and now I'm too tired to write that much. I'll write it tomorrow and she can read it to them the next day. I wonder if that adrenaline thingie can make you tired for more than one day?
============
~~~
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Post by kaijafon on Jul 31, 2014 11:27:02 GMT -6
THANK YOU FOR THE MOAR!!!!
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Post by biggkidd on Jul 31, 2014 21:11:55 GMT -6
Always good to read MOAR of this story!
Larry
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 3, 2014 15:13:30 GMT -6
Chapter 114 - Wednesday morning
"Abby?"
"Yes, Sherrie?"
"Tell your grandfather that I said 'Thank you' for helping get the school started."
"I'll tell him, but why is it important to you?"
"Josh walked me home yesterday because he didn't think I'd be fast enough with the rifle if any wild dogs came after me. Now he's walking me to and from the school wagon each day until I learn to use a better gun - and Uncle Sam asked him to help with the steam engines, so he's gonna be there almost every day."
"That's a good thing. I'll tell Grandpa."
"You're not gonna tease me about having a boyfriend like some of the kids my age do?"
"No. The two of you being together like that is a good thing."
"What do you mean?"
"He can take care of you going to and from our new school bus and Mister Sam gets some help."
"Oh. I thought you meant we were gonna be a couple long-term."
"I didn't say that."
"I guess it's just wishful thinking on my part."
~~~
"Abby, did you write out your adventure?"
"No, Miss Alice. After chores yesterday, I was too tired to write. I will have it tomorrow. But what if the other kids don't believe me?"
"Tomorrow will be fine. Don't worry about them believing you. I have that covered."
"How?"
"You'll see tomorrow."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 3, 2014 15:15:36 GMT -6
Chapter 115 - Wednesday noon
"Hey, Abby! Are you really a trailer trash Hee-row?"
" Doyle, you and your little group of barely-do-enough-to-get-feds can shut up and leave Abby alone. At least she's willing to help wherever she's needed - that's a lot more than can be said about you."
"Oooh, Josh has a little girlfriend."
"No, Abby has a neighbor who appreciates what she does."
"Like being a trailer trash Hee-..."
Splat!
"You three pick him up and wash his face under the pump to wake him up. All of you should be very careful - you get on the school wagon every morning and go back to sleep. You never know when the wagon might hit a bump and you'd get thrown to the road- maybe in front of a wheel."
~~~
" Doyle Pittman, were you and Josh fighting?"
"No, Miss Alice. We were just horsing around and I tripped and fell against the side of the outhouse."
"Josh Bowman?"
" Doyle knows what happened to him better than anyone else, Miss Alice."
"Very well. I don't want to hear of any fighting or name-calling here at school or on the way to or from school."
"Yes, Miss Alice."
~~~
"Josh is so big and strong and protective of other people, isn't he, Abby?"
"He sure is Sherrie. He's nice."
~~~
"Abby, you really need to tell your side of the story."
"I know, Lexi. I'll write it when we get home today and Miss Alice is gonna read it tomorrow."
"What if some kids don't believe you - like Doyle and his bunch?"
"I asked Miss Alice about that on the way to school today and she said she 'had it covered'."
"What's that mean?"
"I guess she has someone who can back me up that they won't question."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 3, 2014 15:17:07 GMT -6
Chapter 116 - Wednesday afternoon
"I don't think I've ever seen Doyle so quiet."
"Me either, Abby. I think he's too busy watching Josh to have time to run his mouth."
"Yeah, Sherrie. Worried about suddenly 'falling' off the wagon. And maybe worried about what his uncle will do when he gets home."
"I don't think Mr. Dennison puts up with much of the garbage Doyle is known for."
" Doyle might be bringing a pillow with him tomorrow."
" Don't mention that. Today's the first day I've tried sitting all day without a pillow."
"I saw you sitting on just one side."
"I'm OK for a little while, but it still hurts if I sit the same way for very long."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 3, 2014 15:20:21 GMT -6
Chapter 117 - Wednesday evening
"Grandpa, thank you for the the egg and bacon sandwiches you made for our lunches. They were so good!"
"You're welcome, Abby. You've collected a lot of eggs this week and I know that all of you like those sandwiches."
"Sherrie McNabb said to thank you for getting the school started again. I think she's really sweet on Josh and now she gets to see him every day."
"Every day?"
"Un huh. Five days at school, every afternoon and most Saturdays when he's helping Mister Sam with the steam engines and Sunday at church and Trade Day."
"Remember that Alice Black had a lot to do with getting the one room school going - even if it's now two rooms."
"But you talking about home schooling us was part of what got her going, so you get the 'thank you'."
~~~
============
It's me. I almost messed up again today when Sherrie was talking about Josh. I said it was a good thing that they were together and she read a lot into what I said. There is more than I told her, but she's had so much bad stuff happen - her dad dying of the fever, her and her Mom and brother being in the caves so long - that I couldn't have told her the good that's coming without also telling her the bad. She's come a long way from who she was when she called us "trailer trash" but I don't think she's strong enough yet to handle the bad news that's coming. Sometimes I hate knowing things that are gonna happen 'cause it's so hard to keep secrets. Well, most secrets. I got yelled at so much at the trailer park when I told people they were pregnant that I don't think that will ever slip out. I don't like being yelled at - neither does Terry - and we both get kinda worried when Grandpa raises his voice. We know he won't hurt us or make us leave, but remembering what some other people did is still scary. I got the thing written for Miss Alice to read to the class tomorrow. I asked her this morning "What if the kids don't believe me?" and she said she 'had it covered'. I wish I'd been hugging her or holding her hand when she said that so I'd know what it was since good stuff is always weaker than bad stuff and I usually have to touch someone to get details on something good. Wait a minute - does having to touch someone to see the good mean there could be as much good as bad in the future but I just can't see how big the good is in a dream? I'll sleep on that 'cause Grandpa just knocked on the door and told me to finish my journal entry and get to sleep. Is he reading my mind or does he just know me that well? He's certainly the biggest part of 'good' for me and Terry. And keeping him safe at the church has been good for so many other people - good that I couldn't see when I had the bad dreams about him; I just saw him being hurt. Wish I had Grandma Betty to talk to about this dreaming/seeing thing...
============
~~~
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Post by crf78112 on Aug 3, 2014 16:31:53 GMT -6
Thank you!
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Post by kaijafon on Aug 3, 2014 20:14:50 GMT -6
Thank you! wonderful
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Post by biggkidd on Aug 4, 2014 8:56:05 GMT -6
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 4, 2014 15:44:19 GMT -6
Chapter 118 - Thursday morning
"You have the story of your adventure at the dam, Abby?"
"Yes, Grandpa. Thank you for checking the spelling and stuff. I really want to do good work for Miss Alice."
"You did very good work, resident author."
"Resident author?"
"A resident is someone who lives in a place and you live here. An author is a writer and you're certainly that - so you're our resident author. When you're ready, I'd like to read some of the stories you've written."
"They're not very good."
"What if you let me read a couple of them and make up my own mind about whether they're good or not?"
"OK. I'll look through them tonight and pick a couple."
"Thank you, resident author."
"You're silly, Grandpa."
"Maybe, but I made you smile. Remember your lunches; the bus will be here soon."
"We might get to see Doyle fall out of the wagon."
"What, Terry?"
Ding! Ding!
"I'll tell you later, Grandpa."
"There must be a good story behind that comment. I should talk with Miss Alice this weekend."
"I'd rather you didn't."
"That's an even better reason for me to talk to her, Abby."
~~~
"Class, today Mr. Dennison is going to talk with us about the work being done on the hydro plant and the lines that bring electricity to the the houses, farms and businesses in our area."
"Thank you for the opportunity, Alice. I want to give all of you a little background on how the hydro plant came to be, I have some sketches of how things work and I can tell you some of the plans for getting power back on in the near future. A number of people have helped get things repaired so we can have power again, including some kids."
"Kids?"
"Yes, Doyle. Kids younger than you."
"How did he know your name, Doyle?"
"Paul, that's my Uncle Harold."
~~~
"That concludes my part, but Alice has a report on some things that happened at the dam on Monday - written by one of the people who was there."
"Our trailer trash Hee-row."
" Doyle come here."
"Yes, Uncle Harold."
"I think everyone should know why you're so jealous of what Abby did."
"I'm not jealous of some trailer trash... Let go my shirt! Put me down!"
"Tell them why you didn't volunteer to help, even though you were at the dam."
"Well, I - uh -"
"Speak up, boy, or I'll tell them for you. By the way, your mother invited me to supper tonight and I think you need to visit the woodshed and get re-acquainted with your grandfather's razor strop."
"Well, uh- uh..."
"Tell. Them. Now."
"I can't swim. I'm afraid of the water."
"This is the 'leader' of your gang? Someone who is all hat and no horse? You three boys need to do some serious thinking about why you hooked up with him. Doyle, we'll have a long talk in the woodshed tonight. I hope you can sleep on your stomach. I think I may need to visit some other parents and explain some things to them. Miss Alice, would you read Abby's report?"
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 4, 2014 15:46:54 GMT -6
Chapter 119 - Thursday noon
"Wow, Abby! You really are a hero."
"No, Kyle, I just did what I could to help."
" Dad said you'd be like your grandfather and say 'I was just doing my job'. I don't think any of us kids has a job that includes SCUBA diving."
"It's not a big deal."
"It is a big deal and we all think we're lucky to know you."
"Really? You don't think I'm weird?"
"We think you're smarter and braver than we are. If that's weird, then we all want to be weird."
"Yeah, and I wish I could write like you do. You told what happened but it was interesting and parts of it were exciting. Could you look at some of the things I've written and tell me how you would've done it?"
"Sure, Patricia. Maybe you could have them in the morning and I could read them on the way to school?"
"I can do that."
~~~
" Doyle, you're an idiot! When your uncle tells our folks what we've been saying and doing, we'll all catch he-- heck. My Dad will skip mucking out the stalls and make me sleep out there if I'm lucky. Otherwise, I get to meet with the razor strop and then sleep in the barn."
"Same for me, Doyle. Don't ever come round me again. I'm not as good as Josh, but I can beat you and I will."
"Yeah, Doyle. What Joey said."
~~~
"Abby?"
"Yes, Mr. Dennison?"
"Thank you for being willing to try something as scary as diving in the dark. You know that we couldn't have gotten that tank out of the grate without your help. I'll remember that - and don't you try to interrupt me to say you were just doing your job. I know better. I think there should be special recognition of you and Mike and some type of reward for going well beyond what should be expected of you."
"Thank you, Mr. Dennison. And thank you for getting Doyle and his friends to leave me alone."
"That's a very small repayment on what I owe you, Abby. If you have a problem with any of those boys in the future, you just let me know. When the power is back on, it would be as simple as calling me on the phone."
"Oh, yeah. Grandpa said we might get the phones back after power is on again."
"And every phone call that will be made in the future will be an acknowledgement of your work on Monday."
~~~
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Post by crf78112 on Aug 4, 2014 15:58:21 GMT -6
Good! Love the way the story is going.
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Post by kaijafon on Aug 4, 2014 18:12:05 GMT -6
Thank you!!
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Post by ydderf on Aug 4, 2014 18:12:28 GMT -6
I feel a little strange saying thank you so I called for help. My Mother thanks you, my Father thanks, My sister thanks you, my brother thanks you, my sons thank you, my cousin thanks you, my foster child thanks you and of course my wife also thanks you.
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 5, 2014 13:38:01 GMT -6
Careful of all that adulation and adoration. It might give me a big head and I wouldn't be able to to keep writing if both hands were holding my head up ;-)
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 5, 2014 13:39:35 GMT -6
Chapter 120 - Thursday afternoon
"Josh, there's something in the museum area that I want you to look at and tell me whether you think it can be fixed."
"Almost anything can be fixed, Mr. Green. It's just a matter of having enough time and parts being available."
"Can I come, too, Uncle Sam?"
"Yes, you may, Sherrie. If Josh decides to tackle the project, he'll need to have some sewing done. You can make notes on that for your Mom."
"Mom's been teaching me on the treadle machine."
"From the looks of that shirt you're wearing, you're learning quickly."
"Yes, sir."
"Then maybe you'll be the one doing the sewing Josh will need. Make good notes."
"Yes, sir."
~~~
"It's a whole machine shop! And all the machines are powered by belts from that big shaft overhead. Do any of them work?"
" Despite their age, most of the machines are OK; some will need work to make them fully functional. The biggest problem is the Babbitt bearings on the line shaft. They need to be melted out and re-poured. There's a scaffold with a jack that can support the shaft on either side of a bearing while that work is being done."
"I helped Uncle Carl with Babbitt bearings on some of the old horse-drawn farm equipment."
"Then you know what's needed to replace these bearings. Climb up to the catwalk and take a look."
~~~
"Mr. Green, there are much better bearings for the kind of loads this line shaft gets. If we could find maybe some axle bearings from a big tractor - like those big four-wheel-drive ones that can pull a plow thirty feet across."
"Josh, Wally stocked a huge parts shed. Said he wanted to be able to repair or rebuild every machine on the grounds. Make whatever measurements you need and then you can go look in the shed. Sherrie, you take this lantern - I know it's dark in that shed."
"Yes, Uncle Sam."
"Since you're wearing lipstick today, remember that there'll be evidence if you're doing anything other than helping Josh look for parts."
"Uncle Sam!"
"Gotcha, didn't I? I love teasing you, Sherrie."
"I know, Uncle Sam. You make it feel like we're family."
"To borrow a phrase from your generation 'Well, duh!'. Your mother is my sister so we are family."
"But sometimes it's more like you're my dad..."
"Come here for a hug and let's dry those tears. You have no idea how happy you just made me."
~~~
"Sherrie, put the lantern on that table and come help me move this box."
"OK, Josh. What's in it?"
"The label says 'wheel bearings' and it has the Deere logo, so this might be what I need to replace the line shaft bearings. Be ready when I pull it out - it's heavy."
"Umph! It's really heavy. How far are we taking it?"
"Just to the workbench. I saw a box cutter there that I can use to open the box and then measure the ID of the bearing."
"ID?"
"Inside diameter. That's how big the hole in the middle of the bearing is. The line shaft is in several sections with dog clutches between them so it can be separated to work on it and still let some of the other machines run. This bearing looks close to what's needed. I'll look in the drawers of the workbench for a micrometer so I can get an exact measurement, then take the mike back and check the line shaft to see if it's a good fit."
"You're so smart."
"No, Uncle Carl is a good teacher. This isn't the original tape - looks like the box has been opened and then sealed back with masking tape."
"There's a letter in the box, Josh."
"Let's see what it says."
--------
Dear Mr. Green:
These are the parts you requested. The parts we sent in error are obsolete and not worth the cost of shipping to get them back. Keep them and perhaps you can use them on some machine in your museum.
Yours, truly,
Deere Parts of Waukesha
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"I guess that's the best price ever for the parts we need - if they fit. Extinguish the lantern and we'll go back to the museum."
"Extinguish? Oooh - you even use big words sometimes."
"Yeah. It was on a vocabulary list I had to learn. Didn't know that I'd ever have a chance to use it."
~~~
"Mr. Green, I found some big roller bearings that will work."
"Very good on finding that, Josh."
"What drives the line shaft?"
"There are two ways to power the shaft. There's a small steam engine in a lean-to out back or some of the water from the stream that runs through the property can be diverted to turn the water wheel on the end of the building. The water wheel can only be used part of the year as the stream dwindles down too small to be used in the summer. That's the reason for having dual power sources. The changeover from water to steam or back only takes about 30 minutes - other than the wait for the boiler to build up enough pressure to be used."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 5, 2014 13:42:07 GMT -6
Chapter 121 - Thursday evening
"What's up with you, Sam? You have that cat-that-ate-the-canary grin."
" Debbie, I'm beginning to wonder if Josh is from another planet. He touches a piece of machinery and it's almost like watching Spock doing the Vulcan mind-meld with a living being - in a couple of minutes he knows what that machine needs. He and Sherrie went to the parts shed to look for bearings for the line shaft in the museum's 1880 machine shop and they were back in maybe 15 minutes - with a micrometer so he could check whether the bearings he found were the right size - and they were. I hope I'm close by if he ever gets nicked working on something so I can see if he bleeds steam or some kind of lubricating oil."
"So he's a young clone of Wally?"
"He may be better than Wally was at the same age. He and Sherrie seem to be quite interested in each other - that could be a match made in heaven for keeping all the old equipment running and the valley producing food for people and feed for animals."
"Sherrie told me how you'd teased her - and what she'd said to you. Being here with you has been good for both kids, but especially Sherrie - I think today is the first time she's said the word 'dad' since Steve died. I'm so glad my big brother was here to take us in."
"I'm glad all of you are here, as well. We do need to remember to thank Bill Mason and the people he organized to get you out of those caves. I know Buttermilk was your 'thank you' gift to Bill - by way of Abby - but I'd like to do something also."
"Shouldn't the County Manager have a vehicle that runs on readily available fuel? Maybe that old truck that Wally was working on before the fever started?"
"I knew there was a reason for keeping you here, Sis. I'll get Josh to work with me on that tomorrow to see what's needed to finish the wood gas conversion. Wally was building a wood gas generator of his own design that would, in theory, start producing gas in about five minutes and have at least some ability to produce more or less gas as the load on the engine changed. That would be a great improvement over the wood gas generator on my truck which works best at a constant engine speed and load."
~~~
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Hi, it's me again. If I dreamed about good things, I sure woulda dreamed about today. Mr. Dennison was at school to talk about getting the lights back on and he had Miss Alice read what I wrote about getting the tank out of the grate. He's Doyle Pittman's uncle and he came down hard on Doyle when he started his 'trailer trash' talk. I think Doyle may not be able to sit down tonight after visiting the woodshed with his uncle. I thought the other kids might think I was weird for doing the diving stuff, but they think I'm brave for diving and smart for finding a way to get back up. And they liked what I wrote! Patricia even asked me to read some things she's written and give her suggestions. She's 13 and wants my opinion! Maybe my stories are better than I thought - I'll pick some out for Grandpa to read over the weekend.
============
~~~
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