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Post by kareninks on Sept 14, 2014 0:48:06 GMT -6
Awesome story Papaof2. Keep up the good writing. I'll wait impatiently (oops, meant patiently) for the next chapter.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 17, 2014 18:51:00 GMT -6
Chapter 130 - Sunday morning
"As we read in Genesis 9:1, after a previous clearing of people from this planet, Noah and his sons were commanded 'be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth'. That charge has now fallen on the current generation. We can only hope that there are enough of them who are healthy enough to make it happen. Perhaps this time the descendants will get it right and stop at replenish instead of overpopulating so badly that many could not be fed."
~~~
"I think that may be as close to a political comment as I've heard from a pulpit in this area."
"That lack of politics seems unusual in this day and age, Dad."
"You've been out in the larger world and have been exposed to many more outlooks than most people here. The majority of our original residents are very conservative."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 17, 2014 18:53:14 GMT -6
Chapter 131 - Sunday noon
"Jack, do you think anyone told the preacher that I'm pregnant?"
"Very unlikely, Kate. All our family members are very aware of keeping family business within the family."
"You're probably right - guess I'm just a little too close to the situation to be objective."
"Well, that portion of our business will be public knowledge soon enough. It's not something you can hide."
"That reminds me, I need to check on maternity clothes and baby clothes for multiple seasons."
"Ask Mabel Black and let her give you a list of people to check with. Better yet, ask her to do the shopping for you and delay the questions until your condition is obvious."
"I think I'll do that. What do I tell her when she asks why I'm looking for baby clothes for a boy?"
"Just remind her that she should be aware that some of her nieces have unique abilities."
~~~
"Where's Mike, Aunt Kate? He never gets far from the goodies table. I think he's afraid he might miss something chocolate."
"Abby, he's helping his Dad set up their leather goods table."
"May I go talk to him about some school stuff?"
"In about thirty minutes, when the first wave of shoppers is gone. You can also take their lunches to them when you go. If you want to, take yours and eat with them."
"Thank you, Aunt Kate."
~~~
"Kate! Look!"
"Wow! That's a big diamond!"
"Jason asked me last night. The ring was his great-grandmother's."
"That's wonderful, Alice! Have you set a date?"
"Not yet, but it will be very soon. Will you be my matron of honor?"
"I'd love to; just let me know when. I'll be talking with your Mom about the bridal shower."
" Did you read my mind? She said she planned to get you involved."
"No mind reading, Alice - that's what some of the kids do. I'm just paying you back for things your family has done for me. You'll have the younger kids involved?"
"Patricia and Amanda are already looking at dress patterns."
"If your Mom needs help sewing, let me know."
"I will."
~~~
"Mister Gene, I need to talk with Mike about something for school. I brought your lunches... I didn't know you were making moccasins, Mike!"
"Just started this week. I made those for me but they're a little small. You wanta try them on?"
"These feel just right. What kinda trades do you take?"
"Let me read some of the stories you've written?"
"I don't think that's fair to you, Mike."
"I do."
"Mister Gene, can you do something?"
"I never second guess other people's trades, Abby."
"You sound just like Uncle Jack. How many stories, Mike?"
"At least three, but I'd also be OK with a lot more than that."
"I'll let you see the book, but you can't tell anyone how bad the stories are."
"OK. I'll only tell about the good ones."
"That's not what I meant!"
"It's what you said."
"Boys can be so annoying!"
"Better let her cool off while we eat, Mike."
"Yes, Dad."
~~~
"Mike, I made a list of things I think the Chinese soldiers should know. Grandpa has a Mandarin-English dictionary and I thought we could add the Chinese pictographs to the pictures so we could learn some Chinese while they're learning English. See if I missed anything. I gotta go back and help Aunt Kate now. I'll check with you later."
"OK."
~~~
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Post by ydderf on Sept 18, 2014 4:30:04 GMT -6
Thank you for the new postings.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 18, 2014 17:45:39 GMT -6
Chapter 132 - Sunday afternoon
"How's the baking business today, Kate?"
"Very good, Dad. Having the word get around about how good the English muffin samples were for Manwich as well as breakfast, we sold out of the muffins in the first hour and have requests for two dozen more bags than I brought today."
"You need any wheat?"
"Not yet. Some of those big, heavy wedding presents contained buckets of red and white wheat."
"Heard how Sara and Isaac are doing?"
"Sara was by earlier and thanked me for telling her about Trade Day. You don't have to be Jewish to like some Kosher foods and all the bread she brought was gone in the first fifteen minutes. I think she said something about bringing pickles next week. Isaac doesn't have that many pre-made shoes and boots, but he's had a steady stream of people getting their feet - and their kids' feet - measured and working out a trade for footwear. I think he'll have work waiting for him for quite a while."
"Good for them. The more home-based industry we can get started, the better off we'll all be in the future. Did she mention where Isaac would be getting his leather?"
"Ed and George are tanning hides for a number of people, so they should have good stocks of various types of leather in the future."
"Yet another local small business is getting started. If you remember your American history, that's a story that's repeating itself."
"It was interesting to read about, Dad, but it's more interesting to be a part of future history."
~~~
" Dad, can you and Jack and the kids take care of things for a little while? I need to speak with Mabel Black."
"Go ahead, Kate."
"Mrs. Black?"
"Is my mother-in-law behind me, Kate?"
"No, Ma'am."
"Then as one old married woman to another, call me Mabel."
"Yes, Mrs... Mabel. I talked with Alice earlier..."
" Did you offer her a sling for her arm to keep that big rock up off the ground?"
"No, but I was impressed."
"I always thought that previous generations of the Trotter family were well-off, but had no idea they had that kind of money. Their house was a little bigger than some, but they also had a bunch of kids."
"What I wanted to ask was if you needed help with Alice's bridal shower and with the sewing. I know she could probably sew her own wedding gown, but she shouldn't have to do clothes for all the kids."
"When did Bill Mason start looking so much like his daughter?"
"What?"
"Just teasing you, Kate. You sounded exactly like Bill - the words, the timing, the inflections."
"Heaven help us, I've become my father."
"Kidding aside, I'll accept your offer of help. Making or altering something for Sherry and Amanda is fine work and I'll be more than happy to use your younger eyes for that."
"When do we start?"
"If you could come over after school tomorrow, you and Alice could work up some plans."
"Could Lexi ride with her to Dad's place tomorrow afternoon? That would mean I could be at your place when Alice got home."
"I'll tell her."
"Thank you. I do have another request."
"Yes?"
"Could you look for maternity clothes for me and baby clothes for a boy?"
"Are you sure? How can you know so early?"
"Remember that you have nieces with unusual abilities."
"Abby and Terry told you?"
"And Lexi, although indirectly."
"How can you tell someone they're pregnant in an indirect way?"
"When I hugged her yesterday morning, she said that I felt 'different'. When I asked her how I was different, she said I was 'more alive. Abby verified it when she hugged me yesterday."
"And I'm guessing that Abby knew it was a boy."
"You'd be guessing correctly."
"I'll make the rounds. Check back with me in an hour or so."
"I will. Thank you."
"Lexi wants to be my niece. I'll have to take care of my new nephew as well."
~~~
"Abby, you got a lot of useful things here, but these guys are soldiers so I think we should have some guns and knives and backpacks and boats and other stuff. I know they don't do gun pictures with little kids - unless they're trying to make them afraid of guns."
"That's good, Mike. You're smart."
"I would say that your smarts rub off on me when you hug me, but that only happened once on the stairs at the church."
"You liked that?"
"The hug. I'm not sure about the other part...
"Me either."
"Oh. I sorta thought all girls were into mushy stuff but that wasn't totally mushy. I guess it's OK as we are kinda family since we have the same Grandpa."
"Then you get some more smarts."
"I wasn't expecting another hug."
~~~
"Abby?"
"Yes, Mike?"
"When I was in pre-school, they had labels on everything - like 'door', 'table' and so forth. Do you think Miss Alice would let us make signs like that?"
"Let's go ask her. I'll tell Aunt Kate where we're going."
"OK."
~~~
"Whoa! Slow down and just one of you talk at a time. Abby, you go first."
"Miss Alice, ..."
"Miss Alice, Abby? We're not at school."
"It's about school and I always say 'Miss Alice' there, so I guess I'm in 'at school' mode. Anyway, when I asked Grandpa for ideas about helping the soldiers learn English, he got out his Mandarin-English dictionary and told me to look up terms that we were using. I thought it might help to put the pictograph for cow on the cow picture instead of just the word 'cow'."
"That's good, smart girl."
"Mike wants to know if we can make name tags in English and Mandarin for all the things in the classroom, like 'door' and 'table'."
"That's very good, Mike. Having things marked in both languages will make it easier for us to learn a little Mandarin and them to learn English."
"That's why Abby wanted things in both languages. Do you think Mister Abe and Mister Will will help us? What hit your giggle button, Abby?"
"Will will!"
"I don't see the egg yet, Abby, but can you stop cackling long enough to tell us what's so funny?"
"Mike, a long time ago, when they were looking for a translator to go to the Ishams and help Mister Abe, he said that he knew someone. When they asked in that person would help, he said 'Will will' and me and Terry and Lexi thought it was really funny. We said it every few minutes on the way to the Ishams' and we laughed like crazy every time. Grandpa told us not to say it on the way home, so we didn't but I thought Terry and Lexi would explode about every five minutes when they looked at each other and started grinning. Then when we got home, Mister Hal rode up beside the wagon and said 'Will will' and I laughed so much I almost wet my pants... Oops!"
"I don't think I'll ever understand girls."
~~~
"I need to check some things in the telephone office before we power it up in the next couple of weeks. Abby and Terry wanted to see the office. If Lexi or Mike - or any of you adults in the family - would like to get the dime tour, you're welcome to come with us."
"Can I go, Dad?"
"Yes, Mike. I'd like to see it myself."
"Can I go, Daddy?"
"Yes, you may, Lexi. You too, Kate?"
"Might as well make it a family outing."
"The kids can ride together in our buggy if they want to."
"Yes!"
"We'll meet you there, Bill."
~~~
"You weren't kidding about how big the batteries are, Grandpa. I think Lexi might fit in that one if you folded her in half."
"We won't be putting anyone in there, Abby. The acid is very corrosive."
"'Corrosive'?"
"That means it eats away your skin - and just about anything else it touches. There's nothing to worry about if you don't touch it."
"OK"
~~~
"The low voltage disconnect worked as it should have - the batteries are at 20% charge. Sitting at that level for an extended period has probably cost us some battery life and capacity. Considering the small number of people who'll actually be using phones, the loss of capacity isn't an immediate concern. Any loss of battery lifetime could be a big concern in the future. Because many batteries were made in China, I don't know where we'd get replacements now. We'll have to be sure that any repairs to the power lines coming here can handle the load of running the office and the initial recharging of the batteries."
"Harold mentioned that when we did the damage survey, Bill. I think that the feed will be ready to go when the power is back on."
"I need to verify that the local carrier systems to places near the valley and the fiber optic system to Marion are disabled before we power up the office. No point in accidentally telling people out there that we have the lights back on. I want to get things in the valley connected and tested before we spread word of our advance in technology - even if it's just to the rest of the county."
"You expecting trouble?"
"Just like the feral dogs, I'm sure some of the two-legged predators survived. We need to have a plan before doing anything that might make us more visible or more of a target."
"Having power back up definitely makes us more of a target. A ringing phone could be heard a long way in our much quieter environment."
"I need to talk with the ROTC people. There's almost always at least one of them at Trade Day. I'll swing back by the church and see if any of them are still there. If not, I'll stop at Abe's place in town. Then we'll head for home and check the status of the kids' homework."
"I hoped he'd forget that."
"Not a chance, Terry."
"Lexi, you want to ride with me or Kate?"
"Mommy this trip, Daddy. You the next trip."
~~~
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Post by ydderf on Sept 18, 2014 22:07:43 GMT -6
man_ no muc_ no plent_ of well ok lets say, lots of thanks for the new postings.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 20, 2014 19:51:45 GMT -6
Chapter 133 - Sunday evening
"And what are these lumps on my plate?"
"It's a surprise, Grandpa."
"Abby, I'm not sure that an unrecognized 'surprise' can be considered edible."
"Grandpa! You said yesterday that you missed the turkey and chicken pot pies that your wife made. If you cut into them, you'll see what they are."
"Are you sure, Terry?"
"You're teasing us again, Grandpa. Try it."
"You're right, girls. They're good."
"Mike found the recipe for mini-pot-pies in a book of recipes for kids. We used the two big muffin pans to make enough for everyone."
"And the meats are chicken and ...?"
"Chicken and the left-over rabbit from yesterday."
"I think I'll let you kids plan and catch supper again."
~~~
"Grandpa, the wedding cake lady asked if you had any wheat you could trade her."
"Terry, that would be Mrs. Watson. Did she say what she had to trade?"
"She has some kind of horse-drawn farming stuff and a saddle her kids used when they were in elementary school."
"I think we might be able to make a direct trade and a three-way trade."
"Three-way trade?"
"Yes, Mike. I don't need the horse-drawn farming equipment at the moment, but I think Sam Green will want it. He doesn't have the type of wheat Mrs. Watson wants but I do, so he can cut the hay in my south pasture with his wood-gas tractor and do some other tractor-powered things for me later this season. He gets the horse-drawn equipment, my hay gets cut and baled, and Mrs. Watson gets wheat so she can grind flour to bake things."
"Like Cousin Alice's wedding cake?"
"Among other things. Have any of you been asked to be in that wedding?"
"No, Grandpa. Sherry will be the flower girl, Amanda the junior bridesmaid, Patricia the bridesmaid, and Josh and Allen will be the bridesmaids' escorts."
"That's a real family affair."
"Except for Aunt Kate - she's the matron of honor."
"What about the kid saddle?"
"For that, Terry, I will trade wheat directly with Mrs. Watson. With two horses, we should have two saddles you kids can use."
"You're nice, Grandpa."
"Maybe I remember being a kid and riding a horse?"
"I think you kinda like us, too."
"Whatever gave you that idea, Abby?"
~~~
"Grandpa, you wanted to read some of my stories. I marked the three that I think are the best with paperclips. Would you give the book to Mike when you finish?"
"I didn't think you were letting others read any of your stories."
"I'm not 'letting' Mike. He worked out a trade for reading the stories."
"And I'm guessing his trade would be those moccasins you've been wearing since lunch?"
"Un huh. They feel really good on my feet and the bead work is pretty."
"You think Mike might a future as a shoemaker?"
"If all his shoes are this comfy and this pretty."
"All your homework finished?"
"All that Miss Alice gave us. Patricia asked me to read some of the stories she's written and I need to do that before bedtime."
"Her asking that made you feel good, didn't it?"
"Un huh!"
~~~
"Kids, time to get ready for bed. Terry and Mike go ahead and brush; I need to tell Abby something."
"OK. What are you in trouble for, Abby?"
"She's not in trouble, Terry. I'm just passing along a message from someone at Trade Day."
"That's no fun. Let's go brush, Mike. I got the squeeze flashlight."
"Abby, Mrs. McNabb said to thank you."
"I don't remember doing anything for her, Grandpa."
"You did this indirectly."
"How?"
"It seems that you introducing Sherrie to Josh has been a very good thing for Sherrie's attitude and outlook. She's pleasant and cooperative - even gets along with her little brother."
"I thought that would be a good thing."
"You knew before you did it?"
"Only that it would be good for them to meet. I didn't see any details until later... Oops."
"Abby, I'm aware that you sometimes see more than you can say at the time..."
"But..."
"No 'buts'. I can usually see it in your face - just a tiny wrinkle between your eyebrows that becomes part of a frown when something bothers you more than usual. I can tell that you're not always comfortable with knowing things that you don't think you should say. You know that I will never push you for details."
"Aunt Kate was right - you do understand everything! And you pay a lot of attention to faces if you see that and no one else does."
"Well, I don't understand everything but likely more than you've thought I could. I learned to read faces because it can help in dangerous situations - sometimes your survival depends on it. I think you kids may be ready to learn how to do that."
"I love you, Grandpa."
"I kinda like you too, Peanut."
"From you, 'kinda like' is a good answer."
"Go brush and tell the others I said it's story time."
"OK."
~~~
"Two chapters tonight, Grandpa?"
"No, Mike, just one. But it's another chapter that I think will have you asking questions."
"And you'll probably tell us to look in the encyclopedia."
"Would I do that, Abby?"
"It sure won't be the first time."
~~~
===================== =====================
Hi, it's me again.
On the way back from the telephone office, I asked Grandpa if other places near us would get power back. He said they might in a few places, such as Marion, because they had their own hydro plant a long time ago but it was cheaper and easier to connect to the statewide grid when they outgrew the hydro plant. If they have the right people and spare parts, they might be able to get their old hydro plant running again. He said it was big enough to handle the needs of the current population and maybe for the next 15 or 20 years. When he and Uncle Jack and Mr. Dennison are comfortable with how power is working here, they'll do recon to Marion and see if anyone is getting things back together there. I guess 'getting things back together' means someone who knows what they're doing is in charge and people are working on farming and raising animals and transportation and so forth. I think we're really lucky to have Grandpa and Doc Wilson and Mister Sam and all the other people who know how to do stuff and how to get people to help out where they can.
I'm glad Grandpa understands about me knowing things that I can't yet tell. I think I need to tell him when there's something I'm having a hard time keeping inside. Even if I don't tell him what it is or who it's about, knowing that he understands - and maybe getting a long hug from him - will help.
========================= =========================
~~~
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Post by ydderf on Sept 20, 2014 23:05:04 GMT -6
Thanks
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 1, 2014 15:48:22 GMT -6
Chapter 134 – Monday morning
"Rise and shine, girls. Pancakes and sausage are almost ready."
"Thank you, Grandpa. We'll be right there."
"Anything special at school today, girls?"
"Yesterday I asked Cousin Alice about putting names on things like 'door' and 'table' in English and Mandarin. We're gonna have Mister Abe and Mister Will help with how to make pictographs, but I think I should ask Joe to help me get the characters right. He'd feel like he's being useful if he's helping me with details."
"That's my sweet girl."
"Why am I a sweet girl?"
"Because you're concerned about someone else feeling useful. I think you're one terrific kid."
~~~
"Cousin Alice, when we get to school could you get Mister Abe or Mister Will to ask Joe if he'd help me with making the pictographs correctly?"
"Yes, sweet girl."
"Why am I a sweet girl?"
"Because you care so much about how other people feel."
" Doesn't everyone do that?"
"I think you already know the answer to that, Abby."
~~~
"I heard you in the pasture with Buttermilk over the weekend, Abby. Can she really do all the things you were telling her?"
"She's really smart, Terry. Some of the words she seems to understand and she always understands when I move her leg - like when I want her to bow and kneel."
"I heard you whistling and some bird calls. What was that about?"
"I'm training her to respond to the words, like 'kneel', and to a combination of sounds for the same command."
"Why?"
"Because she's a smart horse and I think we could be in a rodeo if they start having them again."
"Are you gonna teach Rose too?"
"When I've done more with Buttermilk, I'll have her demonstrate what I want when I start teaching these tricks to Rose."
"Need any help?"
"I'll need someone to hold Rose's reins or bridle for some things and a rider for other things. I may need you and Mike."
"I'm in."
"Me too."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 1, 2014 16:27:15 GMT -6
Chapter 135 - Monday noon
"What's wrong, Abby? You look scared."
"I'm not sure yet, Terry. But I got a chill down my back when Joe put his hand over mine to guide the brush when I was making the pictograph for the 'door' sign."
"You see something bad?"
"I didn't 'see' anything - good or bad. I just got the chill."
"I'm gonna tell Mike to work at the same table you're working at the rest of the day."
"It's not a big deal, Lexi."
"Anything that gives you a chill needs to be watched. I'll go tell Mike. And I'll tell him to be casual about it."
"OK."
~~~
"You need a bodyguard, Abby?"
"No, Mike. Lexi's just spooked by something that happened when Joe was guiding my hand to make the pictograph for 'door."
"You're sure? Lexi sounded scared."
"I'm fine, Mike. If you wanna work at the same table as me, check with Miss Alice so you don't get in trouble."
"I'll do that - and tell her why if I need to."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 1, 2014 16:29:39 GMT -6
Chapter 136 - Monday afternoon
"Grandpa, can you start teaching us how to read faces?"
"What's up that you want to do that now, Abby?"
"Well..."
"It's the Chinese soldier we call Joe, Grandpa. He makes Abby feel creepy."
"Thank you, Terry. Can you give a better explanation than 'creepy', Abby?"
"I wouldn't say creepy, Grandpa, but it was weird. When he put his hand over mine to guide the brush when I practiced writing the pictograph for 'door', I had a cold chill go down my back."
"What did you see that gave you the chill?"
"That's what's weird. I didn't 'see' anything - I just got the chill."
"What did you do?"
"I told Terry and Lexi at lunch and Lexi told Mike and he came to work at the same table I was at for the rest of the day. Joe helped me with another pictograph later but I didn't feel the chill when he guided my hand that time."
"Abby, Terry. I want both of you to take a few minutes to think about a question I'm going to ask you. Don't answer with the first thing that pops into your mind."
"OK, I guess."
"Me too."
"Have you ever had contact with another 'seer' that wasn't part of your family?"
"Uh..."
" Don't answer me now, because I want you to think about the question. I'll ask you for your answers before we eat supper."
~~~
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 1, 2014 16:31:32 GMT -6
Chapter 137 – Monday evening
"When you finish the dishes, get ready for bed and I'll read two chapters."
"On my way!"
"Me too!"
"Me three!"
"You're slow, Terry. You're number three again tonight."
"My mouth was busy chewing my last bite of biscuit and honey."
~~~
"Why two chapters tonight, Grandpa?"
"Couple of reasons, Terry. You're still a little spooked about Joe and one of these chapters is rather short."
"Abby's spooked too."
"Not as much as you were. In fact, she's come up with something to try tomorrow to determine if Joe is also a 'seer'."
"What?"
"I think that should remain Abby's secret for now. You'll recognize it when it happens tomorrow."
~~~
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Post by kaijafon on Oct 1, 2014 18:29:13 GMT -6
Thank you!!! sometimes a "chill" can be just something different and not 'bad'.
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 7, 2014 17:54:40 GMT -6
Chapter 138 - Tuesday morning
"Pancakes and warm honey, Grandpa? Why?"
"Maybe I thought that you and Abby needed some comfort food because you didn't sleep well?"
"We woke you up?"
"Several times."
"Why didn't you do hot chocolate?"
"Because you needed your sleep and your dreams weren't bad enough to wake you. I stroked your hair and spoke softly to each of you. That was all you you needed to calm down and sleep quietly for a few more hours each time. Had I awakened you enough for hot chocolate, you would have been up for a while, then perhaps have needed longer to get back to sleep."
"But you were awake!"
"And I can nap while you're at school today."
"I'm glad you love us and take care of us."
"Me too!"
"Maybe I like having you around?"
"And I think you 'kinda like' us, too."
"That too, Abby. Finish eating, then brush your teeth and get ready for school. The bus will be here soon."
"Yes, Grandpa."
~~~
"Cousin Alice, why are Ed and George riding with us today?"
"Lexi told me about your encounter with Joe before she left school yesterday, Abby. I don't know if there's anything to be concerned about, but I think it might be appropriate to be ready if it's an indicator of a possible problem."
"When I talked to Grandpa about it last night, he asked me if I'd ever met anyone outside the family who could 'see' like we do and I haven't. Then he asked me how it would feel if another 'seer' touched me with their 'seeing' ability. I had to think about that for a long time, but I decided that it would probably feel weird and I didn't know if I would see either good or bad when it happened."
"So you think Joe is a 'seer' like you and Terry and Lexi?"
"I need to talk with him, but I can't because we don't speak the same language. I know that Mister Will and Mister Abe can translate words but I'm not sure how to get feelings translated. Maybe if I hold his hands while we talk?"
"Let me explain things to Ed and George on the way and I'll talk with Abe and Will when we get to school. If they're all comfortable with you being close to Joe, I'll let you to hold his hands while you talk to him and Will and Abe translate your words."
"You think maybe I can feel what someone else is feeling if I touch them?"
"Isn't that how you get your indications of good things happening?"
"You're smart. I see why you're the teacher."
"In this case, Abby, I've just been paying attention to what you do and say - such as knowing that Kate was different when she was in the room with you and knowing that she was pregnant when she hugged you."
"I didn't say that."
"I know. You didn't say anything at all about it and I understand that you'll keep Kate's secret as long as she wants you to. I know because my Mom was looking for maternity clothes in Kate's size and baby clothes for a boy at Trade Day. I pretty much guessed what had happened and she didn't contradict me."
"You are smart."
"Just paying attention, Abby. Don't worry about Kate's secret; we haven't told anyone outside our family. When Kate and Jack do tell their little secret, can I get you kids to help me with her baby shower?"
"I'm in."
"Thank you, Abby."
"Me too."
"Thank you, Terry."
"Me three."
"Thank you, Lexi. What about you, Mike?"
"What can I do for a girly thing like a baby shower?"
"Maybe bake a chocolate cake because it's a boy?"
"If I get a slice of the cake, I'm in."
"I think we can arrange that."
~~~
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Post by 2medicinewoman on Oct 8, 2014 14:37:25 GMT -6
Well, I keep trying to post and I am having some kind of weird issues. I will just say thank you for a wonderful story. I am enjoying it immensely.
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 15, 2014 19:53:57 GMT -6
Chapter 139 - Tuesday noon
"Abby, what was going on with Joe? It sounded like he was saying the same thing over and over."
"He was, Lexi. He was saying 'I'm sorry. Please don't kill me.'"
"Why would he say that?"
"Yesterday he was trying to 'see' whether I really was the shooter that stopped Major Ronson. He was one of the soldiers left at the lake and wasn't there when it happened."
"He didn't believe what the others said?"
"He said the same thing Mike said the first time we met him."
"'Girls can't shoot'?"
"Yes, Mike. He hadn't heard about us girls dreaming what would happen, so he had no idea I was a 'seer'. When all of you stayed close to me after lunch yesterday, he wasn't sure what I'd said to get you there but didn't think he should try looking in on my thoughts again. He did figure out that we're family on some level and that Miss Alice is also family. When Ed and George showed up this morning, he knew they were family to Miss Alice..."
"Like anyone could miss that."
"You're right, little sister. Joe thought he would be shot for attacking me. Abe and Will got him calmed down and told him what I wanted to do. He didn't want to at first: he thought I might kill him with my mind. Maybe he saw the Chinese version of 'Star Wars'? Anyway, I finally got him to stop apologizing and I got to have a long talk with him. He has a wife and two kids - about our ages - and is worried about them. I told him what Grandpa told us about the fever - that immunity runs in families. Since he survived, his kids might have."
"Is that when you hugged him?"
"Yes Lexi. He was thankful for any good news and asked if he could hug me. He was crying, so I knew he meant it."
"The other soldiers looked like they wanted to leave but you were between them and the door. Why'd they get so scared?"
"They thought I was torturing Joe. If I could get him to tears just by holding his hands, what else might I be able to do?"
"It's kinda funny to me but I guess it was scary for them."
"You're right, Mike. But holding Joe's hands did prove that we can share feelings and even a picture - I never got a picture from anyone before..."
"You can try the picture thing with Lexi now. You'll have lots of time to do me on the way home."
"OK, Terry."
~~~
Sent from my IdeaTabA2109A using proboards
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Post by crf78112 on Oct 15, 2014 20:02:01 GMT -6
Just in from a 14 hour tough day at work and found a new chapter! Thanks Papaof2.
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Post by ydderf on Oct 16, 2014 23:30:27 GMT -6
Thank you papaof2.
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 17, 2014 19:32:40 GMT -6
Chapter 140 - Tuesday afternoon
"Grandpa, guess what?"
"What, Terry?"
"We can get feelings and send pictures when we're touching another 'seer'!"
"And how did you discover sending pictures?"
"Abby's idea to hold Joe's hands while they talked so maybe she could see his feelings also got her a picture of his family."
"How did the picture happen?"
"When he was talking about missing his family, I got the picture."
"Color or black and white?"
"Color."
"Since you dream in color, I rather expected you to say that."
"You're smart, Grandpa. Thank you for making us think about how it might feel to be contacted by another 'seer'. I held Joe's hands when we talked and knew he was worried about his kids so I told him what you told us about immunity running in families. I think he wanted to see more about us than I let him but he was OK with it. When I asked Mister Abe about me hiding most of the things Joe wanted to know about us, he said something about it being 'good op sec'?"
"Good operational security, Abby. That simply means not telling other people any more about yourself or your group or your supplies than they need to know. For people outside the family, there's very little that they need to know."
"So I did good?"
"Yes, you 'did good'. In fact, I would say that you handled things very well. You said 'kids', Abby. That's unusual, as the Chinese government has had a policy of one child per family for a long time."
"The picture had two boys in it."
"Ask Joe tomorrow how he came to have two children. I have another question for you: Does anyone else know that you and Terry and Lexi can do this?"
"Just Mike. Me and Terry used him to whisper what we were thinking so he could check what the other person saw on the way home today."
" Did the other kids notice?"
"Patricia asked if Mike was trying to have two girlfriends at the same time by whispering sweet nothings in our ears and he told her that me and Terry were playing some kind of guessing game and using him to check our answers."
"I don't think Patricia believed me."
"There's no answer quite as good as the truth, Mike, even if the person asking the question isn't sure whether to believe you or not. Abby, were the pictures you and Lexi shared at school as good as the one from Joe?"
"No. They were kinda fuzzy and the colors were smeary. The ones me and Terry did on the way home were like that, except for the one of Crystal after she was shot."
"Can you think of a reason why some of the pictures were better than others?"
"Joe was really worried about his family and I was really mad at Crystal?"
"And what does that tell you about the process?"
"How strongly someone feels about something changes how clear the picture is?"
"Very good, smart girl. Do you have homework today?"
"Yes, Grandpa."
"Me too."
"Me three."
"You were slow today, Mike."
"No, Abby. I was being polite and letting the ladies go first."
"He got you that time, Abby."
"You're right, little sister."
~~~
"Grandpa, can you help me with training Prince today?"
"You've done a good job with the housebreaking, Terry. What did you want to work on?"
"The yardbreaking. He leaves Rose and Buttermilk alone 'cause they're bigger than he is, but he still barks at the rabbits in their cages and sometimes chases a chicken."
"Let's go outside and I'll suggest some things for you to do."
~~~
Sent from my IdeaTabA2109A using proboards
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Post by ydderf on Oct 18, 2014 10:37:02 GMT -6
Saturday morning,sunshine and a new chapter what a treat thank you papaof2. Time to go outside to work as the snow will be here soon.
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 18, 2014 11:15:10 GMT -6
Saturday morning,sunshine and a new chapter what a treat thank you papaof2. Time to go outside to work as the snow will be here soon. Time for me to go start the chipper/shredder to process the 60 foot long stack of leaves I used the blower to move to the driveway yesterday. I like the shade the trees give in the summer, but hate the cleanup in the fall. I'll probably be doing this again every week or so until December. Sent from my IdeaTabA2109A using proboards
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 19, 2014 15:47:07 GMT -6
My wife and I got about 2/3 of the leaves through the shredder yesterday. This morning we discovered that the 'Leaf Fairy' had taken away the rest of them (Tooth Fairy gets used teeth, must be the Leaf Fairy that gets used leaves ;-)
I suspect our much younger next door neighbor and her boyfriend, as they were out working in her yard when we called it a day. When I see her car is home, I'll go say 'Thank you'.
Sent from my IdeaTabA2109A using proboards
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 20, 2014 22:32:02 GMT -6
Stopped my neighbor on her way back from the mailbox today. She was on the phone with the "Leaf Fairy" and handed me the phone to speak to him. I handed her the plate of freshly made brownies and made sure he knew about them. (What's that? You didn't know old guys could cook? ;-)
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 21, 2014 13:37:06 GMT -6
Chapter 141 - Tuesday evening
"Homework finished?"
"Yes, Grandpa."
"Terry?"
"I'm done. Can you check it for me?"
"Of course."
"Finished yours, Mike?"
"Yes, Dad."
"Can we get two chapters of Little House?"
"Nice try, Abby, but not tonight. I think this will be another chapter where I'll spend more time answering questions than reading."
"Or having us look up the answers in the encyclopedia. I think I'm getting bigger muscles in my arms from taking the books down and putting them back up on the shelf."
"The encyclopedia is always a resource. I think you may appreciate those muscles when you're out weeding the garden."
"Yuck!"
"It's not my favorite activity, Terry, but I do like having beans and tomatoes and other things to eat."
"I guess we hafta."
"Only if you want to eat next winter."
~~~
"Sweet and sour pork for supper?"
"Yes, Terry."
"You never cooked Chinese food before, Grandpa."
"I didn't cook it tonight, either. Mr. Simmons did."
"Mr. Gene, I thought you couldn't cook very good."
"Abby, I don't have much experience cooking American food, but I did work as a cook in a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco a long time ago."
"But why didn't you cook Chinese for you and Mike before you got here?"
"We didn't have supplies to cook those things. Your Grandpa has the makings for several ethnic foods. In this case, freeze-dried pork and the right vegetables."
~~~
===================== ===================== Guess I really was spooked by what happened with Joe yesterday - I forgot about my journal last night! I think things with Joe are gonna be OK. We talked a long time and I think we can be friends. "I think we can be friends" doesn't sound very positive, but maybe it's better than thinking we'll always be enemies.
Having family around to back me up was nice yesterday - and Mike asking if I needed a bodyguard! Wish I had Momma or Grandma Betty to talk to about him. Maybe I can go see Aunt Mabel tomorrow. But how can I do that without Mike knowing? It's not like we're getting dresses and stuff for another wedding.
Being able to send a picture back and forth with another 'seer' is awesome! Grandma Betty told me there were more things I needed to learn about and that she'd teach me when I was older. I guess this is one of those things. What else can I do that I don't know about yet? Wonder if Terry is just like me or if she can do different stuff?
Grandpa just knocked on our door. Time to put this away. ==================== ====================
~~~
" Dad?"
"Yes, Mike?"
"Are you gonna marry Mrs. McNabb?"
"What gave you that idea?"
"You always sit beside her at church and you spend a lot of time together at Trade Day."
"Would you be upset if I did?"
"No. I know how much you loved Mom and how much you depended on each other. Things are really bad and I think you need a new partner."
"Never thought my nine-year-old son would be playing Cupid. Do you think you could get along with Sherrie and Jerry if you all lived in the same house?"
"Now, yes. Me and Jerry have got along fine since the first day we met. Sherrie's a different story. A couple of weeks ago, even Jerry had a hard time getting along with her. Now she's nice almost all the time. Maybe being around Josh has made a difference?"
"It has. Debbie - Mrs. McNabb to you - even thanked Abby for introducing Sherrie and Josh."
" Do all the kids have to be in the wedding?"
"First I have to ask Debbie to marry me. If she says 'Yes', the wedding plans will mostly be out of my hands, but I think you should be prepared to be all dressed up again. What if she says 'No'?"
"You could ask Abby about it first."
"Thanks, son. I'll do that tomorrow."
~~~
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Post by kaijafon on Oct 22, 2014 17:34:00 GMT -6
hahahaha!! gonna ask what the answer is before he asks!! hahaha! love it!
thanks so much!
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