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Post by bretf on May 4, 2020 17:52:37 GMT -6
So America has a new leader and is in trouble. Normal state of affairs even after a nuclear war. The next chapter will reveal more, will it not Bret? Thanks Bret for the chapter. Your muse hasn't died, but being a little lackadaisical. Texican.... For those that have trouble with words that are more than 4 letters long: Lackadaisical definition is - lacking life, spirit, or zest See, you can learn even from the comments. Actually, not a new leader. Morton was the Pres when the whole mess started. But my muse; I think is unable to compete with all that's happening. Besides Covid, I had to figure out how to produce 250 sneeze guards for a good customer who hadn't considered what reopening meant until two days before it would happen. Then, after not being able to shut my brain off in bed, I got one of those "oh shit" calls. 4:30 am and Dad (91 y.o) had taken a tumble in the bathroom and couldn't get up. At least I was awake then. So, if my muse is giving me ideas, I can't hear a bit of it.
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Post by texican on May 4, 2020 18:32:48 GMT -6
Bret,
We understand having older parents. Mother is 88 and fell on December 28, 2019, and broke her left hip and had to be helicoptered to Dallas for surgery. Was an interesting New Year's. Mother is up and walking around again.
It will get better.
Prayers sent.
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on May 4, 2020 19:46:17 GMT -6
But my muse; I think is unable to compete with all that's happening. Besides Covid, I had to figure out how to produce 250 sneeze guards for a good customer who hadn't considered what reopening meant until two days before it would happen. Then, after not being able to shut my brain off in bed, I got one of those "oh shit" calls. 4:30 am and Dad (91 y.o) had taken a tumble in the bathroom and couldn't get up. At least I was awake then. So, if my muse is giving me ideas, I can't hear a bit of it. Definitely agree on the "muse can't compete". Our family's health issues not as close family as yours, but a relatively young (early 40's) cousin of my wife was rushed to the hospital with a possible stroke. After much testing, they determined that she had Bell's Palsy (can be minor to debilitating and can be short-lived or run for years). (Bell's Palsy can affect the facial muscles such that you can't smile or open an eye and those are always triggers to test for a stroke.) She no sooner got home than her oldest son (early 20's) was on his way to the hospital with major damage to one leg from a dirt bike accident. Broke the kneecap and the tibia (which now has a lot of hardware holding it together) and damaged softer tissues (including the ACL). They're both home now but he'll be in PT for quite a while after the surgery had time to heal. I know he's probably hard to live with because he's one of the "Gotta be doing" people and crutches are not compatible with his type of "doing". I sometimes wonder if that side of the family's theme song should be "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all" ;-)
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Post by spacecadet12364 on May 4, 2020 21:02:38 GMT -6
Definitely agree on the "muse can't compete". Our family's health issues not as close family as yours, but a relatively young (early 40's) cousin of my wife was rushed to the hospital with a possible stroke. After much testing, they determined that she had Bell's Palsy (can be minor to debilitating and can be short-lived or run for years). (Bell's Palsy can affect the facial muscles such that you can't smile or open an eye and those are always triggers to test for a stroke.) She no sooner got home than her oldest son (early 20's) was on his way to the hospital with major damage to one leg from a dirt bike accident. Broke the kneecap and the tibia (which now has a lot of hardware holding it together) and damaged softer tissues (including the ACL). They're both home now but he'll be in PT for quite a while after the surgery had time to heal. I know he's probably hard to live with because he's one of the "Gotta be doing" people and crutches are not compatible with his type of "doing". I sometimes wonder if that side of the family's theme song should be "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all" ;-) Papa, if the relative that has the broken stuff in the leg does facebook at all.... there is an excellent group on there for Tibial Plateau fractures. Was very useful when DH almost got missed by the cow kicking at him several years back. It is a private group though, I might have to send him an invite to it. If he wants to try to search for it, if he sees it he should be able to ask to join. "Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery" is its name. Right off the top of my head, if he isn't doing so already, he might find it easier to sleep in a recliner. I covered DH's with a sheet that we changed out every so often.... helped to keep it not get so stinky which it can do when you spend most of your time for a while in it. If he is interested, and can't find it, you can PM me their facebook name or email address and I will send him an invite.
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Post by papaof2 on May 4, 2020 22:06:37 GMT -6
Thank you.
I'll text a niece who probably has all their contact info. She can pass along the information and they can get back to me if they want the invite.
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Post by bretf on May 10, 2020 6:07:24 GMT -6
Chapter 5
Other than the one statement, the announcement and the woman was met by stunned silence by the townsfolk.
Doc Stevens broke the silence. “Well I’ll be dammed!”
Franklin had positioned a piece of equipment with a plastic bubble directed towards the townspeople with a cord running from it to the humming box before him. The tech-savvy people in the group knew it was a camera lens, sharing their images with the woman who’d spoken to them.
“I see some of you recognize me,” the woman said.
Her shock over the equipment and technology over, Alison leaned towards Brooke and said, “Cockroaches.”
“Excuse me, miss, but I missed that,” President Morton said.
Brooke stared at the screen and said, “She said ‘cockroaches’. You know, disgusting bugs that can survive anything, including a nuclear war where millions of people die. So we’ve heard anyway. Just like high ranking politicians.”
The woman looked as if she’d been slapped but recovered quickly. “Yes, I survived. And I’ve had to live with the loss of those millions of people every day since. I’ve asked myself countless times what I could’ve done differently, if I may have done something to save those people. Let me assure you, girl, it hasn’t been easy.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Alison said. “I can’t see very much of you, but you appear to have fared better than our mom. You apparently had plenty to eat. Mom was a scarecrow, nearly starving to death after your war. Then, when we were doing well and she was looking like her old self again, well, except for those damned smallpox scars that never faded, she died anyway.”
Brooke continued, “Nothing against Doc here, but you must’ve had top-notch medical care, too.”
The townspeople shifted nervously. Most hadn’t voted for the woman but she had been the President, after all.
Janet Morton’s features softened and she said, “I’m sorry for your loss. I hear stories like yours every day, from everywhere. No one was untouched by that war, me included.” She paused before continuing. “But as tragic as all that was, it’s in the past. We are now facing a new danger and I need help. I need people like you with a fire burning inside if we are going to save the Republic.”
“The Republic?” Brooke snorted. “Where were you and your Republic when we needed help? NOWHERE! We were on our own for the last, I don’t know, has it been twelve years? Sorry, I don’t know the exact number but you kind of lose track when you work from dawn to dusk to produce enough to live. When you have to learn to fight for your life. When you see your parents hurt, starving, dying, and there’s not a thing you can do for it but keep struggling on. Republic.”
Crocker and his men were clearly uncomfortable to seeing their Commander in Chief being dressed down. Crocker cleared his throat and said, “Ma’am, I apologize. I’ll dismiss them so the rest of us can get down to business.”
“Thank you, Colonel, but no, keep them. We need them and others like them. We have to have people with burning desires and the independent nature our country was founded on. People who refuse to be subjected to a foreign power,” President Morton said.
“Ma’am, excuse me,” Russ said. “My name is Russ Camp. I’m the reluctant leader of this community. While I share some of these young ladies’ sentiments, I also recognize the chain of command. But could you get to the point?”
“We need all your help with a pressing military matter,” Morton said.
Russ said, “Well, as far as I’m concerned, I’m still a member of the Idaho National Guard and under the command of the governor. You don’t have him with you, do you?”
President Morton frowned and said, “No. I’m sorry but we haven’t been able to locate the governor. In his absence, I would like your help and support.”
“I don’t know, Ma’am. The last time I served under your army, I was shipped off to Afghanistan and came home to a real mess.”
“You won’t need to go near as far this time. Only across the state of Washington. If we’re successful, anyway, and I guarantee, if we aren’t able to stop this threat, you’ll have a bigger mess, right in your own yard,” Morton said.
Russ folded his arms and glared into the bubble lens. “Explain.”
“Colonel, tell them,” the President said.
“Yes Ma’am,” Crocker said. He turned to the group from Hamilton and said, “The west coast, and most specifically Washington will soon be swarming with Chinese soldiers. We have to stop them.”
Brian looked at Alison and said, “You wanted something to fight boredom. It looks like we found it.”
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Post by texican on May 10, 2020 18:24:21 GMT -6
Bret,
War with China.
Get it going.
Thanks,
Texican....
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Post by 9idrr on May 10, 2020 20:02:21 GMT -6
Thank you, Bret. Any and all chapters are welcome. Even if they do leave me hangin' by my fingernails, starin' down between my feet at the chasm and waitin' to slip off the cliff...
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Post by udwe on May 10, 2020 20:50:06 GMT -6
Another good one!
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Post by texican on May 10, 2020 23:31:01 GMT -6
Thank you, Bret. Any and all chapters are welcome. Even if they do leave me hangin' by my fingernails, starin' down between my feet at the chasm and waitin' to slip off the cliff... 9, Now that is great begging. Texican....
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Post by bretf on May 11, 2020 18:08:26 GMT -6
Thanks, everyone.
I would like some input from you, please.
No matter how I try, I can't keep my mind focused on this story. I managed a whole 110 words today, and then later, worked out an entire sentence on a two mile walk. I just can't keep my mind on the story. I have a few more chapters roughed out, but I'm afraid I won't be able to keep posting past those unless I can get my mind on track.
So I was considering starting at the beginning. When I put my first section through Amazon, I asked admin to pull "the Ashen Horse" because I'd heard they search for stories at a lower price and then adjust pricing. So be it.
Is there any interest in this?
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Post by workhorse on May 11, 2020 18:42:30 GMT -6
I am still interested but understand the fickle muse thing. I love your stories so if you stop. This one please have another ready!
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Post by 9idrr on May 11, 2020 21:12:23 GMT -6
I'll be happy to see whatever you post concerning the Smokes. While I may give you a bad time about havin' to wait, the longer between posts the better I feel when I see you've written something new. The original was good enough that I was satisfied with it. Each new chapter, even each letter is always a pleasant surprise. If your muse decided to self-isolate in Ecuador for the next year, so be it. I'm pretty sure that I speak for more than a few folks here when I say that this series of stories/letter is one of the best we've seen. If you can never some up with more, I'm still most appreciative for what you've contributed over the years with these.
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Post by texican on May 11, 2020 23:51:00 GMT -6
Bret,
How is your dad doing?
As to interest in Twin Trouble, you have already generated the interest.
Quit worrying so much for your muse will return and regardless of how long it takes your die hard moar hounds will wait.
We have enjoyed your writings for years and years. Take time and have a coke and bourbon ever so often for it helps one to relax.
Personal life impacts each of our lives. Feel free to talk with us for we are here for you.
Texican....
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Post by bretf on May 12, 2020 19:53:08 GMT -6
Hey Tex,
Thanks for asking. Dad, and for that matter, Mom, are both very frail.
And by the way, 90 years ago, Mom was born in the town where much of the Smoke story is based, and raised in the neighboring town where Chad and the twins whipped Rory. (There wasn’t a doc in Council, ID then, so Grandma had to travel to Cambridge where Mom was born in the hotel.) Several relatives are buried in the region, including an uncle in the Indian Valley cemetery last summer.
So, Dad. It’s sad. It seems he takes daily falls. After one recently, he can’t / won’t raise his head. He avoided the VA to get checked for days because of the Covid, but finally my brother got him in. They didn’t find a problem but he still doesn’t raise his head unless told to.
Sunday, as we gathered for Mother’s Day, I reflected on past Father’s Day. Up until he got cancer just before turning 80 and had chemo, he outworked everyone I knew, regardless of age. His idea of a good Father’s Day was getting firewood. And he didn’t mess with “kindling” wood, as he called it. He wanted real wood that took three of us to get a round on the trailer.
Dad grew up dirt-poor in the sandhills region of Colorado. When the panic buying over Covid hit, he made sure to tell us a story he’d told many times. He said when he grew up, they had two buckets of corncobs in the outhouse; one white and one red. You’d use a red one first and then a white one to see if you needed a second red one. OUCH.
Another story from back then, is the year after planting the wheat, Grandpa had a nickel and a dime in his pocket. It was all the money the family had left. By the way, Grandpa farmed with a pair of mules and never owned a tractor. He worked that team for thirty years before they gave out. So anyway, the family raised a big garden. They had a milk cow and Grandma churned and sold butter. They had a batch of laying hens and sold any extra eggs. When the kids fished, there was no such thing as a trash fish. It was a good year for dryland farming. When it was time to harvest the wheat, Grandpa still had that nickel and dime in his pocket. A third of the wheat paid the rent and a third was invested in pigs. That was the start of what gave Grandpa and Grandma the means to uproot and move to Idaho. Hard work and a dime and nickel.
And Mom. She suffers mini-strokes way too often. Three weeks ago. I went to check in with them and Mom stared blankly across the table. After several minutes, she turned her blank gaze on me and said, “I don’t know you.” I told her who I was and talked about my brothers and sister. There was slight recognition at the oldest brother’s name. This is on top of watching her struggle to move around with two blown discs. It makes me feel wimpy for the way I felt with one.
So, it hurts every time I visit them and I try to as often as I can. One day, while I was on “stay home” order, I went down and installed a new antenna on their roof. I hadn’t realized it but Mom said they’d been married 70 years that day. WOW. (It made sense when I considered my recent birthday. Man, how did we all get so damn old?)
So, that’s a couple of the things on my mind. On top of Covid, work stress, and life.
Thanks for understanding!!!
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Post by 9idrr on May 12, 2020 21:24:57 GMT -6
Bret- I guess it's hard watchin' parents go downhill like that. My Mom went slowly with cancer but my Dad went into the hospital and didn't come out alive, not even knowin' what got him. At least both were pretty much all there mentally as far as I know. I'm glad you get to at least spend some time with them. Hopefully, some of us here will be able to give you some support. You've sure lifted up my spirits at times with your writing.
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Post by texican on May 13, 2020 17:09:25 GMT -6
Bret,
It is tough when we see our parents deteriorate and there is nothing we can do except be with them when we can. We understand what you are going thru and it is not easy on you emotional or physically.
Mom lives with the wife and I for she needs someone around 24 hrs a day, but she can do a lot of things for herself. She has to use a walker to get around. Mom will ask the same question several times until the answer connects and Mon has also asked me who I am and who her daughter in law is.
Having mother live with us does tie us down to our home, but the wife and I go out to get supplies on separate trips. Mother hasn't been out of the house since she got back from rehab in January and will stay sequestered until the chinese virus runs its course. She generally understands that there is a virus out there that she is not going to leave the house due to potential exposure.
You and I are nearly the same age, I am 69 which comes with unique health and physical problems as we age.
Bret, hang in there for you have a lot of folks to give you support.
Prayers sent for you and your parents.
Texican....
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Post by solo on May 14, 2020 11:15:13 GMT -6
Bret, it was some years ago I had to watch my Mother waste away. Her body gave out and her frustration of it was palpable as up until the end, she was sharp. It was lung cancer and she knew she had earned it with 50+ years of smoking. Last year I had to watch a repeat. My dad developed Fibroids in his lung that made him cough continuously... He never could get his O2 sats up and slowly wasted away. I got to see him the weekend before he passed away and spend some time with him. He was still somewhat lucid though it came and went... Then on December 6, at 89 Years old, he died. It was tough on both accounts though I am happy to have had both of them as long as I had.
I tell you all this to let you know that there are us here that know what you are going through now. Covid offers new and hard challenges but at it basic form, the human condition lives in all of us. Please let us know how we can help and if it is just to be an audience for your writing, which can be very cathartic in it's own right, that you've got that. Just reach out. Make sure you take care of yourself too, your no good to anyone if you go down for any period of time. Good Bless you, Sir!
V/R, Mike
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Post by bluefox2 on May 14, 2020 18:21:43 GMT -6
Bret; We may not be with you in the flesh but that touch you feel and the shadow you see out of the corner of your eye; that is us standing with you and helping carry the load. Hang tough brother You WILL survive.
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Post by bretf on May 17, 2020 6:15:18 GMT -6
Thank you for the touching words. They mean a lot!
Chapter 6
“Chinese?” one of the locals asked. “How … why?”
“Yes, the Chinese,” Morton said. “I’m sure all of you who weren’t children when the world changed know we were heavily indebted to China. We were a wasteful society, buying and consuming far beyond our means to pay. We were, and still are, massively in debt to them. A debt they say has continued to accrue interest by the way.
“They’ve sent strongly worded messages demanding we pay those debts. Immediately. Of course, we can’t do that. Their next demands were more emphatic. And troubling. They stated that since we have no means or intentions to fulfill our obligations, we leave them no choice. Our only asset that will suffice is our land and they intend to collect.
“We are looking at a new plague, far greater than smallpox or the plague of locusts Moses brought down on Egypt. We’re looking at a plague of Chinese soldiers.”
Crocker took over the narrative. “We still have assets in China. They’ve been able to give us details of the Chinese plan. They intend to sail into Puget Sound and landing in the Tacoma and Olympia area. From there, they’ll move down the I-5 corridor to the Portland area where they’ll have more options.
“We also have satellite images of troops and equipment massing and boarding ships. We still have some operating submarines which are sure to thin them out if they enter our territorial waters but we can’t assume none will make it. They’re sure to have subs of their own watching for ours. Too many will make landfall. I want to be there when they do.”
“I think you should change your first name to ‘Davy’,” Alison said.
“What? Why” Crocker asked.
Brooke understood where her twin was going and said, “So you can become a legend.”
“Davy Crocker, dying in defense of the isolated outpost in Washington. Give us time and we can make something good from that,” Alison said.
“Who knows, you might end up being more famous than Davy Crockett and the Alamo by the time we’re done,” Brooke said.
“But you’ll have to die for it all to work out.”
Crocker rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Russ asked, “What’s your plan?”
“In their own way, these two hit on part of it. At this point, we have three levels we’re working on. But you get the role of Davy Crockett, not me,” he said pointing at the Camps. “First, we need eyes and ears on the ground in the areas they’ll be landing. It’s imperative we set up a communication network. We need resourceful, quick-thinking people in place,” he said with a direct stare at Alison, Brooke, Brian, and Joe.
“Next, we have to muster a fast-moving force to keep the Chinese from spreading. It’s not the Alamo, but I’ve been assigned the passes through the Cascade Mountains. That’s where I hope you’ll come in,” he indicated the townsfolk.
“Our third element is our larger force. They’re coming this way, albeit slowly. They’ll move up the Columbia River to the Portland area, then proceed up the I-5 corridor to face the threat head-on.
“Each phase of this operation will move at a different pace, and unfortunately, our main force is slow. It will be up to us to do all we can to keep the enemy bottled up until our main forces arrive.”
“And where will you be?” Alison asked.
“With you and your brother, if he’ll agree to it, in the first group,” Crocker said.
A cacophony erupted as most everyone began to talk at once. As it died into a normal question and answer session, Crocker said, “I’d like you to call a town meeting where I can lay it all out. Can you arrange it? And I still need to meet with Mat Gomez.”
Russ smiled and said, “Nope, I can’t arrange a meeting like that. I’m not important enough. You need to talk to them.” He indicated the twins and the two young men. “The whole town is getting together in a few hours to see these guys.”
“Not just us,” Alison said.
“Chad and Carol will be there, too,” Brooke said.
Alison looked intently at Crocker and said, “Both our brothers will be here and by the way,”
“We have a visitor who’ll be with them,” Brooke told Jimmy Franklin.
“Yeah, a guy you landed on a beach in Texas with.”
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Post by freebirde on May 17, 2020 8:13:28 GMT -6
Thanks Bretf!
I see the snow pack shifting. An avalanche of story is starting to move. I'm not running, I'm waiting right here to catch it. Bring It On!!!!
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Post by texican on May 17, 2020 16:47:42 GMT -6
It is heating up.
Take care Bret, remember we are here for you and yours.
Texican....
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Post by 9idrr on May 17, 2020 19:56:40 GMT -6
Glad to see more. I'm sure you won't leave me hangin', teeterin', about to plunge into the abyss... My fingers are gettin' cramped from clutchin' onto the tiny tree roots... not enough strength left in my achin' arms to even pull my head back up over the edge of the cliff to see if there's something I can grasp before I lose all hope and fall into the unlimited depths of despair... Is that enough whinin' to get us another chapter or two?
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Post by udwe on May 18, 2020 20:31:11 GMT -6
This will be good! YAY!
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Post by texican on May 18, 2020 22:47:52 GMT -6
Glad to see more. I'm sure you won't leave me hangin', teeterin', about to plunge into the abyss... My fingers are gettin' cramped from clutchin' onto the tiny tree roots... not enough strength left in my achin' arms to even pull my head back up over the edge of the cliff to see if there's something I can grasp before I lose all hope and fall into the unlimited depths of despair... Is that enough whinin' to get us another chapter or two? 9, You are definitely becoming adept at begging for moar. Texican....
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