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Post by ydderf on Aug 21, 2018 14:58:08 GMT -6
Thanks well done as always!
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Post by texican on Aug 21, 2018 16:51:29 GMT -6
PP2,
Thanks for the update on the new family....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 26, 2018 19:26:17 GMT -6
A bit shorter than previous chapters at 6738 words.
Chapter 7 - Monday, 14 June 2:50AM
What do I hear? Marie is making odd noises. To that recliner. No wonder. Her head is buried in the corner of the chair's back and the arm on that side. Pick her up to turn her so she can breathe - only now she's attached to me. Easier to lie down in the chair and hold her than to peel her off and possibly wake her in the process. Her legs are cold from being uncovered. Uncovered? I thought she was in her jammies. This looks more like a gown she's gotten wound around her like a tummy-only sari. I did bring the quilt from the sofa, so cover us with that. She's burrowing in. Use the screen of my phone for a mirror and I can tell that there's a little smile. She'll sleep OK now.
---
Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep! Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!
"Jack, turn off the alarm. Jack! Jack?"
He stayed up with Marie and is probably asleep in that not-comfortable-after-an-hour recliner. Find the button and turn off the alarm. Dress enough to start cooking and then check on Jack and Marie.
He's in the recliner and she's attached to him but she's smiling in her sleep. Enjoy your sweet dreams, little one. I'd be smiling if my head was on his shoulder.
After yesterday's 'celebration' food, back to oatmeal, eggs, bacon and biscuits this morning. Although the girls would nibble on biscuits and jelly all day instead of having lunch if I'd let them. The propane oven doesn't work without electricity so look over the on-the-burner camp stove oven Jack talked me through once and see if I can use it. I know he was up late and Marie needs extra rest for healing so I won't wake him yet. I think I remember how to use the little oven. I will need to watch the biscuits more closely than usual as I don't have a mental time reference for using this oven.
Water on for oatmeal; coffee pot on. Biscuits mixed and cut and in the oven. Mix the grated cheese, veggies and a little pre-fried bacon into the eggs for omelets. Biscuits are close so go wake everyone and start the eggs when I'm back at the stove.
"I'll give you 20 minutes to stop that but we'd both need to come up for air sooner."
"Good morning, Jack."
"Good morning, almost wife."
"How did you wind up here?"
"Woke to odd noises from Marie. She had her face buried in the corner of the chair's back and this arm. When I picked her up enough to turn her, she attached herself to me. It seemed better to hold her than to wake her by peeling her off me."
"I should have thought to warn you that she does that. I just tickle her foot enough to make her move and get her to reposition herself. I see she switched her pajamas for the 25 cent 'satin' gown we found at the thrift store a couple of months ago. It's too big for her but she loves how it feels, even if she usually winds up with it around her middle and her legs cold."
"So she's a 'girly' girl?"
"If I'd spend the money on it, she'd have a different picture on each fingernail and toenail instead of just pale pink polish. Fortunately, all the girls understand that subtle in appearance enhancement is good as they make fun of one girl that rides the school bus with Sarah and Marie because of how much makeup that girl wears. My Mom was a beautician and she taught me early about subtle. I've been teaching the girls and Sarah's comment about subtle full makeup was 'I look different but I don't look like I'm wearing makeup'. That was Mom's goal with me - that I knew what made me look good without ever looking 'made up'."
"This morning I can tell that you haven't been into anything because your face isn't the same as last night but it's a subtle difference."
"Do you still like the real me?"
"Yes. I even like my 'real' daughters when they're muddy."
"You goof! Wake Marie and the others while I finish the eggs."
"As you wish."
"Get busy before I throw an egg at you!"
"Huh? Where am I?"
"Sleeping on me."
"Hi, Daddy. Why am I here?"
"You were in this recliner so I could be in the other one and check that you were OK during the night but you got your face in this little space and when I tried to move you…"
"I grabbed you."
"You did. How do you feel this morning?"
"Hurts here when I breathe."
"Broken ribs are like that. It will get better but you'll have some hurt for a long time."
"All week?"
"More like all month. You want to wake your sisters?"
"They'd rather have you give them a 'good morning' kiss. Me too!"
"On your nose. I think foreheads will be easier on the ones with covers up to their eyebrows."
"Yeah."
"Good morning, Alice."
"Good morning, Daddy! I said I wanted you to wake me like this!"
"Good morning, Lisa."
"Good morning, Daddy! I like this wake up!"
"Good morning, Sarah."
"Good morning, Daddy! You said you'd wake me like this if I was here and you did!"
"Go potty and then wash your hands. Remember how we wash hands and when we flush."
"We wash hands in the pan and you or Momma or Sarah pours the pan into the flush bucket. 'If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down.' But you or Momma or Sarah hafta do that 'cause the bucket's too heavy for us."
"Correct, Marie. You get in that line too."
"Yes, Daddy."
---
"Girls."
"Yes, Momma?"
"Clear your places then go brush your teeth. Jack and I are getting married today so you'll be wearing 'dressy' clothes. I know that all of you can't manage the clothes that are out on your beds so Jack and I will be there to help you."
"Daddy's just there so he can steal a neck kiss when he zips my dress."
"Then your Momma can zip you, Marie, and I'll help Sarah."
"No! I want the neck kiss!"
"As many of you as want one can get… Don't line up in front of me in your underwear. You only get the kiss on the back of your neck when I zip your dress."
"Bummer."
"No, Lisa. Just one of many things that have rules associated with them. What's the first rule of gun safety?"
"All guns are loaded?"
"Correct."
"I remembered!"
"And we'll help you with remembering the other rules."
"Jack, we have them dressed for an event. If you can do ponytails for Alice and Lisa, I'll help Marie and Sarah with their hair. When we get the license, they can tell us which judges and JP's are available today."
"Sounds good to me."
---
"May I help… Hi, Sally! Where'd you find the hunk?"
"Jack, this is my sister-in-law Jenny Jenkins. Jenny, my newest neighbor and future husband, Mikhail Jackson."
"Hi, Mr. Jackson."
"Call me Jack."
"OK, Jack. These are the forms you need to fill out. There's a $20 fee for processing each form. As of an hour ago, our internet was partly back up but not for credit cards so cash or check only."
"That I can do. $20. $40."
"Fill these out, sign and date them and return them to me. Your license will be ready about 20 minutes after that. The list of judges and JP's and the times they're available for weddings today are on the red list on the bulletin board."
"Thanks, Jenny."
---
"How does 11:30 sound to you, Jack?"
"Fine. Who's available then?"
"Judge Lucius S. Thomas."
"Tall skinny guy with red hair?"
"Pictures on the wall over there."
"That's LST."
"'LST'?"
"His initials and the abbreviation for 'Landing Ship, Tank' because of an incident with a tank when he was in the military,"
"You know him?"
"He saved my life once and I returned that favor. Enough about the past. I'm looking forward to the next 30 minutes of my future and then we can go eat at the Longhorn Steakhouse to celebrate."
"Steak? Really?"
"Yes, Marie. 'Steak' and 'really'. We should celebrate becoming a family."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Daddy, Jack?"
"Yes, you useless tank driver!"
"Good to see you, too! These kids are all yours?"
"They will be when the license is processed and I can persuade you to perform the ceremony."
"No persuasion needed. It will be my pleasure and my privilege. Have you picked out a ceremony or maybe written your own?"
"I've been writing while we waited. Need to have Sally read it and if she's happy with it, I'll text it to you."
---
"Jack, I need a tissue."
"This time I have a pack."
"Good. I may need all of them. You have something here for each girl - even the 'teach you to drive a truck' for Sarah! How did I ever get so lucky that I found you?"
"No, I'm the lucky one."
---
"Sally, Jack. Your license, future Dr. and Mrs. Jackson."
"Thanks, Jenny."
"When and where for the wedding?"
"Jenny, in ten minutes, in my chambers and we need a witness."
"I'll be there."
"So will we."
"Hi, Leanne, Walter."
"Hi, Jack. I hear you buffaloed some folks at County General yesterday."
"Walter, I just let them be happy in their assumptions."
"Pete and I have been laughing about that all morning. He and Molly should be here shortly. Is there anything we need to have for the girls?"
"Some new bedtime stories in this bag. The pain meds for Marie and this list of limits on her activities."
"Not likely that anything other than the pain will stop her from trying some of these things."
"Sally had that discussion with her. If it hurts more than a little 'Ow' she can't do it this week. We explored 'Ow' and 'Ouch' when I was checking her ribs before the ER visit so she knows how much hurting is OK and when it's not."
"Sally, are we on time?"
"Close enough, Molly."
"Then if the wedding party will follow me. Sorry if we're a bit crowded in my chambers but most weddings are just the principals and a witness. Having a complete wedding party with three generations is a first for me."
---
"Jack, I can't believe that your mother's wedding ring fits me! I love having a connection to your history!"
"Then you might want to look through the family tree book I have. I'll bring it in when we get back to the house. Speaking of the house, how much do we need to bring from your place immediately?"
"Food in the fridge. Goats and feed. Their pens if you don't have a place for them. Chickens and feed. Their coop if you don't have a place for them. Later, you should look through the garage and the outbuildings for tools or anything else you can use. The other things can wait. Clothes and shoes and coats. Towels and bedding. Food and such in the pantry. This is almost as complicated as bringing a kid home from the hospital when they're born."
"I had four born today."
"I guess you did become an instant Daddy."
"We really can call you Daddy now?"
"Yes, Alice. I'm married to your mother so technically I'm your stepfather but if you're happy calling me 'Daddy', I'm happy too."
"You're not really my Daddy?"
"If you want me to be your Daddy legally, I'd have to adopt you."
"You do that!"
"Yeah, do the adoption thingy. I didn't know people did wedding things with kids or talked about trucks or being little or being grownup!"
"Sarah, I married your mother, but I got a family. I think it appropriate for me to make a commitment to each family member."
"You're talking 'grownup' again."
"You're smiling."
"Un huh!"
"Then let's go celebrate being a family. The Longhorn is just a couple of blocks away but we'll take the truck so it will be close to the restaurant if the rain starts back while we're eating."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Yes, Daddy."
"There's an awful lot of echo in here today."
"You're silly!"
"You're all smiling."
"You do that really good!"
"Jack, Sally, girls. I see my contact coming and his hands are full of forms. Lucius, I could use your presence."
"Sure thing, Walter."
"Sorry I'm late, Sheriff."
"That's OK, Melvin. This is Sally Jackson, the children's mother and her new husband, Dr. Mikhail Jackson."
"I need proof of marriage."
"I have that, Melvin. Here's the certificate and I performed the ceremony."
"That's all I need, Judge Thomas. I also need to ask the girls some questions."
"Go ahead."
"Alice, do you want this man to be your Daddy?"
"Un huh!"
"Do you want to be Alice Jenkins or Alice Jackson?"
"Jackson!"
"Lisa, do you want this man to be your Daddy?"
"Un huh!"
"Do you want to be Lisa Jenkins or Lisa Jackson?"
"Jackson!"
"Marie, do you want this man to be your Daddy?"
"Yes!"
"Do you want to be Marie Jenkins or Marie Jackson?"
"Jackson!"
"Sar..."
"YES and Jackson!"
"Those are genuine and uncoached responses so the children do want this. I need the mother's signature here, her husband's signature here and witnesses here and here."
"Ignore Melvin's pens and use these that actually write."
"Thanks, Walter."
"This is your copy of the application and the official copy will be mailed out today."
"Thanks, Melvin."
"You're welcome, Sheriff."
"What do you have on him, Walter?"
"His wife's a teetotaler and a pillar in the Primitive Baptist Church. I know where his still is and where he hides his moonshine. It's legal as he only makes it for personal consumption but he's afraid I'll tell his wife."
"The awesome power of knowing someone else's secrets."
"Sally, Jack. Hand me your phones so I can get wedding pictures on both of them."
"OK, Jenny."
"Hold me, Daddy?"
"Alice, let's do one picture with me squatting so you can be on one knee and Lisa on the other one with Marie and Sarah standing beside me and your Momma behind us. Then we'll do some of the usual posed wedding pictures."
"Yes, Daddy."
---
"Walter, Leanne, Pete, Molly, Lucius. Join us at Longhorn for our celebration? There's space as their party room has tables for 30 people."
"If my Boss will let me."
"Pete, you and Jack are two of a kind! Yes, I'll let you. Consider yourself on riot patrol as I don't know how rowdy this bunch might get."
"Grandpa Walter, is Uncle Pete being a 'smartass' like you said Daddy was?"
"Yes, Sarah. And I wouldn't have said that if I'd known you were listening."
"That's OK. Daddy talks 'grownup' to me sometimes."
---
"Talks 'grownup', Sally?"
"Leanne, he asked her if there were times that I didn't eat lunch with them using an excuse like 'I ate while I was cooking' and if she knew what that meant. She connected it with 'just before the Welfare check' and she thanked me for lunch and hugged me to thank me for all the times I didn't eat."
"I guess she is growing up and I just don't want to admit it. What's her response to Jack talking 'grownup'?"
"'I love you, too'."
"That's a 'grownup' response. When did she get to be 25?"
"She's still nine. She just has a person in her life who is aware of her approaching maturity and is willing to accept it. That's good, because there are days I just want to put her in a onesie and rock her to sleep."
"You and me both! I'd call this a whirlwind courtship but there's no question how much Jack loves you and the girls."
"He had Marie in one recliner and he was in the other one so he could monitor her breathing last night."
"Helicopter parenting, but I'd have been that close to one of my kids after that kind of lump on the head. That's love - no recliner sleeps that well all night."
"I've told him several times that he's a softie for the kids."
"That's a very positive attribute for a man who just adopted four of them."
---
"Daddy, I want steak but which one? And what's the difference between 'rare' and 'well done'?"
"Girls, I think all of you might want to hear the answers to Sarah's questions. First, always ask for 'light' seasoning because you want to taste the meat you're eating, not just someone else's choice of spices. Open your menus to this page. The steaks I think you might like are this one, this one or this one…"
"But the fill it costs a bunch!"
"Marie, it's spelled f-i-l-e-t but that's a French word that they pronounce to rhyme with 'today' so think f-i-l-a-y and say 'fill a'."
"The big one or the little one?"
"I think the little one is more your size."
"What about the 'rare' and 'well done'?"
"Sarah, well done may leave the meat dry so you probably don't want that. Rare is close to being bloody and I don't think you want that. This time I want you to try medium well which will have the steak warm throughout but it will still be tender. You may have a little bite of mine if you want to try medium."
"Or ask your Grandpa Walter for a bite of medium rare. Or as I tell him, 'moodium rare' because the cow is still mooing."
"Leanne, you just don't appreciate good meat!"
"Only if it's adequately cooked."
"Momma, it says 'salad'. What kind of salad dressing do we use?"
"Marie, I think the ranch dressing here is probably closest to what we make at home."
"Baked sweet potato?"
"Sarah, it comes with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon."
"Yummy!"
"Lisa, you must make progress on your salad and your steak before you start on the sweet potato."
"If I hafta."
"You 'hafta'."
"I'm Sherry. I'll be your server. May I get your drink orders?"
---
"Sherry, you look surprised. I didn't think any customer surprised you."
"Mickey, the group in the party room has a couple of girls that look like kindergarten or younger but they've obviously been schooled in ordering at a restaurant as they knew which steak they wanted and how they wanted it cooked. Most kids that age want a hot dog or a burger and they sure don't know 'light seasoning' or 'medium well'."
"My parents took me out to celebrate events and steered me through the menu wherever we went. I was making the choices with very little help by the time I was eight or nine. They'll enjoy being here and want to come back again."
---
"Momma, you said no sharp knives."
"Alice, I think what I said was 'sharp knives only with supervision'. Do you want me to help you with holding the knife and cutting your steak?"
"Un huh!"
"Show me, Daddy?"
"Yes, Lisa. But first I'll watch Marie and Sarah to see if they're cutting safely. I can't cut your steak and watch them cut their steaks at the same time."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Marie?"
"Yes, Daddy?"
"Put the knife and fork down and pick them up with the opposite hand."
"OK."
"Let me turn the fork for you."
"OK."
"Can you hold the knife at an angle like this?"
"Un huh."
"Now put the knife between the tines of the fork and press down gently while you move it back and forth."
"That was easy!"
"Remember how you held the fork and the knife. It's much easier to cut meat that way."
"I should do like Marie?"
"Yes, Sarah. I thought you might see the difference when I showed Marie."
"Lisa, do you remember where Marie's hands were?"
"Like this?"
"Close. Turn the fork like this. Now gently press down the knife and cut."
"It is easy!"
"But you need to do more cutting. Make that slice into three bites."
"Like this?"
"Very good."
---
"It's more work than eating a burger but this steak is good!"
"Un huh!"
"Jack, I wondered about you steering the girls to that expensive filet, but they're all enjoying their first trip to a steakhouse."
"As I don't think the two of us will be marrying again any time soon, it's a once in a lifetime celebration so it's not expensive. I expect they'll also enjoy the half of their meal that goes with them in a take out box."
"They are slowing down some. I should tell Leanne that all the girls will likely be asleep long before they get to their house."
"You do that."
---
"Jack, Sally. Can you help us get these sleepy girls in the van? I have Lisa and Leanne has Alice."
"Sure, Walter. Sally has Marie and I have Sarah and we have their overnight bags."
"Sally, call us when you're ready to have them back. A week or two is fine with us."
"That's sweet of you, Leanne, but probably no more than two nights. We'll spend part of the day tomorrow combining households. Much easier if the girls don't see certain ancient toys and discover a new love for them."
"Let us know if you need more time."
"I will."
"G'night kiss?"
"Yes, Sarah. On your nose. And the same for the others even if they are already asleep."
---
"Jack, what do we do with our two days of freedom?"
"I'll start with something practical. I want to stop by Tractor Supply and see if they can source a cab for the tractor so I don't get soaked when I'm using it in the rain and maybe price that tankless water heater we talked about."
"I'll agree to that. Do you want to move a household today?"
"At least the animals as they need care regardless of any celebrations the silly humans might have."
"You goof!"
"You're smiling."
"As Sarah said earlier today 'You do that really good'. You have the tractor info?"
"Sent myself an email from the laptop to have the model and serial number info for the tractor and its attachments on the phone for immediate reference."
"There's a Tractor Supply in the next block."
---
"May I help you?"
"I'm looking for a cab for my 1963 Ford 5000 40 drawbar HP diesel tractor."
"I love doing business with someone who knows the details of their equipment! We don't carry anything bigger than a snowblower universal cab and Ford didn't make their own cabs until 1977 so you'll be looking for a Hiniker or a Year-a-Round model. Ball park price for a used one is around $1000 plus something more for heat or air. Your best bets will be tractorhouse.com, ebay, the monthly farm equipment want ads magazine by the front door, sometimes Craig's List and usually the quarterly equipment auction in Tulsa. Here's a flyer about the auction and it has a link where you can pre-register for bidding."
"You're very enthusiastic to be dealing with someone who isn't looking for an item you sell."
"I'm enthusiastic about a knowledgeable potential customer who owns an older tractor and uses it enough to want a cab. You WILL be in the market for other things we sell! Maybe oil, oil filters, air filters, batteries, fencing, gates, fence tools, shovels and some other things? Here's our current paper catalog. Delivery to the store is free. We can arrange delivery from here for items too big for your truck or trailer."
"First, tell me how old a battery with this date code is."
"Two years. If it sat unused for several months, you want a charger with …"
"A desulfator. Have that and it's in place when the gen is running."
"So your power is out?"
"The property has never had power other than the 25KW Onan propane gen. I brought solar and wind power from a previous location and we'll have limited but probably adequate power when I get all of it installed. Meanwhile, talk to me about trailers. I want something that can carry sheetgoods flat, so five by nine or so. Preferably in aluminum for the best carry capacity versus weight ratio. I want optional sides for moving animals and feed."
"Your tow vehicle?"
"It's not on your list but it can tow more than 6,000lbs."
"Could I see it?"
"Out front. The green International pickup."
"That's a great restoration! It's powered by the inline six?"
"No. It has the V8 that was used in the next larger series of International trucks and the matching six speed manual transmission."
"If the frame can support it, that drive train is good for towing at least 12,000lbs. It's four wheel drive?"
"Yes."
"Then low range first gear is a stump puller!"
"It is."
"May I see inside? This vehicle is just too good to miss any of it!"
"Sure."
"The seats make a bed?"
"How did you know?"
"Only two companies make leather seats like this and both of them offer into-a-bed options. Anything special in the console?"
"Adjustable tire pressure and airbag lifts."
"And more that you're not telling anyone about. Thank you. It's nice to see a well made older vehicle that's been renovated for daily use. You have small children?"
"Why do you ask?"
"The green 'princess' flashlight on the floor by the back door."
"Jack, that's probably Marie's. Sarah does a better job of keeping up with her things."
"She is two years older."
"So she is."
"Folks, I'm Warren. Here's my card. The store's phone number and email are on the left; the store's number on the TSC website is on the right. Let me know if there's anything you need, even if we don't stock it. I usually know where to find things."
"Thanks, Warren. Did you have a suggestion for a trailer?"
"This one from Northern Tool…"
"You're pushing a competitor's product?"
"I'm pushing the best deal for my future customer. This trailer is five by eight but it's rated for a 1625lb load. We have a similar trailer but NT has theirs on sale this week and it's $75 less than ours. The floor and the ramp are expanded metal so you can make it ready for dirt or sand or fertilizer with relatively light weight sheet material - even the four by eight sheets of plastic - because of the good support. Joe and I trade customers all the time. It keeps the customers happy and both of us in business."
"The Joe whose mother runs Mabel's Diner?"
"Yes. We're first cousins. His mother is my aunt. Wait a minute! Green truck - you're the guy who got Joe's Onan gen going with propane tanks from a food trailer?"
"Guilty as charged."
"I have a couple of problems that need creative solutions. Give me your email and I'll send the details."
"It's on my card."
"You're the power guy! I knew I'd seen your face somewhere but all I could think of was the farm auctions. We have a rack of your books. Do you do book signings?"
"Never have as 99% of the sales are online."
"We buy them online; we just buy a dozen of each technical paperback and about that many of each of the other books."
"'Other books', Jack?"
"Ma'am, he writes some great fiction about getting along when the world around you goes to crap: tornado, flood, power failure, flu epidemic, all sorts of things. If you have a little bit of knowledge, the right tools and the will to work, you can overcome some big obstacles. Those books sell very well out here as locals can relate to the people and events in the stories and can put the how-to ideas to work."
"No wonder you took the storm and rising water so calmly, Jack, and you always seemed to have yet another way of doing something."
"Ma'am, I'd bet that he has a P-38 can opener on his keychain."
"Close, Warren. It's a P-51."
"Jack, we're going back in the store. I want to see this rack of books."
"This way, Ma'am."
---
"I recognize some of the covers. Walter has these four. Dad had all five of these. Pete had a copy of this in his pocket one day when he stopped by to see the girls. Leanne was reading this one when they took Marie to the ER last year. Does everyone out here recognize your name and face?"
"No, Sally. Very few people recognize me from the photo on the back of the book. Even fewer assume I'm the Mikhail Jackson that writes these books. Maybe they're looking for brain-tanned leather clothes and a coonskin hat?"
"Jack, my image when I was reading the first book was a plaid shirt, Dickies bib overalls, a CAT hat, a Leatherman in the bib pocket and a full but neat beard that matches the precision of your projects. A very practical, down-to-earth guy who can fix almost anything with just the tools he can carry in one hand. I thought the picture on the back cover was some kind of gag until I went to the website and found it really was you. I've been hooked ever since."
"Nice to know I have that much following where I'm now living."
"You're near here?"
"About 25 miles outside Doug's Creek."
"What brought you here instead of the store closer to you?"
"The County Courthouse."
"Courthouse?"
"We were married this morning, the kids are with the grandparents for a couple of days and we're making the most of the trip here by hitting multiple stops."
"Well, congratulations! I've never heard of anyone starting their honeymoon at TSC but it's a heckuva recommendation! You plan to use this in one of your books, Jack?"
"Warren, it's a funny event but I doubt that anyone would believe it could happen."
"I wouldn't if I hadn't experienced it."
"You just confirmed my point."
"I guess I did."
"Back to hardware. Where would I get a propane tankless water heater that doesn't require AC power?"
"Amazon has a couple of small ones but you really need a unit that can supply four gallons per minute for each shower or a separate 4GPM heater supplying each shower. The bigger heaters require AC power but at 4GPM or less the power for ignition is often a water-driven turbine or two D cells. You should check the online listings from one of the home centers. I think Home Depot has the EZ Tankless heaters in that size for about $350 including shipping if you can install it yourself. Last time I looked, they wanted more than twice that for the installation."
"No local source?"
"Maybe one of the mobile home dealers but expect at least a 20% markup from the online price."
"Thanks. One more thing."
"Yes?"
"I need some keys duplicated."
"We don't do that but Joe's NT store does."
"Then we should go see Joe."
---
"You'll be stopping at Joe's NT store?"
"Sally, he can dupe the keys, that trailer fits my needs, it is on sale and I have a 10% off preferred customer card there. The 10% should cover a tongue jack and a spare tire if the trailer doesn't come with them."
"Won't an empty trailer bounce around behind you?"
"If it's empty. The NT sales usually include the entire line of inverter generators like the small one Leanne got and I'd like to add the 3000 watt version of that to our backup power sources because the Coleman we've been using doesn't have an hour meter and I don't know how much life it has left. The inverter gen is also electric start so you could do that now and Sarah could learn."
"Planning ahead again. Keep doing it. It's kept me and my kids safe from the weather and my late brother."
"Sorry I had to kil…"
"Don't be. He would have kept trying to get the farm or get rid of us. I sleep much better knowing he can't do either. Anything besides the generator?"
"To the lumber yard if NT doesn't have any of the four by eight plastic sheets that I'll use to make the bed tight enough for sand and the like. The plastic is very light so I won't lose more than a few pounds of load capacity when the plastic is in place."
"Do we move my animals today?"
"They need attention so we feed them and collect them while their attention is on the food. We'll need something enclosed for the chickens and ideally also for the goats."
"I have some refrigerator boxes in the garage. We used them when we moved the coop and the pens last year."
"That should work. We're at NT so let's go see what deal Joe can make for us."
---
"Jack, congratulations to you and Sally!"
"How'd you know?"
"Warren called me. I pulled one of the trailers you asked about to the side lot. It has a tongue jack and I included a second spare tire and mounts for both of them. Your preferred customer discount will cover the cost difference. You need anything else?"
"One of the 3000 watt inverter generators. We have a 4000 watt Coleman but other than knowing that it's at least ten years old, we don't know how much it's been used."
"I see you only believe the continuous ratings on generators."
"If you refer to a generator by its peak power, you tend to think in those terms and you will run out of power."
"I guess you're right. You need tarps or anything to line the trailer?"
"Some of the four by eight plastic sheets if you have them."
"We do. If you don't mind assorted paint colors on them, the ones we used to protect the parking lot when we repainted some racking back in the spring are yours for the taking. We have about a dozen of them."
"Joe, I'll take six of those. Two for the bed, three for the ramp plus the taller sides I'll build and one for any mistakes that are made if I have four kids helping me."
"You got 'em and good planning on the extra. The state doesn't require a license or insurance on a trailer this size but I recommend you get both. Much simpler to get it repaired or replaced when some jerk drives over the trailer because he 'didn't see it' while he was texting."
"I also need some keys made."
"Let me page the key lady."
'Lauren to the front for keys.'
---
"So home and into work clothes to get animals?"
"Yes, Mrs. Jackson."
"Say that again!"
"Yes, Mrs. Jackson."
"I love the sound of that even if it does mean I must get name and address changes on my driver's license and everything else. I should make a list of those things."
"I'm already rubbing off on you?"
"Oh. The list making. I guess you are. It seems to work for you. I need to add 'Read Jack's books' to my list."
"Then I'll bring that box in but I'll also need to bring in a bookcase to have a place for all of them."
"How many books have you written?"
"One every three to six months since my divorce."
"More than 40 books?"
"Most of the technical books are under 200 pages. I sometimes get long-winded in the novels and a couple of them are around 800 pages."
"When you unpack the box, point me to the shorter ones first."
"Unless you want to read them in sequence, where the first book in a series might be an 800-pager."
"Do you have a list by sequence and with sizes?"
"Yes. These pages."
"You have a synopsis of every book?"
"That's from the website. You're not the first person to ask."
"Your first book was an 800 page novel?"
"Yes."
"Did anyone buy it?"
"It sold more than 1700 copies on Amazon. Not bad for an unknown author."
"You don't use Amazon now?"
"Only for some of the novel series. Not for any of the technical books. I sometimes introduce a novel on Amazon for exposure to get new readers but move it to my website after the minimum period. Are we reading or moving animals?"
"I'd rather read but it's easier to move things in daylight so we should be dressed for dirty work."
"I am."
"Not fair! You changed while I was looking at your book list."
"They say all's fair in love and war and I love you so there is no 'not fair'."
"You goof!"
"You're smiling."
"That happens when I'm near you. It also happens to my kids. I love you, too, Dr. Jackson."
"While we have clean hands, we can move as much as will fit in the back seat from the house to the truck. Then fill the bed. Then fill the trailer."
"Let's move things. Will the trailer make it up my driveway?"
"Just barely. I'll see about digging some gravel down by the creek and use that to patch your drive when things dry out. A permanent roadway needs better drainage and better paving but that will take much longer to do. Speaking of digging, I need to make that pine - or maybe plywood - box for Bobby and get him in the ground today but after we get other things done."
---
"Food and clothes and shoes from the house this trip. Chicken feed in the bed. Chickens in boxes and in the bed. Coop on the trailer. Anything else, Sally?"
"We're good this trip. We have enough daylight left to get this load home and in place and come back for the goats and the fencing for their pen. Not sure if I'll get more household stuff today. Guess we should clear the bedroom where the branches are through the roof and get someone to give a repair estimate."
"That sounds like a 'tomorrow' job."
"It does."
---
"Coop off and in place, Sally. Need to get the fence up but the chickens will be OK for tonight."
"Lots easier moving the coop with the pallet forks on the tractor than doing it by hand."
"I think we should know how to do things manually but I'm not averse to using power tools. Boxes by the coop so we can get the chickens in more easily."
"'Easily', he says."
"We could leave them in the boxes until they're asleep and try moving them in the dark."
"No thanks. I want to see where I'm stepping when we're handling chickens."
"As you wish."
"I needed that laugh. As usual, your timing is excellent."
"Just be aware that we're running out of time to get things done without running the gen for outside lights."
"Jack, we're this far along so I'll screw together the box bottom and sides you cut earlier while you dig the hole. Then we put the box in the front loader bucket and put Bobby in the box. Then we screw down the lid so you can get the box in the hole and covered. Then we go get the goats, their feed and the pen. We'll unload with the gen running the outside lights."
---
"Sally, I have ten gallons of water on the propane stove and ten gallons in the wood cookstove water tank and both are heating. The water over the propane flames will be hot first so you use that to shower. The other water should be hot by the time you're finished."
"I'll get things together for a shower."
---
"Shower's all yours, Jack."
"Bringing my hot water."
---
"Jack, did you shave again?"
"I expect to be closer to you than I was this morning so it seemed a good idea."
"It's an excellent idea. Our late supper's ready so come eat to keep up your strength. I have a workout planned for you tonight."
"I'm not sure I'll survive."
"I'll keep you alive. I want to be sharing a house with you for a very long time."
---
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Post by gipsy on Aug 27, 2018 11:21:49 GMT -6
Fine business for sure
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Post by 9idrr on Aug 27, 2018 16:24:06 GMT -6
Again, sir, I thank you.
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Post by texican on Aug 27, 2018 18:27:33 GMT -6
PP@,
Nice continuation....
Now when will the fireworks start again?.?.?.?
Texican....
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Post by ydderf on Aug 29, 2018 13:59:25 GMT -6
Well written Thank You PP2.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 2, 2018 20:19:00 GMT -6
Chapter 8 - Tuesday, 15 June
"Good morning, Mr. Jackson!"
"Good morning, Mrs. Jackson! No alarm clock this morning?"
"I thought we might enjoy sleeping until we woke for the first time since I met you."
"You're right. We've both been running flat out for a week. The outside light tells me it's about 7AM. Want to cook or go to Mabel's for breakfast?"
"Mabel's sounds good and we can even get there while they're still serving breakfast."
---
"Congratulations, Sarah! You too, Jack."
"Thanks, Molly. You know of anyone with a crane that can get a big limb out of Sally's roof?"
"Crane? You sure?"
"Molly, either that or some very creative chainsaw work with multiple branches through the roof and into one bedroom."
"Chad Mills does some tree work. I don't know if he has a crane but Jimmy once told me that Chad was one of the best in the county. That's him over by the far window with the book in his hand."
"I'll have coffee and the number four with cheese. Sally, I'll be right back."
"My house, so I'll be with you."
"OK."
'That's one of your books!'
'So it is.'
"Excuse me. You do know that author looks like a city boy?"
"What? Who are…? You're him! What are you doing out here 200 miles beyond Podunk?"
"I live here now and I found a pretty lady to marry."
"Sally?"
"Hi, Chad."
"Congratulations on your great catch! Join me? I hate eating alone."
"Sure. Molly! We'll be here."
"Got it, Jack."
"Dr. Jackson…"
"Chad, I'm Jack."
"Jack, why are you rubbing elbows with a dumb old country boy?"
"I'm looking to get some serious tree work done and I was told you're the best in the county."
"Who said that?"
"Jimmy did."
"Sally, as bad as I treated Jimmy, he still said that?"
"He never said that he liked you, just that you were the best tree guy in the county."
"What do you need, Sally?"
"The oak at the bedroom end of the house lost a big limb in the storm and there are branches inside the house."
"Could you cover it?"
"Jack trimmed the outside branches and got a tarp over it in about an hour."
"By yourself?"
"Sally helped with the tarp."
"You're good. You think it needs a crane?"
"Possibly. You should see it before you decide."
"As much good info as I get from your books, I think your take on the crane might be as good as mine."
"I'd rather you saw it."
"I can't argue with that. I can't work on it today but I'll be going by Sally's place on my way to some other downed trees. Can we go from here?"
"We just need to pay for breakfast. Since we talked business the whole time, I'll pay for yours as well."
"But…"
"Don't argue with him, Chad. It's a waste of energy."
"Then thanks for breakfast and I'm in the blue F350 with the skidsteer on the trailer."
"We're right behind you."
---
"Jack, where'd you find this method of securing the tarp?"
"I just made use of the things that were available. The drill/driver was in the truck, the tarp, screws and washers in the garage, the 1x4s in the barn."
"You really do pull together what you find!"
"What you see is what I found."
"I just learned enough about really securing a tarp to pay for most of the work here with what I'll save on the next couple of roof damage events I cover. If Eddie Mason is available, he's small enough to use a chainsaw in the shallow attic at this end of the house. He can cut the branches close to the sheathing and we can get them out and the big limb up a little with the winch on the skidsteer then pull it away from the house and drop it in the driveway. Call it $350. For another $30, I'll have Eddie cut and split the wood."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Jack. I'm sure."
"Then one, two, three and fifty. And twenty, thirty."
"For cash money, I'll get Eddie to fix the roof while he's here. Maybe tomorrow. Thursday for sure."
"Thanks, Chad."
---
"Mrs. Jackson, do we get another load of household things while we're here?"
"Might as well, Mr. Jackson."
---
"Anything else?"
"Not that will fit inside the truck. I want some of the furnishings but we'll need the trailer for that."
"Then we should go home and store these things and then change clothes and get the trailer so we can come back and get those furnishings."
"And maybe have lunch?"
"At home or the BBQ Shack?"
"The Shack."
"As you wish."
"You goof!"
---
"Jack, Sally. Over here."
"Hi, Walter."
"Sit. I'm buying today."
"But…"
"No 'buts'. I don't know where you found those books but each girl sees herself in the book you said was hers. Especially Sarah with that book about Danica Patrick and the cars she races. Marie's book about the gymnast has her almost as excited."
"Just listening to the girls talk and listening to them play."
"Listening really close. When we finish lunch, I have two County radios for you. They're in the trunk of my car. There's also a crate with lights and siren. No rush, but hopefully before you need to go code 3."
"When would I be using lights and siren?"
"Maybe a robbery where you are eating or shopping?"
"Only if there's a hostage because my firearms training was all 'two in the heart and one in the head' and done with three shots, not three 13 shot magazines."
"You'd never make it as a city cop because you wouldn't waste enough ammo."
"That's probably true."
---
"Let me go!"
"You, behind the counter! Open the register or I shoot Darcy here!"
"Drop your weapon! You're under arrest!"
"Not by you, old man!"
Bang! Bang!
"Walter!"
"I'm outta here!"
"You OK, Darcy?"
"As soon as I change my underwear."
"Sally, it nicked his femoral artery. Hold pressure here."
Bang! Bang!
"Sounds like he shot the tires on Walter's car. I'll call it in from Walter's radio and chase him with the truck."
"It's fast enough?"
"Yes."
'This is Deputy Jackson. Attempted robbery and kidnapping at the BBQ Shack. The Sheriff was shot in the leg and it nicked his femoral artery. Need EMT for the Sheriff. Perp is headed west from here in a yellow Ford Focus. Sheriff's car has two flats. I'll be giving chase in a green International pickup. Jackson out.'
Now to make use of some things I've only used on the test track. Up through the gears and I'm going 110MPH in fifth gear. I'm quickly gaining on the yellow Focus. Slow down just a little and then let him know I'm not friendly with a gentle tap on the back bumper.
Wump!
He almost lost it and he's speeding up. Up to sixth gear and I can keep up with his current 105MPH all day and still have reasonable gas mileage. Let's remind him I'm here. Floor the gas to trip the switch for the electric motor and get the whine of its 30 extra horses. I'll be on his bumper in less than a second.
WUMP!
And he's losing it. Good that there's so little traffic out here as he's using both lanes and both shoulders but I don't think he'll make the curve up ahead…
And he didn't. He's in the ditch after rolling twice. Get the 12 gauge down from its overhead rack.
Ker-chunk!
Now to see if he's still alive.
"Oh, God, it hurts!"
"What hurts?"
"My leg! I think it's broke!"
"I doubt that it hurts more than the bullet you put in the Sheriff's leg."
"Oh, God! A Deputy! I'm dead!"
"You will be if you cross me. Where's the gun?"
"It was on the other seat."
"First I cuff both your hands to the steering wheel."
"How will I get out? I'll die out here!"
"When I find the gun, I'll consider getting you out of the car."
Go back to the road and follow the wrinkles across the shoulder. That snub-nosed .38 is not a normal part of the landscape. Pick it up with a pen and drop it in a plastic bag. Now to ID the driver and then get him out.
"Where's your driver's license?"
"Back pocket."
"Door's jammed. I'll need tools to get you out."
Back to the truck. I've not heard anything on the CB in the truck all week but maybe there's someone listening to channel 9.
'This is Deputy Jackson. I'm at Mile Marker 21 on County 114. I need medical and a tow truck.'
There's some scratchy noise but nothing else. Try channel 21.
'This is Deputy Jackson. I'm at Mile Marker 21 on County 114. I need medical and a tow truck.'
'Jack, it's Pete. Walter's on his way to County General and I'm about ten minutes from you. Medical for you or the perp?'
'The perp. He rolled his car when I insisted he stop.'
'How did you "insist"?'
'Rammed the rear of his car at 5 and then 15MPH faster than his speed.'
'How fast will that truck go?'
'If I'm racing your cruiser, don't bet on your ride.'
'Understood.'
'I see your lights.'
---
"Pete, if we use both pry bars, I think we can get this door open far enough to get our hands on it. I don't expect the EMT's to have 'Jaws of Life' with them."
"Sheriff's Office has two of those. One at HQ and the other in Walter's car so the fastest way to get him out is us leaning on these bars."
"On three, Pete. One. Two. Three!"
Screech! Pop!
"It's open enough that we can get hands on it to open it the rest of the way. Grab and go!"
Screech!
"Jack, do we get him out or wait for the EMTs?"
"As I hear a faint siren, we can wait. I will take one cuff off him and unwind them from the steering wheel and recuff him so they can get him out. He said his DL is in his back pocket. We can check his ID when he's out."
"I'll check on Walter's status."
"You do that."
'Dispatch from 103.'
'Dispatch.'
'Any updates on the Sheriff's condition?'
'Currently in the OR. We'll broadcast when we get an update.'
'103 out.'
'Dispatch out.'
"Sheriff's in the OR and Dispatch will broadcast any updates. We should get the radios, lights and siren out of Walter's car when we're back at the Shack, although you seem to have done a successful apprehension of the perp without any of that."
"Just making use of what was available."
"He should be glad your 'What's available' doesn't include any RPGs."
"How sure are you that it doesn't?"
"You have RPGs?"
"Gotcha!"
"We should have you doing any interrogations we need in the future. You can tell things without the slightest trace of untruth on your face."
"I didn't 'tell' you anything. I asked a question."
"If what you say isn't an untruth, you won't show any of the signs. You are one scary man, Jack."
"Only when needed. And we have an emergency vehicle visible."
"Hi, Pete. I see cuffs so he's the one that shot the Sheriff?"
"He is, Dan. Jack has his gun. From a quick exam, he may have a broken right fibula. Other injuries appear minor but you'll know more when you get him on the stretcher."
"The outside of the car is well wrinkled. How'd you get the door open?"
"Two pry bars and lots of effort."
---
"Dan, your evaluation of Cletus Davenport for my report?"
"Broken right fibula. Possible broken ribs on the right side where he hit the console. Possible deep injury to the left knee as it has a large cut and some bruising. Airbag rash on his left forearm. Pete, was he driving with one hand and holding the gun in the other?"
"Jack?"
"He never fired at me but the gun did go out the passenger window during the car's first roll."
"Trying to stage a robbery with the Sheriff less than ten feet away tells me he's not real smart so maybe not smart enough to put the gun down and drive with both hands."
"Dan, you sound like someone with law enforcement experience."
"Twenty years with Dallas PD and then I decided I'd rather help victims than chase perps. My doctor in Dallas telling me that the stress would kill me in a couple more years was an even better reason to come here. This is a much more rewarding job and it's rare that anyone points a weapon at me. Now my doc thinks I might outlive him. Everything secure, Lily?"
"Ready to roll, Dan. All his vitals are good so no siren needed."
---
"Jack, go finish your lunch. I called in a tow for Davenport's car and I'll wait for them. Your new wife would probably like to know how you are."
"I texted her a couple of minutes ago, Pete. I got back a full screen of 'XOXOXOXO'."
"As long as she knows. I still want to know how your old truck seems to loaf along at over 100."
"The drive train is from the next bigger truck in that year's lineup. The axle ratios were adjusted for the difference in expected loads so the engine is at 2800RPM at 100 in sixth gear - with the red line at 5000RPM - and the two speed transfer case ensures plenty of power at the low end."
"There's no substitute for cubic inches?"
"Correct. That and some gentle streamlining. This truck is still seen as the original but there are soft curves in place of much of the original 'looks like a tank' styling."
"So that's what's been bothering me! I knew there was something different but couldn't place it. Your friend is very good."
"That he is. See you later, Pete."
"See you, Jack."
---
"Jack!"
"Hello, Mrs. Ja..."
"When do they come up for air, Darcy?"
"Sharon, if my man had run out of here chasing someone that just shot the Sheriff, I'd be at least that glad he was back and still walking. He and I might not come up for air for hours. Cookie, full rack of sliced baby back ribs and all the sides. Now!"
"Coming up, Darcy!"
"I think you're glad to see me, Mrs. Jackson."
"YES!"
"Let me go wash up from cuffing a slightly bloody suspect and prying open a wrecked vehicle. I have clean clothes in my bag."
"I'll let go of you that long but I'm counting the seconds!"
"Five minutes."
"Darcy, I didn't order this."
"No, but I did. We feed our heroes, Deputy Jackson. Today you're at the top of the list."
"I didn't do anything special."
"Getting someone in place to do first aid on the Sheriff to keep him alive while you went in pursuit of an armed and dangerous robber is most definitely 'special'. There's coffee and pecan pie when you finish this."
"But…"
"Hush and eat. Darcy's orders. Your wife may want to hold one of your hands so the ribs are already sliced apart."
"I know when I'm outnumbered."
---
"Sally, how do we tell the girls about this without scaring them to death?"
"Pete called Molly on the CB and she went to tell Leanne. Molly's staying with the girls. We'll go there and tell them that we're taking them to the hospital to see Grandpa Walter because he was shot today. They'll be OK with that as this isn't the first time he's been injured and they know that if they can talk to him he'll probably be OK in a while."
"Then let's do it!"
"After you eat. He'll be in Recovery for another hour or more and they won't let the girls in there. You finish your interrupted lunch. Then we get the girls and take them to see Walter."
"OK. I'll enjoy. Meanwhile, have you read over the things about the hospital George Dean recommended?"
"I've heard good things about Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock but Welfare won't pay for an out-of-state hospital or doctor. I asked someone who works at County General about Dr. Karen Woodruff and got a very positive answer as she did surgery on his son two years ago and the boy is fine now."
"Remember that you're no longer constrained by what the County will or won't pay for. These are my children and the County has no say in their care. I will get my daughter the best care available."
"You incredible softie."
---
"Darcy?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"Make the pie 'to go'. If I eat anything else I'll be asleep sitting up."
"You got it."
"Here you are, Jack."
"The check?"
"Not today. Your money isn't any good on your birthday, Sally's birthday, your anniversary, your kids' birthdays or any day you save lives here. Today that was Walter and me. Go finish what your wife started when you walked back in."
---
"Sally, as much as I'd like to finish what you started, we should go get the girls."
"True. We can finish that after the girls are asleep. I expect Leanne will be staying at the hospital for a night or two."
"I agree. Do you want to get the girls involved in tomorrow's move of household goods?"
"Not especially, but it would be a good distraction to keep them from worrying about Walter."
"Then we include them. I'll have a wagon behind the tractor and they can get a 'hay ride' at least on the way over. Whether they can do that on the way back will depend on what's loaded in the wagon."
"Sounds good. We can distract them today by talking about the 'hay ride' if they're too upset about Walter. We work well together for a new 'parental unit'."
"Your words back on you, pretty lady: You goof!"
"You're right but me being able to be that silly is all because of you. You generate a lot of posi... Hey! You mentioned a little diesel engine for what's left of Bobby's truck. Jimmy had two Kubota diesel generators he picked up somewhere with burned up generator heads but he said the engines were OK. Would one of those work?"
"It might. I need to see the engine nameplate and then look up the model number on a chart I once downloaded. On the positive side, almost all the Kubota diesel generators are electric start so I won't be raising the hood to hand crank the engine. The machine shop has all the tools and supplies needed to make the jackshafts between the little engine and the truck's transmission. You can point me to the engines' location?"
"The shed behind the garage. That's where most of the parts to build something are."
"Do you know whether the gens are in one piece or did he separate the engine and the gen head?"
"Both still in one piece. He said something about having matching shafts if he built something else."
"Some gen shafts are splined, some are keyed and some have a bolt-on flange of some type. I'll plan on moving these assembled but they weigh over 500lbs each so probably best to bring some chains and use the tractor's bucket to lift them by their factory lift eye so we can move them to the truck's bed. We should get these things home and then get the girls."
---
"Momma, what happened to Grandpa Walter? Grandma Leanne ran out saying you'd be here in a little while."
"Sarah, he was shot when he tried to stop the man who tried to rob the BBQ Shack today. Your Grandpa is out of surgery and the doctors say he'll be OK. I know you want to go see him but remember that we only get to visit for a few minutes at a time."
"Like last time?"
"Yes. Like last time. He'll be in the hospital for a few days, then he'll be home for a few days before he goes back to work. He won't be picking you up for a while but one of you can get in his lap on the leg that wasn't injured if he's on the sofa and you get yourself in place as you did last time."
"Daddy caught the bad guy? Miss Molly said he chased him with his truck."
"Yes, Sarah. Your Daddy caught the bad guy who is now in the hospital with a broken leg."
"The truck is really fast?"
"Yes."
"Like Danica's race cars?"
"Maybe not that fast. You want to ask your Daddy about that instead of getting a bedtime story tonight?"
"No, Momma. I want to ask about fast during the day so we can go zooming down the road!"
"I don't think you'll get to zoom. Like many other things, the truck's speed is there for a purpose and that purpose is not to give you an adrenaline rush."
"Bummer."
"But he does pick good books?"
"Un huh!"
"Girls, gather your things and we'll go see your Grandpa and then go home. We have more things to move from our old house to our new house…"
"Momma, can I help?"
"Me?"
"Me too?"
"And me?"
"Within limits. I'll give each of you specific tasks that I think you're capable of doing."
"That sounds like real work."
"Moving is 'real work', Sarah. You asked to help so you'll be doing 'real work'."
"Girls?"
"Yes, Daddy?"
"I'll be driving the tractor and pulling a wagon. You want to have a 'hay ride'…"
"YES!"
"You'll be riding in the truck on the way back because there will be furniture and other things in the wagon."
"OK."
"Let's get your faces washed and hair combed to go see Grandpa."
"Yes, Momma."
---
"Girls, remember to use your inside voices while we're at the hospital. No yelling and no running in the halls."
"Momma, we never…"
"Sarah, do you remember when we were here last year after your Grandpa Walter got kicked by the horse he and your Uncle Pete were trying to get back to its trailer at the BBQ Shack?"
"Un huh."
"Do you also remember running down the hall yelling 'Ride 'em, cowboy'?"
"Oops."
"Yes, 'Oops'. No yelling. No running."
"Yes, Momma."
"That also applies to the rest of you."
"Yes, Momma."
"Yes, Momma."
"Yes, Momma."
---
"Walter, you OK with some possibly rambunctious company?"
"Bring them in, Jack. Just keep them on this side so one at a time can sit on the bed and I can hug them so they know I'll be OK."
"Girls, line up youngest first and I'll lift each of you up to the bed for a hug."
"Yes, Daddy. Grandpa Walter, I'm glad you're better."
"Me too, Alice. You get a short hug and I'll do the next in line so I can hug all of you before the nurse comes in to say visiting time is up."
"Yes, Grandpa. Help me down, Daddy?"
"Yes. You down and Lisa up and two more to go."
---
"You were right, Sally. They're all smiling now."
"If he can hug them, they know he'll be OK. Back to the house for 'work clothes' and then we can all work on moving things."
"You have your list of furnishings to be moved and where we'll move what's being replaced?"
"Yes. Alice's bed won't replace anything in the bunk room but that gives us three low beds so Marie won't be in an upper bunk. She's only rolled out of the upper bunk once, about six months ago, but that's not a good place for her with damaged ribs and the lump on her head. Here's the list. Mostly we'll be swapping out things and taking something back to my old house. I think moving things to the barn here and then staging the moves of individual pieces will be easier than fighting the rain at my house."
"Very logical analysis, Mrs. Jackson. Is that part of me also rubbing off on you?"
"We need to spend some time exploring what things might rub off."
"Is that an invitation?"
"After the girls are asleep."
"As you wish."
"You goof!"
"You're smiling."
"You're good at that."
---
"Girls."
"Yes, Daddy?"
"Your mother has a list of things for each of you to gather at your old house. If there are words you don't know, just ask and we'll pronounce the word and show you want it means. Sarah, shorts and a tank top are not 'work clothes' when we're moving…"
"But…"
"I know it's warm and muggy from the rain but 'work clothes' means jeans for all of us. Look at me. Look at your mother. We're in jeans and long sleeves and you will be also."
"If I hafta."
"You 'hafta'."
"You're mean! My real Daddy woulda let me!"
"Sarah!"
"What, Momma?"
"You just lost your lap time for the bedtime story. One of us can read to you after you're in bed."
"But Momma…"
"No 'buts'. You wouldn't want time in a mean person's lap so you don't get it."
"But…"
"No 'buts'. Go change. Now!"
"I'm going!"
"Does she have these mood changes often?"
"Just in the last couple of mon... She's been going to the bathroom every 30 minutes or so today and my period started when I was about her age! I should go ask some 'body' questions of her and see if puberty is rearing its sometimes ugly head."
"You do that. I think both of you need to know what's going on."
"You too, new Daddy. Be back whenever."
"I'll let you give the explanation to the other girls. Meanwhile, there's a book about body development that I should read to them while you're talking with Sarah. I'll go get it from the barn."
"It's in the box with the books about power. Did someone also go through your books while they were in storage?"
"That seems very possible."
---
[Sniff. Sniff.]
"Mister Jack?"
"Yes, Sarah?"
[Sniff. Sniff.]
"Can I sit by you?"
"You may. 'Mister Jack'?"
[Sniff. Sniff.]
"Momma s-said I c-could only c-call you 'Mister Jack' 'c-'cause of what I s-said. I'm s-s-sorry! I wanna c-call you 'D-D-Daddy'!"
"Do you understand at least a little about why you boiled over as you did?"
"There's lots of stuff changing in my body to make me ready to have children and it doesn't all happen together so sometimes everything is outta whack and little things make me act wonky."
"That's probably as good a definition of puberty as I've ever heard. Would my daughter like to sit in her Daddy's lap for a hug?"
"Un huh!"
---
"Better now?"
"Yes, Daddy. Will I be crazy like that all the time?"
"Probably a few days every month. Maybe all the time when you turn 13. The few days you can work out on the calendar with your mother's help so we'll all know the days we should give you a little extra room."
"You're not gonna make me sleep in the barn?"
"Not unless you get much worse. Since you mentioned it, I will remember that as an option. Would you rather be close to the goats or the chickens?"
"They both smell bad! Do I hafta pick?"
"Only if the rest of us decide you should be sleeping in the barn."
"Everybody has a vote?"
"All the family members. I might ask the chickens if they want to be from my side of the family so I'll control the most votes and can put you wherever I choose."
"Daddy!"
"Out of my lap. We have work to do."
"I'm wearing jeans."
"I noticed."
"Lean down so I can whisper in your ear."
"OK."
'And I'm wearing an uncomfortable pad thingy that sticks to my underwear.'
"I thought you might be, but that's something which is personal and private and you must choose to share it."
"You're the Daddy who saved my life when Uncle Bobby tried to kill us. You should know about everything."
"Thank you, Sarah."
---
"Sally, did the questions generated by the book fit in with what you planned to tell the other girls?"
"An almost perfect match. They understand more of what's going on with Sarah and what will eventually be going on with them. None of them are looking forward to being 'crazy'."
"All kids want to be older but none want the downsides that go with being older. Will you relent on lap time for Sarah's bedtime story or do I carry through with no lap time?"
"Carry through. It will be a lesson for all of them. Hopefully, a lesson that won't need to be repeated."
"As you wish, grandmother."
"I do sound like my mother. I survived it. I think Sarah will. She did have the opportunity for a brief lap time so she knows the punishment is a one time thing for a one time action but that future similar actions could have similar or worse punishments."
"We do work well as a 'parental unit'."
"You goof! Get your boots on. We have things to move."
"So we do. Girls, to the wagon!"
"Yes!"
---
"Jack, there was room for the truck to get by the pile of branches and junk on the road. Why'd you stop the tractor?"
"You did have room but just barely. The water going across the road as my new pond drains is also taking the 'branches and junk' into the other lane. I needed to work out the best way to clear that pile. I'll be out using the frontloader and the backhoe in the morning. If I can get some of the smaller pieces moved, I think there's a large limb that's serving as the main element of the dam at this edge of the pond. If I can lift or turn that limb some, the water will run under or around it and that flow will clear the smaller stuff on the other side of the road. I may need dirt to fill in holes if the running water washes away the road enough to make it impassable but I can dig that from the ditch on the other side."
"Do you ever tackle a problem without giving it extended thought?"
"Rarely."
"That's what I thought. So how long to clear and repair that short piece of road in the morning?"
"Somewhere between two and six hours. I can only see the top layer or two of the pile that makes up the dam so it could be worse than I think it is."
"You mentioned rain earlier. When does it start back?"
"Around sunrise tomorrow."
"Then we need to move as much as possible today. You and I can get some of the bigger things in place today and the girls can help with making beds, sorting clothes and putting away groceries today and tomorrow."
"I think that'll work."
---
"I'm tired!"
"Me too!"
"Me!"
"And me!"
"So are we girls. I lit the pilot on the water heater before we started moving things here so there will be warm water for baths and showers when I start the big generator. The truck is in the garage so the big things in its bed can be moved tomorrow without anyone getting wet. The things in the wagon are covered with tarps and it's parked in the barn to keep it dry. When I finish with the road work tomorrow, your mother and I will move the big pieces from the truck to the house. When we finish with that, we'll move the truck out of the garage and I'll back the wagon into it so we can move those things."
"Can I help?"
"Me too?"
"Me?"
"Me?"
"There will things that each of you can do. Sometimes it might just be holding a door open so Sally and I can move something big inside. Other times you'll be carrying something that's appropriate to your size."
"Apricot-what?"
"Appropriate, Marie. That means something that matches your abilities. You can't lift one end of the sofa but you could carry a cushion or a pillow."
"Something that fits?"
"Correct. Something that fits what you can do."
"You coulda said 'something that fits'."
"But then you wouldn't have learned a new word."
"You're always teaching us stuff. Are you sure you're not a school teacher?"
"I've never taught in the kind of school you're thinking about."
"There's more than one kinda school?"
"Yes. I think that might be a good question for another day. Your Momma is working on chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwi …"
"Yummy!"
"All of you need to wash at least your hands before you eat."
"I'm washing!"
"Me too!"
---
"Jack, they all need their hair washed. Can you help them with the drying?"
"As long as the gen is running, I can use a blow dryer and get that done quickly."
"When I get Alice and Lisa out of the tub, I'll dry one body and you dry the other one. If you have one girl stand on either side of you, you can alternate using the dryer and checking how dry the under layer of hair is."
"Remember that I took care of little sisters? Been there; done that."
"Then do it again."
---
"Jammies, brush and floss. Then choose a book."
"We all get lap time?"
"Sarah, tonight three of you get lap time. You each get to choose a book for me to read to you."
[Sniff. Sniff.]
"Yes, Daddy."
---
"Sarah had a hard time keeping the tears back when she was watching the others getting their books while in your lap."
"I did read 'All the Way to the Moon' to her after she was in bed and she did get the usual goodnight kiss on her nose."
"That she went back to 'All the Way' after being so excited about the Danica Patrick book told me volumes about how she felt about not getting lap time. Your 'Goodnight, daughter' released those tears for her. At least it's relatively easy to hug a child who's in the upper bunk."
"True. Do you think part of that emotion is from her period starting? It seemed a bit much for just not getting lap time."
"Could be. With her response to 'Goodnight, daughter.' being 'You're the best Daddy ever!', it could also be that she had time to think about not having a Daddy for two years and become terrified that she might lose you. You're the professional. Your answers are better than mine."
"No, your answers are better because you've known her longer than I have and you pay attention to what your kids say and do."
---
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Post by texican on Sept 2, 2018 22:40:29 GMT -6
PP2,
Thanks for the chapter....
Texican....
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Post by udwe on Sept 3, 2018 7:25:48 GMT -6
You are such a great writer. Thank you!
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 3, 2018 18:26:46 GMT -6
Great stuff, but we know that what's comin' from you is always the best.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 3, 2018 19:06:11 GMT -6
Thank you all for the positive comments.
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Post by arkansascob on Sept 4, 2018 10:44:59 GMT -6
Thanks for another great chapter. Really liking this story. Holds my intrest and keeps moving.
Also was nice to read a mention of A.C.H. Great hospital that does great things.
COB
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 8, 2018 17:13:47 GMT -6
Another semi-long chapter: 7,129 words.
Chapter 9 - Wednesday, 16 June - 6:10AM
Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep! Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!
"Jack, it's coming down hard out there. Do you really have to go out in this rain?"
"Yes. Reason one is to keep the water from rising. Reason two is to keep the road passable. At some point you will ask to get the things we didn't move from your house yesterday or to take something we're no longer using and store it there and we'll need to use that bit of road."
"So we will. Go wake your children while I get breakfast started."
"As you wish."
---
"Good morning, Alice."
"Good morning, Daddy!"
"Good morning, Lisa."
"Good morning, Daddy!"
"Good morning, Marie."
"Good morning, Daddy! Why didn't Sarah get lap time for her book last night?"
"Sarah was angry and said some things she shouldn't have said. The 'no lap time' was your Momma's punishment for that."
"You're not gonna tell us what she said?"
"No. She's been punished for it and she doesn't need to be reminded of it. Don't ask her."
"What she said musta been bad."
"It might have been bad or maybe just mean. Neither is acceptable. You want to go eat? I think I smell pancakes."
"Yummy!"
"Good morning, Sarah."
"Good morning, best Daddy ever! Where's the others?"
"I sent them to the kitchen for breakfast because I didn't know what you'd need when you woke up this morning."
[Sniff. Sniff.]
"Did you tell them what I did?"
"Just that you were angry and said something you shouldn't have said."
[Sniff. Sniff.]
"I need a hug."
"I thought you might, so I brought one with me. You want to see if it fits?"
"You're silly, but I'll try it on!"
"You're smiling."
"You do that really good."
"Ready to go eat?"
"Un huh."
"Go wash the tear streaks off your face."
"Yes, best Daddy ever."
---
I brought in the FRS radios yesterday when I got the body development book so I'll put freshly charged batteries in two of them. The one with a headset for me and the other one on the counter for Sally. Rain suit, hat and goggles on. Tractor and diesel keys. Out to get the tractor and then see if I can clear that pile of debris from the road and get the new pond to drain faster. Tractor to the diesel tank to top it off and then to the road. Still looks like the blockage is mostly from a big limb that has some branches on the road and some in the ditch. Probably floated out to the ditch then got caught there and couldn't go any farther so it's been collecting smaller bits to make a very effective dam and road block.
First use the backhoe to pick the pieces apart without getting the tractor's wheels in the moving water. That's working but it's a slow process as I start to move a piece only to find it's pinned under something else. Maybe an hour or more to move enough of the smaller pieces so I can get to the end of the big limb?
---
After an hour and a half there's clearance to get the front loader bucket under the uphill end of the big limb. I'll raise it a few inches - and that's all it needed to get the water flowing. The smaller stuff I'd pulled out and moved to the other side of the road is being carried to the ditch on that side by the moving water. I'll plan on digging enough dirt from that ditch to make temporary repairs to the road today. If the County isn't out doing more in a week or so, I'll be digging gravel down by the creek and making somewhat more permanent repairs to the road and the driveway at Sally's house. Seems I may be using more diesel than I ever anticipated. Maybe I should add to the fuel storage as well? Make a calendar entry for that.
---
I just spent another three plus hours on the tractor in the rain. Getting a cab for the tractor is now moved to the top of my equipment to-do list. Back to the house and hope for a warm shower. As I enter the drive, I hear an engine running that I don't remember hearing before.
"Hi, Daddy! Me and Momma added the oil and gas and I got to start the new generator. It's a lot quieter than the old one."
"It certainly is. Sally, is everything happy with the new gen?"
"The fridge is cool and I plugged the cord from the propane stove into an extension cord so I could use the oven. Worked fine."
"Oven?"
"Brownies for after lunch. The girls - especially Sarah - wanted to cook something special for you because you were out in the rain taking care of them again. They're sure that you were because they could see how fast the water was dropping in the 'pond'."
"Once I cleared enough small stuff to be able to lift the limb that was the major part of the blockage, the movement of the water quickly dug a gully under the big limb so after ten minutes I could let the end of it down and just watch the water run across and down the road. That much water flow was also why I spent more time doing temporary road repair than anything else. If the County road crew isn't out here in a week or so, I'll be digging and hauling gravel from the creek to do more permanent repairs."
"Jack, there's hot water on the stove."
"Thank you, Mrs. Jackson."
---
I'm warm and dry. Time to check the farm want ads magazine I picked up at TSC and use the cell data connection to check the listings at the equipment auction in Tulsa. Need to price getting better internet here - add that to the calendar. I should also check the web site Warren mentioned. The want ads and the web site for pricing a used cab and the auction listings to see if there are any cabs or anything else we might need in the future. Guess I should go ahead and pre-register so I'm ready to bid when I get there.
Auction registration's done and they have my credit card and new farm bank account info. I should ask Sally if she wants to make an adventure of it and we'll all go. I know there once were at least a couple of kid friendly places to spend a day after the auction. Need to verify that the ones I remember are still open. Yes. The water park and the gaming arcade. Between those two, there's something for everyone and the arcade is my fallback if weather keeps us out of the water.
"Sally, do the girls have swimsuits?"
"Mostly what they wore last year. Alice gets Lisa's from the previous year. Lisa gets Marie's. Marie gets Sarah's. Sarah gets a new one."
"We can do a little better this year. All of them get new ones to wear to the water park in Tulsa."
"Water park?"
"Remember Warren mentioning the farm equipment auction in Tulsa two weeks from Friday? That's the start of the July Fourth weekend so I expect a lot of people looking to celebrate but maybe not as big a turnout for the auction. A smaller turnout is in my favor as there will be fewer people bidding against me. I'm signed up because the catalog has two cabs that will fit the tractor and a number of other items I want to look at for possible purchase. We can make an adventure of it, with picnics at the auction and the next day at the water park."
"What if it rains?"
"There's a gaming arcade with ski ball, 1950's and 60's pinball machines, PacMan, Star Wars video games and more."
"That's a lot of money…"
"Remember that you said you'd have to learn how to be rich? This trip will be a lesson in that."
"You goof! But the girls will probably be thrilled."
"Speaking of the girls, where are they?"
"Down in the shelter so they don't hear the rain."
"Let's go ask if they're interested in going to the auction."
"Sarah might be so she can climb on the equipment but probably none of the others. Speaking of going places. What about Alice and the hospital in Little Rock?"
"I contacted Dr. Cheswick and they're forwarding an electronic copy of Alice's records to Dr. Woodruff. You should get a call from area code 501 today or tomorrow."
"What about insurance?"
"Alice's new Daddy can take care of things or you can use your $1 million line of credit."
"You're a lot easier to deal with than UHC was when we were still covered."
"Maybe I like her more than they did?"
"Possibly, you incredible softie."
---
"You were right, Sally. Only Sarah was interested in the auction for the equipment. The others were excited about 'going to Tulsa' which tells me they've rarely been more than ten miles from home."
"Actually, Walter and Leanne are 12 miles away."
"I was close. The closest motel to the auction is a Hampton Inn. Is that OK?"
"OK? I haven't stayed anywhere that nice since I was with a group of Girl Scouts when I was nine. Mom and Dad never traveled much and Jimmy would drive until he couldn't go any farther and then stay at the cheapest place he could find. We sometimes slept in the car because there was no place to stay. The Hampton is absolutely OK!"
"Good. We have reservations for a week…"
"A week? For a two day auction? Are you crazy?"
"Two days of auction and a day or two of 'kid stuff' and the Hampton has a babysitting service if you'd like to go to dinner and a movie or dancing or…"
"I think I want to know more about what's there and about the babysitting hours."
"Here's a printout of the motel's amenities."
"Babysitting until 2AM. I think we might make use of that."
"Considering our one night 'honeymoon', I thought you might think that."
"You're right, Mr. Jackson. We should attend that auction and spend at least a week in the city."
"There are also some museums that might interest all of us. For example, Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium, Discovery Lab - Tulsa Children's Museum and the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum."
"The Discovery Lab I've heard of - and very positively. That one is definitely on the list."
"I thought there'd be at least one in that list that would work for the girls. I'll let Pete know that we won't be here so he can check the place regularly. Maybe ask Leanne to care for the animals?"
"She'll do that for the milk and eggs. They're worth more than the gas she'll burn going back and forth and she knows it's all fresh and organic."
"Excellent. If we get the solar and wind power operational, I can put a few LED bulbs on timers so the house appears to be occupied. Maybe the kitchen for a hour or so in the morning and evening plus some flickering 'candle' bulbs in a couple of other rooms for short periods in the evening? Until commercial power is fully restored, no one would expect the house to have more than minimal illumination."
"You are devious."
"I'm protecting people I love and their home. Devious is less obvious than armed guards."
"You goof!"
---
"Sally, there's a vehicle slowing by the gate. Do you recognize it?"
"That's Tim Gurley's old Jeep. Their term is 'postal carrier' but he's a guy and he brings the mail so I still call him 'the mailman'. Today's the first time we've had mail since the storms started."
"Hello the house!"
"Hi, Tim."
"Hi, Sally. I asked Pete about who was here and who wasn't along my delivery route so we could do some extra sortin' before loadin' the vehicles. Got one for a name I ain't seen before: 'Dr. and Mrs. Mikhail Jackson'."
"Tim, I'm Mrs. Jackson."
"Then congratulations! I'll leave you a 'Change of address' card. Do you need them for the girls? Or Mikhail?"
"Tim, I'm Jack. I need to get that info back to Fort Worth and the girls need to learn about 'grownup' things such as telling people where you are."
"You're the power guy! I have your books on solar, wind and waterwheel power. McClellan says it'll be at least a month before they get to me but thanks to you we have power for the well pump, the fridge and a few lights in the house and barn. The waterwheel turns two 105 amp CS130 alternators that deliver about 180 combined amps when they're loaded so about 2500 watts of power always available when needed. The battery bank provides the surge to the inverter when the well pump starts and gives us several hours of cushion when I need to work on the water power end of things. The solar panels give us some power when the waterwheel don't."
"Sounds like you're almost as well off without the electric co-op as with it."
"I guess we are. If they send a bill for the month I don't have power, I'll be takin' the meter to their office and leavin' it there. If a country boy with an eighth grade education can read enough to put together his own power system them highly paid engineers oughta be able to figger out how to get my power back on sooner than that."
"I suspect that the engineers have a plan but the people who control the purse strings can't see the value of having enough people and equipment to do power restoral in a reasonable time."
"You might be right. Last time I was at their office, I paid the bill in cash and the girl had to borrow my pen to write the receipt 'cause they didn't have none. She said so many people use credit cards and online payments that they almost never write a receipt."
"Hi, Mister Tim."
"Well, if it ain't the purtiest bunch of girls on my route!"
"You're silly! Would like a brownie? We just baked them."
"Thank you, girls. It looks real good. I'll put it in my lunch box and eat it after I eat my lunch. Your Momma don't let you have dessert first, does she?"
"Un uh."
"Mine didn't either and I'm still in the habit of doing that."
"You're still silly, too!"
"Bye, girls."
"Bye, Mister Tim."
---
Ring!
"I don't recognize 501-36..."
"501 is Arkansas. Maybe the doctor or the hospital?"
'This is Sally.'
'Mrs. Jenkins?'
'I was until two days ago. I'm Mrs. Jackson now.'
'This is Dr. Woodruff. I've read your daughter's file and I think we should schedule surgery immediately. What insurance do you have?'
'We no longer have insurance but if you'd check with the bank manager at 580-555-BANK she can assure you that we can pay.'
'I'll have someone check and call you back in a few minutes.'
'OK.'
click!
"I'm not sure how that went. She said she'd have someone check and call me back and then hung up."
"Sally, I think you'll get that call. You do have more immediately available money than most…"
Ring!
"It's her again."
"So answer the phone and schedule the surgery."
'This is Sally.'
'Mrs. Jackson, could you have Alice at the hospital for surgery at 6AM Monday? Nothing to eat after midnight Sunday. Only water or apple juice up until 4AM. If all goes well, she'll be released to go home Friday.'
'One moment while I check on transportation.'
"Jack, she wants Alice there Monday at 6AM for surgery."
"I'll drive you there Sunday. We can discuss this with the other girls and see if they want to go with us or stay here with Walter and Leanne. When we have their answers, I'll make reservations at the closest place."
"When I tell Leanne, she'll probably say she'll come with us to watch the others if they want to be there."
"That will also work. Just need to reserve one more room. Maybe connecting rooms? Tell the doctor we'll be there."
'Dr. Woodruff, we can be there at 6AM Monday.'
'If you'll text me your email, I'll have my assistant send you a link to the forms that need to be filled out and signed and you can either sign them electronically or print and sign them and bring the paper copies with you.'
'I'll send it when we hang up.'
'Then I'll see you Monday.'
'OK.'
click!
"She's very abrupt on the phone."
"George said she was the best surgeon, not that she had the best or even a good bedside manner."
"I guess we are going there for her surgical skills, not her social ones."
"Correct. She could also be having a bad day. Surgeons sometimes lose patients through no fault of their own and sometimes people wait too long before going to the doctor and there's nothing that can be done for them. Remember to send her your email."
"I'm working on that. It's done."
"Then we should talk with the girls. And then let other family members know what we're doing."
"That too."
---
"Alice is gonna get fixed?"
"Yes, Marie. Alice is 'gonna get fixed'. The surgeon will remove the tumor Monday morning and, if everything goes well, Alice can leave the hospital on Friday. We won't drive back Friday because any delays at the hospital would have us getting home very late and Alice needs more rest than that would allow. Instead, we'll leave Saturday morning to drive back and have plenty of time for stops along the way if Alice needs to rest."
"Can we go with you?"
"Sarah, you have two choices but all of you must agree. Either you stay with Grandpa Walter and Grandma Leanne or you come with us and Grandma Leanne will also come with us so you will have someone to take care of you when Jack and I are at the hospital with Alice."
"I wanna go with you."
"Me too."
"And me."
"Remember that you won't be going to the hospital with us on Monday. When they tell us that Alice can have visitors other than the two of us, you'll get to see Alice but it will probably be short…"
"Like seeing Grandpa Walter when he gets shot?"
"Yes, Marie. Just long enough for 'Hi' and a hug."
"Can we make cards and you'll take them to her?"
"Yes, Sarah. I'll pack the small tote of craft supplies so you can do that."
"When will we know how she is after the surgery?"
"Lisa, as soon as the doctor tells us, we'll call your Grandma and tell her so she can tell you."
"OK."
---
Ring!
'This is Leanne.'
'Leanne, this is Sally. Alice's surgery is 6AM Monday at Arkansas Children's Hospital. The other girls want to go…'
'And you need someone to watch them while both of you are at the hospital. How long will they want Alice to stay after surgery?'
'If all goes well, she'll be released to go home on Friday.'
'I'll tell Walter. Do you have room for me or should I drive the van?'
'If the doctor wants Alice to travel lying down on the way home, we'll make a bed in the truck and will need the van for the other girls.'
'Then I'll drive. Where are you staying?'
'Jack's working on that as we speak. He said he'd try to get connecting rooms.'
'Excellent. If you're at the hospital late, the girls can go to sleep in their beds and not be disturbed by moving them to a different room.'
'Thanks, Leanne.'
'That's what grandmothers are for. Babysitter, driver, short order cook - I'll do whatever gives me time with my grandkids.'
'I'll call when we have lodging info and our departure time on Sunday.'
'I'll be here.'
'Bye.'
'Bye.'
"Grandmothers are usually as easy as the softie you married."
"You're right, Jack. Especially when there's a sick kid. I should tell Pete that we'll be gone for a week."
"His usual patrol schedule out here is Monday and Thursday so we may see him tomorrow. We can tell him about both trips."
"That'll work. We're late with lunch again."
"I think the girls are OK with that because they know why."
---
"Would you girls like to help fix lunch?"
"Me!"
"Me too!"
"Me!"
"And me!"
"Wash your hands and head to the kitchen."
"OK."
"Can we have PB&J, Momma?"
"If that's what you all want."
"YES!"
"Jack, if you'll handle the jelly."
"I got that, Sally."
"Momma, I got the peanut butter."
"Thank you, Sarah."
"Are we celebrating something, Momma?"
"Why are you asking, Alice?"
"We don't usually get PB&J and brownies together."
"We are celebrating you getting into the hospital for surgery and then you catching up to the size you should be."
"If I'm the same size as Lisa, Daddy won't carry me."
"I'll still give you lap time but you won't need to be carried. You'll be able to move yourself wherever you need to be."
"And learn to ride a bike?"
"When you're able to climb the stairs to the attic, we'll see about some bike time."
"Climb the stairs?"
"If your legs are strong enough to climb all those stairs then they're strong enough for riding a bike."
"You 'splain things good."
---
"Sally, would you rather be in the Hampton that's a little over a mile and a half from the hospital or the Holiday Inn that's just over a mile away? The Holiday Inn has a shuttle to the hospital but it might be faster to walk than to wait on the shuttle. At the Hampton, it's walk or drive but we can get a room with two queen beds so there's a place for the girls to sleep. One other positive for the Hampton - you can open the room door with your phone using their app. We can get key cards and give one to Leanne because we won't need two of them. There's no mention of connecting rooms on the web page but a phone call can answer that."
"I think you just nailed the Hampton. Does the hospital offer sleeping space for parents?"
"In the room for one parent in most instances. Sleeping space elsewhere for the second parent. I'm reasonably sure each of us will want to get away long enough to at least get a shower and spend a little time with the other girls each day. Maybe each of us with them for one meal? I haven't yet seen anything specific about them allowing siblings to visit. We can ask when we get there."
"That's good progress for today. I have the text with the link to the forms. I forwarded that to you."
"I have it. I'll copy that from the text and email it to myself and we'll use the laptop for filling out forms. We'll also need a printer."
"Sarah can go start the inverter gen if you want to bring in the laser printer."
"I'll go get that printer. While the gen is running, we can charge phones and a couple of the powerbanks to take with us and ensure the fridge is cool enough."
"I'll tell Sarah."
"I need to check the hour meter I plugged into one of that gen's outlets. The 'break-in' oil change happens sooner than the ones after that. We might be close to that time. If so, I'll ask Sarah if she wants to help with it."
"First I let her setup and start the gen and now you'll have her doing maintenance on it. She will be driving that truck by the end of the summer, won't she?"
"If she's tall enough and careful enough. But she is big enough to help with some of the engine exchange work and I'll let her if she wants to. I don't think you can ever have too many mechanics on a farm. She will be wearing jeans and a denim work shirt when we do that for the same reasons as when we installed the lights and siren."
"That sounds a lot like Dad. Bobby was never interested in the machines but I did a lot of 'hold this' and 'turn that' when I was about Sarah's age. I never had the desire to drive that she does so I wasn't as interested in the nuts and bolts of things as she is. Will you call her 'grease monkey'?"
"I'll have her look that term up in the dictionary if I do. When I brought in the 'body' book for the other girls, I also brought in a near-current Webster's Collegiate and a Webster's Children's dictionary. I expect they'll spend a lot of time there."
"With you using what you consider the proper terms for things, I'm certain they will. As they get older, I think they'll all like it when you talk 'grownup' to them even if it involves dictionary work."
"All kids need someone to do that for them when they're ready for it. In my time at CPS, I saw very few kids who had experienced that and many who had never experienced it. Was it ignorance, laziness or just 'don't care' on the part of their parents?"
"Any or all of those. These girls will get to experience it. They may not look like you or have your DNA, but there's no question that they are now your children."
"I might like them a little bit."
"Your 'little bit' is like calling an elephant little when you're comparing it to a woolly mammoth."
---
"Sally, we need to get the solar and wind power connected tomorrow so there will be power for the fridge while we're gone. And we should set up my surveillance system to get notification of any unwanted visitors and to be able to monitor things remotely. I also want to get an efficient chest freezer. With continuous power available from the solar plus wind system, it's reasonable to freeze some of what we grow and to stock up on some frozen foods."
"Jack, I'd love to have freezer space for enough frozen foods to carry us two or three months. I can see this flooding being followed by a month or more of drought and there being very little variety available in locally grown fresh foods."
"I'm thinking something bigger. Maybe six months to a year of everything that freezes well?"
"I find no fault with that other than the cost. Is this another lesson in being rich?"
"As you wish, but we should be prepared for other things that can affect the food supply. Remember all the tainted lettuce recalls last year? And the canned meat that had metal bits in it from improper canning machine maintenance? And the loss of production in all areas from the flu?"
"Yes, yes and yes. The older girls missed more than a month of school because of efforts to control the spread of that flu. You don't have to convince me that having more food is better. Mom and Dad always planted twice as much garden as they thought we'd need and canned what wasn't eaten. We didn't go hungry in the bad times and neither did any family members that were close enough for us to help them. Bobby had some hungry times but people steal home canned foods if you try to ship them and he would never come visit to load up with food."
"Considering the variety of food in the basement and the quantities, your brother was a fool."
"You'll get no argument from me."
"Speaking of the basement. Do you know what's in that gun safe?"
"The 20 gauge, the 10/22 and the Glock 42 are mine. Anything bigger was Dad's. Maybe a .45, a 12 gauge and a .308? I'm guessing Bobby took his with him when he moved out."
"Yours are all appropriate to your stature."
"That's what Dad said. Jimmy didn't want them at the house when the girls were toddlers and I just never moved them."
"We should get you up to speed on your weapons and see if there's a .22 pistol for the girls to learn on."
"Mom carried a little gun in her purse most of the time. Maybe a .22 or .25? It's probably in the safe. All the ammo should be on the top shelf or two of the shelving unit nearest the safe."
"Is there a shooting range on the property?"
"When the flood recedes, there's a basic range on the other side of the creek. There's a cleared area maybe 200 feet long that ends at a 20 foot hill which makes a great backstop. When do you plan to have all of us out shooting?"
"The two of us as soon as it's dry enough to check out the range. The girls not for several weeks. We'll lose at least a week of hands-on training with Alice in the hospital and another week when we go to the auction. We can be working on memorization, other firearms classroom things and maybe some unarmed self defense those weeks but they won't be learning any gun handling because I don't have mockups of the guns and I don't plan to take a live arsenal with me for them to practice on."
"I think they'll accept that explanation."
---
"Sally, I hear a vehicle in the drive."
"It's a Sheriff's cruiser, Jack. Is Pete 103?"
"He is but this isn't his usual day on this road."
"Hello the house!"
"Hi, Pete. What brings you here on an unscheduled day?"
"Leanne was at the Shack getting takeout for lunch for her and Walter. She mentioned that you were taking Alice to Little Rock for surgery on Monday. Anything I need to check here while you're gone?"
"We plan to have the solar and wind power connected and providing limited power to the house tomorrow. Enough power to keep the fridge cool and to run a few lights on timers and the surveillance cameras. I'll get notification of activity on the property or in the house."
"Leanne said she was going with you, so who'll be tending the animals?"
"We haven't gotten that far yet."
"Goats need milking once or twice a day?"
"Once is adequate. Alternate days if you limit Maybelle's access to water."
"Then I'll pick Molly up at Mabel's and we'll do chores for the eggs and milk. She wants to have chickens and goats when we get married and we should both know exactly how much time the animals require."
"Good planning, Pete."
"That one is Molly's planning. My primary reason for being here is in the trunk."
"Radios, lights and siren?"
"Somewhat later than Walter intended but you do have them. Where do you want the boxes?"
"I'll help you move them to the garage. Then neither of us is in the rain for long."
"I noticed the road is clear and has some different dirt for patches."
"Three plus hours on the tractor this morning. If the County isn't out to improve that patch in a week or so, I'll dig and haul gravel from the creek to make it a little more durable."
"Karl McAllister is supervisor of the road crew for Maintenance District 8 - that's the area around you. He was at Mabel's and said they'd be out this way on Monday or Tuesday of next week. I think he'll be pleased with your temporary patch as he said he was dreading having to drain the pond he knew would be here."
"The major part of that is done and the rest is slowly going downstream. Other than the ditches still being muddy, he should be OK to work on Monday."
"If I see him again, I'll tell him. Otherwise he gets a pleasant surprise when he gets here. As much time as you spend on that tractor, you need a cab for it."
"That's our next trip. There's a farm equipment auction in Tulsa in two weeks and there are two cabs in the catalog. We plan to be at the auction both days and we'll spend a day or two doing kid stuff."
"The water park and the arcade?"
"Yes. As fascinated as Sarah is with how things work, I think she'll love the old pinball machines."
"That might be hereditary."
"I'll let you know. Thanks for the delivery and for taking on the animal chores. Leanne will probably be doing that while we're in Tulsa."
"Then that's covered for the days you'll be gone. You told Walter yet?"
"Only the trip to the hospital. I'll just hope that no one needs a sniper either week we're gone."
"Unlikely that we will, but we never know about some of the other law enforcement agencies. We're rarely in the loop until it's SHTF for them and they're looking for specific help."
"Tulsa's not that far from here if I'm really needed. I will be able to go code 3."
"Well, in a few hours maybe. Who'll you get to be your other set of hands while running wire and cable?"
"I'll ask Sarah first."
"I think she'll like that."
"So do I. Thanks again, Pete."
"Thank you for being a real Daddy to my daughter."
---
"Sarah?"
"Yes, Daddy?"
"Would you like to help me install the lights and the siren on the truck?"
"Un huh!"
"That means work clothes. Jeans. Your long sleeved denim shirt. Lace up shoes."
"Do I hafta?"
"You 'hafta'. We'll be running wiring through lots of places with sharp edges and your skin needs to be protected. All of your skin. Here are some work gloves in your size."
"Then it is about protecting skin and not like my first Daddy just not wanting to see my butt."
"We've already had conversations about clothing being optional for many things but not for when you're working. Most of the time it is your choice but your mother and I will step in when safety is a concern."
"That's another way you say 'I love you'."
"You're talking 'grownup' today."
"I better start wearing long pants and long sleeves all the time so no more of you rubs off on me!"
"You're silly!"
"See? That's something else that rubbed off on me!"
"Go change clothes, silly."
"Yes, best Daddy ever."
---
Woop! Woop! Woop!
Bee-Doo! Bee-Doo! Bee-Doo!
"Jack? Where's that coming from?"
"My grease monkey is testing the siren we just installed on the truck."
"She's already been to the dictionary?"
"Yes. She'll be asking you about embroidering that on her denim shirt."
"She's old enough to learn. I'll tell Leanne and I'll be sure to pack that shirt for the trip to the hospital and embroidery thread in several of Sarah's favorite colors. And some paper and crayons for sketching the letter sizes and colors."
"She won't get to say 'I'm bored' or 'There's nothing to do' more than once?"
"She won't. Marie and Lisa can also learn some of the basics. If nothing else, how to thread a needle and sew on a button. I'll include some cloth scraps and some buttons in that package plus some toothpicks."
"Add Alice to that list when we get back home from the hospital. She'll want to do everything Lisa does now - including the things that will be on her 'Don't' list from the surgeon."
"I may be telling you to sit on her just to keep her in the bed after the first couple of days."
"I can believe that."
---
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Sarah?"
"All the sounds on the siren work…"
"You mother noticed that…"
"You said to test it!"
"I did, but I also said to use the 'City' setting, not the 'Highway' setting."
"Oops!"
"Yes, 'Oops'."
"Can we do the lights now?"
"Just can't wait, can you, favorite grease monkey?"
"I like being a grease monkey and learning about how stuff works!"
"Then let's go find some more learning for you."
"Yes!"
---
"You have blue lights now, Jack?"
"A little more involved than that, Sally. Watch. Sarah, headlights on."
"OK."
"They flash."
"The high beams alternate. That makes the front of the vehicle more obvious and the lights define the size of the vehicle. Sarah, strobes on."
"OK."
"High speed flashing from the turn signals front and rear."
"One more. Sarah, light bar on."
"OK."
"That's so bright it's painful!"
"That's a very good thing on a dark road at night as it can be seen for miles and that also means it will be noticed on a sunny day. Sarah, everything off."
"OK."
"Does that smile have her ears meeting in the back?"
"Not the last time I looked, Sally, but probably getting close. She did like using the wire stripper and the terminal crimper - even if she had to pass the crimper to me to complete most of the crimps. Her hands aren't quite big enough and she doesn't yet have that much hand strength. She did get the amount of insulation to remove correct and she had the crimp tool in the right place on each terminal. She's a good helper and a quick learner. I'll definitely have her working on other things and the other girls as they ask and I have things they can do."
"She did the wiring?"
"Most of it. The hookup for the light bar uses color-coded wire and there's a decent pictorial in the box with it. The strobes and the wig-wag headlights I had to draw for her as their diagrams assume a much newer vehicle and the wiring diagrams were for Ford, Chevy and Dodge police cars. My truck is from a different generation of vehicles."
"More like a great uncle of those vehicles?"
"At least."
---
"Sally, now that the rain has stopped I need you to steer Bobby's truck while I tow it to the barn… "
"I wanna do that!"
"Sarah…"
"I drove the tractor and the truck is easier 'cause Uncle Bobby only used two fingers. I can do that!"
"Work clothes, Sarah."
"Just a minute!"
"OK, I'm done!"
"I'll be using the tractor to move the truck. I'll get the tractor started and you drive it out of the barn."
"Yes!"
"Stop here, Sarah."
"I'm stopped. Brake lock on."
"Very good. You need both hands to turn the wheel, don't you?"
"Un huh."
"Let's go to the truck."
"OK. You need the keys to unlock the wheel."
"The keys are in the truck."
"I got this!"
"Then turn the key to unlock the steering wheel and you turn the wheel."
"OK. Key to ON. Turn the whe… Umph! It's hard!"
"Use both hands."
"I am using both hands! Why won't it turn?"
"The easy steering is only when the engine is running and the hydraulic power steering has power. If the engine isn't running, whoever is turning the wheel must be able to use a lot of muscle to turn the steering whe..."
"But I wanna help!"
"Do you think there might be a reason I asked your mother to help me?"
"I ain't big enough yet."
"Not yet. You have several years of growing up to do before you'll be as strong as your mother."
"If you knew I couldn't do it then why did you let me try?"
"Because you were so certain that you knew everything about it, the easiest way to convince you otherwise was to let you experience it. What you knew was how easy it turned with the engine running. What you didn't know was how hard it is to turn the wheel with the engine off, even after I drained the power steering fluid from the pump and lines."
"And I wouldn't believe you unless I tried it."
"Exactly."
"I'll go tell Momma you need her."
"Thank you, grease monkey."
"Dumb monkey."
"No, uneducated grease monkey and we're working on your education. You just had your first lesson on hydraulic power steering - it only works when you have engine power."
"I love you too, Daddy."
---
"Sarah seemed a bit subdued when she told me you needed me."
"She got two lessons in being a grease monkey. The hard one was that she jumped to a conclusion based on experience with a running vehicle and she had no experience with a non-running vehicle to compare it to. The easy one was that hydraulic power steering needs engine power."
"Then it will steer like an old and very big truck."
"I drained the fluid out but the steering ratio is such that it will be hard to steer."
"Just tow it slowly."
"I will."
---
"Is this where you need it?"
"Almost. I want the engine's lifting eye centered under the 10x10 beam. For that, I'll need to take the hood off and then I need your eyes on the beam and the lifting eye."
"An hour to get the hood off?"
"More like 20 minutes, including getting a sling in place to support it when the bolts are removed."
"Which bolts?"
"First the sling, then some day-glo paint to ensure we know exactly where the bolts were and then the orange bolts out."
"That's the easy way of aligning a hood when you put it back on!"
"It certainly is - especially if I'm putting it back in place by myself."
"You think out everything, don't you?"
"I try to."
"So I'll guess you already know where you'll store the hood?"
"I brought down a couple of bales of hay from the loft. They're two bays over and we'll use the trolley to move the chain hoist over there and store the hood."
"Let's do it."
---
"Momma, what took so long?"
"Sarah, we took the hood off the truck so we could see to line up the lifting hook on the engine with the beam the chain hoist runs on. That way the old engine can be lifted out and then moved to an empty bay in the barn to make room for installing the new engine and the new hardware that will be needed to connect the little engine to the truck's clutch."
"Can I see?"
"Work clothes, Sarah."
"They're on the back of my chair. One minute."
"Jack, if you'll take her and do the explanations?"
"C'mon, grease monkey. You might get another lesson today."
"Yes!"
---
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 8, 2018 18:36:02 GMT -6
I still have to learn some lessons the hard way and I'm a couple years older than Grease Monkey.
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Post by texican on Sept 8, 2018 23:01:12 GMT -6
I still have to learn some lessons the hard way and I'm a couple years older than Grease Monkey. The best remembered lessons are those learned the HARD WAY.... That was the way school was taught when we grew up.... Keep on doing it until you got it right.... Hands on experience is a true teacher.... Thanks for the chapter PP2.... Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 9, 2018 15:06:06 GMT -6
A somewhat shorter chapter, but you do get two chapters in less than 24 hours ;-)
Chapter 10 - Thursday, 17 June
"Jack, this form from the hospital says Alice must be there for pre-checkin before 2PM Sunday."
"Not a problem, Sally. It's a little over 3 hours from here to there."
"So breakfast at the usual time and leave immediately after?"
"That should give us several hours of cushion. You should call or text Leanne about the time. We might make lunch something special but keep supper mild to help prevent any post-anesthesia stomach upset for Alice."
"I'll let the girls choose lunch from my edited list of places to eat near the hospital and the hotel."
---
"Daddy, can we go shooting today?"
"Lisa, there is a requirement you must meet before that happens."
"Yeah. The rules. We gotta know all of them by tomorrow?"
"Yes. All of them. You want to try telling me what they are again?"
"Pointer finger - All guns are loaded."
"That's one."
"Middle finger - Don't point the gun at anything unless you want to destroy it."
"That's two."
"Ring finger - Keep your finger off the trigger until… until… until… I forgot!"
"Do you remember pinkie finger?"
"Pinkie finger - Be sure of your target and what's behind it."
"That's three out of four. I'll uncover the third one."
"Until your sights are on the target!"
"Put it all together."
"Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target."
"Here's a pencil and some paper. You try writing that five times."
"OK."
---
"I'm done, Daddy."
"OK, Lisa. Close your eyes and tell me the rule you didn't remember."
"Ring finger - Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target."
"Very good. Tomorrow I'll ask each of you aga…"
"But I wanna go shooting! You and Momma went."
"Your Momma and I memorized the rules a long time ago and we still remember them. Remember that I said rules then classroom then shooting?"
"Un huh."
"You haven't yet memorized all the rules."
"So no shooting."
"No shooting. We won't have any place for you to shoot while we're in Little Rock but we can have some other lessons. Your Grandma Leanne can help you with memorizing and some of those other lessons. I will be asking each of you about the rules again."
"I'm not the only one?"
"Marie's still working on one rule and I've explained to Alice that brain surgery can upset a lot of things and that one of those things is your short term memory."
"Short term?"
"Things that happened or that you learned in the hours or days just before you have that surgery. She might be fine but she might not remember any of the rules. If the memory loss is bad enough, she might not remember me…"
"She won't forget you! You're the best Daddy ever!"
"That's not something you can control during brain surgery. Your brain might not be happy to be poked and prodded and parts of it might not work as well as before surgery."
"Does Alice know?"
"Yes. Your Momma and I told her first. Remember that we try to tell you girls everything that might happen and why we do some of the things we do."
"Like the rain making the basement flood."
"Correct. You couldn't change that but you did need to know what could happen and what we would do about it."
"What if Alice doesn't remember the rules?"
"Then all of us will have to help her memorize them again."
"I can do that."
---
"Jack, you mentioned a book about your family tree?"
"Yes, Sally. It's on the shelf under the coffee table in here. Why today?"
"Sarah asked me if there were any interesting names in your family that you might want to use for the children you and I have."
"Actually, there are several. You and Sarah come look."
"Me too?"
"Me?"
"And me?"
"Yes, all of you. I'll put the book on the coffee table so all of you can see it…"
"Yes!"
"Who's the guy with the crown?"
"That's my great-great-great grandfather, Duke Dimitro Yakovitch."
"Yakovitch, Daddy? But your last name is Jackson."
"Yak is the Russian equivalent of 'Jack' and 'ovitch' is Russian for 'son of'. When his son Joseph came to the US, he wanted an 'American sounding' name so he wrote 'Jackson' on the papers at Ellis Island."
"What's Ellis Island?"
"Sarah, for many years, that was one of the main places people from other countries entered the US. It's in most history books and I know it's in the encyclopedia that's on the second shelf of the oak bookcase behind you."
"You said Russia. Don't we hate them?"
"There was once a lot of animosity between our countries but things have gotten a little better."
"Want kind of animal?"
"Not 'animal', Lisa. The word is animosity, spelled a-n-i-m-o-s-i-t-y. Sarah, would you help her look that up?"
"Yes, Daddy."
"Lisa, the kids' dictionary has 'strong dislike' and 'hate'."
"Show me?"
"Right here."
"OK. 'Hate'. Like I hate turnips, Momma?"
"Yes, Lisa. Like you hate turnips."
"People can not like other people that much?"
"Lisa, remember that Uncle Bobby tried to burn the house with us in it. I think that might be as much as you hate turnips."
"Sarah, I don't think I hate turnips that much! I guess some people have other people they don't like bunches."
"I think my girls might all need a hug right now."
"Yes!"
---
"Daddy, tell us about the interesting names."
"OK, Sarah. This is my grandmother Sara - just without the 'h'. This is my grandmother Amelia…"
"I like 'Amelia'!"
"Me too!"
"And me"
"Me!"
"And these are my great-great-aunts Virginia, Georgia and Louisiana…"
"Named for states?"
"At different times, people have been named for states when they joined the union or for famous people such as Presidents or war heroes or movie or TV stars. Remember watching the 'Full House' DVDs with Stephanie and Michelle and…"
"I remember Michelle!"
"When that show originally ran on TV, there were a lot of little girls named Michelle."
"There you go - named after someone famous."
"I wanna see more!"
"Me too!"
"Me!"
"And me!"
"Then gently turn the page and I'll tell you about some more of my family."
"OK."
---
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 9, 2018 19:50:48 GMT -6
So, that guy who was tailgatin' me today was telllin' me not to point the gun at anything? Actually, I don't think he even knew about the AR behind the seat. ;^) Seriously, sir, thanks for the bonus post. We all must've been really good to deserve more of this fine stuff.
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Post by texican on Sept 9, 2018 19:51:51 GMT -6
PP2,
Thanks for the 2nd chapter in two days....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 16, 2018 13:02:34 GMT -6
Chapter 11 - Friday, 18 June
"I see you working on a list, Jack. Your plans for today?"
"Yes. First, I need to check all the outbuildings here for any equipment or supplies I haven't yet found - such as the oil and air filters for the generator and tractor. After making paper lists of that, I want to do the same at your place."
"With or without the girls?"
"Either way here, but we'll pull the Radio Flyer wagon so we can bring some of the smaller things back to the house and Alice can ride if she's with us. They all go with us to your place and one of us will probably be carrying Alice on the way back."
"You wanted to get model numbers from those diesel generators?"
"Correct. And see what automotive and other maintenance supplies may be stored in your garage and barn."
"The girls in chore clothes?"
"Yes. I think it's a given that there will be some things in nooks and crannies that they can explore more easily than we can."
"They need flashlights?"
"All of theirs on the counter with fresh batteries in them. Headlights for you and me and the MagLite triple D cell flashlight on my belt. Work gloves for all of us as I expect to find things that haven't been touched in years."
"You've done this before."
"My grandfather's barn after he and my grandmother died. They never put any potentially useful item in the trash - it all went in the barn or another outbuilding. A few things were worth the effort to clean up because they were easily repaired. Others went to the Saturday flea market because they were only useful for parts. I think we might see the same at both places."
"I'm dreading the work because I'm sure you're right. Guess we'd better inform the girls and get busy."
---
"OW!"
"What happened, Lisa?"
"Momma, I tried to move this and that fell on my foot!"
"Better that the churn fell on your foot than the rake. Your foot may be bruised but you don't have anything sharp sticking out of it."
"EWWW!"
"Jack, need some first aid."
"I heard the 'OW' and thought you might. Lisa, let me get your shoe off."
"Ow! It hurts when you turn my foot like that!"
"Then you try to keep your foot still in the place that doesn't hurt while I untie it and loosen the laces to remove it and your sock."
"OK."
"There's no sharp line on your foot so I think the side of the churn landed on your foot instead of the rim."
"Is that good or bad, Daddy?"
"Mostly good. The rim might have broken a bone in your foot if all the force was concentrated in a small area but the weight of the churn was spread out so you probably have a big bruise and your foot might swell some. Arms around my neck and I'll carry you inside to have better light for checking you and to get some ice to reduce the possible swelling."
"I can't help now?"
"Not with anything that requires standing or walking. You need to lie down and have this foot up on a pillow for a while. Sally, get her something to drink and two children's ibuprofen. That will give her some pain relief and some inflammation control. Meanwhile, I want to do some checking of where and how much touching her foot hurts."
"Like Marie's 'Ow' and 'Ouch'?"
"Exactly, Lisa. Let's see on the top of your foot. Here? Here? Here?"
"Ow!"
"That's where the most obvious bruising is. A few more places. Here? Here? Here…"
"It's all OK?"
"One more thing to check. Turn your foot this way. This way…"
"Ow!"
"Did you try to jerk your foot out before your Momma got here to help you?"
"Un huh."
"I think you may have sprained your ankle a little. That's why it hurts when I turn your foot this way."
"Ow! Don't turn it that way! How do you fix it?"
"Your Momma is bringing you something to drink and some medicine to help with the pain. I'll wrap your ankle with this elastic bandage to provide some support and keep you from turning it the way that hurts. We'll also put an ice bag on it to make it hurt less and to reduce the swelling."
"I gotta stay on the sofa?"
"You 'gotta' be still with your foot up on a pillow and the ice bag on your foot. You can also stretch out in the porch swing but the pillow and the ice bag go with you."
"Bummer."
"It is. But maybe not as bad with your arms and legs being covered and you wearing shoes that cover all of your feet than if you had all your skin exposed?"
"I didn't wanna wear chore clothes but I'm glad I did 'cause I mighta got splinters in my butt when I fell against that wall!"
"Maybe I'm not too bad for a new Daddy?"
"Maybe!"
"Sally, if she's hurting enough to complain in two hours, give her two children's acetaminophen. The ice bag should be on no more than 20 minutes; less if the foot starts feeling numb. Repeat that every two hours or so. Repeat the ibuprofen every four hours as needed."
"Yes, Dr. Jackson."
"You goof!"
---
"You've completed your list for here, Jack?"
"Until I move another big item and discover more stuff behind or under it."
"That's reasonable. To my place now?"
"After we eat. I want Alice to talk me through how to use the FRS radio so she can be Lisa's nurse while we're gone and call us if we're needed."
"I get to take care of Lisa?"
"Yes. Probably for the first time in a long time, you can do things that Lisa can't - such as get her a drink. There are bottles of water in the foam cooler by the fridge because it's easier for you to lift that lid than to open the fridge door."
"I got this, Daddy!"
"After we eat."
"OK."
---
"I think Alice's grin had her ears meeting behind her head."
"I wasn't behind her, Sally, but I can't argue the point."
"You do know how to make these kids feel good about themselves."
"Just giving them the opportunity to show what they can do."
"And they'll brave hell and high water to prove they can do it."
---
"Cold soup for lunch?"
"Yes, Marie. Cold soup. It’s called gazpacho and it's from southern Spain where they have hot summers and no one wants a hot meal in the middle of the day."
"Do I hafta. Momma?"
"No. If you don't eat it now, you can have it for supper - or maybe breakfast tomorrow."
"Cold tomatoes for breakfast? Yuck! I guess now is better."
"You might like the bread…"
"The soup is good!"
"So's the bread."
"Yummy!"
"Me too!"
"Your idea seems to be a winner, Mr. Jackson."
"Thank you, Mrs. Jackson. They might stay in a good mood all afternoon if you bring out the brownies an hour or so from now. You'll tell Alice via radio then?"
"Just where to look for their snack."
---
"You found something, Daddy?"
"Yes, Sarah. One of these diesel generators may have the right type engine to build our farm truck. Here's paper and a pen. I'll hold the light and you write down the model number and the serial number for each of them."
"This one has 'Z602-E4B' in the Model but the serial number has paint on it."
"Then someone probably repainted the engine and didn't mask the nameplate as they should have. If I need the serial number, there are several ways to get it. Mostly, I need the model number to know the horsepower and the physical size."
"Light up the other one."
"You got it."
"It's also 'Z602-E4B' and there's paint on the serial."
"Then maybe both were painted by the same sloppy person?"
"Brilliant deduction."
"So you're the one who's been reading my Sherlock Holmes anthology and losing my place."
"Oops!"
"It's OK to read it, but bring your own bookmark and don't move mine."
"Yes, Daddy. Is that all you need from these?"
"For now. I'll check the chart I have for engine horsepower and then see whether I can download any detailed information on the engine."
"I can help you change it?"
"Within limits. Some of the things I'll be moving are heavy enough to seriously hurt or kill someone if they swing or fall while they're on the hoist. None of you girls will be near the original engine when I remove it, these generators when I move them or the engine when I install it later. That will cost you a week with no lap time and no bedtime story."
"A week?"
"Yes. A week. Seven days. One hundred and sixty-eight hours. Ten thousand and eighty minutes. Do you remember how long one story without lap time was?"
"A long time."
"Yes. This will be a much longer time."
"I'm listening this time. I'll tell the others."
---
"What are you reseaching, Jack?"
"Sarah helped me with getting the model numbers on the Kubota engines. On the bright side, they're both the same model so I may have 100% spare parts if both are good. I need the detailed specs for that model to know whether it will work for driving the truck."
"That explains the browser windows open with 'Kubota' on each page. What's with the wildly painted trucks?"
"I'm doing some comparisons as they don't have a single catalog with all the variations of that engine. I think parts of four of these web pages will provide me a useful guide to powering a large vehicle. The 'wildly painted trucks' are some samples of locally built Thai trucks powered by a small Kubota diesel. The dump truck only has a 14HP engine. On the other hand, these vehicles aren't designed to be used on highways with a speed limit of 70MPH. They're generally OK if they can maintain 30."
"So back over to my old house tomorrow to bring the generators here?"
"Yes. I won't start any major work until after Alice's surgery but I can remove covers and measure things to plan out some pieces of the mechanical installation. I expect to need some new frame cross members in the right places to support the engine and the jackshaft. The fuel tank on the generator is relatively small so I'll be adapting the truck's fuel tank for use with the Kubota engine. I'll need to do the math to see whether to keep the generator's original radiator or adapt the truck's radiator to the much smaller engine. That radiator might be too much cooling, especially in the winter although if I use the truck's radiator, there should never be a problem keeping the engine cool in the summer."
"Group trip over there?"
"They ride and stay in the truck. This is something they only get to watch. I'll use the tractor to load the generators there and unload them here. The pole building here is covered on two sides so the generators will be out of the weather if they're in the corner where those two walls come together."
"Once again you have it everything worked out before you pick up the keys. I can assume that you've measured the space in that building?"
"And verified that there's room to get the tractor in and out. It's much easier to do that now than to try to find a place for a 500+ lb generator when it's dangling on the bucket of the frontloader."
"So maybe an hour tomorrow?"
"Possibly less."
---
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Post by texican on Sept 16, 2018 18:49:31 GMT -6
PP2
Kubota Z602-E4B 3600 rpm Diesel Engine
Z602-E4B KUBOTA SUPER MINI SERIES Model Z602-E4B Emission Regulation Tier 4 F Type Vertical 4-Cycle Liquid Cooled Diesel Number of Cylinders 2 Bore mm (in) 72 (2.83) Stroke mm (in) 73.6 (2.90) Displacement L (cu.in) 0.599 (36.55) Combustion System IDI Intake System Naturally Aspirated Maximum Speed rpm 3600 Output: Gross Intermittent* kW 12.5 hp 16.8 Direction of Rotation Counterclockwise Viewed on Flywheel Oil Pan Capacity L (gal) 2.5 (0.66) Starter Capacity V-kW 12-1.0 Alternator Capacity V-A 12-40 Length mm (in) 384.6 (15.14) Width mm (in) 420.5 (16.6) Height mm (in) 544.1 (21.42) Dry Weight kg (lb) 60.0 (132.3)
Lots of rpm for a truck....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 17, 2018 0:49:46 GMT -6
The power graph for that engine has two power curves - the 3600 max RPM curve and the 3200 max RPM curve. The peak torque is at about 2600 RPM in either case so not that different from the bigger diesels. The Thai trucks that are powered by a small Kubota diesel typically have two or three V belts taking power to a jackshaft. Some use the same pulley size on engine and jackshaft and others use a larger pulley on the jackshaft - lower RPM but higher torque. Depending on the transmission gearing and the intended use of the truck, a smaller and less loaded truck might be OK with the 1:1 ratio and the bigger trucks would need the speed reduction to be able to move heavier loads. Youtube has numerous videos of the hand built Thai trucks. This one has the RT 140 DI engine which is 14HP at 2400 RPM: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM0dabc-fIE It even has a belt-driven vacuum pump to provide vacuum for the power brakes - watch the hose routing as they pan around in the engine compartment. You would need a vacuum pump for the brakes on the Ram pickup also. I'd like to see specs on the road speeds of the various hand built trucks. There's at least one video of the construction of this type truck. That plus the videos of the hand-cranked Kubota diesels in small pickups ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpDZpDZLu8A , www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RrAhDlknrI ) led me to the possibility of powering a full size pickup for use as a "farm truck" that might be loaded but wouldn't be moving fast - as long as it's a stick and no HP is wasted in an automatic transmission ;-)
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Post by udwe on Sept 18, 2018 7:57:56 GMT -6
Wow! wonderful story!
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 18, 2018 16:02:09 GMT -6
Maybe give some thought to matin' up on old auto-stick set-up from and air-cooled Bug? Second, third and fourth gears from the regular gearbox were used as first, second and third (high) with a vacuum-operated clutch. Actually kind of steeply-geared, as slippage in the thing let you stick it in second gear and not need to shift 'til about 60mph. A little switch in the shifter caused instantaneous dis-engagement/engagement of the clutch. Even bumpin' the stick with your knee was enough to activate it. It didn't seem to need much vacuum to make it work, but the engines in those cars couldn't be hot-rodded with much of a cam as that messed with vacuum enough to keep the from clutch workin' properly. I'm guessin' that by just gettin' in there and usin' the first three gears from the stock tranny might give the gearin' needrd for around-the-farm truck use. Just a thought.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 18, 2018 18:40:40 GMT -6
If the Ram has a 5 or 6 speed transmission and you add in the possible number of options for differential ratios for that truck, the stepdown ratio of the V belt pulleys from the small diesel to the input shaft of the transmission can be adjusted to make things work on 16HP. Remember that a semi loaded to 80,000lbs doesn't move far in its lowest gear - just enough to get that much mass moving, sometimes not even across the intersection when leaving a traffic light on level pavement. There's a reason for drivetrains with multi-speed transmissions and 2 speed rear axles. If you don't have that, you just keep gearing things down until the vehicle can move and you live with whatever top speed that configuration provides. The Simplicity tractor mentioned in "Just Another Voicemail" only had 5HP (some early ones had less) but it could pull a single bottom plow s-l-o-w-l-y.
Note that semi engine sizes vary depending on the expected use, with Cummins ISX12 engines covering 350 to 475HP and the ISX15 going up to 605HP. For a maximum legal weight (tractor+trailer+cargo) of 80,000lbs fully loaded, the 350HP engine is moving 228lbs/HP. Similarly loaded, 16HP would be moving 3657lbs. The typical weight of a 2006 Ram V8 pickup is about 6200lbs. Replacing the original Cummins diesel with the Kubota (132lbs) would lighten the truck by several hundred pounds - which would require modifying the front suspension. Putting all those bits together, the little Kubota engine could move the truck IF geared down enough, so the "motorized wheelbarrow" description is probably very accurate for what its top speed capability might be. I'd guess movement of a few feet before you shifted out of first gear at 2800RPM or wherever the torque starts to drop off rapidly. (Don't have the money or the place to build one of these but it sounds like a fun project ;-) However, the vehicle would be hard to stop once it was moving, between its weight and the geared down power of the little diesel.
A Ford Ranger or a Toyota Tacoma (2006 weighs about 3600lbs) would be a better choice for conversion but that's not what was left in the yard.
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