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Post by ydderf on Oct 9, 2018 18:09:48 GMT -6
PP2 Be sure to thank your muse from us, your readers. Even if she wants to work in the stories future. Not speaking for anyone else, I know I enjoy your work.
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Post by udwe on Oct 9, 2018 21:30:14 GMT -6
I'm so happy Alice is alright!
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 13, 2018 15:24:34 GMT -6
This chapter a day earlier than usual but no promises of a double dose this weekend ;-)
Chapter 16 - Wednesday, 23 June
"Grandma, can we do the rules?"
"Yes, Marie. I want each of you to come whisper the rules to me, youngest first."
"OK. Lisa, go tell her."
{Faint whispering.}
"Very good, Lisa. You told me all of them today."
"Yes!"
"Marie?"
{Whispering.}
"Are you sure about number 3?"
{Urgent whispering.}
"You got it correct that time, so you told me all of them. Remember that Jack wants you to know the rules so well that you always get them right the first time. We'll practice more later today."
"OK."
"Sarah?"
"Since I'm the last one, I don't need to whisper. All guns are loaded. Don't point the gun at anything unless you want to destroy it. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. Be sure of your target and what's behind it."
"Very good. Two of you know them without stopping to think about them. That's the goal for all of you. Remember that Alice didn't remember Jack until your Momma reminded her with the picture. She may not remember all the rules. You know that she hasn't been practicing them with anyone while she's in the hospital."
"Mostly she sleeps."
"Marie, any surgery is an insult to your body and you need time to heal after it. That healing is a lot of work so she's very tired even though she's not doing anything you can see."
"Like when we had the flu and were too tired to watch TV? We all just went to sleep when we stretched out on the quilt on the floor."
"Exactly like that, Sarah."
"At least she wasn't puking like when we had the flu."
"Remember that she couldn't have anything to eat after midnight and nothing to drink starting two hours before the surgery. Those were things to ensure that she didn't have food left in her stomach that she might lose when waking up from the anesthesia."
"Annie-the-who?"
"Marie, anesthesia is the type of medication they use to put you to sleep before doing things that hurt, such as surgery or setting a broken bone."
"Grandma, why didn't you say 'put you to sleep medicine'?"
"Marie, she's using the grownup word - like Daddy does."
"As long as it's for grownup stuff."
---
"Hi, girls. Ready to go eat lunch?"
"Where, Momma?"
"We can walk to the Burger Doodle."
"Yummy!"
"And sweet potato fries!"
"Even yummier!"
"Remember that you must hold an adult's hand."
"Yes, Grandma."
"Sally, is Jack eating lunch with Alice?"
"Yes. Today's the day the hospital kitchen is trying out their version of your PB&J. Jack also has his burger and a grilled cheese in a takeout container if Alice finds that the hospital version isn't as good as yours."
"So he has his lunch and a 'backup' lunch for Alice. I think I must agree with your comment on him always having at least two ways of doing anything."
"That's kinda nice when you're in the storm shelter because a storm is going full blast and the rain is backing up in the basement floor drain. He had three pumps to control the water until his 'engineer xray vision' showed him the source of the problem so he could go fix it."
"All of the girls have related that story to me at one time or another. They were very impressed by his 'xray vision'. I am also."
---
"Sally, the girls all did the rules this morning. Lisa and Sarah correctly; Marie correctly after I questioned how she stated rule three. I think they'll all be good on the rules in a day or so. What else did Jack want to cover?"
"Situational awareness and some of the situations where not drawing or not firing your gun is the better choice."
"The 'learning about shooting' lessons that are about 'not shooting'."
"Correct. I think Sarah is mature enough to follow those. I'm not so sure about the others."
"Jack showed me the materials he'll be using. The situations start with things like whether you should approach a strange dog or an injured squirrel - things the girls have seen or done - and they progress to confrontations between people. I think they'll get the concept and just have to work out why a particular choice is the best one."
"That sounds like what Jack would do."
"You'll take the girls to see Alice today?"
"We should take the girls to see her. You know that she wants to see you."
"OK. We should take the 'Thank You' cards they made for the doctor for 'fixing' Alice."
"Dr. Woodruff will probably be making her afternoon rounds around 3. The girls could present their cards in person."
"Then we should be at the hospital just before that time. Walk or drive?"
"Walk. It's a nice day and Jack mentioned something he wanted to do with these three on the way back."
"Then my walking shoes and I'm ready."
---
"Hello, Mr. Jackson."
"Hello, Mrs. Jackson. Time to swap children?"
"Time for all the girls to say 'Hi' and get hugs and for these three to give Dr. Woodruff the 'Thank You' cards they made."
"She should be here soon. Nurse Barton said the doctor would want to see the problems Alice is having with her left side."
knock! knock!
"Enter."
"I recognize that voice, so hello, Dr. Jackson."
"Hello, Dr. Woodruff."
"Hi, Alice. How's my favorite patient who's missing half her hair?"
"Hi, Dr. Woodruff. The nurse had me on the walker earlier but it's still hard to do my left leg and my left arm."
"Alice, we talked about things that might not work as well for a while after surger…"
"Momma! Daddy told me that yesterday but I still don't remember you telling me before surgery."
"You didn't remember your Daddy until I gave you some memory joggers."
"I guess you did tell me. I hate not remembering!"
"Alice?"
"Yes, Dr. Woodruff?"
"Almost everyone who has brain surgery has some things they don't remember. That's why I told you and your sisters and your Momma and your Daddy and your Grandma what to expect."
"What about my arm and leg?"
"I'd like to see you on the walker, Alice. Walk down the hall to the sun room."
"Help me with the wires, Daddy?"
"And don't let the world see your bare butt?"
"Daddy! It's hard, Dr. Woodruff."
"Just walk slowly, Alice. I'd say that you have more than 80% of your normal motion. Remember that I made video of you walking and doing some other things so I'd have your 'normal' to compare to what you could do after surgery. I think maybe two weeks of mostly bed rest and some very gentle physical therapy and then a month or so of more aggressive therapy might be all you need. I'll include some exercises your Momma or Daddy can help you with and some you can do on your own. Remember that we're trying to get you back to where you can do things for yourself. That means you'll be working at the exercises every day. But the more serious you are about doing them, the sooner you'll be able to do fun things like ride a bike."
"Ride a bike? When?"
"When you can do all the things on the therapy sheets I'll give your Momma. There should be a PT clinic closer to you than the hospital that can do evaluations of your progress and suggest changes in the exercises."
"Somebody to tell me how to make my leg work?"
"And your arm. Although you're actually doing better than I expected for the second day after surgery."
"I am?"
"Yes. Sometimes people can't use the walker at all the first week after surgery."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Dr. Woodruff?"
"Yes, Sarah?"
"We have cards for you."
"Cards?"
"To thank you for fixing Alice."
"Thank you, girls. I don't think I've ever gotten a Thank You card before. Alice, I'll see you in the morning."
---
"Was the good doctor in tears, Sally?"
"I think so, Jack. Maybe her sometimes abrupt manner has turned off other patients' family members?"
"Perhaps. Girls, give Alice her hugs and we'll go back to the motel, with a little detour on the way."
"Detour, Daddy? Where we going?"
"It's a surprise, Marie."
---
"I know that sign!"
"Which sign, Lisa?"
"Krispy Kreme!"
"You may each have one doughnut or small muff..."
"You gotta get one for Alice, too!"
"I plan to."
"She likes the plain ones. I want one with chocolate icing."
"They have muffins, Daddy?"
"This one does, Sarah."
"Thank you for remembering."
"I might like you a little bit."
"I know."
---
"Jack, you're not concerned about spoiling their supper?"
"Not when they've walked almost three miles today."
"So this is why Sally said we should walk."
"Correct. They've burned somewhat more energy than usual and they'll have chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches at the diner I found about six blocks the other side of the hotel."
"Diner?"
"From the 1950's. All chrome, formica and red plastic. There are juke box controls at every table and on the counter with the stools. I think a table will work better for Lisa and Marie. Sarah might manage the counter but it's a little high for the others and I don't want them trying to balance on their knees on a spinning stool."
"The music on the juke box?"
"All 45's and the top 5 or 10 from the 'Top 40' of multiple years."
"And a pinball machine in the corner?"
"Actually, two of them and both classics of the era."
"How will you keep them away?"
"No pinball until at least half of their food is eaten and one token each for the machines - which I just happen to have in my pocket."
"Your 'errand' yesterday while we were at the hospital was walking up there and checking the place out."
"Guilty as charged. But I think they'll like it. They also get in almost another mile of walking."
"Mostly making up for the trip to Krispy Kreme."
"And we can detour by the park two blocks up so they can try out the swings and monkey bars."
"You have a map of the city in your head?"
"No. On my phone for now. Only in my head if I can't keep it elsewhere."
---
"Daddy! They have tire swings! Can we?"
"Yes, girls. These are the plastic 'tires' that won't leave black rings on your skin or your clothes."
"Yes!"
---
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Post by 9idrr on Oct 13, 2018 17:27:20 GMT -6
As always, sir, it's a treat to find more of one of your stories. Thanks.
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Post by texican on Oct 14, 2018 0:14:53 GMT -6
PP2,
Thanks for the chapter....
Texican....
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Post by udwe on Oct 19, 2018 20:52:11 GMT -6
Thank you!
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 20, 2018 11:02:58 GMT -6
A short one for now. Maybe more later if I make progress on the next chapter.
Chapter 17 - Thursday, 24 June
"Girls, Jack said he had an idea about lunch so we can work on sewing while he's out checking on that idea."
"We can do letters?"
"I'll help you draw the letters you want with this white pencil that can easily be washed out of the cloth. Then you can try crossstitch and satin stitching to see which looks best for the letters you want. Remember, this is to test your ideas for the size, shape and color of the letters. You will learn how much work is involved in each lett…"
"B's gotta be harder than T."
"There are more pieces to a B, Marie, and it curves while the T is just straight lines but both letters have pieces that need to be centered on other pieces."
"So they do."
---
knock! knock!
"Pizza delivery!"
"You ordered pizza, Grandma?"
"Yes, Lisa. Enough for us and your Daddy. Sarah, will you open the door?"
"Yes, Gran… DADDY? You're delivering pizza?"
"Just for this group. Same choices as last time, girls."
"How'd you do that?"
"I stopped the pizza guy just before he got to the door. He said watching might be better than a tip. I tipped him anyway. Sarah, he was the person you heard laughing when you opened the door. Your expression was priceless!"
"Daddy!"
"Sarah, your sisters also thought it was funny. You should be happy that your Daddy's pranks don't involve buckets of water…"
"I know, Grandma - like Uncle Bobby did in January. Brrr! I forgive you, Daddy - this time."
"Eat up and we'll all go see Alice."
"Walk or drive?"
"Walk. Your Momma might have a detour for you on the way back."
"Krispy Kreme?"
"The park?"
"The diner?"
"It's a surprise. You'll find out as you walk back."
---
"Hello, Mr. Jackson. Where are the others?"
"Hello, Mrs. Jackson. Leanne has them in the sun room again. Any changes in our patient?"
"Dr. Woodruff had Alice on the walker this morning and there's been a little improvement on her left side. She'll probably release Alice tomorrow afternoon."
"Then we'll plan to drive back Saturday. If Alice is awake, I'll tell Leanne and she can manage the troops."
"I'll wake Alice. She's already asked when all of you would get here. One of the nurses commented that this is the happiest room on the floor when the other girls are here - there's always either giggles or laughter."
"I think they all know they're loved very much and they share that love."
"Did you tell them where I'm taking them?"
"Just that you had a detour for them - nothing about the diner and their first time trying a root beer float."
"And we'll stop at the park on the way there."
"This has been an adventure for them."
"So far, it's much better than I anticipated for having my baby in for brain surgery."
"And the doctor says your 'baby' is doing better than she expected."
"That too."
"I'll go tell Leanne."
"You brought that new book for Alice?"
"Yes. The new books for the other girls are on their pillows, under their jammies."
"You softie!"
"I might like them a little bit."
"I've heard that before."
---
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Post by 9idrr on Oct 20, 2018 20:00:21 GMT -6
Another good chapter, even if a bit short. You've been spoilin' us with big chunks of goodness for so long that if it ain't a few thousand words, I finish way too quickly. Many thanks.
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Post by texican on Oct 20, 2018 21:15:18 GMT -6
PP2,
Thanks for the chapter...
Alice gets to go home tomorrow....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 21, 2018 22:39:48 GMT -6
A somewhat longer chapter. Since it's Monday by my clock, I might consider this the posting for this week ;-)
Chapter 18 - Friday, 25 June
"Mrs. Jackson?"
"Yes, Nurse Baxter?"
"Dr. Woodruff will sign Alice's release in about an hour if her vitals continue to look good. She's recovered very quickly. My opinion is that kids who know they're loved heal faster and there's no question Alice is loved by you, your husband, your other children and her grandmother. Just be aware that all of you contributed to her healing."
"Thank you."
"You're most welcome but it makes me happy to see a child so wrapped in love. You'll need to get these prescriptions filled for her. Possibly easier to do that here than where you live."
---
Ring!
'Yes, Sally?'
'Jack, the doctor will sign Alice's release in about an hour. I have several prescriptions that might be easier to get filled here than closer to home.'
'I have no doubt of that. We're at IHOP for lunch and the girls are almost finished. Leanne can get them back to the hotel and I'll come take care of medications.'
'See you soon. Bye.'
'Bye.'
---
There's a Walgreen's across the street and a CVS a block up. For the first batch of these meds, I'll use the hospital's pharmacy as they will have these things in stock. Any that need refills we'll check on Monday and see which local pharmacy can get it for us. Some of these are a week's supply but others are 30 days. All but the pain meds have multiple refills and there are two prescriptions for the pain meds dated a week apart so we won't need a trip back here or paper mail to get a refill. Dr. Woodruff is sometimes a bit abrupt with adults but she's good with kids and she's very good at what she does - including the follow-up pain meds prescription. As she said, it may not be needed but Alice shouldn't have to wait if it is. I think she was surprised when the other girls made "Thank You" cards for her for 'fixing' Alice. That and the PB&J conversation are the only times I've seen her lose that stern demeanor.
---
I hear loud voices at the pharmacy counter.
"Gimme the drugs!"
"No."
Slam! Click!
"Open these bars and gimme the drugs or I shoot yo ass!"
"No."
Bang!Bang!
"POLICE! Drop your weapon!"
"No way!"
Bang!Bang!
"Charlie! I'm hit!"
"I'll get him from the other side!"
"Stupid cop! Tellin' me where you going."
Bang!Bang!
"Bill, I'm hit!"
"Ain't nobody in my way now."
"DROP THE GUN!"
"Where dat one?"
"You can't see me but I can see you. DROP IT!"
"Like yo voice can scare me. You behind that stack of Cokes."
Bang!
"I'm not there. DROP IT!"
"Why? I got 17 rounds in my G-lock."
"More like ten, maybe eleven…"
"Nah, man. I got 17!"
"I see you failed third grade arithmetic. DROP IT!"
Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!
"See? I told you I got 17!"
"Not now."
"Yeah I do!"
Bang! Bang! click.
"Now you have none. That magazine you're searching for? It dropped out of your pocket onto the counter at the now locked drug area. DROP IT!"
"You can't arrest me! I'm a disadvantaged youth. I live in the projects. I'm black!"
"You tried to steal drugs and you tried to kill two black cops. I think you needed a long session with a wide belt about ten years ago. You come at me with that knife and you won't use that arm again for a long time!"
"What knife? I ain't got no knife!"
"You have such a short memory. Remember me telling you that I could see you? I still can…"
"How? I moved three times."
"There's a camera everywhere you've stopped. You don't pay much attention to what's around you, do you? Like me!"
"My arm!"
"If you don't want this arm broken, you'll drop the knife and put both arms behind you."
"You can't... Arrrgh! My arm!"
"I told you to drop the knife. Give me your other arm!"
"You hurt me! I'm gonna sue you!"
"You're not likely to get anything but jail time after I play the video from my cell phone."
"POLICE! Let that child go!"
"I'm a duly authorized Deputy and this 'child' tried to kill two cops. They're down a couple of aisles over."
"Couldn't have. He doesn't have a weapon."
"Watch this video."
"I'll stomp that phone first!"
"Stephens! Stop where you are!"
"Not without his phone!"
"STEPHENS! Stop or I'll shoot you myself!"
"But Sarge…"
"No buts, girl! Your little brother doesn't get away clean this time and you'll be facing Internal Affairs in the morning. Safe your weapon and hand it to me! NOW!"
"Yes, Sarge."
"And your badge!"
"Yes, Sarge."
"Now go home! I know you can walk from here."
"Yes, Sarge."
"EMTs to the back and check on the people there. Deputy, would you show me that video?"
"Yes, Sergeant, but why are you trusting me without verification?"
"I heard and then saw verification. Lots of talking but only one shooter. One voice calm and collected the other from 'I'm a big shot' to whining. A known troublemaker and petty thief in handcuffs and the man holding him is wearing a familiar ring."
"You were Special Forces?"
"My older brother was. I'm aware that you could have killed stupid here with one shot and then faded into the crowd and disappeared but that's not how you guys dispense justice."
"If the store's cameras were being recorded, they also have most of this. He seemingly wasn't aware of the cameras and the half dozen monitors displaying what the cameras see. It's just a couple of minutes."
---
"You, sir, are one scary man. I'm Sergeant Bill Diehl, Little Rock PD."
"I'm Jack Jackson, Thompson County, Oklahoma, Deputy Sheriff."
"You're a long way from home. You here for a sick kid?"
"Youngest daughter had surgery Monday for a benign tumor pressing on her pituitary gland. She's being released soon so I came down her to get her prescriptions filled."
"When the EMTs have moved the two back there to gurneys, I'll walk back with you and tell Jackie it's OK to open up and that she has a priority customer."
"You're not taking me in for an interview?"
"You sent a copy of the video to our hotline and I have confirmation - not to mention their 'Who the hell is that scary guy?' responses - from the Lieutenant and Captain who watched it. The Captain said it's much more important that you take your child home. We have your name, number and address if we need anything else."
"Thanks, Bill, and thank your Captain for me."
"No, thank you, Jack. You nailed a thief and potential killer and outed his older sister as the one who's probably been tampering with evidence from his other crimes. You've done a good day's work for any LEO. Jackie, it's Sergeant Diehl. It's over except for the cleanup. The guy who ended it needs some meds for his little girl."
Click!
"Thanks, Sergeant. What can I do for you, sir?"
"This stack of prescriptions."
"Dr. Woodruff did surgery for a brain tumor?"
"Monday morning, but how do you know?"
"I recognize the combination of medications. If your daughter is going home today, she's recovered very quickly."
"Just to the hotel today. We'll leave in the morning to drive home."
"One more thing. The surgery plus the meds can make her susceptible to motion sickness, even if she's never experienced it before. Get the generic children's diphenhydramine and use this dosage chart from St. Louis Children's Hospital."
"Not dramamine?"
"The diphenhydramine works just as well and it's cheaper than the branded Benadryl or dramamine."
"Thanks."
"This will take about 30 minutes. If you'd rather wait in her room, we deliver within the hospital campus."
"Here's my Amex."
"Thank you, Dr. Jackson. Wait a minute! I heard you tell the sergeant that you're a deputy sheriff. You're both?"
"Lots of people wear more than one hat out where we live. I'm a Reserve Deputy because of my military training."
"You're their sniper!"
"I will be if I'm ever called out for that. How'd you know?"
"My Dad was a Reserve Deputy. That was his primary callout. Your daughter is in 307?"
"Yes."
"I'll have these up there in 30 minutes or less. You said 'out where we live'. You don't have a nearby pharmacy?"
"Closest one is probably at the IGA that's maybe 20 miles away."
"Then I'll check for pharmacies within 50 miles of you that stock these medications and include that list."
"Thank you."
"Thank you for saving my life and getting that punk off the street for at least a little while. Bill, I'll make DVDs of the store's recorded video for you. That can run while I'm getting these prescriptions ready. See you soon, Dr. Jackson."
---
"You were gone long enough, Jack. Where are the meds?"
"Things took a little longer than I expected at the pharmacy. They'll be delivered up here in 30 minutes or..."
"Dr. Jackson!"
"Yes, Dr. Woodruff?"
"Thank you so much for saving my niece Jackie's life!"
"You're welcome, but she already thanked me."
"You guys are so modest!"
"What 'you guys' is that?"
"You and my brother and all the others who wear that ring."
"You saved somebody else's life, Daddy?"
"He certainly did, Alice. I think you might have the best Daddy ever,"
"That's what my sister Sarah said."
"Then your sister knows how lucky all of you are to have him."
"Un huh!"
"Dr. Jackson, your face is familiar but I can't place you. Have you presented at any neurological seminars or conventions?"
"No, that's not my field. Here's my card."
"Psychology and psychiatry don't ring any bells."
"Turn it over."
"I saw this picture on a book at my brother's off-the-grid place on the north side of the Ouachita National Forest. You're his go-to source for making things work in the middle of nowhere."
"Jack does a pretty good job of making things work where we are as well."
"You're more than 20 miles from town on a dirt and gravel road?"
"With a well, a septic tank, wind and solar power…"
"All in the week since you married?"
"I bought a farm in the country that was over 100 years old. It came with house, barn, well, septic tank and a tractor. I met Sally because it had been her parents' home and she and her brother were selling it because he didn't want to live 'in the middle of nowhere' and she needed money for Alice's surgery. The rest is mostly pleasant history."
"I guess it is 'mostly pleasant', Jack, other than almost being flooded out by the 'once in 100 years' rain, the tornado that touched down in an empty field across the road and my late brother trying to burn us out."
"Do all you Special Forces guys attract trouble like that?"
"We don't attract any more trouble other people. Lots of people got flooded. Others had damage from that tornado. Power is still out for a lot of people. We're just the ones who are around later to talk about the trouble that came by."
"You might be right. Anyway, thank you again for saving Jackie's life…"
"She seemed fine behind a locked fire door."
"They drove a semi into the back wall and knocked a hole big enough to get in the morning your wife first called. We were in lockdown for several hours. I'm not the world's best conversationalist but I probably sounded like the woman in charge of the orphanage in 'Annie' that day."
"Sally said you did seem abrupt on the phone."
"I apologize but I doubt that I'd be any different if it happened again. Were you armed when you took on that punk, Dr. Jackson?"
"I'm always armed. On the positive side, hospital policy allows law enforcement officers to keep their weapons but I took him by surprise and without a weapon in my hand."
"But he had a gun!"
"It was empty before he saw me. I kept talking to him and getting him to fire at a target that wasn't there. I only had to grab the arm of the hand holding the knife. He obviously hasn't been moving furniture or lifting filled moving boxes lately as he wasn't strong enough to get away. I can show you…"
"No, thanks. I don't think I could watch a video of him shooting at you."
"No, it's of him shooting at where he thinks I am."
"Go ahead then because I'm curious as to how you can get someone to shoot where you aren't."
"Can I see?"
"Yes, Alice. You get to see too. The others can see it when we get back to the hotel."
---
knock! knock!
"Prescriptions for Alice Jenkins."
"That's me! But I'm Alice Jackson now 'cause our new Daddy adopted me."
"I don't think your hands are big enough to hold all these so I'll give them to your Daddy."
"OK."
"Thanks, Jackie."
"Mrs. Jackson, may I hug your husband for saving my life?"
"Yes."
"Thank you again, Dr. Jackson."
"You're welcome again, Jackie."
"You folks may want to avoid the TV crews out front - parts of the video are already on the news. If you bring your vehicle around to the ER entrance, you can leave without being seen."
"Thank you, Jackie. Sarah, you drive. They're not looking for a woman."
"As you wish."
"Now who's the goof?"
---
"Daddy! You're on TV!"
"What, Sarah?"
"Jack, your voice is a hero."
"What, Leanne?"
"The video from the pharmacy. You're not in it but your voice can be heard. The local police only identified you as 'an officer from another state staying with his young daughter at the hospital'. One of the liberal local news people said your 'scary' voice gave her cold chills and she didn't think people like that should be allowed to have guns. Her partner reminded her that the scary voice belonged to an LEO and she lost her lunch as she ran from the desk. The newscaster on the local Fox station said it was 'good to hear an officer speak with authority'. The local Black Lives Matter group was all up in arms about the black 'child' being 'assaulted' by a white officer until the local PD put up store video of that black 'child' shooting two black cops. It seems those two cops work with the BLM group which slunk silently away this time."
"You didn't shoot him, Daddy?"
"No, Marie. Remember that Grandma Leanne talked with you about appropriate responses to other people's actions?"
"You don't just start shooting."
"Correct. Sometimes you need to shoot back but sometimes it's better to let the person disarm himself before you approach him."
"You said to let him run out of bullets."
"That's exactly what I did."
"I'm just glad that you're OK."
"Me too!"
"Me!"
"And me!"
"Me too, Jack."
"Thank you, ladies. I'm also happy to be no worse for wear."
"You goof!"
---
"Does anybody care that I'm here?"
"We all care, Alice, but we knew you were OK and that guy was shooting at Dad…"
"I saw Daddy's video…"
"I wanna see!"
"Me!"
"Me too!"
"Gather around. It's about two minutes."
---
"He wasn't very smart, was he?"
"Most criminals aren't, Sarah. Even less so when they're on drugs of some type."
"You wanna stand for the hug or sit down for it, little sister?"
"I'm gonna get you, Lisa!"
"Before or after your hug?"
"Maybe I'll just sit down and do the hugs. I'm tired of trying to make my left leg and arm work!"
"All of you get your hugs in and then I'll get Alice stretched out on the sofa."
"Yes, Daddy."
"We won't be walking somewhere to eat tonight?"
"No, but I might consider ordering pizz…"
"Yes!"
"Yummy!"
"Me!"
"Me too!"
"One pizza with cheese only. One pizza with half pepperoni and half sausage. One pizza a supreme without anchovies. Does that cover everyone?"
"And some of the bread!"
"And the cinnamon thingies!"
"And some RC!"
"They don't have RC on the menu, Mari…"
"It's in the thing down the hall. There's a place for a credit card."
"That usually means it's at least a dollar a can."
"Pretty please?"
"For our celebration of Alice being out of the hospital, yes. Probably not again."
"Yes, Daddy."
"My millionaire husband is a penny pincher?"
"About some things - that's one of the ways you stay a millionaire, unlike some of the bankrupt lottery winners. The 2 liter bottle is $2.79 at the 7-11 up the block and probably around $2 at the grocery stores here. We can pick up a couple before we leave tomorrow and have them at home to extend the celebration."
"Early bedtime for the girls tonight?"
"Early bedtime for all of us after the girls work out where they will be riding and when they switch places, if you'd help them with that again? I'd like to be up in the morning on the animal chores schedule - partly to get an early start and partly because we'll be back on that schedule the next day."
"There you go being logical again."
"Boring logical - that's me."
"I want to explore some of your other boring characteristics tomorrow night."
"That sounds like an invitation. I accept."
"Good. I have paper and pencils for the girls to work out their places in transit tomorrow. They'll all want lap time for books and goodnight kisses after that."
"If they all stay awake that long. I'll tuck them in and kiss them goodnight even if they're alseep."
"You incredible softie."
"I might like them a little."
"As I've heard before."
---
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Post by 9idrr on Oct 22, 2018 8:12:26 GMT -6
Thanks, but did you allow for DST? Might it've still been Sunday? Are we not to get another chapter this week? Two chapters? Three?
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 27, 2018 23:14:27 GMT -6
Chapter 19 - Saturday, 26 June - Going Home
Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!
"Turn it off, Daddy! It's too early!"
"Not if you want to eat breakfast before we leave, Alice."
"Leave? Oh, yeah - we're goin' home today! We won't hafta wear clothes to play outside! Wake up, Lisa! Wake up, Marie! Wake up, Sarah!"
"Momma, why is she so bubbly this early?"
"Sarah, I think it's some of the medications she's on. She was hurting around 3AM and your Daddy gave her the next dose and she did go back to sleep but now she doesn't hurt - plus she's wound up about going home. I expect the 'bubbly' to wear off over the next hour or so as the pain comes back and that might be worse with the constant jiggling of being on the road. Jack, you have the dramamine?"
"Not dramamine. It's the yellow package of generic children's diphenhydramine and there's a sheet with it of the dosage needed to control nausea by body weight. Starting that medication before we eat is probably a good idea."
"Then that's what we'll do. Alice, something for your 'squirmy tummy' before you tell me about it."
"Do I hafta, Momma?"
"I don't want you dealing with the throat burn of puking in the truck."
"I think that's a 'hafta'."
"You think right."
"It's little!"
"Yes. It's especially for kids. It might even sneak down your throat before you drink any of this water."
"That sounds like Daddy! He's rubbin' off on you!"
"I can deal with a little of that. Stop stalling and take your pill."
"Yes, Momma."
---
"We're stopping in the same place on the way back, Jack?"
"Leanne, I have three places marked for possible stops on the way back. That will depend on how Alice is feeling. She's already had something to prevent motion sickness and something for pain. If things go well, we'll stop once about halfway there. Otherwise, these two stops are the 1/4 and 3/4 markers. Your copy of the seating charts is here. With Alice down flat, there's only room for one girl in the truck and we'll work around that, although Sarah did offer to be 'nurse' all the way because it's easier to do things for Alice if you're in the back seat than if you're in the front seat and she has more room to work because she's smaller than Sally."
"She's a smart kid."
"That she is. Also considerate and helpful and probably a dozen other things I could add."
"Someone might think you claim her."
"They'd be right."
---
'Wagon One to Wagon Two.'
'The rest stop in two miles?'
'Yes. Alice needs to stop for a little while and let the next diphenhydramine take effect before we get back on the road.'
'She's sick, Sally?'
'Just starting to get a "squirmy tummy". She'll be OK for two miles and maybe a little fresh air to go with the anti-nausea med will help.'
---
"Sarah?"
"Yes, Marie?"
"Can you stay in the truck and I'll ride with Grandma? You do better as a nurse than I do."
"Better than me, too."
"You two sure you don't wanna ride with Momma and Daddy?"
"I wanna ride with them but Alice needs you more."
"Me too."
"OK. Thank you for loving your sister."
"You too."
---
"Marie, you're not riding with us?"
"Momma, me and Lisa asked Sarah to stay in the truck 'cause she's a better nurse than us."
"Are you sure?"
"She can take care of Alice better so she should be there."
"Then let me hug my considerate and thoughtful girls."
"I like gettin' hugged!"
"Me too!"
---
"Sarah's still in the truck?"
"Jack, Marie and Lisa asked her to stay in place because she's a better nurse than they are."
"I might like those kids. I think each of them should get two books tonight."
"An acknowledgment that lasts longer than a hug?"
"Quite a bit longer."
---
"Jammies, floss and brush."
"Daddy! It's brush and then floss."
"Marie, I was just checking if you were listening so you'd hear me when I said two books each tonight."
"Two books? Why?"
"Because three of you were loving and caring sisters today. Marie and Lisa asking Sarah to stay in the truck to take care of Alice and Sarah doing that."
"But that's how you take care of us."
"Marie's right - they're learning by the 'caught, not taught' method."
"I might like them…"
"A little bit!"
"Have I said that before girls?"
"Only every day!"
"Why's Alice getting two books?"
"Reason one is she didn't get a book some nights at the hospital because she was hurting so much they gave her the serious pain medication and she went to sleep very early…"
"That's a good reason."
"Thank you, Lisa. Reason two is she was tired and she hurt and she kept getting 'squirmy tummy' but she never asked 'Are we there yet?'."
"I didn't ask 'cause Grandma Leanne said not to and I knew the house was a long way from the highway."
"That's my smart girl. So two books for each of you. I'll start with Alice even though I don't think she'll make two books tonight."
"But I get to snuggle."
"That you do."
---
"She almost made both books."
"With about as many yawns as you, Lisa."
"It's a long trip."
"And the roads out here seem even longer."
"That too."
"I'll put her down and you're next."
"Yes!"
---
"None of them made it through two books in your lap, Jack."
"I didn't expect them to."
"Not even Sarah?"
"Especially not Sarah. She was too keyed up being 'nurse' all the way back. She's a very lovable kid because she's so loving and caring but that also means she sometimes tries to take on much more responsibility than has been asked of her."
"You're right. After Jimmy died, Sarah was always watching over the other girls. I guess she was back being 'surrogate Momma' today."
"That's what I thought. They've all had time to feel 'safe' for a while so I'm hoping that means they'll all sleep well - along with the pain meds for Alice."
"I should have that next dose out for when she wakes up in the wee hours."
"Good planning. You also need some 'lap and shoulder' time?"
"Just the shoulder right now."
"Go brush and floss."
"You goof!"
---
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Post by udwe on Oct 28, 2018 4:53:30 GMT -6
Really love this story!
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Post by texican on Nov 1, 2018 16:47:23 GMT -6
PP2,
Nice chapters....
Ever so often you need to take out the bad guys for good for they will always be a bad guy....
For clarification, there is not a Thompson County in Okieland....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Nov 1, 2018 18:16:55 GMT -6
"Thompson County", "Doug's Creek" and "County 217" are products of my imagination. The location of "Thompson County" should be obvious if you have a county map of OK and it'll also be obvious that there aren't 217 named roads in that county. The county name may or may not have a bearing on the story. There are a half dozen states that this story could be moved to with only minor changes, but anyone who searches for the town names (and some roads in later chapters) will appreciate the 'middle of nowhere' location. Considering what's coming, good people should occasionally experience a bit of serendipity in their location.
Thus far, we've only seen what Jack and Sally might do in mostly "civilized" circumstances, although Bobby's burial was done with all the sanctity a Ford tractor with a frontloader can muster.
This 'Jack' isn't (yet?) quite as direct or immediately violent as the 'Jack' in "Jack's War" who occasionally started an in-terror-gation by taking off someone's foot with a 12 gauge.
The girls all asked for shooting lessons back in Chapter 6. Where will that take them and how much unarmed self defense would Jack add to it?
In "Just Another Voicemail" there's mention of a stovetop popcorn popper with a crank handle for stirring. lehmans.com has a clearance sale in progress and one of the items at half price is a stovetop popper with a crank handle. No more often than we fix popcorn, the economy model will be adequate. It's not as though we had kids who'd be begging for fresh popcorn multiple times a week. (A stainless steel version is also available but is several times the price.) If kept in a glass jar with a gasketed lid, corn for popping lasts almost forever ;-)
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Post by papaof2 on Nov 3, 2018 22:13:14 GMT -6
Chapter 20 - Sunday, 27 June - Brilliant Deduction 2
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Sarah?"
"Can we go out to the barn and talk?"
"Two minutes while I finish this email about some property I want to buy. Maybe as soon as tomorrow."
"We're gonna have a bigger farm?"
"Much bigger. I'll tell all of you when the deals are made. Meanwhile, you need chore clothes in the barn."
"In my hand."
"On your body to be in the barn."
"I'm doin' it."
---
"Sarah, you're holding my hand as we walk. I'll take that to mean you have some serious questions."
"Un huh."
"Then the seat on the buggy is more comfortable for a long talk than a bale of hay. I'll lift you up because we still need to replace the rusted steps on each side."
"You said you could make new ones."
"When I get the forge finished. I may have you pumping the bellows but you won't be swinging the blacksmith's hammer anytime soon."
"Swing it? I can barely pick it up with one hand!"
"Your question?"
"Jimmy wasn't my Daddy as in make-a-baby Daddy, was he?"
"Why do you say that?"
"None of the others have red hair or blue eyes. But Uncle Pete does."
"Brilliant deduction. No, Jimmy wasn't your biological father. I told your Momma that I thought you might make that connection."
"When did you tell her?"
"On our way to Little Rock."
"That was a long time ago!"
"I pay attention to what my daughters say and do."
"I guess you do. But why didn't he marry Momma?"
"She was 15. He was 16. They had been 'kissin' cousins' for a long time…"
"And they did more than kiss."
"Correct. Neither of them was ready for marriage but both were committed to the child they created. Your Momma kept her baby and you spent time with your 'Uncle Pete'. When your Momma and Jimmy fell in love, Pete encouraged them because mechanics usually live safer lives than people in law enforcement and Pete wanted to be a Deputy."
"So he was taking care of me by getting Momma a husband who'd always be there?"
"That's what he thought. It worked for a while. You and your sisters had two parents and you all had an 'Uncle' who loved you very much."
"When the twins were little he sometimes took all of us to the Diner for supper and then a sleepover at his house. He even changed their diapers!"
"So he still loved your Momma enough to give her and Jimmy a 'date night'?"
"I guess he did. He's nice like that. Why didn't he marry her after Jimmy died?"
"Maybe the same reason they didn't marry when you came along? They love each other but not as husband and wife. And she and you girls didn't need a man in the house who might get shot any day."
"It was hard for me and Marie when Jimmy died. I wouldn't wanna be thinking every day that Daddy might not come home!"
"That's my smart girl."
"But why did Jimmy hit me and run away?"
"He wasn't prepared for a daughter to ask the kind of questions you asked. He grew up in an area that didn't have the open discussions of how people relate to each other and his response was what his neighbors there might have said. I don't think he knew how to tell a seven year old that he was sorry and ask her to forgive him so he tried to drown that problem in alcohol."
"At the Tavern?"
"Yes. Alcohol can be a nice relaxer but it's strong and must be used in moderation. It doesn't help you think your way through problems. The more he drank, the bigger the problem became so he drank some more and the problem became impossible so he decided that he couldn't hurt you again if he was dead."
"That was dumb!"
"That's why your Momma and I drink with restraint. I sometimes enjoy a cold beer at the end of a hot day or with pizza during a ball game but we don't have a 24 pack in the fridge."
"You don't even have a 24 pack! There's a six pack in the pantry and two bottles in the fridge that have been there a long time."
"How do you know they've been there a long time?"
"They're at the back of the shelf. The stuff we use the most is at the front."
"So your Momma and I don't see alcohol as the answer to any problem?"
"Why did Jimmy?"
"Maybe he had some friends who did that? Maybe he was one of the people who can't control their drinking once they start? I didn't know him so I can't give you a good answer."
"That's logical."
"I'm rubbing off on you again. You may not want to sit so close."
"The logical stuff isn't a bad thing. I'll stay here with your arm around me."
"Did Pete take care of you after Jimmy died?"
"You mean the days he'd drop by and say 'Joe Watkins at the Farmer's Market wanted to leave early so he was selling everything two for one and I can't eat this much potatoes'?"
"Exactly."
"Then why didn't he adopt me and then Momma would only have had three kids to feed?"
"Who would have cared for you when Pete was at work?"
"Oh."
"Would your Momma have missed you?"
"I guess."
"Would you have missed her and your sisters?"
"Un huh. So he did what was best for all of us?"
"Yes. That's what people do when they love you."
"Can I still call him 'Uncle Pete'?"
"For as long as you want to. You know that it means something very special but until your sisters make the deductions you did, he's just an uncle. And they might wonder why if you didn't call him Uncle Pete."
"I love you too, best Daddy ever."
"Either your Momma or I will tell Pete about this conversation. Your Momma had texted him during the trip to Little Rock that we'd tell you soon or when you asked if your 'Brilliant Deduction' came first."
"Like y'all telling us things that might happen."
"Exactly."
"You really are the best Daddy ever!"
"Thank you, Sarah."
"And you have good manners, too."
"I think that snarky answer earned you a tickle on these ribs…"
"Not my ribs!"
---
Bzzt!Bzzt!
[Pete - Sarah asked to talk today. She figured things out. She'll still call you 'Uncle Pete' but she knows there's much more to the relationship. Jack]
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Post by texican on Nov 4, 2018 1:07:43 GMT -6
Secrets come out....
Thanks PP2 for the chapter....
Now being in the boonies will be a lot more important in the near future which we are....
Texican....
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Post by 9idrr on Nov 4, 2018 20:23:33 GMT -6
As always, you seem to create situations that have enlightening solutions. I surely do appreciate your sharing your talent with us. Hopefully, we shall always be worthy and deserving. You really are good at this. May you always know how much your stories mean to us. Absolutely great stuff. Have I buttered you up enough for us to get another chapter or two this weekend? Seriously, sir, thank you.
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Post by udwe on Nov 4, 2018 20:48:15 GMT -6
Thank you so much for your stories!
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Post by papaof2 on Nov 5, 2018 0:43:27 GMT -6
As always, you seem to create situations that have enlightening solutions. I surely do appreciate your sharing your talent with us. Hopefully, we shall always be worthy and deserving. You really are good at this. May you always know how much your stories mean to us. Absolutely great stuff. Have I buttered you up enough for us to get another chapter or two this weekend? Seriously, sir, thank you. I appreciate the kind words. Although I have bits and pieces up to Chapter 50 (and a blank page for Chapter 51), they're not all complete with some just being an outline. Plus those 30 chapters only take the story out one month. It's currently at 125,000 words (for 7 weeks of story) and will likely be much longer before it reaches a stopping place (note that I did NOT say 'before it's finished' - as inconsistent as my muse has been, this story may never be finished, but I'll try to find a good place to stop). That's a long way of saying "Just one chapter this week". Maybe I should get the next story completed before I start posting it and just post the first seven chapters? Would that be a good enough "hook" so I could then publish the rest on Kindle as "Week 2", "Week 3", etc ? I could publish "Week 1" as a freebie to get more people hooked. On second thought, weeks 1-3 of "Homestead" are already posted so I could just format and publish the rest. How many books would that make at say 150 - 200 pages/book? Need to go do some math and add a cliff-hanger to the last chapter of each book... ;-)
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Post by texican on Nov 6, 2018 22:46:25 GMT -6
PP2,
Now you have to get the girls into defending the place since you have trained them....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Nov 6, 2018 22:48:52 GMT -6
And into defending each other - but that's a future chapter ;-)
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Post by texican on Nov 10, 2018 18:34:20 GMT -6
And into defending each other - but that's a future chapter ;-) So new chapters coming..... Which is always good.... Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Nov 10, 2018 19:28:08 GMT -6
Yes, more chapters in the future, some of them mostly finished and some still at the mercy of my muse's whims.
This tale will end with Chapter 50. I'll continue to post one chapter a week (maybe more than one at times) until we get there. If my muse is generous (hasn't happened often), I might have enough to continue the family's story before all these chapters are fleshed out and posted. If so, there will be "Homestead - Book 2". If not, it will have been a good run of 126,000+ words (two or three novel-length books).
If my muse doesn't cooperate with expanding "Homestead", I might consider making "Homestead" and "Just Another Voicemail" parts of a multi-book series broadly titled something like "Seasons in a Prepper's Life" and possibly including "Accidental Family" in that set. $2.99 per ebook; $5.99 for the set of 3. All of that is work yet to be done.
I doubt that I'll provide paperback versions. "Accidental Family" has sold fewer than 10 paperbacks: 2 for me (coffee table and bookcase - the sole reason I did the extra work to have a paper version), one each for two friends (one to have hard copy of what I wrote and one to have something I could autograph - so far the autographed copies number exactly one). I have no idea who the other buyers were.
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Post by papaof2 on Nov 11, 2018 13:31:01 GMT -6
Chapter 21 - Monday, 28 June
"Jack, what's up with the laser printer running constantly?"
"Paperwork on about 1800 acres in seven parcels along both sides of the creek, including the property the old mill and its pond were on 100 years ago."
"You're using Susie Watkins as your agent?"
"The folks around here know her and will take what she says is a fair offer from you for their property. Some 'city feller' asking about that same property would get a much higher quote because they wouldn't be as interested in selling to a stranger as they would be to somebody they know."
"So giving her a better than usual commission on farm land is cheaper than doing it yourself?"
"Exactly. They see they're getting a fair price, they see her getting income and they see you planning for your kids' future."
"Even if I am spending your money."
"After the first $190,000 you'll be spending our money."
"And how much are we spending?"
"Because the flooding was so bad in places, most of those people want out and they're jumping at 60% of what the County Tax Assessor rather generously valued the properties at two years ago. No property in the area has sold for more than 50% of that assessment in the past two years."
"So you're getting a good deal on the land and the sellers are getting more than they ever thought they'd get."
"That's a win-win deal. I'm happy. They're happy. They'll tell others that we're either nice folks or fools with more money than sense but no one will begrudge you having enough land to feed your kids from and maybe rent out for some extra dollars."
"I rather like you, Mr. Jackson."
"I like the way you tell me that, Mrs. Jackson, but we'd best continue this later as I hear little feet on the porch and I expect to hear…"
"I'm hungry!"
"Me too!"
"Me!"
"And me!"
"Yep. That's what I expected to hear."
---
"You got a bunch of paper, Daddy! Is that the things you talked about buying yesterday?"
"Yes, Sarah. Here's a map. We're here. This is the creek. This is…"
"The road to Grandma Leanne's house!"
"Very good. If you take that road to the left, you eventually get to her house. If you go right on the other road, you're on Smith's Mill Road and the old mill was here…"
"And the pond was here."
"Yes. If you go on past the mill, you'll be at Walker's Chapel Road and it goes by the properties on the other side of the creek…"
"And Brown's Ford Road is the other end of the properties. You own the whole thing?"
"We will own it when all the papers are signed later today."
"We?"
"Your Momma and I now, but we're setting up a trust to ensure that someday all the land will belong to you girls."
"What's a 'trust'?"
"When we see the lawyer to sign those papers, I'll let you ask him to explain it."
"He'll explain stuff to a kid?"
"He will if he wants our business and he wants to be the executor of the trust. If not, there are other lawyers."
"So it's do it right or you don't get to do it at all?"
"Correct."
"I think he'll explain it good."
"You two stop talking business and come eat."
"Yes, Momma."
---
"And why do we need a trust?"
"So the girls get the property without any Federal income or inheritance taxes."
"You're looking a long way in the future - I expect you to be around at least another 40 years."
"As I do you, but nothing is guaranteed except the unexpected."
"And you want 'belt and suspenders' insurance that they will be cared for."
"I might…"
"Like them a little bit. As I've heard before and they know without question. What will that cost?"
"Maybe a few thousand to have a lawyer draw it up. Something each year as a retainer. Some previously agreed upon amount for handling things at our deaths. Still much cheaper than having the Feds sell it at auction to get the taxes."
"Have I told you lately how safe and secure you make me feel?"
"I'll gladly listen to that as often as you want to tell me. Especially when the listening gets physical."
"After the girls are asleep. By the way, I saw Sarah kissing a picture of Pete and saying 'Goodnight, biological father' before she came for her lap time and story - and then telling you 'Goodnight, best Daddy ever'. I was initially concerned about how she'd handle having both of you in father-type roles but she seems to have worked out the place each of you has in her life and she loves both of you."
"Our 'nine going on 25' daughter?"
"Could be. I don't know that I could have sorted that out when I was nine. I'm very glad that she could."
"As Alice said, 'Sarah is smart'."
"That's high praise from a little sister."
"Lisa and Marie also had high praise for her on the way back from Little Rock. Remember 'she's a better nurse than us'?"
"A couple more kids thinking things out much more maturely than I expected."
"As long as we don't let them take on the problems of the world, that outlook will help them survive whatever happens in the future."
"You're expecting something bad?"
"No, just being practical. Accidents happen. Bad things happen to good people. Other than my sister Laurie occasionally dreaming about big things coming - like the derivatives crash in 2008 - I don't know of anyone who can tell us anything about the future."
---
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