#half the things denton did she would have if she was in a movie and not a stage show

[jackmkelly]

katherine plumber😁😁😁😁😁💝💝💘💝💓💓🫶🫶🫶🤞🤞🤞

[papermoonloveslucy]

DINNER FOR TWELVE

October 14, 1950

“Dinner for Twelve” (aka “Liz Cooks Dinner for Twelve”) is episode #101 [some sources say #100] of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on October 14, 1950.

This was the sixth episode of the third season of MY FAVORITE HUSBAND. There were 31 new episodes, with the season ending on March 31, 1951.  

This episode was fully animated and can be found on Vimeo. It was created by Wayne Wilson in 2012. 

Synopsis ~ George has invited ten dinner guests on the maid’s day off and Liz is determined to prove to George's mother that she can prepare a dinner for twelve without any help.

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benaderet was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

MAIN CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cooper) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his  roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) was considered the front-runner to be cast as Ethel Mertz but when “I Love Lucy” was ready to start production she was already playing a similar role on TV’s “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” so Vivian Vance was cast instead. On “I Love Lucy” she was cast as Lucy Ricardo’s spinster neighbor, Miss Lewis, in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15) in early 1952. Later, she was a success in her own show, “Petticoat Junction” as Shady Rest Hotel proprietress Kate Bradley. She starred in the series until her death in 1968.

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz, a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury, George’s boss and Iris’s husband) does not appear in this episode, although the character is mentioned. 

GUEST CAST

Eleanor Audley (Leaticia Cooper, George’s Mother) previously played this character in “George is Messy” on June 14, 1950. She would later play Eleanor Spalding, owner of the Westport home the Ricardos buy in “Lucy Wants To Move to the Country” (ILL S6;E15) in 1957, as well as one of the Garden Club judges in “Lucy Raises Tulips” (ILL S6;E26).

Richard Crenna (Delivery Boy) would make his television debut with Lucille Ball as Arthur Morton in “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20). The character is virtually a carbon copy of Walter Denton, the role he played for four years on radio’s “Our Miss Brooks” starring Eve Arden. In 1952, Desilu brought the show to television where Crenna recreated his role. He later starred in Desilu’s “The Real McCoys.” He would become one of Hollywood’s busiest actors, starring in "Vega$” and Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo films. He died in 2003.

THE EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “In a little white two-story house located at 321 Bundy Drive in the bustling little suburb of Sheridan Falls, George Cooper is just leaving for the bank.” 

Before leaving for work, George breaks the news to Liz that his mother is coming to dinner that night. 

At the dinner table that evening, Mother Cooper (Eleanor Audley) is reminding her son to eat his spinach, thinking Liz is not feeding him properly.  George suddenly remembers that he’s invited the Atterbury’s and some out-of-town clients to dinner on Monday night - dinner for twelve. The only problem is, Katie is going away on vacation on Sunday, so Mother Cooper suggest Liz cook the dinner herself. 

Liz brags that she made the soufflé herself.  Mother Cooper insists that Liz give her the recipe - right now!  

LIZ: “Well, you just put all the cheese and things in a bowl. They you take a piece of ‘souff’ and put it on the top.”

Liz vows to cook dinner Monday night - all on her own. Monday morning, Liz cooks breakfast for George. The eggs are stone cold. Liz says she cooked them the night before and froze them to save time. 

In “Lucy’s Schedule” (ILL S1;E31), to save time, Lucy prepares Ricky’s breakfast the night before and freezes it. She serves him frozen fried egg, exactly what Liz served George two years earlier! 

Liz has invited Iris Atterbury over to help her cook the dinner for twelve. George leaves for work and the women repair to the kitchen to get a start on dinner. When Liz says she’s decided on chicken as the main course, Iris wonders assumes it will be broiled chicken. 

LIZ (indignant): “Please! Does Oscar of the Waldorf serve broiled chicken? We are having poulet almondine.” 

Oscar Tschirky (1866-1950) was a Swiss-American restaurateur who was maître d'hôtel of Delmonico's Restaurant and subsequently the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, New York, United States. He was widely known as "Oscar of the Waldorf" and published a large cookbook. He is credited with having created the Waldorf salad, and for aiding in the popularization of the Thousand Island dressing. He died three weeks after this episode aired.

Liz realizes that she needs mushrooms but that she doesn’t have any in the house. She wonders whether she can use the mushrooms growing in the backyard. Iris points out that they may be toadstools, which are poisonous. Liz decides to use walnuts instead. 

The girls peel onions for the dressing. They begin to tear-up from cutting the onions.  

LIZ (tearfully): “This is the best time I’ve had in ages!” IRIS (crying): “Me too!”

In “The Million Dollar Idea” (ILL S3;E13) in 1954, Lucy and Ethel were awash in tears when they peeled onions to make Aunt Martha’s Old Fashioned Salad Dressing. 

ANNOUNCER: “As we return to the Cooper’s it’s several hours later and we find the kitchen knee deep in dirty saucepans, greasy skillets, broken eggshells, and well-thumbed cookbooks. Surveying the wreckage are Liz and Iris Atterbury.” 

Iris wonders whether the chickens are ready to come out of the oven. Liz says she put them on at 9am at 600 degrees!  Iris points out that they were only supposed to cook at 300 degrees. 

LIZ: “I know but we have two chickens so I doubled it!” IRIS: “I never would have thought of that.”

They open the over and find their two chickens have burned to a crisp and resemble “two little lumps of charcoal with legs and wings”!  Just then, Mother Cooper arrives. 

Lucy burned two chickens in “The Matchmaker” (ILL S4;E4) when preparing dinner for Sam (the spider) and Dorothy (the fly) a dating couple Lucy hopes to lure into matrimonial bliss. 

Liz and Iris don’t tell Mother Cooper about the burned chickens. Chicken almandine is her favorite dish. She advises Liz on her cooking technique: 

MOTHER: “You just keep your eye on them until they’re a nice crinkly brown.” IRIS: “How about a nice crusty black?”

Mother Cooper discovers that Liz has burned the dinner. They trade insults and Mother storms out in a huff. Iris promises to help Liz cook a new dinner, but first she has to go to the beauty parlor to have her hair done. 

When Iris gets home from the beauty parlor she phones Liz to see how the dinner is going. Liz is dazed and confused. 

LIZ: “Iris, you are talking to a woman who’s gone through eight chickens today.”

Liz reports that the pressure cooker exploded and the chickens are still on the ceiling. 

When Lucy and Ethel are working at the chocolate factory in “Job Switching” (ILL S2;E1), Ricky and Fred are cooking dinner at home. Ricky puts two chickens in the pressure cooker, which explodes and strands the birds on the ceiling! 

Liz’s fifth and sixth birds were accidentally thrown in the garbage disposal. The seventh and eighth birds arrived from the butcher still alive!  Iris asks Liz if she has cooked them yet.

LIZ: “Cook ‘em? I can’t even catch ‘em! When last seen, seven and eight were going east on Bundy Drive.” IRIS: “You poor thing! Eight chickens and nothing to show for it!” LIZ: “Oh, yes I have. Before she left seven laid an egg on the kitchen table.”

Iris tells Liz everything will be alright. Just then, a delivery boy from Johnson’s Catering Service (Dick Crenna) arrives at the Cooper’s back door with a meal for twelve: Roast prime ribs of beef, green beans, potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding.  The meal was sent by Katie!   

Just as she is about to call Katie to thank her, the Delivery Boy returns with another catered dinner: Lobster Thermidor with French fries and asparagus. This meal was sent over by Iris! 

The Delivery Boy returns yet a third time!  This time with Pheasant under Glass sent by Mr. Atterbury!  Liz tips the boy with a bowl of Yorkshire pudding. 

Oops!  Yorkshire pudding is not served in a bowl. It is not a pudding in the American sense, but similar to pop-overs, designed to sop up the drippings and gravy when served with a roast beef. 

The phone rings and it is Mother Cooper telling Liz that she has made a dinner for twelve and will bring it over. Liz says thanks but no thanks, and invites her to make the dinner party 13. 

The phone rings once again - it is George. He has called to tell Liz that he has made a mistake. The dinner isn’t until next Monday night!  

LIZ: “Oh, no!”

Announcer Bob LeMond reminds listeners that Lucille Ball can currently be seen in The Fuller Brush Girl and that they can read about her in the current issue of Pageant Magazine. 

[allsassnoclass]

You’re right about the kid Dimitri thing it’s a cute element of the movie that adds to their relationship and also dimitris search bc he’s looking for the girl he saved. See I have an attachment to Rasputin&the bat which is half my issue but you’re right about the new guy just. Not being dangerous enough for it to work in the musical. Also pls go off about Newsies I wanna hear about that one

okay this is going under a read more because it inevitably will get very very long.  also spoilers for newsies (1992 movie and musical) below:

first of all a disclaimer: I do like the musical and this isn’t me saying that they didn’t improve anything (Crutchy/Crutchie, actually developing their token female (although I do have thoughts about that as well), what they did with “Once and for All” etc.) but I was a fan of the 1992 movie first so my loyalties lie there.  Also this is all just my opinion

First and foremost: all characters except for Jack, Medda, Crutchie, and Pultizer were done dirty.  The background characters were my favorite part of the movie and the musical really dropped the ball with them, often at the sacrifice of historical accuracy

Mush Meyers, Boots, Kid Blink, Racetrack Higgins, and Spot Conlon were all real people actually involved in the strike (Kid Blink was historically the leader, they created Jack Kelly to have more freedom with characterization), and all of these characters were taken out of the musical or given lesser roles.  They also (along with Crutchy) create the supporting cast (with Jack, Denton, David, and Les being the main cast), which means I was emotionally attached to all of these people and then they were taken away from me :( It’s clear that the people adapting the musical did not think they were important enough to keep consistent, which is just false

In general, because they spend so much time focusing on Jack and Katherine, all of the background newsies are less developed, which means that the Found Family vibes are also slightly less developed (especially when taking away the lodging house/newsies square as a definitive home base and Kloppman as a father/grandfather figure)

seriously I miss Kloppman that dude woke them up every morning, helped them with their spelling, lied to Snyder’s face about Jack’s whereabouts... MVP right there

Racetrack and Spot were done the most dirty (because the others don’t even exist).  Allow me to explain: In the movie and in real life, Racetrack got his name because he sells at Sheepshead Races and bets on the horses there (the betting is more of a reoccurring thing in the movie).  Therefore, in “King of New York,” he is the character to wish for “a permanent spot at Sheepshead Races,” and for absolutely no reason (besides laziness) they have someone else say that in the musical and also cut half his name???  He also is shown to be very good with kids (David telling him to watch Les when he goes after Jack, all of his interactions with Snipeshooter), and there’s an interesting thing to be said about how Wiesel will spot him papers.  All of this is lost simply because they don’t have the stage time for the background newsies

SPOT CONLON! WAS RUINED! perhaps that’s a very strong opinion but they really did him dirty.  In the movie he’s a shrimp with the aura of a mob boss.  he wasn’t buff, and that made him more intimidating because he still somehow was arguably the most powerful newsie! also by cutting out the scene where Jack, David, and Boots go to Brooklyn to see him, we miss seeing him as a true leader and getting an actual introduction to him and how the newsies of different boroughs interact.  I miss his slingshot and his pimp cane.  I miss David calling him the key to the strike.  I miss him showing up earlier than the second act so it actually makes sense for him to be seen as the strike leader that the musical is so desperate to make him (seriously what’s the point of him being in Pulitzer’s office at the end???). also by introducing him later we miss all of the sprace moments :(

I even have some beef with Katherine because, although she’s much more developed as a love interest than Sarah (rip Sarah 1992 maybe if they had actually kept her song Truth About the Moon in there...), I think it was cheap and unnecessary to make her Pulitzer’s daughter, and she doesn’t really have much of a personality outside of Strong Independent Woman who still somehow needs a man in order to get her big break.  She was really written as a Token Female and while I love her and I appreciate that she wants agency and to fight for a cause, Sarah punching a Delancey brother was more feminist.  Also, even David’s role in the story was lessened in order to give room for Katherine’s whole subplot and Dramatic Family Reveal and as an avid Javid shipper that made me sad :(

Now on to more plot-focused concerns!

The! Betrayal! Scene! The movie betrayal scene! So much better! Allow me to explain!

First of all, Jack just waltzing into Pulitzer’s office and getting captured? boring. cheap.  Snyder and the police infiltrating the rally so we get to see Every Single Newsie try so desperately to keep Jack safe and yet he (and all the named newsies) still get captured? Heartbreaking! Engaging! Shows plainly the bond of the newsies!

(also allowed us to have the “on the grounds of Brooklyn, your honor” line at the trial)

The one-on-one confrontation between Jack and Pulitzer is much more engaging and more of a game of wits in my opinion.  You don’t feel like Jack is the underdog and won’t win until Pulitzer directly threatens David, whereas having all of Pulitzer’s friends there in the musical means Jack is automatically going to lose and you don’t even get a chance to cheer for him

The Alley Scene!!!!

Then the actual betrayal scene, with Jack fully dressed like a scab.  every single newsie feeling personally hurt and calling out to Jack, spot having to be forcibly pulled back by multiple people, and then David gets the chance to speak and nearly starts a fist fight when he was the one who always said they couldn’t beat up the scabs… “I ain’t got nobody tucking me in at night, like you.  It’s just me, and I gotta look out for myself” “you had the newsies!”

I quote that scene so much y’all

I miss Jack meeting David’s whole family.  It really shows what Jack himself is missing and longing for, it more blatantly shows David’s Jewishness, and makes Jack finding a family with David and the newsies that much sweeter at the end.  I also liked how a nuclear family was something no movie newsies had (less historically accurate, I know) because I think that bonded them together more, because they genuinely only had each other in the movie (can you tell that found family is extremely important to me)

Jack’s background story.  him lying about his name and then it all getting revealed at the trial was a very spicy moment, and I think it shows just how much he relied on Santa Fe as an escape for him.  He’s created an entire other life in his imagination for himself, going so far as to change his name and fantasize about having a family, and I think that that makes his decision to stay in New York and accept both his reality and the newsies as his family sweeter

also in the musical it’s implied that Jack stole food and clothing for the kids in the refuge, and that’s how he got himself arrested the first time.  I almost like it better if he was stealing for himself at first, because I like having a protagonist who doesn’t need to always be completely altruistic like he was starving and he stole some food and I think that’s justified, so I don’t like how they felt the need to turn him into some sort of saint who was stealing for someone else (that’s a really nitpicky thing but!)

The absolutely bonkers commitment to nicknames in the movie was very spicy.  I think Jake (and Jack, who was lying, and David and Les, who started as outsiders) was the only one with a name and he was even a very deep background newsie.  Wasn’t historically accurate but it sure created a lot of possibilities about the power of names that could be exploited in fanfiction

And now some nitpicky things about elements of a musical that bothered me:

they took away the upper harmonies in carrying the banner???? why would you do that you have Broadway singers and you take away the upper harmony???

switching Jack’s line of “I want space not just air” to “I need space and fresh air” idk I think the first one more fully portrays how trapped he feels in New York and in his situation also it’s more poetic

I’ve already talked about Race’s line in King of New York :)

how all of the newsies are supposed to be kids but instead were played by adults... I know this was because of child labor laws but that’s why newsies is going to be best done as a high school musical (or a combined middle school/high school like my school was... Mr. Holsen when you retire put in a good word for me so I can take over).  if you don’t have at least 3 newsies who are small and young enough to be lifted onto another newsie’s shoulders then you’re doing it wrong

this is very much a personal preference but I really liked how the color pallet in the movie was a lot of browns and earth tones.  with the musical doing a lot of steel and blues it definitely feels like the progression into the mechanical age but it also feels colder and more rigid and I liked the warmth of the movie.

In a similar vein that is also a very personal preference, I liked how the singing and dancing was a bit rougher around the edges in the movie.  I’m a dancer so Of Course I love the Broadway choreo but it feels too polished sometimes.  these are young scrappy kids and they’re dancing like professionals who went to julliard (which like. some of them probably did). the scruffiness of the movie makes it feel more down to earth and swallowable for me

Jack’s cowboy hat :( Jack’s costume in general :( his nickname is cowboy and they took away his cowboy hat and red bandana :(

This is obnoxiously long but I just. y’all I have so many feelings about newsies and everyone always talks about the musical when they’re really two different stories and I just want to talk about the movie so thank you for indulging me

[psychic-timetraveler]

I started writing this last night, inspired by Christian Slater and Julianne Moore’s story in the Tales from the Darkside movie where they played siblings. So, this is Miss Blake setting Jason up for his first temp agent job with Q. She can’t quite shake the feeling that she’s seen Jason before.

Q had gestured for Jason to enter into Miss Blake’s pristine office. If they were to work together on this mission, there had to be a proper way of doing so. That meant some paperwork and a conversation with the head bitch in charge of the whole operation.

Miss Blake had been busy with some paperwork and had only heard the door open. In her peripheral vision all she saw was a pair of dirty dark grey jeans and a flannel. Sigh sighed. “Quincy, this better be import-“ She looked up finally and blinked a few times at the not Aussie in front of her. “My apologies, you are not Quincy.”

“I am though.” The familiar watered down Australian accent.

She sighed. “There he is. What do you want, who is this?” She then turned to Jason. “I do apologies, I’m not used to new members getting past my notes.”

Q gestured to Jason to let him talk. There was no way he was going to get between their little lovers quarrel or whatever they had. “Missy, this is Jason Denton. He’s from the Chicago Uni 029-Alpha 6 chapter.”

Miss Blake perked up a bit and removed her glasses. “Yes, yes. Mr. Denton. Eric has told me about your, unusual, agreement.”

“Unusual is a good way to describe it.” Jason nodded, adjusting his glasses.

“So, Quincy, why have you brought Mr. Denton to me?”

“You call him Mr. Denton, why can’t you call me Q like everyone else.” He gestured to Jason, unknowingly slipping into his deeper Australian accent.

Jason took half a step back. Yeah, these two were having a lovers quarrel and they probably weren’t even dating. At least from what Jason could properly deduce.

“Mr. Towers. How about that?” She gave him a look that screamed a sarcastic ‘happy’.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Half a step up, Melissa.” The smirk he had then added at the end made her glare at him.

Jason needed to break this up. There was work to be done and he was not having any of this bullshit. He cleared his throat to indicate that ‘hey I’m still here’.

Instead of acknowledging him, Miss Blake just turned to Q. “Please, leave me to speak to Mr. Denton here.”

He rolled his eyes before exiting the office. Miss Blake looked to Jason and gestured for him to sit down in front of her. He did as instructed, seeing that now she was now in charge of him and even higher up in the chain of command than Eric was.

“So, Mr. Denton, despite doing a few jobs with us you are still to follow all of the same rules as back in your usual position.”

He nodded. “Eric briefly went over a few things before signing me onto this. He said this would be good for me.”

“Well, since you are a part of our division, of sorts, we don’t have to program you for anything. It’s just a few temp jobs here and there while you and Quincy are both between partners, but regardless we will make sure you are properly equipped for everything.”

He nodded.

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen in your own universe and time frames. We’ll make sure that your temporary watch has a real time to keep track of. It has come to my knowledge from your usual employer that you have recently been married and have a child, is that correct?” She knew it already, his silver wedding ring stood out from his accessory-less hands.

He nodded again. “Yes, I’ve been married for about six years now and my daughter is going to be turning five soon.”

She nodded and folded her hands on her desk. “You are aware of the dangers of this job, correct?”

“I’m still working for my Agency back home, so I’d say so.” Jason shook his head. “I’m aware that it’s dangerous, Q had filled me in on how much more dangerous it is. It’s over time for me and it’s extra money. It adds up for me in my head, I’m willing to take the risks.”

Miss Blake was taken aback by his response. “I see. I like seeing that in an agent.”

“I also just do what I’m told. I’m sure Eric has explained the situation to you after signing off on this temporary merger.” He reminded.

She nodded. “Yes, and he even was gracious enough to hand over a copy of your file.” She had gone into her desk to retrieve the rather large file from her desk. Gently she placed it on her desk between the two, she did not want to cause a huge mess or loud noises with the girth of the file. “I find it a waste of paper.”

“As do I, but it’s a bit out of my hands.” Jason shook his head. “What exactly do you need from me before I can start?”

“Ambitious.” She nodded approvingly and went back into her desk. “Just a few papers I need you to sign to add to your ever-growing file is all. We like to do things by the books here.”

He nodded. “I get it. Whatever it takes.”

“Quite ambitious, Mr. Denton.” She pulled out a small stack of papers. “If only we can sign you on for real here. This seems like the better fit for a man of your stature.” Miss Blake slid over the papers and a nice inkwell pen for him to sign them with.

“I am aware of how one gets into this particular branch.” He noted before picking up the pen. “I am not able to do that.”

“No. I wouldn’t imagine so, not in your current position.”

“Where am I signing?” He quickly changed the subject, adjusting in the chair.

“Blue highlighter initial, pink highlighter sign.” She explained.

“Green highlighter?” He asked then, beginning to sign through everything.

“Those are for me to initial afterwards. Everything will be copied for my records as well as your file back with Eric.”

He nodded and continued to sign through the papers. There was only about five pages worth of initials and signatures. As he flipped over the third page to the fourth, Miss Blake leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

“How old are you, Mr. Denton?”

“I’m twenty eight, twenty nine in a few months.” He had signed the last line he needed to and slid the papers back to Miss Blake before capping the pen and handing it back to her. “Why do you ask?”

“I feel as if we’ve met before.” She waved him off, taking the pen and placing it into one of the drawers. “But that was probably in another universe.”

“I mean, from what I was told about everything, I wouldn’t be surprised. Anything is possible, Miss Blake.”

“Right.” She gathered up the papers and neatly stacked them together. “I will make sure to send these back over to Eric to add to your file. Come back and find me after you and Quincy have completed your mission so we can go over how to properly fill out the proper paperwork to prove that to your branch what you’ve done, as per your branch’s standards.”

“Thank you again for signing me onto this, Miss Blake. It does mean a lot to switch some things up.”

“Just.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Just please be careful out there Mr. Denton.”

He nodded. “Yes, Miss Blake.”

“Quincy will be waiting for you outside to take you to meet our technical specialist to prepare you for your mission.”

“Thank you again, Miss Blake.” He smiled a bit to her before standing up.

“This will be a pleasure working with you, Mr. Denton. Stay safe.”

Another nod and he was gone. She adjusted in her comfy chair before letting out a deep sigh. There was a lot of work to be done with this temporary agent that had to be done. Twenty seconds of her attempted relaxation came to an end when she stood up again and grabbed the papers Jason had just signed. Copies and faxes had to now be made. To the books, she constantly had to remind herself.

Something wasn’t sitting right still. There was something about that Jason Denton seemed so oddly familiar about him. While the papers were copying behind her, she sat back down and flipped through his file once more. One of these reports or psych evaluations had to unlock some sort of clue for her.

A few minutes after the papers were done copying and faxing over to Eric at the Chicago chapter, an email alert on her watch brought her back from attempting to figure out Jason. The email alert was a conformation from Eric saying that he had gotten the paperwork and looked forward to reading the final report once the mission was completed. She quickly sent a conformation email back and that was that. Onto the next task.

Task after task went by with no thought of Jason or Quincy. There was too much to be done, especially for the president of the entire time traveler organization. Her main chapter, plus the handful of branches to go over their paperworks with as well. Boss Lady was always in action.

She had been going through some paperwork when a knock was heard at her office door again.

“Enter.” She called towards the door.

The door open and she saw the same pair of dirty grey jeans in her peripheral once more. She had remembered that those grey jeans belonged to Jason. She looked up and she was right.

“You wanted me to come back to fill out some paperwork.” He reminded.

“Ah, yes.” She took off her glasses again and rummaged through another desk drawer. “Please, take a seat.”

He did as instructed like before. Sitting felt nice after the rather rough mission he had just returned from. A few nasty bruises on his back and shoulder to attempt to explain to his wife later, but no real damage. Sore for a few days but otherwise worth it.

The next couple of minutes were spent chatting about the mission while Miss Blake showed Jason where to write everything down. She would email a copy of the paper over to him to properly fill out at a later date, but for now this would suffice.

Once it was filled out, she explained that she would like to have a proper report in a more than timely manner with time stamps on the report from his own universe. What could only take a day in his own world could take ages for her. He said he would do his best to get it to her within a short period of time in his own world.

Squared away for his first temporary mission, she had excused him for the day to return home to his wife and daughter. He thanked her once again before leaving. As soon as he left, she stood up from her desk and made sure to scan over the paper he had just filled out and email it to him. The paper went from the copier back into his file that she would deal with during the next cycle. Now, it was time to get some sleep back in the comfort of her own room.

On her way back to her room within HQ, she answered questions and said hello’s to whoever was passing by. She was in her president mode until the second she crossed over to her room. Once past that doorway, she was no longer Miss Blake. She would be just Melissa, a perpetually exhausted president doing her god damn best.

The bedroom door slid shut and she let out a breath of relief. The day was over and she could finally throw her shoes across the room towards her closet. Her heels thumped against a few other pairs of heels when she kicked them off. It didn’t matter, they were off.

Something was still bothering her, and now it was time to see if she was right about one thing. She made her way over to her desk that doubled as her vanity. There was an ornate looking hatbox that she stored in one of the bottom drawers. Within the box contained a few things that she wanted no one to know about. That was her box.

It took her a second to properly locate the box in the various drawers, but finally found it in one of the bottom drawers. Shows how often she goes through that particular desk. With the box in hand, she took it over to the small sitting room she had. The velvet couch would be a lot comfier to spread out the contents of the box than at another desk like the one she had been sitting at all day.

Content on the couch, she picked up a remote beside her and turned on the small stereo Charlie had altered for her. It looked like a antique 1940’s radio, but Charlie worked his magic to make it wireless and remote control available for her. With that as her background noise, she opened up the box.

Pictures from her prior life were filled to the brim. Memories flooded back into her head and a smile spread across her face. It felt like it was just yesterday she was back in her homeland of Russia, dancing and having a grand old time living her best life. That was before she settled down with a real job in a big company at the time. What she was looking for would have been prior to that.

She dug through the box, taking handfuls of photos and other various postcards and newspaper clippings out. There was no rhyme or reason to the piles, just something smaller to tackle than the entire boxes contents at once. Or maybe she wouldn’t need to at all.

As if someone was already aware of her mission set it up for her perfectly, as soon as she went to take another handful out of the half emptied box, she saw what she was looking for. Right on top of her would be third pile was a photo with a younger version of herself. She looked to be about thirty or thirty one, that she could remember at least. It was a very long time ago after all. A lady does not say ones age, but when one is over 250 years old from working in the organization, one learns to lose count quickly.

Beside her younger self was a young man. He did not have glasses or stubble, no. He was clean shaven with a bright smile on his face. At first glance, no one would be able to tell that they were brother and sister but they were. Melissa had taken after their mother while her brother took after their father.

The man, her brother to be exact, looked identical to Jason. Same jawline, hairline, hair colour, perfectly sculpted eyebrows that put her own to shame, same everything. Even down to his blue-grey eyes.

Staring at the picture for so long, the context finally became clear to her. They were outside of a bar in Sochi, Russia. She had just taken her first curtain call as leading actress in a musical that she forgot the name of. That wasn’t the point. She remembers so clearly her brother and her best friends waiting for her at the stage door. Matthias, her brother, had a bouquet of her favorite flowers for her. As soon as she walked out and saw her brother and friends she immediately hugged him.

The photo was from one of her friends taking it with her celebratory Blake sibling congratulations. Matthias was the best little brother she could ask for and missed him terribly. They had lost touch when she had moved from Sochi to St. Petersburg for work. A three hour plane ride between them now was too much.

She sighed, remembering the reason why she had forgotten about him for so long. He had been shipped off to fight in World War II and that was the last she had heard from him. There may have been a few letters from him before and after being shipped out but enough was enough for the time being. The answer to her question had been answered and if she were to continue to work with Jason Denton, then she would withhold from reading the letters from her brother.

Finally, she plucked the photo from the box and began to put everything else back. This was going to stay out. The box was returned to it’s original hiding spot and while she was up and about, she were to treat herself to a glass of wine.

The photo still sitting on the couch called out to her as she poured herself a glass of rosé. In the 250 years she had been working for the Organization, not once she had thought about her brother. No. His doppelgänger had to be the one who reminded her of him. Their likenesses were absolutely uncanny.

She took her glass of wine back to the couch and picked up the picture again. She smiled at him, imagining him with her right as she sat alone in her room. The wide open off-white room seemed to feel less lonely with that thought. A tiny voice in her head told her not to tell Jason. It would be too complicated to explain. No. This was going to be her secret and her own way to cope with her brother. As long as she didn’t call him Matthias, then everything would be fine.

Finally able to relax and enjoy the music and wine she was drinking, she was starting to actually feel sleepy. One glass of wine was enough. When that was finished, she set the glass on the table to deal with when she woke up. She took the picture with her as she shut off the stereo and the lights, retreating into her actual bedroom.

She set the photo on her side night table before getting ready for bed. Hair down and out of her fishbone braid, makeup washed off, dress off and negligee on. She climbed into bed and shut the bedroom light off. As she settled down into bed, she said aloud, “goodnight, Matthias,” in Russian.

___

@asttralhell 

[julietookoff]

Arlington, TX

Wow!  We love Arlington!  After 7 years of traveling around the country, we found somewhere we would seriously consider moving to.  Besides the people being super nice and "mostly" polite drivers, there is EVERYTHING here.  Every store and restaurant, several hospitals, plenty of geocaches, an AMC 18, Six Flags, a big airport, Interstates and mild winters.  We stayed two months.  Early on we took a wrong turn out of Aldi's and turned around in the driveway of the cutest little red brick house.  Ever since then Arlington has been pulling at my heartstrings to settle down.  The only thing that's missing is Shorty!

Along with giant Wal-Marts, Sam's, WinCo and several Aldi's, here are some of the places where we ate and shopped:  CiCi's, Peter Piper Pizza, Canes, Panda Express, In & Out, Boston Market, Furr's Buffet, Spaghetti Warehouse, Taco Bueno, Taco Cabana (awesome nachos), Krispy Kreme (walking distance from KOA!), a new fav Chinese Harbor Buffet and a new fav Pancho's Mexican Buffet.  There are many new-to-us restaurants we didn't have a chance to try.  Shopping:  Fry's ($7 click belts), Trader's World flea market, Half Price Books, Dave & Busters (we had a groupon).  And all the usual chain stores.  There is a mall just a couple miles south of the KOA.  It has an arcade/bowling alley bigger than Dave & Busters that is open late.  I just went in to look around after a day at the theater; we didn't stay to play.

So the downside.  Just after we got here, we went to an Urgent Care because Corny's back was killing him.  They did a simple x-ray and diagnosed him with sciatica.  They gave him a few pain pills until we could get an appointment with a primary care doctor.  They gave him better pills.  He bought a Hurry Cane.  We used the wheelchair at Trader's World.  By the end of the two months in Arlington, he was much improved.

I got a new doctor I like but his med tech screwed up big time when she entered my Rx's into the computer.  It took two trips to Walgreens and a smart Pharmacist to get them straightened out.  I'm supposed to be back for an appointment in October, but we'll see how that goes...

One of our A/Cs was acting up (capacitor), the microwave quit on us, and we had to replace the kitchen faucet.  The RV turns 8 this year and we've talked about getting a new smaller class C RV.

Geocaching.  The whole reason for coming here was for GeoWoodstock in Fort Worth.  I drove separately on the way up from San Antonio and did a big county-run.

^Texas State Capitol in Austin>

^Italy, TX>

I/we went to events all week.  We went to the one DDD in Fort Worth - Fred's Texas Café.  It was very good, and very pricey.  There are a dozen DDD's in Dallas but we didn't make it to any.  There was a nice CITO (cache in/trash out) event by the river.  There was an 8pm-12am trading event where I traded pathtags and gave away a bunch of camo'ed pill bottles.  I saw the famous Stockyards and the traveling Geocaching Adventure Maze - a geocaching museum of sorts. 

^Lost at the Stockyards...Geocaching Adventure Maze>

The actual GeoWoodstock was a bit less than I had expected.  It was all indoors in a big hall with a few tablers.  It paled in comparison to the GW at Coney Island in Cincinnati last year.  A big part of it was no more lab caches for me (until I break down and get a Smartphone).  Groundspeak made lab caches unavailable by computer this year.  I don't know if I'm repeating myself, but I tried using a Smartphone years ago for about 3 months and never swore so much in my life.  I just couldn't take it, trying to do computer stuff on a little 3" screen with little 3mm buttons for a keyboard.  I remember sitting at a Pizza Hut (in Oregon?) after eating and spending about a half hour trying to log in to their wi-fi and kvetching.  I just don't have the patience.

My vintage flip phone

Anyhow, I can't believe so much negativity crept into a blog about a place we loved!  Back to geocaching...

Shortly after we got to the KOA I rode my bike up the street a few miles to the oldest cache in Texas "Tombstone".  Texas geocachers sure do love their cemetery caches.  A new geo-art series was put out and many of the caches required a ladder.  Corny got me a spiffy, beautiful 12' aluminum telescoping ladder. 

We soon found out whoever placed the series must've had a 30' ladder, because even with an extending 10' pole, we couldn't reach some of them!  The ladder fits nicely in the back of the Jeep.  I took it on a 3 day county run skirting along the TX/OK border, into Arkansas and Louisianna.  I found great caching in Denton and Gainesville.  

I got home and wanted to go right back out on another trip - and started planning it... but it was Corny's turn.  He had an appointment with his Florida urologist for some imaging test.  He took a week and a half van trip and saw Shorty and some friends from Fay's RV Park.  The day after he left I signed up for a Six Flags membership, Dining Plan and drink refill bottle.  I went almost every day for lunch - turkey legs, tacos, tamales, Panda Express "Chop Six" and giant pretzels until Corny got back. 

The current plan is to stay in northern New Mexico for the summer (at an elevation around 7000') then southern AZ for the winter.  Corny will take another van trip to Vancouver to see some filming in July/August.  He got his passport renewed.  The van is in storage at Arlington.  All six of us (Corny, me, Dolly, Poco, Ruffles and Piggie) will take the Jeep back from NM to get it; then I will solo back to NM in the Jeep geocaching and visiting the Six Flags in Arlington and in Oklahoma City.  Yay!

For those of you keeping score, here are the movies I've seen on three visits to the AMC 18.  During one visit, it felt like my seat was shaking.  I changed seats, but still felt the shaking.  The theater is on the third floor of the mall.  I found out there were two tornadoes nearby!  Corny had packed everybody into the van and drove to the mall parking garage for a couple hours, listening to the radio and studying the atlas, learning all the cities and counties in Tornado Alley.

Penguins, Intruder, Poms, Curse of La Llorona, Breakthrough, Ugly Dolls, Avengers, Little, The Hustle, Pokemon Detective, Aladdin, A Dog's Journey, Booksmart, John Wick, Brightburn, Toy Story 4, Secret Life of Pets 2, Annabelle, Child's Play, MIB International, Other Side of Heaven, Midsommar.

Life is Godd! We fit out.

[idontreallyusethisanymore]

Because I'm bored AF on my Birthday

NAME: Katrina AGE: 23 BIRTHDATE: 02/12/1994 AKA today HOMETOWN: Denton, TX Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to answer a note with 111 Questions About You. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. NAH MAN 1) Are you really, ready for 111 questions? I guess I'm bored fam 2) Was your last real relationship a mistake? I don't think so. Things happen for a reason. 3) Who's your favorite superhero/heroine? Idk, I guess Deadpool 4) Who did you last say “I love you” to? The boyf 5) Do you regret it? Nah man 6) Have you ever been depressed? Still take pills to keep it at bay 7 AND 8) Are you a boy or girl? How is this two questions? I identify as a female. 9) What is your relationship status? Taken 10) How do you want to die? Quick and painlessly, but ideally never 11) What are you most afraid of? Death and dying 12) Played any sports? I played half a season of soccer when I was 3! 13) Do you bite your nails? Yeah which sucks 14) When was your last physical fight? I honestly don't know 15) Do you have an attitude? Occasionally 16) Do you like someone? I mean...yeah duh 17) What is your real name? Katrina 18) What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a designer 19) If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I would want to be able to teleport 20) Do you hate anyone at the moment? Oh yeah lol 21) Do you miss someone? Yeah 22) Twirl or cut your spaghetti? Twirl I ain't no heathen 23) Do you tan a lot? I just burn 24) Have any pets? YES I LOVE THEM 25) How exactly are you feeling? Annoyed because my birthday has been kinda sucky today 26) Ever eaten food in a car while someone or yourself is driving? Well duh 27) Have you ever been to a drive in movie? Not yet but soon 28) Would you take any of your exes back? Nah I'm like s black widow all guys that dump me gets their lives ruined 29) Are you scared of spiders? YES 30) Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? Yeah I think so 31) Do you regret anything from your past? I'm not sure actually 32) What are your plans for this weekend? I did go out last night for a touch but otherwise I have just hung out 33) Do you want to have kids? Maybe some day 34) Did you ever kiss someone whose name starts with an M? I think so? I can't remember TBH lol 35) Do you type fast? Sometimes 36) Do you have piercings? Yesh 37) Want any more? Maybe? Not sure 38) Can you spell well? I would say so 39) Do you miss anyone from your past? I always kinda miss people of the past; I think it's more of a curiosity of how they're doing 40) What are you craving right now? OLIVE GARDEN FOR SOME STUPID REASON 41) Ever been to a bonfire party? Yeah and this guy dressed as Cookie Monster almost passed out in it 42) Are you a cat or a dog person? I'm an everything person 43) Have you ever been on a horse? Yeah 44) Kissed someone in a pick up truck? I ain't no hick 45) Have you ever broken someone’s heart? Probably 46) Have you ever been cheated on? I have a hunch that I was cheated on in high school but I have no proof 47) Have you made a boyfriend/girlfriend cry? Oh yeah 48) Have you ever broken up with someone? No I get broken up with because I'm bad at stuff like that 49) Have you ever done something really dumb that you wish you could take it back? Oh yeah 23/7 50) What should you be doing? Enjoying my birthday 51) What’s irritating you right now? That my birthday has gone nothing like I've wanted it to 52) Have you ever liked someone so much that it hurts? Yeah 53) Does somebody love you? I hope so 54) What are your favorite colors? Any color but poo brown 55) Have you ever changed clothes in a vehicle? Many a times 56) Have you ever stole something? Nah 57) Do you have trust issues? Yes 58) What kind of music do you like? Basically anything under the sun, I just love music 59) What is you favorite kind of pet? I personally love a cuddly cat but any animal is perfect 60). Do you have a good relationship with your parents? I do with my mom but she still likes to rift with me 61) What's your favorite disney movie? All of them! 62) Do you believe your most recent ex thinks about you? Nahhhh 63) Who was the last person you cried in front of? My therapist 64) Do you give out second chances too easily? Sadly yeah 65) Is it easier to forgive or forget? Forget 66) Is this year the best year of your life? Hopefully 67) What was your childhood nickname? Katie 68) Have you ever walked outside completely naked? Yes 69) ? Lolololol yeah and I hate it it's so awkward 70) Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Yes for sure 71) What is the last thing you do before you go to bed? Check my phone 72) What do you like to do late at night? Netflix and chilllll 73) What is bothering you? My boyf having to fuckin work all day today 74) Have you ever been out of your province? Yeah 75) Do you play the Wii? Heckles yeah 76) Are you listening to music right now? No just the TV 77) Do you like Chinese food? OMG YES 78) Do you know your fathers b-day? January 8th 79) Are you afraid of the dark? Sometimes, if it's advanced darkness 80) Is cheating ever okay? FUCK.NO. 81) Are you mean? I think I can be on occasion 82) Can you keep white shoes clean? With bleach! 83) Do you believe in God? I'm not sure. 84) Do you believe in true love? Yes 85) Do you like to exercise? I do actually I know I'm crazy 86) Do you cosplay? I'd like to 87) Do you go to renaissance festivals? Never been 88) Do you like the outside? Sometimes. I hate it when it's hot as balls 89) Are you currently bored? So fuckin bored 90) Do you wanna get married? Holy shit I'm so tired of hearing about weddings I'm just done 91) Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you baby? Yes 92) Are you hungry? I WANT CHICKEN ALFREDO SO BAD 93) What makes you upset? Too many things 94) What makes you happy? Lots of things 95) Would you change your name? Nah 96) Ever been to Alaska? One day hopefully 97) Do you like sports? Occasionally 98) Do you watch the news? Sadly I need to nowadays 99) What’ s your zodiac sign? I'm an Aquarius 100) Do you like Subway? Ehhh I feel like which witch is better 101) Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed? No that's my boyf 102) Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do? Say thanks I appreciate it but I just don't want to ruin our friendship 103) Do you talk like your friends? I think to an extent 104) Do you like your teachers? I had some pretty good teachers throughout my life 105) Have you ever seen someone you knew & purposely avoided them? Oh yeah who hasn't 106) Do you have a friend of the opposite sex who you can act your complete self around? my boyf 107) Who was the last person of the opposite sex you talked to? My boyf 108) Does it matter if your boyfriend/girlfriend smokes? Kind of? I just don't want them to get sick 109) Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with? My therapist 110) Favorite lyrics right now? Fam idk 111) Can you count to one million? I could but I don't have time for that

[rainydaywriter39-blog]

The Ranch Chapter 1

Hi, here’s the first full chapter of “The Ranch”. I’d love to know what you think.

Backbreaker

March 3rd, 2012

Dallas, Texas.

 Dallas, Texas. It wasn’t exactly the middle of nowhere, but it was close. The Ames’ Ranch, at the northern end of Denton Country County, was completely isolated. The nearest neighbours were nine miles away on either side, the closest supermarket even further. Jared knew that one day it would all be his. He knews that one day in the near future, he’d be spending all his days there. As the oldest male child in the family, the ranch would be his by default. He’d marry straight out of school, and have kids of his own. Four strapping farm boys, if his father got his way. He’d bulk up and be the man of the house, just like was expected. Jared sighed, looking out over the property. From his vantage-point up on the deck, he could see the way the hills of the farm seem to roll on for an eternity, the way the cattle lounged under trees, at least until the sun sunk down low enough that they could venture out from the safety of their shade. He had a lot to live up to, that much he was certain of. The ranch has been in his family for five generations, won over in one of the original ranch battles. His ancestors were the basis of half the cowboy movies ever made. His two sisters, Mellissa and Julia had both done what was required, married straight after their senior year, Mellissa to a wealthy banker closer to San Antonio, and Julia to a rancher liker her daddy. Mel had a baby on the way at twenty one, and at only twenty five, Julia was expecting her fourth. The girls made their father as proud as the Longhorn Bulls did. Then, there was Jonathon Junior. The spitting image of his namesake, John Junior was everything a Rancher could want in a son. He was tall and well built, with an eagerness to run the ranch that seemed to have skipped Jared. Junior was outraged his big brother was inheriting a ranch he didn’t even want, and Jared shared in his sentiments.

He used to love the ranch, loved the way the sound of thundering feet would wake him up every morning as his father herded the cattle. He loved how he had enough land that if he ran far enough, he felt like he was in his own country. He loved working with Longhorns and loved that his father owned the biggest Texan Longhorn Bull in the world. But, that was the thing, wasn’t it, he loved that his father owned everything, loved that some days, he could wake up whenever he liked, because he wasn’t in charge of herding the cattle every single day. Jared loved the ranch because it wasn’t his.

 “Jared!” His musings were interrupted by a high-pitched voice that echoed up from below. He looked over the railing, and spotted her. Jills. She was the first, and only, friend he’d ever had. She was as present in his life as his parents were. Though older than him, he couldn’t tell by how much. She never seemed to age, though that was probably because he saw her so much. It was like not noticing your hair growing until it tickled your shoulders. She walked closer towards him, her dress swishing as she moved. This particular item of clothing seemed to be the only one she owned, in fact, he couldn’t ever remember seeing her in anything but the blue and white striped garment, completed by a similarly coloured bow that pulled her shoulder length brown hair away from her face.

“Jared!” her voice had taken on a tell-tale whine and alerted him to the fact that he’d taken much too long to respond.

“Jills, hi.” He hurried down the stairs, pulling the flannelette over-shirt tighter around him to ward off the early Spring chill. She pulled him into a hug, overly sharp nails digging into his back and making him wince as they always did. She proceeded to grab his hand and pulled him back the way she had come.

“Jills, where are we going? I have to be on the bus in fifteen minutes.” He had been late for school more than once thanks to her impromptu adventures and he didn’t feel like making up the time in his lunch hour today.

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” Her voice grated in the early morning, standing out shrilly in the near silence of the farm.

“Jills come on, I’m going to be late again.’’

Jills turned; her expression suddenly stormy.

“Do you want to be friends or not?”

While to most, the question would hold an empty threat, certainly, a childish one at the least, to Jared, whose only friend stood right in front of him; the threat was seemed more real than he cared to admit. He checked his watch, letting out a frustrated breath as he saw he now had only ten minutes to get back to the front drive and on the bus.

“Okay.”

 Four hours later, Jared sat in a near empty classroom while Mr T paced up the front. Jared liked Mr T, a lot actually. He taught biology, Jared’s favourite subject. He liked the way everything interconnected, from your spinal cord to the food chains, it fascinated him to know the way the world worked. Mr T was the kind of teacher you remembered. He was the guy that you went home and told your parents about. He was that one teacher that set things on fire, because a live demonstration was always better than a video. He never ratted you out to your folks on parent’s night and had a way of teaching a subject that interested even the most disengaged students.

 He was definitely getting on in years, his hair more salt than pepper, thinning out where it fell onto his forehead. He was covered in wrinkles, no doubt each line that marred his forehead was accompanied by a story of a daredevil student.  Despite these visible features, he didn’t seem old. His eyes were always shining with the ghost of his last joke, his lab coat covered in the signature of every graduating student he’d ever had.  He was the best teacher Jared had ever had. It made disappointing him so much worse.

  Mr T let out a sigh, hands going up to rub his temples in a slow, hypnotic motion. Finally, after several long seconds that felt like longer, he turned and faced his student.

“Jared, this is the second time you’ve been late this week.”

“Yes sir.” Jared knew his cheeks were flushing and wished that he had, like most people, learnt to control the blush.

“You like the subject, yes?” Mr T was bearing down on him, and it took Jared all he had not sink lower into the chair and try to disappear.

‘Yes sir.”

The older man sighed again and resumed pacing.

“So, what was it this morning that kept you from being on time?” I know you weren’t trying to skip, given the pace at which you entered.” At the statement, the annoying redness to his cheeks turned up a notch.

“It was my friend, sir. Jills, she wanted to show me one of our cattle, which was trying to swim in the dam.’’ He grimaced at the memory, remembering the outrage he had felt as he realised he was going to be late yet again because Jills had been amused by an everyday occurrence.

The comment seemed to have stopped Mr T his tracks though and he turned to face Jared, eyebrows raised in curiosity.

“Jills? Not sure I know her.”

“No sir, I don’t suppose you would. She doesn’t go here, you see, she goes to…” Jared tapered off, thinking hard for a second. Thinking about it, he realised that he himself didn’t know where Jills went to school; she never seemed bothered by such a menial thing like school, so it had never come up.

“Anyhow,” continued Mr T, “You were late, again, and that’s all that matters. Aside from losing your lunch hour, I will also be informing you parents on parent’s night about your punctuality issue.”

Jared looked up then. His parents may not care if he finished school with a pass, but respect, that message had been drilled into him for as long as he could say the word.

“Please, I know I should be here, but one more day, please. I won’t be late again. “

Mr T seemed to consider the idea, tapping his toes against the floor, the metal tipped edges making a ping that echoed through the empty classroom.

“Alright, one more chance.”

Jared felt like the grin that appeared on his face would split apart, but he couldn’t care less. He got up to leave, a thank you on his lips as he reached for the door handle. Its shiny tip was within his reach when a voice stopped him.

“Jared,” he turned, his smile faltering at the slightly harsh note in Mr T’s voice. “I mean it, alright. One more chance, no exceptions. “Jared nodded; his throat suddenly dry. The door handle wasn’t as shiny anymore.

“Alright.”

By the end of the day, Jared had begun to wish he had just spent the day with Jills. There was a headache that pounded steadily away behind his eyes. In his haste to collect the missed work from the morning, he’d missed the first bus and had to wait for its follow up. He hopped off nearly an hour later than usual, his feet dragging in the dust.

“Jared!” Jills’ voice, high pitched and joyous as ever is like a pick axe to his head, making it throb. Not bothering to wonder where she had come from, he turned.

He heard the scuff of her bare feet as she skipped up to him and fell into step beside him.

“Whatcha doing?” her smile, slightly off centre, was right in his face.

“Can you keep it down a little Jills? Think I’m getting a migraine again.” He shuddered at that thought, not liking the pain filled memory it conjured.

Jills’ smile falters, replaced by a snarl. Her light blue eyes, usually smiling with the sun, were a stormy grey of a sailor’s nightmares. “You don’t want me here?” She pouted, and he knew he’d said the wrong thing.

“Jills, that isn’t what I meant. “

“I can leave Jared, and you won’t ever see me again.”

“Jills-”

“It’s fine Jared, I’ll go.” She stormed back the way they came, and even as Jared turned, she’d disappeared around a corner. Jared sighed. He hadn’t meant to upset her, but her moods were so unpredictable, he never knew what could set her off. He continued the walk down the long road, hoping that in the morning, she’d be over the incident.

 By the time he pushed through the flyscreen door, he was more than an hour later than normal. The persistent pounding in his head had made it hard to focus and the uneven walk on the even more uneven path hadn’t helped any.

“Jared, where’ve you been?” Mama Ames’ voice echoed through the house and he walked slightly faster into the kitchen, setting his bag down in front of the counter. He leant towards one of the stools, but was stopped by a glare from his mother.

“Nuh uh young man. You walk in here after five and expect to skip out on your chores? No sir. Your daddy’s fuming, been out there trying to herd them dam cattle for an hour, that’s a two-man job and you know it.”

She practically chased him out of the kitchen and he didn’t waste time trying to tack up before mounting Jones, the first mare in the stable. He hastened out to the first paddock, where John Senior was trying to round up the Longhorn into one of the front paddocks, where they’d be safer for the night. He spared no mind for the rant he knew was getting thrown at him, as he worked with well-practiced grace in synchronisation with his father. In a matter of fifteen minutes they had the first paddock locked up, and it was only a few hours later that he was brushing down Jones. Dad had given it to him, yelling and ranting during the whole round up and then proceeded to send him off with a longer list of jobs than usual. He’d had to water all the cattle on the Ranch, as well as make sure the hens were secured in their huts. He braced his hands on the wall of the stable, taking a few deep breaths. On the out breath, he was interrupted by the sound of approaching feet, scuffing along the dry ground. He turned, shocked as he saw Jills behind him.

“You never can keep anyone happy, can you?” He blinked, knew that it was exactly the sort of thing Jills always said after an argument and that he shouldn’t let it bother him. But, as he blinked again, she was gone.

“Right.” He muttered, under his breath. The headache was still there, and he chalked the image of his friend up to that combined with not enough sleep. He trudged back up towards the house, his footsteps dragged and kicked up the gravel.

“Musta’ imagined it.”

 The next morning seemed brighter, somehow. He lounged around for an hour or so, before the pressure on his bladder and the sunlight through the curtains became too much to ignore.

He slowly trudged downstairs, basking in the silence. It was Saturday; his morning chore free day, and a chore free day for him made it a chore day for everyone else on the property. It was when he was sitting on the bar stool that Ma walked in, her hair swept back, muddy sweat across her brow from a combination of the beating sun and a muddy shovel.

“Morning little man.” As she swept down with a hug, he pondered the preposterousness of the statement. At 6 feet tall, he towered over her, as did Junior at 6’2. He smiled anyway, past experience telling him that there was no use in raising the point. Draining the last of the orange juice that rested in the sweating glass, he pushed out from the bench, dropping the glass in the sink before making his way upstairs to get changed.

 Just because Jared had the morning off, didn’t mean he was exempt from any of his other daily chores. Saturday’s basic chores worked on a rotation system between Jared, Junior, Ma and John Senior; herd, shepherd, fence check and cattle check. The best job was, by far, herding. Despite being up before the sun, for Jared, there was no better feeling than the fresh morning air whipping across his face as he raced around the mad clump of animals, keeping them all together and sending them in the right direction. If that was the best job, shepherding was a close second. It was virtually the same as the herding, but with more responsibility. The shepherders didn’t focus on the cattle, but rather, the herder. The shepherder ran backup for the herder, keeping any stray cows with the group, watching the other rider’s back in case of a stampede.

There were the other, less favoured jobs, too. By far, the worst was cattle check, looking over every single animal for ticks and bugs, making sure there are no abnormalities. The job started the second all the cattle had been moved to the back paddocks and finished with the last bull ticked off and healthy.

That particular day, Jared was scheduled for a fence check. It was okay, in the sense he got to sleep late, beginning the check any time before noon. It was long, though. As he changed, he had to make sure he had a pair of work pants with big pockets to fit the two way radio and spare batteries. He loaded a backpack, stuffing in a few bottles of water and a trail bar. He wandered outside, feeling the crunch of dry grass beneath his boots, grabbing his hat of the rack before moving towards stable one.

 With more time than the previous night, he could choose his own mare. A grin light up his face when he saw Aura in the last stall. She wasn’t the biggest female on the ranch (but close to). She was gentler than most of the horses, with less of a temper and better composure. He’d never seen her scare, nor bolt or rear. He took his time tacking her up, “spoiling the old girl”, as Ma would have said when she saw him spending extra time with the brushes. It neared eleven when he finally mounted and set out for the back paddock.

 The ranch was divided up into five sections, the front section, with the house itself, water tanks and produce garden, observation paddocks and stables, as well as most of the tool sheds and equipment docks. It was the centre of all life on the ranch, the start of the day and the end. The second section was paddock one, where all the three hundred cattle spent nights, away from the dangers of coyotes and snakes. The front paddock was safer than half the house, and, if the desire so struck you, you could sleep in there with no more danger than a bedroom. The third section was another paddock, where half the cattle spent their days grazing; there was also another tool shed, to make it easier for everyone to access tools, especially if they were in one of the back paddocks. The fourth was yet another paddock, but it was also taken up by Lake Kempt. The final paddock, the back paddock, was rarely used, and, really, a nuisance. When cattle managed to find their way all the way to the back of the enormous ranch, it made the evening round up all that much harder.

 The ride out to the back paddock took almost forty minutes and though spring had seemed to arrive late that year, on horseback with nothing but a hat and an over-shirt to protect him from the sun, it heated up incredibly fast.

“Geeze its hot.” the thought had barely entered his mind when a splash of water hit him. He looked over his shoulder, not entirely surprised to see Jills cantering up to him on Bruno, her tawny coloured horse that seemed perfectly content to live his life as a taxi. Her dress seemed to flow around the horse’s ribcage, sitting perfectly in a way that to his sisters had long ago proved impossible. She was holding a small plastic yellow water pistol, much like the one Jared had owned when he was ten (until Junior had sat on it and hadn’t that been a fun day). She was laughing in delight as she aimed another jet of water, this one hitting him square in the face due to his ill-timed decision to look in her direction. She cantered past him, beating Aura to the fence line by a body length. She dismounted with the grace of a ballet dancer, immediately sitting on the brown post directly opposite Bruno.

“What took you so long this morning Jare?” she was swinging her legs back and forth, letting them swing up before dropping down, beginning the upswing again just before her legs were shredded on the barb wire fence Jared was supposed to be checking.

“I was asleep, long night.” He knelt down, checking the fence line at the first post, before a memory stirred. “Hey Jills, did you drop in last night?” He knew it was a ridiculous question, there’s no way she could have appeared and disappeared as fast as he was sure she had, but he couldn’t help but ask. She tilted her head, hair spilling across the front of her face for a second before she pushed it behind her ear.

“No?” She pauses for a second. “Why, did you want me to?”

He didn’t know the right answer. He knew the honest one, and it was a firm no. He liked Jills, but she was overbearing at the best of times, never mind when she was in a mood. He also knew the answer that would make Jills happy, and that was a yes. He stuck with the safest option.

“I was just curious, is all.” His answer seemed to satisfy her though, and she continued talking long after he finished the first fence.

Jared lost time between paddock four and the house, but somewhere in between Jills must have ridden off. It was a half past twelve when he finally steered Aura back up towards the stable. He treated her by pulling out the mister and setting it up above her stall with a timer for every half hour. Realising how many horses were also still inside the stables, he hooked up to the large misting system, with a hose set over each mare. As the first buzzer rung and the jets came to life, the horses whinnied with appreciation. Jared ran a hand down Aura’s now damp coat as the mister finished, satisfied with his work. He moved on and picks up a shovel. The smell of horse manure was thick in the air, but after years of stable duty, he was so used to it that he barely noticed. The shovelling job took less than an hour, but by the time he was done his shirt, which had dried on the ride back to the top of the ranch, was once again soaked with sweat and the vapour from the mister that carried in the gentle breeze. He took his time walking up to the back door, sitting on the deck steps as he reached them and relished in the cool air on his feet as he stripped off his shoes and socks. The kitchen was alive with life by the time he entered; Ma was cutting up various vegetable on the bench, no doubt lunch for all the farm hands that would wander in at various points in the afternoon. John was pouring over mail at the table, most likely the bills that seem to roll in as the tides did at sea (not that Jared would know, he’d never even seen the ocean). Junior was lounging around the table, his wool clad feet crossed at the ankles and resting on the table top. Dad clapped him on the shoulder as he sat down, before sliding several of the envelopes over to him.

“Jared, these are the water bills. When you start running the ranch, these will be the first thing you look at. As my old man used to say, water is-“

“-the life of the desert.” Texas wasn’t a tumble weed covered wasteland, far from it. In fact, Dallas had some of the best swimming holes, and the nicest mountains. But from summer to fall, the rainfall could be scarce. The last drought had only ended in December of 2011, and all of the major ranches in the state were still recovering. The importance of water had been drilled into the Ames children’s heads from the time they could talk. They all took two minute ‘military showers’, with a bucket to catch any excess water, his sisters had all hated the rule, especially as they’d gotten older. Clothes were worn multiple times to avoid too much washing and a dishwasher was a luxury the Ames’ had never experienced. Jared grabbed the envelopes thrust at him, and started scanning over them. His eyes widened at the cost; it was more than what he earned in a year working as a middle school maths tutor, and the bill was just for a month! He rubbed his hands across his face, dreading the day it would all be his responsibility.

“Lunch is up.” Ma’s voice rung out and he stood up, scooping up one of the freshly made salad sandwiches. The bread was still warm in his mouth, the carrots, lettuce and onions still tasting slightly of dirt. He wondered why life couldn’t stay this way forever; fresh rye and lettuce in his mouth, with the freedom of childhood sitting light in his heart.

 He was woken late that night by the sound of his window opening. It took a second to comprehend; Jills climbing in from the old tree next to his window and dropping without so much as a thump onto the floorboards. He rubbed his bleary eyes;

“Jills?” he knew that this time at least, he wasn’t imagining her.

She put her finger to her lips, “You what to go on an adventure?”

“Huh?” the Texan drawl was most prominent when he was tired and he was sure that the syllable ended up coming out like it was uttered by a drunk cowboy.

Her hands had moved to her hips, and her brows were drawn together, creating small creases on her otherwise clear forehead. He checked his clock; three o’clock in the morning and he’d already managed to irritate her.

“Really Jared, are you slower than I thought? Do you want to come on an adventure?”

“I’ll come when the sun is up.” It was a lie, he had herding duty in the morning and she knew it. “Shouldn’t you be at home, you know, asleep?” Her cold stare bore into him, and she turned away in a huff, hair flicking over her shoulder as she headed back to the window. She was halfway out when she turned to face him again. There was nothing friendly in her face, no hint of laughter, no trace of mischief. For a second, he saw his own face staring back, but only for a second; then what he saw was pure Jills.

“I don’t know why I bother with you Jared.” She climbed (fully) out, and shimmied back to the ground.

He lay back against the pillows, his eyes fluttering closed.

Sometimes, he didn’t know why she bothered either.