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Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 14 (view)

A Short Story I wrote (first forum post!) Posted: 6/29/2009 4:01:04 PM
That was a great story. Very interesting. Too bad u swore so much, but you could turn it into a novel, if u put in the effort. Great job! I hope u will continue to write or even add some more. U could use this little tid bit as the first chapter then either flash back to how he got started and then turn it into a series or continue on from there. U could even continue on and add in little flash backs here and there. Great job. Keep writing!

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 4 (view)

Things That Go Bump in the Night. Posted: 2/6/2007 11:45:14 AM
Ok to those who have been kind enough to comment. I truly appreciate them. I didn't mean for it to sound harsh so I apologize I do. And just so you know I read your latest story, and I loved it. You made me laugh so hard. HEHE I know the spirits are real. They are all around us. I occasionally still see them, but I hear them more than anything. Even at work if I am hear alone I hear them whispering. One even demanded I help him immediately, but when I went to the front of the office no one was there. Scared the poop out of me. I know you aren't crazy, but after reading the rest of this you might think I am. Our house was older, not too old, but old enough to be constantly making noises that my sister and I swear were the ghost. My parents told us it was just the house settling. During the summer we liked to sleep outdoors, but oddly we had never slept outside in our backyard. My mom had told us it was too dangerous. We lived in between rival gang houses and there were nights where bullets were fired for hours on end, our doors taking the brunt of them. Well one night my friend was visiting and had convinced us to sleep outside. My mom put us in the backyard just below her window so we could wake her should we need her. We of course didn't stay there long. It was really dark, and we couldn't see our hands in front of our faces. So we scooted around to the side yard where the street light shone brightly. There we played truth or dare and finally nodded off to sleep. I felt a sudden chill I couldn't explain. I was still covered and the wind wasn't blowing. At least not according to the trees nearby. I thought perhaps my friend or sister were playing a joke on me. So I turned over to face the house. They weren't there. In fact I couldn't see them anywhere. I thought that was odd. Then I saw the light to the Quiet room turn on. I looked in no one was in there. I heard banging and looked closer, there were dolls being flung across the room. I knew that wasn't right. Then I bumped the window with my hand and it stopped suddenly, and then just as I was about to back away from the window I saw her. The lights went out and she was against the window. Trying to get out, trying to get to me. I ran screaming into the house. My mother tried to comfort me, but it was no use. She wasn't sure she could believe me or not especially since my friend and my sister had gone in to pee. They did say they heard banging too, but didn't know where it had come from. My mom and I went downstairs to look at the room. My mom was convinced I was making it up and that this would prove it once and for all. She opened the door, turned on the light and sure enough there were dolls everywhere. She started to yell at me and told me it wasn't nice to lie to people. I was shocked didn't the dolls everywhere proved I was telling the truth. She said she knew I had snuck in and made a mess to scare my friend, and now I was trying to look innocent. I couldn't believe it. Without my mother on my side I had nothing. I started crying, and told my friend I was sleeping inside from now on. I headed upstairs. My friend and sister followed. My mom turned off the light and there she was. My mom screamed pretty loudly. She was just floating there with a sad look on her face, and then she was gone. My mom flew past us, what a protector she was. She got my dad and he was very grouchy to say the least. He thought it was our idea of joke. We had all seen her at that point though and all of our stories added up. He still wasn't convinced. About a month after that, my mom closed down her daycare, and was hired as a teacher at a government run daycare center. My dad told her to knock of all this nonsense, but she wouldn't, because she knew what she seen. She didn't want to be anywhere near our house. Her headaches got worse, and that fall while my dad was out hunting for that prized buck, my mom lost it. She was screaming things that any civilized lady would never say. She started telling my sister and I that it was our fault. We didn't know what to do. We wanted to call the police, but we couldn't. We called our crazy Aunt instead. She was a bit alarmed to get a call so late at night, but insisted she would be right over. An hour later she was there. My mom was still going mad. She told us to get it out of her head, but we had no idea what she was talking about. My Aunt helped her to the bathroom and put her in the tub under a cold shower. Finally my mom snapped out of it. She didn't even know where she was or what day or year it was. We took her to the ER and they told her they couldn't help her. She came back home, but refused to reenter the house. She said there was evil inside, and it would attack her again. That was all my sister and I needed to hear, we wouldn't go back in without our mom, finally after we fell asleep my Aunt carried us in, and spent the night. The next morning my Aunt asked us why we had never told her about our nanny. We couldn't figure out what she was talking about. She described her, and said that she had offered to make her some hot chocolate to help her fall asleep. My Aunt politely refused, but when she awoke there was a steaming mug on the coffee table. That's when we all decided to get out. We went to my Aunt's house and spent the remainder of the week there. My dad was a bit shocked to come home to an empty house, and a dirty one at that, but went in to take a shower. While he was in there he thought he heard my mom laughing, and he thought he heard us fighting. Home sweet home he mumbled. He heard the door open and heard the footsteps coming towards the shower. He assumed it was one of us. He peeked his head out, but saw nothing. When he put his head back in the shower there she was. She was naked though, and according to my dad looked nice for a seventeen year old girl. She came towards my dad and just when he thought he was really going to lose it she vanished. A few moments later my dad got out of the shower. The only trace of the girl being there was a ladies silk robe on the floor. Something my mother would never wear. He picked it up, and took it to his room. He then picked up the phone and called the number my mom had left for him. He didn't mention the girl, until after my mom agreed to come home. Then he sat her down and told her what had happened. Finally he was on our side, and agreed that we should move and soon, but that first we would try to get rid of her. We weren't catholic, but he called up nearest church and asked a priest to come bless our house. The priest came out, and we let him, he stepped about a foot in our door before telling us that too many evil things had happened in this house for it to ever be cleansed. He said he was sorry, that he couldn't help us, but that there was nothing more he could do. He did however recommend getting a dog. We bought a dog, that winter. The dog we were told to get was supposed to be a great guard dog, but when he saw us he only licked us to death. We loved him instantly. We brought him home that weekend so we could potty train him. We left for church Sunday, and decided to leave him chained up outside so we wouldn't come home to a mess. When we got home he was in the house. He was growling up the hallway when we entered. We never did figure out why. We can only assume he was growling at her. As soon as he saw us he came running, and nearly knocked us over licking us. Then he returned to the hall. He didn't growl this time, but instead walked with his tail between his legs up the hall. He checked out my sister's room and looked a little more relaxed, then he checked my mom's room everything was fine according to his tail. He tried to walk into my room, but he couldn't go in. He just sat there whining. I laughed and thought what a dumb animal he was. All he had to do was nose the door open. I opened the door and walked in. He sat outside my door growling and finally lunged only to land on my bed. He looked really confused. Then he curled up and laid down. That night he slept in my room, and believe me I was grateful he was there. I had never been so nervous as I was that night. Throughout the night he would growl at the wall. His hair standing on edge. Then he would just stop as if everything was alright. After that everything seemed to stop. We went on vacation twice, and didn't seem to have a problem at all. Then one day I came home from school with some friends and the back door was wide open. Something I knew hadn't been that way when I left. My friends agreed to help me look, but we were all scared. We found nothing, but my dog wouldn't go in with us. My friends all left, and they looked worried, but they had to get home. My dog finally went in, but he refused to past the kitchen. Halfway through the next school year my parents found a new house. My mom sincerely felt we needed to move to this house, and so we moved. Things were great. Although since I finally had gotten a boyfriend I wasn't too excited about moving. He promised he would stay with me, and visit at Christmas. I bought him something really nice. My mom even let me hand deliver it. He wasn't home. New year's eve he called me, and we talked for fifteen hours. My phone must have died three separate times. Lucky me we had more than one. It was shortly after 3 am when we said good-bye. A few weeks later a friend called to tell me he had a new girlfriend. I was heartbroken. Eventually I got over it, and I even made a few friends, although it did get really hard for me when a girl from my old school moved in and made up rumors about me to gain popularity. I lost about half of the friends I had made. I went on. I went to high school and I loved it. There were no cliques at my school. Everyone was friends with everyone. It didn't even matter what grade you were in. I took dance classes and eventually made the drill team. I thought my life was made. I finally went to my first haunted house. Of course since I was 15 I thought it was dumb. I wasn't scared, but I knew had I been 9 I would have been pissing my pants. My dad began to finish our basement, and weird things started happening again. We are talking really weird. Things would just disappear. The fire alarms would sporadically go off in the middle of the night. Worst of all our cats would start hissing at the ceiling. Then they would run and hide downstairs not to come up for hours. We decided that it was something about basements that didn't like us. In the day it was fun, because well it was neat to help out, but at night no one not even my dad would go down alone. The year I turned seventeen it was finally finished. I got a brand new bed. My mom used bright colors to decorate my room to make my depressed little self happier. My sister and I loved being downstairs. Although we never did like being the one who had to turn out the lights and walk in the dark to our room. I had a great boyfriend or so I thought anyway. He began controlling my every move. I got more and more depressed. My mom thought it was because we were downstairs, but it was something more. I began to see evil spirits in the basement. They became more and more plentiful, until one day they just left. I felt relieved, I went on choir tour and had a blast. I came and my boyfriend who I was supposed to marry that fall broke up with me. Again I was heart broken. I cried for weeks. I couldn't get out of bed. I missed over a month of school. I was failing every class. He felt bad and so he called to apologize. He claimed he broke up with me because he couldn't afford to take me to Prom and didn't want to disappoint me. I guess he had hoped that in two weeks I could find a date. That hurt me even more. Especially after I found out that he had gone with a really good friend of mine. I cried for a week straight I wouldn't eat, dance, or sing, which were all things that I loved to do. I refused to go to church, and still wouldn't go to school. My mom finally forced me to go back to school after I had missed a whole month of school. I was so behind, I knew there was no way I'd ever catch up. I decided to pray so that I could possibly get some help from on high. During my prayer the room suddenly got very dark. I opened my eyes after I felt different, and saw enough scary figures creeping up from the wall near my closet to make a grown man wet himself. I tried to scream, but no sound came out. I tried to move but I felt as though I had a weight on my chest. The dark spirits got closer and closer. I had seen my cousin after he had passed, and although he was dark, he wasn't scary. These spirits were like the ones they use in horror films. I finally felt a sharp pain in my rib. I grabbed it, and it was wet. I couldn't believe it. I jumped out of bed. Grateful I had regained control of my body, and I ran screaming up the stairs. I ran into my parent's room. I scared the daylights out of my mom, and my dad took a full two minutes before he was awake enough to comprehend that something had stabbed me. He ran downstairs to check my room out and to see if my sister was ok. She was fine, so he let her sleep. I was still bleeding. My mom called a few neighbor's over to help us out. I told them all what had happened. None of them believed me. None of them wanted to. A friend came over and he and my dad went downstairs to check again. They flipped on the light to my room. The light came on, but they could see nothing. My neighbor said he had never seen anything like it in his life. My room was filled with evil spirits. He saw the blood on my sheets, and knew I had been stabbed in my bed just as I said I had. They looked everywhere, but could find nothing undisturbed for anyone to have gotten out without passing someone. One of our neighbors knew a priest she called him to come over. He came over and blessed me, then he went down to dispel the spirits. As he said it there were so many spirits in that room, he felt as though he was visiting hell. He could not believe how many evil spirits had invaded my room. About an hour or so later he came back upstairs. He was visibly fatigued. He said he had fought a good fight, but that he would need to come back several more times to ensure they were gone. Then he came with my mother and I to the hospital. The staff thought we had lost our minds until the priest vouched for us. No one at the hospital had seen anything like it. I had the scar on my left side just below my breast. It was two and a half inches long. Finally it faded, and now looks like a stretch mark, which isn't any better, but at least I don't look like a post surgical patient. It took me years to get over what happened to me. I finally stopped seeing the evil spirits, but soon after I met my husband spirits of his long deceased family members began showing up. One of them likes to hide important paperwork from me at work. In fact now that I think about it my husband's W-2 did recently disappear, I wonder if his Uncle knows anything about it? That unfortunately is my experience with the other side. I could tell you a few more stories, but since they didn't occur at my home I'll save them for another day.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 1 (view)

Things That Go Bump in the Night. Posted: 2/5/2007 4:01:08 PM
This story was inspired by a fellow POFer who wrote briefly on the subject and the decided to keep the rest of the story to himself. I wish this POFer no ill will, but was saddened by his decision. This story begins when I was a young child. I was born in 1983 and I was approximately 9 years old. You should know that my parents had decided to shield me from the ungodly works of many horror authors, so while I was interested and a bit scared I had no where to base what was about to happen. Their theory was that if I wasn't watching or reading scary movies, TV shows or books I wouldn't be having nightmares and they could get more sleep. Every year I loved dressing up at Halloween, but was never allowed to be anything gory. When I was 8 years old I made a new best friend Nicole, she was great. My parents loved her, in fact my dad couldn't get enough of her. She was the daughter he never had. She loved wrestling and football, and was a tomboy to the end. She was allowed to watch scary movies etc. She invited me to a haunted house one year. My parents said no. I was sad I couldn't go, but my friend assured me she would make it up to me. We had been camping and my dad would tell us spooky stories there, but nothing more than typical folklore. I think these stories were mostly aimed at keeping us from wandering off alone. That year my friend told me a horrible story that had been going around, but whenever I came near they would hush, whisper, and point. I had thought all along that they were making fun of me, but they were really wondering if it was true. The story went that several years prior to us moving in a teenage girl had been babysitting some particularly naughty children. They had been doing things they shouldn't have and so when she tucked them in bed and the back door was open she thought nothing of it. She closed the door and noticed the basement door open. This was odd. The basement wasn't finished, and the children were too scared to go down there. She headed down the stairs to close it. When she came back up the oldest child was crying. She headed up the hall into the room with rust carpeting. (This happened to be my room). When she got there the child was shaking and curled up in a ball. She told her babysitter that a man with a knife had just come in and was looking for her. The babysitter shrugged it off. The house had always given her the creeps, but this child was known for making up stories. She closed the door and headed down the long hall. She wanted some popcorn and so she entered the kitchen. She knew where it was in the pantry and so she opened the door. There he was. He lunged out at her. I'll get you now you prude. She was in shock. It was a man who had asked her out. She said no and here he was waiting for her. She tried to get to the phone, but he grabbed her. He was trying to strangle her, but she was fighting back. He wanted her, but he knew she'd never give in if she was conscious. He thought if he just squoze a bit harder she would pass out as he leaned in to apply more pressure the railing broke and she fell 10 feet to the stairs. She had her knee bent up behind her. Her neck kinked at an odd angle. That's when he got scared and ran. The story goes that he was never caught, but that her ghost is still seen from time to time and especially when there is a babysitter near. I laughed the story off. Inside I was scared to death. The carpet on the stairs had been changed just before we moved in, and at the time the basement wasn't finished. The railing had been replaced too. That was a lot of coincidences. My friend said she hadn't lived there when it happened, but that if I didn't believe her I should ask the babysitter the next time she was over. This scared me more. The babysitter and her mother had lived there for years. Her mother was crippled supposedly from trying to fend off the killer. (I later found out it was Polio). I didn't want to ask the babysitter, and I knew my parents would freak out if I told them what was happening. So I told my friend she was crazy that it never happened. I told her if her ghost was there we would have seen her by now, as we regularly had babysitters and we were finishing the basement. My friend said she could prove it to me, but I needed to give her time to collect the facts. She had me over for a sleepover that weekend, and showed me just a few of her prized horror flicks. After about ten minutes I was convinced that evil demons were taking over the world. She told me that was all make believe, but that to prepare me she had shown movies I could forget. Then she showed me some movies based on true stories. The basic theme of each movie was that people who die tragic deaths often feel unresolved items tugging at them and so they stick around not so much to scare us as to get help, so they can move on. This kept me up all night long. Different things in the movie made me realize that my house was in fact haunted. She had me so convinced that she told me I could see it in daylight as well as at night. I didn't believe her at first, but she told me to trust her so I did. She began pointing out little things throughout our house such as an odd red stain on our ugly brown carpet. This was supposedly the blood of the victim trying to speak out so we would capture her killer. Later I learned it was tomato soup spilled by my mother. Then she pointed out how the lightbulbs always flickered at our house but never at school. This was later explained by the difference in the bulbs. She tried to tell me that lights were often seen on at night downstairs when we all knew no one was down there. My mother ran a daycare in her home for a long time. She had what she called a quiet room. In this room only quiet activities could take place such as reading and naps. She had foam mats on the floor and blankets etc. The kids were always fine until she turned the light out and closed the door. That's when without fail they would scream. She would come in and they would be shaking none of them able to speak. This room had a large window, so it was plenty light. This my mom thought was odd. She had a few trouble makers in the group and chalked it up to that. Until that is my sister and I volunteered to pretend to be asleep. We laid down on the mats and closed our eyes as our mother read a great story to the kids. Soon most were asleep, so she closed the book and left the room. She turned off the light and closed the door. That's when I screamed. It was really all I could think of to do. My mom thought it was a prank until my sister started telling it to leave. My sister and I both had huge imaginations, but my sister never messed around. We could easily tell if she was lying, by telling her not to lie, if she smiled she was fibbing, but if not she was serious. My mom came in and he left. He had appeared behind the door so when we told her this she closed the door still in the room. He didn't appear, so she thought we were trying to pull a fast one. That is until she noticed my sister had wet herself. My mom got really nervous at that point. She decided it was time to get out of the daycare business and into an office job. She told my father it was because the homedaycare encroached on her family life, but that was only because she knew my dad would tease her. After that day she began to get severe migraines. Nothing worked on them except getting out of the house for longer than three hours. She knew something was wrong. She talked to a church member who she thought would have the answers but he offered little help. My sister and I finally talked to the babysitter who upon hearing what we said ran screaming from our house. She never babysat us again. She called to apologize and even brought over cookies. She never did reenter our home. She told my mom on the porch why she had left. Stating that hearing the story brought back the nightmares of so long ago. The girl who had been murdered in that house was her babysitter. She said after she died she saw her ghost, but when she turned 13 she stopped seeing her. She had forgotten all about it until I brought it up. My mom was convinced that we needed to move, but my dad wouldn't hear of it. My mom was watching TV one day and my sister and I came down to see what she was up to. There was a chair in the corner. My mom asked for some water and we went to get it. When we came down the chair had moved. We asked my mom if she had moved and she replied that she hadn't because her head hurt so badly. We asked if she noticed the chair? Her face went white, and she told us all to go upstairs. We don't know what happened down there, but that chair never moved again. The summer I turned ten we were on the roof watching the fireworks at the fourth of July celebration. My sister and I were scared, but we trusted our Dad. He had been on the roof several times. We had too, and my mom used to do backflips off the roof onto matresses. After the fireworks were over we climbed down onto the shed roof. And my Dad jumped down. He stood on the ledge behind the shed it was almost two feet wide. He had my mom lay on her stomach and inch down until her feet were firmly on his shoulders. She told my dad she felt fine, but he told her to inch over so that if she fell she wouldn't hit her head on the swamp cooler. She moved to the left and as she did my dad crept over. It was then that he saw someone in his shed. This caught him off guard a bit. He forgot to tell my mom and she fell breaking her arm in three places. My sister and I screamed for what seemed like hours. My dad was consumed with the man in the shed, and went in, but when he turned on the light no one was there. He turned the light off and saw glowing blue eyes and a sinister smile. The figure reached towards him, but he locked the shed and ran to check on my mom. As soon as he saw she was ok, he got us down. I ran in to get my mom my sling from when I had broken my arm the previous spring. I felt great helping and being calm after the initial shock wore off. It took her arm months to heal, because it couldn't be casted. She was in a great deal of pain, and my sister and I had to help with everything until she regained her arm's use again. The rest of the summer seemed as though it flew by and before we knew it it was summer again. My best friend Nicole had moved, and as soon as she did we all felt a bit easier in the house. Nothing out of the ordinary happened at all. At least not for a while anyway. My dad bought a boom box, and he played Metallica and Rush constantly. He loved the ideas of c.d.'s although the cd's and the boom box were expensive. He thought he was pretty cool owning one, until he realized what happened at night. I got up one night to use the bathroom, and noticed a red flashing light. I went to turn it off and that's when I noticed it was unplugged. I jumped back. It couldn't be on all by itself. I remembered it could operate on batteries so I flipped the switch to off and the lights went off. I breathed a sigh of relief and flipped the boom box over. I opened the battery house. It was empty. I turned it back around and there were those flashing lights again. I was really scared now. I ran back to my room and dove under the covers burying my head under the blankets. When I finally relaxed I pulled my head out only to be greeted by flashing red lights. They seemed to move closer and closer. I couldn't breath, I couldn't scream though God knows I wanted to scream bloody murder. I was frozen, nothing in my body seemed to work. Then I heard the noise it was emitting. It was purring. I finally let out my breath when I realized it was my cat. Damn thing I felt the blood pounding in my head. My heart rate finally returned to normal and then I fell asleep. I slept really well until I heard the whispering about two hours later. I jumped about three feet, and then returned to my skin. It was my sister she wanted to know if I had seen the flashing red lights. I told her I had, but that I couldn't get it to stop. She slept in my bed that night. The flashing red lights went on for a few weeks and then suddenly it stopped. Then the TV sporadically changed channels or volume. Sometimes it would turn on and off. It got so bad we had to unplug it at night. It still happened. That's when my mom knew our house was possesed. She wanted out of there and fast, but she couldn't convince my dad. Next Installment soon.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

Just What My Doctor Ordered Posted: 2/5/2007 1:21:03 PM
I loved it. I work for a Doctor, and let me tell you what you are not the only one this happens to. The Doctor I work for is male, but he is single, and I can't tell you how many women have come in made up an ailment requiring removal of their shirts and then been disappointed when it was nothing more than a typical office visit. They get really upset when they learn that the Doctor can't date them because of ethical violations etc, for at least 30 days after their formal discharge from our office. I find it sad, but quite humorous. HEHE Oh and by the way you aren't the only male on earth to have the hots for you doc. You also aren't the only one to have wondered if she admired your package. (Most Doctors look at them as just another body part, until they are out of the office and dating or enjoying married life.) I wish you all the best and if you do decide to go for it with the hot doctor then may I suggest waiting until after you have had your records removed from that office for at least 30 days before asking her out. At least that way she can legally date you if she is in fact available.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 26 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 2/1/2007 2:06:45 PM
I hope you all enjoy this. Thanks for the great comments so far. CHAPTER FOUR "Pa! Pa! Are you alright?" John's oldest son Adam was nearly in tears, his daughters had come running from the house and his beautiful Margaret wasn't far behind them. His youngest boy Nathaniel dropped the bucket of slop he had been carrying out to the hogs and joined Adam at his father's side. John was standing there with a glazed look in his eyes. He hadn't heard a word anyone had said it was as though he was in his own world. Margaret smacked him a bit to see if that would help, but he still hadn't returned to them. She instructed Rebecka to fill a pail with water and bring it to her along with a washcloth. She sat her husband down on the ground and removed anything that might get damaged by water. Adam held on to his shoes and pocket watch, and then his mother began to remove his clothing so she wouldn't have to wash it. Once she had him down to his long johns she dipped the washcloth in the water and wrang it out over his face. Nothing. "Alright John," she said, "you asked for it." She picked up the bucket and dumped it on his head. Elizabeth giggled at the sight of her father sitting in a pool of water and wet clothes. John sprang into action. "What on God's green earth is going here?" They all giggled this time, "Daddy you were gone again. Momma was just bringing you back." "What are you talking about I wasn't gone, I only came out here to check on the animals. Your mother insisted something was wrong, and I was just trying to quell her fears. What are you all looking at me like that for?" "John darling, I haven't asked you to check on the animals at all. You came out..." John interrupted her, "not you darling, your mother. She said something didn't feel right when she went to bed last night so I am just trying to show her that everything is fine. Where is Adele? I am surprised she isn't out here to see what all the fuss is about." Tears stung her cheeck, "Darling my mother passed on three years ago. You came out to feed the animals and to milk the cows. Where are the milk pails?" "That's not amusing sweetheart. Your mother couldn't have died three years ago we spoke with her just last night before the storm rolled in. I know things have been strained with the thief still lose, but surely you can't be this confused about things." "Mommy, what is Daddy talking about," came the query of their youngest daughter. "How about we all go inside and get some breakfast?" She knew food would make the children forget what their father had said, or at least the younger ones anyhow. John smiled at his wife and joined his children on their march to the kitchen. "Great idea sweetheart. Do you mind if I get dressed first though?" Margaret laughed now, "Of course not darling, we'll wait for you." Adam grabbed the milk pails from the barn and headed off to the kitchen wondering what had happened to the man he called father. John entered their home and headed down the hall to his room to get dressed. Something seemed different about the house. He couldn't place his finger on it, but something was odd. The girls hurried to get the rest of breakfast on the table, and Nathaniel washed his hands and was the first to be seated. John joined the family at the table. He wondered where Roy and Adele were, but he hated to see his wife cry so he proceeded as if it was normal that they weren't there. He asked who wanted to say Grace and as usual Nathaniel and Elizabeth fought over whose turn it was. It was decided that from now on Nathaniel would say Grace at breakfast, Elizabeth would say Grace at dinner, and Rebecka and Adam would take turns at supper, the only exceptions would be if guests were present or if it was a holiday. Those occasions would be reserved for John, and on the Sabbath Margaret would say Grace at Supper, but would choose who got to say Grace at the other two meals. This seemed to be agreeable to everyone, so they joined hands and bowed their heads with their eyes closed while Nathaniel said Grace over breakfast. Everyone enjoyed the hearty breakfast and was preparing to settle in for a hard day of work when Margaret announced that for the time being only dishes needed to be done. John objected, "Margaret darling if I don't get the fields plowed we won't be able to plant, and if we don't plant now, we won't have food to get us through the winter or this summer." "I know that darling, but I don't want you operating that tractor after an episode like this morning. They aren't safe to begin with, and well with you not feeling well I shudder at the thought of what could happen." "Margaret I am going to plow the fields today, and I'll not hear another word about it," his voice boomed across the room as he said it. He no longer cared about anything except proving that there was nothing wrong with him. "Boys get on out to the stable and get the tractor ready to go." With that John got up and headed out to the stable expecting his boys to be right behind him. They lingered in the house almost scared to move. Their father had never spoken to their mother like that before. They weren't quite sure how to react, but the girls knew. They all had tears streaming down their faces. Where did their daddy go? "Adam darling what was your father doing before he left?" "What do you mean left?" "Well I suppose I mean before you noticed that he couldn't hear you?" "Oh well he was bringing the full milk pails out of the barn. He stopped and turned to remind me that we needed to plow today and told me to hurry about my chores. I told him that I remembered and that you had even made a hearty breakfast for us. Then he started to cry, and he just kinda stared off across the field. The girls came out when they heard me screaming." "Okay son thank you. You better hurry on out there. Keep a close eye on your father. I am going to head over to get Teddy and see if I can't get him to watch him too. While I'm over there I am going to call the Doctor. Don't tell your father what I am doing okay? "Okay Ma, I'll watch him real close, and I promise not to say a word." "Girls you finish up here, I'll be right back. I might even bring Anna over to play with you when I come back." "YEAH!" The girls had been pouting at having to complete the dishes alone, but the thought of playtime quickly cheered them up. Margaret headed off to Ruth's, and the girls quickly got to work. Adam made it out to the stable in time to help finish getting the tractor ready. He opened the stable door, and the tractor took off without a hitch. Adam and Nathaniel carried the large plow over to the field so they could get started. It was a heavy piece of equipment, but the boys were strong. They soon reached the field and gently laid the plow on the ground. They hooked it up to the tractor and their dad took off. He was making quick work of the field with his new tractor. Suddenly his decision to purchase the tractor seemed like a great investment. He could easily double or even triple his work load and barely notice. He made up his mind to bring the tractor over to Teddy's and plow his fields too. After all the help his boys had given him over the years it would be the least he could do. The tractor's engine cut into the stillness of the morning frightening most of the animals on the farm. It took both boys to calm them down. They decided to close them all up in the barn and stables respectively just to keep them quiet. This would also help Adam keep an eye on his father. By the time the boys got back up to the field their father had begun to plow his third row. It seemed to them the tractor could do anything. Not only was it strong, but it was fast. At this rate Adam figured they would easily have the field plowed in time for dinner. Margaret arrived panting and out of breath and the look on her face told Ruth something wasn't right. She told her daughter Anna to go get her pappa. She grabbed a glass of water for Margaret and invited her to sit down at the table. "Thank you Ruth," was all she could utter as she sank into the chair. She nearly gulped down the water, and had just caught her breath when Teddy came in. "Ruth what's going on, Anna said you needed me?" "Teddy, take one look at Margaret something isn't right over at her place, and I knew she'd want you to come over." Teddy looked and sure enough Margaret looked like a caged bird with a cat sitting in front of an open door just waiting for her to try to escape. He couldn't imagine what could possibly make her this scared. "Teddy, Ruth I am so sorry to scare you like this. It's John. He left again. It was over thirty minutes before we got him back this time. He keeps insisting that he plow the fields today, but I am worried about that new fangled machine he's got. My father read several stories about people dying when they try to fix them, and you know John he can fix anything." "Margaret don't you worry your pretty little head. I'll go over and keep an eye on him right now. His tractor is so darn loud it scared my animals half to death, and I thought for sure we were in the middle of a war zone. I'll just tell him I want to see what his machine can do. If I know John he'll not only try to finish his fields before dinner, but he'll come over this side of the creek and plow mine too, just to show me how fast he can go." They all laughed knowing that was exactly what John would do. For a few minutes the tension eased on Margaret's face, but it came back quickly knowing that her boys were over there alone with John, and she knew that if John couldn't get to a part he would have his boys reach in and grab it for him. Teddy recognized the look on her face, and assured her he was on his way. He asked Ruth to finish putting the animals in the barn so he could get over there. Margaret asked if she could use the phone to call the Doctor, and was told not to wait another second. As the phone rang Margaret felt as if her world was falling apart. She managed to reach a nearby chair and pulled it over to the wall sinking into. When the Doctor finally answered she explained that John had left again and told him how long he had been gone. He tried to quiet her fears, but it was to no avail, Margaret knew she was losing John, she just wanted to know how much time she had left. The Doctor promised to be at her farm within the hour. Margaret hung up the phone and waited for her hands and her legs to stop shaking so she could go home. She pushed the chair back up to the table, and headed out the back door to find Anna. "Anna," she called, "Anna where are you?" "I'm over her Miss Margaret," came the reply of the little 6 year old. Margaret headed over to the shade of the large apple tree planted so long ago. "Anna how would you like to come over to my house and play with Rebecka and Elizabeth?" "Really? Oh Miss Margaret I would love to." Margaret knew her girls would be delighted and so she took Anna's hand and told Ruth where they were going. Ruth decided to come with them and soon all of them were crossing the creek. When they got to the back door Margaret was delighted to find that all of the breakfast dishes had been done, and the girls had started dusting the rest of the house. The tears came quickly, and Margaret didn't even try to fight them back. She couldn't believe how thoughtful her little angels were. When they saw her they ran to give her a hug. Margaret wrapped her arms around them and kissed their cheeks. "Oh girls this is the best surprise ever." "Really Momma?" "Really darling." Anna couldn't wait anymore, she had come to play and play she would. She ran from her mother's grasp and as soon as Elizabeth saw her the moment was gone. "Oh goody Anna's here, Anna's here," she squealed with delight. They all ran outside to play, while Ruth busied herself helping Margaret finish up the chores. Margaret couldn't have the Doctor seeing her house out of order, though by anyone else's standards her home was never less than emacculate. Margaret hadn't realized just how much of her mother had rubbed off on her, but she also knew it would make her mother proud to see her now. Her children were strong and healthy, and beautiful. They were also respectful, and smart as a whip. Before she knew it the Doctor was knocking on her door. She rushed to let him in. "Oh I am so glad you are here. I am so worried about John." "I know you are Margaret, but remember his father was like this too, and he lived another ten years or so." "I know Doctor and that's what worries me, I want more than ten more years with him." "Alright Margaret now calm down, where is John?" "He's out plowing that field. I have my boys and Teddy watching him." "Didn't he buy a tractor last fall?" "Yes, why yes he did why?" "Margaret I don't want to alarm you, but those things are very loud, and well I don't hear anything but birds singing." "Oh my goodness you're right!" Without a moments hesitation she was running out the back door to the field. The Doctor followed behind her, but he seemed unhurried. He was hoping John was just adding more coal, and not attempting to work on the tractor. They got to the field, but only the boys were there, planting seeds for their crops. Margaret couldn't believe he had the entire field plowed. She was quite impressed. "Boys where is your father?" "He went over to plow Teddy's fields too. Teddy said he wanted to try it out, and well you know Pa he offered to do it for him." "Alright boys that's where we'll be then." Margaret was still nervous she didn't hear the tractor and with only Teddy there anything could happen. Ruth and the Doctor saw the fear in her face. They tried to calm her down, but they knew she wouldn't be calm until she her husband was fine. Margaret increased her pace to almost a run. When she got to the field she saw the tractor, she saw Teddy, but she didn't see her husband. This made her heart stop in her chest. She ran to the field. Teddy tried to stop her, but she knew something was wrong. "John," she screamed, "John!" She was nearly hysterical as she got to the heap lying on the ground covered in blood. The Doctor and Ruth had heard her screams and came running. John was covered in blood a horrifying look on his face. He reached up to stroke Margaret's face. "I love you," he managed to choke out, "I should have listened to you." At that point his eyes rolled back in his head. Margaret began crying. "No John you can't leave me like this!" The Doctor had sent Ruth into the house for hot water and clean towels. Luckily he had his kit with him. He poured some alcohol on the wound and for the first time saw how mangled John's hand really was. His arm had been badly burned by the steam in the tractor's engine. When Ruth had returned with the water and towels the Doctor sent her for a pail of cool water and rags. Teddy just stood there knowing there was nothing he could do to help. "Teddy get over her and help me," said the Doctor in a calm but authoritative tone. Teddy came over not really wanting to see his friend lying there in his own blood. "What can I do to help," he barely got the words out he was so choked up. "For starters you can stop crying and focus. Then I need you to hold him still while I try to straighten out the bones in his arm and his hand." The Doctor was grateful John had passed out this would be really painful if he was still conscious. With Teddy holding his chest and shoulder down the Doctor reached in and began manipulating the bones until they were in the right spot or at least close to it. Several of the bones in his hand had been crushed, and the Doctor was doubtful he'd ever regain it's use. "Teddy, I need you to tell us exactly what happened." "Well John wanted to plow my fields so we brought the tractor and the plow over and got started. The machine slowed way down so John turned her off and we got more coal. He opened her up I dumped it in. She started right up and away he went. She just stopped so John shut her off and opened her up. She had plenty of coal so we couldn't figure out what was going on. I grabbed the bucket and John began pulling the coal out to get a better look. That's when he saw the problem. He reached in to grab one of the tools that somehow got in the bucket and when he tried to pull it out the machine pulled the other way taking his hand with it." "Alright Teddy, that's what I needed to know. I am confused a bit though you said the machine was off, so how did it pull the tool and his hand in?" "Oh well John was telling me that he had to be careful, because sometimes they have a mind of their own. I guess maybe it just kind of rolled forward after John pulled it back." "That does make sense. Thanks for clearing that up. Did he say which tool was clogging up the chute?" "Yes he did and that's what I don't understand. He said that my shoe pick was in there. I just can't figure out how that got in there when I keep it in the stable and the coal in the barn." Ruth's face suddenly went white, and Teddy had to catch her so she wouldn't hit her head on the tractor. The Doctor had to splash water on her face to bring her to. Meanwhile Margaret continued dipping the rags in the cool water and placing them on John's burned arm. Tears were streaming down her face, but she didn't intend to let John die. "Ruth what do you know about the tool John was trying to retrieve?" "I saw Anna playing with it, and I told her to put it away, but she said she couldn't remember where it went. I told her to toss it in the bucket and you would put it away for her, but to not play with your tools ever again. When you dumped in the coal you must not have seen it. We musn't tell Anna about this. She'll think it's all her fault." The Doctor agreed, and then set about his work with John. Once he finally got the bones straightened out he had Teddy grab him some flat straight wood from the barn. He wrapped this in clean rags and then wrapped John's mangled hand and arm on it so they wouldn't move. Then he set about bringing John back.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 19 (view)

Ont. gov't website to embarrass deadbeat parents Posted: 1/31/2007 9:24:22 AM
Perhaps when the government is spending less on trying to enforce child support they can in fact boost the health care system. I wish America would do something like this. I know so many women struggling to make ends meet because their exes refuse to pay up. It's really sad to see so many men who refuse to own up to their responsibilities whether they feel it was a mistake or not. These children have the right to be provided for, that's why child support was set up in the first place. I say Kudos to the Candian Government, and I hope more countries will follow suit.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 139 (view)

Disabled for life, should I be too? Posted: 1/30/2007 3:20:26 PM
I too am not passing judgement, but I feel it would be better for all parties involved if you waited until after she passed to try to begin a relationship. This helps you not feel guilty and even though she has a disability it doesn't mean she doesn't know something isn't right. Plus this way the gal you are seeing won't feel guilty either. This will also help family members of all three people view things better. I say this because I know someone who is very close to me who was recently in that situation and it ended horribly for her. I would hate to see anyone else go through that kind of pain.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

Where are you today??? Posted: 1/29/2007 4:04:47 PM
WOW, that's really all I can say. I am blown away by the insight you have put into your thread. I know what you mean about not being able to help but open the door to the past. I think about what might have been with my most recent ex often, I wonder if he still would take me back, or if he has finally been able to heal. I am married now, and on trying days I wonder how much better things would have been if I had stuck with the one whose routine I knew and he knew mine, rather than choosing the unknown. I also wonder if his family truly would have been able to forget the past, and what happened that horrible day. If they would truly understand where I was and that I would never go there again. Truth be told that is probably the main reason I chose the unknown. I was afraid they'd never be able to accept me again. Although I still love him in a platonic way, I still love his family too, and I yearn for the relationships that were forced to an end. To think about it makes my heart break again, and so I try to limit my time in that place, but as you said sometimes you just can't help it. Don't get me wrong I love my husband, I wouldn't have married him otherwise, but I still wonder. My past has definitely made me stronger, but parts of it were also debilitating. Some of if I have moved on from, but other parts I still go back to frequently just wishing I could do it over, but knowing I wouldn't be where I am now if I changed even the smallest thing about my past. To be honest I am glad that I am where I am, I am finally happy. I am not the happiest I could be, but I am well on my way. So OP where are you?

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 4 (view)

Never Ask Again Posted: 1/29/2007 11:12:52 AM
Ok so now I feel bad for taking so long to check back to see if there were any additions. I can certainly understand your being uncomfortable. When you do feel comfortable sharing the answers with us please do. I am glad you were able to write this and help yourself in the healing process. I know that can take a long time. As much as I hated when I needed healing sometimes talking is the only thing that actually helps. I wish you the best of luck, and I will continue to wait patiently for additions to both of your posts.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 4 (view)

Tales of the Nightwind Posted: 1/23/2007 1:13:44 PM
WOW, what a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us. I loved it, and I can't wait to read more. You are truly a great author. I love when stories write themselves it makes them so much easier to write. I hope that you will continue this story as I am truly wrapped up in it. This story has a bit of everything life used to mean in it. When I think about starting my career in midwivery this is the type of thing I picture. Being at one with nature, and using all in nature to help the mother through the birthing process with few complications. I loved the story and I can't wait to read more if there is going to be more.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 3 (view)

The Hermit Crab of Bedlam Posted: 1/23/2007 12:24:41 PM
I loved your story. You did an incredible job telling it. I loved how you told the story from the child's point of view. It was a great variation on the norm. This story has amazing depth to it. The flow is perfect, not too slowly, but not so fast you miss something either. I sincerely hope that you will add a bit more to story, as it will be interesting to see what the child does as the guard. It will also be interesting to see how the Dr. copes with his guilt, and how long he can last before he finally admits to his wrong doing. As far as the censored bit goes, the site has no way of knowing the context of word usage, and so all words that generally denote a naughty meaning have been banned. This made writing erotica extremely difficult, and that is one of several reasons I have stopped writing it.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 27 (view)

What can I get him for Valentine's Day? Posted: 1/23/2007 8:54:00 AM
Morning Glory, You are a genius. Thank you Thank you Thank you! I love the idea, now I just need to go buy everything I'll need. HEHEHE He already even has a hockey stick so I just need to borrow a puck, and buy a jersey. HEHEHE I love the idea. OOOO this is gonna be great. I am so excited right now. I almost wish I didn't have to wait two more weeks. I did some research and there is a game on Valentine's. YEAH Thanks again for the idea. After Valentine's I'll let ya know how it turned out. HEHE

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

God's Camera Posted: 1/19/2007 9:34:00 AM
This is a great piece of writing. I love the analogy of the lightening for a camera. It's simply genius. I love that you told the story from the perspective of a small child. The different types of fear wow did you ever nail them on the head. Sad to think about a few of the fears you named, but it's so right on the money. The story was very descriptive, and I felt I could even see a few of the photos taken by God's camera. BRAVO man BRAVO

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 24 (view)

What can I get him for Valentine's Day? Posted: 1/18/2007 2:39:57 PM
First of all let me just say how much I laughed as I read some of these. Second Mormons have not practiced polygamy since the 1848. I don't know why it still follows us around, but it does get kind of annoying. If you have questions ask I'd be glad to answer them in a private email. Now on to the heart of the matter. Simlasa I sincerely appreciate your feedback. I love the idea, but now I need your help to make it work. I need to figure out how to connect rinkside hockey tickets to lingerie. His favorite sport is Hockey and although I hate it, it won't kill me to attend one game with him. HEHE I also plan on getting him some lingerie so how can this be connected? We are planning on doing dinner somewhere nice, but not too nice so I am thinking of going to dinner near the rink so we can hop on over, but I don't want to give anything away until we are there. If I could I would make him ride blindfolded, but I know that wouldn't happen. Thanks in advance for any advice you may have.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

The Tortoise Shell Disco Posted: 1/18/2007 2:17:50 PM
I really tried to read this and I just couldn't. It makes no sense. It just seemed to ramble on and on talking about nothing. You need to break it into paragraphs so that your readers can try to understand you a bit. In a nut shell, or I guess tortise shell in this case, I was confused by the story, and quickly hit the backspace key. I realized you would probably be wondering why no one was replying and so I decided to tell you. Honestly if you didn't ramble and if you finished your thought without jumping to the next perhaps you would get more readers. Perhaps people could actually enjoy your story. If you need help ask there are tons of us willing to offer ideas and suggestions. If it helps read others work to get an idea of what I am talking about. Good luck.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 20 (view)

What can I get him for Valentine's Day? Posted: 1/17/2007 1:45:59 PM
Ok the handcuffs are a great idea, but we already have the bondage straps so they would be kind of overdoing it no? I am so glad you told me that men only want sex and not romance. I never would have figured that out. On a serious note, he is different yes sexy is great, but he wants to connect on a deeper level, or at least that's what he tells me. As far as the beer goes we are mormon so we don't drink, coffee, tea, or any form of alcoholic beverages, we also don't smoke or do drugs, and we aren't supposed to have sex before we get married. I could however get him his favorite soda and chill it. HEHE

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

The Killing Fields > Chapters 1, 2 & 3 Posted: 1/17/2007 11:19:59 AM
OOOOOOOOOOOO I am still loving this story. I am especially enjoying how much detail you are putting into it. This could easily be an episode of CSI. You are doing a great job, I can't imagine the destruction that would come as a result of bad parenting and forced sexual relations to a small child. It makes me sick to think that someone would even consider doing that to a five year old. I am eagerly waiting the addition of the next three chapters, and I hope they prove to be as detailed as the first three. You have clearly done your research and the story is incredible. I sincerely hope that none of this story is based on anything from your life. Keep up the great work.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

Love, the cruellest emotion of all Posted: 1/17/2007 10:50:46 AM
I think you have a very well written piece here. I would have loved to see the entire story, however. I don't think it jumped around too much, but it would have been nice to have the filler pieces as well. I think if you really wanted to you could turn it into a short book or even a novel. You already have a good base of characters, and this would make a great hook the reader chapter. I noticed you had said that most of this had happened to you. I am sorry to hear that. As far as the suicidal thoughts go you really should get help, the longer you let it go untreated the more dangerous it becomes. I wish you all the best of luck.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

The funniest thing happened Posted: 1/17/2007 10:06:55 AM
Ok so that was an interesting story to say the least. Just curious but were you high at any point while writing this or while it occured? Oh and I agree the lion thing is sad, but I didn't hear about the pelicans at the London zoo. Sorry. I think you did a really good job illustrating what you were trying to say and I felt as I were watching the bones crawling about etc. It was cool, but definitely weird. So were you on a roof cutting this plywood or just on the ground?

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 15 (view)

What can I get him for Valentine's Day? Posted: 1/17/2007 9:52:01 AM
Ok we are married so the three-way thing is totally out of the question. Prior to getting married I know he would have been all for it, but we both agreed prior to getting married that we would never experiment with others after we got married. (This came as the result of seeing a loved one's marriage destroyed by the swinger lifestyle.) Personally I am not at all into women, yes we are beautiful and our bodies can be gorgeous, but I am just not turned on by them. I too am seeking something romantic, yet unsexual for a gift for him, but I want something better than a card.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 11 (view)

What can I get him for Valentine's Day? Posted: 1/16/2007 10:38:59 AM
I personally think that is the best gift idea of all. You crack me up. I wish I could get him working more hours, but right now it's just not possible. Not because the hours aren't available etc, but because he isn't well trained. And well as much as I hate to say it, if I were a manager I wouldn't hire him. Anywho, does anyone have any romantic, but not sexual gift ideas? I love the sexy ideas, but I may not be feeling particularly amorous that night, or I may not be able to even if I am. SO I would love to have a back up plan.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

Dear Laura, What dreams may come... Posted: 1/16/2007 10:25:02 AM
WOW!!! That was a great story, keep it up. I am eager to read the next part of the story. Thank you for sharing you journey with us. I am not sure if you were aware of this or not, but for a German person or even a person of Germanic descent to be tall is not all that unusual. I have an aunt who was born and raised in Germany and she is about 6'5". Gargantuan by American standards, but typical there. According to her she was only ever maybe 2-3" taller than other girls her age. She sounds as if she was a truly lovely person and I am glad you are sharing her story with us so that we may get to know her as well.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 9 (view)

What can I get him for Valentine's Day? Posted: 1/12/2007 2:43:41 PM
Well I am certainly grateful for the responses that I have gotten. I didn't know they made ball scratchers either until yesterday that is. Anyhow, in regards to the gifts I did get him, I got him things he needs to get where he wants to be. In reality he does want them he just doesn't know how to ask for them. He did drop hints about sweaters etc. I would have bought him a video game, but we had a small budget, and games get pricey, plus everytime I found a game I could afford he went out and bought. The little shit. As far as the new game system goes, when he starts pitching in more financially and around the house it might just happen. Just so you all don't think I am a biatch I work two jobs each day and put in over 12 hours, he works one and is there for 4-5 hours if I am lucky. Then he complains about how demanding his job is (oh and he works for a local fast food chain). It honestly makes me want to smack him upside the head. Anyhow, the handcuffs are a great idea, and I will put them at the top of my list. I could even couple this with a basket, lingerie and tickets to a hockey game I'd really rather not see. As far as talking to his buddies go, he hasn't got very many, and the one who has known him the longest is on my bad side right now. Long story short, my husband told him to man up and so he left him on the side of the road in the pouring rain. I had to drive over an hour to get him, making us late for my best friend's birthday party. When I called to let him know that I found his behavior completely unacceptable he called me a B*tch and hung up. The most I have spoken to him was at the family Christmas party after he split his head open as I was taking him to the ER. Thanks again for the advice, but I'll keep my ears out for more.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 1 (view)

What can I get him for Valentine's Day? Posted: 1/12/2007 12:46:16 PM
Ok so just a little background. My husband and I met in April and got married in June. For Christmas rather than getting him gifts he wanted like the Play Station 3 I got him things he needed like decent looking clothes vs. holey T-shirts and holey jeans. My husband is a closet geek. He tries to be cool and hip, but unless something new is technology or TV/Movie related he is clueless. He tries to watch sports and some he genuinely enjoys, but others I know he merely pretends to like so that others won't think he is nuts. I have googled gifts for him for V.Day, and gotten some interesting tips ranging from lingerie to an executive ball scratcher, oh and I can't forget the boobie stress reliever balls. The last two made me laugh. The lingerie is a great idea, but I am on a Wal*Mart budget. I know he won't like chocolates or a poem, but I still want the gift to be great and at the same time romantic. So what gifts have you gotten in the past that blew your mind? I really don't want this holiday to bomb as badly as Christmas did. Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 5 (view)

Light vs. Smell Posted: 1/12/2007 11:35:49 AM
Wow now that is something to think about. I believe it is very possible. Supposedly the universe has no beginning and no end, but it never says that the middle of the universe has no beginning or end or if your mind can't grasp that perhaps there is no limit to North South East or West, but perhaps there is a limit to the altitude and depth of space. Ooo that was deep for me, I suddenly feel my intelligence returning after so many years of being forced to dumb it down. Anyhow, that's my take on things. I like the worm and funnel idea, it makes sense as do the droplet universes and multiverses.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 3 (view)

Light vs. Smell Posted: 1/12/2007 10:15:46 AM
This is brilliant. It just goes to show you that there are many theories yet to be tested. Normally this type of stuff is way over my head, but I understood what you were saying. Thank you for sharing it with us, and I hope mathmeticians, and scientists will research it. I for one sincerly hope we are not in existence because of a flatulent dog. Great job, keep up the good work.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

The Land Of The Dead & The Graveyard Of The Lviving Posted: 1/11/2007 2:05:36 PM
I think you have a base for a really great story. The typos do make it a bit difficult to read, but the story is great. I did notice a few inconsistencies in the story for one Jesse walked for a month without food or drink, or sleep. This is not physically possible. The body will die without food in 7-10 days and without water in 3 so it just doesn't work sorry. There have been no proven scientific tests so far as the sleep goes, but the others have been proven. The other inconsistency I noticed is that he said he was full from the candy still yet he had a hot dog and a plate of nachos, and was grateful the cheese was hot and the hot dog wasn't stale. Then in your last posted paragraph you state that it had been a long time since he had had a hot meal. You should probably change that a little so that it fits with your story. Again I am really liking the story and I really can't wait to read more. Keep writing, but don't forget to edit before posting.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

Thousand Half Miles Posted: 1/10/2007 11:22:39 AM
I loved it. This was a great story. I love your sense of humor. Keep on writing you are doing a great job.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

Sanctuary, Solitude, and Journeys Through A Garden Posted: 1/10/2007 11:16:04 AM
Very nice. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing and keep on writing.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 22 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/10/2007 10:56:59 AM
CHAPTER THREE The sun rise was spectacular as Adele took in the start of her second week on the farm. It took some getting used to, but Adele was actually enjoying the country. She loved the quiet of the morning, but mostly she loved being so close to her daughter. She took a large sip of coffee from her mug, and then sat back on the porch swing to listen to the morning. The birds were singing in the trees and zipping about trying to catch the worms. The squirrels were chattering noisely and chasing each other around the trees and up the trees and down the trees and almost to the porch where they saw Adele and then scurried back to the nearest tree. She could hear the hens clucking and the rooster crowing, she could even hear the cows bawling as they were being led out to the pasture. She never thought she would enjoy these sounds, but they were like music to her ears now. She wasn't sure if she wanted to tell Roy yet, but she was actually beginning to look forward to their own summer cottage. Her coffee was gone now and she went inside to help Margaret put the finishing touches on breakfast. By the time the men had finished the morning chores breakfast was ready and waiting for them. Roy loved being in the country and couldn't figure out why he had waited so long to return. He loved the fresh air, and the work was making him stronger and leaner too. He couldn't seem to get enough to eat, but then he was working harder than he had ever worked in his life. He felt totally invigorated and couldn't wait to have his own summer cottage. He entered the kitchen, kissed his wife, and then kissed his daughter on the cheeck. "Morning ladies," he said inhaling deeply to catch the aroma of breakfast. "Margaret it looks wonderful and it smells well delicious." "Morning Daddy, thank you I think it looks pretty good myself," she said with a laugh. John loved that they were so close, but he almost felt as though he had been pushed aside. He tried not to let it get to him, but it was hard to stifle the urge he had to scream at both of them. He wanted to get back to his marriage, and to try to have another baby. He wanted to be completely alone with his wife. At the same time he knew that without Roy's help he never would have gotten that chicken coop finished before fall, or the new gate installed in the pasture. Roy seemed to think crops just needed watering, but he had already missed the plowing and the planting, and he would miss the harvest in the fall. Gratefully John didn't have a large farm, or it would take him all fall instead of just September to get it all done. They all sat down at the table and John said grace. The men ate as though it had been years since their last meal. They barely even talked as they seemingly wolfed down their food. Margaret could take no more and began to laugh at their behavior. John began to blush as he realized what she was laughing at, but her father became angry. "Why are you laughing at the table Margaret? Civilized people do not laugh at the table unless something funny was said. I haven't heard any talking at this table today," Roy said somewhat indignantly. "Relax Daddy, I am only laughing at the way you are eating like it's your last meal." "Well I won't have you laughing at my table manners, if you think they are so horrid we shall leave at once!" With that Roy slid his chair back and stormed off to the guest room. Margaret was in shock she had never seen her father this upset before. She didn't know what to do. Part of her wanted to cry the other part of her wanted to laugh at his reaction. John wrapped her in his arms. While Adele went in to tame the beast. "Roy I don't know what's gotten into you, but you will go out and apologize for your rude behavior this isntant. I will not have you insulting your own daughter in her house. Now march!" Roy shot back, "Adele you are not my mother, and I will not apologize to her. She was the one acting rudely. We did not bring her up that way. You were right Adele her moving to the country was a bad idea. She has completely forgotten how to behave." This time Adele laughed, "Roy she hasn't forgotten a thing, your table manners on the other hand have laxed since we came to visit. She was only laughing at the sight of her father finally relaxing after more than twenty years of being Mr. Perfect." Roy took a seat on the bed, "perhaps I was a bit harsh, but if she wasn't such I good cook, I wouldn't have to race John like that to make sure my belly gets full." They both laughed now, and after they had contained themselves they returned to the kitchen where John was still comforting Margaret. "Margaret I told you everything would be fine, look your parents are back and I don't think you father is upset anymore." Margaret looked up to see her parents smiling at her, and so she invited them back to the table to finish their meal. Her father stumbled through an apology, and everyone finished their breakfast in peace. After breakfast the men returned to the farm to get to work on the fields, and Margaret and Adele did the dishes and then started their own chores. Adele was shocked that in such a short time she had mastered the routine, and since they both worked quickly they had time to relax on the porch with some berry lemonade. As they sat on the porch swing slowly sipping their lemonade and enjoying the cool summer breeze Ruth came around from behind the house. "I thought for sure you'd be out back hanging your washing, but here you are relaxing. Margaret where did you find the time for that?" "Good morning Ruth, I am sure I told you my mother is staying with us for a spell. She helped me this morning and now we are enjoying some berry lemonade. If you give me a minute I'll bring you out a glass." With that she disappeared into the house for a glass of berry lemonade and left her mother to introduce herself. When she returned they were laughing as if they were old friends. Margaret handed Ruth her glass and resumed her seat on the swing. Ruth took a sip amazed that once again Margaret had done something she had never thought of. It was so good, she took another sip and another. Then she forced herself to set the glass down worried she might look like a heathen in front of Adele. "Margaret I only came over, because well I need to trade you for some eggs." Ruth looked worried, and she had begun to wring her apron in her hands, but she continued, "Apparently a fox got into our barn last night and ate our only hen. The really odd thing is that when Teddy went out to the barn this morning everything was shut up just as it had been when he came in last night. The boys swear they didn't go out to the barn until after Teddy went in this morning. But a hen doesn't just disappear." "Ruth I'll give you one of our hens that way you can get all the eggs you need. When you have Teddy buy a new hen just buy us one then." "Margaret I don't think Teddy'll like that, but it would be easier than coming over everyday to borrow or trade for eggs." "Ruth you tell him I insisted. We don't need eggs as much as you do, we don't have any strapping young men to feed over here. You take the eggs you need for today, and I'll even bring that hen over. I know he won't argue with me." The ladies finished sipping their lemonade and then headed out to the barn to choose a hen. She didn't want to give up her best egg layer, but she definitely wanted her to have enough eggs until their next trip into town. She grabbed the brown hen she laid a fairly decent amount of eggs and she was fat enough to eat should they need her for that. Ruth thought she was too big to give away, but Margaret insisted. She held the hens wings down and they headed off to the barn at Ruth's place. Ruth and Margaret jumped over the small creek easily, but Adele was unsure of herself and misjudged the distance. She landed in the creek making them all laugh. At least it wasn't deep enough to go over the top of her boots. Teddy was in the barn when they arrived and he was furious at Ruth for asking for the entire hen instead of just the eggs, but Margaret quickly appeased him. He knew he needed to buy a few more hens, and the more you bought the better the price. He was only too happy to get the biggest hen from John's farm, but he almost felt guilty for accepting such a generous gift. "Well Teddy, I haven't told John yet, but he'll understand. You have two growing boys to feed, and well you know our situation. We'll be fine. We still have eight hens left, and besides I know John was planning to buy more this fall anyhow." "Alright Margaret we accept your generous gift, but you better get back over there and tell John what you did before he starts hollering that a fox got into his coop." "Okay Teddy we'll leave right now to tell him. Before I forget though this is my mother Adele, Mother this is Theodore or Teddy to his friends. Before you and Daddy leave we ought to have a supper together." She was almost thinking out loud, but she knew it was a great idea. "Margaret thank you for introducing us, I think it's a splendid idea, but are you sure you want all four of to come over?" "Yes Teddy I want all four of you to come over, and you are welcome. Well we better go tell John. I just know he'd remake the entire coop if he thought for a second that a fox had gotten in." Margaret and Adele walked back to her farm this time both of them made it across the creek. Adele thought her friends were just lovely, and couldn't wait for the supper. As they neared the barn they heard John frantically calling for his missing hen. Margaret dashed over to the coop and after catching her breath explained what had happened. John felt relieved that his coop had held up. He had lined the ground with bricks to prevent the foxes from digging underneath his fence and rather than leaving the top open he covered it with the special coop fencing. His hens had grown fat with the extra room they had to roam, and his rooster acted like he was a king. It was even large enough to house the new additions in the fall. Margaret excused herself to go begin dinner, and the men told her they had finished early so they were going to head over to Teddy's and talk about building a new coop for his hens. Margaret was glad to see the spark in her husband again. He needed projects like this to keep him motivated. Of course she knew it wasn't hurting her father any either. She and Adele made a quick dinner and then headed over to Teddy's barn to let the men know it was ready. Adele wished the country had telephones, but she knew that they were just too expensive for this area to have one in every home. Each little farming community did have at least one phone though in case of an emergency, but this was not an emergency. Oh well at least she'd be exercising. It felt good to walk and before she knew it she was feeling younger and had more energy. Shortly after the men were told about dinner being ready they all headed back to the house. What they found when they got there however sent Adele to the floor, and almost did the same for Margaret. Fortunately for her John caught her. The screen door had been ripped off it's hinges and the dinner had been devoured. The only evidence of it's existence were the dirty dishes that once held the food. There were no footprints anywhere, and for once Margaret wished her house was dusty so they could see which way the culprit had gone. Margaret got a washcloth and dipped it in cool water gently dabbing her mother's face with it. She shortly came around, and apologized for her weakness. "It's alright mother I nearly fainted myself. I can't believe someone stole our dinner." The men quickly searched the house including the cellar and the attic, and then told the ladies to head to Ruth's. From there they were to send Teddy and his guns and as much ammo as he could bring. Then after Teddy left they were to take Ruth and the boys to Grandma Maddie's and telephone the police to come at once. The ladies quickly headed off more frightened by their husband's reactions than anything else. They arrived panting and out of breath. It greatly alarmed Ruth who had been hanging the washing on the line to dry. She had the boys run to grab their father and at seeing them waving frantically he assumed it was his wife and ran as fast as he could towards the house. By the time he got there the ladies had caught their breath enough to speak although it was still difficult to hear them. They relayed John's message, but said nothing more. He asked where to meet the men and was told to meet them at the South end of the barn. By the time Teddy got there the men had already searched the stable and found nothing. They had just headed over to the door when they saw Teddy. He handed off two of his guns, but kept the riffle for himself. The guns had all been loaded and extra bullets were passed out. Then they systematically searched the barn from top to bottom, but they found nothing. When they got outside John noticed his prized white hen was missing. This was his best egg layer, and for the thief to have taken her, he had to have known that. It made John feel sick to know that someone was watching his farm and his family and he hadn't even known. A chill ran down his spine and he tried to shake it off, yet he couldn't. His father in law saw this, and said, "It's okay John I didn't notice either." The boys and their mother, along with Adele and Margaret made their way to Grandma Maddie's quickly. The boys had expertly hitched up the horses to the wagon and although it was a bit unorthodox the women sat in the back their legs dangling over the edge while the boys drove frantically. They passed the Johnson's wagon on the way and Mr. Johnson turned his team around to learn what was going on. The boys pulled up in front of Grandma Maddie's house and the ladies ran to her door to ring the police. The boys stayed with the wagon to tell Mr. Johnson what was going on, and he ran his team as fast as they would go to check on his wife and new baby. This was the first time he had left her alone and there was a thief loose in their community. He prayed nothing bad had happened to her. The ladies were finally allowed in after apologizing profusely for so rudely intruding on Grandma Maddie. When she was told of the circumstances she said, "well why didn't you say so? I'll ring the police myself. You ladies head on back to your farms while I call out. Go on now I'll be alright." To be safe they had the boys check her cellar and her stable. As soon as they were finished they headed back towards home. Hoping that nothing had happened to their husbands and that the thief had been caught. The drive back to the farm seemed to take forever, but the boys were driving slower now that the police had been called. Besides the horses needed a rest from the heat. Soon enough the horses pulled up to Margaret's farm and they all piled out of the wagon. The boys tied up the horses, and then headed around back to join the search. John knew it wasn't okay, but there was nothing he had seen in the last week that would make him suspect that anything was out of the ordinary. They checked the wheat field, but found nothing. Wherever the thief was he had gone quickly and he didn't leave any indication of where he was heading. The only thing John could think of was that he was hiding at the house he had been trying to convince his father in law to buy. He knew it hadn't been vaccant long, but a thief wouldn't know that unless he had been watching for sometime. Where would the thief have been hiding to know that? He was distracted from his thoughts by the approaching boys. The little detectives in them had searched the creek and then the haystack so by the time they caught up to their father they were wet and covered in hay. To them this was all fun and games. To the men this was anything but. John asked, "How did you get back so quickly?" "We hitched up daddy's horses to the wagon and then we drove really fast to Grandma Maddie's, and we saw Mr. Johnson and he followed us to Grandma's. We told him what happened and he just ran really fast on his horse. Then we looked all over Grandma Maddie's house and her yard for the thief, but we didn't find him so we came back." Roy laughed at their exuberance, but he was glad they thought of the horses. It showed they were thinking quickly on their feet. Not something he saw much of in the city boys he encountered at his store. John and Teddy were equally relieved that they had thought of the horses. Then they both had the same thought. "Boys where did you leave the horses?" "We tied up 'em real good at the front yard, and then we started searching back here with you." "Boys we're gonna have a race to see who can get to the horses first." "YEAH! YEAH! We love races. Are you gonna race too or is just for us?" "Boys settle down this race is for all of us, but whoever gets there first has to untie the horses and turn the wagon around. The winner also gets to drive so we can search one more place. Okay?" "Okay," came the boys enthusiastic reply. "On your mark, get set, GO!!!" The boys took off like horses out of the starting gates at the Kentucky Derby. The men meandered behind them making sure they had searched everywhere. "You know John that race idea was great. Someday you'll make a great father," said Teddy. "Thanks Teddy, that really means alot to me." Roy agreed that it was infact a great idea, once he realized he wasn't the intended racer. Teddy and John quickly brought him up to speed with their plan. They were going to search the recently abandoned farm in hopes of catching the thief there, but it would be a long drive and they'd need the horses ready to go. This race also ensured that the thief hadn't robbed them of Teddy's team and wagon. By the time the men had gotten up to the house the team had been turned around and Teddy's youngest boy sat holding the reins. Teddy patted him on the back. "Great job Jacob, I thought for sure Daniel would have won the race with those long legs of his." "Daniel would have won, but he tripped and I knew he was okay so I beat him here." "How did Daniel trip the path is completely flat?" "The road path is but Daniel tried to take a shortcut and he tripped over a rock I think." "Daniel is this true?" "Yes Daddy it's true. You never told us what route we had to run so I took the shortest distance hoping to win." Teddy looked at his knee and it was scraped, but okay. Then he had Daniel show him exactly where it was that he had tripped. He hadn't remembered seeing any large rocks in John's yard. Daniel took him over to the rock that tripped him. You could still see the print in the dirt from his hands as he fell forward. The rock didn't look out of place in fact it was pretty stuck in the ground. "Alright Daniel try to be more careful next time I wouldn't want you to be hurt. "Okay Daddy, but can I at least drive back?" "Son you've got yourself a deal." They walked back to the wagon where the others were anxious to leave. John told Jacob where to go and off they went. Leaving their wives to answer the questions of the police when they got there. Jacob knew it would be a long drive, so he made sure the horses didn't go too fast or they'd have no energy. They plodded along the road until at last they had reached the house. In case the thief was there they didn't want to alert him so they kept on going until they had crested the hill. Then Jacob pulled off and tied the horses to a tree. Then they hung a large bell under the seat so that if he had seen them he couldn't take the team without their knowing. The horses were grateful for a rest, but Jacob knew they were thirsty. He took off his hat and headed to the creek. He filled it up for the horses and they drank greedily. It took him several trips before they had their fill. He had to run all the way to the house to catch up to his father. "Okay son I know you are excited, but if you aren't quiet you could be seriously hurt," his father whispered. "Okay Daddy I'll be quiet," Jacob whispered back as he tried to catch his breath. Soon the men were on the porch and trode quietly so as not to tip off the thief. Daniel and Jacob had butterflies in their stomaches. They couldn't wait to catch him. From what John could see of the inside no one was there, but he could see footprints in the dust. He slowly opened the front door hoping it wouldn't creak as he opened it. His father had gone around the back to make sure the thief didn't get out that way. Jacob and Daniel stood in the middle of the house on either side to watch the windows, and to watch for signals that meant help was needed. Teddy remained on the porch to make sure the thief couldn't sneak past John and run off. John carefully checked each room, but he couldn't find anyone. Perhaps the thief had already moved on. He left the house and told everyone to meet in the back. This time it was decided that Teddy would do the searching. He entered the cellar cautiously, but again turned up nothing. They headed to the stable next. They found dust and cobwebs and a few spiders, but nobody was there. They entered the small barn and were checking the stalls when John's prized hen was thrown in his face and the thief ran out. No one knew quite what to do. They all ran after the thief, but he had disappeared into the trees. Teddy took his boys and headed for home where he knew the police would be waiting. John and Roy stayed at the abandoned farm in case the thief got brave and came back. Daniel drove the team as fast as he could, but they were tired, and didn't have the energy to run like they had earlier that day. His dad hated to do it, but he needed to get there faster, so he pulled out his whip and spurred the horses on. He pulled up in front of Margaret's front porch just as the police were heading outside. He heard them tell the women, that because there was no thief there they needed to begin their investigation of the neighboring farms. Teddy spoke then to let them know where to go. He told the boys to take the horses to the creek and let them drink as much as they wanted and then to take them home unhitch them and give them apples and carrots as a treat. He told Ruth he was going back with the police to make sure Roy and John got home okay. Ruth wanted him to stay there with her, but she knew he would do the most good there and so she let him go. The boys went about their work quickly so they could tell their mother what she was dying to know. The horses seemed to drink forever, but soon enough they had them back in the stable and unhitched the wagon. On the ride to the abandoned farm Teddy filled them in on precisely what had happened. The police thanked him for his assistance thus far, but told him once they got to the farm it would be up to them to do everything that needed done. Teddy agreed, but let them know should they need help or just more people they would be more than willing to step in. The police agreed that that was acceptable, so long as they only stepped in when needed, and soon they had arrived. Teddy hopped down out of the wagon, and rejoined his friends to fill them in. Roy and John told the police that since the thief had gone into the trees they had not seen them, but there were plenty of places he could be hiding. The police grabbed their lanterns and headed off into the trees to search, but soon realized they would need help with so many places to look. The five men fanned out and searched until they could no longer see. The police headed to the neighboring farms to let them know what had been going on and to be on the lookout for anything suspicious. After telling the nearest neighbors of the abandoned farmhouse what was going on the police took the men back to their farms and then headed back to the city, promising to return in the morning to commence a larger search. The men's bellies were hungry, and they hoped that the ladies had prepared a meal for them. To their delight they had prepared a feast. Ruth had been to nervous to go to her farm without Teddy so she stayed and they prepared a feast for their men. They offered to feed the police officers but they politely declined citing their need to report their findings to the chief. The police excused themselves and were soon on their way. The men sat down to a scrumptious meal of pork roast with mashed potatoes and hot fresh rolls. They even dished up extra vegetables. They all ate in silence to hungry to think about anything else. After the delicious meal the men sat on the porch deciding just how much to tell their wives, while their wives did the dishes. Soon the men returned to the kitchen to explain what had happened to their wives. They knew their wives knew the thief hadn't been caught, but they didn't want them to know that they had no idea where to look for him. They told their wives that he had run into the trees behind the farm, and had headed south from there. They told them that all the farms south of their had been instructed to tell their neighbors to be on the look out for anything unusual and that any hens that turned up missing were not the result of a fox and should be reported immediately. One farmer had even mentioned that his egg count seemed to be slightly lower, but that he wasn't missing any hens. Their wives knew they weren't getting the whole story, but if it helped them sleep they didn't care. Teddy and Ruth soon excused themselves and headed home to prepare for bed. Roy and John rounded up the animals and shut them up tightly. They even put the chickens in the barn just in case. John wished there was a way he could lock the door, but since he couldn't he shut the door and tried not to think about it. The night seemed extra dark, and John looked up to find the moon. That's when he noticed the clouds. The thief might have a better shield of darkness, but he wouldn't be prepared for the rain. Upon reentering the house John told Margaret to close up tight. She thought this was merely because of the thief until he told her to close up the attic and the nursery. She knew something wasn't right, but did as she was asked. Within an hour the storm had moved in on the small farm. It poured rain for what seemed like hours. The sheet of rain coming down was so thick Margaret couldn't see past the window. She told herself that they would be okay,and soon drifted off into a deep sleep. John had drifted off the moment his head touched the pillow. It had been an exhausting day.Adele was frightened what if the house flooded, what if it was struck by lightening? What if it caught fire? She couldn't sleep, but she was too scared to leave the bed, so she poked Roy until he moaned at her. "Roy wake up, something's not right." "What's not right Adele," he asked groggily. "I don't know, but something doesn't feel right, I think you and John need to go check on the barn." "In this weather? Have you lost your mind?" Roy rolled over and fell back to sleep quickly, but Adele sat there worrying for another hour. She finally fell asleep listening to the pitter patter of the rain on the roof. It was quite calming, and soon she was floating down the river near her parent's home in an old canoe soaking up the summer sun. She had once been carefree, and only in her dreams did she allow herself to return to the little girl that lived inside her.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 21 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/9/2007 2:17:32 PM
You are so funny. I will bring Elsie in though. Either in chapter four or chapter five it just depends on how it goes. This story is proving to be more of an undertaking than I had originally anticipated. For instance it's called the Tractor, yet it's set before they existed. AGGGGG The funny thing is that my whole story idea is based on the tractor, and yet at the moment it doesn't fit. I know one way I could bring it in, but I don't know if I can do it. It will involve me renumbering my chapters for one and for two I will have to add a few chapters to the beginning to make it make sense. It could work though. You are fine, I totally understand. I can always talk to ya here. Thank you for the compliment. I really appreciate it. You are gonna die when you see the next chapter. So far it's freaking awesome. Toodles for now.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

Good Old Days Posted: 1/9/2007 11:48:38 AM
Very good story. I really like it. I feel as though I am standing right there in your kitchen watching him shave the ice so it will fit. Thank you for sharing it with us. Ok so I read your profile and it cracked me up. I tried to email you, but it said you weren't accepting mail from my age and gender. I find that odd since since I didn't see your posted restrictions and more importantly it said you were seeking a female. Last I checked I was a woman. Thank GOD! Anyhow, nice job on the profile. It's very funny and most women ought to appreciate that. ok so I checked again and I see the age restriction, but I am still confused about the gender thing.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 81 (view)

Oprah's $40 million dollar school... Posted: 1/9/2007 11:45:40 AM
I for one love what Oprah did, I wish more who had wealth would do more in the public eye or not it doesn't matter. To the lady who used Angelina Jolie as an example for us to look up to are you forgetting that less than two years ago she seduced a married man, got him to have an affair and then divorce his wife who has always done good things. I recently saw a magazine touting that she finally sees it from Jen's point of view, but she ripped her heart out in front of the world and felt no guilt for two years. I don't buy that for second. Perhaps that's why she is off in another country. Jennifer Aniston has been donating serious chunks of change to charities for years, and has never had to stoop to ripping apart a family to win a man. Sarah Jessica Parker has also donated to charities for years in fact she mentioned at Halloween that she has been trick or treating for Unicef since she was a girl. We have many positive role models to look up to, why would use someone as ugly in heart as Angelina Jolie to represent good?

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

you're the one that I want Posted: 1/9/2007 11:37:35 AM
Congratulations!!!! I too find it weird to tell people that I met my husband online. Especially considering that we had met back when I was a senior in high school. The funny thing is we never lived more than 30 minutes apart our entire lives and yet without this site we never would have dated. I too am grateful to this site, and I am glad you found your man. Good luck with everything.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 19 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/9/2007 8:52:26 AM
Bobby, Now I understand what you meant. I hate when it does that. I am glad you are liking it. I do want to get this published, but I have to finish it first. I can't wait to write the next chapter. Before I post it I promise to space it out for you. Pokerman, I really appreciate the compliments your private email makes much more sense now. I am sorry you had a hard time getting into the first chapter. This isn't going to be an action book however, it's going to be a mystery. So I really want to show who my characters are, and then lead you into the mystery to discover the answers just as my characters do. I am really getting a feel for my characters, and I am loving it so far. You will get chapter 3 posted once it's written and edited of course. 1magar, I am sorry you feel snubbed, I was already almost finished with Chapter two when you brought in the cow's name, I promise it will be used in an upcoming chapter perhaps the next one. In fact while typing the reply to Pokerman I thought of how I am going to bring her into the story. You will like it. You crack me up by the way. I am glad you are liking the story so far, and I really appreciate your compliments. Now I need to go write chapter 3.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 15 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/8/2007 1:55:40 PM
Here is the reposting of Chapter Two as promised. CHAPTER TWO John and Margaret arrived back at their farm just before sunset much to the surprise of the neighbor's boys. It had been a long day and they both just wanted to go to bed. John had the boys unhitch the horses while he carried in their bags and helped Margaret inside. The boys could see the fatigue in their faces, and invited them over for supper. John and Margaret wearily accepted the invitation, and began to wash up. The cool water refreshed them both, and they made it over to the neighbor's without looking like forlorn kittens. Their neighbors were a bit surprised to see them back so soon, but welcomed them warmly. Ruth announced that supper was ready and they all headed off to the kitchen. Over supper John and Margaret explained why they had returned so much earlier than anticipated, and told the disappointed boys that they had been relieved of their duties. After supper Margaret and Ruth washed the dishes while the boys played in the yard and the men sat on the porch Theodore, or Teddy to his friends, lit his pipe and savored the rich aroma while John tried not to cough at the assault on his lungs. The crickets sang their night song on the warm summer night and the fireflies were dancing just above the grass. The moon was full, and there was a slight breeze coming in from the south, but no one seemed to notice but the boys. When the dishes had all been washed Margaret announced that she was leaving, and headed for the porch to get John. Once they got home they turned in for the night, eager to find the rest they sorely needed. They both knew that next morning would come early, and both of them dreaded the long day of chores ahead of them. Sleep soon found them and they drifted off peacefully into a deep slumber. Before he knew it the rooster was welcoming the morning which meant he was behind for the day. Margaret nudged him until he wearily crawled out of bed. She had gotten dressed and he was putting on his boots when the cows began to bawl. Their utters were full and it was becoming uncomfortable for them. John ran outside nearly forgetting to grab the pail on his way out. He flung the barn door open, and grabbed the nearest stool. He plopped it down in front of the nearest cow and set the pail down under the udder. "Easy Bessie, don't be kicking the pail over now. I know I'm late this morning please forgive me." With that John slid his hand down her side and then gingerly grabbed her utter. He slowly began milking her until he saw her relax a little. As soon as he saw that he quickened his pace so he could begin on the next cow. He nearly had the pail full when he realized he wasn't alone in the barn. He looked over his shoulder to see his wife grabbing another pail to milk Daisy. Margaret had slipped in after lighting the stove, and headed out to the barn for the eggs. When she saw the painful expression on Daisy's face however, she had sympathy on the poor animal and sat down on the stool. Daisy flinched at her cold hands kicking the pail over, but Margaret simply righted the pail and tried again. This time she was successful. She began to milk with speed and by the time she finished John had already gathered all the eggs. Together they fed the cows, chickens, and the hogs. Then they headed back to the house. Margaret whipped up fresh pancakes and fried some bacon and eggs. This was going to be a beautiful day. She began setting the table and realized that they were out of maple syrup. She had John run out and pick some fresh berries. She was going to have to improvise. She whipped up some cream and put it in a small bowl on the table. Then she finished setting the table and headed out to the well for a pitcher of water. John met her at the door with some very juicy strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. It was going to be a great breakfast. After they ate the scrumptious meal John helped her to wash the dishes and then they headed out to mend the hogs' pen. Over the week things slowly returned to normal, and they were able to rise earlier than the rooster to begin their days. Margaret had just finished the washing and was hanging it to dry when she heard the horses' hooves clopping up the road. She thought perhaps it was the neighbors, but it had come from the opposite direction. She called out to John to check on things. He dropped his hammer and rounded the corner of the house in time to see her father hopping down from their carriage. "Margaret," he called, " I think you need to see this." "In a moment darling, I am almost finished, " came her reply. "Honey, do you remember what you said as we left your mother's home? Well your wish just came true" Margaret laughed in response, "John quit teasing they'd never come out here in a million years" "Well then darling it has been a very long time since you had a visit with your father, why don't you get over here and give me a hug?" Roy was elated to see his daughter, and hearing her laughter was the best gift he had ever received. "OH Daddy, I didn't think you'd ever come out here." Margaret said as she wrapped her father in a hug. "How did you drag Mother out here?" "I didn't have to Angel, it was her idea." Margaret couldn't believe it. Her mother hated the country more than anything. All throughout her childhood Margaret had been warned about the dangers of country folk, and their uncivilized manner of living. Margaret laughed at it now, but back then she had been frightened anytime she had seen anyone from the country. John had gone to the carriage to help Adele out, and up to the porch when Margaret and Roy joined them. "Mother do come in and get out of the heat. I trust you shall be okay in the parlor while I make a nice berry lemonade to cool you off after your long journey." "Oh yes dear we will be quite alright, thank you." Adele was shocked to see that her daughter had a parlor, and a nicely decorated one at that. She thought perhaps that it was her city upbringing that resulted in it's being here. Adele and Roy sat on the sofa, relaxing while John and Margaret freshened up, and brought in the refreshments. Margaret was grateful she had traded a few eggs for some lemons. She had John run out to the cold box in the creek and bring in some ice for the lemonade. Meanwhile she squoze the juice out of the lemons into a pitcher. She added a few slices of lemon for garnishment and then squished a few berries into the concoction. She added a bit of sugar and some water and at last John came in with the ice. She broke it up and added it to the pitcher as well. Then she placed the pitcher and four glasses on the serving tray and brought it in to her parents. She set the tray on a small table in the parlor and proceeded to fill the cups for her parents. Her mother took a timid sip, but eagerly took a few more after tasting it's sweetness. Roy took a large swig and was amazed at the different flavors assaulting his tongue. "Margaret this lemonade is the best I have ever tasted. If your cooking is anything close to this I am moving to the country," came her her father's earnest response to her lemonade. "Roy, I don't think it's wise to make promises you can't come through on. What if your health can't handle all the dust? What if you can't handle all the quiet?" "Relax Adele, I have never felt better, I can breath easier out here, and the quiet is a welcome change to our noisy city life. For once I feel like I can relax and enjoy myself." "Well Daddy I accept your compliment, and I would be delighted to have you move out closer to us. Even if you only came out in the summer," said Margaret with a huge grin on her face. "Sir, once you've relaxed why don't I show you around the farm? Right now I have to finish that fence I have been mending in the pasture, but I think you'd enjoy a tour." John said this with a huge smile on his face in fact it was the biggest Margaret had ever seen on his face since they had been married. "John my boy, I'd love to see your farm. In fact I'll even help you with that fence. My uncle owned a farm, and I used to spend summers with him as a boy. Let's see how much my old noodle remembers." With that Roy and John set their glasses down on the tray and headed out to the farm. John started off at the barn showing off his heifers, his rooster and all ten hens. His plan for this summer was to build them a hen house and coop where they could go outside as they pleased without having to worry about foxes. He showed Roy his prized hogs, and then took him into the stable to show off his stallion and two mares; who were mad they couldn't be outside in the pasture, but it was cooler in the stable. On the other side of the stable was is ass; he had just boughten it and didn't have room for it in the barn until the chickens were outside. He also kept his bridles and saddles, and horse blankets over here. At the far end of the stable were his wagon and his carriage. Both needed some work, but they were still operable. He also kept his plow in the stable to keep it from being damaged by loose animals. Roy returned to the little boy that still lived inside him. He loved the fresh air and the open spaces, but mostly he loved the quiet. He picked up a few posts and he and John began heading towards the pasture. Once they got there John refreshed Roy's memory and they got to work. Before they could finish though their wives called them into dinner. While the men had been outside the ladies had been inside talking, and Margaret had been showing Adele around her quaint home. She showed Adele the room she'd be sleeping in, but never opened the far door. It still held too much pain for her. Adele was inquiring as to the room's contents when she realized what it contained. She quickly apologized for being so nosy. Her daughter assured her that it was alright, but that it was still hard for her to have the door open. She brought her mother into the cozy kitchen and the two began preparing a light dinner for the men. At the dinner table Roy told Adele, that was glad they came out to visit. He also told her how free he felt working with John on the farm. Adele smiled, but she knew where his mind was heading and she didn't like it. She was too old for such rigorous work, and besides that, she didn't want to live in the country away from her friends, and prominent members of society. John was telling Margaret how good it was to have some help with the harder work, and saw the tears in her eyes as she quickly looked away. He knew she had been trying to give him a son, and he hadn't meant it that way at all. He quickly apologized for speaking without thinking, and soon the tension was dissipated. After dinner Adele helped Margaret to wash the dishes, and Roy and John returned to the pasture's fence mending. Margaret offered to introduce her mother to Ruth, but her mother declined in an effort to rest from her long journey. Margaret then excused herself to Ruth's house to trade eggs for some vegetables for supper. Her mother made her way back into the parlor and sat down on the sofa to relax. She had grabbed a book off the shelf on her way, but it didn't hold her interest long. She tried taking a nap, but sleep just wouldn't come. She was on her way down the hall to the guestroom when her curiosity got the better of her. She quietly opened the door to her daughter's nursery, and snuck in making sure to close the door tightly behind her. She turned around slowly taking it all in. Her daughter had done such a great job setting it all up. There was a hand carved cradle in the middle of the room. Next to the window was a large rocking chair just waiting to be used. There was a chest of drawers against the wall nearest the door and on the other wall sat a trunk with delicate figures carved into the lid. Adele ran her fingers across the figures admiring their beauty. She released the latches and opened the lid slowly. Inside were the tiny dresses, and sweaters she and John's mother had knitted. She lifted a few out to admire the handiwork, and saw pair after pair of booties in all different colors. She couldn't believe how many dresses there were. They were all beautiful, but one really caught her eye. It had a lace border, and delicate bead work creating the illusion of flowers on the dress, it was a beautiful white silk that had been chosen. Margaret must have made this dress she thought. She wondered why Abigail hadn't been buried in it, but put the thought aside and picked up another dress. This dress was more for everyday wear, but the stitches were perfectly straight. She knew her daughter hadn't made this dress and she hadn't so it had to be from John's mother. She had always wished she could sew like that, but she just never had the patience. As she began to lift out another dress she heard a door open and hurriedly placed the dresses back atop the booties just as she had found them. She closed the lid as quietly as she could, and then dashed to the door. She heard Margaret calling her, so she entered the hall quietly closing the door. She looked up just in time to see Margaret drop her armful of clean laundry. "Mother what were you doing in there?" "I am sorry dear, I shouldn't have gone into your nursery without you. I was trying to rest, but I couldn't sleep and I came up the hall to lie down, and well my curiosity got the better of me." She paused before adding, "You did such a wonderful job, and the dresses were just beautiful." "The dresses, you opened the trunk! I can't believe you did that what if you had gotten dirt on them or let a moth in? Mother I am not ready to enter that room, and now I have to to ensure everything is in order." "Margaret darling I assure you my hands were clean, and there were no moths in the room. If you like I'll go back in there and check for you." "Mother I believe you have done enough. Now if you'll excuse me I have to enter the room and make sure everything is where it goes. When I come back out, I will put away the clean laundry and then we will dust and prepare supper." Her mother wasn't happy with her tone of voice, but she knew she was powerless to do anything about it. "Perhaps I could go in with you and you could tell me about the dresses?" "Mother you weren't even supposed to have seen them yet. Now if you'll please excuse me I'll get started." With that Margaret opened the door and entered the nursery. She sank to the floor behind the now closed door, and cried because of what she was missing. She knew one day she would be a mother, but that day couldn't come soon enough. She knew she had to pull herself together and get through this somehow if she was ever going to get supper on the table in time. She brushed aside her tears and opened the trunk to find the dresses merely tossed on top. She pulled them all out admiring the delicate work she and her mother in law had done over the last six months. She quickly re stacked them and laid them gently on top of the booties. She made sure there were no moths anywhere in sight, and then closed the lid. Wishing she could seal it up for ever. She quickly glanced around the room remembering all of the love that had gone into carving each piece. She couldn't take anymore and bolted out the door. Adele saw her fly out of the room and quickly grab the laundry to put away, and then she disappeared into her room. Her mother wished she could end the pain, but she knew this pain she had caused, and thought it best to leave it alone. Margaret had been in her room trying unsuccessfully to make the tears stop when she heard a knock at the door. She knew it was her mother, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to face her. She took a deep breath trying to draw in strength, and then opened the door to allow her mother in. "I am sorry to interrupt you darling, but I know you wanted to get supper started. We'll dust tomorrow okay?" Her mother said this as if she was still in charge, but Margaret was too tired to fight back and begrudgingly acquiesced. The two of them headed down the hall and entered the kitchen. Margaret re lit the stove and put on a pot to boil. Then she headed off to the barn. Her mother thought she was still upset and followed behind her. Margaret entered the barn and grabbed the largest hen she could find. This was her best egg layer,but it would be easier to kill one than two. She normally left this to John, but he was busy with her father,and she knew how to kill a chicken. She took the hen into the stable where she grabbed the axe and asked her mother to hold her feet with one hand and hold her body down with the other. Adele finally realized what was about to happen, and wasn't sure if she could take it, but given what she had done earlier decided to do as she was asked. Margaret chopped off her head with one fell swoop and Adele let the hen go. It got up and ran around until it finally collapsed on the floor of the stable. Once they recaptured the hen she showed her mom the quickest way to pluck her and ran inside to get the potatoes going. By the time Adele had returned Margaret had the potatoes boiling with celery, onions, and a garlic clove. Margaret laughed at the sight of her mother covered in feathers and a spot of blood or two, but told her to go wash up. As Adele was washing up Margaret cleaned up the chicken, and dressed it for baking. This was going to be a fine dinner. A bit heavier than normal, but it would make for a great night of sleep. The ladies set the table while the chicken was baking and Margaret finished the vegetables off, by sauteing them in a skillet. She covered the skillet when they were finished, and then she headed for the parlor to dust. Adele was amazed at her ability to juggle so many things at once, but she was impressed more. By the time Margaret had finished the dusting of her home, the chicken was done. She pulled the chicken out and began to carve it up. Then she got out a serving platter and placed the vegetables on it in the center she placed the carved chicken. Then she made some lemonade with berries because her parents had liked it so much. With supper finished she opened the door and rang the bell. The men had just finished putting away their tools in the stable and ran to the well to grab some water to wash up. Margaret was placing that morning's bread on the table along with some butter as they came in. "Wow sweetheart this looks great. I can't wait to sink my teeth into that chicken." "John's right dear I can't think of a time where I had a better looking feast. Thank you for preparing it." With that they sat down at the table and Roy said grace. Margaret thanked her father for the compliments, but John could hear the tension in her voice. He wanted to ask her what had happened, but he knew better than to ask in front of company. Roy lavished Adele with details about his hard work on the farm, and informed her that the work had made him feel younger. He told her that they were buying a small summer cottage out here before the fall came, and that she could decorate it anyway she pleased so long as she left him an outdoorsy type room for a study. Adele's alarmed response soon came, "Roy we couldn't possibly live out here. I don't know the first thing about cooking, and who would run our store?" "Adele darling, I have already thought of everything. We'll have the Smith boys run the store. I'll train them this fall and then again in the spring while we finish readying the cottage. That way they'll know how to run things, and we'll have plenty of time to get adjusted to the cottage. We'll go back once a week to check up on them. As far as your cooking goes, we can either teach you to cook or bring our cook with us. I'll leave that up to you." Adele could tell there would be no talking Roy out this, and she hated the idea of living here, but she would be closer to her daughter. Finally seeing the silver lining Adele smiled nodding her agreement. She was still secretly hoping he'd change his mind as the summer neared, but Roy quickly dashed those hopes. "Adele I am so glad you like the idea. There is a cottage for sale just down the road. John was telling me all about it. The young couple that used to live there moved back to her hometown after her father got ill. So we would not only be helping them out, but we would be that much closer to our baby." Fear danced across her face, she knew there was no going back, and it scared her to death. She knew better than to cross him, but she just couldn't imagine living out here in the country with all the uncivilized people that inhabited it. Margaret smiled to herself knowing exactly what fears were playing out in her mother's mind. It seemed that at last something in her mother's life wouldn't be exactly as she had planned it. "Relax mother it's quite nice out here. We have quilting bees in the summer, on some nights we even go the Johnson's barn and square dance for hours. It's quite enjoyable really. We even have tea at Grandma Maddie's house. It's quite an ordeal. She only chooses three ladies to have tea with and she never chooses the same lady twice until that is everyone has had her turn. I had been here only two weeks before attending my first tea. It's wonderful mother. She has tea of course, and cherry cordial, and lady fingers, and dainty sandwiches, and mother it's just the most thrilling thing to listen to her talk about the old days, and the opera." "Margaret I'll have no more talk of quilting and dancing, and a Grandmother that isn't yours!" She nearly spat the words out she was so upset. Why was everyone trying to make her comfortable out here in the middle of no where? She wouldn't put up with it another second. How could Roy ruin everything she had worked so hard to gain? She was almost in tears and fought to hold them back. John put his arm gingerly on her shoulder. "Adele, you're probably just tired after the long trip. Why don't you sleep on it, and if you still feel this upset tomorrow perhaps Roy will reconsider," he knew Roy wouldn't back down, and he knew she wouldn't either, but he was hoping it would ease the tension at his supper table. "John perhaps you're right. I'll think about it for the time we're here, and if I like it out here, perhaps I'll consider it." Roy nearly fell off his chair he was so shocked at her change of heart. He loved his wife, and he knew what moving out here would mean for her. He didn't want her to lose her place in society, but he longed for the reprieve the country gave his soul. There wasn't much talking during the rest of the meal other than to compliment Margaret on her fine cooking. By the time supper was over she was nearly beaming. She quickly cleared the table and began the dishes. Her mother got up to help, but she insisted that she sit on the porch and try to relax. Roy and John escorted her outside and they sat down on the porch swing and the chairs to relax. Adele was amazed at how clearly she could see the stars. The night was quiet save the crickets and the birds singing their night songs. She could hear the owls calling to each other. It was beautiful. She had never heard anything like that in her life. She longed to hear more. Her face softened and the tears she had been fighting so hard finally won out. Roy and John hadn't said a word, knowing that if she could hear the night she would fall in love with the country. Roy did however join her on the swing and he tenderly put his arm around her. He kissed her cheeck and then he just sat there letting her soak in the calm country night. Adele was in her own little world when Margaret joined them on the porch. "Mother isn't it beautiful out here?" "Yes dear it is, I can't believe you never told me about this before." "Mother it's one of those things you have to experience for yourself, or you'd never believe it." "Margaret I think you're right. Thank you for letting me have this experience." John and Margaret sat holding hands and Roy still had his arm around Adele as they sat in a comfortable silence and let the songs of the night carry them off to another world. The few clouds in the sky had parted and at last the moon shone in all it's glory. Adele looked up just in time to see it peek from behind the clouds and it took her breath away. It was gorgeous she had never seen the moon like this in the city. It lit up the whole sky it seemed. She could now see all the way to the roadway, but beyond that was total darkness. She sighed as she leaned into her husband and let the anger of earlier that evening seep out of her body. John noticed just how late it was getting, and excused himself to bed. Margaret went in to check that everything was ready in the guest room for her parents. When she returned to the porch her mother had fallen asleep with her head on Roy's shoulder. Margaret steadied the swing so Roy could carry her mother in to bed. She then held the door open for her father and locked up for the night. She blew out the fire in the stove and then settled in for the night. Grateful that at last her mother could see the beauty of the country. When at last she entered her room her husband asked her what had happened earlier to have so near tears. Margaret had forgotten all about the nursery until then. She finally let the tears out as she told him what had happened. He put his arm around her trying to comfort her. He wished he would have been there in her time of need. He knew she wasn't ready for that room yet, but he could now enter the room without emotion. He longed to have a baby, but not until she was ready. When she had finally stopped crying she apologized for losing it emotionally, and then crawled into bed. John reassured her that it was alright and then blew out the oil lamp and crawled into bed as well.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 13 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/8/2007 1:48:36 PM
I swear it's broken up on my word pad document. It's the darn forum formatting. Sorry. Thanks for the compliment I really do appreciate them. I am sorry I am not following you as far as the short message clown thing goes. I never said I wanted an essay in order to consider it a critique. As far as breaking it down goes I'll repost chapter two and space it out more for you. Oh my goodness I didn't realize I had posted the same thing twice early, my bad.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 4 (view)

The Principle of Double Effect Posted: 1/8/2007 12:23:36 PM
Perhaps what I was trying to say didn't come across clearly. They merely seem decent on the outside, but based on their actions we can clearly see that their morals have left them somewhere along the line. That's not to say they were not taught better it simply means that they chose to ignore the life lessons taught by their parents.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

Born young...and haven't aged much since. Posted: 1/8/2007 12:20:19 PM
BRAVO I loved it. You did a magnificent job. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Keep up the good work.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 11 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/8/2007 12:06:37 PM
Thank you for the posting Bobby. It's ok I forgive you. I hope you enjoyed the holidays. I hope you also enjoy chapter two. I think perhaps I'll use the name in an upcoming chapter, but you'll just have to read on to find out. You crack me up. Thanks for the added posts.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 10 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/8/2007 12:06:28 PM
Thank you for the posting Bobby. It's ok I forgive you. I hope you enjoyed the holidays. I hope you also enjoy chapter two. I think perhaps I'll use the name in an upcoming chapter, but you'll just have to read on to find out. You crack me up. Thanks for the added posts.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 9 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/8/2007 12:04:54 PM
Here is chapter two as promised. CHAPTER TWO John and Margaret arrived back at their farm just before sunset much to the surprise of the neighbor's boys. It had been a long day and they both just wanted to go to bed. John had the boys unhitch the horses while he carried in their bags and helped Margaret inside. The boys could see the fatigue in their faces, and invited them over for supper. John and Margaret wearily accepted the invitation, and began to wash up. The cool water refreshed them both, and they made it over to the neighbor's without looking like forlorn kittens. Their neighbors were a bit surprised to see them back so soon, but welcomed them warmly. Ruth announced that supper was ready and they all headed off to the kitchen. Over supper John and Margaret explained why they had returned so much earlier than anticipated, and told the disappointed boys that they had been relieved of their duties. After supper Margaret and Ruth washed the dishes while the boys played in the yard and the men sat on the porch Theodore, or Teddy to his friends, lit his pipe and savored the rich aroma while John tried not to cough at the assault on his lungs. The crickets sang their night song on the warm summer night and the fireflies were dancing just above the grass. The moon was full, and there was a slight breeze coming in from the south, but no one seemed to notice but the boys. When the dishes had all been washed Margaret announced that she was leaving, and headed for the porch to get John. Once they got home they turned in for the night, eager to find the rest they sorely needed. They both knew that next morning would come early, and both of them dreaded the long day of chores ahead of them. Sleep soon found them and they drifted off peacefully into a deep slumber. Before he knew it the rooster was welcoming the morning which meant he was behind for the day. Margaret nudged him until he wearily crawled out of bed. She had gotten dressed and he was putting on his boots when the cows began to bawl. Their utters were full and it was becoming uncomfortable for them. John ran outside nearly forgetting to grab the pail on his way out. He flung the barn door open, and grabbed the nearest stool. He plopped it down in front of the nearest cow and set the pail down under the udder. "Easy Bessie, don't be kicking the pail over now. I know I'm late this morning please forgive me." With that John slid his hand down her side and then gingerly grabbed her utter. He slowly began milking her until he saw her relax a little. As soon as he saw that he quickened his pace so he could begin on the next cow. He nearly had the pail full when he realized he wasn't alone in the barn. He looked over his shoulder to see his wife grabbing another pail to milk Daisy. Margaret had slipped in after lighting the stove, and headed out to the barn for the eggs. When she saw the painful expression on Daisy's face however, she had sympathy on the poor animal and sat down on the stool. Daisy flinched at her cold hands kicking the pail over, but Margaret simply righted the pail and tried again. This time she was successful. She began to milk with speed and by the time she finished John had already gathered all the eggs. Together they fed the cows, chickens, and the hogs. Then they headed back to the house. Margaret whipped up fresh pancakes and fried some bacon and eggs. This was going to be a beautiful day. She began setting the table and realized that they were out of maple syrup. She had John run out and pick some fresh berries. She was going to have to improvise. She whipped up some cream and put it in a small bowl on the table. Then she finished setting the table and headed out to the well for a pitcher of water. John met her at the door with some very juicy strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. It was going to be a great breakfast. After they ate the scrumptious meal John helped her to wash the dishes and then they headed out to mend the hogs' pen. Over the week things slowly returned to normal, and they were able to rise earlier than the rooster to begin their days. Margaret had just finished the washing and was hanging it to dry when she heard the horses' hooves clopping up the road. She thought perhaps it was the neighbors, but it had come from the opposite direction. She called out to John to check on things. He dropped his hammer and rounded the corner of the house in time to see her father hopping down from their carriage. "Margaret," he called, " I think you need to see this." "In a moment darling, I am almost finished, " came her reply. "Honey, do you remember what you said as we left your mother's home? Well your wish just came true" Margaret laughed in response, "John quit teasing they'd never come out here in a million years" "Well then darling it has been a very long time since you had a visit with your father, why don't you get over here and give me a hug?" Roy was elated to see his daughter, and hearing her laughter was the best gift he had ever received. "OH Daddy, I didn't think you'd ever come out here." Margaret said as she wrapped her father in a hug. "How did you drag Mother out here?" "I didn't have to Angel, it was her idea." Margaret couldn't believe it. Her mother hated the country more than anything. All throughout her childhood Margaret had been warned about the dangers of country folk, and their uncivilized manner of living. Margaret laughed at it now, but back then she had been frightened anytime she had seen anyone from the country. John had gone to the carriage to help Adele out, and up to the porch when Margaret and Roy joined them. "Mother do come in and get out of the heat. I trust you shall be okay in the parlor while I make a nice berry lemonade to cool you off after your long journey." "Oh yes dear we will be quite alright, thank you." Adele was shocked to see that her daughter had a parlor, and a nicely decorated one at that. She thought perhaps that it was her city upbringing that resulted in it's being here. Adele and Roy sat on the sofa, relaxing while John and Margaret freshened up, and brought in the refreshments. Margaret was grateful she had traded a few eggs for some lemons. She had John run out to the cold box in the creek and bring in some ice for the lemonade. Meanwhile she squoze the juice out of the lemons into a pitcher. She added a few slices of lemon for garnishment and then squished a few berries into the concoction. She added a bit of sugar and some water and at last John came in with the ice. She broke it up and added it to the pitcher as well. Then she placed the pitcher and four glasses on the serving tray and brought it in to her parents. She set the tray on a small table in the parlor and proceeded to fill the cups for her parents. Her mother took a timid sip, but eagerly took a few more after tasting it's sweetness. Roy took a large swig and was amazed at the different flavors assaulting his tongue. "Margaret this lemonade is the best I have ever tasted. If your cooking is anything close to this I am moving to the country," came her her father's earnest response to her lemonade. "Roy, I don't think it's wise to make promises you can't come through on. What if your health can't handle all the dust? What if you can't handle all the quiet?" "Relax Adele, I have never felt better, I can breath easier out here, and the quiet is a welcome change to our noisy city life. For once I feel like I can relax and enjoy myself." "Well Daddy I accept your compliment, and I would be delighted to have you move out closer to us. Even if you only came out in the summer," said Margaret with a huge grin on her face. "Sir, once you've relaxed why don't I show you around the farm? Right now I have to finish that fence I have been mending in the pasture, but I think you'd enjoy a tour." John said this with a huge smile on his face in fact it was the biggest Margaret had ever seen on his face since they had been married. "John my boy, I'd love to see your farm. In fact I'll even help you with that fence. My uncle owned a farm, and I used to spend summers with him as a boy. Let's see how much my old noodle remembers." With that Roy and John set their glasses down on the tray and headed out to the farm. John started off at the barn showing off his heifers, his rooster and all ten hens. His plan for this summer was to build them a hen house and coop where they could go outside as they pleased without having to worry about foxes. He showed Roy his prized hogs, and then took him into the stable to show off his stallion and two mares; who were mad they couldn't be outside in the pasture, but it was cooler in the stable. On the other side of the stable was is ass; he had just boughten it and didn't have room for it in the barn until the chickens were outside. He also kept his bridles and saddles, and horse blankets over here. At the far end of the stable were his wagon and his carriage. Both needed some work, but they were still operable. He also kept his plow in the stable to keep it from being damaged by loose animals. Roy returned to the little boy that still lived inside him. He loved the fresh air and the open spaces, but mostly he loved the quiet. He picked up a few posts and he and John began heading towards the pasture. Once they got there John refreshed Roy's memory and they got to work. Before they could finish though their wives called them into dinner. While the men had been outside the ladies had been inside talking, and Margaret had been showing Adele around her quaint home. She showed Adele the room she'd be sleeping in, but never opened the far door. It still held too much pain for her. Adele was inquiring as to the room's contents when she realized what it contained. She quickly apologized for being so nosy. Her daughter assured her that it was alright, but that it was still hard for her to have the door open. She brought her mother into the cozy kitchen and the two began preparing a light dinner for the men. At the dinner table Roy told Adele, that was glad they came out to visit. He also told her how free he felt working with John on the farm. Adele smiled, but she knew where his mind was heading and she didn't like it. She was too old for such rigorous work, and besides that, she didn't want to live in the country away from her friends, and prominent members of society. John was telling Margaret how good it was to have some help with the harder work, and saw the tears in her eyes as she quickly looked away. He knew she had been trying to give him a son, and he hadn't meant it that way at all. He quickly apologized for speaking without thinking, and soon the tension was dissipated. After dinner Adele helped Margaret to wash the dishes, and Roy and John returned to the pasture's fence mending. Margaret offered to introduce her mother to Ruth, but her mother declined in an effort to rest from her long journey. Margaret then excused herself to Ruth's house to trade eggs for some vegetables for supper. Her mother made her way back into the parlor and sat down on the sofa to relax. She had grabbed a book off the shelf on her way, but it didn't hold her interest long. She tried taking a nap, but sleep just wouldn't come. She was on her way down the hall to the guestroom when her curiosity got the better of her. She quietly opened the door to her daughter's nursery, and snuck in making sure to close the door tightly behind her. She turned around slowly taking it all in. Her daughter had done such a great job setting it all up. There was a hand carved cradle in the middle of the room. Next to the window was a large rocking chair just waiting to be used. There was a chest of drawers against the wall nearest the door and on the other wall sat a trunk with delicate figures carved into the lid. Adele ran her fingers across the figures admiring their beauty. She released the latches and opened the lid slowly. Inside were the tiny dresses, and sweaters she and John's mother had knitted. She lifted a few out to admire the handiwork, and saw pair after pair of booties in all different colors. She couldn't believe how many dresses there were. They were all beautiful, but one really caught her eye. It had a lace border, and delicate bead work creating the illusion of flowers on the dress, it was a beautiful white silk that had been chosen. Margaret must have made this dress she thought. She wondered why Abigail hadn't been buried in it, but put the thought aside and picked up another dress. This dress was more for everyday wear, but the stitches were perfectly straight. She knew her daughter hadn't made this dress and she hadn't so it had to be from John's mother. She had always wished she could sew like that, but she just never had the patience. As she began to lift out another dress she heard a door open and hurriedly placed the dresses back atop the booties just as she had found them. She closed the lid as quietly as she could, and then dashed to the door. She heard Margaret calling her, so she entered the hall quietly closing the door. She looked up just in time to see Margaret drop her armful of clean laundry. "Mother what were you doing in there?" "I am sorry dear, I shouldn't have gone into your nursery without you. I was trying to rest, but I couldn't sleep and I came up the hall to lie down, and well my curiosity got the better of me." She paused before adding, "You did such a wonderful job, and the dresses were just beautiful." "The dresses, you opened the trunk! I can't believe you did that what if you had gotten dirt on them or let a moth in? Mother I am not ready to enter that room, and now I have to to ensure everything is in order." "Margaret darling I assure you my hands were clean, and there were no moths in the room. If you like I'll go back in there and check for you." "Mother I believe you have done enough. Now if you'll excuse me I have to enter the room and make sure everything is where it goes. When I come back out, I will put away the clean laundry and then we will dust and prepare supper." Her mother wasn't happy with her tone of voice, but she knew she was powerless to do anything about it. "Perhaps I could go in with you and you could tell me about the dresses?" "Mother you weren't even supposed to have seen them yet. Now if you'll please excuse me I'll get started." With that Margaret opened the door and entered the nursery. She sank to the floor behind the now closed door, and cried because of what she was missing. She knew one day she would be a mother, but that day couldn't come soon enough. She knew she had to pull herself together and get through this somehow if she was ever going to get supper on the table in time. She brushed aside her tears and opened the trunk to find the dresses merely tossed on top. She pulled them all out admiring the delicate work she and her mother in law had done over the last six months. She quickly re stacked them and laid them gently on top of the booties. She made sure there were no moths anywhere in sight, and then closed the lid. Wishing she could seal it up for ever. She quickly glanced around the room remembering all of the love that had gone into carving each piece. She couldn't take anymore and bolted out the door. Adele saw her fly out of the room and quickly grab the laundry to put away, and then she disappeared into her room. Her mother wished she could end the pain, but she knew this pain she had caused, and thought it best to leave it alone. Margaret had been in her room trying unsuccessfully to make the tears stop when she heard a knock at the door. She knew it was her mother, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to face her. She took a deep breath trying to draw in strength, and then opened the door to allow her mother in. "I am sorry to interrupt you darling, but I know you wanted to get supper started. We'll dust tomorrow okay?" Her mother said this as if she was still in charge, but Margaret was too tired to fight back and begrudgingly acquiesced. The two of them headed down the hall and entered the kitchen. Margaret re lit the stove and put on a pot to boil. Then she headed off to the barn. Her mother thought she was still upset and followed behind her. Margaret entered the barn and grabbed the largest hen she could find. This was her best egg layer,but it would be easier to kill one than two. She normally left this to John, but he was busy with her father,and she knew how to kill a chicken. She took the hen into the stable where she grabbed the axe and asked her mother to hold her feet with one hand and hold her body down with the other. Adele finally realized what was about to happen, and wasn't sure if she could take it, but given what she had done earlier decided to do as she was asked. Margaret chopped off her head with one fell swoop and Adele let the hen go. It got up and ran around until it finally collapsed on the floor of the stable. Once they recaptured the hen she showed her mom the quickest way to pluck her and ran inside to get the potatoes going. By the time Adele had returned Margaret had the potatoes boiling with celery, onions, and a garlic clove. Margaret laughed at the sight of her mother covered in feathers and a spot of blood or two, but told her to go wash up. As Adele was washing up Margaret cleaned up the chicken, and dressed it for baking. This was going to be a fine dinner. A bit heavier than normal, but it would make for a great night of sleep. The ladies set the table while the chicken was baking and Margaret finished the vegetables off, by sauteing them in a skillet. She covered the skillet when they were finished, and then she headed for the parlor to dust. Adele was amazed at her ability to juggle so many things at once, but she was impressed more. By the time Margaret had finished the dusting of her home, the chicken was done. She pulled the chicken out and began to carve it up. Then she got out a serving platter and placed the vegetables on it in the center she placed the carved chicken. Then she made some lemonade with berries because her parents had liked it so much. With supper finished she opened the door and rang the bell. The men had just finished putting away their tools in the stable and ran to the well to grab some water to wash up. Margaret was placing that morning's bread on the table along with some butter as they came in. "Wow sweetheart this looks great. I can't wait to sink my teeth into that chicken." "John's right dear I can't think of a time where I had a better looking feast. Thank you for preparing it." With that they sat down at the table and Roy said grace. Margaret thanked her father for the compliments, but John could hear the tension in her voice. He wanted to ask her what had happened, but he knew better than to ask in front of company. Roy lavished Adele with details about his hard work on the farm, and informed her that the work had made him feel younger. He told her that they were buying a small summer cottage out here before the fall came, and that she could decorate it anyway she pleased so long as she left him an outdoorsy type room for a study. Adele's alarmed response soon came, "Roy we couldn't possibly live out here. I don't know the first thing about cooking, and who would run our store?" "Adele darling, I have already thought of everything. We'll have the Smith boys run the store. I'll train them this fall and then again in the spring while we finish readying the cottage. That way they'll know how to run things, and we'll have plenty of time to get adjusted to the cottage. We'll go back once a week to check up on them. As far as your cooking goes, we can either teach you to cook or bring our cook with us. I'll leave that up to you." Adele could tell there would be no talking Roy out this, and she hated the idea of living here, but she would be closer to her daughter. Finally seeing the silver lining Adele smiled nodding her agreement. She was still secretly hoping he'd change his mind as the summer neared, but Roy quickly dashed those hopes. "Adele I am so glad you like the idea. There is a cottage for sale just down the road. John was telling me all about it. The young couple that used to live there moved back to her hometown after her father got ill. So we would not only be helping them out, but we would be that much closer to our baby." Fear danced across her face, she knew there was no going back, and it scared her to death. She knew better than to cross him, but she just couldn't imagine living out here in the country with all the uncivilized people that inhabited it. Margaret smiled to herself knowing exactly what fears were playing out in her mother's mind. It seemed that at last something in her mother's life wouldn't be exactly as she had planned it. "Relax mother it's quite nice out here. We have quilting bees in the summer, on some nights we even go the Johnson's barn and square dance for hours. It's quite enjoyable really. We even have tea at Grandma Maddie's house. It's quite an ordeal. She only chooses three ladies to have tea with and she never chooses the same lady twice until that is everyone has had her turn. I had been here only two weeks before attending my first tea. It's wonderful mother. She has tea of course, and cherry cordial, and lady fingers, and dainty sandwiches, and mother it's just the most thrilling thing to listen to her talk about the old days, and the opera." "Margaret I'll have no more talk of quilting and dancing, and a Grandmother that isn't yours!" She nearly spat the words out she was so upset. Why was everyone trying to make her comfortable out here in the middle of no where? She wouldn't put up with it another second. How could Roy ruin everything she had worked so hard to gain? She was almost in tears and fought to hold them back. John put his arm gingerly on her shoulder. "Adele, you're probably just tired after the long trip. Why don't you sleep on it, and if you still feel this upset tomorrow perhaps Roy will reconsider," he knew Roy wouldn't back down, and he knew she wouldn't either, but he was hoping it would ease the tension at his supper table. "John perhaps you're right. I'll think about it for the time we're here, and if I like it out here, perhaps I'll consider it." Roy nearly fell off his chair he was so shocked at her change of heart. He loved his wife, and he knew what moving out here would mean for her. He didn't want her to lose her place in society, but he longed for the reprieve the country gave his soul. There wasn't much talking during the rest of the meal other than to compliment Margaret on her fine cooking. By the time supper was over she was nearly beaming. She quickly cleared the table and began the dishes. Her mother got up to help, but she insisted that she sit on the porch and try to relax. Roy and John escorted her outside and they sat down on the porch swing and the chairs to relax. Adele was amazed at how clearly she could see the stars. The night was quiet save the crickets and the birds singing their night songs. She could hear the owls calling to each other. It was beautiful. She had never heard anything like that in her life. She longed to hear more. Her face softened and the tears she had been fighting so hard finally won out. Roy and John hadn't said a word, knowing that if she could hear the night she would fall in love with the country. Roy did however join her on the swing and he tenderly put his arm around her. He kissed her cheeck and then he just sat there letting her soak in the calm country night. Adele was in her own little world when Margaret joined them on the porch. "Mother isn't it beautiful out here?" "Yes dear it is, I can't believe you never told me about this before." "Mother it's one of those things you have to experience for yourself, or you'd never believe it." "Margaret I think you're right. Thank you for letting me have this experience." John and Margaret sat holding hands and Roy still had his arm around Adele as they sat in a comfortable silence and let the songs of the night carry them off to another world. The few clouds in the sky had parted and at last the moon shone in all it's glory. Adele looked up just in time to see it peek from behind the clouds and it took her breath away. It was gorgeous she had never seen the moon like this in the city. It lit up the whole sky it seemed. She could now see all the way to the roadway, but beyond that was total darkness. She sighed as she leaned into her husband and let the anger of earlier that evening seep out of her body. John noticed just how late it was getting, and excused himself to bed. Margaret went in to check that everything was ready in the guest room for her parents. When she returned to the porch her mother had fallen asleep with her head on Roy's shoulder. Margaret steadied the swing so Roy could carry her mother in to bed. She then held the door open for her father and locked up for the night. She blew out the fire in the stove and then settled in for the night. Grateful that at last her mother could see the beauty of the country. When at last she entered her room her husband asked her what had happened earlier to have so near tears. Margaret had forgotten all about the nursery until then. She finally let the tears out as she told him what had happened. He put his arm around her trying to comfort her. He wished he would have been there in her time of need. He knew she wasn't ready for that room yet, but he could now enter the room without emotion. He longed to have a baby, but not until she was ready. When she had finally stopped crying she apologized for losing it emotionally, and then crawled into bed. John reassured her that it was alright and then blew out the oil lamp and crawled into bed as well.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 6 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/8/2007 10:19:49 AM
Ok you are funny, in the next chapter there is actually a scene with cows, although none are named Elsie. One is Bessie and the other is Daisy. I still hope to post the next chapter today, but I need to finish it.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 4 (view)

The Tractor Posted: 1/8/2007 9:54:03 AM
I am so sad to see no one else is reading my story. I shall post the next chapter later today.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 31 (view)

In Need Of A Fire Posted: 1/8/2007 9:53:17 AM
Still waiting!

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 9 (view)

Love & Goatshit Posted: 1/8/2007 9:48:16 AM
I thought it was an odd story. Who in their right mind would ever want goatshit?

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 3 (view)

my mind Posted: 1/8/2007 9:24:29 AM
As far as that work schedule goes I am right there with your character. I even have some crazy dreams like that, but I couldn't finish reading it. It became a blurr of words. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make much sense of the blurr I saw before me. Perhaps it is because I am overworked, and I don't get enough sleep, but I think it is more likely that your story needs to be broken up into paragraphs to give your readers' eyes a break. If you would like examples check out one of the threads I have started, you can see how I broke things down and how much easier it is to read. I hope this helps you to become a better writer.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 15 (view)

The Lonely Machine Posted: 1/8/2007 9:18:44 AM
You are funny Pokerman. Even if it is the generic good job, people still like to hear it. Think about it how much did you love it when your parents or teachers told you that you had done a great job, especially if it was something you had never tried before? Just a little food for thought.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 30 (view)

In Need Of A Fire Posted: 1/5/2007 9:19:54 AM
I am then eagerly awaiting your return and additional posts. I am glad to hear it's being published. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Happy Birthday, and I hope you have a fantastic trip.

Imadancingqueen

Joined: 5/17/2006

Msg: 2 (view)

New York Hotel Posted: 1/5/2007 9:18:18 AM
Great story. Too bad most men aren't like that.

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