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#Post#: 2611--------------------------------------------------
Catch The Wind
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: March 6, 2013, 5:44 am
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Good morning my dear! Suuurprise! :D
Author's Note : *Disclaimer* - Please know that this is a work
of pure fiction. I'm but a humble writer and I don't make a cent
from these works, I just write them for my own and the enjoyment
of others. I do not mean in anyway to infringe upon the famous
individuals/characters that are mentioned within the work. I
only own the original characters unless otherwise stated. If you
would like to post my work please contact me and I will gladly
grant permission as long as my name is mentioned and the
disclaimer (above) is posted along with the piece. I don't bite,
I promise. :-)
HTML http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh628/mcohen3/tie-dye1_zpsb01bfa2e.jpg
Summary:
In 1969 the world was rapidly changing, unless you were from
Tillman Maryland, then your world was basically Leave It Beaver.
Four friends embark on a journey that molds them into free
spirits.They were idealists, young and standing up for a cause.
Now, each in their 30's, married, and working toward tenure at a
liberal arts college they're just trying to bridge the gap
between what they were and what they've become. Every story
starts with "Oh man, remember when?" Theirs comes with pictures.
Theme:
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnWDVPINu60
Playlist
All Along The Watchtower - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Can't Find My Way Home - Blind Faith
Dream A Little Dream of Me - The Mamas and the Papas
Catch The Wind - Donovan (Maggie and Scott's unofficial song)
Goin' Up The Country - Canned Heat
Both Sides Now - Judy Collins
Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon) - The Moody Blues
Time of the Season - The Zombies
Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Times They Are A-Changin' - Bob Dylan
Get Together - The Youngbloods (Lottie and Forrest's unofficial
song)
Dedicated to the One I Love - The Mamas and the Papas
The End - The Doors
Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Angel of the Morning - Merrilee Rush
Good Morning Starshine - Oliver
The Wind - Cat Stevens
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
Turn Turn Turn - The Byrds
Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf
A Clothing Retrospective
HTML http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/collection?id=2347111
The Vehicle aka The Hauler
HTML http://www.imcdb.org/images/035/894.jpg
#Post#: 2612--------------------------------------------------
Re: Catch The Wind
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: March 6, 2013, 8:01 am
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I think I should point out that even though the forum doesn't
wish to show the banner, I was able to grab the link, so I did
get to see it and I love it :D everyone looks so pretty! and the
colours are, once again, beautiful. The summary is intriguing
and the hippie themes are fantastic xD I love everything to do
with hippie's so I'm definitely looking forward to this one.
The theme - I love that too! I recognised it as I was listening,
but I can't be sure where I have heard it before. Could probably
be from an ad, but it's a lovely song and it's been added to my
playlist. And by the way, I love every last song you've included
for this story :] my favourite is still Like The Rain though,
cause I've been listening to that on repeat over the last week
or so. The fashion! everyone has great style in this :D I would
wear half the things they do. I'd love to dress like a hippie :/
and even be a hippie.. that would be pretty epic as well.
Pardon the long review xD but I can't help myself. Everything
about this is perfect and it hasn't even begun yet! :3 awaiting
as patiently as possible.
#Post#: 2613--------------------------------------------------
Re: Catch The Wind
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: March 7, 2013, 7:33 am
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Aww thank you my dear! I've actually gone in and tried to fix
the banner so it's visible and I'm glad you got to see it before
it went poof! I should be posting the first part today so never
fear. I'm trying to go for a "present day" then a back story
then a present day sort of thing so we'll see how it pans out. I
love their style too! I'd wear that stuff because it's so
flowing and natural, oh trust me you wouldn't fail at being a
hippie! I'd be right there along side you urging you on my dear.
I'm so glad you liked the playlist :D I thank you for your long
interview and I'm writing as fast as I can, haha.
#Post#: 2614--------------------------------------------------
Re: Catch The Wind
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: March 7, 2013, 12:31 pm
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All human beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all
mankind together.
- Jack Kerouac
September 1980 (Present Day) Bard Smith University Avery, NY
"I'm late! I'm late! Crap Crap Crap!"
I thought frantically to myself as I barreled past a few
stragglers that were milling about in the quad just outside the
English department building. That's what I get for being trapped
in a faculty meeting, although as an upside we were given a half
day consisting of one block period class then leaving the campus
at twelve. The cool winds of fall were already nipping in the
sunny September air and the leaves were just starting to change.
"Hey! Mags! Wait, you forgot something!"
I heard Scott call after me as he sprinted to catch up to me and
give me a final kiss before we went our separate ways. Seventeen
years together and we were still in the newly wed phase of life,
or so we'd been told. We'd grown up together and ended up
getting married at 18, when the world was our oyster and we were
standing for a cause. Back when people actually protested things
that mattered. We were co-heads of the English department now,
something unheard of back when we were still coming through the
academic system.
"Love you."
He murmured before touching my cheek a final time as I handed
him his stack of folders and the battered copy of Don Quixote
that had various notes scribbled into the margins and a myriad
of sticky notes stuck on various pages.
"Not as much as I love you. Now, go blow their minds, hon."
I said as we walked up the stone steps and turned our separate
ways across the hall from one another to our respective
classrooms. The classroom I called mine seated maybe fifty
students at a time and wasn't to be "tampered" with i.e.
decorated at all. Of course that didn't stop me from leaving the
classroom open one weekend over the summer and hosting a
quotations painting party with with the help of my husband and
two of our oldest and dearest friends, the artistic duo known as
Mr. and Mrs. Bondurant, the co heads of the art department. I
calmed myself before I shut the door and looked at a few of the
hazy faces sitting further back, either they partied hard or
were still stoned from the previous night. Either way they had
no idea what the hell they'd signed up for. I took a quick tally
and found that I'd been blessed with fourteen droopy eyed
students to call my own for this mid morning block of time. I
made my way to the front of the room and set my bag down on the
worn oak desk and shrugged off my coat as a quiet lull finally
hit me, my class was nearly silent, just sitting there like
bumps on a log each and everyone of them looking at me with
glassy eyed expressions. This group of kids were so heavily
medicated by pill pushing doctors that it was sickening.
"Welcome to the first day of the rest of your lives. For those
of you that don't know where the hell you are you're in English
Lit 101. I am Professor Denny, well one of them anyway. If
you're confused by that statement my husband's class is right
across the hall, also known as Contemporary Lit. Please check
your schedules although if you'd like to stay I have no problem,
the more the merrier. Alright, first things first here. Did
everyone read the first book on the summer reading list?"
I could have heard a pin drop with how quiet the room had
become. All bleary eyes were on me, not a good sign, this crowd
of kids were so stoned they would have made a group of Dead
Heads looks like they were on speed.
"Anyone?"
I'd gone out of my way to pick the easiest book on the list and
not one had bothered to read, except one over zealous coked out
little yuppie tight ass in the back.
"Well, I did, Professor Denny and I thought Melville's portrayal
of a seafaring life mirrored my own great grandfather's life to
a perfect tee..."
I held up my hands and sighed I was getting too old for this
crap.
"I get it, you read it. Now, cool it, ok? For those of you that
didn't read it, never fear. I'll be assigning some supplemental
material."
The class was still dead and looking at me in a glassy eyed
fashion some of them had actually nodded off. Now was my chance
to have some fun with them.
"Oh for the love of God just everyone sit still. I'll be right
back."
I rolled my eyes as I stalked out of the classroom and went
across the hall. Scott had already gone into his lecture as I
quietly opened the door made my way down the lecture hall
staircase and maneuvered my way around him as he continued his
speech on Don Quixote, the one novel that brought us together
and he proposed over me proof reading a dissertation on. I gave
him a peck on the cheek making his class chuckle as he blushed
and introduced me. I gave them a slight wave as I proceeded to
open his bottom desk drawer and dig until I found what I was
looking for.
"So can anyone tell me who Aldonza was and how effected Don
Quixote? And in what way?"
A hand shot up and the question was answered by an under grad
I'd had the year before.
"She was his love, his infatuation. He was head over heels for
her. Kinda like how you are with Mrs. Denny, Professor."
I grinned at the student and then watched as Scott colored a
little more deeply.
"Give Mulligan an A, Scott. Oh, by the way, if you hear me
screaming I'm just fine. My class is a downer this year and I
think half of them may just as well be dead. I'm getting tons of
glassy eyed stares and I'm not talking about the kind you and I
witnessed at Woodstock, hon. This is like better living through
chemistry to the core."
Scott's class let out a collective laugh as Scott shook his head
and leaned against his desk, head in hand.
"Oh I'm sure that just what they want to hear about, our time at
Woodstock, Mags."
Someone in the back let out a whoop and then called out.
"We didn't know that you two were hippies! C'mon! Now you've
gotta tell us, man!"
Scott shook his head and quieted his class down.
"Maybe at the end of the year when we've all got way too much
time on our hands, ok? Oh, and for all you art majors ask the
Bondurants about their experiences."
I gave Scott one last hug and a peck before excusing myself but
not before I called over my shoulder.
"Catch you on the flip side, Don."
Scott not missing a beat replied,
"Later, Aldonza my love."
I sashayed out of the classroom and back to my own to find that
my class, including the coked out yuppie youngster were all
crashed out, faces down on their desks. Perfect, my plan of
giving them a rude awakening was going to start. I went about
setting up the old portable record player that I sometimes
incorporated into my lesson plans and put the needle down on an
old Iron Butterfly record that had been left here after the
redecorating get together and pressed the trigger down on the
megaphone resulting in the room filling with the steady driving
beat that only In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida could provide. My class was
blasted straight out of their man made drug comas and alert to
the world once more. I grinned as I yelled over the music in a
measured tone that totally condescended the little jerks.
"Good morning and welcome back to Earth! I'm professor Denny and
I'll be introducing you to English Literature this semester!
Now, since you've wasted my teaching time I'm going to waste
yours by making you sit here through both the studio version and
the live performance version of this lovely song. I suggest that
you all get used to that ringing in your ears because once the
rotating drums kick in you're all screwed. Especially if you're
all still coming down from the highs you had."
As I set down the megaphone and dialed back the volume I read
the lips of one terrified girl as she whispered to the friend
sitting next to her.
"Oh my god! How long are we going to be here?!"
Her friend was at a loss and I grinned even wider as I answered.
"You're looking at forty minutes of sheer and utter bliss, my
dear. Now, sit back and enjoy being part of the waking world and
don't any of you ever come into my class in the shape you did
today again or so help me God I'll make this look like child's
play."
I passed out the course syllabus and my contact information and
office hours before taking to the board and writing down the
week's assignments along with a second book that the class was
required to read the first five chapters of by Tuesday. Once the
full forty minutes were up I dismissed the class, turned off the
turn table and gathered my things before locking the classroom
down for the long weekend ahead.
Later that Evening
"What the hell were they thinking by giving me a class full of
coma kids? They knew damn well I'd end up waking them out of
their man made slumber at some point. Do they honestly think I'm
that horrible of a teacher?"
I grumbled as Scott and I prepared dinner for our weekly get
together with Lottie and Forrest. I was slicing cucumbers for
the tossed salad as Scott watched me wide eyed as I continued my
assault on the poor defenseless vegetables and then cleared his
throat. I set the knife down as I slid the mutilated veggies
into a wooden serving bowl and turned to face him.
"I'm sure they were just sent to you because Hollander knows
that you're the only one that would push things far enough to
actually get them out of their stupor. He also knows that you're
going to push them to excellence, like you always do. You're not
horrible, you're amazing, and you're by no means boring, babe.
Trust me. You're awe inspiring and a force to be reckoned with,
that's why I married you."
I chuckled as Scott pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek.
"Now, see all these years I thought it was because of our
discussion over the works of Kerouac and our shared love of
Hawthorne."
"Ok, yes to all of those things and the fact that you found my
jokes funny not to mention you saved my sorry ass when it came
to proof reading."
Out in the hallway I heard the front door open and a shout of
"The Bondurants have arrived!"
Lottie in all her fellow flower child glory came into the
kitchen a whirl of excitement as she and Forrest carried in a
few boxes of only lord knew what.
"We come with gifts of photos of past adventures and film reels
for our night in."
She said as she pulled Scott and I into a hug and Forrest went
about setting up the projector in the living room.
"Don't forget about the other box, Lottie."
Forrest called as we went about plating up dinner, which
consisted of steamed veggies in a curry sauce, grilled tofu, and
brown rice. Lottie rolled her eyes as she heaved the other box
Forrest had left by the kitchen island.
"Since his art studio on campus is being remodeled he's had a
ton of time on his hands so he made you another dinner service."
I peeked into the box and let out a yelp of joy.
"It's got the sage green and sunflower yellow glaze I was
telling him about!"
Forrest popped back into the kitchen and wrapped an around
Lottie's shoulders and gave me a grin.
"Man, I think we married lucky, Scott. Yours gets excited over
hand made plates and mine adores late night star gazing
sessions."
The front door slammed shut and the familiar stomping foot steps
of the seven year old that we called our daughter were heard
through the front hall. The bus had just dropped her off from a
rather challenging day at school and we were in for a good
display.
Thud.
"There's the back pack."
Scott said as we each timed her.
Clunk.
"The shoes."
Lottie sighed.
Swoosh. Plink. Plink. Plink.
"The sweater and the buttons."
Forrest muttered.
Slam!
"The bedroom door."
I groaned.
"MOOOMMMY!"
There was a collective shuddered at the tone and I knew my
number was up. I gave Scott a pleading look as he put up his
hands. Forrest and Lottie gave me a worried look and then
probably thanked their lucky stars that their own sons, Tristan,
and River weren't as temperamental as our Ruby was.
"It wasn't Daaaddy like last time, babe. Besides, it's my turn
to read the story and tuck her in tonight."
I'd been through protests, riots, been pepper sprayed , batoned
during a peace march, spent a night in jail, but none of those
things prepared me for that tone my daughter took with me when
something was truly bugging her. I said a silent prayer as I
walked upstairs to Ruby's room and knocked on the door.
"Mom?"
"No, it's the Avon lady."
The door opened slowly as Ruby looked at me with tear stained
cheeks, I've been granted access to Ruby's domain that hadn't
changed that much since she was an infant. The murals and swirls
of color were still as vibrant as they'd always been. The castle
in the clouds still hovering mural over her bed, the only
changes had been the addition of one of the tapestry hangings
she'd lifted from either Scott or I and a battered bean bag
chair in one corner. Books and papers scattered around her desk,
her stuffed animals were neatly piled on her bed, and the air
heavy with honey suckle sachets. Ruby was following in our
footsteps quite well even though she put her own spin on things.
"What's the story morning glory?"
I asked as I sat down on the edge of her bed as she looked at me
with big watery blue eyes then dissolved into tears as she
wrapped her arms around me.
"Davey Sullivan called you and Dad a bunch of idiots for naming
me after an old song and then he told me that I was stupid
because I didn't eat meat like all the other kids...and then
everyone started calling us the tree hugging family."
I wrapped an arm around Ruby's shoulders and pulled her in for a
hug as I smoothed her hair.
"Oh sweetie don't let some little idiot like Davey Sullivan get
you down. You're being true to yourself and that's more then I
can say for him. He's just a little narrow minded bully that
won't amount to anything later in life. Just be like a duck and
let it roll off your back, babe. You're a millions times better
then he is or ever will be."
Ruby looked at me and gave me a watery smile before hugging me
tight and kissing my cheek.
"Thanks, Mom."
I hugged her back and then scooted her out of the room.
"Dinner's ready so wash up and I'll meet you downstairs."
Ruby went towards the upstairs bathroom and I made my way
downstairs.
"Everything ok?"
Scott asked as he helped Lottie and Forrest set the table and I
got glasses down from the hutch.
"Yeah, just one of her classmates giving her a little bit of a
hard time. Poking fun at her name and the fact that we're
vegetarians, calling us a bunch of tree huggers."
Forrest snorted as he set down a fork here and there.
"Let me guess, Davey Sullivan, right?"
I nodded as I poured out water.
"That little jerk's been causing trouble for nearly every kid in
his grade. Tristan and River came home last week and asked
Lottie why they had weird names."
Scott sighed as he put plates down on the table and sat down.
"Yeah, and Davey's not weird? Why doesn't he just go stick his
head in gravy or something."
I sat down next to Scott and wrapped an arm around him.
"Now now, don't get all worked up. I told her to just ignore the
little heathen and let it roll off her back. She's better then
he'll ever be."
"I know that but still she shouldn't have to put up with little
idiots like him. Neither should Tristan and River. I hope the
little creep remembers that Karma's a ****."
We all nodded in agreement and the question was broached as to
where the little Bondurants were tonight.
"With their lovely grandparents for the next two days. I still
think the house is too quiet without them but Forrest's parents
offered to take them so we could have our own time together."
Lottie crowed as Ruby sat down to join us. The conversation
switched to various child friendly topics and then the bomb was
dropped by no one other then Ruby herself. She looked at Scott
and I with a very serious look etched into her little features.
"I know what I want for my birthday."
I had expected either some sort of toy that had just come out or
a camera like Lottie's or something. Scott was probably thinking
the same thing, maybe a puppy or a kitten. Lottie and Forrest
looked at this little familial display with interest.
"I'd like a baby brother or sister."
Scott choked on his tofu and had a coughing fit and I dropped my
fork with a clatter, eyes wide.
Forrest and Lottie went silent and then exchanged looks with us
before looking at each other.
"W...wouldn't you like a puppy or something?
Something...anything...else?"
Scott sputtered and I nodded.
"If you had a little brother or sister then you'd have to share
everything, Ruby."
Ruby shrugged and stood her ground.
"I do already. I share with Tristan and River."
"But once the baby's here we can't sent it back."
"I know and I'll be here to help."
There was a second of silence for the changes that were about to
be made in the Denny house.
"We'll think about, Ruby."
Ruby crossed her arms and scowled a bit and looked over at
Forrest and Lottie and pleaded for help.
"That means they're going to say no. Convince them for me,
please."
Ruby collected her plate, silverware, and glass and put them in
the sink and stomped off to her room.
"Hey, hold it right there, little madame."
I said as Ruby came back over to me. I held out my arms and
pulled her in for a hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek before
whispering something into her ear. She looked at me and grinned
and then "locked her lips" before she went over to Scott and
said her goodnights to him. Their usual routine consisted of a
big bear hug and swing around a bit.
"What did Mom tell you?"
Ruby shrugged and let out a shriek of laughter as he tried to
tickle it out of her.
"It's a secret, Daddy. I'm sworn to secrepcy."
She wriggled out of Scott's arms and ran over to Forrest and
Lottie gave them quick hugs and ran for the safety of her room
upstairs.
"Hey, While you're up there take a bath will you?"
I called up the stairs as Scott looked at me with eyebrows
raised. I gave him a coy smile as I collected the dishes and
shooed him out into the living room with Forrest while Lottie
and I cleaned up.
"So, how far along are you?"
Lottie asked as I passed her a dish to dry off and put away.
"A little over four weeks, I was going to surprise everyone
around Thanksgiving but you're sworn to secrecry, Lottie."
Lottie grinned as she pulled me into a hug and whispered.
"So are you, I'm a week ahead of you. Man, you're on your
second, we're on our third. I'm starting to feel a little old
aren't you?"
I sighed as rinsed out the sink and shook my head a bit.
"Oh hell yes, we were the ones that never planned on having kids
or conforming to society. What happened to us?"
I shrugged as we headed toward the living room and settled in on
the couch to find Scott and Forrest digging through a box of
photographs.
"Oh man! Remember this one?"
Forrest said as he held up a snapshot of the four of us standing
in front of the ancient VW bus Scott had way back then.
"Oh my god, we're all so baby faced back then!"
I looked through a bit and came across one of my brother Jackie
and I, he had me in a bear hug and grin on his face. He'd never
wanted to fight, he'd shared our views on the world. He was one
of my best friends and not a day went by that I didn't miss him.
I brushed a few tears away as Scott wrapped an arm around me and
kissed the top of my head. It was funny, seeing his picture
after all this time actually made me feel a little home sick for
the tiny town the four of us had fled the summer of 1969.
#Post#: 2615--------------------------------------------------
Re: Catch The Wind
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: March 7, 2013, 4:38 pm
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I love this so far, very much. It seems a little different
compared to your other stories, which just makes me love it all
the more! I think Maggie is a very strong woman and her little
girl is adorable, aha. The tantrum when she was told she
couldn't have a baby brother or sister was gorgeous :3 I
actually like seeing children sulk, but I don't know why. I just
find it quite cute, so long as they aren't the kinda kids who
scream the house down. Also, I am in awe of the names you picked
out for Lottie and Forrest's kids ;) hehe. Two of my favourite
names <3 but I think you knew that already, aha. I can't wait
for the update to find out what the guys think of the surprise!
:D
#Post#: 2616--------------------------------------------------
Re: Catch The Wind
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: March 8, 2013, 7:10 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Thank you so much! I can't tell you how happy I am to know that
you're loving this! I tried to go for something a little
different so we'll see how this one goes, I'm hoping it'll go
well, haha. Aww, I think Maggie would hug you for saying that
about her, she does seem like a strong character and Ruby's her
own person even at such a young age. I had so much fun writing
her sulking scene that I'm sure it was criminal. I'm the same
way with sulky kids, as long as it doesn't escalate to the blue
fit throwing/ screeching kind I find it adorable. I actually had
a bit of a time choosing names for Lottie and Forrest's boys and
then it just hit me. I'm so so glad that you like them. :) I've
got a feeling the guys are going to be a little shocked,
possibly dazed and in need of a drink, haha. I should have the
next installment in by tomorrow for you, complete with
flashbacks featuring Jackie. :)
#Post#: 2664--------------------------------------------------
Re: Catch The Wind
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: May 20, 2013, 1:42 am
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Tillman Maryland July 1969
The hazy summer sun shined down on the tiny town of Tillman, a
town that the 60's hadn't quite touched yet. It was still pretty
much Leave It To Beaver for us and for someone that had a love
of all things natural, emerging Rock music, and participated in
peaceful protests the small town known as home was beginning to
get a little more uncomfortable as the days ticked by.
"Jackie! No! No! Not the garden hose!"
I'd screamed as my brother chased me around the front yard as we
attempted to wash our parents car, a task we'd shared since he
was ten and I was seven.
"Oh come on, Mags! It's only a little water what're you afraid
of?"
"Nothing, it's just you plus water aren't good things to mix!
You aim for the face!"
I threw a soapy sponge at his face and made a run for it as a
few of my friends pulled up behind our parents station wagon.
"Ahh! You're finally here!"
I yelped as I made a run for Scott, Lottie, and Forrest, three
people that I'd grown up with my entire life on Watkins Street.
Scott and I had hatched a plan to elope the next morning along
with some help from my brother and our best friends. My parents
had gone to Dover to visit a few friends that had moved from the
neighborhood and Scott's parents were out in Bethesda visiting
his grandparents.
I took refuge behind Scott and tried to dodge the freezing
stream of water that was still coming at me.
"Hey, knock if off, Jackie."
Scott said as Jackie put on a mock pout, the same his niece
would inherit years later, and set the hose down.
"So, what brings the merry band by today? Going off to the beach
to bake yourselves in the sun and discuss poetry?"
Jackie asked as he took a seat on the front steps and looked at
us with an amused smile. The pack of Marlboro's he always kept
in his jeans pocket came out and he shook one out, lit it, and
took a deep drag from it. He was the king of cool and he knew
it.
Lottie and Forrest were wrapped around each other like they
always were and Scott and I were all but joined at the hip as we
exchanged looks and then let Jackie in our newest plan.
"We're setting off for Woodstock and getting married."
Scott said with as much determination as I'd ever seen him take
on in his entire eighteen years. Jackie's face changed from
pensive to shocked in two point three seconds flat. A plume if
cigarette smoke wafted above his head like a misshapen halo and
his eyes went wide before he looked from me to Scott and back
again.
"What? Oh my God! I swear to God Denny if you got my little
sister in trouble I'll be beating your face into the pavement."
Scott gulped, his own eyes wide behind his glasses and he shook
his head.
"No! No, Jackie it's not like that all. It's just that with
school coming up we don't want to be apart.."
Jackie cut poor Scott off as he snuffed out his cigarette.
"Then one of you needs to transfer."
I crossed my arms and looked Jackie square in the eye and set my
jaw.
"You know damn well Mom and Dad wouldn't allow it. I swear to
God, Jackie it's like they want me to stay their little girl
forever. It's driving me nuts, if I stay here with them I'll
die. You know how they are."
Jackie nodded and then something about him changed. His head
hung a little lower and his face softened a bit.
"Well, if you two do get married make me a promise."
"Name it."
"Promise me that you'll stop in and see them every once and
while, huh? Come this time next year I could be over in the
jungles or something.."
My heart skipped a beat as I asked him what he meant.
"Looks like my number came up, kid. According to Uncle Sam my
birthday's quite popular with the draft board. I leave for boot
camp in two weeks."
This is where my memory of that day gets a bit hazy. I've been
told that I stood there for a second and then my knees went out
from underneath me and I sat sobbing on the front lawn for the
better part of two hours but honestly I couldn't tell if I did
or not. The one thing I can tell you is that something inside of
me broke that day and two weeks later a part of myself felt like
it had died when I watched Jackie board that Greyhound bus to
Bethesda dressed in his dress blues. Something about him had
changed, he wasn't the fun, joking ball of energy that I'd known
and adored growing up. He was just a scared kid sent off to
fight a war he really wanted no part in. I do remember him
standing in as a third witness for Scott and I at our wedding
which took place on the fifth of July two towns over from
Tillman. The pictures I've got of him were the last anyone would
see him with a genuine smile on his face and his long. Those
were the ones that Ruby always liked to look at when I was
putting new photos into the many scrapbooks that had accumulated
in the house. Hell, after thirty years on Earth everyone's bound
to have a stock pile of old photos, some much more sentimental
than others.
"Hey, Mags...you ok?"
Forrest asked he changed the film reel and looked over his
shoulder at me. Lottie and Scott had the same look on their
faces as I nodded and slapped on a smile.
"Sorry, just thinking. I think I'll go check on Ruby."
Without another word I excused myself and ventured upstairs to
find Ruby trying get her nightshirt buttoned and having a hard
time with the buttons. I smiled in spite of her struggle and
knocked on her doorway.
"Want some help?"
Ruby turned to face me, her little face scrunched in
concentration eased a bit and nodded. I came over and turned on
her nightlight before buttoning her up and pulling her in for a
hug and then tucking her in under the quilt that I'd made years
ago from a bunch of Scott's old flannel shirts and corduroy
pants.
"What story would you like tonight my darling daughter?"
I asked as I settled in next to her and she thought for a
moment. I could tell this was going to be a good one because she
scrunched up her face and huffed out a puff of air to sort out
her wispy blond bangs.
"Tell me about when I was born."
This was one story Ruby never seemed to tire of, Scott and I had
glossed over many things with her but the aspect of how she came
into this world wasn't one of them. Although, I had to hand it
Scott, he told the story much better than I ever did, something
that Ruby would point out from time to time if I skipped a bit.
"Are you sure you wouldn't want to hear about the Little
Prince?"
Ruby shook her head and cuddled up next to me, her raggedy
stuffed dog that had been a gift from Forrest and Lottie tucked
in beside her. Scott and I were beside ourselves when she'd
named it Mott, she'd told us it was a combination of our first
names. Lottie had laughed at our reaction and told us she was
envious because she and Forrest had to contend with River and
Tristan's Squeak and Squawk penguin stuffed animals.
"Alright, if you're sure then."
I stretched out next to her and stroked her mass of unruly sandy
blond curls as I started the retelling.
"Well, where oh where do I begin? Oh, yes, the night you were
born there was a star shower and when I saw that first star
shooting across the sky I made a wish. What do you think I
wished for?"
Ruby grinned as she looked up at me and toyed with my wedding
band.
"For me to be healthy and happy! Daddy always says that you
never stopped worrying, not even once because all those doctor's
told you that you'd never have a baby."
Somehow I could see Scott putting on a dramatic air and painting
quite the picture of me to our dear daughter but I nodded. I
made a mental note to ask what else he'd divulged about my heady
days of pregnancy to her but it could wait until Ruby was sound
asleep. I almost laughed, here I was thirty years old with a
seven year old and another one on the way, those doctors must
have been on something when they read through my test results.
Although my little secret was safe with Lottie and Ruby for now,
I had a sneaking suspicion that poor Scott was going to go into
shock just like he did when I told him about Ruby.
"Yes, I did and just as soon as that meteor shower was over you
were born...
Ruby cut me off and sat up with a grin before continuing.
"Right in the living room 'cause I was in such a hurry to meet
you and tell you that I was just fine. Daddy always says I was
second catch he's ever made. "
I looked at Ruby slightly confused and asked her what she meant
by it.
"Daddy always says that you were first and a great one at that."
It finally dawned on me and I felt my heart swell a bit, Scott
never ceased to amaze me with the subtle ways he found to tell
me that he loved me.
Ruby leaned closer and wrapped her little arms around me once
more and gave me the tightest hug she could manage and murmured
that she loved me. She settled back into her pillows and her
little eyes drooped a bit, a yawn was stifled and then let out
and she was well on her way to the land of nod. It was moments
like this that Scott and I both savored because we both knew
they wouldn't last. I couldn't begin to count the baby photos
we'd taken of Ruby during her infancy and toddler years but I
had to wonder how we'd take life with the newest addition. We'd
each been newly minted twenty-one year olds when Ruby came into
our lives, would thirty really change us that much? We were
officially on the road to find out. I just prayed that this one
was as healthy and as happy as Ruby was and that Scott wasn't
going to suffer from a state of shock like he had the first time
around. I made a second mental note to have the video camera at
the ready when I told him, this way it was on video for the
years to come.
#Post#: 2666--------------------------------------------------
Re: Catch The Wind
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: May 20, 2013, 11:44 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Ah, that was a pretty heartbreaking update. I really felt her
pain when she found out her brother had been called on to go to
war. Somehow, I think I'm going to struggle just as much as my
mum when my brother gets into the Marines :/ really did feel all
those emotions. I wish I could give her a hug! D: I also adore
Ruby, so very much. She is a beautiful little girl! and a golden
child if I may say so :D
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