Not today G3. Been too busy answering Terrova questions.
Wannabe...
Printable View
Not today G3. Been too busy answering Terrova questions.
Wannabe...
Dadblastit....I knew I should have waited untill after the story. :(
WB must be suffering from writers block. :rolleyes:
I've got a partial on the next chapter going. Already know how it's gonna end. Actually, knew where I was going before I started. No block, just need motivation and a little time.
Might I suggest that Bandits, Bobby Garland, BnM Poles, various expensive boating equipment, trolling rods, and or electronics are all excellent motivators.
Wannabe...
How about Me & Feelay with a couple of axe handles and staring you down like the last porkchop on the platter is that enough to get you motivated !!!
You can have the axe handle slabo...I'll take an old car antennae...Whopped a guy with one back in my misguided youth, you'd a thunk I poured liquid fire on him!
Yeah I'll bet that would make a fellow dance like he was standing on a nest of yellowjackets
Feelay, how about a used seat post? Could that be used in the place of an axe handle as a motivator tool? You could fixem up so the post could be permanently portable and multifunctional ifn you know where to place it. :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by feelay
Some steal his boat plug.
I'm going to have to read it again, I done slept too many days to remember the story.
It was about a boy and an old woman with a john boat and they were going to fish in the old sewer pond, right? Am I close?
:D :D We called it "doin the high-step"Quote:
Originally Posted by Slabo
Naw no where near close. The old man bought 3 seat post, had em shipped all over the state and then got the neighbors boy Billy over there to tell him they were the wrong size. Now he done went and bought three more and he's got the boy back over there beatin em in with a sledge hammer so his wife won't get mad cause he's done bought 6 that won't fit. Then the wife made some cookies and it made the old mans stomach upset so he took a picture of the evidence and sent it to a buddy who passed it onto another buddy who posted it on a public forum. The old man ain't got his boat rigged yet so he ain't decided where they gonna fesh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodgeman
Now you up to speed and don't get behind again. It's really hard to remember all the excitin parts.
Ok, old man, boat, posts, wife grounded him.
Got it.
Just a reminder to Wannabe that he is behind schedule.
The following chapter is dedicated to Slabo, Feelay and Sat. Not cause they threatened me, but on account of them having something I want. :)
Chapter 10
The next morning Carol was gone by 5 AM, but today she’d have only 5 hours to work at the diner and still would have time for lunch with the Bakers before heading out again to be at work by 2. Before she left, she checked in on Billy and noticed his room was picked up more than usual. It still wasn’t clean exactly, but she could tell he spent some time on it last night.
Billy resisted the urge to run over and see what Mr. Baker was up to when he got up. Around 8 he noticed Mrs. Ann leaving in her car and it wasn’t much longer before Mr. Baker drove off in that big diesel too. Great, now how was he supposed to pass the time. Billy thought back to the project he’d started last night and decided that was as good a way as any. It wasn’t exactly fun, but it did manage to pass the time. He didn’t even realize how late it was when his Mom walked in the door yelling his name and telling him to hurry up, they didn’t want to be late. Ann threw her things down, picked up a pie off the kitchen counter and herded Billy down the hall and out of the door.
They walked past the garage and to the Bakers front door. Ann greeted them and hugged Carol and Billy as if she’d know them all their lives. Mr. Baker was busy in the kitchen, but managed to pop his head around the corner to say hello to them. Ann took Carol into the kitchen and soon sent Mr. Baker back to the living room to be with Billy. They chatted and talked fishing while the ladies put the finishing touches on lunch. Soon they were eating like kings on what seemed to Billy to be a feast. The conversation during lunch was more about getting to know each other than anything else. Billy just ate and tried to keep quiet while concentrating on not spilling anything on the white table cloth. They talked about where they were all born, his Mother’s jobs, Mr. Baker’s work and their kids. Soon lunch was over and Ann insisted on sending the boys out to the garage so she and Carol could visit some more and so the boys wouldn’t be in the way. Mr. Baker seemed relieved and so did Billy so they didn’t put up much of a fight. This was all a bit too formal for the both of them.
Mr. Baker motioned for Billy to come with him and they stepped out to through the utility room to the garage. Billy was amazed that Mr. Baker had completely finished everything since he was over the day before. All of the gear on the floor was gone and the peg board was even straighter and more precise that it was yesterday. Even the cardboard boxes were gone and had been replaced by some plastic storage bins with drawers. But the boat was cluttered up again with some tackle and rods and some odds an ends. “Mr. Baker, can I help you finish cleaning the boat?” “I was hoping you would Billy. Climb up there and hand me all that stuff”. Billy did and one by one handed over the 2 spinning rods and reels, a large tackle bag that was heavier than it looked and 2 plastic bags of loose stuff. With each hand off, Mr. Baker created a little pile on the garage floor. Then walked over and turned on the fans and pulled up the two chairs. “Billy come on down here and lets look at this stuff”. Before he did, he took a moment to marvel at the boat they’d cleaned off. It seems like you could land a plane on the front deck and still have room for the helicopter on the back now that it was cleaned off.
They took up their positions in the chairs and Mr. Baker leaned over and grabbed the spinning rods. “Billy, I want you to take this stuff home with you.” “No Mr. Baker, I appreciate it, but I don’t think I can do that.” “Why not Billy?” “Well, I don’t want you to think I was helping you just so I could get stuff, besides, my Mom wouldn’t like me taking it.” “Well Billy, Ann and I talked to your Mom about it yesterday and she said it’d be fine with her. You’ve seen how much junk I’ve got and you know I’m never going to get to use it.” He paused for a second to check to make sure Billy understood what he’d just said then went on. Billy did. “I’d rather you take it and use it to catch every fish in that lake back there with it and then come and tell me all about it. Besides, if you don’t take it, I’m just going to throw it all in the corner and let it rot.” Billy slumped back in his chair and furrowed his brow. He glanced down at the pile, up at Mr. Baker, then back to the pile. A few moments passed and Mr. Baker sat patiently. Billy’s brows eased and a smile started and continued to grow. “Mr. Baker, I will take this stuff. I’ll take it and do my best to clear out that lake with it. Thank You. Thank you so much.” “Billy, I can’t accept your thanks. The only thanks I want is for you to come and tell me about the fish you catch with it and I want every detail from every trip back there. Promise me.” “Oh you can count on me Mr. Baker. I promise”. The grin on Billy’s face would stay would be one of the things that kept coming to mind to him on the day he died. “I’m sure you will Billy. Now, let’s go through all of this stuff and let me show you how to use it and how these reels work.”
Wannabe...
And just cause ya'll are being so nice to me and encouraging me about the FJ this weekend, here's a twofer for ya. But I'm warnin' ya...I don't want to hear any crap about not posting anything on Friday.
Chapter 11.
Back in the house, Ann and Carol finished cleaning up and settled back down at the table to visit like only ladies can visit. Ann started with gentle questions: Tell me about Billy. What about your work? Etc. Then went deeper: Are you divorced? Where is your Ex-husband? Etc. She managed, as only Ann could, to get a deep understanding with only a few questions and let Carol fill in the blanks. Ann was so easy to talk to and Carol had so little time to really talk to another woman since her Mother had died 5 years ago that Carol poured out like a tea pitcher before she knew it. Before it was over, Carol has relayed her entire history, the struggles she had to make ends meet and the exhaustion she felt trying to keep them tied together. And on top of it all, there was the ‘man stuff’ that need to be done. The A/C was on the fritz and the leaking faucet and just about the time she managed to fix one thing, another would break. When Carol had talked herself to the point where it started to make her sad, Ann jumped in and changed the subject to her and Mr. Baker.
“Carol, I’ve got to tell you something. The reason we moved here is William. We don’t think he has long.” Ann went on to recount the entire story all the way to the point of his pending PET Scan Thursday. Carol sat quietly listening. Embarrassed that she had been so caught up in her own troubles. “Carol, I need your help” “Anything,” Ann said. And she meant it. “William thinks that I don’t know, but he’s given up on getting better. He’s convinced himself that he’s going to die and he’s going to do it soon. Truth is, maybe he will, but I don’t want him to give up before it’s time. He’s always needed something to work towards and up till now, I’ve been able to provide it for him. The last 6 months, it’s been this move. But now that we’re settled in, he thinks he’s finished. That everything is done and I’m taken care of and that he can just lie down and die. I’m not going to have it.” She paused and cleared her throat and wiped a soft tear. “What can I do to help Ann? Just tell me”. “Well, it’s Billy. He needs something or someone to focus on. He likes Billy too. And he doesn’t like many kids these days. If you will, would you please let Billy spend some time with William? I mean, just let Billy come over and visit and let them piddle in that garage. And I’ll make sure that Billy is always safe and where he’s supposed to be when you need him. I can help look after him and help you when you need to work too.” Carol held up a hand to stop Ann before she went any further. “Of course Ann, I’ll make sure Billy stops by any chance he gets and I’ll let him know that he can come over any time he wants. To tell the truth, you and William are Godsends. Billy’s at an age where it won’t take much to get him going in the wrong direction and without his Dad around.....” She let that last sentence trail off without finishing it. Deep down, she wasn’t sure that having him around right now would be such a good thing if she stopped to think about it. “Ann, you have my word, we’ll put these two together as much as possible and if things don’t go well with William, it won’t be from our lack of trying”.
Ann hugged Carol and tried not to break down. “Ann, I’m sorry, but I have to leave for work now. Thank you so much for lunch and for everything.” “No, Thank you Carol. Thank you.” The two hugged and headed out through the garage. The boys were deep in discussion over the merits of solid body tubes verses hollow body tubes when the girls stepped through the door. “Billy, I have to leave for work now, but you can stay here with Mr. Baker and Mrs. Ann as long as you don’t get in there way. You’ve got leftovers in the frig and I expect you to be bathed and in the bed no latter than 9 tonight. We’ve got to get up early and do the grocery shopping.” Ann paused to let Billy do is normal whining about taking a bath and the early bed time. “Yes Ma’am and I’ll be sure not to leave a mess in the bathroom again”. Carol’s eyes went wide. She half smiled and cut a glance at Ann. “Well…….oh….Ok then, I love you and I’ll check in on you when I get home” “Love you too Mom”. Carol blinked again. Really hard. She had to leave 5 minutes ago and she’d cry about it on the way to work when she had the time. “Mr. Baker, thank you for lunch. And please don’t let Billy get in your way.” “Oh, he’s not trouble at all Carol, I’m happy to have him around.” “Mom, did you really say Mr. Baker could really give me this fishing stuff”. “Yes Billy, but it sure is a lot, are you sure it’s OK Mr. Baker?” “Oh sure, it’s just some stuff I was going to throw away anyhow” That wasn’t true of course, but a little fib wouldn’t hurt anyone he thought to himself. “Well, if you’re sure then. Yes, you can keep it Billy, just be sure to take care of it.” “Yes Ma’am” There was the Ma’am again. Good thing is was a full 30 minutes to work. Ann and William watched Carol leave.
“William, Billy, ya’ll put that stuff away for now. William, go grab your tools, I’ve got some things I need you to do. Billy, would you mind helping William with some chores?” “I’d be happy to Mrs. Ann”. Good, I’ll make a list and you go change into some clothes that you can get dirty in. “Yes Ma’am” and Billy lit out for his house. “We’ve got to be at the doctor at 10 AM in the morning so I want you to go over and check on Carol’s air conditioner and get Billy to show you which one of their sinks is leaking. Now, don’t do anything to strenuous, but see what needs to be done to that A/C and go ahead and fix that sink. She flashed a smile at William and planted a big kiss on his cheek while she hugged him. Then spun on her heels and left William standing there not even giving him a chance to say yes, no, huh, wait a minute or anything.
Wannabe...
Thats more like it!!!!
Enjoyed 'em both! :) Keep up the good work! :)
I think I got something in my eyes reading that last chapter.....somebody hand me a kleenex. Heard "Believe" by Brooks and Dunn playing in the background. You doin a good job WB.
Dang you WB.
Good stuff!
My hats off to you Wannabe....that is a great story so far.
Daggummitt you're the second man in my lfe to make me feel all teary eyed.........the first was a mean SOB'ng Drill Sergeant at Fort Jackson, SC during boot camp!
Keep up the good work but I'm warning ya, this better not have a hallmark ending!
It must be contagious, cause I got that same thing in my eyes a little.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jethro
Good job WB.
i can't say it enough wb,,,i'm impressed!
Good job...
Yes you can SF, yes you can.Quote:
Originally Posted by sothunfried
great job wb. its a great story so far. you should publish it wb when its doing.
Special thanks to my new proof reading mistress.
Chapter 12
William just smirked to himself and turned for his tool box and bag. Hmmm…Better get my meter and test light….might need a pipe wrench….probably need my pressure gauges…he thought as he loaded the bag. Just as he loaded the last item, Billy re-appeared. “Well Billy, looks like we’ve got some fixin’ to do”. “Great. What needs fixing Mr. Baker?” “Well, Mrs. Ann wants me to go over and take a look at your air conditioner and said something about a sink”. “Oh…OK. It has been getting hot in the house lately. And the sink in the kitchen drips and I think Mom said there is a leak in under the cabinet.” “Well, we best get moving if you’re gonna go fishing today.” Billy grinned as big as ever. “Let’s go then”.
Billy led the way and William followed right into the kitchen. “See that drip there, Mr. Baker?” Billy opened the cabinet and pulled all the cleaning stuff out for William. “Right there. See how it’s been dripping and stained the cabinet? Must not be much of a leak, but it is dripping some”. “OK Billy, that doesn’t look to be too much to fix. We better have a look at that A/C now. Billy, you ever do any fixing?” “Not really Mr. Baker. I don’t really know how most stuff works. Just never really had anyone to show me.” “Well, we can fix that too. OK, where is your thermostat and your fuse box?” Billy showed him the fuse box and then the thermostat after Mr. Baker told him the thermostat is the ‘A/C on/off thingy’. Mr. Baker took the time to explain the why every house had a ‘fuse box’, what a circuit was, hot, neutral and ground and why there were different sized fuses…..at least a quick course on it anyway. He took extra care to emphasize how to be safe with electricity when you had some work to be done with it. At the thermostat, he explained how a mercury switch worked and pulled the cover off to let him see it as Mr. Baker moved the control arm. “Huh. That’s pretty simple Mr. Baker”. “Nothing to it really. OK, let’s set it to cool and go out and take a look at the unit outside”. Mr. Baker could hear it kick on and assumed it was just probably low on Freon or maybe had a leak.
Once outside, Mr. Baker could see no one had touched it in quite a few years. “Hmmm, look here Billy, the coil is filthy. No wonder this thing is not working like it supposed to.” What does the coil do Mr. Baker?” “Hand me that screw driver and go get the garden hose and I’ll show you”. Billy handed him a flat screwdriver and Mr. Baker explained the difference between a Phillips and a Flat and Billy took off for the garden hose. Mr. Baker removed the housing and exposed the coils showing all the dirt and leaf bits and explained how the Freon flowed through the unit and was cooled by the fan unit. Then he took the hose and sprayed it out. “Billy, this needs to be done at least once a year. I do mine twice just to make sure it’s operating efficiently as possible. Once in the spring when I see the first flowers and then again in the peak of the summer around the 1st of August because it’s usually gotten dusty by then and the pollen from the Spring would have built back up and made the dust stick to it. You need to make sure and do this for your Mom from now on. It’s one of the ways you can help your Mom out.” “Yes sir, I’ll take care of it from now on”. They finished the cleaning and Mr. Baker hooked up his gauges, explaining the theory of high side and low side and what the unit should be doing. “Well, there must not be a leak, something else is wrong. I still haven’t heard the compressor kick on”. “What’s the compressor?” Mr. Baker pointed it out again and explained what it does. “We better see if it’s getting power first. When your trying to fix stuff, it’s always easiest to start with the simple things and work up from there Billy”. Mr. Baker grabbed his meter and started connecting it here and there. He didn’t explain what he was doing though, other than to tell Billy that this was not something he should try because you had to be sure of what you were doing or that electricity would bite him like a Rattle Snake except the electricity wouldn’t let go right away.. Billy nodded and thought about that. He didn’t like snakes. “Yep, that’s the problem right there. The capacitor is bad. OK, you go into the house and turn the breaker I showed you off and we’ll get this fixed. Billy did as asked then came back out. “Billy, remember, always double check when working with electricity and I like to check 3 times. Mr. Baker reached over and threw the power switched mounted to the wall then showed Billy how to check for current with his meter. “That wall mounted box there kills the power to this unit…..or at least it’s supposed to if it was hooked up right. That’s the trouble, you can never be sure that someone else has done it the right way, so don’t trust your life on whether or not they did”. Mr. Baker threw the switch again and re-tested. Still no current. “This one was installed properly, but I’ve seen them where they weren’t. You see the trouble is that somebody may have done a repair down the road and bypassed that box and put current straight to the unit”. He turned the switch off again and removed the capacitor and explained how it worked and why it wouldn’t let the compressor come on. “OK, we know what’s wrong here, let’s get to that sink next.” The sink turned out to be a bad washer on the on the valve. The drain had just worked loose and only took ½ a turn with the pipe wrench. Mr. Baker explained every step of the way. “OK Billy, let’s run to the hardware store and get the things we need and we’ll be in business.”
Billy had never ridden in a truck as big as this. He felt like an over the road trucker and grinned the whole way there just listening to that Power Stroke chug the hills. Barely, he managed to resist the urge to ask Mr. Baker to honk the air horn. They walked in to the hardware store and the 3 guys behind the counter greeted Mr. Baker like a long lost cousin. Billy didn’t understand how they seemed to know him so well. “Who’s this fella with you Billy, your Grandson?” “Oh no, this is my next door neighbor, Billy Brannon”. “Well hey there Little Bill, nice to meet you”. Yep, Billy really liked this new nickname for sure now. Billy managed a smile and shook the man’s hand. Another guy slid a container of candy over to him and winked at him to let him know it was OK to swipe a few. Billy took a seat on the stool and started fishing out the good stuff. Mr. Baker showed the man what he needed and the third guy went to get the things for Mr. Baker from this aisle and that and brought it back. “I sure do appreciate it Tim”. Billy noticed Mr. Baker put 2 brand new 20 dollar bills on the counter and took his change. “No problem Billy, we’re just happy to see you out and about. The wife and I have been praying for you”. Billy winced a little. Mr. Baker did too. Billy hadn’t even thought about Mr. Baker’s appointment all day. “Thanks Tim. Ann and I appreciate it. I’ll see you guys soon.” “You be sure and bring your helper back with you when you come.” “You keep giving him candy and I won’t be able to get over here with out him.”
Mr. Baker and Billy drove back home, but didn’t say much. That was just fine with Mr. Baker. “This kid just knows when to be quiet”, Mr. Baker thought to himself. Back at the house, they installed the capacitor first and put the power back to the unit and it worked like new. The sink only took another 15 minutes and Billy could already feel the house getting cooler. “Well, that will do it for the day Billy. It’s 4 O’clock now. That gives you plenty of time to get back to that lake and catch me a story or two. Why don’t we gather up the tools and lock up the house and you take off. I better get back and check on Ann and probably ought to rest up for tomorrow. “Yes sir, I’m going to try those solid body tubes you showed me and I’ll be sure to come over as soon as you get back tell you all about it.” “Remember now, you promised.” “Yes sir.”
It was worth the wait wb. makes me think of me when I was younger. my grandpa owned a roofing company and as a lot of the guy at the lumber yard said I was his shadow.
Yes, it was definitely worth the wait! Another very good addition to the novel. Keep 'em coming bro! :)
Very good.....now when is the next chapter due?
Definitely needs that A/C going right now!!!! Good job WB
Purty good, but when my kids read it then I'm gonna have to splain to em what fuses are doin in a house. How old is the house Billy lives in?
It's one of your rentals, Mr. Slumlord. You tell us how old it is! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Minnerman
Good catch Tracy....It must be a jury rigged house as if you read again...fuses and breakers both are mentioned. Now I can understand how Wannabe got his seat post sizes mixed up....just saying. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Minnerman
Keep it up...I want a signed first edition!!!
i want the second signed edition!Quote:
Originally Posted by biggerjigger
good job WB, I am truly amazed!
I agree WB is doing a great job... He's just had plenty of practice, trying to make everyone believe he actually catches a fish every now and then... Story is great tho
I ain't old enuff (26) to remember fuses, just heard tell of em. Help me out G3 or Sat.Quote:
Originally Posted by C N