Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 5

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 5

Impulsive, adjective: Acting or done without forethought.

Morose, adjective: Sullen and ill-tempered.

Sparse, adjective: Thinly dispersed or scattered; austere; meager.

If you missed Part 1 click here

If you missed Part 2 click here

If you missed Part 3 click here
If you missed Part 4 click here

                                        The Gravel Pits-Part 5

     This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

   Karl drove the rest of the way home to Delaware in silence. Kathleen tried to figure out how to confess to her Great- Aunt Frieda what she had done. Would Aunt Frieda want to throw her out? She had lied to Great-aunt Frieda and broken all her rules. She’d also gotten Terri and Karl into trouble. Would they still want to be friends to her?

Frankly Karl had grown on her. She looked at him through her long hair as he concentrated on driving. His hands were at ten and two, showing that he never violated the rules, but he had for her. He’d risked condemnation from his police dad just to save her. How had she not known how handsome he was? And he how smart and brave he was.  Look how calm he’d been with that drowning victim. He’d issued orders and other obeyed then he’d breathed life back into her. That girl was lucky Karl had saved her. Kind of like prince charming he’d saved Kathleen too. Could he ever look at Kathleen as other than his sister’s friend?

    He was really angry at Tommy, on Kathleen’s behalf. Maybe that meant Karl liked her just a little and would forgive her for getting him in trouble? Terri didn’t seem mad but she wasn’t talking to Kathleen. Terri looked like she pretended to sleep or maybe the truth was Terri was asleep?

   Kathleen thoughts were interrupted as she realized they were pulling into her Aunt- Frieda’s driveway. The front porch light was on and Aunt Frieda was on the doorstep.

  “Get in here! Where have you been young lady? Do you know how worried I was?” Great-Aunt Frieda yelled.

   Kathleen walked in the door and told Great-Aunt Frieda everything. Great-Aunt Frieda surprised Kathleen by taking her in her arms and comforting her when she cried about what Tommy had done. Then she surprised Kathleen even more by telling her of an incident when she was young.

  “Once, I was impulsive too and it really harmed me.”

  “How?”Kathleen asked.

   “I snuck out and went to a dance with a boy, who had a car. My parents had forbidden me going to this dance, but when this seventeen year old asked me, I had to go. He was handsome older and monied. I was thrilled. I lied and said I stayed at a friend’s too. That’s why I should have known you were lying.”

  “I shouldn't have lied, but you don't know how sparse good looking guys are in this town.”

 “Kathleen there are more to men then looks there are qualities like kindness, gentleness, and bravery.” 

  “We'll you tell me more of what happened on your date?” Kathleen asked.

  “Understand, I don't like to talk about this but because I think you must learn from my mistake, I'll share,  It's a very sad time in my life and after I tell you I don't want questions, or even this commented on, especially to others. Do you except my terms?”

  “Yes, Great-Aunt Frieda.”

  “On the way home the boy stopped the car and became morose. I begged him to take me home. He said he'd wined dined me and now he wanted his payment. He ripped my clothes and took what he wanted. I told no one. I blamed myself, after all I had lied. Five months later, I realized I was pregnant. I didn’t know how to tell my parents their fourteen year old daughter had been raped by a seventeen year old acquaintance and was now pregnant. So I remained silent, until it became obvious to my mother. When it came time for the baby to be born, an adoption was arranged for my son. I should have loved my boy, but I couldn’t look at the child without thinking of the rape.” Great-Aunt Frieda then turned and asked Kathleen, “Tell me the truth. did he rape you?” 

   Kathleen answered “No, and I'm so sorry for my behaviour, Great-Aunt Frieda.”

  Great-Aunt Frieda continued pressing Kathleen, “You can tell me anything. I won’t judge you. I’ll arrange an abortion if you need one.

“I wasn’t raped Great-Aunt Frieda. He tried, but I kicked him,” Kathleen answered.

“Okay, I’ll drop it,” Great-Aunt Frieda countered “But if you need to talk at any time, I’m here. In the meantime I hate to do this, but you’re grounded for one week for lying to me.”

“That’s not fair. Did your parents ground you?”

“My parents sent me away to live with my grandmother in the country. I was taken out of school and worked on the farm until I turned eighteen. Then I ran away and got a job at a local cafe.”

“Did you ever speak to your parents again?”

“No, but I regretted, that after they died and I reached out to my siblings. Shortly after To your father and mother. Then you were born and I loved you from the very moment I saw you, pumpkin and when your parents died I fought the courts to raise you.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you, Great-Aunt Frieda, but I'm glad you took me in.”

“I know you are and remember I love you and want the best for you when you think my rules are archaic. I’m just glad you didn’t get in the car with that strange man. Promise you’ll never ever think of going with a stranger again. Here you keep this dime in your shoe and if you need to you call me and I’ll come and get you no questions asked,” Great-Aunt Frieda cried.

“I will,” Kathleen promised putting it in one of the shoes she’d just taken off.

“Now it’s time for bed,” Great-Aunt Frieda said pointing to the stairs. Kathleen obeyed and went up the stairs.

  The next morning getting up for church she turned on the radio and heard, “Police seek the whereabouts of Gina Waterstones, six teen years old; Gina, last seen entering a navy blue Ford Fairline car with man in a military style bearing. Gina Waterstones is described as follows: five feet four inches tall, one hundred and eight pounds, with brown hair shoulder length hair and brown eyes, wearing a short mini-style dress with white go-go boots. If you have seen Gina Waterstones, this man or his car, please contact your local police.

  Kathleen worried about that girl but thought they would find her safe and sound soon.

  A few seconds later she heard, "We interrupt this regularly scheduled program with breaking news: The body of a young girl has been found at the Sulphur Springs this morning. Positive identification has not been made at this time. We will update you on this story as more details become available."

To be continued next week.

©Sheilagh Lee  August 20, 2014

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 4

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 4

Eradicate, verb [with object:] Destroy completely; put an end to.

Mercenary, adjective: (Of a person or their behavior) primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics; noun: A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army; a person primarily concerned with material reward at the expense of ethics.

Squeamish, adjective: (Of a person) easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted, especially by unpleasant images, such as the sight of blood; (of a person) having strong moral views; scrupulous.

If you missed Part 1 click here

If you missed Part 2 click here

If you missed Part 3 click here 

                                        The Gravel Pits-Part 4

     This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

    Kathleen stood there shocked and angry. She wanted to eradicate Tommy Gunderson. How could he leave her here? But maybe it was her fault? She did kiss him.
  How could she get home now? Even if she could get downtown the last Greyhound bus left five minutes ago. Then she heard a car drive up and she was suddenly terrified.

   “Well hello,” the man in the dark blue Ford Fairline said to her out the window.

   Kathleen leaned over and looked closely it was the man from the Sulphur Springs.  

    Kathleen then smiled.

 “Did you get stranded? Would you like a ride home,” he asked opening the passenger side door.

    Kathleen breathed a sigh of relief and went around the car to get in.

    A car drove up and Kathleen heard a voice say, “Kathleen, there you are. Get in dad’s waiting.”

    Kathleen looked over to see Karl in his car and Terri in the back seat. 

   Kathleen shut the door of the stranger’s green Ford Fairline and climbed into the seat beside Karl’s. The man from the Sulphur Springs gunned his car and took off without a word.

   “Why did you say your dad waited?” Kathleen asked.

   “If I he thought I wasn’t your brother, he would have challenged me and not let you get in my car. I needed to get you away from him. Don’t you have the sense God gave geese, Kathleen? Getting in a car with a total stranger, when you’ve heard girls have gone missing is just plain stupid,” Karl lectured.

Kathleen started crying.

  “Geesh, Kathleen, please, don’t cry. I’m sorry. I was just so worried, Karl said, then turning to Terri and taking his eyes off the road he implored, “Tell her Terri. Tell her how worried I was.”

  “Put your eyes back on the road, Karl,” Terri cried and then added, “He was worried Kathleen. He heard bad things about Tommy and decided we had to come get you." 

  “Why didn’t Tommy Gunderson drive you home?”Karl asked.

    Kathleen started crying louder.

  “What did that a-hole do to you? I’ll kill him,” Karl shouted.

  “Stop the car, Karl. Pull over to that coffee shop and get us a drink."

   Karl frown and gave Terri a look that said NO!

   “I'm not been mercenary, Karl. Don't look at me like that. I’ve got some cash. Now stop, I want to talk to Kathleen alone.”

  Karl obediently pulled the car over.

 “Lock the doors. I’ll be back soon,” Karl bade.

 “Tell me what Tommy Gunderson did,” implored Terri.

 “I can't."

 "Don't be squeamish Kathleen tell me what Tommy did."

   Kathleen took a big breath and tried to get the words together then she began, “It was such a lovely date at first. We got pizza and ate it in the parking lot and then we saw a fabulous concert. I think it was my fault things got out of hand, when I let him kiss me. Karl’s right I’m stupid.”

   Karl climbed back in then holding a bag. You are not stupid I should never have said that. I’m sorry,” then he asked gently, “What did Tommy do to you? Should I be taking you to the hospital to get a rape kit and then file a police report?”

  “No he didn’t rape me but not for lack of trying. He took my panties off. I’m so embarrassed, “Kathleen said not even hearing Karl and continuing to talk to Terri.

  “I’ll kill him,” Karl growled.

  “Shut-up Karl you can do that later. Right now Kathleen needs us. You know it wasn’t your fault. You said no, didn’t you?” Terri stated.

  “Yes, but I kissed him before that. I encouraged him,” Kathleen protested.

  “Kathleen, no man has the right to take that from you. You have the right to say no and he should back off. If he doesn’t then it’s his fault, not yours. What Tommy did is almost attempted rape, I'd classify as rape but I'm not sure the law does.. That guy needs to be taught that women should be treated with respect. I suppose the reason why you were going to get in the car with that stranger is because he left you there in the dark.”

  “He was mad,” Kathleen apologised for him.

  “Nothing excuses his behaviour. I’m just glad you’re okay and that we got there before you got in the car with that weirdo.”

  “Thanks Karl and Terri,” Kathleen said drying her tears, she continued,“Karl, why does a cop car pull us over? Were you driving too fast?”

   Karl pulled over and the cop got out of his car and walked to the window.

  “Dad?”

  “You two worried your mother sick, and you Kathleen; you’re Great-Aunt Frieda put out an all-points bulletin for you. She said you told her you were stating with her family. I’m very disappointed in you Kathleen. You’ve put my wife and myself in an awkward position. Your Great-Aunt Frieda trusted us to look after you, instead my son takes you gallivanting to London.”

  “Don’t blame Karl he actually rescued me.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes, he did. I went to the concert at Treasure Island Gardens with Tommy Gunderson.”

  “Then why are you in the car with my son and why did you say he had to rescue you?”

  “Tommy and I had words and he left me there.”

  “He left you in the parking lot in the dark? I think I’ll have a talk with that young man.”

  “It’s worse than that Dad, she said no and he tried to...”

   “How could you Karl?”Kathleen cried.

   “Did Tommy Gunderson try to rape you, Kathleen?”

   “A simple misunderstanding. I don’t want to talk about this,” Kathleen said.

    Karl shook his head at his dad, silently communicating and his dad dropped it.

   “I’m glad I found you now you drive home son. I have to get back on the job there’s another young woman missing tonight. Witness saw her getting into a dark blue Ford Fairline.

  “What?”Kathleen cried.

  “Dad a guy in a dark blue Ford Fairline tried to pick up Kathleen at the Sulphur Springs and again at the concert venue.”Karl answered.

 “Karl is right dad. The guy’s car was navy blue. He gave me the creeps,” Terri added.

 “He gave you the creeps? Why didn't you tell me?”

 “I did, you just didn't hear me,"Terri protested.

 “Describe him!” demanded Mr. Ward.

 “An older man with short black cropped hair about twenty-two,” Kathleen answered.

 “He was a military man, Dad and his hair was clipped short like he was still in the military man,” Karl answered.

 “Thanks kids now go straight home. Kathleen, I’m trusting you to tell your Great-Aunt Frieda everything. No more lying,” Mr. Ward demanded, "and you Karl drive her straight home and see her into the house then take your sister home."

Mr.Ward then went back to his car and radioed in before speeding away.

To be continued next week.

©Sheilagh Lee  August 13, 2014

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 3

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 3

Liberated, adjective: (Of a person) showing freedom from social conventions or traditional ideas, esp. with regard to sexual roles; (of a place or people) freed from imprisonment, slavery, or enemy occupation.

Muddy, adjective: Covered in or full of mud; (of a color) dull and dirty-looking; (of a sound, esp. in music) not clearly defined; confused, vague, or illogical; verb: Cause to become covered in or full of mud; make (something) hard to perceive or understand.

Vicious,  adjective: Deliberately cruel or violent; (of an animal) wild and dangerous to people; serious or dangerous.

     This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

                                               The Gravel Pits-Part 3

   Aunt Frieda had agreed to let her stay the night at Terri’s, Kathleen’s plan was set. Terri had covered and said they were going to her house now, when really Kathleen would now meet Tommy at the library. She hoped he liked her mini dress and go-go boots. The boots had been her mother’s one thing she kept as a memory. Kathleen had snuck them out of the back of Great-aunt Frieda’s front closet. She felt so liberated, even if a little guilt snuck in now and then.

Tommy arrived a few minutes after Kathleen got to the library.

  “You look fabulous,” he cried.

  Kathleen blushed but was pleased.

  “We need to boot it so we get a bite to eat before the concert,” Tommy cried.

  “Dinner too?”

  “Yah, just pizza.”

  “I’ve never had pizza.”

  “There’s this really good place called Bondi’s on Wharncliffe Road, we’ll get a pie there and take it to the parking lot of the concert, eat and then go in,” Tommy explained.

     Kathleen was thrilled. Kathleen had never had pizza but it sounded exotic and delicious. It seemed it was some kind of Italian dish, tomato sauce and cheese on a bread circle they baked in an oven. Dinner and a concert it was so romantic.

The pizza delicious and the concert amazing everything that Kathleen had imagined. Kathleen looked at her watch and realized that it was really late. It was almost midnight and they were two of the last people to come out of the venue. The parking lot which had once been filled with cars looked deserted. Their wasn’t even a moon tonight, so it was if inky blackness touched from the sky to the muddy ground. If it wasn’t for the bright lights at the parking lot, they would never have found Tommy’s car back in the far west corner. She hoped she could sneak into the White’s quietly so she could spend the night. Terri said she’d leave her window open and Kathleen could climb up the trestle and into Terri’s bedroom. Kathleen took a peek at her watch again. If they left now she could be home to Terri’s just after one a.m.

  “I see you checking your watch, Kathleen, so it’s late already. We should just take some time for necking before we head back. Almost all the cars are gone no one will see us,” Tommy claimed.

    Kathleen really did like Tommy and necking sounded fun. Kathleen hadn’t even had her first real kiss and now Tommy would be her first kiss. Could this night get any better?

    Tommy leaned over and kissed Kathleen deeply and the kiss seemed to go on and on. The next thing Kathleen realized Tommy pulled up her dress and pulled down her panties. She slapped his hand and when that didn’t work kicked out at his privates.

  “You bitch. You had pizza and a concert. This cost me a shitload of money. You better put out baby.”

  “Put out?” Kathleen said shocked.

 “Are you that stupid, or just a tease?”

 “I’m not a tease,” Kathleen screamed, “You’re a pig, Tommy Gunderson!” kicking him again for good measure.

 “See how you like walking home to Delaware,” Tommy shouted back viciously opening the car door and shoving Kathleen out. Then Tommy gunned the engine and drove away.

    Kathleen stood there shocked and angry. How could she get home now? Even if she could get downtown the last Greyhound bus left five minutes ago and it was so dark and scary. Why had she agreed to go with Tommy and lie to Great- Aunt Frieda? She then she heard a car drive up and she was suddenly terrified.

  “Well hello,” the man in the car said to her out the window.

   Kathleen leaned over and looked closely it was the man from the Sulphur Springs. Kathleen smiled much relieved.

  “Did you get stranded? Would you like a ride home?” he asked opening the passenger side door.

  Kathleen breathed a sigh of relief and went around the car to get in.

To be continued

©Sheilagh Lee  August 6, 2014

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 2

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 2

Farce- (noun) -a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations.

Glistening- (verb) gerund or present participle: glistening (of something wet or greasy) shine; glitter.

 Lucky- (adjective)- having, bringing, or resulting from good luck.

This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

The Gravel Pits-Part 2

     Riding on their bikes down the highway seemed like it would be fun but the sun beat down hard and the trucks and cars that came down the highway scared the living daylights out of Kathleen. Some of them even honked and waved like they didn't mind the bicycles on the road but the truth was it was all a farce the trucks and cars hated them on the road. After one such idiot honked too close to Kathleen, she lost her balance on the gravel ending up in the grass.

     Great now she had skinned knees that wouldn’t look good with her bikini. Kathleen picked herself up and began cycling just when she thought they were almost to the sulphur spring turn off, Kathleen turned and realized that Karl and Terri had stopped. Riding back a short distance, Kathleen found Terri eating glistening, juicy, wild raspberries while Karl urged her to hurry up. They were soon on their way past farm land and turning onto the highway towards the sulphur springs stopping in front of the Sulphur Springs fountain. Cupping their hands Karl and Terri drank their fill of the water. Kathleen tried to do the same but the water tasted and smelt like rotten eggs. How could they drink it? Kathleen wondered. She was so thirsty that she held her breath and swallowed some. Luckily the awful taste and smell didn’t linger. She decided to drink some more.

    “Don’t drink too much Kathleen, or you’ll be looking for a washroom,” Karl cautioned.

   Kathleen blushed but stopped drinking. An older man with short black cropped hair standing up against a nearby tree winked at her. He had a military stance and he appeared to be in his early twenties. Kathleen was overjoyed that an older man noticed her and she flicked her long brown hair over her shoulder, struck a pose and smiled provocatively at him. The man laughed but then smiled back and started as if to come over. Karl noticed and pulled Kathleen closer to him placing himself between the two girls protectively. The man made a motion like next time

   “You shouldn’t encourage strangers Kathleen. You're damn lucky I'm here to protect you. Even smiling at some men is an invitation. You need to safeguard yourself, Kathleen. I can’t always be here to keep you safe and your actions can affect Terri, too.

    At the moment Kathleen hated Karl. He had scared away a harmless cute guy and then treated Kathleen like a naïve fool.   Kathleen reluctantly got on her bicycle and peddled to the gravel pits. Arriving there she was gratified to see Tommy Gunderson and his friends Kyle, Paul, George and Fred. Tommy saw Kathleen and motioned her over. Kathleen stripped off her shorts and tee-shirt to reveal her yellow polka dot bikini. She expected catcalls and maybe whistles but the sound of silence deafening. Did she look that bad in her bikini? Sure she was as well-endowed as Terri but she expected some appreciation. Was that wrong?

   Tommy looked over and smiled at Kathleen and her heart turned over. He really did like her!

  “So be careful Kathleen over there. It’s really deep, stay to the edge her see,” Karl directed, “Because over there it’s dangerous, unless you’re a really good swimmer. Understand?”

  “Understood, Karl.”

  “Go play with your friend but if you get into trouble call me. Okay?” Karl insisted, “I’m responsible for you two dolts so don’t do anything stupid.”

Kathleen was just about to enter the water when there were shouts some girl had gone out to far and sunk.

  “Call for help,” Karl yelled.

  Karl then jumped in and his wide strokes flowed through the water like butter. He was soon in the area that the other people said the girl had gone down. Like a shot he dove his feet straight up in the air and repeated it searching for the girl time after time. Finally he popped up with the girl and dragged her to shore. On the shoreline he placed his ear next to the person's mouth and nose and then checked to see if her chest moved. He then checked her pulse and placed her on her back. Placing the heel of one hand on the center of the chest at the nipple line and pushing with one hand on top of the other he began compressing her chest. He varied this after not seeing the chest rising with tilting the head back and lifting the chin and beginning mouth to mouth compressions. 

   Seconds later his reward? The victim coughing up water and breathing on her own, but she was still unconscious. An ambulance had arrived by that time, but the day was marred. At this point Kathleen just wanted to go home and so did Terri.

  Karl saw the woman to the ambulance and then he agreed with them that he would escort them home.  Kathleen began to think this Delaware was not only dullsville but cursed if you wanted to have fun. Cycling home uneventful and frankly boring Kathleen was happy to arrive home. Entering the house and she went into her bedroom, quickly changing out of her clothes and into fresh ones. The phone rang then and she went to answer.  Tommy wanted to invite her to a concert in London. He had tickets to see Purple Haze at Treasure Island Gardens, Great-Aunt Frieda would never let her go. She have to lie and she would go to go a sleep over at Terri’s and when she was done she could actually stay at Terri’s.Yes, that would work. She answered quickly, yes of course she would go. Maybe this day wasn’t so bad she would go to a real live concert in London. So she had to lie what could go wrong?

To be continued next week

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits

Liberal (Adjective) - open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values.  (of education) concerned mainly with broadening a person's general knowledge and experience, rather than with technical or professional training.

(Noun) -a person of liberal views.

Profane- adjective relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious or a person or their behavior) not respectful of orthodox religious practice; irreverent.

(Verb)-treat (something sacred) with irreverence or disrespect.

Quarrelsome (Adjective)- given to or characterized by arguing.

This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

     Summer seemed long and boring in Delaware, Ontario. A small city surrounded by farms and lots of highway screamed dull, dreary and mind numbing, repetitive events at the town hall. Bingo was played by the adults four times a week. Once a week there was a teen dance; but really there was much to do in the summer unless you walked, or biked miles to swim in the abandoned Komoka gravel pits which had filled up with water. All the teens did it at least those who didn’t work on the family farms did.

     Kathleen Jones hated living there. She hated that her parents had died and she now lived with her Great- Aunt Frieda. It was nineteen seventy, Kathleen should be going to great concerts and seeing the great bands that came through London, that is if her parents were alive and she still lived in nearby London, Ontario. Instead she was stuck in Dullsville; miles and miles of pastoral land far from any of the biggest cities where all the cool bands came. She thought about hitchhiking to London, but that was fraught with danger. There had been so many horror stories about that and just last year a young girl had been kidnapped and murdered. She shivered at the thought that they still hadn’t found the killer.

     Great-Aunt Frieda had kept Kathleen close to home for months. She had even balked at Kathleen going to the gravel pit with friends. Great- Aunt Frieda had become quarrelsome and difficult. Great-Aunt Frieda had ranted about how liberal parents were becoming and how she would not succumb to such frivolity as to allow the sexes to come together at a swimming hole and how anyone could grab young girls there. She had insisted on more visits to the nearby church for prayer. When Kathleen had recoiled at so much religious instruction Great-Aunt Frieda had gone on and on about how it was a serious matter to profane a church. She hadn’t profaned a church talk about exaggeration. After Kathleen promised to study her bible, Great-Aunt Frieda allowed her to frequent the boring weekly dances. Kathleen longed to go to the gravel pits and sun in her bikini and show off to some of the boys in their classes like some of her friends. Tommy Gunderson had begged her to show up and join him and some of his buddies from a swim and a picnic. Frankly Kathleen was flattered. Tommy was a year older and all the girls wanted him to ask them out.

     Kathleen had finally convinced her that Great-Aunt Frieda would take all precautions and not get into any vehicles even of people she knew if Great-Aunt Frieda had only let her go. Great-Aunt Frieda would only allow Kathleen to go with her best friend Terri if her brother, Karl came with them to the gravel pit.

    Karl annoyed Kathleen. He was two years older than Terri and Kathleen and bossy. If there had been a choice Kathleen would never have agreed but she wanted to go she had to see Tommy. And Tommy had to see her in her teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini. So they would ride their bikes tomorrow and stop at the Sulfur Springs for a sip of water and then on to the gravel pits for a refreshing swim. She could hardly wait.

To be continued next week

©Sheilagh Lee  July 23, 2014

Three Word Wednesday - Vincent

Three Word Wednesday - Vincent

Prompts:

Eerie, adjective: Strange and frightening.

Guarded, adjective: Cautious and having possible reservations; (of a person's medical condition) serious and of uncertain outcome.

Translucent, adjective: (Of a substance) allowing light, but not detailed images, to pass through; semitransparent.

Vincent

    I escaped the yard again. Why did my mother insist I stay in it? There was a whole other world out there which screamed for me to visit it. 

  I noted the other day that the people next door were new. It wasn’t the lady who lived there before who used to yell at me and scare me, but two people who now lived there. The man I wasn’t sure of, he was a bit guarded, but the lady spoke to me softly. She seemed to like me. Despite the fact that she often told me kindly I should go home, because my mother would miss me. I knew she liked me, I could sense it.

   My older brother Brad would fetch me from when ever I chose to visit other places scolding me constantly, even as I defending him and yelled at those who came near him. He had thought the backyard next door eerie with no one living there next door but even now he still didn't wish me to visit. Sometimes I wondered why they had adopted him. He wasn't anything like me. He jumped at shadows, but he was my brother and I loved him.

   Why didn’t they understand how I enjoyed the outdoors and longed to run free?  The light was translucent in the corner of the neighbour's yard. Sunlight streamed down in the other corners and it was warm and inviting with flowers and bugs to look at.  I needed to be there in that yard not in my tiny yard! Why must they always caution that to be safe I needed to stay in mother's backyard? As a boy I needed to play and see the world.

  I ran to the yard next door and felt the green grass untainted by others, except perhaps for that couple who believed it was now theirs. That's okay I'd share it with them. 
  I ran around the yard, next door, chasing butterflies and the little singing frog that lived near a tree. I chased the mouse that ran around then watched the cat Scooby, bat it around then kill it and leave it on the patio for the owners of the house. Frankly, I thought that was gross, but cats did what cats did and no one or thing could discern why they did it.

  I ran to the front yard to greet, as I heard the man come home in his car. I waited to meet him, but he yelled for me to go home my mother looked for me. Instead I ran around the house, pretending to go home and slipped into their yard once again. I heard my brother calling for me and hid under the low lying lilac tree. He yelled again but didn’t see me hiding there.

  The lady did and spoke to me softly, “Vincent you naughty boy. You need to go home your mother will be looking for you.”

  I liked her but I was not ready to go home I tried to hide myself deeper under the lilac bush but she too came under them.

  “Come here Vincent it’s time to go home now,” she cried and then in an angry voice she said as if she were my mother, “Vincent, bad boy! Go home, now!”

   I obeyed slipping under the fence.

 “So that’s how you’ve been slipping out, you bad dog,” cried my mother then turning to Brad she said, “Fill in the hole with dirt will you? Then post a piece of wood over the bottom of the fence so Vincent can’t get out again.”

  Brad started to do as mother asked and I growled at the board, but then I realized with a little digging I could be free and be anywhere I chose again. Time was on my side not theirs I would be free to again enjoy the yard next door, very soon.      ©Sheilagh Lee  July 9, 2014


On Holiday next week so no new story for two weeks.

Happy Independence Day

To my American followers on July 4th, 2014 on the occasion of America's 238th Birthday of 

 Independence Day 

Have a great holiday and enjoy the fireworks and enjoy...

Mariah Carey singing the Star Spangled Banner

America the Beautiful