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Top 10 offensive tackles of the 2024 NFL Draft:

2024.03.27 19:36 hallach_halil Top 10 offensive tackles of the 2024 NFL Draft:

Top 10 offensive tackles of the 2024 NFL Draft:
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We talked about a lot flash with a tremendous wide receiver class last week and then while not as stacked with top-end talent, an incredibly deep cornerback group. Now, let’s transition to the trenches and start with the guys asked to block, so the quarterback can even get the ball out in the first place.
Although I don’t want to hype up all these positions, this is a strong stretch we’ve arrived at, because I would argue while we can discuss the order the two groups we just talked about plus offensive tackle are the top three classes overall. I have six names with legit first-round grades, about ten more who should go day two and then there are some very interesting developmental to take on shot rounds four through seven.
Three players who played tackle in college but will be part of my interior O-line rankings next week – Duke’s Graham Barton, Kansas’ Dominick Puni and TCU’s Brandon Coleman.
Here’s the list and I think we start off with a slight surprise for many people:
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1. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State

6’6”, 315 pounds; RS JR
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A top-500 overall recruit in 2020, Fashanu redshirted his first year on campus, before seeing action in nine and starting one game the following season. In 2022 he took over as a full-time starter at left tackle, where he immediately earned second-team All-Big Ten accolades, despite getting injured eight games into the season. This past season he was in the lineup for all 13 contests and ended up being a first-team All-American.
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Run-blocking:
+ Shows impressive explosion off the ball, to get to his landmarks in the run game
+ Effectively reach-blocks five- or pins inside 4/4i-techniques on off-tackle runs the other way
+ Rapidly closes the gap to the hip of his guard on the backside of zone concepts, in order to overtake and allow his teammate to peel off combos early
+ Covers up B-gap defenders in concert with his left guard and creates vertical movement fairly effortlessly, while being able to knock them off balance when catching them on an angle, along with a kick-out block to his side
+ He’s so light on his feet, to flawlessly transitioning to linebackers after stepping down on the D-tackle and having to adjust his angle on the fly
+ Has eye-popping reps directly working up to the second level and engulfing linebackers, particularly allowing the ball-carrier to get out to the edge
+ Quickly recognizes when there’s no angle to attach on combos and to flick his hips in order to cut somebody from the backside
+ Becomes a rolling train as a puller out to the corner on crack-toss plays, Watching him hustle out to blocking a defensive back in the screen game and actually landing blows is pretty fun
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Pass-protection:
+ Has the quick feet to gain ground in his pass-sets, but will adjust his approach depending on who’s in front of him
+ His hands seem to really catch rushers and control reps once he lands them inside the frame of his man, whilst being quickly to re-fit his inside hand into their chest and the elbow in tight if those do get wide momentarily
+ Possesses a strong base and stays wide with it, to swallow stabs and handle power rushers – The way he can absorb and negate bull-rush attempts as he sees edge rushers take a more direct path is excellent
+ Even if the defender is the lower man initially, he can re-anchor as that space closes towards his quarterback, to not take away that guy’s throwing platform
+ Yet he’s also loose enough to flip his hips around and adjust as guys try to work across his face and seem to have an angle on him initially – Rarely oversteps and is quick to put his foot back down to spin moves either way
+ Already showcases independent hand-usage to bait the hands of rushers, square up rushers leaning to the inside or punching at the near-shoulder, to ride his man past the quarterback when they take a steep angle upfield
+ The way he can cover ground against defenders rushing from extra wide alignments or blitzing off the slot, to negate their angle or push them to overshoot the arc is certainly uncommon for tackles
+ Improved his alertness for twists up front, being pro-active with erasing space to the guard and using his hands to take over delayed loopers
+ Didn’t allow a single sack in his career with the Nittany Lions and just 17 other pressures (733 total pass-blocking snaps) – I would’ve charged with half a sack
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Weaknesses:
- Needs to be more urgent establishing that inside foot when the action is going away from him and he should force edge defenders to take a wide path around him
- PFF handed him an underwhelming run-blocking grade of 59.4 in 2022 and barely cracked the 70-mark last season, where he lacks consistent temperament (only one career game where he hit 75+)
- Has to improve his footwork or how he aligns himself once contact is initiated to stay latched onto blocks – measuring in with the smallest hands for an offensive tackle since 1999 (8-and-½ inches) certainly doesn’t help with that
- Gets a little antsy at times when he tries to overextend his reach, rather than letting rushers close that space on pass plays
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Other than maybe North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, I’m not sure if there’s a player people have started to overthink as badly as Fashanu during this draft process. He literally had a couple of poor reps against Ohio State edge defender J.T. Tuimoloau, where he got caught off balance, which is one game I hear being brought up with him in a negative sense – as if the other 49 pass-blocking snaps that way weren’t clean for him. The one concern I do understand when it comes to his profile is the lack of growth he’s shown, particularly in the run game, after he was looked at as the potential OT1 a year ago already. With his small hands, there may be some limitations at sustaining blocks in that regard, but his future O-line coach can absolutely raise his urgency and work on a couple of footwork nuances to make him effective in that regard. More importantly, this guy could be an elite pass-protector from day one – and he won’t turn 22 years old until December. If he drops out of the top-ten, I think he’s a steal.
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2. Joe Alt, Notre Dame

6‘8“, 315 pounds; JR
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One of the top-500 overall recruits in 2021, the son of former NFL Pro Bowl tackle John Alt, Joe played in all 13 and started the latter eight games at left tackle for Notre Dame as a true freshman. Each of the last two years, he was a first-team All-American (unanimous in 2023), being in the lineup for all 25 contests he’s been available for. He helped pave the way for an offense that rushed for just under 5000 yards over the past two seasons combined and averaged 39.1 points in 2023.
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Run-blocking:
+ Nimble athlete for his 6’8”+ stature, running a 5.05 in the 40 and finishing with the top marks among tackles in both the agility drills
+ Presents a long reach, which allows him steer defenders trying to work around or dip underneath him
+ Uses the momentum of edge defenders against them in the run game regularly, as he gets his hands underneath their arm pit and takes them off track if they try to get upfield with their first couple of steps
+ Does a great job of attaching to the hip of his guard and providing vertical movement on combo-blocks with him thanks to strong leg-drive
+ You regularly see Alt get underneath the chest-plate or arm-pit of three-techniques and catch them off balance when they pull someone behind him
+ Shows the reactionary ability to secure the B-gap and then peel back on the edge defender on the backside of certain run calls where he’s assigned hinge-blocks, to push that guy up the field
+ Frequently takes linebackers way off their landmarks by getting his hands on them and keeping those legs churning
+ Notre Dame regularly would pull him from the backside on power and counter concepts, where he’d take a narrow path behind the butts of his fellow linemen before bending up the front-side gap
+ Has some impressive reps on tape, where they pin down the end-man and pull him out to the corner, in order to take a defensive back for a ride on toss plays
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Pass-protection:
+ Has the athletic feet to cut off the angle for edge rushers and lands his hands inside their chest very effectively
+ Just trying to speed around the arc isn’t a recipe for success against this guy, because you will not have the optimal path with his kind of length
+ Capable of getting his hands at the arm-pits of rushers to slow down their charge but have his weight shifted onto his base that he keeps behind himself, so guys can’t get around him even if they do slide off
+ Alt’s eyes immediately transition inside and his hands are ready at his mid-section to take over the B-gap rusher, as he sees his man on the edge stick his outside foot in the ground for T-E twists
+ When his man is doing the set-up, Alt makes sense to hand off the spiker before peeling off to the guy trying to get around the edge
+ Appears under control if the picture is muddy and they have to sort out games, comfortable delivering the first punch on the man in range before picking up his ultimate assignment
+ Had a great showing against Clemson first-round pick Myles Murphy on the edge in 2022, not allowing a single pressure that day
+ Only was charged with one sack and 12 additional pressures surrendered across 776 pass-blocking snaps these last two years combined, as PFF’s highest-ranked tackle in the FBS each of the past two seasons as a true sophomore and junior (91.4 and 90.7 respectively)
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Weaknesses:
- I don’t see an overpowering run-blocker, who gets the job done with angles and hand-placement over raw force to displace guys actually trying to set a firm edge
- Not the most naturally fluid athlete, which shows up when defenders try to back-door him or he has to redirect against slanting D-linemen post-snap
- Already has that tall build and then is a little late to brace against power at times
- His hands in protection when he doesn’t battle early in pass-pro reps look more like he’s ready to catch the ball than deliver impact, as he rarely is the one to set the tone that way
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While Alt will make his way inside my personal top-ten, I believe he’s not quite the slam-dunk prospect consensus rankings would make you believe he is. His tape at Notre Dame – in particular last season – is very clean and he was only charged with four penalties on 2214 total snaps in his career. However, whether it’s transferring force from the ground up and sustaining blocks on challenging angles or naturally absorbing force in pass-protection by sinking his hands, I believe he’ll be challenged in new ways against NFL athletes. Not saying at all that he wasn’t coached very well with the Fighting Irish, looking at the way they’ve shown to be able to develop offensive linemen, but with more quick-twitch movements to erase connecting points on run plays and pro pass-rushers who understand how to effective convert speed-to-power, he won’t be able to make it look as easy as he did in college. I’d still have no problem with him being the first tackle off the board, but I think there are five guys at the top of the class with very similar grades and no medical concerns to speak of.
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3. J.C. Latham, Alabama

6’6”, 340 pounds; JR
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The number one offensive tackle recruit in 2021, Latham was a backup as a true freshman thanks to insanely strong book-ends for the Crimson Tide, before taking over the right tackle gig the following season for all 13 contests the next season. He did the same this past season when ascending to a first-team All-SEC performer and a second-team All-American.
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Run-blocking:
+ Offers the density and pure mass of an NFL guard, but pairs that with 35-inch arms and shocking movement skills in relation to his measurements
+ Has a massive amount of raw force in those 11-inch hands to displace defenders in the run game
+ On the front-side of inside-oriented concepts, the torque he can create with the inside hand and get edge defenders towards the opposite hip, to open up the B-gap definitely stands out
+ Routinely is able to get underneath the shoulder or arm-pit of interior linemen and ride them down the line
+ Is able to unlock his lower half to dig guys out of the lane on combos – you see him and his guard legitimately move guys like 330-pound brickhouse Nazir Stackhouse from Georgia five yards backwards
+ Does a great job of stepping vertically and dropping the back-side shoulder into a down-linemen the tight-end is trying to seal away from the action without limiting his ability to secure blocks on the second level
+ Even if he can’t latch his hands perfectly onto targets in the defensive backfield, he’s regularly able to still move them off their landmarks
+ Earned a career-best PFF run-blocking grade of 79.6 in 2023
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Pass-protection:
+ Urgent out of his stance and is a pretty smooth mover around 340+ pounds to counter different types of approaches in pass-protection
+ Tremendous feet and ability to frame rushers, in order to mirror twitchy defenders
+ Can soften the charge of rushers and cut off angles for them with his hands in effective fashion, along with regularly baiting guys with fake-stabs with the outside hand, forcing them to commit
+ When he gets his hands inside the chest of rushers and his elbow in tight, guys just aren’t getting away from him anymore – he puts them in a cage
+ Along with that ability to lock people up, he’s really quick to stab with the outside hand and then latch the other one
+ Gets into a wide base in order to slow down bull-rush attempts and you’re not going to be able to flatten at the top of the rush against him if you have to go through him
+ Offers good eye-balance and feel for timing, as he makes sure to pass off slanting D-ends to his guard and peel off late with a wide step to guide slot blitzers past the quarterback
+ If defenders he’s engaged with lose their balance or lean too far into him, Latham will snatch-trap them to the turf a couple of times per game
+ Was responsible for just two total sacks (both in 2023) and 12 other pressures in each of the past two seasons – 960 combined pass-blocking snaps)
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Weaknesses:
- Because he can rely in the natural strength in his upper body so much, Latham doesn’t always perfectly center his blocks and get his feet aligned all the time in the run game – backside cut-offs have been an issue at times
- Tends to go too flat down the line of scrimmage and overstride a little bit at times on the front-side of run concepts and allows edge defenders to work around him, in order to throw off the timing
- Edge rushers who can threaten the corner with speed end up crossing his face quite a bit, as he opens his hips too far towards the sideline
- Occasionally will get caught up with wanting to get a piece of both guys when the defenses rushes someone to either side of him with the guard sliding the other way, instead of just taking care of the inner-most threat
- Was penalized a massive 18 times since the start of 2022
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Similarly to Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, I believe Latham too often is judged based on one play without looking at the big picture. He didn’t seal a defender on the backside urgently enough on the final play of the Rose Bowl vs. Michigan, but let’s not ignore that he legitimately had one bad snap the entire time of regulation that day. Because he’s so big, there are some things to clean up in terms of his footwork and hand-placement in order to maximize what he can be as a run-blocker, but considering the bright moments of moving big men against their will, he could be truly dominant in that regard. And then in pass-protection, he has one key flaw, opening the door for inside counters. Yet, I don’t believe he lacks the foot quickness to gain enough depth to avoid getting in that position or to mirror even if he allows those opportunities. He already uses his outside hand exceptionally well to throw off guys coming off the edge, keeping them guessing with whether he’ll initiate contact or not and when he’s in tight quarters with him, it’s a wrap. Latham has the potential to be the top tackle from this class by year three as a pro.
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4. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

6‘6“, 325 pounds; RS JR
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A three-star recruit in 2020, Fuaga saw action in four games as a true freshman (retaining his redshirting) and then ten the following season as a backup. In 2022 he took over the right tackle gig (started all 13 contests) and earned second-team All-Pac-12 accolades. This past season he improved to first-team all-conference and was a second-team All-American as a 12-game starter for the Beavers. He started all 12 contests he was available for this past year and repeated those honors.
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Run-blocking:
+ Absolute mauler in the run-game, who erases space quickly, latches into defenders and takes them for a ride with regularity
+ Capable of blowing the B-gap wide open on the front-side by driving edge defenders towards the sideline
+ Has such an insanely strong inside hand when being engaged with edge defenders on the front-side of zone concepts and they’re trying to stay square, yet he delivers force and pushes them towards his outside hip
+ You regularly see Fuaga ride somebody from the backside past the center and five yards down the field, which creates massive cutback lanes
+ Helps provide plenty of vertical displacement with his guard on “duo” concepts, whilst staying ready to get a piece of the linebacker trying to circle around them
+ With this mountain of a man, it looks like he’s tossing around some kids at times when he gets his hands on bodies at the second level
+ Routinely adds in a shove at the end of reps to put defenders on the ground
+ For as massive as this guy is, his ability to cover ground on perimeter-oriented plays and screens, along with the body-control to put himself in position to wall off bodies in space stands out
+ Received the highest PFF run-blocking grade among all FBS tackles in 2023 (90.9)
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Pass-protection:
+ Consistently gets a good job jump off the snap in pass-pro in order to gain necessary depth whilst keeping his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage
+ Operates with a very well-coordinated kick-slide and is able to frame rushers appropriately
+ When Fuaga hits guys straight in the chest, he completely stuns them and transition to a more reactionary mode
+ Truly ingests power-rush attempts and makes those defenders irrelevant, not only based on raw strength but also how well he gets all his cleats in the ground to anchor
+ Uses his hands well in independent fashion, being able to cut off lateral movement as guys try to get around him
+ Recognizes when rushers are losing their balance and he can step back to not give them the ability to use his body to re-gain it or “help” them to the turf
+ Quick to ID T-E twists and get his post foot down to jack up spiking linemen trying to create a lane for the looper, while generally doing a good job of feeling pressure up the B-gap as the defensive front declares what they’re doing
+ Didn’t allow any sacks and just 23 total pressures across 716 pass-blocking since 2022, despite facing the country’s pressure leader Bralen Trice in both seasons, along with the Laiatu Latu and the rest of that UCLA group last year
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Weaknesses:
- Will occasionally allow defenders on the edge to slip inside of his blocks in the run-game by shifting his weight too far to the outside foot
- Trying to scoop-block backside B-gap defenders, Fuaga relies on overwhelming those guys and neutralizing them by taking them out of the picture rather than getting his play-side foot in front of them and cutting off their angle towards the ball
- Lacks the kind of foot quickness/stride length to get to his landmarks against wide rushers at times
- Barely cracks 33 inches in terms of arm length and whether that’s turning the corner on him with speed or guys being able to establish first meaningful contact to not allow him to dictate reps early, Fuaga will be challenged to new dimensions vs. NFL pass-rushers
- Tends to stop his feet momentarily as he goes for his strike in pass-pro and more advanced rushers will be able to take advantage of that more regularly
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There hasn’t been another tackle in college football who has kicked ass every single week over the past two seasons with the type of consistency Fuaga showed over that stretch. Whether it’s widening the edge on the front-side of run calls, taking interior defenders off their landmarks or pushing around linebackers almost effortlessly, this guy has put fear into the hearts of Pac-12 defenses. He’s also been a highly effective pass-protector against a murderous slate of edge rushers. With that being said, he did benefit from a heavy dose of play-action, as only about 40% of his pass sets were labelled as “true dropbacks” by Pro Football Focus, and he was able to kick straight back with level shoulders a lot of times, rather than guys challenging him with more favorable angles from wide alignments. Considering he’s on the fringe of arm length required to play on the edge at the NFL level, I can see why some teams would project him to guard. I personally believe he may ultimately end up there and be a perennial Pro Bowl candidate, but if his future team doesn’t drop back on 65+ percent of plays with a star quarterback who likes to hold onto the ball, he can also be an impact starter at right tackle for years to come.
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5. Amarius Mims, Georgia

6’8”, 340 pounds; JR
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A top-20 national recruit in 2021, Mims saw action as a backup in seven games as a true freshman. He was on the field for 12 contests as a fill-in OT, before jumping in for the injured Warren McClendon on the right side for the College Football Playoff (Peach Bowl vs. Ohio State and Natty vs. TCU). This past season, Mims suffered a high-ankle sprain midway through week three and underwent tightrope surgery, in order to return for the final four contests.
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Run-blocking:
+ Total freakshow measurement-wise – 6’8”, 340 pounds with seemingly no ounce of fat to his body, just over 36-inch arms and 11-and-¼ inch hands
+ Carries devastating vigor in his hands and the powerful quads to ride people along once he’s created some initial momentum
+ In one step closes the gap created when the guard inside of him pulls and puts his massive frame in the way, forcing defenders to take a wider path around him
+ Can use the movement of defenders against them, like D-ends attacking up the field and him drive them that way, in order to open up the frontside B-gap
+ Has the short-area agility to reach-block or pin defensive ends in wider alignments inside when they ran swing screens
+ Shows the reactionary athleticism and hip flexibility to peel back against pursuit defenders on plays out to the perimeter
+ The way he engulfs linebackers gliding up to them on end-around or reverses almost seems unfair
+ Easy mover getting out in space on toss plays or as part of the screen game and people are typically trying to get out of his way
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Pass-protection:
+ Covers ground pretty effortlessly to choke off the angle for edge rushers on diagonal sets
+ His massive frame and insane length make him incredibly tough to get around in order to arrive at the quarterback
+ Stands up edge rushers quite regularly by getting under their pads, never being out-reached
+ Already shows flashes of advanced hand-usage, swatting down the inside hand of defenders in order to latch into their chest
+ Has some impressive moments of recovering laterally after oversetting vs. spin moves or dropping the anchor after losing the initial contact phase
+ Displays the foot quickness to stay a half step behind hard-charging blitzers off the edge and then guide them past the arc as they try to flatten at the apex
+ Packs so much force in his hands to pass off slanting D-linemen on twists, before sliding in front of loopers coming his way – I’ve seen him send guys airborne as they try to cross his face
+ Wasn’t responsible for a single sack or QB hit and just six hurries across 402 career pass-blocking snaps, with PFF grades above 82 in each of the last two years
+ Looked like a top-ten pick in the Ohio State game (Peach Bowl) in 2022, more than holding his own against a tremendous defensive front for the Buckeyes, as he didn’t allow a single pressure on the QB
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Weaknesses:
- Appears a little bit lazy (with his lower half) and isn’t looking for work if he doesn’t have anybody in his way in the run game
- Gets too tall in his pass-sets and allows rushers to fit into his chest, despite those tree branches attached to his shoulders
- Lifts that inside foot way too much and leaves the B-gap vulnerable on up-and-under moves when defenders able to swipe down the inside hand
- Generally his understanding for how to frame rushers and not present soft edges is a work in progress at this point still, in large due to the lack of live reps
- Only started eight games in his career and didn’t even make it through the first quarter of the final one of those, for a total of 803 snaps across three seasons at Georgia, undergoing surgery on his ankle in the middle of last year
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Amarius Mims is one of most intriguing players overall in this entire draft. He’s built like Zeus and his moments of dominance make your jaw hit the floor. Unfortunately, we have very limited tape to evaluate him based off and he doesn’t utilize his god-given ability at a consistent level yet. With that being said, this to me is much more about a lack of experience than being a “raw project”. When he’s been on the field for the Bulldogs, he’s performed at close to the All-SEC level we’ve seen come out of Georgia in recent years and I’d no offensive linemen in this entire class has a higher potential than him. So how high he may ultimately go will very much depend on if there’s anything concerning on his medical reports, since it would be foolish to label him “injury-prone” based on one data point. If his future coaching staff can get him to enforce his will on all run plays, fully utilize his length and keep his base level with his upper body in pass-pro, you’re looking at a guy with All-Pro upside.
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6. Troy Fautanu, Washington

6’3”, 320 pounds; RS SR
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This four-star recruit from 2019 initially took a redshirt and saw action as a backup in four games of the COVID-shortened season. After starting two games at left tackle and one more at left guard the year after that, he was in the lineup for all 13 contests in 2022, when he made second-team All-Pac-12. He improved to first-team this past season, being a mainstay in the lineup and key member of the Washington’s magical run to a national title game appearance.
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Run-blocking:
+ Urgently comes out of his stance and is looking to quickly erase the space towards his D-linemen on angular blocks
+ You never see defenders crash through his inside shoulder when asked to seal the backside, instantly erasing the space to where the guard was originally aligned and turning his hips
+ Provides the short-area agility to reliably scoop-block three-techniques on the backside of wide zone concepts
+ At the same time he can secure the outside pec of edge defenders to his side and allow the ball to get out to the corner on sweeps and other concepts like that
+ On vertically-oriented concepts and particularly in short-yardage, Fautanu’s ability to come off with low pad-level and get underneath the pads of defenders really stands out
+ Shows the loose hips to adjust on the fly and get linebackers walled off as he works up to the second level
+ Displays impressive control and athletic ability to cover ground, come to balance and secure moving targets in the screen game
+ Along with eliminating arm length concerns (34.5 inches), Fautanu had an excellent all-around combine showing – 5.01 in the 40, 32.5-inch vert and 9’5” broad jump
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Pass-protection:
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The rest of the analysis can be found here!

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7. Jordan Morgan, Arizona

6’6”, 320 pounds; RS SR
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8. Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

6’8”, 320 pounds; RS SR
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9. Kingsley Suamataia, BYU

6’5”, 325 pounds; JR
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10. Christian Jones, Texas

6’5”, 310 pounds; RS SR
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Incredible potential:

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Kiran Amegadjie, Yale

6’5”, 320 pounds; SR
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The next names up:

Blake Fisher (Notre Dame), Walter Rouse (Oklahoma), Patrick Paul (Houston), Javon Foster (Missouri), Garret Greenfield (South Dakota State), Roger Rosengarten (Washington), Matt Goncalves (Pittsburgh) & Caedan Wallace (Penn State)
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If you enjoyed this article, please visit the original piece & feel free to check out my video on the biggest risers and fallers coming out of the NFL combine!
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Twitter: @ halilsfbtalk
Instagram: @ halilsrealfootballtalk
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2023.08.09 15:03 London-Roma-1980 CHAMPIONSHIP FORTNIGHT DAY 8 PREVIEW

Buckle up, everyone. This is the big one -- we're going to preview TEN conference finals today, and tonight NINE championship tickets will be punched.
That's not a misprint.
The Ivy League, as always, does things their own way. After a pair of ladders in a league that sees everyone with tournament trees as broad as possible, the Ivies settle the title in a two-out-of-three showdown. As such, we'll be previewing the whole series today, but no automatic bid will be handed out until either Day 9 or Day 10. The League wants to make sure they get this one right.
With that in mind, let's look at the many, MANY games we have going on that will give us a much clearer picture of the tournament when we're done.
*****
BIG SKY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: Montana at Weber State. The two teams everyone expected to be here have arrived. A spot in the NIBL Championships is on the line as the Grizzlies face off against the Wildcats.
Montana head coach Mike Montgomery knew of the tough task ahead of him. "Weber's been the best team all season," he told reporters. "But I have a bunch of top line talent on my team. We're all ready for what's bound to be a difficult game. Hopefully we can prove we belong on the biggest stage of them all."
Weber State coach Randy Rahe also understood the tough task. "Montana has a great starting lineup," he said. "I feel we have the best player in the league, and I feel we have a great supporting cast that will carry us to victory. The team's ready. It's up to me to make the right calls to get them over the line."
ROSTERS
[1] Weber State Wildcats (22-10) # [3] Montana Grizzlies (21-11)
Lance ALLRED 0 Martin BREUNIG
Larry BERGH 1 Will CHERRY
Joel BOLOMBOY 2 Kevin CRISWELL
Shawn CAMPBELL 3 Kareem JAMAR
Bruce COLLINS 4 Anthony JOHNSON
Bob DAVIS 5 Lee JOHNSON
Jimmy DEGRAFFENERIED 6 Larry KRYSTKOWIAK
Eddie GILL 7 Mike MURRAY
Jerrick HARDING 8 Michael OGUINE
Damian LILLARD 9 Sayeed PRITCHETT
Ruben NEMBHARD Sr. 10 Michael Ray RICHARDSON
Jeremy SENGLIN 11 Ahmaad RORIE
Willie SOJOURNER 12 Andrew STRAIT
Daniel SPARKS 13 John STROEDER
Justus THIGPEN 14 Wayne TINKLE
LINE: Weber State by 6
*****
CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP: Louisiana Tech vs. Western Kentucky. For the Hilltoppers, it feels like their slow start is years ago. For the Bulldogs, it feels like their last loss was years ago. Something will be revisited by the loser, but more importantly, the winner will put themselves into the NIBL Championship representing a very new-look Conference USA.
"We've had a great season so far," Bulldog coach Cecil Crowley told reporters. "I don't plan on blowing it in the last game. We're this close to making the tournament, and I don't want to think of what it would be like if we blew it from here."
Hilltoppers coach E.A. Diddle was unimpressed when he heard of Crowley's comments. "He says that like he's not already in," Diddle muttered. "For them, this is about who they face in the first round. For us, it's if we face anyone at all. The pressure's on us, not them. And we plan on taking that pressure and becoming a diamond."
ROSTERS
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[1] Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (25-5) # [3] Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (20-10)
Raheem APPLEBY 0 Darel CARRIER
P.J. BROWN 1 Wayne CHAPMAN
Anthony DADE 2 Tellis FRANK
Kyle GIBSON 3 Dee GIBSON
Mike GREEN 4 Clem HASKINS
Alex HAMILTON 5 Bob LAVOY
Jalen HARRIS 6 Courtney LEE
Gerrod HENDERSON 7 Jim MCDANIELS
Elliott LAWRENCE 8 John OLDHAM
Karl MALONE 9 Bobby RASCOE
Mike MCCONATHY 10 Mitchell ROBINSON
Erik MCCREE 11 Greg SMITH
Antonio MEEKING 12 Odie SPEARS
Paul MILLSAP 13 Art SPOELSTRA
Randy WHITE 14 William TOWERY
LINE: Louisiana Tech by 5 1/2
*****
IVY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: Dartmouth at Princeton. And now for something completely different. The Tigers and Big Green will be playing two out of three over the rest of the Championship Fortnight. The winner gets the Ivy League's automatic bid into the NIBL Championship.
"I like this," coach Pete Carril said of his favored Princeton having to win twice. "Let's make sure we send the right team. Of course, it's going to require us to practice hard and plan better. Really, I know other conferences don't have the luxury the Ivy League does, but I'm glad we do it."
"It's a monumental task," Big Green coach Ozzie Cowles noted. "They haven't lost all season and we have to find a way to take two from them? We have to give everything we have and then some, but I think we have a chance of doing it. We'll wait and see."
ROSTERS
[1] Princeton Tigers (22-5) # [3] Dartmouth Big Green (15-13)
Bill BRADLEY 0 Jim BARTON
Devin CANNADY 1 James BLACKWELL
Brian EARL 2 Aud BRINDLEY
Steve GOODRICH 3 James BROWN
Armond HILL 4 Greg BUTH
Ian HUMMER 5 Larry CUBAS
John HUMMER 6 Sterling EDMONDS
Mike KEARNS 7 Paul ERLAND
Greg LEWULLIS 8 Shaun GEE
Ted MANAKAS 9 Rudy LARUSSO
Bud PALMER 10 Ed LEEDE
Geoff PETRIE 11 Sea LONERGAN
Brian TAYLOR 12 George MUNROE
Judson WALLACE 13 Walter PALMER
Chris YOUNG 14 Steve SPAHN
LINE: Game 1 -- Princeton by 18; Game 2 -- Princeton by 10; Game 3 -- TBD
*****
MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP: UNLV vs. New Mexico. UNLV has spent the majority of the season ranked. New Mexico is the one team that experts think could stop them. Either our first Top 25 team enters the Big Dance, or we have a major upset that could shake up the bubble for the rest of the Power squads.
"I don't plan on losing this," Rebels head coach Jerry Tarkanian said flatly. "We've come too far, we've done too much. That top 4 seed is in our grasp, and I'm not about to let it go with a slip-up on the last hurdle. We're ready."
Lobos head coach Bob King had his own pressure. "We know if we win this, all the talk is done until Sunday," he told reporters. "We know we can silence the doubters and stuff the critics. But until we do, unless we do, we're going to have to prove ourselves over and over in the minds of the Committee. It would be great to have no pressure."
ROSTERS
[1] UNLV Runnin' Rebels (26-4) # [2] New Mexico Lobos (23-7)
Stacey AUGMON 0 Michael COOPER
Marcus BANKS 1 Mel DANIELS
Keon CLARK 2 J.R. GIDDENS
Armen GILLIAM 3 Danny GRANGER
Glen GONDREZICK 4 Ira HARGE
Sidney GREEN 5 Darlington HOBSON
Larry JOHNSON 6 Greg HOWARD
Derrick JONES Jr. 7 Willie LONG
Shawn MARION 8 Luc LONGLEY
Tyrone NESBY 9 Ron NELSON
Isaiah RIDER 10 Billy REID
Robert SMITH 11 Daniel SANTIAGO
Ricky SOBERS 12 Charles C. SMITH
Reggie THEUS 13 Tony SNELL
Christian WOOD 14 Kenny THOMAS
LINE: UNLV by 15 1/2
*****
OHIO VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIP: Little Rock at Tennessee State. It started when Carlos Rogers, who played for both schools, decided to commit to Little Rock once he achieved eligibility. He cited the chance to start for a team that could make the tournament as his reason, believing that he'd be on the bench if he stayed at Tennessee State. Now, he has the chance to show he made the right decision.
But the coaches wanted to make clear there was more to it than that. "We never held Carlos' decision against him," Tigers coach John McClendon said. "He wanted to start, he gets to start. He's just a name in another uniform now. We have a chance to rep the Ohio Valley in the NIBL Championship. We need to do that."
Trojans coach Mike Newell used the transfer as motivation. "He came here to help us win. We have to prove he made the right choice. So for us, if we win this, then it's clear he's with a winning team. The last thing I want is for him to second-guess his commitment."
ROSTERS
[1] Tennessee State Tigers (21-11) # [2] Little Rock Trojans (18-14)
Roshaun BOWERS 0 Malik DIXON
Nico CHILDS 1 Muntrelle DOBBINS
Robert COVINGTON 2 Shane EDWARDS
Monit DAVIS 3 Derek FISHER
Jonathan GREEN 4 Josh HAGINS
Tim HORTON 5 Derrick HALL
Jason JOHNSON 6 Myron JACKSON
Anthony MASON 7 Jim LAMPLEY
Tahjere MCCALL 8 Pete MYERS
Patrick MILLER 9 Mike RIVERS
Bruce PRICE 10 Carlos ROGERS
Garrett RICHARDSON 11 James SCOTT
Jamie ROBERTS 12 Joe STEPHENS
Gerald ROBINSON 13 Rayjon TUCKER
Monty WILSON 14 Vaughn WILLIAMS
LINE: Tennessee State by 3
*****
SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP: Marshall vs Louisiana-Monroe. The crowd in the bayou was upset when Louisiana-Lafayette's rally fell short against the Thundering Herd. They have another chance to cheer on a local team in the final, but the task will be even more daunting.
"We're up against it, there's no doubt," Warhawks coach Mike Vining told reporters. "We've had a fun ride to get this far, but we already beat the #2 team in Old Dominion. Why not finish it off by beating #1? Sounds like a fun fairy tale for the crowd to get behind. But I have no thoughts it'll be easy."
When asked about the potential mismatch, Herd coach Dale D'Antoni wouldn't hear of it. "The pressure's on us, not them," he insisted. "We have more to lose than they do. When this started, people wanted to find a reason to keep us out of the tournament. We're not going to give them one here."
ROSTERS
[1] Marshall Thundering Herd (30-4) # [7] Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (18-17)
Bob ALLEN 0 Michael ERTEL
Mike D'ANTONI 1 Tony HOOPER
Jon ELMORE 2 Jerry JINGLES
Hal GREER 3 Anthony JONES
Skip HENDERSON 4 Carl KILPATRICK
Billy JAMES 5 Paul MARSHALL
Goose JAMES 6 Terry MARTIN
Russ LEE 7 Travis MUNNINGS
Charlie SLACK 8 Howard NATHAN
Tamar SLAY 9 Calvin NATT
George STONE 10 Kenny NATT
Andy TONKOVICH 11 David PICKETT
J.R. VANHOOSE 12 Mike ROSE
Hassan WHITESIDE 13 Mike SMITH
Jason WILLIAMS 14 Donald WILSON
LINE: Marshall by 18
*****
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: Incarnate Word at McNeese State. With two weeks left in the regular season, Incarnate Word as in last place in the Southland. They haven't lost since, and this magical run just might continue all the way to the NIBL Championship -- if they can win one more on the road.
"Look, if we get to the Big Dance, we'll be the Cinderella story, too," McNeese coach Glenn Duhon said. "But we have to get there first. We've had a strong showing in the backcourt all season, and we've been trying to gain our consistency. I think it's all come together at just about the right time. Let's finish this."
Incarnate Word coach Ken Burmeister was ready to complete the turnaround. "We were dead, counted out, flat on our back with the ref at 9," he said. "Well, we got up, and we've fought our way to the fifteenth round. Now, we just gotta get that knockout. We're scrappy. We wouldn't have it any other way."
ROSTERS
[3] McNeese State Cowboys (18-14) # [5] Incarnate Word Cardinals (14-18)
Jerome BATISTE 0 Mitchell BADILLO
Tierre BROWN 1 Charles BROWN III
Michael CUTRIGHT 2 Sam BURMEISTER
Joe DUMARS 3 Augustine ENE
Rosell ELLIS 4 Kyle HITTLE
Derek HAYWOOD 5 Shawn JOHNSON
Kenny JIMERSON 6 Jerred KITE
Shemarkus KENNEDY 7 Marcus LARSSON
David LAWRENCE 8 Denzel LIVINGSTON
Edmund LAWRENCE 9 Drew LUTZ
Desmond MALLET 10 Vincent MISZKIEWICZ
Anthony PULLARD 11 Christian PEEVY
Henry RAY 12 Simi SOCKS
Patrick RICHARD 13 Jontrell WALKER
John RUDD 14 Keatons WILLIS
LINE: McNeese State by 11 1/2
*****
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: Samford at Western Carolina. In a season that was topsy-turvy from the start, where seven wins put you in last place and twelve in first, perhaps it's fitting that two teams hovering around the .500 mark meet in the conference final. But don't tell either team they're also-rans.
"We're in it to win it now," Samford coach Jimmy Tillette said. "We've had a long season with a lot of very even matchups. Now it comes down to 40 minutes for us to get into the NIBL Championships. I think we have a very good chance."
"It doesn't matter if the First Four is where we go," his counterpart, Phil Hopkins, told reporters. "As far as we're concerned that still counts as being a part of the big dance, and it still counts as being the champions of the Southern Conference. This is one of the oldest traditions in sports, this tournament. And we plan to put our names on it."
ROSTERS
[3] Western Carolina Catamounts (16-16) # [4] Samford Bulldogs (17-15)
David BERGHOEFER 0 Steve BARKER
Ronnie CARR 1 Craig BEARD
Greg DENNIS 2 Christen CUNNINGHAM
Robert GAINES 3 Will DANIEL
Marc GOSSELIN 4 Joey DAVENPORT
Jarvis HAYES 5 Demetrius DYSON
Frankie KING 6 Rembert MARTIN
Quinton LYTLE 7 Robert MERRITT
Kevin MARTIN 8 Jonathan PIXLEY
Anquell MCCOLLUM 9 Reed RAWLINGS
Harouna MUTOMBO 10 Marc SALYERS
Trey SUMLER 11 Josh SHARKEY
Kenny TRIMIER 12 Bubba SHEAFE
Dondrell WHITMORE 13 Al WALTER
Bubba WILSON 14 Tim WILLIAMS
LINE: Western Carolina by 9 1/2
*****
SUMMIT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: North Dakota State at Oral Roberts. While most of the league was preparing for a showdown between Denver and Oral Roberts, one team had other ideas. Now that they beat one favorite, it remains to be seen if they can beat the other.
"A lot of eyebrows were raised when we beat up on Denver," Bison coach David Richman said. "But we have a chance to make even more people sit up and take notice. We're a team on the rise, and we plan to keep getting better as long as there's a chance. We know we can beat anyone, now it's just time to do it."
Golden Eagles coach Keith Trickey was confident. "We've been the best team all year, even if our record doesn't say so," he said after a tough practice. "Now it's time to prove it. We can beat anyone in the country with the lineup we got out there. Let's get into the Dance."
ROSTERS
[2] Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (20-12) # [5] North Dakota State Bison (17-15)
Mark ACRES 0 Jordan AABERG
Max AßMAS 1 Lawrence ALEXANDER
Tim GILL 2 Marshall BJORKLUND
Caleb GREEN 3 Taylor BRAUN
DaQuen JEFFRIES 4 A.J. JACOBSON
Dominique MORRISON 5 Khy KABELLIS
Warren NILES 6 Chris KADING
Larry OWENS 7 Rocky KREUSER
Anthony ROBERTS 8 Paul MILLER
Alvin SCOTT 9 Grant NELSON
Ken TUTT 10 Vinnie SHAHID
David VAUGHN Jr. 11 Michael TVEIDT
Rocky WALLS 12 Tyson WARD
Eddie WOODS 13 Dexter WERNER
Heywood WORKMAN 14 TrayVonn WRIGHT
LINE: Oral Roberts by 9
*****
WEST COAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: San Francisco vs Gonzaga. The WCC's past and future collide when the Dons, the only school in the conference with a national championship, take on the Bulldogs, a team seemingly destined to one day crack through and get their own.
Dons coach Phil Woolpert warned his team against complacency. "This is an incredible opponent we're facing out there," he told reporters. "They beat Seattle twice -- we didn't. We're going to have to play at our best in order to get the victory. Some years, we'd be going smoothly, but this year, we have to make everything work."
Meanwhile, Bulldogs coach Mark Few recalled one of the key moments in Gonzaga's growth. "We've shown the slipper still fits us," he said. "Now it's time to be the belle of the ball. San Fran is a tough opponent, and when they go big, they're hard to stop. I feel like we can do it, though."
ROSTERS
[1] San Francisco Dons (24-8) # [3] Gonzaga Bulldogs (22-10)
Winford BOYNES 0 Frank BURGESS
Bill CARTWRIGHT 1 Zach COLLINS
Pete CROSS 2 Austin DAYE
Quentin DAILEY 3 Richie FRAHM
Joe ELLIS 4 Rui HACHIMURA
Mike FARMER 5 Corey KISPERT
James HARDY 6 Adam MORRISON
K.C. JONES 7 Zach NORVELL
Fred LACOUR 8 Kelly OLYNYK
Don LOFGRAN 9 Jeremy PARGO
Erwin MUELLER 10 Domantas SABONIS
Kevin RESTANI 11 Robert SACRE
Bill RUSSELL 12 John STOCKTON
Fred SCOLARI 13 Jalen SUGGS
Phil SMITH 14 Ronny TURIAF
LINE: San Francisco by 5 1/2
*****
TODAY'S GAMES
submitted by London-Roma-1980 to BestOfDivI [link] [comments]

2023.04.06 17:00 hallach_halil Top 10 interior offensive linemen of the 2023 NFL Draft:

Top 10 interior offensive linemen of the 2023 NFL Draft:
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Continuing our discussion on the players in the trenches for this draft class, we’re moving on from offensive tackles and edge defenders to interior offensive and defensive linemen this week. As always, we’ll start on the side that has the ball and then transition to the guys lining up across from them on Friday. This group includes offensive guards and centers, which I’ll clarify if I believe the names mentioned fit better at specific spots or if they are capable of filling multiple roles.
This isn’t one of the strongest IOL classes we’ve seen in recent years, but there are two prospects worthy of going in the first round, three other guys in the top-50 range and about four more names who could go on day-two. Where I was surprised as I started digging deeper were some of the guys currently projected to go sixth/seventh round or even undrafted, who I believe could stick on NFL rosters for a while. So they may not come up here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a bunch of guards and centers get picked late.
This is what my top-ten looks like, with a little bit of cheating and one name at the bottom, who I couldn’t really slot in:
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1. O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

6’5”, 335 pounds; SR
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A three-star recruit for Louisiana in 2019, Torrence started all but one of 36 games for the Ragin Cajuns across three seasons there, being named second-team All-Sun Belt in 2020 and improving to first-team the year after, for a group that averaged between 193 and 257 rushing yards in each of those. He decided to transfer to the SEC ahead of the ’22 season and continued his dominance against tougher competition, as he started 11 games at right guard for the Gators and was named a first-team All-American.
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+ Looking at the massive build and natural force he brings, Torrence was made to play guard
+ Can create significant lateral movement on the front-side of inside zone runs and you frequently see him create cutback lanes in that same mold
+ Routinely lands his inside hand underneath the near shoulder-plate of defenders and is able to get that extra push to dig guys out of the gap
+ Has some really sticky, massive hands (11 and ¼ inches) and good dexterity to turn bodies and get his ball-carrier out to the edge with scoop-/reach-blocks, but also just to sustain blocks, as defenders try to throw him off
+ You regularly see him apply rotational force with the opposite hand to where he wants to turn interior D-linemen and get that guy to that side
+ Lands some forceful bumps just digging that inside shoulder into the down-lineman slightly showing in the gap next to him, whilst staying on track for the linebacker he’s responsible for
+ When he ends up transitioning to the second level and his assignments run themselves into traffic, he doesn’t just stop, but rather is looking for work and potentially peels back on a pursuit defender
+ And if he gets a straight shot at linebackers, you legitimately see the heads of those guys snap backwards at contact
+ Recognizes when guys on the second level run themselves out of the action or are blitzed the wrong way and he can just pivot his base around to shield a D-lineman on the backside of lateral schemes
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+ With his ability to anchor and ride wide rushers past the quarterback, you rarely see quarterbacks not being able to step up his way
+ Has the girth and base strength to take two-handed punches into his chest and absorb them, before he counters with his punch and dictates things
+ When he’s the one to attach his paws to the numbers of D-linemen, he can really take control of rushes throughout the play
+ Because of the way guys try to lean into him and ride him backwards, when he does catch them off-balance, Torrence can put them on the turf
+ Plays with his eyes up when unassigned and sliding a certain way, in order to help out if guys counter towards the gap next to him, looking to dish out some rib-shots on nearby rushers when he’s unoccupied
+ And he makes catching these blitzing linebackers one-on-one look effortless, when he has enough time to square them up, but even if he has to pass off the initial down-lineman and can’t brace for the secondary impact
+ Just has a knack for getting the job done and not allowing pressure to get to his quarterback, where he gets a piece of defenders late, just enough to create enough time for the ball to come out
+ Torrence had an extremely impressive showing against Georgia in 2022, where he took an All-American D-tackle in Jalen Carter completely out of the picture a couple of times
+ His track record in protection is just insane – zero sacks and just one QB hit allowed across 1501 pass-blocking snaps in four years as a starter, with eight hurries last season in the SEC being his highest mark
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– You see him freeze his feet and go for two-handed strikes when taking those direct angles towards linebackers, which can be eluded
– While this comes with guys of his dimensions, Torrence’s foot quickness is just average and he may be challenged in new ways at the next level with twitchy interior defenders attacking the edges of his frame
– Does get caught overextending and shifting his weight over his toes at times, working against pass-rushers who have more of a runway against him by alignment
– A couple of times you will see him hold late into pass-sets, when he really doesn’t need to, and draw unnecessary penalties
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If you’re looking for a true guard, who can create easy movement in the run game and just end rushers by interior guys once he gets those massive paws latched onto them, Torrence is your guy in this class. He’s not the most light-footed guy or most graceful athlete out in space, but there really aren’t many negatives to find on his tape. Proving that he could handle the step up in class with his move to the SEC, after already putting together a stellar career at Louisiana, was a big piece in giving evaluators confidence that he will handle the next step too. Watching him continue to excel during Senior Bowl week and what he did against some of the top competition he’s faced, this is a first-round prospect for me all day long. The two names that came to mind for when watching him were Brandon Brooks and Mike Iupati – which I would be comfortable with taking Torrence in the range of the latter (17th overall back in 2010).
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2. John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota

6’4”, 320 pounds; RS SR
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Just outside the top-1000 overall recruits back in 2017, Schmitz initially took a redshirt and then was mainly used on special teams, before becoming a part-time starter in year three. He started 19 games over the next two seasons and was one of the most consistent centers in college football, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention and second-team accolades. This past year he improved to first-team, leading the way for Mohamid Ibrahim’s massive 1600-yard rushing season.
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+ Big center prospect, who fits well in a power-based rushing attack, thanks to his rugged playing style, but was highly successful in more of a zone-heavy scheme
+ Schmitz has his thumbs up and elbows tights, as he shoots his arms through the target and creates momentum that way on defensive linemen
+ Has freaky grip strength to create that extra torque at the end, to give the ball-carrier a clear indication of where to go
+ Does a good job of eating up the space to D-tackles on down-blocks, when his guards are tasked with pulling
+ Has that thing, where he kind of hooks D-tackles with the back-arm as works laterally down the line on zone concepts, to negate quick penetration behind him and allow his guards to take away that gap
+ Showcases good timing with staying attached to the down-lineman with a help-hand as long as needed to peeling off once linebackers commit
+ On more vertical concepts, he also makes sure the down-linemen is secured before climbing to the second level, where he can take guys for a ride, who try to get over his blocks
+ However, he also moves well for that size, being able to execute reach-blocks and scoop up 2i/2-techniques, in order to allow his guards to work to the backer on wide concepts, bringing his base all the way around and pinning them inside at times
+ You love the effort to fly out in front of screen passes and look for work in space – Had a couple of crazy take-out blocks on guys beyond ten yards down the field during Senior Bowl practices
+ Was the highest-graded center (and IOL overall) in college football in 2022 according to PFF (92.4)
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+ Can land punches when defenders try to set up their moves, but then also keep those guys really tight to his chest, with hands that don’t detach typically
+ Does a great job of slowly giving ground and re-positioning his base to against power rushers, whilst keeping elbows in-line with his shoulders
+ When guys try to take wider paths around him, he can take them way off track, to give his quarterback clear space to step up into
+ Is ready to help out his guards once their rusher shows in the A-gaps, but then also recognizes when there’s a delayed second-level rusher and he can just get a piece of them, for his QB to get the ball out
+ You see him land some knockout shots in that regard on guys late into those plays
+ Fluidly transitions on twists, with the strong punch to stymie the second man or ride them out of their lane
+ With how much play-action from the gun the Gophers use, Schmitz regularly was asked to sell the run and basically cover up bodies, which he does exceptionally well and you never really see any pressure up the middle because of him on those, along with him sticking on that down-lineman until the backer really shoots downhill
+ Generally, when he feels the defenders he’s tangled up with lose their balance, he takes the chance to push them down and land on top of them
+ Did get charged with two sacks this past season, but otherwise only gave up 11 additional pressures across 619 pass-blocking snaps
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– Has his issues when quick reactionary movement is required, such as adjusting to D-tackles slanting across his face
– If moved to guard, it may not be the most seamless fit for a wide zone-based rushing attack, if he has to basically reach-block penetrating three-techniques
– Not the most flight-of-foot to secure blocks in space and can be a little too aggressive with his initial angles
– Every once in a while, his feet can deaden just a little bit when he goes for two-handed punches and guys with strong push-pull maneuvers can yank him sideways momentarily
​
This young man displays textbook technique with his hand-placement and footwork, along with tremendous the strength in hands to take charge of defenders in the run and pass game. Senior Bowl week is typically not a setting for interior O-lineman to stand out, but Schmitz did in a major way. The vice grip hands, ability to frame rushers and control reps allowed Schmitz to shut down several of the top interior pass-rushers in the country, along with opening up several big lanes behind him in the run game. For somebody with his size, a fit in more of a gap-scheme based offense makes sense, but he has little experience as a puller and gets worse at securing blocks against second-level defenders the farther distance he has to cover initially. Either way, I think he’s a rock-solid player, even though he may not be the greatest athlete, and is worthy of a late first-round pick.
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3. Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin

6’6”, 315 pounds; JR
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A four-star recruit in 2019, Tippmann redshirted his first year in Madison and then only appeared in two games the following season. These past two years, he’s started all but one of 23 games he suited up for. He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten in both of them, paving the way for a rushing attack that averaged 211 and 180 yards respectively per contest.
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+ Tall, athletic center, with plus experience in a multiple run scheme
+ Quick out of his stance, with the mobility to pull and climb to the second level effectively
+ Rapidly covers group laterally to down-block on guys in the A-gap and create that space purely by alignment, as well as on three-techniques, to allow his guards to pull
+ With his long arms, he’s able to fit the opposite hand under the rib-cage of bigger D-tackles and turn their bodies, in order to move them out of the lane and take advantage of their charge upfield, even if he may not be able to drive them off their landmarks with brute force
+ Shows good dexterity and balance to create lateral movement on zone run schemes and pull his inside foot through when needed, And he frequently is able to bring his hips around, to pin guys away from the action
+ Keeps his shoulders square on combos and times up exceptionally well when he peels off those typically, depending on the linebacker’s movement
+ Wisconsin took advantage of Tippman’s mobility on some long pulls, where he consistently was able to attach to targets in space
+ They would run some counter, where the center himself did like a countepivot step and be like an H-back sifting across the formation, to get out on the run
+ Effective folds/wraps around guards or tackles on skip-pulls, along with taking on trap and kickout assignments
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+ Counterbalances his height with natural bend at his knees and keeping his elbows in tight to handle powerful interior rushers
+ Makes sliding in front of interior rushers lined up directly in the gap and mirroring their movement look pretty effortless
+ Very active with keeping his feet moving and not being caught off balance
+ Tippman’s length allows him to literally have a hand on each of the guards next to him at times, with the Badgers using fairly tight splits up front
+ In a more practical sense, he can reach out for mugged up backers in one A-gap and feel if he’s actually coming, whilst gaining depth and ultimately taking over a rusher on the other side
+ Shows flashes of independent hand-usage to keep rushers at bay
+ When unoccupied, he displays active eyes, to attach to nearby rushers or pick up blitzing linebackers angling his way
+ On some delayed interior twists and second-level rushers looping across, you see an impressive ability to open his hips and guide those guys off track
+ Was charged with just one sack and nine total pressures across 615 pass-blocking snaps these past two years combined
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– While he does sink his hips well, Tippmann’s height can create some leverage issues and limit the movement he can provide as a drive-blocker
– Falls off too many blocks against A-gap defenders, where he needs to re-fit his hands and drop his base if he gets out-leveraged initially
– In protection, you see him dip his head and more crafty rushers pull him off later into reps, and because he isn’t necessarily pro-active with his punch, some guys at the next level will be able to attack his chest, to create anchoring issues for him
– Can be a little late to pick up wide stunts, as he has his hips opened towards a rusher one of his guard is tangled up with
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Tippman is one of the more fun prospects to watch regardless of position – at least for me. His movement skills in the run game are rare for a center and whoever drafts him will have the opportunity to diverse their scheme because of what he can provide. His height brings positive and negative effects, where it provides some room for erroextended reach, but his higher center of gravity limits his ability to dig defenders out of their gap and anchor against interior rushers. He will need to work on protect his chest better, in order to counter-balance those issues you see at times in pass-pro, but the athleticism and crafty play for just a true junior makes him one of my favorite guys to target early on day two – assuming he’s available at that point. In a system that throws perimeter screens more regularly, this guy’s speed to cover ground and how well he snatches up bodies on the fly could really shine.
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4. Steve Avila, TCU

6’4”, 330 pounds; SR
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Just outside the top-1000 overall recruits in 2018, Avila redshirted his first year on campus and then saw action in 11 games year two. As a redshirt sophomore he started all nine games at three different positions (center, right tackle and right guard), before taking over the pivot in 2021 and then moving over to left guard last season. He was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in ‘21 and improved to second-team All-American this past season, during TCU’s miraculous run at a national championship, even though they got stomped in the title game.
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+ Excellent girth throughout his frame, but surprisingly quick out of his stance for that size
+ Very consistent with taking the “right” first steps and putting himself in position to take care of his assignments in the first place
+ Excels at covering up bodies with good leverage and flexibility to sustain blocks on inside zone schemes
+ Incorporates gather steps in order to not whiff against wider alignments or D-tackles in a more passive four-point stance
+ Has so much strength in his hands that he doesn’t always need to perfectly square up defenders, but can grab and torque guys a little bit, as well as maintain blocks on challenging angles
+ Didn’t get many chances to just uproot D-tackles out of their gaps, because TCU ran a lot of slower-developing zone runs, but when given the chance, you saw Avila take guys for a ride quite frequently
+ At guard, the Horned Frogs could utilize Avila as a puller more regularly, taking care of kick-outs and giving the lead-blocker and back room to work on GT power
+ Smaller bodies simply don’t find a way around his wide frame in tight quarters and linebackers won’t create any knock-back on him, even if they have some space to accelerate into contact
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+ In true one-on-one pass-pro reps, Avila actually looked better at guard, because he could get his hands on the rusher right away and wouldn’t give them much room to breath anymore
+ Shows good understanding for the depth of the pocket and when to just guide rushers off track as they try to go wide around him
+ His anchor against power rushers seems nearly unbreakable
+ You see guys slant over his way or counter late and run into Avila, where it looks like they just hit a brick wall
+ Utilizes alternate hand-usage and stabs at interior rushers to keep those guys off kilter
+ When opponents take a wider path against him, he shoves them out of their rush lanes and into traffic regularly
+ Quickly shuffles in front of guys lined up towards the near-shoulder of the linemen next to him on slide protections, to force them to work around him
+ Back when playing center, if he saw his man stunt outside either guard and there was no threat in the opposite A-gap for him, Avila made sure to widen the angle and that’s where you saw Max Duggan take advantage of those big running lanes up the middle quite a bit
+ Number 95 for Texas Tech probably still has nightmare about Avila from their ’22 meeting, because of how often he clamped him down or put him on the ground
+ Didn’t allow a single sack and just 11 total pressures across a massive 540 pass-blocking snaps, despite facing an impressive group of interior D-lineman
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– Carries plenty of weight in the mid-section and isn’t the lightest on his feet
– Lacks that agility to consistently pivot his base around and fully reach-block D-linemen head-up or on the near-shoulder of one of the guys next to him
– Could do a better job of securing the pec of D-tackles closer to the play direction for example on the backside of inside zone, where because he only has 9 and ¼-inch hands, guys are able to fight across him for the tackle if the back cuts it up that way
– Needs to start gaining more depth in protection when unoccupied at guard and doesn’t have quick lateral movement to recover if getting beat on the initial approach
– Playing center, when defenders between him and the guard slanted towards the B-gap and the protection was set up that he can slide that way, Avila was late at times recognizing he should peel back and help out with what may be going on the opposite side (even though it’s not technically his job)
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Right off the bat, being a fixture in the lineup for three years with quality starting experience at each of the interior spots is a major plus, in terms of the value he can provide for his future team. Avila is a smart and powerful run-blocker, who combined with his wide frame consistently is able to cover up bodies. In pass-pro, his ability to work the hands in independent fashion and his strong base to hold his ground against power led to an exceptional track record. I don’t think he’s necessarily a great fit for a wide zone-based system and his small hands could create more problems sustains blocks at the NFL level, but this may very well be a plug-and-play starter for a decade at any of three inside positions.
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5. Cody Mauch, North Dakota State

6’6”, 305 pounds; RS SR
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Joining the NDSU program as a preferred walk-on in 2017, Mauch’s transformation since his arrival on campus has been made viral thanks to the optics, but his improvements on the field might be even more impressive. He redshirted year two, was part of the scout team in his second season and then stepped into the role of sixth linemen in 2019 (542 snaps). These last two years, he’s started all 15 games each left tackle, earning second-team All-MVFC and then first-team accolades respectively, along with being part of four FCS national championships.
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+ Flexible athlete who plays with natural sink in his lower body and an apparent mean-streak in the run game
+ Consistently initiates first contact with low pads, heavy hands and feet ready to churn, along with the flexibility to keeps his hands latched
+ Makes opening the B-gap on the front-side look easy, creating impact on the near-shoulder and widening those edge defenders in just a couple of steps
+ Excels at torquing bodies and pinning guys away from the action, providing the hip mobility to execute reach- and hinge-blocks to high effect
+ Bullies most of these FCS three-techniques when allowed to get underneath their rib-cage and dig them out of their space on down-blocks, And he completely blows some guys off their landmarks on combo-blocks with the guard
+ Glides up to the second-level with ease and is able to cut off angles, before those defenders can even process the play – Shows the mobility to cut off linebackers on the backside of zone runs when the B-gap is uncovered
+ You regularly saw him kick out guys on the edge on short pulls, when they had a tight-end or two lined up next to him blocking down, and create massive lanes as they ran behind him
+ NDSU utilized Mauch’s movement skills pulling to the edge on sweep and crack-toss plays, where he wants to absolutely bury those smaller defenders in space
+ Has that true finishing mindset, to where you see him ride guys across the field until the echo of the whistle and doesn’t even stop if his helmets comes off
+ Even though most of his tape is against that lower level of competition, against the Bison’s one FBS opponent in Arizona last season, he still bullied those guys and earned an 80.1 PFF grade
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+ Showcases the foot quickness to mirror quick, active defenders on the edge in passing situations
+ Stays tight to the chest of rushers going up against him and doesn’t really give them an escape route
+ Displays excellent balance to absorb force with his base, bend at the hips and set the anchor against bull-rush attempts
+ Very effective with re-fitting his hands against rushers who move left-to-right a lot
+ Doesn’t let go of guys as plays run longer and if he can land a little extra shove or put guys on the ground, he will gladly do so
+ Shows impressive moments of being able to recover after shifting his weight too far towards the wrong feet and being able to still ride guys off track
+ Only allowed a sack each and 15 combined additional pressures over the last two year (628 pass-blocking snaps total)
+ Tested above the 60th percentile across every single combine event and in the 82nd percentile or better in four of six
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– Can get pretty top-heavy in the run game and lose his balance when defenders are able to knock his hands off momentarily – and he whiffs totally every once in a while where he telegraphs his punch and guys counter it accordingly
– With 32 and 3/8-inch arms, a move to the interior is likely in the cards for him, yet he has only logged 16 career snaps at all three of those spots combined
– Can be thrown off a little by guys jabbing inside and making him step with the post-foot, creating a softer corner for the rusher
– Other than an inside-out combination or a straight-up two-handed punch, Mauch lacks any type of advanced hand-usage at this point
– Has to work on his ankle flexion and get more cleats into the ground, in order to consistently deal with power at the next level, if he does move inside
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This kid might have the best all-around athleticism and violent mind-set of any offensive lineman in this entire draft. The way he negates space towards defenders and just engulfs them, with continuous leg-drive until the play is over was one of my favorite things to watch during this cycle. While I would argue Mauch had a bit of an up-and-down week all-around at the Senior Bowl, he took snaps at all five positions during the actual game and didn’t look out of place at any of them – that flexibility should really help his cause. Now, I don’t see him sticking out at tackle and there could be a fairly steep learning curve in terms of the way he uses his hands to keep interior rushers off balance. With that being said, he can be an absolute gap-scheme mauler right away, with the athletic traits to become a high-level pass-protector on top of it. He definitely should be a top-50 pick.
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6. Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama

6’3”, 325 pounds; RS SR
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Just outside the top-100 overall recruits in 2018, Ekiyor played in 24 and started in 13 games heading into his junior year, when he started all 15 games and helped Alabama finish top-six in terms of scoring offense (39.9). This past season he became a first-team All-SEC selection by the AP and league coaches, once again being a full-time starter at right guard.
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+ Features a powerful, compact build and basically played 2600 snaps in the SEC these last three years
+ Wants to bring the pain in the run game, with a thick lower half and easy ability to create flexion in his joints
+ Routinely is able to center blocks and cover up big bodies
+ Lands that backside hand under the near arm-pit of D-tackles and rides them down the line when running zone his way
+ On the backside of wide zone runs, he can land that bucket step and bring his other leg across to cover ground and scoop nose-tackles effectively
+ Frequently utilized on different pulling assignments, where he unload at contact in forceful fashion to create lanes
+ Just handles second-level defenders so effortlessly it seems like, whether he has to drive them on the move off combos or is used leading up the hole as a puller, where you never see his pads get rocked back, even if that guys sees it coming and can attack downhill
+ His reactionary skills to secure blocks in space are impressive for a man his size
+ Continues to drive his legs, turn bodies and put them on the ground, if he can – Had a play against Auburn in 2021, where he was still driving his man almost ten yards downfield after his helmet had come off
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+ Has the girth in his lower half to handle powerful interior rushers, while doing a good job when kicking his feet back to re-gain leverage and control pass-pro reps
+ When he gets his hands inside the frame of the guy across from and sets the anchor, you see him completely deaden the rush – Can sling-shot blitzing linebackers, mugged up in the gap
+ Constantly looking to re-fit the hands, get the elbows in tight and find a tighter grip
+ Understands the depth of the pocket and when he can almost back-pedal to help out his tackle, if there’s no threat to the A-gap, often times bumping them past the QB when given the opportunity
+ When tasked with slide-protections, if there’s a defender in the opposite gap and no immediate threat towards where’s supposed to go, Ekiyor still makes sure to provide the help-hand and not allow somebody to just shoot upfield
+ If unassigned with a rusher, his head is on his swivel and his feet keep shuffling, with some violent strikes towards their rib-cage ready to dish out
+ Displays excellent awareness for secondary rushers and picks up wrap-around blitzers really well
+ Was asked to pull on play-action quite a bit, where he could either kick out guys attacking upfield or settle and pick up guys trying to read what’s going on
+ Didn’t allow a single sack of QB hits this past season and just eight hurries across 414 pass-blocking snaps
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– Is a little late to come off combo-blocks at times and watches the backer shoot across his face as he’s still engaged with the down-lineman
– Too often has his head down and can allow defenders to slip off blocks in the run game
– Has that same kind of issue in pass-pro, where he would benefit from just latching his hands and not letting his shoulder shift beyond his toes
– Overly reliant on two-hand strikes, where he kind of gets his feet stuck in the ground and has to revert to recovery mode
– Could still work on the pacing and timing of his hands in that regard generally, to not see them get knocked away as often
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I’ve been a big fan of Ekiyor for a couple of years now. Left tackle Tyler Steen was a steady presence for the Crimson Tide after transferring in last season, but otherwise the right guard position has been by far the most steady for them over that stretch. His natural leverage, power and tenacity as a run-blocker stand out as soon as you put on the tape, and he’s been a highly effective pass-protector. During Senior Bowl week, he got the opportunity to play some center and I thought despite never actually snapping the ball at Alabama, his ability to get that first step onto the ground and square up rushers instantly was very impressive. Plus, the strong base to anchor against bull-rushes was on displays throughout practices. He has two nasty tendencies – not keeping his chin up generally and over-using two-handed punches in pass-pro. If he can iron those out, I think he can be a long-term plus starter probably at any of the three interior spots.
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7. Luke Wypler, Ohio State

6’3”, 300 pounds; RS SO
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Just outside the top-100 overall recruits in 2020, Wypler played in just one game as a true freshman and ended up taking a redshirt. However, he already earned the starting gig at center the following spring and started all 26 contests over these last two seasons. Having two fellow top-100 overall prospects at the pivot in his own conference “only” allowed him to earn third-team All-Big Ten accolades in 2022.
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+ Just a redshirt sophomore, who showed he can be a quick learned – in his first season as a starter in 2021 he already earned 79.6 overall grade by PFF, and this past season he improved that to 82.4 – tied for the fourth-best mark among all centers
+ Keeps riding defenders down the line in the zone run game, to create that lateral flow
+ Particularly on wide concepts, he really shoots out of his stance and shows the agility to scoop up 2/2i-techniques, almost pushing off his guards, to get them to climb off those combos
+ Shows the reactionary skills to go from having his shoulders turned play-side to peeling back if a linebacker tries to shoot the gap behind him
+ Has an innate feel the short-area agility to come off combos right on time, to secure the backer
+ If he can, as B-gap defenders try to stay square of peak inside a little, Wypler will deliver a solid bump to get them turned, without getting off track for his man
+ Works up to the second level in controlled fashion and covers up bodies well, while having the quick burst to get to his landmarks as he directly climbs up to MIKE backers straight across from him
+ Was tasked with plenty of long pulls and had some impressive moments beating linebackers to the spot on toss plays
+ Generally his loose hips allow him to pin defenders inside who try to go underneath of blocks or just if he has to peel back on guys in pursuit
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+ Does well to latch his hands inside the chest of interior rushers with his elbows in, to control reps, and plays with good flexion in his joints to provide the anchor
+ Showcases impressive lateral agility to mirror active defenders across from him
+ Yet if they do give a little shake off the line or try to take those wider paths, he’s consistently able to get his hands onto the near shoulder-pad and ride them past the quarterback
+ Gains the appropriate depth when unoccupied, in order to help out his guards
+ Lifts up at the side of rushers over the guys next to him and completely negates their impact for the most part
+ Showcases advanced awareness for games up front and times it well when to come off and slide in front of loopers
+ Very patient at picking up second-level rushers and delayed blitzes, while consistently being able to square them up, and if they peel off, Wypler still makes sure to find work
+ Just has that knack for where the weaknesses of protections may be and where pressures may occur, to make sure his guy back there stays clean, which made him a crucial piece for maybe the most explosive passing attack in college football over the last two years
+ Was responsible for only eight pressures each (one combined sack) of the last two years on 516 and 449 pass-blocking snaps respectively as a redshirt freshman and sophomore
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– Likely profiles as a center-only in the NFL and primarily in a zone-based rushing attack
– Wypler isn’t somebody with a ton of upper-body strength to just torque bodies in the run game, and he only has 31 and 5/8-inch arms
– When blocking down, to enable his guard to pull for example, at best you typically get a stalemate at that spot and mostly Wypler has to give up some ground
– You have to question his ability to anchor consistently against powerful interior rushers when left on an island, as you already see guys walk him back at times when selling out for the bull
– Michigan’s Mazi Smith gave him some real issues with getting over the top of zone-blocks and thew his to the side with push-pull maneuvers
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Wypler is an impressive young athlete, who already plays the game at an advanced level mentally in relation to where he is in his developmental process. Like I already mentioned, not leaving him at center in a zone-heavy system would be a disservice to him, as he lacks the play strength and length to dig or twist nose-tackles out of their gap. I am a bit worried about leaving him one-on-one against powerful interior pass-rushers, because I’ve seen him getting ridden backwards at times, but the ability to mirror twitchier types and slide in front of delayed loopers or second-level blitzers is highly impressive and you consistently see him help out in the right places, in order to keep his quarterback clean. If he’s a fit for your offensive scheme, he’s worthy of a mid-day two selection.
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8. Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame

6‘4“, 305 pounds; RS SR
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The rest of the analysis can be found here!

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9. Chandler Zavala, N.C. State

6’5”, 325 pounds; RS SR
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T.-10. Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan

6’3”, 310 pounds; RS SR
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T.-10. Atonio Mafi, UCLA

6’3”, 340 pounds; RS SR
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Unranked due to injury:

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Andrew Vorhees, USC

6’6”, 325 pounds; RS SR
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The next names up:

Alex Forsyth (Oregon), Jon Gaines II (UCLA), Braeden Daniels (Utah), Ricky Stromberg (Arkansas), Nick Broeker (Ole Miss), Juice Scruggs (Penn State), McClendon Curtis (UT-Chattanooga), Jaxson Kirkland (Washington) & Brett Neilon (USC)
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If you enjoyed this breakdown, please consider checking out the original piece and feel free to check out all my other video content here!
Twitter: @ halilsfbtalk Instagram: @ halilsrealfootballtalk
submitted by hallach_halil to NFL_Draft [link] [comments]

2023.03.30 17:30 hallach_halil Halil's top 10 offensive tackles of the 2023 NFL Draft:

Halil's top 10 offensive tackles of the 2023 NFL Draft:
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We’ve arrived at the big-boy portion of our positional draft rankings! After already breaking down the best running backs, linebackers, wide receivers and cornerbacks of this class, we will spend these next two weeks talking about the guys inside the trenches both inside and out for offense and defense – and we are starting with the offensive tackle position!
I believe there are four small-dunk first-round players among this group, who can all be week-one starters, with varying degrees of technical advancement compared to physical upside. After that, there are five names, who I’d have no problem with all going inside the top-75, including a couple of athletic specimen, who aren’t close to the potential of players they can become one day. At number ten, there’s one more highly talented prospect, who may actually go earlier than a few names I have listed above him, based on the ceiling he presents. After that, you’re looking at more so serviceable players, who will largely be backups, along with a couple of underdeveloped kids you may want to take a flyer on day three, if you have the edges of your O-line secured for now.
Just to clarify – North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch will see his name listed among the interior offensive line.
Here’s how I have this group stacked up:
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1. Paris Johnson, Ohio State

6’6”, 315-pounds; RS SO
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The top-rated offensive tackle in the 2020 class, Johnson saw the field for just 22 snaps as a true freshman, before taking over as the full-time starter at right guard in ’21 and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors (13 games). Last year he improved to consensus first-team and second-team All-American this past year, when he moved out to left tackle. His steady presence on C.J. Stroud’s blindside enabled the Buckeyes to finish first (45.7) and second (44.2) respectively in points per game in FBS these past two seasons.
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+ The grip strength, demeanor and leg-drive are all there in the run game and he really works up through contact to create that momentum
+ Out at tackle, he can really widen that edge and cover up guys responsible for contain, routinely allowing backs to stretch out and get out to the corner or cut underneath, At guard, you saw him come in from the side on nose-tackles to push them over into the opposite A-gap, so that guy can’t two-gap
+ Shows the hip mobility to reach-block three-techniques, as well as come off combos late and get a piece of the linebacker, while having some extra room for error if his angles up to the second level aren’t perfect
+ With the way he covers ground on zone concepts, Johnson can execute fold-blocks and make the job easier for the guard inside of him, to just seal the down-lineman
+ Swiftly establishes the inside foot and gets his base turned, in order to force edge defenders to have to go through him on the backside of gap schemes
+ Gets after second-level defenders with tremendous urgency and you actually see him seal off true MIKEs straight over the center at times
+ His dexterity to twist defenders and get his lower body turned simultaneously to open up lanes is highly impressive, You saw that when LBs try to blitz the play-side gap and he pins them away from it, to present a wide hole (B-gap at guard)
+ Displays good awareness for defenses walking down a linebacker late outside him and how that changes responsibilities on run schemes
+ Clearly has that mobility to play in space, with impressive success getting his hands on corners and safeties in the screen game
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+ Johnson features a well-coordinated, patient kick-slide and uses his wingspan well to not present a free B-gap
+ Arms for days at just over 36 inches and edge rushers have to take wider angles consistently, while being able to stab with the inside arm at the near-shoulder to actively elongate those
+ With those long branches and strong upper body to control rushers even if his elbows are outside his frame
+ Smooth lateral mover, to stay in front of inside counters and help out on the interior in a hurry, if his man drops out
+ It also enables him to slide in front of interior linemen in the play-action game and full-line slides before they can even get that first step down regularly
+ When defenders sell out for the bull-rush and create movement, Johnson can increase his step frequency and knee bend to re-anchor effectively
+ No problem at all flipping and riding aggressive upfield rushers towards his own end-zone
+ Shows the ability to recover and still ride loopers off track, as he has to transition on delayed T-E twists
+ Playing at guard, you saw Johnson actively looking for work if he doesn’t have a direct assignment, delivering some significant chips from the side, And that transitioned along with moving out to tackle, where week one against Notre Dame, the next-closest rusher ended up being in the A-gap and he still made sure that guy hit the ground
+ Did allow two sacks last year, but only one other QB hit across 910 pass-blocking snaps since the start of 2021 (26 non-sack pressures)
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– His base can get a little narrow as he churns his legs in the run game and it may lead to him landing on the turf more regularly against pros
– Tends to stop his feet when he throws his hands and heavily relies on the two-handed punch – he will need to adapt more independent hand usage
– His hands overall are pretty high and wide, particularly picking up loopers and blitzers
– There’s room to still get stronger, when it comes to swallowing initial power and snatch guys late, not allowing them to escape as plays are being extended
– Can overstride at times selling play-action and allow his D-end to slip inside of him
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Based on his height and general skill-set, Johnson was a miscast at right guard as a redshirt freshman in 2021, but did show he can excel in the run game right away. Once he moved to his designated position at left tackle this past season, the pass-blocking skills were able to shine as well. He’s one of the smoothest athletes you will find for the position, yet has the strength in his hands to take control in both facets of the game. Where I do believe he needs to improve is not using two-handed punches regularly and his base to anchor against power leaves things to be desired at this point. Considering what an easy mover he is and the length he possesses to counter-act that, those should be fixable areas though. I do believe he’s best suited for a zone-based rushing attack, where his mobility and leg-drive can really shine, rather than just blowing defenders off the ball vertically, but there’s upside to utilize him even more as a puller across the formation or out towards the perimeter. I don’t see Johnson making it out of the top-15.
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2. Broderick Jones, Georgia

6’5″, 315 pounds; JR
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Right outside the top-10 overall recruits in 2020, Jones only started four games over his first two seasons (all at left tackle in 2021). He ook over on the blindside this past season and was absolutely dominant, paving the way for a Georgia offense that averaged 500 yards and 41.1 points per game (fifth nationally), which made it all the way to an undefeated championship season (their second straight title). Jones himself was named first-team All-SEC.
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+ Jones has good girth in all the right areas, without any excess weight in the mid-section
+ Imposing road-grader in the run game, Gets after people whether the score is 0-0 or his team is up by 50
+ This guy regularly tosses the edge defender on the front-side of zone runs out of the way and forces linebackers to fill the B-gap in a hurry
+ Can absolutely blow D-tackles off their landmarks when coming in on an angle on double-teams, particularly in short-yardage and goal-line situations
+ If he gets underneath the arm-pit of linemen, he can wash them down and create significant cutback opportunities, And he has the grip strength to twist defenders out of running lanes, even if he can’t block down on an angle
+ Understands when he has to add a gather-step against wider alignments, to not presents easy opportunities for edge defenders to jump inside of his blocks
+ On combo-blocks his eyes are usually up and he doesn’t struggle to work up to the backer with space, with the force in his hands to shove them to the ground
+ Regularly was utilized as a puller on GT power, where he’s light on his feet as he skips out of his stance but heavy at contact, and has the reactionary agility to adjust on the fly
+ This dude is scary to be in front of on screens and pulling out to the corner, where most defenders try to go low on him, to avoid getting thrown around
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+ Even if his technique isn’t perfect yet, Jones presents the athletic lower half and strong upper body to ride edge rushers off track
+ If defenders go into the chest of him, they quickly realize there’s not much they can do anymore
+ You rarely see guys turn the corner when engaged with Jones, where they try to dip-and-rip, but he still guides them enough off track to not affect the QB
+ He packs a lot of strength in those hands, to widen their arc significantly or push them into the pile, if they try to quickly crash inside
+ Linebackers trying to get around Jones on delayed blitzes seem to have no clue how to actually approach this and are content with just standing there with his arms extended
+ When Jones’ guy slants away from him and he’s unoccupied, he delivers some devastating rib-shots on somebody tangled up with one of his teammates
+ Watching the 2022 season-opener 49-3 destruction of Oregon, the pass-pro reps for Jones was so clean throughout the day and he completely shut guys out trying to work against him
+ Wasn’t responsible for a single sack and just nine other pressures across 470 pass-blocking snaps this past season
+ Ran the best 40 time among all O-linemen in Indy this year at 4.97 and his movement during the on-field drills was well-coordinated
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– His feet can get a little heavy late and defenders are able to work off his blocks, where you’d want more flexion in the lower rather than upper half, and that’s in part due to imperfect hand-placement
– Too often in 2022, you’d see Jones drop his eyes when initiating contact in both facets of the game, and defenders being able to pull him off
– Makes himself vulnerable to inside counters on a regularly basis, when he should keep his shoulders and hips squared, but instead opens up to the edge rusher, who doesn’t even have the angle to beat him around the corner
– When he did face a legit speed-rusher in LSU’s B.J. Ojulari, you saw him punch with the outside hand and had that left foot in the air as well, creating a soft shoulder to get past
– Has to do a better job of coming to balance at times when working up the field in the screen game, as guys have the ability to side-step him
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This is still clearly an ascending tackle prospect, who won’t turn 22 years old until after the draft and only logged 19 career starts at the Bulldogs. However, his natural talent stood out right away and he was already one of the premiere players at his position in his first season as a full-time starters, despite facing a loaded slate of SEC edge defenders. Now, some of those guys were actually the ones who gave him trouble, because they could threaten the edges of his frame off the snap and were more technically advanced, but there’s no reason to believe he won’t be able to get to that level sooner rather than later, with the natural power he possesses and the awareness he showed as a young player already. I want to see him eliminate this nasty little habit of not keeping his chin up, but in terms of brute force in the run game and ability to snatch up pass-rushers, he has a chance to turn into the most complete guy of the bunch.
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3. Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

6’4”, 300 pounds; JR
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Slightly outside the top-100 overall recruits in 2020, Skoronski stepped in at left tackle as a true freshman and was named to the All-Freshman team, when Rashawn Slater decided to sit out the season due to COVID concerns. Then he improved to a first-team All-Big Ten performer in 2021, which he repeated this past season, along with being a unanimous first-team All-American. His grandfather Bob Skoronski was a starter and team captain for all five of Vince Lombardi’s championship teams.
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+ The best compliment I can give Skoronski is that his tape can be almost boring at times, because every rep is clean and there’s not much to note
+ His aiming points and angles are excellent for such a young player
+ Operates from a wide base and with good leg-drive, while lifting up through contact with his elbows in tight
+ Does well to establish positioning with the inside foot sealing edge defenders on the backside of run concepts
+ Gets underneath the arm pit of D-tackles on angular blocks and rides them down the line
+ Brings plus grip strength and ability to twist bodies to expand running lanes, along with the dexterity to keep his hands latched as defenders try to slip or turn away from contact
+ Consistently works with square shoulders and stays tight to his teammate on vertical combos, to maximize force and not allow defenders to split those
+ Patient and under control working up to the second level, being able to get under the chest with great consistency
+ Also getting out to the corner on fly sweeps or those completely horizontal handoffs, he rarely overruns targets, just blindly hustling out there
+ Somehow people are inferring that Skoronski isn’t a great athlete, when he tested in the 70th percentile or better among all combine events other than the three-cone and his jumps were 96th and 97th percentile respectively
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+ Already a very sound and comfortable pass-protector, who consistently is first off the ball, gets to his landmarks and doesn’t throw his technique out of the window
+ Shows an understanding for the depth of the pocket and how to manipulate rush angles, along with the easy lateral movement to mirror guys across multiple moves
+ Adjusts the length of his initial dependent on where combat will occur and is able beat wide-nine alignments to the spot
+ His hands are so consistent with landing inside the frame of rushers and controlling reps, because they typically stay attached throughout
+ Varies his approach and excels at using his arms in independent fashion, whether he’s trying to widen guys with the inside hand or wants to take charge off them on power rushes
+ Rarely does his weight shift too far to the outside foot and he’s ready to negate angles as guys are trying to slice through the inside shoulder
+ Extends his inside arm when deciphering through the pressure and is ready to redirect towards guys slanting to the B-gap if there’s no threat off the edge
+ His feel for shuffling along and how to pick up loopers with the two-handed strike, to guide their path is impressive for a young player
+ Allowed just two sacks on nearly 700 snaps as a true freshman and did the same in ’21 on over 800, along with 18 additional pressures, However he quietly just had his best season in that regard (one sack, two QB hits and three hurries)
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– The big hold-up with Skoronski of course is only having 32 and ¼-inch arms, while I also believe he played below 310-pound mark
– You see edge rushers really create problems for him with long-arm maneuvers, where he can’t place his hands or has the kind of super-strong base to just swallow those
– It can also show up in the run ground where guys can just out-reach him and therefore pull him off when leaning into contact
– Doesn’t create a whole lot of knock-back at first contact with his strike generally and you rarely see him take linebackers for a ride, the way you’d like to
– While I love with how much control he plays, at times I’d appreciate a little more urgency to just negate space in the first instance rather than trying to establish position
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At the risk of sounding like a cop-out, it’s pretty easy to find a comparison in terms of player profile for Skoronski, if we just go to the guy he replaced at Northwestern, in Rashawn Slater. I do believe the now-Pro Bowler was a greater athlete, particularly with some of the insane stuff he did in the weightroom, to balance out length concern. However, Skoronski is clearly the most technically advanced tackle in the 2023 class. The way he fits his hands and is able to transfer force from the ground up in the run game, along with reading rushers and using different combat-maneuvers to counter them, are tremendous. There’s not much to criticize on tape, but you just wonder how high his ceiling may be, due to always having a disadvantage in that one area. Ultimately, I believe a team will start him out at tackle and he will play it at a pretty high level, but he transitions inside a couple of years into his pro career. Having him down at number three almost feels wrong, but it only speaks to the strength of the top of this class, as Skoronski will be a top-15 overall prospect for me.
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4. Darnell Wright, Tennessee

6’6”, 335 pounds; SR
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The number two offensive tackle recruit in 2019 behind only Alabama standout and now-Giant Evan Neal, Wright started seven of eleven games as a true freshman (five at right tackle, two at right guard) and then nine of ten available for in year two (all at RT). In 2021 he started all 13 games at left tackle and helped the Tennessee offense score a team-record 511 points, before moving back to the right side this past season, when the Vols immediately broke that record (599) and Dwight was recognized individually as a first-team All-SEC performer.
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+ When you look at this guy, everything you see screams “power” at you
+ Shows a natural ability to sink his hips and work up through contact, to create movement on angular blocks
+ You’re just not going to rock this guy’s pads backwards or squeeze him down on backside seal-blocks
+ Has the explosiveness out of his stance to work cross-/fold-blocks and skip pulls in the run game
+ For a man his size, the agility in short areas and flexibility in his lower half to reach-block edge defenders on fly sweeps is pretty impressive
+ Just engulfs smaller bodies stepping down or replacing edge defenders, when he comes across the line on kick-outs
+ Really strong with that inside arm, to extend and create that little bit of extra movement, while riding bodies on the interior into the trash when given the opportunity
+ Can create some significant momentum on B-gap defenders as the angular element to combo blocks by accelerating his feet through the target
+ Showcases the dexterity to keep his hands in place with the hips of the man he’s responsible for, as they’re trying to slice past, and he rides them off their landmarks
+ Doesn’t look uncomfortable getting out in space and has the natural power to put defenders on the ground by just getting a hand on them
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+ His feet are quick enough to match legit speed off the edge and then sit down to not allow himself to be ridden into the quarterback’s space at the top of the arc
+ Shows good awareness for that platform of the guy padding the ball back there and when to flip with the rusher, to ride him past that point
+ His base is so strong, that even when rushers seem to set up speed-to-power well, Wright can stymie their charge and force them to look for different strategies
+ Can work in some independent hand usage to keep rushers in line with his frame, along with really snatching cloth and dropping his hips, in order to take control of reps
+ Displays impressive body-control, to quickly puts his outside foot back down and mirror inside moves, even by twitchy guys at nearly 100 pounds less
+ Once rushers get off balance, he can quickly put them on the ground and exploits of the opportunity to jump on top of them
+ Extremely battle-tested against a collection of impressive SEC edge rushers and more than held his own – Allowed just one hurry all day against Alabama in 2022, largely going up against a lock for the top-five in Will Anderson, who simply couldn’t work his typical speed-to-power against him
+ Didn’t give up a single sack and just eight total pressures across 507 pass-blocking snaps this past season
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– Carries a little excess weight in the mid-section I’d say and he’s not quite up to par with the top-three guys in terms of foot quickness
– Doesn’t consistently play up to his size and brings the aggression to create displacement in the run game, while other times he gets his weight shifted too far out in front as he really goes for it (partially due to the type of offense the Volunteers ran)
– Gets too far over his skis at times and ends up stumbling forward when he can’t connect with his hands as D-linemen reduce their surface area
– While you like the mobility to get to the second level, he doesn’t break down and secure blocks consistently enough to take care of his assignments
– Regularly late off the snap and has a certain up-kick to his pass-sets, which didn’t become as much of a problems with less than a quarter of his work being labelled as “true pass-sets” by PFF (tons of RPOs, screens, etc.)
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I’ve been a fan of Wright for a while now and he’s been ascending his draft stock throughout this process. He came in at a massive 342 pounds for Senior Bowl week, yet he showcased impressive movement skills, effortlessly mirroring a couple of spin moves, along with taking the fight to more power-based string, showcasing his strong upper half. Then he moved around extremely well during the on-field drills at the combine and you heard those bags pop when he landed his punches in pass-pro. This guy has 2746 career snaps with full years starting at both left and right tackle, put together an incredible track record against a murderous row of SEC edge defenders. So I have no doubt that he should and will go in the first round. I’d like to see him enforce his power on a more consistent basis and there’s a little bit of a tweak that he has to work on his kick-slide, but I don’t think there’s much of a gap between him and what is generally accepted as the “big three” at offensive tackle.
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5. Dawand Jones, Ohio State

6’6”, 350 pounds; SR
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Just outside the top-1000 overall recruits in 2019, Jones appeared in nine games as a true freshman and then in six of eight contests in the COVID-shortened following campaign, including his first start, In 2021, he started all 13 games and was a second-team All-Big Ten selection for the Buckeyes, which he repeated this past season, Then last year he was a second-team All-American, as a mainstay on that right edge
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+ Massive upper half and can knock defenders off balance when he just lands those hands in the run game, And with the long arms he can deliver that last push to get the man further off track to create room late
+ I thought overall Jones’ urgency off the snap and willingness to impose himself physically was a lot better in 2022
+ You see him dish out some literal two-handed shoves to blow the front-side wide open
+ When he grabs the shoulder-plate and extends though, you see put guys flat on their backs at times, especially linebackers mugged up in the gap
+ If D-ends try to crash across him face on the backside of zone runs, he will wash them way down the line and optically show the ball-carrier to cut back behind him
+ Because of how massive he is, when he tries to reach-block guys on the edge, they often try to peak around and get off balance, to where he can ride them along and allow the back to stay behind his block
+ Yet, if he’s tasked with simply sealing the back-side, extending that outside arm in the chest of edge guys and bringing the opposite hip-around is very effective
+ When he arrives at the party, with no direct assignment, he can help move the significantly and allow the ball-carrier to hide behind that wall or push through it
+ Some of his tape is just hilarious to watch, when he puts guys on the ground seemingly without breaking a sweat
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+ Offers a quick jump out of his stance to cut off the angle for edge rushers, has his hands ready at his mid-section and is patient with his punch
+ The way he snatches and traps guys when they do get closer to his body makes him basically negate guys completely
+ His insane 7’6” wingspan allows him to constantly put a hand on defenders before those guys could even get to his frame, and it gives him a ton of room for error in his technique
+ If guys try to loop wide around him and don’t actively try to find an angle, he’s fine sitting back and waiting there, but if he does go for it, those long arms can really stymie rushers in their approach
+ Even if the outside hand is swatted away, he can push guys further off track by still reaching them with the other arm
+ When he does overset and rushers create that lane to the quarterback seemingly going underneath, Jones is typically able to ride those guys across the QB’s face, to leave him unaffected
+ Buries guys underneath himself with regularity, if they shift their momentum too far out in front
+ After surrendering three sacks and eight other pressures in 2021, Jones didn’t even allow his quarterback to be hit once due to him last year and only hurried five times
+ PFF awarded him with their highest pass-blocking efficiency of any draft-eligible tackle at 99.4 last season
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– You see Jones just throw his hands and not move his lower body at times, when he can’t get his body positioned accordingly throughout run plays
– Appears disoriented when his initial assignment is changed post-snap and he has to come up solutions on the fly in that regard
– The way he puts his hands on the face-mask of defenders and some of the pull-downs will be flagged more regularly at the pro level
– Short-setting guys and forcing them to go way around him, because of his size and length, was an effective strategy at the college level, but that won’t fly in the NFL
– At this point, Jones does get by with his massive frame and length along with natural strength, which won’t be as prevalent going against pro players, who will force him to get on their level technically
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Jones only took part in the first practice at the Senior Bowl, but he just stood out from the moment he stepped on the field with his giganteous size and unheard of wingspan. Edge defenders quickly realized that they weren’t going to get through his chest, but the one rep that really stood out to me came during individual run-blocking, where he was supposed to reach-block his man but didn’t gain enough ground laterally with that first step, yet he was able to create so much torque on the far-shoulder of his man, that he ended up turning and pinning that guy inside anyway. That’s what you’re dealing with here – an absolute mountain of a man, whose strength and length give him a lot of room for error and when he puts it altogether, he can dominate people. Now, while he has definitely shown technical development, he does heavily rely on his natural gifts and will have to overhaul his pass-sets in order to actually cut off angles for more talented and crafty NFL rushers than he’s faced so far. However, he has things you can’t teach and the potential(!) to become a more athletic version of Orlando Brown down the road.
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6. Anton Harrison, Oklahoma

6’4″, 310 pounds; JR
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A four-star recruit in 2020, Harrison already logged over 1000 snaps at left tackle through his first two seasons with the Sooners. As a junior, he started all but on one of 12 regular season game on the blindside yet again (one at right tackle and opted out of the Cheez-It Bowl) and received more recognition on a national scale, when he was named a first-team All-Big 12 performer.
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+ Presents an athletic frame with minimal excess weight and long arms (34 and ¼)
+ Can create some knock-back as he lands his hands inside the frame of defenders, shoving linebackers off track regularly
+ Last season I thought he was more assertive near the point of attack, to drive-block edge defenders or block down on three-techniques and get guys off their landmarks
+ You see him lift stand up D-tackles in order for fellow linemen wrap around behind him regularly
+ On the backside of wide zone runs, if linebackers try to shoot the B-gaps Harrison hits and rides them way down the line, to open up massive cutback lanes behind him
+ When guys try to dip underneath him or get around blocks, Harrison typically rides them towards his own end-zone to blow the front-side open
+ Has the quick burst to help secure the down-linemen on combo blocks and then deliver some force to open up a lane inside of them as somebody from the second level behind it steps down
+ Bends off the inside foot and uncoils force through defenders in the hole wrapping around on powecounter schemes
+ Frequently is able to face-plant defenders as he catches them off balance, with one foot off the ground, with the triceps strength to extend and push them down
+ Makes the job of his teammates a lot easier, when he’s passing off down-linemen on front-side combos by extending with the inside arm and allowing the guy next to him to bring his base and secure the block
+ Rarely overruns his targets in space and forces guys to work around him consistently, being able to put his hands on third-level defenders in the screen game
+ His 4.98 in the 40 was tied for the second-best mark among all offensive linemen at the combine
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+ There’s good rhythm and a certain calmness in his kick-slide, with the light feet to guide edge defenders around the loop
+ Times up his strike as rushers try to throw their hands, frequently hitting them as they’re off balance and taking them to the ground every once in a while
+ His initial hand-placement may not be great always and he gets caught with his elbow out wide, but he does work to re-fit them and finds way to gain control
+ And he finds ways to maximize his length to out-reach his man
+ Can really snatch rushers as he grabs cloth of guys trying to work through him, without giving them a lane to escape
+ Plays under good control generally and doesn’t overreact to defensive movement, picking up games and mirroring guys with space to work
+ Smoothly transitions from the slanting linemen to the looper on E-T twists
+ Has some impressive recovery moments on tape, where rushers have him on skates and he’s somehow able to drop his anchor due to his high-level balance
+ Allowed just one sack and eight hurries (no QB hits) across 447 pass-blocking snaps in '22
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– Can’t reduce his height very well and you can see them roll his weight over his shoulders at times trying to establish contact with smaller linebackers
– Doesn’t set the tone in the run game like you’d want to see for that size, having to become more effective with his hand-placement and re-work the way he transitions force from the ground up
– You see some of that as well in the pass game, when his chest folds forward instead of working with sink in his hips and then he kind of tries to chase after guys up the arc, where if timed correctly can leave the inside lane to the QB completely free
– Carries his hands fairly low and comes in wide with the punch, to where guys who sell out on attacking his chest can take him for a ride a few times, as he doesn’t seem ready to land his hands – You see that at times when he’s not ready for somebody coming his way on twists
– There’s a few reps, where he tries to ride edge rushers up the field, but he doesn’t maintain contact and that guy is able to slip underneath him
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It’s never easy projecting tackles in particular going from offensive systems that relied heavily on a few run concepts, off which they build their RPO game and offer limited reps for pass-protectors to prove themselves. The areas of weakness in Harrison’s game right now are pretty clear – he struggles to bend at the knees and maximizing his power in the run game, while his hands and feet aren’t married regularly enough in pass-pro. On the Brightside, he does bring plenty of shock in his hands and well-coordinated movement to work to the second level, while being light on his feet to deal with speed off the edge and being able to clamp down on guys once he takes control of reps. There is a fairly steep learning curve in front of him, but he has all the physical tools and the mindset to become a plus starter on the blindside, which is why he regularly finds his name late in first-round mock drafts.
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7. Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse

6’5”, 320 pounds; RS JR
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Just inside the top-1000 overall recruits in 2019, Bergeron played in 12 and started five game as a true freshman. Other than missing two games this past season, he started all of the other 34 games, with all but three of those at left tackle. He earned honorable mention and then second-team All-ACC accolades most recently, whilst being a team captain in 2022.
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+ Nice girth throughout his frame and effectively rolls his hips through contact to create movement in the run game
+ Even with sub-optimal hand-placement, he can widen the edge pretty consistently on the front-side of zone concepts
+ Shows a strong grip with the inside hand, which doesn’t allow edge defenders to back-door or slip his blocks typically
+ When having to block down on three-techniques who aggressively try to get through his gap, Bergerson does well to get his hand on the defenders’ hip and use that momentum against that guy
+ Does well to on hinge-blocks and just get the job done when tasked with sealing guys on the backside of concepts
+ In formations with a tight-end next to him, where the C-gap was uncovered, Bergeron effectively was able to able to pick up and ride smaller bodies at the edge of the box out of the picture
+ You really like what he presents blocking on the move, sweeping around the edge and taking linebackers for a ride or blowing DBs trying to set the edge out of the picture
+ Was utilized on some skip-pulls, where he would wrap around on GT power plays and looked pretty light on his feet to get to his landmarks
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+ Shows a real plan in his approach as a pass-protector, changing up between quick sets, jumping out of his stance aggressively versus speed-based rushers, etc.
+ Covers a ton of ground in his kick-sets in order to counter true speed-balls off the edge
+ Carries his hands at his hips and is ready to punch and counter the movement of rushers
+ Will land some surprise stabs quickly at the chest of rushers, to throw off the timing of the moves they want to set up
+ Displays the body-control to re-anchor even when it looks like power rushers are under control of reps
+ Transitions well on twists by the D-line, whether it’s the strong base to absorb force by the initial slanter or the lateral agility to slide in front of the secondary looper
+ Quickly redirects from the initial kick to a lateral shuffle in order to help out or take over stunting interior defenders, if his man on the edge peels off
+ Generally can use the momentum of defender to guide them away from the quarterback
+ Takes advantages of chances to pull off-balance rushers to the ground and pins them down there
+ While he was officially charged for five sacks by PFF last season, in terms of total pressures he was at 12 compared to 11 the year prior, with 770 combined pass-blocking snaps
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– His hands regularly start off high and wide already and he minimizes the force he can apply in the run game, as well as make him vulnerable to get flagged, because the refs can see everything
– Pro Football Focus only credited his with 33 positively graded run plays last season, which I wouldn’t judge as such (in terms of a net plus), but in terms of having his hands latched onto the aiming points, that number is probably about right
– Tends to pick up his inside foot too much, as he’s trying to gain ground vertically in his pass-sets and becomes vulnerable against guys with a great long-arm – Clemson’s Myles Murphy was in control of that matchup for most of the day, even if Myles didn’t get to finish many plays
– Edge rushers frequently are the ones to get their arms inside and Bergeron ends up with his elbows out wide, which limits his ability to slow down power
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Bergeron has nearly put together the exact same resume during his pre-draft process as Tennessee’s Darnell Wright. Throughout Senior Bowl week, I thought his movement skills in pass-protection were highly impressive, not allowing guys to gain an angle on the quarterback, as well as being able to mirror and shut down some challenging counter moves. And while he didn’t test at the combine, he had a tremendous on-field workout. He looked so light-footed, changed directions and reacted to the coaches’ indications without any issues. His hand-placement in both facets of the game drove me wild at times on tape, but that area already looked improved down in Mobile and I also understand that he will receive the type of coaching to see major benefits. How well he carries 320 pounds, being able to cover ground vertically and horizontal in protection, is rare – and he doesn’t even yet take great advantage of his play-strength all the time. I would not be shocked if he ends up being one of the last few picks of the first round and he’s probably a top-50 lock.
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8. Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland

6’6”, 320 pounds, RS SR
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The rest of the analysis can be found here!

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9. Tyler Steen, Alabama

6’5”, 315 pounds; RS SR
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10. Blake Freeland, BYU

6’8″, 305 pounds; RS JR
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The next names up:

Jordan McFadden (Clemson) Wanya Morris (Oklahoma), Ryan Hayes (Michigan), Richard Gouraige (Florida), Warren McClendon Jr. (Georgia), Asim Richards (North Carolina) & Carter Warren (Pittsburgh)
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If you enjoyed this breakdown, please consider checking out the original piece and feel free to check out all my other video content here!
Twitter: @ halilsfbtalk Instagram: @ halilsrealfootballtalk
submitted by hallach_halil to NFL_Draft [link] [comments]

2023.03.18 03:12 biggieavocado031 "biggieavocado's" mock draft 5.0

Hey, so I’m back with my 5th mock draft and the 1st week of free agency has come and gone. Recently, we made good moves to retain Donald Parham Jr., J.K. Scott, and Morgan Fox, all of which are great moves.
We did lose Tranquill to the Chiefs(such a betrayel), although I think the Chargers did their best to keep him before signing Kendricks. And the news of Austin Ekeler’s trade request surprised and disappointed many, but I believe we should respect whatever decision Ekeler takes.
This mock draft is meant to show a post-Ekeler trade situation where we trade him to CHICAGO BEARS for the 64th pick. I think the Bears have more to gain from this trade, since it’ll provide Justin Fields with a very good pass-catching RB who makes a lot of TDs. Let me know what y’all think of this
1st round, 21st pick - Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Many people think Robinson will be picked higher than 21st, and its understandable since he’s a generational prospect. That being said, things have changed and RBs are less valued these days, so Robinson could still fall to us. In fact, Robinson is still mocked to be around the 20-25th picks. Throughout his career, Robinson has strung together great single-game performances and seasons, being named an All-American and winning the 2022 Doak Walker Award. He is lethal in not just the running game, as well as the passing game, making him the perfect replacement for Ekeler. Even if he’s not the starter and Ekeler stays(or we sign another starting RB), Chargers could end up with a deadlier run game than the 2022 Browns. And overall, it helps take pressure off Justin Herbert.
2nd round, 53rd pick - Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
Adebawore is already my favorite pick in the 2nd round, and for many good reasons. Dude is a very versatile player who’s played on the edge and the inside of the defensive line. Yes, he’s gonna play a similar role to Morgan Fox, and he’s likely to be better utilized on the inside, since interior penetration quickness is his strength. But he's also good enough to play in the EDGE, since his speed and block deconstruction is great. He’s got good athleticism, football IQ, and character. On top of that, he’s put together a very impressive combine which helped him jump up the draft rankings. Chargers still can pick him up and add more depth to the defensive line.
3rd round, 64th pick - Tank Dell, WR, Houston
Chargers will likely add more speed through means of FA, but they could still pick up a WR in the third round. Many would at first be turned off by Tank Dell, simply because he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash. But those who only pay attention to that don’t see the full picture with him. Tank Dell still performed really well in his WR drills at the combine, and one look at his highlights, and he starts to make more sense for the Chargers. He profiles as an explosive playmaking receiver prospect that can be used as a versatile offensive weapon, a vertical big-play threat, and also has value as a special teams returner. Dell provides a Herbert with speed weapon that will benefit him. He could soon rise up the ranks and potentially replace Keenan Allen if he gets cut/traded.
3rd round, 85th pick - Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
Dorian Williams has been a LB I’ve been paying attention to since the combine. He’s started to climb up the draft ranks, and thats due to what he can bring to the table for the Chargers. Williams has the movement skills necessary to drop in coverage and pursue the football to the sidelines, which is why he’s lined up as an outside linebacker. This season alone, he’s only allowed 161 yards when targeted, which is very low in his conference. He’s also an impact special teamer and a highly-respected leader for the Green Waves. However, he’s gonna need to work on his block deconstruction if he’s gonna become an effective starter at MIKE linebacker.
4th round, 122nd pick - Zach Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion
Because we were able to resign Donald Parham, the TE room looks a lot better with the only downside being….Tre McKitty. Obviously, I do think McKitty will get better, but if not, Zack Kuntz could be the TE3 we all need. Kuntz is big tight-end like Parham who can tower over opposing defenders and become a mismatch nightmare. He’s an advanced pass-catcher who’s good at running routes, and he does it with lateral quickness and speed. He definitely should improve his ability of blocking in the run game if he plans to become a long time starter, but overall he’ll make a good depth TE.
5th round, 158rd pick - Warren McClendon, OT, Georgia
Warren McClendon plays with consistent effort and toughness to play as swing tackle, although he’s fairly limited due to his size. With that being said, he’s a capable backup for any position on the offensive line, and he’s good in both pass protection and the run game. The downsides are thatMcClendon has reps where he is too aggressive and it leads to poor technique/blocking mechanics, and there were far too many two-handed-punch sets on tape. He’s definitely gonna have more work to do, but if he succeeds, he may end up, becoming a successful backup tackle who may later on become a starter for the Chargers. Want more proof? Look at Jamaree Salyer and Staley’s affinity for the Georgia Bulldogs.
6th round, 199th pick - Juice Scruggs, C/G, Penn State
Having the entire offensive line together for the next 3-4 years is mind-blowing and is a crowning achievement for Tom Telesco this year. With that being said, it’s still important to bulk up the depth behind the starters, hence why I chose McClendon before. I doubled down on OL depth again with Juice Scruggs, since he has experience at both left guard, right guard and center positions. Scruggs has above average play strength. He did a great job anchoring down again bullrushes and he handles stunts and twists with ease. In the run game, Scruggs flashed solid grip strength and when his hand placement was tight, he was able to finish defenders. He needs more work with hand placement and he needs to improve his foot quickness, but he looked really good at the Shrine Bowl. Therefore, I think his versatility as a backup will benefit the Chargers.
7th round, 241st pick - Jay Ward, DB, LSU
Jay Ward, a former cornerback turned safety for LSU, is a high-motor player and team leader known for making full-speed collisions with ball carriers and shedding blockers to dispute quick plays like screens. He is instinctive in zone pass coverage and has good range, and is technically sound in man-to-man situations. However, concerns arise due to his lean frame and injury history related to high-impact collisions. To sustain his career, Ward may need to adjust his tackling technique to be less violent and put him in a situation where he can be successful. Slot cornerback could be the optimal position for Jay Ward, since majority of the snaps he played in the slot, and thats where he generated takeovers during his collegiate career. He might not become a starting slot corner over ASJ, but he’ll be a versatile depth DB for the Chargers.
What do you all think? (P.S. I used PFF draft simulator)
submitted by biggieavocado031 to Chargers [link] [comments]

2022.12.16 16:05 JVM23 2023 Oscar predictions - December update

Now we have the MC scores for all movies and noms for the GGs and CCAs and a handful of Critics Awards.
​
Best Picture
Avatar: The Way of Water (20th Century)
The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
Elvis (Warner Bros)
Everything Everywhere All At Once (A24)
The Fabelmans (Universal)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)
RRR (Variance Films)
TAR (Focus)
Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount)
Women Talking (Orion/UAR)
ALT: Aftersun (A24)
​
Best Director
Martin McDonagh - The Banshees of Inisherin
The Daniels - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Steven Spielberg - The Fabelmans
S. S. Rajamouli - RRR
Todd Field - TAR
ALT: James Cameron - Avatar: The Way of Water
​
Best Actor
Austin Butler - Elvis
Colin Farrell - The Banshees of Inisherin
Brendan Fraser - The Whale
Paul Mescal - Aftersun
Bill Nighy - Living
ALT: Tom Cruise - Top Gun: Maverick
​
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett - TAR
Viola Davis - The Woman Queen
Danielle Deadwyler - Till
Michelle Williams - The Fabelmans
Michelle Yeoh - Everything Everywhere All At Once
ALT: Margot Robbie - Babylon
​
Best Supporting Actor
Paul Dano/Judd Hirsch - The Fabelmans
Brendan Gleason - The Banshees of Inisherin
Brian Tyree Henry - Causeway
Barry Keoghan - The Banshees of Inisherin
Ke Huy Quan - Everything Everywhere All At Once
ALT: Ben Whishaw - Women Talking
​
Best Supporting Actress
Angela Bassett - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Jessie Buckley - Women Talking
Kerry Condon - The Banshees of Inisherin
Jamie Lee Curtis - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Stephanie Hsu - Everything Everywhere All At Once
ALT: Janelle Monae - Glass Onion
​
Best Original Screenplay
Charlotte Wells - Aftersun
Martin McDonagh - The Banshees of Inisherin
The Daniels - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Tony Kushner and Steven Spielberg - The Fabelmans
Todd Field - TAR
ALT: V. Vijayendra Prasad and S. S. Rajamouli - RRR
​
Best Adapted Screenplay
Rian Johnson - Glass Onion
Guillermo del Toro and Patrick McHale - Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Kazuo Ishiguro – Living
Rebecca Lenkiewicz – She Said
Sarah Polley - Women Talking
​
Best Animated Feature
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, Netflix)
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (Dean Fleischer-Camp, A24)
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Joel Crawford, Universal/Dreamworks)
Turning Red (Domee Shi, Disney/Pixar)
Wendell and Wild (Henry Selick, Netflix)
ALT: Inu-Oh (Masaaki Yuasa, GKIDS)
​
Best Foreign Language Film
All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany, Netflix)
Argentina 1985 (Argentina, Amazon)
Close (Belgium, A24)
Decision to Leave (South Korea, MUBI)
EO (Poland, Janus Films)
ALT: Saint Omer (France, Super LTD)
​
Best Documentary Feature
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Laura Poitras, NEON)
All That Breathes (Sunak Sen, HBO Documentary Films)
Descendant (Margaret Brown, Netflix)
Fire of Love (Sara Dosa, National Geographic Films/NEON)
Good Night Oppy (Ryan White, Amazon)
ALT: Moonage Daydream (Brett Morgen, NEON/Universal)
​
Best Original Score
Justin Hurwitz - Babylon
John Williams - The Fabelmans
Alexandre Desplat - Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
M. M. Keeravani - RRR
Hildur Guðnadóttir - Women Talking
ALT: Carter Burwell - The Banshees of Inisherin
​
Best Editing
Tom Cross – Babylon
Paul Rogers - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Jonathan Redmond and Matt Villa - Elvis
Eddie Hamilton – Top Gun: Maverick
Monika Willi - TAR
ALT: Sarah Broshar and Michael Kahn - The Fabelmans
Wildcard: Blair McClendon - Aftersun
​
Best Cinematography
Linus Sandgren - Babylon
Roger Deakins - Empire of Light
Janusz Kaminski - The Fabelmans
Florian Hoffmeister - TAR
Claudio Miranda - Top Gun: Maverick
ALT: Hoyte van Hoytema - Nope
​
Best Production Design
Avatar: The Way of Water
Babylon
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Elvis
Glass Onion
ALT: The Fabelmans
​
Best Costume Design
Babylon
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Woman King
ALT: Glass Onion
​
Best Sound
Avatar: The Way of Water
Babylon
Elvis
TAR
Top Gun: Maverick
ALT: Nope
​
Best Visual Effects
Avatar: The Way of Water
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Everything Everywhere All at Once
RRR
Top Gun: Maverick
ALT: Nope
​
Best Makeup and Hair
Babylon
The Batman
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Elvis
The Whale
ALT: Everything Everywhere All at Once
​
Best Original Song
Carolina - Where the Crawdads Sing
Ciao Papa - Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Hold My Hand - Top Gun: Maverick
Lift Me Up - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Naatu Naatu - RRR
​
Boring and derivative these guesses? Yes. But that's the price you pay for hoping that AMPAS will do anything original or out of nowhere.
submitted by JVM23 to oscarrace [link] [comments]

2022.11.27 20:26 JVM23 2023 BAFTA predictions - End of the month update

Best Film
Aftersun (MUBI)
Alcarras (MUBI)
All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix)
Avatar: The Way of the Water (20th Century)
Babylon (Paramount)
The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney/Marvel)
Blue Jean (Altitude)
Bones & All (Warner Bros)
Close (MUBI)
Corsage (Picturehouse)
Decision to Leave (MUBI)
Elvis (Warner Bros)
Emily (Warner Bros)
EO (BFI)
Everything Everywhere All At Once (A24/Amazon)
The Fabelmans (eOne)
Flux Gourmet (Curzon)
Glass Onion (Netflix)
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (Netflix)
Hit the Road (Picturehouse)
Holy Spider (MUBI)
Living (Lionsgate)
No Bears (Picturehouse)
The Quiet Girl (Curzon)
RRR (Netflix)
Saint Omer (Picturehouse)
She Said (Universal)
Till (Universal)
TAR (Universal)
Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount)
Triangle of Sadness (Curzon)
The Whale (A24)
White Noise (Netflix)
Winners (TBA)
The Woman King (eOne)
Women Talking (Universal)
The Wonder (Netflix)
​
Outstanding British Film
Aftersun (MUBI)
All That Breathes (Dogwoof)
The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
Blue Jean (Altitude)
Brian and Charles (Universal)
Downton Abbey: A New Era (Universal)
Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts (Signature)
Empire of Light (Searchlight)
Enys Men (BFI)
Flux Gourmet (Curzon)
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (Lionsgate)
Living (Lionsgate)
The Lost King (Pathe)
Men (Entertainment Film Distributors)
Operation Mincemeat (Warner Bros)
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (Sony)
The Son (ErosSTX)
The Swimmers (Netflix)
What's Love Got to Do with It? (StudioCanal UK)
Winners (TBA)
​
Best Director
Charlotte Wells - Aftersun
Carla Simon - Alcarras
James Cameron - Avatar: The Way of Water
Damien Chazelle - Babylon
Martin McDonagh - The Banshees of Inisherin
Mia Hansen-Love - Bergman Island/One Fine Morning
Ryan Coogler - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Georgia Oakley - Blue Jean
Luca Guadagnino - Bones & All
Marie Kreutzer - Corsage
Chan-wook Park - Decision to Leave
Baz Luhrmann - Elvis
Frances O'Connor - Emily
Jerzy Skolimowski - EO
The Daniels - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Steven Spielberg - The Fabelmans
Peter Strickland - Flux Gourmet
Rian Johnson - Glass Onion
Guillermo del Toro - Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Panah Panahi - Hit the Road
Ali Abbasi - Holy Spider
Oliver Hermanus - Living
Jafar Panahi - No Bears
Colm Bairéad - The Quiet Girl
SS Rajamouli - RRR
Alice Diop - Saint Omer
Maria Schrader - She Said
Chinonye Chukwu - Till
Todd Field - TAR
Joseph Kosinski - Top Gun: Maverick
Ruben Ostlund - Triangle of Sadness
Noah Baumbach - White Noise
Gina Prince-Bythewood - The Woman King
Sarah Polley - Women Talking
Sebastian Leilo - The Wonder
​
Best Actor
Zlatko Buric - Triangle of Sadness
Austin Butler - Elvis
Asa Butterfield - Flux Gourmet
Timothee Chalamet - Bones & All
Daniel Craig - Glass Onion
Eden Dambrine - Close
Harris Dickinson - Triangle of Sadness
Adam Driver - White Noise
Colin Farrell - The Banshees of Inisherin
Brendan Gleeson - The Banshees of Inisherin (BAFTA tend to do things differently)
Caleb Landry Jones - Nitram
Daryl McCormack - Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Paul Mescal - Aftersun
Bill Nighy - Living
Park Hae-il - Decision to Leave
Tim Roth - Bergman Island
Song Kang-ho - Broker
​
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett - TAR
Jessie Buckley - Men
Gwendoline Christie - Flux Gourmet
Olivia Colman - Empire of Light
Frankie Corio - Aftersun
Catherine Clinch - The Quiet Girl
Viola Davis - The Woman King
Danielle Deadwyler - Till
Zar Amir Ebrahimi - Holy Spider
Zoe Kazan - She Said
Vicky Kreips - Bergman Island/Corsage
Emma Mackey - Emily
Rooney Mara - Women Talking
Rosy McEwan - Blue Jean
Carey Mulligan - She Said
Florence Pugh - The Wonder
Margot Robbie - Babylon
Taylor Russell - Bones & All
Emma Thompson - Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Emily Watson - God's Creatures
Tang Wei - Decision to Leave
Michelle Williams - The Fabelmans
Michelle Yeoh - Everything Everywhere All At Once
​
Best Supporting Actor
Joe Alwyn - Emily
Paul Dano - The Fabelmans
Julian Glover - TAR
Tom Hanks - Elvis
Judd Hirsch - The Fabelmans
Luca Hogan - A Bit of Light
Anthony Hopkins - Armageddon Time
Rory Kinnear - Men
Barry Koeghan - The Banshees of Inisherin
Paul Mescal - God's Creatures
Brad Pitt - Babylon
Ke Huy Quan - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Mark Rylance - Bones & All
Mark Strong - TAR
Ben Whishaw - Women Talking
Fionn Whitehead - Emily
​
Best Supporting Actress
Jessie Buckley - Women Talking
Kila Lord Cassidy - The Wonder
Raffey Cassidy - White Noise
Hong Chau - The Whale
Kerry Condon - The Banshees of Inisherin
Carrie Crowley - The Quiet Girl
Jennifer Ehle - She Said
Claire Foy - Women Talking
Aisling Franciosi - God's Creatures
Lucy Halliday - Blue Jean
Kerrie Hayes - Blue Jean
Nina Hoss - TAR
Stephanie Hsu - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Lashana Lynch - The Woman King
Thuso Mbedu - The Woman King
Noemie Merlant - TAR
Fatma Mohamed - Flux Gourmet
Janelle Monae - Glass Onion
Celia Rowlson-Hall - Aftersun
Sadie Sink - The Whale
Jean Smart - Babylon
Emma Thompson - Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
Mia Wasikowska - Bergman Island
Aimee Lou Wood - Living
​
Best Original Screenplay
Charlotte Wells - Aftersun
Carla Simon - Alcarras
Damien Chazelle - Babylon
Martin McDonagh - The Banshees of Inisherin
Mia Hansen-Love - Bergman Island/One Fine Morning
Georgia Oakley - Blue Jean
Lukas Dhont - Close
Marie Kreutzer - Corsage
Seo-kyeong Jeong and Chan-wook Park - Decision to Leave
Frances O'Connor - Emily
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Tony Kushner and Steven Spielberg - The Fabelmans
Owen Kline - Funny Pages
Katy Brand - Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Jafar Panahi - No Bears
Jordan Peele - Nope
Amrita David, Alice Diop and Marie NDiaye - Saint Omer
Todd Field - TAR
Ruben Ostlund - Triangle of Sadness
​
Best Adapted Screenplay
Edward Berger, Leslie Patterson and Ian Stokell - All Quiet on the Western Front
Rian Johnson - Glass Onion
Kazuo Ishiguro - Living
Sjorn and Robert Eggers - The Northman
Guillermo del Toro and Patrick McHale - Pinocchio
Colm Bairéad - The Quiet Girl
Rebecca Lenkiewicz - She Said
Ehren Kruger, Christopher McQuarrie and Eric Warren Singer - Top Gun: Maverick
Noah Baumbach - White Noise
Sarah Polley - Women Talking
Alice Birch, Emma Donoghue and Sebastian Leilo - The Wonder
​
Best Animated Film
Apollo 10 1/2 (Richard Linklater, Netflix)
My Father's Dragon (Nora Twomey, Netflix)
Pinocchio (Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, Netflix/Pathe)
The Sea Beast (Chris Williams, Netflix)
Strange World (Don Hall, Disney)
Turning Red (Domee Shi, Disney/Pixar)
Wendell and Wild (Henry Selick, Netflix)
​
Best Film Not in the English Language
All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany, Netflix)
All That Breathes (UK/India, Dogwoof)
Argentina 1985 (Argentina/US, Amazon)
Broker (South Korea, Picturehouse)
Close (Belgium/France/Netherlands, MUBI)
Corsage (Austria, Picturehouse)
Decision to Leave (South Korea, MUBI)
The Feast (UK, Picturehouse)
Hatching (Finland, Picturehouse)
Hit the Road (Iran, Picturehouse)
Holy Spider (Denmark/France/Germany/Sweden, MUBI)
Luzzu (Malta, Peccadillo Pictures)
More Than Ever (France, TBA)
Mr Bachmann and His Class (Germany, New Wave)
Murina (Brazil/Croatia/Slovenia/US, Modern Films)
No Bears (Iran, Picturehouse)
One Second (China, MUBI)
Playground (Belgium, New Wave)
The Quiet Girl (Ireland, Curzon)
RRR (India, Netflix)
Saint Omer (France, Picturehouse)
The Territory (Brazil/US, Dogwoof)
What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? (Georgia/Germany, New Wave)
Winners (UK, TBA)
​
Best Documentary Film
Aftershock (Disney/STAR)
All That Breathes (Dogwoof)
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Altitude)
Descendant (Netflix)
Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts (Signature)
Fire of Love (Dogwoof)
Free Choi Soo Lee (MUBI)
Moonage Daydream (Universal)
Mr Bachmann and His Class (New Wave)
My Old School (Dogwoof)
Navalny (Dogwoof)
The Territory (Dogwoof)
​
Carl Foreman Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
Charlotte Wells (writedirector) - Aftersun
Georgia Oakley (writedirector) and Helene Sifre (producer) - Blue Jean
Jim Archer (director, David Earl and Chris Hayward (writers) and Rupert Majendie (producer) - Brian and Charles
Frances O'Connor (writedirector) - Emily
Lee Haven Jones (director) and Roger Williams (writeproducer) - The Feast
Serena Armitage (producer) - Flux Gourmet
Shane Crowley (writer) - God’s Creatures
Jono McLeoad (director) - My Old School
Nadira Murray (producer) - Winners
​
Best Casting
Aftersun
Alcarras
Babylon
The Banshees of Inisherin
Blue Jean
Bones & All
Close
Emily
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Fabelmans
Flux Gourmet
Glass Onion
Hit the Road
Holy Spider
Living
The Quiet Girl
She Said
TAR
Triangle of Sadness
The Whale
Women Talking
​
Best Cinematography
Gregory Oke - Aftersun
James Friend - All Quiet on the Western Front
Ben Bernhard, Riju Das and Saumyananda Sahi - All That Breathes
Russell Carpenter - Avatar: The Way of Water
Linus Sandgren - Babylon
Ben Davis - The Banshees of Inisherin
Arseni Khachaturan - Bones & All
Roger Deakins - Empire of Light
Larkin Seiple - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Janusz Kaminski - The Fabelmans
James D Ramsay - Living
Rob Hardy - Men
Kate McCullough - The Quiet Girl
Claire Mathon - Saint Omer
Florian Hoffmeister - TAR
Claudio Miranda - Top Gun: Maverick
Ari Wegner - The Wonder
​
Best Editing
Blair McClendon - Aftersun
Sven Budelmann - All Quiet on the Western Front
David Brenner, James Cameron, John Refoua and Stephen E. Rivkin - Avatar: The Way of Water
Tom Cross - Babylon
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen - The Banshees of Inisherin
Izabella Curry - Blue Jean
Kim Sang-bum - Decision to Leave
Joanna Crickmay - Elizabeth: A Life in Parts
Mandy Walker - Elvis
Paul Rogers - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Sarah Broshar and Michael Kahn - The Fabelmans
Mátyás Fekete - Flux Gourmet
Olivia Neergaard-Holm - Holy Spider
Brett Morgen - Moonage Daydream
John Murphy - The Quiet Girl
A. Sreekar Prasad - RRR
Amrita David - Saint Omer
Monika Willi - TAR
Eddie Hamilton - Top Gun: Maverick
Roslyn Kalloo - Women Talking
​
Best Original Music
Oliver Coates - Aftersun
Volker Bertelmann/Hauschka - All Quiet on the Western Front
Simon Franglen - Avatar: The Way of Water
Justin Hurwitz - Babylon
Carter Burwell - The Banshees of Inisherin
Michael Giacchino - The Batman
Paweł Mykietyn - EO
John Williams - The Fabelmans
Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans - God's Creatures
Alexandre Desplat - Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury - Men
Stephen Rennicks - The Quiet Girl
M. M. Keeravani - RRR
Hildur Gudnadottir - TAR
Hildur Gudnadottir - Women Talking
Matthew Herbert - The Wonder
​
Best Production Design
All Quiet on the Western Front
Babylon
The Banshees of Inisherin
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Corsage
Elvis
Emily
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Fabelmans
Flux Gourmet
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Living
The Northman
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
RRR
The Quiet Girl
The Woman King
The Wonder
​
Best Costume Design
Aftersun
Babylon
The Banshees of Inisherin
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Blue Jean
Corsage
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Elvis
Emily
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Fabelmans
Flux Gourmet
Living
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris
The Northman
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
RRR
The Quiet Girl
The Woman King
The Wonder
​
Best Sound
Aftersun
All Quiet on the Western Front
Avatar: The Way of Water
Babylon
The Batman
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Corsage
Elvis
Emily
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Fabelmans
Flux Gourmet
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Living
Men
Nope
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
RRR
The Quiet Girl
TAR
Top Gun: Maverick
The Woman King
The Wonder
​
Best Visual Effects
All Quiet on the Western Front
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Batman
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Feast
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Men
Nope
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
RRR
Thor: Love and Thunder
Top Gun: Maverick
​
Best Make-up and Hair
Aftersun
Babylon
The Batman
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Corsage
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Elvis
Emily
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Fabelmans
Flux Gourmet
Living
Medusa Deluxe
Men
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris
The Northman
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
RRR
The Quiet Girl
The Whale
The Woman King
The Wonder
submitted by JVM23 to oscarrace [link] [comments]

2022.11.14 13:59 Big-Creme-7098 Screenwriter’s News for Monday, November 14, 2022

I skim the trades, so you don’t have to.
◊‘Airplane!’ Co-Screenwriter (and Director) David Zucker Says Hollywood Is ‘Destroying Comedy’
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/david-zucker-hollywood-destroying-comedy-too-sensitive-1235429200/
My two-cent takeaway: Those who don’t, won’t or are incapable of seeing the humor in anything will have an uphill battle since humor can lend voice to the unspeakable, and it will always come out. The question is: where’s the line between good-natured jokes and vicious mocking?
—————————————————
◊‘Twin Flames’ Series In Works At Hulu With ‘This Is Us’ Co-Showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger and Guilty Party creator Rebecca Addelman
https://deadline.com/2022/11/mandy-moore-headline-ep-twin-flames-series-hulu-overall-deal-20th-television-1235168359/
—————————————————
◊‘Skyfall’ Writers Robert Wade and Neal Purvis, on How They Came Up With the Movie’s Last-Minute Title and the Explosive Finale
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/skyfall-writers-on-daniel-craig-james-bond-1235257806/
My two-cent takeaway: It’s already been ten years since Skyfall, and I never realized they guys had been writing the bond scripts for the last twenty-five years since The World Is Not Enough. The ending has a bit of an A-Team feel to it, but enjoyable non-the-less. With all their experience, it’s not a surprise that the finale could be a last-minute endeavor, but surely only an exception.
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◊Benito Skinner to Star in Amazon Coming-Out Comedy
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/benny-drama-benito-skinner-amazon-tv-show-coming-out-1235258060/
My two-cent takeaway: Skinner is hilarious, even though I don’t get most of the references. It will be interesting to see how he transitions into a more rounded character.
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◊‘Gears of War’ Video Game Franchise to Get Feature Film, Animated Series Adaptations at Netflix
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/gears-of-war-franchise-feature-film-animated-series-adaptations-netflix-1235256913/
My two-cent takeaway: No writers are attached yet. It’s time to sharpen your pencils!
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◊Olivia Milch to write ‘Seesaw Monster’ for Netflix
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/anne-hathaway-salma-hayek-pinault-seesaw-monster-netflix-1235257651/
My two-cent takeaway: Milch, the daughter of David Milch, started with Dude and Ocean’s 8 in 2018 and is steadily making strides in the industry.
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◊Dan Harmon Says Donald Glover Is ‘Down to Clown’ in ‘Community’ Movie at Variety’s Business Managers Breakfast
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/variety-business-managers-breakfast-dan-harmon-donald-glover-community-movie-1235422444/
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◊Indiana Jones TV Series Eyed for Disney+
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/indiana-jones-series-disney-plus-1235416179/
My two-cent takeaway: I somewhat feel like doing this series is a bad idea, considering how iconic the film series is. And no writers have been chosen yet, so time to sharpen your pencils. Don’t screw it up.
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◊‘It’ Prequel Series at HBO Max Taps Jason Fuchs, Brad Caleb Kane to Serve as Co-Showrunners
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/it-prequel-series-hbo-max-showrunner-jason-fuchs-brad-caleb-kane-1235427899/
My two-cent takeaway: Fuchs and Kane have impressive resumes up to this point. They’re definitely ones to watch.
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◊‘House of Flowers’ Creator Manolo Caro Signs With UTA
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/house-of-flowers-creator-manolo-caro-uta-1235258647/
My two-cent takeaway: If you’re a Caro fan, it’s time to sharpen your pencils.
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◊Shea Serrano Sets Reggaeton Comedy ‘Neon’ at Netflix
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/shea-serrano-reggaeton-comedy-neon-netflix-1235257232/
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◊Snoop Dogg Biopic in the Works at Universal With Director Allen Hughes and ‘Wakanda Forever’ Writer Joe Robert Cole
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/snoop-dogg-biopic-universal-allen-hughes-joe-robert-cole-1235258798/
My two-cent takeaway: Cole has been making giant strides in the industry and is an excellent choice to tackle this biopic. Check out his work as a director.
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◊‘Patrick Massett and John Zinman Pen ‘Wind River’ Sequel
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/falcon-and-winter-soldier-director-kari-skogland-to-direct-wind-river-sequel-1235258768/
—————————————————
◊James Gunn and Peter Safran Are Mapping Out “Eight- to 10-Year Plan” for DC
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/dc-movies-james-gunn-peter-safran-1235259792/
My two-cent takeaway: If it’s a dream to work on one of these pictures, you’ve got eight to ten years to bring it to fruition—time to sharpen your pencils.
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◊Jonathan Glatzer of ‘Better Call Saul’ and ‘Succession’ to Oversee Writers Room For George Clooney’s ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ Series
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/george-clooney-good-night-and-good-luck-amc-1235259065/
—————————————————
◊Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’ a Go a Netflix From Mara Brock Akil
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-judy-blume-forever-mara-brock-akil-1235259411/
My two-cent takeaway: Blume was a writer my teenage sister couldn’t stop talking about and asking questions about. I remember my mother instructing me to go to my room because I was too young to participate in the conversation. Blume was doing something right.
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◊Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern to Pen ‘Brutally Honest’ Starring Ashley Tisdale.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/ashley-tisdale-star-cbs-comedy-brutally-honest-1235259788/
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◊Universal Nabs Rights to Bangles Singer Susanna Hoff’s Debut Novel ‘This Bird Has Flown’
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/universal-susanna-hoff-the-bird-has-flown-movie-1235259309/
My two-cent takeaway: It seems there is no screenwriter announced—time to sharpen your pencils.
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◊Writer Rayna McClendon Signs With UTA
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/writer-rayna-mcclendon-uta-1235258543/
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🎭 Renewals and Cancelations🎭
◊Hulu’s Chris Estrada Comedy ‘This Fool’ Renewed
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hulu-chris-estrada-comedy-this-fool-renewed-1235259030/
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◊‘Partner Track’ & ‘The Imperfects’ Canceled By Netflix After One Season
https://deadline.com/2022/11/partner-track-the-imperfects-canceled-netflix-one-season-1235167000/
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◊‘Bad Sisters’ Renewed for Season 2 at Apple TV+
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/apple-bad-sisters-season-2-1235257477/
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◊‘Monster’ Renewed for Season 2 & 3 at Netflix as Anthology, ‘The Watcher’ Renewed for Season 2
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/monster-renewed-season-2-3-netflix-anthology-the-watcher-renewed-season-2-1235425266/
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◊‘A Million Little Things’ Ending With Season 5
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/a-million-little-things-ending-season-5-abc-1235256766/
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◊‘The Empress’: Netflix Orders Season 2
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-empress-netflix-season-2-1235257570/
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◊Amazon’s ‘Carnival Row’ to End With Season 2
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/amazon-carnival-row-end-season-2-1235256646/
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What’re your two cents?
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2022.08.28 18:39 jim21869 Friends and Family: A New Beginning (Chapter 23) Part 2

Sydney fixed breakfast the next morning. Jim smelled it as he made his way downstairs. Bacon and pancakes. Lauren and Lindsay were already at the table. The kitchen radio was playing some classic country. The Bellamy Brothers. When I’m Away From You. Jim asked Lauren and Lindsay, “Where are your other sisters?”
Lauren answered, “Chelsea’s in her room, and she’s finishing up on packing her bag for her weekend with Natalie and Megan. Mine’s already packed. Valerie and Caitlyn are getting showers, and they’re getting ready for school.”
Jim said, “That’s good. Because I need to ask you girls something. And you too, Sydney.”
Chelsea, Valerie and Caitlyn showed up for breakfast. Just as the girls were eating breakfast, Jim said, “Chelsea and Lauren, I know you two will be staying with Natalie and Megan this weekend. I hope you two have a good time with them.”
Chelsea said, “Thanks, Dad. We’ll be studying mostly. But we will make some time for some fun.”
Then Jim asked, “Lindsay, Valerie and Caitlyn, how would you three like to hang out with your Nana Wendy and your aunts Emily and Charlie this weekend?”
Caitlyn excitedly asked, “Can we, Dad?”
Then Valerie asked, “Yes, can we, Dad?”
Jim said, “Yes, girls. I figured you girls would like to spend a weekend with them. How about it, girls?”
Lindsay answered, “Yes, Dad. We’d love to.”
Then Jim said, “Okay, then. I’ll drive you girls there after school this afternoon. When you girls get done with your breakfast, I want you three to pack a bag. Then I’ll drive you all to school.”
After they finished their breakfast, all five girls went upstairs. While Sydney loaded the dishwasher, Jim said to her, “Sydney, I spoke to your mother last night. She would like for you to go shopping with her this Saturday morning.”
“Sure, Jim. It would be nice to spend some time with Mom.”
“Angelina, Quinn and Claire will be going along. Ariel has to work Saturday. Your mother’s going to try and get Kendra to go along.”
“Where will we be going?” Sydney asked.
Jim answered, “She said the outlet mall in Gaffney.”
“Good. I like that place. I may even buy a few things while I’m there.”
“That’ll be good. I figured you’d like to spend some time with your family.”
Chelsea walked down the stairs with her bag. Lauren walked behind her with her bag, and what appeared to be two dresses in clear plastic bags. Jim asked them, “Are you two about to leave?”
Chelsea answered, “Yes, Dad. We are. We’re going to put our bags in my car. I’m about to drive Lauren to school.”
Then Lauren said, “Dad, I’m carrying my dress and Chelsea’s. Are you going to be okay here by yourself this weekend?”
“Yes, but Sydney will be here with me some. She’s going shopping with her family tomorrow. She may spend some time with her family on Sunday also. I’ll be here doing some stuff around the house.”
You had to admire Jim Faulkner for being creative. He darn sure wasn’t about to tell his daughters about his plans for this weekend. Jim felt he pulled it off quite well. So far, no one knew a thing. And that included his five daughters.
Jim walked outside with Chelsea and Lauren. They put their bags in the small trunk of Chelsea’s Camaro. Lauren carefully laid the dresses across the back seat. Chelsea and Lauren both gave Jim a hug and a kiss on his cheek. Jim asked them, “Are you two going to be okay this weekend at that apartment?”
Chelsea started up the car. The radio was playing. Boz Scaggs. Love, Look What You’ve Done To Me. Lauren said, “Yes, Dad. We’ll be okay. After all, we will be with Natalie and Megan.”
That was when they saw Morgan running to Jim’s driveway. Morgan gave Jim a hug, and then she asked, “Chelsea and Lauren, can I get a ride to school?”
Chelsea and Lauren both looked at Morgan, and they smiled at her. Lauren said, “Okay, Morgan. Get in the back. But please watch those dresses.”
Morgan gingerly moved the dresses, and she sat down in the back seat. Lauren said, “Dad, we best get going or we’ll be late for school.”
Then Chelsea said, “Yes, let’s get going. Dad, I may call you on your cell phone when I get to the apartment.”
“Sure, Chelsea. Do you have to work at Walgreen’s today?”
“Yes, Dad. Eleven to four.”
“Okay, honey. You two have a good time with Natalie and Megan.”
“Okay, Dad. We will.”
“Chelsea, you best be going before that traffic gets bad.”
Jim stepped back, and Chelsea backed her car onto Bethany Street. Then Jim watched Chelsea drive to East Morehead Street. Jim walked back to the house. Just as he got inside, the other three girls walked into the living room. They announced they were ready to go to school. Then Sydney said, “I best be getting on to work. I know Rachel’s about there, and she’ll be waiting on me. She counts on me to have the coffee ready.”
“Okay, honey. I’ll see you this evening.”
Jim and Sydney gave each other a kiss. Sydney left the house in her red Camaro. Jim said, “Okay, girls. Let’s roll.”
Lindsay, Valerie and Caitlyn walked out of the house first. Jim locked up the house. He told them to get into the Cadillac Escalade. Caitlyn said, “I get to sit in front next to Dad.”
Valerie said, “No way, Caitlyn. I’m riding shotgun.”
Then Jim said, “Lindsay’s sitting in the front. You two sit in the back, just like you always do.”
After the girls got in and buckled up, Jim drove to East Morehead Street. His first stop was Dilworth Elementary School, where he would drop off Valerie and Caitlyn. Valerie said, “Dad, you know our bags are at the house.”
“Yes, Valerie. I’ll take you to the house to pick up your bags after school.”
Valerie and Caitlyn gave Jim a kiss before they got out of the Escalade. Jim told them he would be leaving work early and that he would pick them up as soon as he got off. From Dilworth Elementary, Jim drove Lindsay to Radcliffe Middle School by way of East Boulevard and Queens Road West. As Jim turned onto West Boulevard, Lindsay asked, “Dad, is there something me and my sisters need to know?”
“Why would you ask me that?”
“I don’t know. We’ve all noticed how you’ve been acting a little strange lately.”
“Lindsay, there’s nothing for you and your sisters to worry about.”
“Then why are you sending me and my two younger sisters to Nana Wendy’s house?”
“I just figured you girls would like to spend some time with her and your aunts. Besides, I’ve been wanting to do some stuff around the house. I figured this would be a good time to get it all done.”
Lindsay looked at Jim some. Then she said, “Okay, Dad. But if there’s something we need to know, you would tell us, would you?”
“Yes, Lindsay. I would. As I said, there’s nothing for you and your sisters to worry about.”
Jim made the turn from Queens Road West to Radcliffe Avenue. Jim and Lindsay did not speak from the time he crossed Kenilworth Avenue on East Boulevard to the time he dropped Lindsay off at Radcliffe Middle School. When he dropped her off, Lindsay finally said, “Bye, Dad. You will pick me up after work, won’t you?”
“Yes, Lindsay. I’ll pick up Valerie and Caitlyn first. Then I’ll come here and pick you up. We’ll stop by the house and let you get your bags.”
“Okay, Dad. See you then. I best go, or I’ll be late to my first class.”
Lindsay headed inside the school. Jim drove back to East Boulevard. On the way to Queen City Chevrolet, Jim wondered if he broke the hearts of his five girls. After all, he did not tell them the truth. Just as he wanted to keep his plan to propose to Sydney a secret from his friends, he wanted to keep it a secret from his family as well. And that included his daughters. The only ones who knew about his plan were Autumn and her kids (except for Sydney, of course). Jim hoped Autumn and her three oldest have been keeping that secret.
Jim arrived at the dealership. He went straight to his office. From his office, he saw Mark, Simon and Jonathan at the door. He let them in. It was already opening time, so Jim left the door unlocked. He turned on the music for the loudspeakers. As soon as Jim got settled behind his desk, he got a call on his cell phone. It was Autumn. She said, “Jim, I just got to work. We’ll be getting our first patient of the day in about a few minutes. I just figured I’d use this time to call you and ask you if Sydney would be joining us tomorrow.”
“Yes, Autumn. I asked this morning. She said she would be happy to join you. It sounds like she’s looking forward to it.”
“Okay, Jim. That’s good. And just so you know, I have been keeping your secret from everyone. I’m sure Mark, Simon and Alex have also.”
“Thanks, Autumn. And I need to ask you something else. Can you please have Sydney back at my house around five or six tomorrow evening?”
“Jim, I think that’s a can do. We’ll leave Gaffney around four. We may get something to eat at one of the restaurants in the outlet mall.”
“That’s great, Autumn. But please don’t let Sydney fill up. Try to remember that I am fixing a special dinner.”
“Yes, Jim. We’ll probably get something small like nachos, chicken tenders or cheese sticks.”
“Okay, Autumn. That’ll sound good. I’m going to let you go. Please remember to continue keeping my secret, okay?”
“Yes, Jim. I will. I’ll talk to you some more later.”
Just as Jim ended the phone call, Mark stepped into the office. Jim told him to close the door and take a seat. Jim said, “I just got off the phone with your mother. She’s taking Sydney to Gaffney so that I can get the house ready for our special evening.”
Mark said, “Yes, Jim. I’ve been keeping your secret. Even Kendra and the girls don’t know about it.”
Jim said, “Thanks, Mark. I’m glad you and Simon are off tomorrow. You two and Alex and a few of our friends are going to spend tomorrow helping me get everything ready, including that thing in the utility room.”
“You mean with the die-cast metal cars.”
“Yes. That.”
Mark said, “Jim, I know you’ll pull this thing off well. Sydney will be so happy.”
Mark left and went back to work. Jim saw a deputy from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department walk into the dealership. The deputy spoke to Jonathan, and he directed the deputy to Jim’s office. The deputy told Jim that his patrol car, which was a Chevy Caprice, had been making a terrible noise and it would probably need a new serpentine belt. Jim directed the deputy to the service department. He called Joseph Daniels in the service department, and he told him the deputy was coming with his police car. The deputy thanked Jim and shook his hand.
Jim took his lunch hour a little early. He ate at a nearby Jersey Mike’s Subs. He had a Big Kahuna with potato chips and a large iced tea. There was smooth jazz playing on the loudspeaker, which seemed to brighten Jim’s day. During his lunch hour, Jim video chatted with Sydney. She was on her lunch hour also. Sydney was at a Burger King in Huntersville, just north of Charlotte. Jim told Sydney about how his day was going. Sydney told Jim she was with the president of the Charlotte Pet Food Company, who was one of her clients. Jim cut the video chat short, and Sydney went back to work. A few minutes later, Jim went back to the car dealership.
During the next four hours, Jim sold a new Chevy truck and a used Buick, and he also tried to catch up on some paperwork. Just before Jim left, he checked his computer. Facebook. He got a friend request. It was from Charity Donovan (but it was under the name Charity Donovan Loudermilk). The female drag racer Jim and Simon were talking about recently. From what was on her profile, Charity did more than drag race. She was also a Christian singer. Charity also raced at smaller racetracks around Charlotte. Charity was currently living in Charlotte. There were pictures of Charity with two race cars, her black 1966 Chevy Nova drag car and a mid-eighties Monte Carlo, which she used for dirt track racing. One of the photo albums on her Facebook page featured some “glamour shots.” Charity was in all of them. Another photo album showed Charity racing, and some of the photos were taken at various dirt racetracks and drag strips. There were also photos of her two kids, a little boy and a teenage girl. Charity was already friends with nearly all of Jim’s friends and relatives, so that prompted Jim to accept Charity’s friend request.
It was now three o’ clock. After Jim got done with his Facebook page, he turned off his computer and locked up his office. Jim left Mark in charge for the rest of the day. On the way out, Jim told Mark and Jonathan about his Facebook request from Charity Donovan Loudermilk. Mark and Jonathan were also friends with Charity. Mark said, “Jim, that’s good. You know Charity always thought highly of you.”
Jim said, “Yes, Mark. She did have a crush on me when I was younger.”
Jonathan said, “Really, Jim? I didn’t know that.”
“Jonathan, that was before you and your bunch came to Charlotte,” Jim said.
Jonathan said, “Yes, Jim. I guess there were a lot of things that happened here before we came to Charlotte.”
Jim laughed a little, and then he said, “Okay, Mark and Jonathan. You guys close and lock up the place.”
Mark and Jonathan agreed. Jim got in his Cadillac Escalade, and he drove onto South Tryon Street. The radio was playing top 40 and classic soft rock. Just before he made the left turn onto West Boulevard, Jim heard a song that sounded familiar to him. John Lennon. Imagine there’s no heaven. That was the song Jim heard when he and Candi started going steady. That was back on Easter Sunday of 1984. Jim thought he would shed a tear. He didn’t. Instead, he smiled. And he thought of Sydney. Tomorrow evening, Jim would play some music when he had his special dinner with Sydney. The DJ on Lite ‘N Easy 102 (the station Jim was listening to) announced that the station was playing classic soft rock all weekend. Jim seemed pleased with that. Jim thought, That sounds like a winner. Maybe I’ll play some music like that for Sydney tomorrow evening.
Jim got ready to turn right onto South Boulevard. But before he could, he had to wait on a Charlotte Lynx Blue Line train to pass. After the train passed, he saw the Walgreen’s where Chelsea worked. He wondered if Chelsea was there working, stocking shelves and tending to the checkout. Jim tried to see if Chelsea’s dark gray Camaro was in the parking lot. But before he could, the light turned green and he had to make the right turn onto South Boulevard.
Jim drove straight to Radcliffe Middle School to pick up Lindsay. Jim wondered if Lindsay was upset with him. Just before he dropped her off, she asked him if there was a secret she needed to know. Of course, Jim was about to propose marriage to Sydney. But he still did not want anyone knowing about it right now, including his daughters and his other relatives. But right now, the only relative who knew about Jim’s plan to propose to Sydney was Wendy, and she agreed to keep it a secret. Jim told Lindsay there was nothing to worry about, and that she and her two younger sisters should spend some time with Wendy, Emily and Charlie.
Jim stopped in front of Radcliffe Middle School. Lindsay was already sitting on one of the benches, waiting for him. Lindsay got in the Escalade. She sat in the front passenger seat. He asked her how her day went. She said it went okay. Then Jim asked her, “Lindsay, you’re not upset with me, are you?”
“No, Dad. Why would you ask me a question like that?”
“Oh, nothing. After you asked me about this weekend, you didn’t speak to me until I dropped you off at school.”
“Oh, Dad. It wasn’t you. You’ll just have to forgive me. I guess I got a lot on my plate right now.”
“Is everything okay at school?”
“Dad, there’s some turmoil at school. One of our best teachers is about to be fired for reasons we’re still not sure of. And one of my fellow students in my math class has cancer and there’s some talk he may not be back in school, or even make it.”
“Is it that serious?”
“Yes, Dad. He’s in Carolinas Medical Center. From what I’ve been hearing, his cancer is getting worse.”
Jim stopped at the traffic light. Just before he made the turn onto East Boulevard, Jim said, “Lindsay, I just hope it doesn’t get any worse. I don’t think I can imagine being that young and being sick like that.”
Then Lindsay said, “Dad, you still didn’t tell me the real reason why you wanted me and my two younger sisters to stay with Nana Wendy and Aunt Emily and Aunt Charlie.”
“Lindsay, it’s just like I said to you girls. I just thought you would like to spend some time with them. I know you all haven’t been spending a whole time with them. Chelsea and Lauren have some studying to do and they’re staying with Natalie and Megan.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Sydney has to work for a special client, and I’ve been wanting to get some stuff done around the house. I figured this could be a good weekend to get it all done.”
“Okay, Dad. If you say so. I trust you. So do my sisters.”
“Thanks, Lindsay. That’s good to know.”
Then, an old R&B song with a beautiful sound came over the radio. Lindsay wanted to change the station. Jim gently touched her hand, and he said, “Whoa, Lindsay. Don’t change it.”
“Why, Dad?”
“That sounds like a beautiful song. I’d like to hear it. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before.”
Jim was right. He had never heard that song before. That song played the whole time he drove from the bridge crossing Little Sugar Creek to Dilworth Elementary School. Jim wondered two things. What was the name of the song, and who sings it? Maybe he’d download it onto his iPod. When Jim got to Dilworth Elementary, both questions were answered. The Manhattans. There’s No Me Without You. It was beautiful, and he felt he would play it for Sydney tomorrow evening. Jim felt he would make a choice between two songs to play when he popped the question. That one, or maybe “Imagine” by John Lennon. He would answer that question tomorrow morning or afternoon.
When Jim got to Dilworth Elementary, Valerie and Caitlyn were already at the curb, waiting for him. He asked them how their day went. Valerie said, “It was okay. We had pizza, fries and salad for lunch. Me and my best friend, Ella, played on the swings. We talked about how cool it was to see the Charlotte skyline when we swung.”
Jim said, “That’s nice. But did you learn anything in school? After all, you do go to school to learn.”
Valerie said, “Oh, yes. I’m finally getting the hang of division. And my teacher said starting Monday, we’ll be learning about all the states, their capitals, and their main industries. Starting with North Carolina, of course.”
Then Caitlyn said, “I had my spelling test today. I made a hundred. I also had a math test, and I got a ninety on it.”
“Honey, that’s good. You just keep doing your best,” Jim said.
Jim pulled into his driveway. Just before everyone got out of the Escalade, he said, “Girls, we got a little time on our hands, so get everything together you are going to need. We’ll leave for your Nana Wendy’s shortly.”
Jim went into the house first. The three girls went in behind him. Jim went into the kitchen. He checked the answering machine. There were two messages. The first one was from Chelsea. Hi, Dad. It’s Chelsea. As soon as I get off work, I’ll go to Queen Charlotte High and get Lauren so you won’t have to. I’ll take her to the apartment from there. Please call me and let me know you got this message. Bye. I love you, Dad.
The next message was from Emily. Hey, Jim. This is Emily. Mom and Charlie and I are looking forward to seeing Lindsay, Valerie and Caitlyn. I need you to call me on my cell phone as soon as you get this message. Hope to hear from you as soon as possible. Love you. Bye.
Jim returned the calls. He called Chelsea first. She said, “Hi, Dad. I picked up Lauren. We just got to the apartment.”
“That’s good. I just thought I’d call you and let you know I got your message. I just got home with your three youngest sisters.”
“That’s good, Dad. Are they looking forward to their weekend with Nana Wendy and our aunts?”
“Yes, they are. I got a message from Emily. I got to call her back.”
Chelsea said, “Okay, Dad. Thanks for calling me back. I’ll let you go so you can call her.”
Jim said, “Yes, sure. Take care and please call me if you and Lauren need anything. Say hello to Natalie and Megan for us.”
Chelsea said, “Yes, Dad. I will.”
After he ended the phone call with Chelsea, he called Emily. She said, “Hi, Jim. I’m still at work but you’re lucky you caught me on break.”
“Yes, Emily. You told me to call you.”
“Yes, Jim. I’ll be getting off work at six and I'm wondering something.”
“Sure, Emily. What is it?”
“I was wondering if you would like to bring those girls to where I work. I would like to take you all to dinner if that’s possible.”
“Sure, Emily. I guess that’ll be okay.”
“I’ll ask Mom and Charlie if they’d like to join us.”
“Sure, Emily. What restaurant have you got in mind?”
“Whatever we have in mind. I may let Mom decide.”
“Okay, Jim. Are Chelsea and Lauren going to be joining us?”
“No. Chelsea and Lauren are spending the weekend with Natalie and Megan McClendon at their apartment.”
“Oh, okay. Jim, I’ll see you and your three youngest daughters soon.”
Jim ended the phone call just as he saw Lindsay walking down the stairs, carrying her guitar. Lindsay looked at Jim, and she said to him, “Dad, I just figured I’d take my guitar and practice on it some.”
Jim said, “That’s good, Lindsay. Everyone loves to hear you play your guitar.”
Then Lindsay said, “I’ll be back to get my clothes and my bag.”
Then, Caitlyn walked down the stairs. She was wearing one of prettiest dresses, a pink dress with puffed sleeves and a big bow. Jim smiled as she saw her. Right away, that song he heard earlier from The Manhattans played in his head. Jim felt a lump in throat, and he thought it was about the size of a tomato. He tried his absolute best to fight back tears, maybe because he knew he wouldn’t be seeing his daughters during the weekend. With a few deep breaths, Jim got his composure back. Maybe seeing Caitlyn in that pretty dress gave Jim those feelings of sadness. Jim said, “Caitlyn, honey. You do look pretty in that dress.”
“Thank you, Dad,” Caitlyn said.
Then Valerie showed up. She was wearing a T-shirt. She was also wearing a denim skirt. But this time, she put it on voluntarily. No one told her to put on that skirt. Jim said, “Valerie, you look good. I cannot believe you put on a skirt without anyone having to tell you.”
Just as Lindsay was making her way upstairs, Valerie said, “Thanks, Dad. All my pants are dirty. Lindsay gave me this skirt a while back. It’s all I had to wear.”
Jim said, “Okay, Valerie. I’m just glad you are wearing a skirt. But I wish you had left your dirty clothes in the laundry room for Svetlana to clean.”
Valerie said, “Dad, that was my fault. I guess I forgot to leave them out.”
Then Jim said to all three of them, “Okay. Why don’t you girls get your dirty clothes together? I’m sure Nana Wendy will be happy to wash them.”
Valerie said, “Okay, Dad. I’ll head back upstairs and get my clothes together.”
The girls had everything together and loaded into the Escalade. They left the house. Jim got onto Interstate 77 south. Even though it was now the evening rush hour, Jim had no trouble driving the fifty-five mile an hour speed limit on I-77. He also had no trouble on Interstate 485, which he took to the exit for Johnston Road, which took him to Ballantyne. Just as he got off I-485, Emily called him on his cell phone. Jim put it on speakerphone and said, “Hi, Emily. Have you all decided on where to have dinner?”
“Yes, Jim. Can you meet us at McAlister’s Deli?”
“Yes, Emily. That sounds good.”
Jim pulled into the shopping center where the restaurant was located. It was a place Jim had eaten at before, and usually when he was in Ballantyne when he was Wendy and his half-sisters. In fact, it was Wendy who introduced him to it. It didn’t take Jim long to find Wendy’s BMW. He parked next to it.
Jim and the girls went inside. Wendy already had a table ready. Emily and Charlie were at the table with her. They had yet to order their food. Jim got kids meals for Valerie and Caitlyn. Lindsay wanted a salad with a vinaigrette dressing, a bag of chips and a Coke. Jim chose a cheddar broccoli soup in a bread bowl, a small salad with blue cheese dressing and a Coke (Jim thought it was perfect weather for the soup since it was rather chilly outside). Wendy got her a club sandwich and chips. Emily and Charlie each got a salad. Wendy got an iced tea, and Emily and Charlie each got a Diet Coke.
Jim said grace, and then everyone ate. Jim said, “Mom, I hope you and my half-sisters are okay with my three youngest girls staying with you this weekend.”
Wendy said, “Yes, Jim. You know you are all welcome at my house.”
Then Emily asked Jim, “How are things going between you and Sydney?”
Jim tried to find an answer to that question. But he did not want to reveal his plans for this weekend to anyone at the table. He did say, “Oh, everything’s going great. Sydney’s been quite a help around the house. She cleans up after herself. And she’s really good around the girls.”
Charlie said, “That’s good. It’s good when someone loves kids.”
Jim said, “You bet it is, Charlie. I always said this. If anyone cannot love kids, it can be a sorry world.”
“You bet it is,” Wendy said.
They continued to eat. About an hour later, they went back out to the parking lot. Lindsay, Valerie and Caitlyn put their stuff in the trunk of Wendy’s car. The three girls did ask Wendy if they could have their laundry done this weekend at her house. Wendy said she would be glad to do her laundry as soon as they got there. Jim did not know Charlie’s car was there also. She was now driving an early-nineties model Mercedes, a car she bought only four weeks ago. There was not enough room in Wendy’s BMW, so Charlie asked at least one of the girls to ride with her. Two of them agreed. Valerie and Caitlyn. Lindsay would ride with Wendy and Emily. Wendy asked Jim if he wanted to come to her house. Jim said, “Thanks, but I best be getting on to my house.”
“Okay, Jim. But please call me and let me know you got home okay.”
“Okay, Mom. I will.”
Wendy’s BMW was the first one out of the parking lot, followed by Charlie’s Mercedes. Jim drove behind Charlie. It was dark, so Jim was not able to see Caitlyn in the back seat. Valerie was in the front seat beside Charlie.
Jim drove back to Dilworth. He had a lot on his mind, so he decided to take Ballantyne Commons Parkway and Rea Road instead of I-485. He also took Providence Road until it turned into Queens Road. Queens Road eventually turned into East Morehead Street. During the time he drove from Ballantyne to Dilworth, Jim kept the radio on Lite ‘N Easy 102, listening to the music he grew up with. Nearly all the songs made Jim feel good. A few didn’t. But Jim knew he had to keep his equilibrium because he had a girlfriend to propose marriage to tomorrow evening.
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2022.08.06 20:14 jim21869 Friends and Family: A New Beginning (Chapter 19) Part 1

This chapter will be done in TWO PARTS.
It was the Friday before Christmas. Queen City Chevrolet had its annual Christmas party. The dealership closed at two o’ clock for the event. Some of the employees exchanged gifts. Jim got an iTunes card for twenty-five dollars. Everyone got a Hot Wheels, Matchbox or Johnny Lightning model of a Chevy, either a new model or a classic. After all, it was a Chevy dealership!
For food, Jim and Mark treated everyone to a meal catered by a nearby McAlister’s Deli. Jim usually ate at the one in Ballantyne when he went to see his mother and half-sisters.
Jim thanked his employees for their hard work and dedication. He wished them a Merry Christmas, and that he would see them on Tuesday when the dealership reopened.
The party was over by four o’ clock. Jim drove straight home. When he got there, Chelsea was ready. She said Caitlyn was almost ready. This was the evening when the meeting with Nikki Crabtree was to take place. Chelsea was wearing a white dress. When Caitlyn stepped into the living room, she was wearing a pink T-shirt and a denim skirt. Jim wore a dark blue polo shirt and dark blue slacks to work. He agreed to keep them on.
Lauren was sitting at the dinner table, doing her homework. Jim asked, “Lauren, how come you and Lindsay and Valerie don’t want to join us this evening?”
Lauren answered, “I want to finish my homework so I won’t have to do it over the weekend. Lindsay and Valerie wanted to stay home, so I chose to stay with them.”
Jim said, “That sounds okay. It’s just that Nikki wants to meet with all of us.”
Then Chelsea said, “Yes, Dad. And then again, I saw Nikki Crabtree’s house. It is a little small.”
Jim said, “Yes, I know. But we’ll have some good company this evening. And I know it’ll make Vince and Marissa happy to know we’re going to be there.”
Caitlyn said, “I like Nikki, Vince and Marissa. They’re all sweethearts.”
Chelsea said, “Yes, Caitlyn. They most certainly are.”
That got a laugh out of Jim. He said, “Girls, I do agree with that.”
Right then, Jim looked out the living room window, and he saw Sydney pulling into the driveway in her red Camaro. After Sydney parked her car into the garage, she went straight into the house. Jim said to her, “Sydney, we’ll be leaving for Nikki’s house shortly.”
“Okay, Jim. Sounds good.”
“Okay, Sydney. That sounds good. You look pretty.”
“Thank you, Jim. You are a sweetheart.”
Sydney was wearing a black turtleneck sweater with a black floral print skirt and black pantyhose. She went upstairs to use the bathroom. About two minutes after she made it to the bathroom, Sydney shouted, “Oh, no! Gosh darn it!”
Jim quickly ran upstairs to see what was wrong. Jim saw Sydney sitting on the toilet seat. He asked her, “Sydney, what’s the matter? Why all the shouting?”
Sydney had one leg hiked up onto the hamper that was situated across from the toilet. She said, “I got a blasted run in my hose.”
“Sydney, it can’t be that bad.”
“Yes, Jim. It is.”
Jim got a look at it. It was a bad run, all right. Jim asked Sydney, “Have you got another pair in that color?”
Sydney answered, “Yes, Jim. I do.”
Jim excused himself from the guest room while Sydney finished getting dressed. As soon as Jim got downstairs, the doorbell rang. Chelsea went to answer it. Mark, Allison and April Lynn stepped inside. Allison showed up with a black forest cake from the Food Lion bakery for dessert. April Lynn had two boxes of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Jim asked her, “April Lynn, what’s with the doughnuts?”
April Lynn said, “I felt I should bring something. I figured doughnuts could be a good choice. I got all kinds. One box is glazed. The other has jelly-filled, cream-filled, lemon-filled and chocolate.”
Jim said, “Sure, April Lynn. I’m sure everyone will enjoy them.”
Then Mark said, “I got two jugs of iced tea. They’re out in my car.”
Jim got Chelsea to go upstairs and see what was keeping Sydney. Before Chelsea could make it to the top of the stairs, Sydney was on her way down. Mark said, “Girls, you all look pretty tonight.”
They all thanked Mark. Then, Jim said to girls who were not going, “Okay, you three. Please don’t stay up too late. And please don’t let anyone in the house.”
Lauren said, “Sure thing, Dad. I’ll lock the door after you all step out.”
Jim said, “Okay, Lauren. That’ll be great. And girls, please try to eat a halfway decent dinner. There’s some salad in the fridge, and Lauren can fry up some fries and onion rings. Just make them in the deep fryer. And be careful.”
“Don’t worry, Dad. We will, and we’ll even clean up,” Lauren said.
“Thanks, girls. I appreciate it. Just put any plates and utensils you use in the dishwasher. I’ll take it from there.”
The girls said they would. Jim asked the others if they were ready to go to Nikki’s house. They said they were. Then they left Jim’s house. Jim drove his classic Impala, and Mark drove his. April Lynn and Allison rode with Mark.
😊
Nikki Crabtree’s house was not on Bethany Street, but it was a short distance from it. It could even be reached by walking there. It was on Lexington Avenue. It was a one-story brick house. It was not a big one, but it wasn’t small, either. Like many of the other houses in Dilworth, it had a nice view of the Charlotte skyline.
Rebecca was already there. Her brown Mercedes was parked at the curb in front of the house. Jim and Mark parked their cars on the street in front of the house and behind Rebecca’s car. Julie parked behind them in her classic blue Mercedes. Neither Jim nor Mark knew Julie was driving behind them. Jim asked, “Julie, why were you driving behind us?”
Julie answered, “Nikki asked me to come over with you guys this evening.”
Sydney said, “Oh, okay. That’s good, Julie. We’re glad you’re here.”
Jim and the others walked up the driveway. There was still some daylight left. So much so, they were able to see the garage in the back. Vince’s El Camino was parked next to a red Camaro that looked like it was about the same model as Jim’s first car. Jim’s first car was a 1984 Camaro. Parked beside the garage was an old red Chevy truck. Hooked to it was a flatbed trailer with ramps. The garage doors were open. There was only one car in the garage. It was an orange Camaro. It looked like a 1968 model, it had no hood, and it had a blower engine. It looked like it was a drag racing car.
They went to the front door. Vince opened it, and everyone went in.
When they stepped into the house, the first thing they noticed was how it felt. It had a special ambience to it, thanks to some different colored lights, along with some lit signs from Pabst, Budweiser, Miller High Life, Falstaff, Corona, Coca-Cola, and other signs from a closed bar. There was also some old school R&B music playing. Right now, The Isley Brothers. Don’t Say Goodnight. Coming out of the small hallway was Marissa on her crutches. She greeted and hugged everyone. Sydney said, “This house sure does have a special feel to it.”
Marissa said, “Thanks, Sydney. Mom got those lights and signs from a bar on South Boulevard that closed a while back.”
Then Mark said, “I guess those lights and signs and the R&B music does seem to set the mood for…whatever.”
Allison said, “A romantic mood, I take it.”
Then Vince said, “One thing’s for sure. Mom does know how to decorate. She just seems to know what she likes and what she wants.”
That was when April Lynn noticed something. “I see Nikki has one of those old stereo consoles from the seventies.”
Then Rebecca said, “I had one like that once when I was younger.”
Marissa said, “Actually, it’s from the late sixties.”
Then Vince said, “The only thing that works on it is the radio, and only the FM part. And that doesn’t bother me since no one plays records anymore.”
“Does your mother not play compact disks?” Mark asked.
Marissa answered, “Yes. It’s over on the bookcase.”
Marissa pointed to the small bookcase. In addition to the small CD player Marissa pointed out, there were some books, a model car built by Vince (a pink 1959 Cadillac), and there were also some photos. One was of Nikki with Vince and Marissa. There was one of Vince at around age thirteen, and of Marissa at around age ten. There was one more. It was of Nikki and the two kids. Also in the photo was a man and a baby boy. Jim got a good look at the photo. Marissa made her way to where Jim was standing. Rebecca, Mark, Julie, Allison and April Lynn all walked behind Marissa. Chelsea and Caitlyn stayed where they were. Marissa pointed to the photo, and she said, “That was me when I was about eight. The man in the photo is Theo Crabtree, our father. And the baby boy is Rodney, who was our baby brother.”
Julie asked, “Those were the two who got killed in the car wreck, weren’t they?”
Marissa answered, “Yes. Back in 1982. It happened near Raleigh. That was where we were living at the time.”
April Lynn said, “I know, Marissa. We all remember the time you and your brother and mother came to Charlotte.”
Then, Nikki came out of the hallway. She was wearing a white ruffle blouse with a ribbon at the collar and a gray skirt. She said, “I thought I heard some familiar voices in here.”
Jim said, “Hi, Nikki. You look very pretty.”
Nikki hugged Jim as she said, “Thank you, Jim.”
Then Mark said, “Hi, Nikki. You smell nice, too.”
“Thank you, Mark.”
Then April Lynn handed Nikki the box of doughnuts and said, “Nikki, I hope you don’t mind, but I figured I should bring something, so I brought these doughnuts.”
Then Allison said, “I brought a cake for dessert.”
After Nikki thanked April Lynn and Allison for the doughnuts and cake, everyone sat down for dinner. Darkness was now starting to set in. One of the kitchen windows faced the Charlotte skyline, which was now lighting up. While the living room was very dimly lit (lit only with a small table lamp, those different colored lights and those beer signs), the kitchen was brightly lit. The windowsills had some small potted flowers and a couple cactus plants. The kitchen also had a lot of colorful stuff. Jim asked, “Nikki, how in the world did you get the inspiration to decorate this house as you did?”
Nikki answered, “From Faerie Magazine. I have some copies if you’d like to have them. You should check them out.”
“Okay. Maybe a couple,” Jim said.
Then Julie said, “Nikki, I like that magazine. It has some cool stuff.”
“Would you like a couple copies?” Nikki asked.
Julie answered, “Sure. I just may want a copy or two.”
Then Rebecca said, “I wouldn’t mind a copy or two myself.”
“Yeah, Rebecca. Sure,” Nikki said.
Julie said the blessing, and then it was time to serve dinner. Nikki started off by taking bowls of salad out of her refrigerator, with help from Vince. The salads were simple. Lettuce, tomatoes, carrot shreds, cucumbers, shredded cheddar cheese, real bacon bits and croutons. Nikki and Vince took bottles of salad dressing out of the refrigerator. There were bottles of thousand island, Kraft Catalina, Good Seasons Italian and Hidden Valley Ranch. Jim chose Catalina. Caitlyn chose thousand island. Maybe she thought like Jim did when he was a little younger than her. For many years, Caitlyn only had thousand island dressing when she ate salads. When Jim first ate salads, he only ate thousand island. He thought it was the only salad dressing in the world. Wendy may have disappointed Jim when she told him there were others. Maybe Caitlyn was thinking the same thing. Like father, like daughter, Jim thought.
While Jim was working hard on his salad, he felt something running down his leg. Jim looked down to investigate. It was the pointed toe of one of Sydney’s black dress pumps. Jim did not say a word. He just went back to his salad. Meanwhile, Nikki had a question for Jim. “Is it true what I’ve been hearing about you and Sydney?”
“Yes, Nikki. It is. I do find Sydney to be a sweet and beautiful person.”
Sydney just sat there, smiled, and gazed her eyes at Jim. Julie had something to say. “Nikki, it looks like I may be doing a wedding sometime in the future. I have been wanting to do a wedding ever since I became the minister at Salem Church.”
April Lynn raised her hand and said, “Sister, it looks to me like you may get your wish.”
Julie said, “I do love doing weddings.”
Jim continued to work on his salad. Sydney had already finished hers. Before long, her hand was softly running up his upper leg. Once again, Jim looked down to see what was going on. Jim could have said something to Sydney about it. But instead, he just took her hand, put it up to his face, and he kissed it. Sydney smiled at Jim, and she put her head on his shoulder. Then Jim said, “I think there may be wedding bells in the future. I don’t know when, but it could happen.”
Then Sydney asked Jim, “Can we do it like your wedding to Candi?”
Jim answered, “I guess that would be nice.”
After everyone finished their salads, Vince asked, “Mom, do you suppose we could change the radio station?”
Nikki said, “Sure, Vince. I guess I’m ready for something different.”
Vince went into the living room to change the station on the stereo. He put it on one of Charlotte’s best top 40 stations. The song now playing was from a group called Black Oak Arkansas. Jim Dandy. Marissa said, “Jim, I suppose that song is about you!”
Everybody at the table just laughed. They thought what Marissa said was a riot! Jim said, “Yes, Marissa. I guess it is. I remember that song from a commercial.”
“Yes, Jim. What commercial?” Allison asked.
Jim looked at everyone for a moment. Then, the answer to Allison’s question came out. “Jim Dandy Instant Grits!”
Once again, everyone laughed.
Nikki was now ready to bring out the main course. Vince helped, but this time he and his mother got some help from Jim and Rebecca. He got a look at the plates. Rotisserie chicken. And to go with it, scalloped potatoes, pea salad (a mixture of green peas, onions and mayonnaise) and yeast rolls.
Nikki asked Mark, “How has Kendra been doing since being put on bed rest?”
Mark answered, “She’s still hanging in there. She’s more than ready for our new baby daughter to be born.”
Then Nikki said, “Mark, I know you’re bummed about the fact that the baby’s going to be a girl. But I know you’ll love the baby, regardless.”
“Yes, Nikki. I will,” Mark said.
Then Jim said, “I know I have five girls. But I did want a son. Candi and I talked about that before the plane crash.”
Nikki asked Mark, “How have Simon and Ariel been doing?”
Mark answered, “They’re doing well, and so has Nelson.”
Nikki said, “I saw Nelson at the car show. He looked a little down.”
Jim said, “Yes. I know. I’m just wondering if maybe jealousy is rearing its ugly head.”
“What do you mean, Jim?” Sydney asked.
Everyone sat and looked at each other for a moment. It did not take long for everyone to figure out what Jim was talking about. Jim said, “I got a hunch Nelson could be jealous about becoming a big brother, and to twins.”
Mark said, “I know what that’s like. My two oldest girls went through it when we became new parents. Kristyn went through it, but Kellie was the worst!”
Then Sydney said, “I know that. When Kristyn and Brittany were born, Kellie just kept to herself. She did stay with me and Mom and Alex. Simon and Ariel were already married and had their own place.”
Nikki said, “I don’t think Vince and Marissa went through it when Rodney was born.”
Then Vince asked, “Mom, did I go through it when Marissa was born?”
Nikki answered, “No, Vince. I don’t think you did. In fact, I think you were quite excited about Marissa’s arrival.”
Right away, everybody noticed Nikki’s British accent. That prompted Julie to ask, “Nikki, are you from the United Kingdom by any chance?”
Nikki answered, “I’m originally from London, England. I moved to America when I was just a kid.”
Julie said, “Pardon my saying so, but I just noticed the accent.”
“Why, thank you, Julie. I guess the accent can be a dead giveaway.”
April Lynn said, “I know a lot of good music acts come out of England.”
Nikki said, “I know. The Beatles. They’re from Liverpool, you know. I grew up some in Liverpool. But my parents and I soon moved back to London.”
Jim said, “I know another great sixties group from Liverpool. They’re called Gerry and the Pacemakers.”
Nikki said, “Jim, you are absolutely right.”
Then Caitlyn asked Nikki, “Is it true what I hear about driving a car in England, it’s on the left side of the road?”
“Yes, Caitlyn. Not only that, the steering wheel is on the right side of the car.”
“What do you mean by that?” Caitlyn asked.
Jim answered that question. “Caitlyn, honey. You remember when you showed me that Matchbox car and you didn’t understand why the steering wheel is on the other side? That’s because the car is from England.”
Nikki said, “Jim, I’ll have you and the others know that Matchbox cars came from England. What was the car Caitlyn showed you?”
Jim answered, “A Ford. I think it was called a Cortina.”
Nikki said, “Yes, Jim. That kind of Ford was a popular one in England.”
Then Jim said, “I do watch a really good TV show about cars. It’s from England. Top Gear.”
Nikki said, “Jim, that’s a good show. I have some magazines based on the TV show. I can give you some of them if you’d like.”
“Sure, Nikki. That’ll be great,” Jim said.
Soon, dinner was finished. Now it was on to dessert. Nikki made parfaits made with orange and cherry Jell-O and Cool Whip. They ate them, along with the doughnuts and cake brought by April Lynn and Allison. They drank iced tea with those desserts. Everyone thought it was good, especially Jim. Nikki announced that the Jell-O was the sugar free kind. No one minded that. It was still good.
After dessert, everyone gathered in the living room. Nikki asked, “Jim, how long have you been at the car selling thing?”
Jim said, “Going on twenty-nine years. I worked for Pam Gilmore’s used car lot on South Mint Street from 1984 until she sold it to my father in 1987. I worked for my father from then until I joined Queen City Chevrolet in 1990. And I’ve been there ever since.”
“Wow! Quite a history!” Nikki exclaimed.
Jim said, “My father reopened the used car lot a while back. He and one of my half-sisters, Renee Templeton, run the place. Paulina Gilmore works there also.”
Then Nikki said, “That’s a good thing. I just bought my Camaro from Walter.”
Then Mark said, “I’ve been working with Jim at Queen City Chevrolet all that time.”
Jim said, “Yes, Mark. You’ve been working for me.”
Then Rebecca added, “I work in the office at Queen City Chevrolet. Jim and Mark gave me the job.”
“We make a good team,” Mark said.
Jim looked around at everyone, and he said, “In 2000, the manager I worked for at Queen City Chevrolet retired. Everyone felt I did so well, I ended up being the manager. I made Mark my assistant manager. Everyone felt it was a good fit.”
Then Mark said, “And as they say, the rest is history!”
Then, Jim thought of something else. He asked, “Nikki, do you remember where you were in August of 1984?”
Nikki answered, “Yes. I was an alcoholic, and I kept to myself. I did work at a nearby Winn-Dixie as a stockperson.”
Jim said, “Well, I do, along with nearly everyone else in this living room.”
April Lynn said, “Yes, Jim. Do tell. Nikki needs to know.”
Jim said, “I’m getting to that. It was a very cloudy Saturday evening in Lansing, in Ashe County. We had just got back from singing at a small church. Me and my friends gathered around a fire pit in the back yard of the house where we were staying. We were making s’mores and roasting hot dogs. We were also having chips and sodas. We were all enjoying ourselves. What we were about to do, that would be very special.”
Once again, Jim looked around. He could see smiles on the faces of those in the living room. But he could also see some were close to tears, especially April Lynn and Marissa.
Nikki asked, “What was this special thing?”
Jim said, “We held hands, and we made a special promise. We promised to remain friends forever, no matter what life would throw at us.”
Right then, there was silence, except for the stereo, which was now playing a song from a seventies group called Poco and the song was called “Barbados.” Everyone looked at each other for a moment. Then, Nikki finally broke the silence and said, “That sounds to me like a very special promise.”
April Lynn’s voice broke as she said, “Yes, Nikki. It most certainly is.” Sydney said, “It’s one we are very proud to be keeping.”
Then Vince said, “And we have every intention of keeping it.”
Jim said, “A promise is a promise, and it should always be kept, regardless. Mom always said that to me.”
Then Rebecca said, “I didn’t know them then. Hannah did, though. I just told her about me being her mother and she seemed okay with it.”
Jim said, “Yes, Rebecca. And I’m glad you told her.”
Then Nikki asked, “Jim, how has your mother been doing?”
Jim answered, “She’s been doing well. She’s living down in Ballantyne off Community House Road.”
Nikki said, “That’s good. And how about those two half-sisters of yours who live with her? What are their names?”
Jim answered, “Emily and Charlie, short for Charlotte. And they’re doing well. Emily works at a Bank of America, and Charlie works at a supermarket.”
“And where does Wendy work?” Nikki asked.
“For a State Farm agent in Ballantyne.”
Nikki said, “Maybe I should look in on them sometime.”
Jim said, “Nikki, I think maybe you should. I know they’d like it. I’ll give you the address before I leave here.”
Then April Lynn and Sydney told Nikki about their jobs. April Lynn talked about how the housing market in Charlotte and the surrounding area was taking off. Sydney talked about how her interior decorating business was doing. She said it was doing well, and she had a lot of clients.
Nikki asked, “Julie, how are the plans for the rebuilding of the church coming along?’
Julie said, “Pretty good. Recently, I took Jim on a ride through Dilworth.”
Then Nikki said, “I understand you two found something.”
Julie said, “We sure did. We found an abandoned church on Romany Road.”
“You mean that old Free Will Baptist?” Nikki asked.
Julie answered, “Yes. That one.”
Jim said, “It’s gonna take a lot of work to fix it up. But I know we’ll be up to the challenge.”
Julie described the conditions in the church building. “The cushions on the pews are all but shot. The pool is full of green, stagnated water. The fellowship hall is in bad need of repair. The carpet needs to be replaced. I think we can get it all done, but it will take some work.”
Nikki nodded her head in agreement. Then she said, “I feel the same way. I also feel that fixing up that old church building just may be less expensive than building a new building from scratch.”
Everyone agreed with what Nikki said. Then Julie said, “I hope to have Salem Church up and running real soon.”
Then Nikki asked, “April Lynn, have you got a boyfriend?”
April Lynn giggled, and then she answered, “No, Nikki. I don’t.”
“You are very pretty. I just figured some nice man might have gotten a hold of you.”
“No, Nikki. I am in no hurry. After all, I do have a son and I do have to think about him. And thank you for telling me I’m pretty.”
“Yes, April Lynn. I suppose. Don’t rush into anything.”
Then Jim said, “After I lost Candi, I felt the same way about my daughters. Now, I have someone who would be more than willing to accept my daughters.”
Sydney said, “Jim, you know I will accept your daughters.”
Then, Jim noticed something in the living room. It was a picture of the old Hotel Charlotte. It was framed, and it was in black and white. Jim said, “I remember that old place on West Trade Street. It broke my heart when the place was imploded.”
Jim remembered that event. It was a cold Sunday in November of 1988. He had only been out of high school for five months. Jim had passed the old Hotel Charlotte many times in the first nineteen years of his life. A few times when he was younger, his mother took him for breakfast or dinner at a restaurant on West Trade Street near the hotel. Then came that moment in November of 1988. The old Hotel Charlotte was imploded. Jim saw the whole thing from the window of a hospital room at Mercy Hospital, where he and Wendy were visiting with a shut-in from Salem Church. When he saw it, it nearly brought a tear to his eye, probably because Jim always thought it was a part of Charlotte, just like The Mint Museum and Freedom Park. Now, not only was the Hotel Charlotte gone, so was that restaurant he liked.
Nikki said, “I did live in that old hotel when I moved here with my parents.”
“That must have been a very long time ago,” Jim said.
Nikki said, “It was. It was small, but it was okay. Plus, we got to see every building in Charlotte lit up at night.”
Jim said, “I know you did. The Charlotte skyline is beautiful when it’s lit up. There’s no denying that.”
Nikki asked, “Jim, have you heard from Trisha Robertson lately?”
Jim answered, “No, not since the plane crash. I know she’s a flight attendant. She’s going to all kinds of places.”
Then Nikki had another question. This one was for Julie. “Julie, have you heard from Leanne McClendon since Todd was killed in that car accident?”
Julie answered, “The last time I heard from her was about a year ago.”
Nikki said, “I liked her and Trisha. Any idea where Leanne is living now?”
Julie answered, “Last time I heard from her, she was living out west.”
“Any idea where?” Nikki asked.
Julie answered, “Texas. El Paso, I think.”
Everyone enjoyed some more conversation. Around ten o’ clock, everyone left and headed for their houses. Jim went home with some copies of Faerie and Top Gear magazines. Everyone thanked Nikki and her kids for this wonderful evening.
😊
Part 2 Follows.
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2022.06.08 00:09 jim21869 Friends and Family: A New Beginning (Chapter 13) Part 1

This chapter will be done in TWO PARTS.
It was now the first week of November of 2012. Two months had passed since that get-together on Labor Day. The weather had started to get a lot cooler. Leaves were falling all over Charlotte. There were still plenty of leaves on the trees.
Julie called for another meeting concerning Salem Church. It was held at Julie’s house. This time, the meeting involved Amber. The meeting also involved Jim, Mark, Vince, Kurt, Rebecca, Malachi and Scout. Chelsea, Kristyn, Natalie, Morgan and Megan were also in attendance. Julie insisted that they attend for one good reason. There will come a day when you and the younger ones will have to deal with serious church business, and you will need to be prepared for whatever may happen. Julie talked April Lynn and Ashley into baby-sitting Malachi and Julie’s young children. There were some items Julie wanted to discuss.
The first one involved the idea of a beauty contest. From what Julie said, it looked like the plans were starting to take some shape. Jim asked her, “Who all are planning on participating?”
Julie answered, “Oh, we got some good ones. Mackenzie Courtland said she’d participate. So did all four of my daughters. Carmen, Cara and Amina also said they’d like to participate. Three more girls from the church, Emma and Nevaeh Prescott and Cake Cummings, said they’d like to take part.”
Jim answered that question first. “Rex Prescott, the man who owns that car dealership on South Boulevard that sells Cadillacs, Buicks and GMC trucks. Emma’s his daughter and Nevaeh’s his granddaughter. Liz Prescott is Nevaeh’s mother.”
Then Kurt said, “Cake is daughter to Suzanne. She works for an interior decorator on Park Road. I understand Sydney’s been trying to get Suzanne to work for her.”
Jim said, “Yes, Kurt. You understand right.”
Then Rebecca asked, “What kind of a name is Cake?”
“What do you mean, Rebecca?” Julie asked.
Rebecca said, “Come on, you all. I’ve heard some rather trippy names in my life. Peaches, Speedy, Butterfly, I even knew a boy in Birmingham named Happy. But Cake? What’s up with that?”
Julie said, “It was told that Suzanne was eating chocolate cake when she became pregnant with Cake. She was also eating chocolate cake during her cravings and when she went into labor. Maybe that was why she decided to call her daughter Cake. The name stuck.”
Rebecca said, “Okay. I see.”
Then Jim said, “Lauren and Caitlyn said they want to be contestants in this beauty contest.”
Then Mark asked, “Kristyn, you’re participating, aren’t you?”
Kristyn answered, “Yes, Dad.”
Then Rebecca said, “Samantha said she wasn’t interested. But Kayla said she would. Kayla can play guitar and she would like to do that if that's okay with you all.”
Julie said, “Sure, Rebecca. We’ll be happy to have Kayla participate. And yes, she can play her guitar if she’d like.”
Then Jim said, “Lindsay plays guitar and she’s participating. She’ll be playing her guitar.”
“Jim, you couldn’t talk Valerie into taking part as a contestant, couldn’t you?” Julie asked.
Jim answered, “No, Julie. I couldn’t. And I guess I don’t intend to force the issue. Valerie said she would be happy to be a judge.”
Julie said, “I guess that’ll be okay. Russell also said he would be a judge. He spoke to Crystal. She insisted that Russell take that position. Crystal also said Sunshine would like to participate.”
Mark said, “That’s good. I don’t even wish to think about how Crystal would react if she didn’t know Russell was about to be a judge.”
Then Amber asked, “Jim, why don’t you be a judge?”
Jim thought about it for about a minute. And then he said, “I don’t know. I wonder how Sydney would react to that.”
Mark said, “Jim, need I remind you that Sydney is my sister. I’m pretty sure she’ll take that as well as Crystal did with Russell.”
Then Jim said, “Okay. I’ll think on it some. Then I’ll tell Sydney.”
“Does that mean you’ll do it?” Julie asked Jim.
Jim let out a deep breath and said, “I’ll think on it.”
Then Julie said, “I would like to hold it the first week of December.”
Mark gave Julie a strange look, and then he asked her, “That close to Christmas? You think that’s smart?”
Julie answered, “Yes, Mark. Sure.”
Then Jim said, “Why not? I think that’s when girls can look their prettiest.”
Vince added, “And that’s when they are the sweetest.”
Julie laughed as she heard that. Kurt said, “Sure. Why not? Oh, yes. Summer said she’d love to participate.”
Vince said, “I may ask Marissa if she would like to take part.”
Jim said, “Vince, that would be great. Marissa may not be able to walk. But I have heard this before. Beauty can come from within.”
“And that it can, Jim,” Kristyn said.”
Then Natalie said, “Vince, wear Marissa down if you have to. I think it would be a good idea for her. I think it could help build her confidence in herself.”
Then Julie shifted to her next item. “Okay, you all. Next item of business. The summer has passed, and we never had another car show. Maybe we should do it, with the holiday season coming up and all that.”
Jim said, “Yes, Julie. Maybe we should talk about that.”
Julie said, “I want to try and do it just like we did when we held it a few months ago. Hopefully, we can get some more cars.”
Then Jim asked, “You think Victoria would be willing to set up her concession trailer?”
Julie said, “I can ask her. I’m sure she would be glad to set up the trailer. Victoria’s new catering business is really taking off from what I’ve been hearing.”
Jim said, “That’s good. The holiday season just seems to make popcorn and Coke taste better.”
That got a laugh out of everyone. Vince said, “Yes, Jim. I guess it does.”
Everyone seemed to agree with what Jim just said. Julie said she would get a hold of Victoria and get her to cater the car show, which she also wanted to hold before Christmas. Jim said, “I suppose it could be a good idea to hold the car show just before Christmas. I don’t know if anyone would want to hold a car show when it gets cold like it does around Christmas.”
Julie said, “Yes, Jim. I do agree. The sooner, the better.”
Vince said, “Let’s hope we can get the same group that brought their cars out in the spring to come out when we hold this one.”
“I’ll try to get those same folks to come out,” Julie said.
Then Jim said, “Okay, then. Let’s get things going. We got Christmas coming up, and we got a church to rebuild.”
Julie asked, “So, are we all in agreement?”
Everyone said yes. Then Julie said, “Okay, then. We’ll hold the car show on the first Saturday in December.”
Then Julie brought up another subject. “I would like to do a Christmas program this year.”
Everyone looked surprised. Jim said, “Julie, we didn’t do one last year. What is making you want to do one this year?”
Julie answered, “As you all know, we didn’t do one last year. I mean, with the explosion and all that. We’re trying to get things back on track. I’m sure we’re well on our way.”
“What have you got in mind, Julie?” Amber asked.
Julie answered, “We probably won’t be doing the usual Christmas play, but we can set up a nativity scene. I would like to do a Christmas concert from our youth ensemble. Maybe some drinks and snacks after the program.”
“That sounds good,” Scout said.
Then Jim said, “Oh, that does bring back some memories. When I was younger, I looked forward to those programs in church and in school.”
“What kind of memories?” Amber asked.
Jim smiled as he said, “Oh, those were some good memories, all right. Me and the guys always liked to see those pretty girls in dresses and skirts, and the way they carried themselves when they held a microphone. And I enjoyed the snacks that followed those programs. And let’s not forget…”
Julie cut Jim by raising her hand and saying, “Jim, it just so happens we get the picture. Those were good memories, all right.”
Amber gave everyone a strange look and said, “Boy, I wish I was there when you all were younger.”
Mark said, “Amber, you had to have been there. Those were some good times.”
“I’ll never forget them,” Jim added.
“You never would,” Julie said.
Then Jim said, “Someone once told me this. History does have a way of repeating itself. Now, our younger ones are doing what we did when we were younger. I mean, making that special promise, and the girls wearing dresses and skirts, and all those things.”
Scout said, “Yes, Jim. We all know what you mean. It does make us all happy.”
Then Julie said, “Okay, you all. Is this something we’re all in agreement on?”
Once again, everyone said yes. Then Julie said, “Okay, then. We’ll hold it on the Sunday before Christmas. I’m looking forward to it already.”
Jim laughed and said, “Yes, Julie! So am I!”
Then Julie said, “Okay. Let’s get things going. I would like to break ground on the new church as soon as possible.”
After all that, it was time for some cake and soda. There were three cakes, and Julie got all three from the bakery of the nearby Food Lion. There was a chocolate cake, a pineapple cake, and a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Jim got him one piece of each and a cup of Coke. Jim sat down in a chair facing a window that faced the Charlotte skyline. Jim looked at the beautifully lit skyline as he ate his cakes. Jim thought about Thanksgiving. He knew it was coming up. He knew he had to get a menu planned. He knew he wanted to deep fry a turkey. Just a few weeks ago, Jim began work on his kitchen and his big dining room (the one he used for special occasions). Jim found him an O scale model train at a recent garage sale. This one was a passenger train. The train would run along the walls of the huge dining room, along with the freight train. In the kitchen, Jim got him a new refrigerator and a new sink. He also got a new microwave oven. The new cabinets were also in place. Jim was very proud of the progress he had made on the kitchen thus far. He wanted to have everything ready by Thanksgiving so that his friends and family could see what he had done.
Everyone got ready to leave Julie’s house. Scout looked across the street, and he asked, “Mark, why is there a U-Haul truck in front of your mother’s house?”
Mark looked a little confused. He said, “I’m not sure. Mom never said anything to me about needing a U-Haul truck.”
Then Jim asked Mark, “Autumn isn’t leaving this neighborhood, isn’t she?”
Mark said, “No, Jim. Of course not. None of us Cavanaughs would ever leave Charlotte for anything.”
Then Kristyn said, “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
Scout said, “Mark, I’ve been hearing some rumors that your mother’s new boyfriend and his two daughters are moving in. You know anything about that?”
Mark answered, “No, Scout. Mom never said anything to me about that.”
The subject was dropped, and everyone left for their houses. Rebecca told Kurt to have Hannah contact her as soon as possible. Maybe she wanted to tell Hannah her secret that she had been holding for a long time.
Jim walked past Autumn’s house. He looked to see if either, or both, of Tim’s vehicles (a classic Corvette and a new Ford F-150) were in the driveway. Jim saw neither vehicle. It was dark. Despite the streetlights being on, it was difficult to see anything. Jim and Chelsea just kept walking on to their house. When they got there, they saw the lamp in the living room was still on. As they walked inside, they saw Lauren was still up. She was reading a magazine and listening to some music. Jim asked, “Lauren, why are you still up?”
Lauren answered, “I just wanted to read a magazine and listen to some music. And besides, I was waiting up on you two.”
“That’s nice. I take it your sisters have already gone to bed,” Jim said.
Lauren said, “Yes, Dad. I put Valerie and Caitlyn to bed about an hour ago, and Lindsay just now went to bed.”
Then Chelsea said, “I guess I best be getting on to bed myself. I sure am tired.”
Chelsea gave her father a kiss on his cheek, and then she headed upstairs to bed. Meanwhile, Jim and Lauren went into the kitchen. Jim made him and Lauren a cup of iced tea, and they also ate some Cheetos. Lauren asked Jim how the meeting went. Jim told Lauren about Julie coming up with the ideas of a beauty contest and a car show before Christmas. Jim also told Lauren about Julie’s plans to hold a Christmas concert involving the youth ensemble. Lauren said, “Dad, I know Julie didn’t hold a Christmas program last year, with the church explosion and all that. I think it would be a good idea to hold a Christmas program this year. It would be good to see Salem Church get back on track, even if we have to hold services in the elementary school auditorium.”
Jim said, “Yes, Lauren. I do agree. Maybe after the first of the year, we can get things going. That’s what Julie’s pushing for.”
Jim and Lauren sat there and ate their Cheetos and drank their iced tea. Jim and Lauren looked at each other for a moment, and then Lauren finally said, “It will be good to have the church back to what it used to be. Last Christmas just wasn’t the same without our church.”
Lauren knew what she meant, and so did Jim. Last year, there were no Christmas activities at the church. After the explosion, everyone felt it was not a good idea. Peter Marlowe was killed, and Julie McClendon was hurt badly. During the Christmas season in 2011, Julie was still trying to heal from her injuries. And to add to that, the church was pretty much gone. No one seemed to be in the holiday spirit. Now, a little over a year after the explosion, everyone seemed to be getting their holiday spirits back. Maybe there would be no play about the birth of Jesus. But there would still be a nativity scene, which the church used for an outdoor decoration. Everyone would still do their best to enjoy it.
Jim and Lauren got through with their Cheetos and iced tea. It was almost eleven o’ clock. They went on to bed.
😊
That Sunday, Jim and his girls went to services, along with nearly everyone else in the neighborhood. Julie told everyone about her plans for the upcoming weeks. That included the beauty contest, the car show and the Christmas program. She also showed them an artist’s drawing of the new church. It didn’t look like it would be a large one, but everyone thought it would do. During the summer of 2012, workers finished tearing down the old church and clearing out the lot. Julie said, “If all goes well, we’ll be breaking ground in a few weeks. I am really anxious to get the ball rolling on this. I hope to have the church built by this time next year.”
And so did everybody else.
The rest of the service was simple. A few hymns and a responsive reading. Then Julie delivered a sermon on Thanksgiving, which was only four days away. She talked about how everyone should be thankful for what they have. She spoke about family, and how everyone should be grateful that they can have a Thanksgiving gathering, when many around the world could not. Julie said to the congregation, “While we are all having our usual Thanksgiving feast of turkey and potatoes and pumpkin pie, some around the world will be eating little, if anything at all. Also, while we’ll be watching parades and football games on TV, some in other countries will be going through harsh conditions, acts of terrorism, and some may even be separated from their families. Let all that sink in for a moment.”
Everyone was aware of what Julie was saying. Sure, they lived in a nice neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. Of course, Julie was referring to countries where trouble was abundant. Everyone thought the same thing. It sure is good we don’t have to live through stuff like that. We all do have so much to be thankful for. Sydney was sitting next to Jim. She quickly grabbed his hand. Then she looked at him. For the past several weeks, Sydney was wondering when Jim would propose marriage to her. Since that day in Cramerton when Jim said Sydney would be his girlfriend, they have been out on numerous dates. Mostly, they have been on dinner dates. Jim and Sydney recently went to the Southern Christmas Show at the Park Expo Center on East Independence Boulevard. It was the first time they ever went to the annual event. They both enjoyed it. They did go to an occasional movie. In 2012, movies had gotten rather expensive, and they felt it would be just as well to watch a movie on DVD and make popcorn. Jim would propose to Sydney, in time. In the meantime, they would continue to date. And, just as it was when Jim was dating Candi, his relationship with Sydney would continue to grow and stand the test of time, just like Jim’s friendship with those in the neighborhood.
Julie closed out the service with a few announcements. Julie seemed to be ready to hold the car show and beauty contest. So much so, she decided to hold both on the first weekend in December (the beauty contest would be held on Friday, and the car show would be held on Saturday). Julie asked anyone interested in participating in those two events to contact her as soon as possible. After the service ended, Jim told Julie he would get on that picture of Charlotte as soon as possible. He said he knew someone who could make that large picture. Julie said she would pay for it if need be. Julie said she would put up flyers for both events at neighborhood businesses. That would include Queen City Chevrolet, Faulkner Motors, Scout’s gas station, the neighborhood Food Lion, a new Kroger on East Boulevard that had just recently opened (Jim had just bought some Thanksgiving food from that store), Sterling Drug Store, the hair styling salon Cheryl Marlowe worked at, Tim Norwood’s hardware store and the Sunbeam Bread Store.
During that week, there were a lot of interests in both the beauty contest and the car show. Nearly everyone who entered the car show in May would return for the next car show. As Jim predicted, all his daughters except Valerie would enter the beauty contest. Valerie did agree to be a judge, as did Lily Courtland, Russell Gilmore, Walter Faulkner and Dennis Jacobson. Also that week, Jim spent some time after work helping some guys get that big picture of Charlotte in place. Jim did make some time to get some food for Thanksgiving. Again this year, Thanksgiving dinner would be held at Jim’s house.
😊
That Wednesday evening, it took Jim and all five of his daughters to get Thanksgiving dinner started. Svetlana did help some before she left for her home at around seven o’ clock. Jim got a ham in the oven, got oil in the outdoor deep fryer, and he got the turkey thawed out. Chelsea made three pies and a cake. Valerie and Caitlyn made the salad. Lindsay made the mashed potatoes and gravy. Lauren made the stuffing, using oysters (thanks to a recipe she and Jim found on the Internet). Everything else would wait until tomorrow. By ten o’ clock, everyone was pretty well wiped out. The girls went to bed, but Jim stayed up a little while longer. He watched some TV, including the late news. Just before Jim went to bed, he got a phone call from Autumn. The first question she asked Jim, “Would it be okay if I brought a Watergate salad I made this evening?”
Jim answered, “Sure, Autumn. You most certainly may.”
Then Autumn said, “Thanks, Jim. We’ve been busy all evening.”
“Autumn. I know what you mean by that. My girls and I have also been busy.”
“Yes, Jim. Preparing for holiday meals is a major job.”
“Yes, Autumn. It sure is. But when you think of it, the good food and the good company make it all worthwhile.”
Autumn said, “Jim, I agree with you one hundred percent.”
Then Autumn asked Jim another question. “Jim, Alex made quite a bit of cheddar biscuits. Would it be okay if we brought them?”
Jim answered, “Absolutely. I do love those cheddar biscuits.”
Then Autumn asked, “Jim, would it be okay if I brought three more things?”
“What three things?”
“Tim, Carmen and Cara.”
“Autumn, you most certainly may bring them. I like them, and they’re welcome here anytime.”
“Thanks, Jim. I sure do appreciate it.”
Then Jim said, “Autumn, it is getting late and we do have a big day tomorrow. I’ll see you all tomorrow. And don’t forget to bring those things.”
Autumn said, “Sure, Jim. Sleep well and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Before he went to bed, Jim took a few minutes to check his phone for messages. There were several. Tia told Jim she and her sisters would be there, but her mother had to work. Pam said she and her sons and daughter would be there and that she would bring a pistachio cake. April Lynn said she and Ryan would be there tomorrow to help Jim and his daughters with anything that needed to be done. Jonathan said he would be there and that he would be bringing Amber (they were now dating). Zoe said she and Allison would be bringing a vegetable tray with ranch dressing. Zoe also said the Marlowe twins, Jonah and Cat, would be joining them (Cat was short for Catalina). And of course, the others would be there as well. Jim already had the train rolling along the walls of the big dining room. Jim spent the last few weeks redecorating the kitchen and the dining room, with some help from Sydney and Rachel. Now, everything was done. Jim was proud and was ready to show everyone what was done.
😊
Part 2 follows.
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2022.05.30 21:41 London-Roma-1980 [PRESEASON] Ohio Valley Conference Preview: One Transfer Decision Rocks the Top, while Two New Schools Rock the Bottom

The Ohio Valley Conference saw a lot of change over the past season. With some of their schools going to the Atlantic Sun, the OVC invited two new schools to join them and bring the total to 10 teams. Meanwhile, a transfer within the conference has changed the picture atop the league. Whether it'll stay that way is yet to be seen, and with all the teams in a close bunch, anything is possible.
Little Rock (Derek Fisher, Pete Myers, Rayjon Tucker, Carlos Rogers, Jim Lampley) was the beneficiary of the key decision, as Rogers switched from Tennessee State upon realizing he wouldn't be a top option for very long. Rogers joins a strong Trojans lineup that arrives from the Sun Belt, with Fisher the top target for offense and passing. Coach Mike Newell will be hoping Myers and Tucker can provide extra scoring.
Tennessee State (Patrick Miller, Tahjere McCall, Robert Covington, Monti Davis, Anthony Mason) misses out on their NAIA squads, and on top of that the loss of Rogers leaves them falling behind. However, their one-two punch of Covington and Mason still has the Tigers in a position of threat in the Ohio Valley, and coach John McClendon hopes McCall will improve as time goes by.
Morehead State (Herb Stamper, Xavier Moon, Bob McCann, Lamar Green, Kenneth Faried) is an inside dominance in the Ohio Valley. Faried is a scoring and rebounding machine, and Green is capable of backing him up for the Eagles and coach Donnie Tyndall. McCann is another option for mid-range shooting, and if Moon can improve, the Eagles will have a chance to move up the rankings and maybe steal an NIBL berth.
Eastern Illinois (Kyle Hill, Jay Taylor, Henry Domercant, Jon Collins, Kevin Duckworth) is hoping Taylor proves to be the real deal with his NBA experience. While Taylor's outside shooting will help the Panthers in the future, their present still goes through the big man Duckworth, whom coach Rick Samuels is relying on to get double-doubles when the chips are down. Beyond that, though, there's not much for the team to fall back on, although Domercant may steal a win late.
Tennessee Tech (Wayne Pack, Kevin Murphy, Ron Filipek, Earl Wise, Milos Babic) is a team with a very balanced starting lineup, but the bench may be problematic. Pack leads the a squad with four NBA veterans, with Babic and Filipek hoping to be secondary scoring for the Golden Eagles and coach John Oldham. However, if their starters can't come through, it'll be up to the bench to step up, and the bench is a big dropoff from their starters.
SE Missouri St. (Derek Winans, Antonius Cleveland, Marland Smith, Tyler Stone, William "Bud" Eley) is a team in transition, as Cleveland has become a bigger star and may be the top option for the team. The Hawks are usually relying on inside presence Eley to buoy coach Gary Garner's offense, but the emergence of Cleveland means a second option may help them diversify their offense. The question is how much Cleveland can improve; if it's a lot, the Hawks will move way up.
Tennessee-Martin (Dewayne Powell, Lester Hudson, Mike Liabo, Myles Taylor, Michael Hart) is one of the smallest-town schools in the NIBL, but they have a weapon in Hudson, who once led the NCAA in scoring. Beyond him, though, Taylor is the next best option and things fall a little flat from there. If the Skyhawks are to bring coach Bret Campbell to the promised land, their top two weapons need to go off for 20+ points per game.
SIU-Edwardsville (Kris Davis, Michael Messer, Mark Yelovich, Brandon Jackson, Jalen Henry) is finally off the foot of the OVC table, if only because two new teams have arrived to fill it in. The Cougars are led by Mark Yelovich, the top scorer and rebounder in SIUE history, but after him is a big dropoff. Coach Lennox Forrester, whose team is barely above .300 in NCAA play, will have to hope the supporting cast picks up the slack in order for them to get out of last.
Southern Indiana and Lindenwood are both new to Division I and will be supplied with walk-ons for a few years in order to get up to full strength. USI coach Stan Gouard hopes the Screamin' Eagles will be able to take their Division II success on the hardwood and translate it to the top flight sooner rather than later -- Bellarmine is their blueprint. The Lions, however, come in off a bad year in Division II, and coach Kyle Gerdeman may not last long enough to get to a full team -- he may be coaching the toughest assignment in the NIBL.
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
First Team Derek Fisher, Little Rock Pete Myers, Little Rock Robert Covington, Tennessee State Carlos Rogers, Little Rock Anthony Mason, Tennessee State
Second Team Wayne Pack, Tennessee Tech Lester Hudson, Tennessee-Martin Bob McCann, Morehead State Lamar Green, Morehead State Kevin Duckworth, Eastern Illinois
CONFERENCE PROJECTIONS (each team plays every other team in the conference twice)
  1. Little Rock, 11-7
  2. Tennessee State, 11-7
  3. Morehead State, 11-7
  4. Eastern Illinois, 10-8
  5. Tennessee Tech, 9-9
  6. SE Missouri St., 8-10
  7. Tennessee-Martin, 8-10
  8. SIU-Edwardsville, 8-10
  9. Southern Indiana, 7-11
  10. Lindenwood, 7-11
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2022.04.10 16:53 jim21869 Friends and Family: A New Beginning (Chapter 4)

Thanksgiving dinner was served. Jim gathered everyone in the kitchen. He started off by thanking everyone for showing up. Then he told everyone how fortunate he was to have friends and relatives like the ones he had. Everyone had so much to be thankful for.
Jim asked Julie to give the blessings on the food. Julie thanked The Lord for the food, and for the many blessings bestowed on everyone gathered in the kitchen. She also asked The Lord to watch over those who do not have a home, or friends and family to count on.
After Julie got done, Jim asked the ladies to go first. April Lynn volunteered to get the kids’ plates filled. She said she would get her plate filled after she got done with the kids. Cassie agreed to help April Lynn. Chelsea pushed Marissa in her wheelchair. Marissa agreed to let Chelsea fix her plate.
Amina asked to speak with Jim. They went into the living room. She said, “Jim, there’s something I need to tell you and I hope you won’t be upset.”
Jim said, “Amina, I don’t think you could upset me if you tried. What is it?”
Amina took a deep breath, then she let it out slowly. Then she said, “Jim, I do not eat any meat whatsoever.”
“In other words, you are a vegetarian?”
“Yes, Jim. I am.”
Jim took Amina’s hand and said, “Amina, I am not upset one bit. I have vegetables for dinner. There’s nothing to be ashamed about.”
“Thanks, Jim. I’ll bet you don’t know too many people who are vegetarian.”
“Amina, as a matter of fact, I do know some. I have a couple salespersons at my car dealership who are vegetarian. April Lynn says one of the agents at her real estate office is a vegetarian.”
Then Jim said, “I know Tia is not a vegetarian. But are your mother and sister vegetarians?”
Amina answered, “No, Jim. They’re not. They’ll eat anything.”
Jim and Amina looked at each other. No more was said. They just made their way into the kitchen. Jim said, “Okay, Amina. I did remember saying ladies first in line. Get in there and fix your plate.”
Amina excitedly said, “Yes, Jim! I will!”
After the ladies were done, Jim and the guys made their plates, and then they made their way into the large dining room. Everyone had always enjoyed eating in the large dining room at the Faulkner house. It had three walls with framed magazine ads for cars near the top. They were level, and they were evenly spaced apart. Another wall held a large picture of the Charlotte skyline. At one time, Sydney said, “This dining room sure does have a ‘Jim Faulkner’ feel to it.” Sydney was referring to the car ads and the curio cabinet with model cars in it. Jim had already begun making plans to run a model train along the walls. The train would run on tracks hanging from the ceiling. Jim got the idea from a steakhouse he ate at one evening. When he told everyone about the plan, everyone seemed pleased.
As everyone ate, Svetlana walked in and out of the dining room with plates and bowls of food, and with two-liter bottles of sodas and jugs of iced tea. Everyone thought that at some point, Svetlana should stop serving and sit down and eat with the others. She said she would.
Jim sat at the one end of the table, and Marissa sat on the end closest to the door leading into the kitchen, still in her wheelchair. On Jim’s end, Sydney and April Lynn sat next to Jim on either side. It didn’t take Sydney long for one car ad to catch her attention. It was one for a 1981 Datsun 280-ZX. Sydney said it was her very first car. Sydney said, “I do remember that car. I saved up a lot to buy it.”
Jim said, “Yes, Sydney. I know. You were working at a supermarket if I remember correctly.”
“Yes, Jim. You are correct. I was working at Harris-Teeter at the Park Road Shopping Center.”
“I do remember. I saw you there quite a lot. I was getting ready to go home from work and I got food there.”
“I know. And there were times I saw you there with Candi and your girls.”
Jim said, “I know. Those were some good times.”
Then Mark said, “I remember my first car. That 1970 Oldsmobile convertible. I am glad I kept it.”
Jim said, “Oh, yes. Mark, I do remember that car. You got it when I found out about Renee, my half-sister.”
Jim remembered it, all right. It was in January of 1986. Up until that point, Jim had considered himself an only child. When he got that phone call from Renee on New Year’s Day when Renee told Jim she was his sister, it blew Jim’s mind. And to add insult to injury, his mother told him she was carrying a baby, who would eventually be Emily. Jim was walking outside when Mark pulled up beside him in that Oldsmobile. In the car were Sydney, Julie and Kendra. Mark asked Jim to join him and the girls for a ride around Charlotte. The top was down, and it was cold. After all, it was the first of January. Jim was concerned he would lose his friends because he felt he lied to them about being an only child. But in the end, he didn’t.
Sydney continued to look at the framed car ads. Being an interior decorator, she seemed impressed by how the dining room looked. She said, “Jim, this dining room sure looks nice. I like how the framed ads are level and evenly spaced apart.”
“Thanks, Sydney. I like to make my place look it’s best.”
“I know you do, Jim.”
Then Jim said, “I’m strongly thinking about redecorating my kitchen and living room. The furniture’s in very good shape, so I will be keeping it. I will be considering a fresh coat of paint, and maybe putting in a new stereo system and new speakers. I’m also thinking of new paint and cabinets for the kitchen.”
Sydney smiled at Jim and said, “Okay. Just remember you have a friend who is an interior decorator.”
At that moment, April Lynn gave Sydney a rather murderous look. Sydney asked her, “April Lynn, what’s the matter?”
April Lynn’s face softened up some, then she waved her hand in the direction of the picture of Charlotte and softly said, “Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.”
Most of that time at the table, Sydney’s eyes stayed on Jim. At times, Sydney played with her wavy brown hair. Jim looked at Sydney from time to time, and he would give her a smile. Jim did remember a magazine article he read back in the early eighties about female body language. He knew if a girl played with her hair, she may be interested. Sydney was indeed showing some signs of flirting…with Jim!
Then, Sydney took Jim’s hand, and she said, “Jim, I had a wonderful dream last night.”
“Really? What kind of dream?” Jim asked.
Sydney looked at Jim, smiled, and she said, “Jim, it involved me and you. It was a wedding, in the backyard of this house. All my friends were bridesmaids, and I was holding a microphone and singing to you.”
Jodi quickly put her hand in her face and softly exclaimed, “Dear sweet Jesus!”
Then Ashley said, “Sydney, I know this is leading up to something.”
Sydney did not say a word. She just sat there and looked at everyone. Jim said, “Sydney, if you’ve got something to say, then just say it.”
Sydney finally said it. “Jim, I have a crush on you.”
Lionel Richie was starting to sing “Hello” when Jim softly and slowly said, “Huh, boy!”
For the past few weeks, Sydney made no secret that she had a crush on someone in the neighborhood. Everyone knew about it except Jim and a few others. For a long time, Sydney had worn black pantyhose on her legs. But for those same past few weeks, she had worn suntan pantyhose, as if she were looking for some action, or even some attention. She was wearing suntan pantyhose again today.
Jim was still unsure if he was ready for a commitment. After the explosion at the church, he told Amber Bianucci (the church’s associate pastor who also had a crush on Jim) that he just wanted to be friends with her. If Amber was upset by that, she never showed it. She seemed cool with it. Amber moved to Charlotte from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, with her son and her sisters a few months ago.
Not only did Sydney have a crush on Jim. April Lynn also had a crush on Jim, and she had for about her whole life. She never made any secret about it. April Lynn seemed to have had feelings for Jim when he was with Candi. April Lynn also had feelings for Jim when she was dating Gary Applewood. For a moment, it looked like things were about to come to blows between April Lynn and Sydney. April Lynn said, “Sydney Cavanaugh, I cannot believe you said that about Jim.”
Then Sydney said, “It’s true, April Lynn Holbrook. I’ve had a crush on Jim for about as long as you have.”
April Lynn said, “Yes, but I was a former beauty queen and I have a son.”
Sydney said, “Yes. True, I have no kids. And I did enter a few beauty contests when I was younger. But I have had quite a few boyfriends in my time. Of course, they never lasted. Some found other girlfriends. Some others went back where they came from. And I must remind you I had one get killed in a race car wreck.”
Sydney was talking about her last boyfriend. His name was Lyle McPherson. They were very close to being engaged. They even started planning names for their children. But, back in May of 2011, Lyle was in a bad race car wreck involving his race car at the speedway in Hickory. Lyle’s body was pretty badly burned, and he had numerous internal injuries. He was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He died later that evening. After Lyle’s death, Sydney’s crush on Jim returned. Now, on Thanksgiving Day in 2011, it seemed like Sydney’s feelings for Jim were getting stronger.
April Lynn said, “Yes, I know. And I do have a son. But I really would like to have at least one more child before my biological clock stops ticking.”
Sydney said, “Yes, April Lynn. And I would like to have at least one child myself.”
Ashley said, “You two are still young and have plenty of time. I don’t think I’d worry too much about your biological clocks.”
April Lynn said, “I know. But Sydney and I are both approaching the age of forty.”
Jim said, “April Lynn and Sydney, you are both thirty-seven. I remember when you both were born. You were both born the same year President Richard Nixon resigned from office. 1974.”
Then, Ariel waved her hand in the general direction of East Morehead Street and said, “And we do not talk about stuff like that at the dinner table.”
“Yes. After all, it is Thanksgiving,” Mark said.
It seems Sydney was not the only one at the table who was having a crush on someone. Amina was sitting on the other end of the table. And sitting next to her was Scout. During the whole time at the table, Amina’s eyes never left Scout. But at the same time, she was working hard on her salad and her plate of vegetables. Jim got a look at them and said, “My friends, it does look as though we may have another couple at this table.”
Scout looked at everyone and asked, “Who are we talking about?”
Everyone just sat there and listened to Jack Jones singing “Wives and Lovers” while Scout looked around, trying to find the answer to the question he just asked. Then, Autumn finally said, “Scout, I think everyone’s talking about you and Amina.”
Yolanda said, “Amina, I got a hunch you’ve been kinda sweet on Scout.”
Right then, Scout nearly turned beet red, and Amina blushed. Scout just took Amina’s hand, and he asked her, “You've been gazing at me this whole time?”
Amina, still rather blushed, answered, “Yes, Scout. I have.”
Pam was sitting two places from Scout, with Paulina between the two. Pam said, “Scout, you should ask Amina out on a date sometime.”
Scout exclaimed, “Mom! I can’t believe you would say something like that!”
Then Amina looked at Scout and said, “Don’t worry, Scout. I’ll bet you couldn’t have done it without Pam. I would love to go out with you.”
Scout looked at Amina and said, “I suppose I could take you out. How does this Saturday evening sound?”
“I guess. I have no plans for this Saturday. After dinner, we can discuss it.”
Then, Crystal Kingsbury began to tell everyone about herself. She said she was originally from Cerro Gordo, a small town in Columbus County in the southeastern part of North Carolina. That was also where she graduated from high school. She also graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Crystal had moved to Charlotte in November of 2010. She also said she had been living with her parents in Cerro Gordo and that she had a younger brother in the Army and that he was now stationed at Fort Bragg.
Crystal also told everyone about how she and Russell met. She talked a lot about the day she walked into Sterling Drug for a hot dog and a snack and a Coke. Alex asked Pam, Scout and Paulina how they felt about Russell and Crystal dating. All three said they were comfortable with it.
Crystal was wearing a cream silk dress and high heels of about the same color. Sydney said, “Crystal, you’re very pretty. Really.”
“Thank you, Sydney,” Crystal said.
Then, Toni brought up another subject. “April Lynn, I heard one of your old friends from your high school days is back in town. Someone named Victoria Collingsworth.”
April Lynn said, “Victoria was not really a friend. She was just on the same cheerleading squad with me.”
“Well, anyway. I heard she’s back in town,” Toni said.
April Lynn said, “After we graduated from high school, we lost touch. My fault, mostly.”
Sydney said, “I never really liked Victoria Collingsworth. She was always stuck up, and she thought she was better than anybody else.”
Then Zoe added, “Yeah, that’s true. She just thought she was pretty.”
“Have I met this woman named Victoria?” Jim asked.
April Lynn answered, “No, Jim. I don’t think you did. She lived in a strict Catholic house off Randolph Road near the Mint Museum.”
“With very strict parents, I take it,” Mark said.
April Lynn said, “Yes. In every sense of the word.”
Zoe said, “I heard her parents made her go to Belmont Abbey College when she really wanted to go to Wake Forest University.”
Sydney said, “Yeah. But she only stayed at Belmont Abbey for about a year. Then she got rebellious and went to West Virginia University.”
April Lynn said, “In addition to being stuck up, she was also rebellious.”
Sydney said, “I also remember she got everyone in school stirred up. Especially the other girls. Victoria always liked dressing with modesty. And she always complained to the other girls. Your slip’s showing. Girls don’t wear short shorts. Cross your legs. Sit like a lady in a dress. Don’t use so much makeup. Stand up straight. On and on and on. We couldn’t stand her. We got no help.”
April Lynn said, “Whatever she learned at West Virginia University, I hope she was successful at it.”
Then Svetlana entered the dining room. She asked, “Anybody want anything else?”
Amina asked, “You got any more of that squash casserole?”
Svetlana answered, “Yes, Miss Amina. I do. Anyone else?”
Jim handed Svetlana his plate and said, “I wouldn’t mind a couple more pieces of fried chicken and a slice of ham.”
Svetlana took Jim’s plate, and then she took Amina’s. It seemed like everyone else was about ready for dessert, and there would be plenty of it. Paulina said, “I know I’m ready for some dessert, especially cherry cheese pie.”
Pam said, “Paulina, you would be.”
After Svetlana returned with Jim and Amina’s plates, the subject of Jim’s car dealership came up. Julie asked, “How are things at Queen City Chevrolet?”
Jim answered, “Pretty good. Just put the new 2012 models in the lot. We also got quite a bit of used cars as well.”
Then Mark said, “We just sold a couple of those Chevy Volts.”
Then Jim said, “I think this year could end as one of our best years at Queen City Chevrolet.”
Mark said, “I know. I hope 2012 is the same way. Probably won’t be as exciting as 2011, seeing as it was the one hundredth anniversary of Chevy.”
Jim remembered it well. He put a special black Corvette in his showroom and planned to keep it there. He bought two Hot Wheels models of that car on eBay. He kept one and gave the other to Valerie. She put that car on a shelf in her room.
Then Mark said, “I’m thinking about getting me a new truck soon.”
“What kind of truck?” Jonathan asked.
Mark answered, “A Chevy. What else?”
Simon said, “Get a Silverado, Mark. I hear those are good trucks.”
Mark said, “Yeah, and they are big.”
Alex said, “Mark, I figured you’d go for the smaller Colorado. It looks like it would be a lot easier on gas.”
Then Jim spoke up. “Hold on, Alex. The larger trucks can be just as easy on gas, if not better.”
Mark added, “Plus, I got a camper, and a trailer with a race car. I need something I can pull those with.”
“Pull those things with a smaller truck, and you’ll have transmission problems in no time,” Walter said.
Then Mark asked, “Walter, how are things at Faulkner Motors?”
Walter answered, “Not bad at all. Sold a lot of automobiles these past few weeks. No complaints from the customers. They must be happy.”
Kate, smiling like something was up, said to Walter, “Now tell them about your news.”
Walter smiled back at Kate. Then he said, “I’ve got something to tell you. It looks like Faulkner Motors is going to be sponsoring a gospel music program.”
“Really? What program?” Sydney asked.
“Do you all know about ‘Charlotte’s Gospel Show’ on TV every Sunday morning?” Walter asked.
Everyone looked at each other for about a minute. Then Jim answered, “Yes, I do. It comes on Channel 3 every Sunday.”
Then Walter said, “Faulkner Motors will be sponsoring it.”
“Really? That’s cool!” Julie said.
Then Kate said, “And you all know about the company I work for, Charlotte Pet Food Company.”
Jim said, “I know. They make Paws Cat Food and a dog food called Top Dog.”
Kate said, “They’ll be sponsoring it, too.”
Then Walter added, “And Jim, I understand Channel 3 wants Queen City Chevrolet to sponsor it also.”
For a moment, Jim looked rather stunned. He recovered quickly, and he said, “Oh boy. I hope I can. Maybe it could give Queen City Chevrolet some exposure.”
Walter said, “I know it will, Jim. We can sponsor the show on alternate weeks. One week, I can put a couple of my cars on the show. The other week, you can put a couple of yours on the show.”
“Sounds good, Dad. I hope we can do it.”
“Okay, Jim. I got the first show.”
“Any idea which two cars you are going to put on the show?” Jim asked Walter.
Walter said, “I’ve got two in mind. A red 1991 GMC truck and a black 2009 Camaro convertible.”
“Okay, Dad. Those sound like two good automobiles.”
Like Jim, Walter also liked talking about cars. And he seemed to be picking up a habit. He started liking using the word your, as in, “You use your Valvoline thirty-weight oil.” Or as in, “Your classic Chevelle makes for a race car.”
Mark asked Walter, “What kind of racing oil would you recommend for my classic race car?”
“What kind of car is it?” Walter asked Mark.
“A 1967 Impala with a modified eight-cylinder racing engine.”
“Your Valvoline thirty-weight. But you also want to put in your high-performance racing oil filter. Fram and Purolator are the best in my opinion.”
“What about Mobil One?” Mark asked.
“You could. Wix also makes a good racing filter.”
“Okay, Walter. Maybe I’ll use a Purolator. I’ll also use Purolator Air Filters.”
Then Walter asked Mark, “Now, what about your spark plugs?”
“Champion,” Mark answered.
Walter said, “Good for you, Mark. You can’t do better than your Champions. And how about your tires?”
Mark answered, “Firestone. A friend told me to use them.”
Walter said, “Good. Firestone, B.F. Goodrich, Uniroyal and Goodyear are the best.”
Then Mark asked Walter, “What about a good racing fuel?”
“What kind have you been using?”
“I’ve been using VP Racing Fuel.”
Walter gave Mark a strange look. Then he said, “Oh, Mark. Why do you use that? Switch to your Sunoco Racing Fuel. Or maybe Gulf, Shell or Union 76. Phillips 66 also makes a good one.”
“Thanks, Walter. I just might.”
Then Walter said, “And be sure you use your STP treatments. Both gas and oil. And don’t forget about your Prestone Coolant.”
“I will, Walter. I do use high octane racing fuel.”
“Good for you, Mark. A hundred octane should do you well.”
At that moment, Jim got a look at the ladies. He could probably sense what they were thinking. Racing cars. Very interesting conversation at the dinner table. Jim thought Mark should be well informed. After all, Walter did race cars before and he knew what was best.
But Sydney had a question. “Do you suppose a one hundred fifty octane racing fuel could be good for Mark’s racing car, seeing that it is an older car?”
Walter said, “No way, Sydney. Where did you see that high an octane gas?”
Sydney said, “I saw it at a convenience store in Mooresville a few days ago. I was on my way back to Charlotte from one of my interior decorating appointments.”
Then Walter said, “Mark doesn’t need anything powerful than your one hundred twenty octane racing fuel.”
“Unless I intend to run in a Formula One car,” Mark said.
Walter said, “Or for running an old military personnel carrier. I recall some years back in Asheville, a man came into the garage I was working at for some gas and auto parts. He bought every can of STP oil treatment I had, and he filled up with that very high-octane gas. He had a truck load of illegals in it and I didn’t know about it until I heard about it on the news later that night. The police stopped the truck on Interstate 40 about halfway to Hickory. Those immigrants ended up getting in some heavy-duty trouble with the feds. The police ended up taking the truck apart to search it. It had your super heavy-duty engine in it.”
Then Rachel asked, “Dad, can we please talk about something more uplifting at the Thanksgiving dinner table besides race cars and illegal immigrants?”
“I suppose I could,” Walter said.
Right then, everyone was looking at Jake and Rebecca. Both had been quiet since dinner was served, especially Jake. Jim asked him, “Jake, is your dinner okay?”
Jake answered, “Yeah, Jim. Sure. It really is good.”
“Thanks, Jake. I’m really glad you and your family are back in Charlotte.”
Jake did not say a word. Then Jim asked Rebecca, “How about you, Rebecca? How’s your dinner?”
Rebecca answered, “Yes, Jim. It’s just this. It’s been some time since we had a Thanksgiving dinner this good.”
Jim did not say a word. He just smiled at Jake and Rebecca.
At that moment, Jim got a look at Ariel looking hard at her plate. He asked her, “Ariel, is something wrong with the dinner?”
Ariel looked up and answered, “No, Jim. It’s good. Really.”
For the past few weeks, it seemed as though Ariel was not feeling well. Some thought it was probably some kind of bug going around. No one even asked Ariel if there was any possibility she could be pregnant. Simon and Ariel were parents to Nelson, their son. But Ariel had said many times that she wanted to have another child. She did tell Simon about wanting another child. That subject came up one day in Jim’s office at Queen City Chevrolet. Simon said to Jim that he would always be open to Ariel having more children. Simon always said his intention was to make Ariel happy. And if that meant having a large family, then so be it. Simon said in Jim’s office, “It is what it is.”
And there was no doubt that subject would come up again.
😊
Meanwhile, Jim got a look at the kid’s table. It looked like there was some interesting conversation going on. There seemed to be a debate about which basketball team in the Atlantic Coast Conference was the best. Jim knew his three oldest daughters rooted for the UNC Tar Heels. Valerie was for the Clemson Tigers. Caitlyn rooted for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Some of the kids were debating between the Tar Heels, Duke Blue Devils, and the North Carolina State Wolfpack. A few of the kids admitted they rooted for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference. They may just come back to North Carolina from Alabama, but Samantha and Kayla (joining those at the kid’s table, and Samantha volunteered for the kid’s table because she loved kids and felt she was quite responsible) rooted for the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, respectively. Was there any possibility that Samantha and Kayla could be rooting for an ACC team? Possibly.
Jim walked to the table. He asked them, “What’s going on, kids?”
Lindsay said, “Dad, please tell them the Tar Heels are the best college team there is.”
Then Nelson said, “Jim, everyone knows there’s no team like N.C. State.” Next one to speak was Ryan, who rooted for the Tar Heels, and maybe because Lindsay did. “Duke is puke. Wake is fake. But the team I really hate is N.C. State.”
“Well said, Ryan,” Lindsay said.
Then Kristyn asked, “Caitlyn, how in the world can you root for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons?”
Caitlyn answered, “They’re just a doggone good team.”
Jim spoke up. “Kids, you could be rooting for the UNC-Charlotte 49er’s.”
“Why?” Nelson asked.
“I guess because they’re closer to home,” Jim answered.
At that moment, Jim walked into the kitchen. Svetlana was getting dessert ready. Jim wanted another glass of Coke. As he filled up his glass, Jim said to Svetlana, “Nothing goes better with dessert than Coke.”
“Except maybe coffee,” Svetlana said.
Then Svetlana stepped to the kid’s table. She asked them if they were ready for dessert. They all said they did. Jim assisted Svetlana in getting dessert ready for the kids. They each got a piece of cake, a slice of either pumpkin or cherry cheese pie and a small bowl of fruit cocktail. The adults got various desserts. Jim got him two pieces of cake and a piece of cherry cheese pie. Autumn, out of respect for her diabetes, got her some fruit cocktail and some Diet Coke.
After dessert, a subject came up. “Jim, why did the Courtland bunch not show up?” Wendy asked.
Jim said, “I saw Lily at the Sunbeam Bread Store yesterday. She said Tiffany, Donnie and Christie are in the Thanksgiving Parade on Tryon Street. They’re going to be on a float singing songs. Mackenzie’s also in the parade. She’s going to be riding in a convertible.”
Then, it hit Jim and the others. Mackenzie Courtland was Miss Teen Charlotte. Everyone wanted to see the parade on TV. Jim had seen the parade in person many times. Jim invited everyone into the living room, and he told them to bring their desserts. Jim got ready to turn on the TV. He asked, “Does anyone know what channel the parade’s on?”
Rachel answered, “Yeah. Channel 3, I think.”
Jim turned to TV to Channel 3. The parade was about to come on after a few commercials. Everyone took their seats.
About an hour into the parade, the float featuring Donnie, Christie and Tiffany was on. They sang a song titled “My Sins Are Gone,” something they got from a Bill Gaither Homecoming Video. All three were still in school. Donnie was attending Queen Charlotte High with some of the other high school aged kids. Christie was in her final year at Radcliffe Middle School and Tiffany was in her final year at Dilworth Elementary. All three were growing up, and they sure showed it. Especially Tiffany. It looked like Tiffany was dressing nice, even though she was dressing more like a teenager. She was wearing a beautiful blouse and skirt, as was Christie. And both were wearing heels. The more they sang, the more everyone loved it.
After that float, there was a convertible car carrying Mackenzie. It wasn’t just any car. It was a Rolls-Royce, it was blue, and it looked to be about a 1968 model. And, it had the steering wheel on the right side, meaning it came to America from England or somewhere else in the United Kingdom. Mackenzie was looking very pretty this cool Thanksgiving, wearing a long light blue dress. She was smiling and waving to the crowd. Mackenzie seemed to be in good spirits.
It seemed like Crystal and Amina were getting into the parade. They both softly sang with Donnie, Christie and Tiffany. Crystal and Amina both had beautiful singing voices, and although they were trying to keep it to themselves, everyone else heard them. Julie said, “Crystal and Amina, you two do have beautiful voices.”
Crystal said. “Thank you, Julie.”
Amina said the same thing. Then Julie said, “I wish you two could attend Salem Church. Your voices would surely be welcome.”
Crystal said, “Thanks, Julie. I’m looking for a church. I’ll take you up on that.”
Julie said, “Good. Because Russell attends Salem Church.”
Then Yolanda said, “Amina sang at our old church.”
Julie gave Yolanda a surprised look, and she asked her, “Your old church? What’s up with that?”
Yolanda answered, “Amina and Cassie and I attended a small Spanish-speaking church on Central Avenue. But recently, the church had some money issues and had to close. But we’re looking for another church.”
Julie said, “Yolanda, you and the girls can come to Salem Church. I know it’s not much now, but we’ll make it.”
Then Crystal asked, “What happened at Salem Church?”
Julie answered, “We had a bad explosion at the church on Labor Day weekend. Peter Marlowe was trapped inside. He died from his injuries. The explosion was caused by a natural gas leak. The church was a total loss.”
“Oh, dear. That’s bad,” Yolanda said.
Then Julie said, “Our insurance is going to cover at least most of the rebuilding costs. But there’s a lot more we’ll need to do. We’re thinking of some things we can do to raise money to rebuild the church.”
Jim said, “We came up with some pretty good ideas. We know we want to put on a concert involving some of our singers. Mark and I came up with the idea of a car show. We also have ideas for some dinners to raise funds. April Lynn came up with the idea of a beauty contest.”
Then Yolanda came up with another idea. “You could do a garage sale. Churches do it all the time.”
Julie said, “Yes, Yolanda. We could do that. Maybe even a kid’s consignment sale. We can also do a bake sale.”
“How are the plans for the church rebuilding coming along?” Yolanda asked.
Julie answered, “We’re just getting started. I haven’t even heard from the insurance company yet. Right now, we’re having to hold services in the auditorium of the elementary school. I hope the school will let us continue to hold services there until the church is rebuilt.”
This was not the first time that Salem Church had to resort to using the elementary school auditorium for its services. Before Salem church, there was a rather modest church known as Bethany Church. The services were held in a building of cinder blocks which would be very cold in the winter and like an oven in the summer. In 1980, the church caught fire. Services had to be held in the elementary school auditorium until the newer structure was completed in 1983. The church would be renamed Salem Church. Now, here they were, three decades later. The church was nothing but a shell. Rebuilding was set to begin soon. Julie said she would not have the church built too big because there were a lot of empty pews in the old Salem Church.
Many of the kids went outside to play in the backyard. Lauren stayed inside and loaded the dishwasher, with help from Marissa. Amina, Cassie and Tia joined the kids outside. Jim got a look outside at the kids playing. They were throwing around a football. They seemed to be having a good time. April Lynn also looked at the kids playing, along with Amina, Cassie and Tia. She said, “It sure is good Yolanda is letting Amina and Cassie get out and enjoy themselves.”
Yolanda said, “Yes. I have been keeping them inside. Maybe over-protecting them over the years. I admit I did the same thing with Tia when my husband and I moved here to America with Tia. You all are the best thing to happen to Tia.”
Then April Lynn said, “I hope we can do the same for Amina and Cassie.”
Jim said, “I know we can.”
After the parade, everyone got to watch another Thanksgiving tradition. Football! They watched the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins play. Later, as afternoon turned into evening and the sky turned orange in one direction, everyone but the parents gathered in the back yard. The parents either stayed in the house or they went back to their houses. Everyone got to look at the Charlotte skyline, which was lighting up. It was still a beautiful sight, even after all those years when everyone was just kids.
That set the stage for something special. Jim asked everyone to gather around. Lauren got behind Marissa’s wheelchair, and she pushed her into the backyard. They took each other’s hand. And then, Jim said, “Crystal, Amina and Cassie. Please come here. Jake and Rebecca, you and your daughters as well. There’s something we need to do.”
Then he came out with it. “Twenty-seven years ago in 1984, we made a special promise. We always re-made the promise when new ones came in. And just this past summer, our kids made the same promise. They are here with us to re-make our special promise.”
“What kind of promise?” Amina asked.
Jim said, “I’m about to get to that. Crystal, Amina and Cassie, and you members of the Constantine bunch, your lives are about to be changed forever. Everybody come and let’s do it again. I’m glad the kids are here. Yolonda, you come here as well.”
Jim took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then, “Everyone, let’s re-make our promise to remain friends forever, no matter what life may throw at us.”
And of course, everyone had to remember this. Two members of this special promise were not there tonight. Todd McClendon and Candi Robertson Faulkner. But surely, they were looking down from Heaven at those gathered together on this cool November evening. Maybe they were happy everyone was keeping that promise. And maybe Todd and Candi were happy about their own kids joining in on that promise. Jim had that planned. Maybe having the kids included in that promise would make it even more special. Those kids did make a similar promise just three months earlier, and they have been doing a great job of keeping it. Now, more were about to be added to that special promise.
Just like always, everyone said altogether, “We promise to remain friends!”
And like before, doing that promise again was special!
It was very nice that the very special friendship had stood the test of time. Todd and Candi may have been gone. But they were there…in spirit. No doubt they were looking down on them. They would be so proud that everyone was friends.
😊
The rest of 2011 went by. This Christmas, there would be no snow, like last year. But it was still downright cold, twenty-five degrees to be exact. Christmas fell on a Sunday. Julie decided to hold a special Christmas service on Christmas Eve at the elementary school auditorium.
Dinner was served at Jim’s house. Once again, Jim deep fried a turkey. The same people got together. But this time, the Courtland bunch and the Bianucci bunch were in attendance. Jim still didn’t have the train running along the walls, but he vowed to get that done after New Year’s Day. Since the Courtland bunch and Bianucci bunch were not on hand for Thanksgiving dinner, Jim asked everyone to make that special promise once more, just to make sure they were included.
And there was one more special thing. It just happened Julie had a camera with her. She asked everyone to gather in the back yard for a group photo. The back of Jim’s house and the Charlotte skyline would serve as the backdrop for this special group photo. It took Julie less than three minutes to get everything perfect. In the end, it would turn out to be a perfect group photo. Jim asked for a copy to frame and put on one of the walls. Julie agreed. That group photo just made that holiday season even more special.
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2022.03.19 23:02 jim21869 Friends and Family (Chapter 25) Part 2

One evening in September of 1989, Jim and Candi got a visitor at their house. But not just any visitor. It was Julie, and she was in tears. Not only that, she was carrying what appeared to be a big duffle bag.
Jim asked, “Julie, what’s wrong? And why do you have a duffle bag?”
Julie said in tears, “I have a duffle bag. It’s packed because I just got thrown out of the house.”
Then Candi asked her, “Julie, how could you get thrown out of the house?”
Jim took Julie to the sofa so that she could sit down and get herself together. Julie finally said, “I don’t know if I can say it.”
Jim said, “Julie, just try. The words will come out.”
“Jim and Candi. I’m pregnant!”
Jim and Candi were stunned. They didn’t know what to think. Julie was only seventeen and still in high school (she would graduate come the end of the school year). She had ambitions of becoming a minister. Now, she was pregnant. And there was no doubt who the father was. Todd McClendon. The two had been together for the last five years. They became boyfriend and girlfriend about the same time Jim and Candi did. Jim and Candi promised to be friends with Julie forever, no matter what. Even now, they were not about to break that promise.
Jim and Candi sat on either side of Julie. They both put an arm around her, letting her know everything would be okay. Jim said, “Julie, to show you we are always friends, we feel you should stay here for as long as you need.”
Candi gave Julie a Kleenex. Julie’s voice broke as she said, “Yes, you two. Maybe I should.”
Julie used the Kleenex to wipe her eyes. Jim asked her, “Julie, any idea how far along you are?”
Julie answered, “Probably about a month.”
Candi said, “Don’t worry, Julie. You’ll get through this.”
Then Julie brought up another subject. “Jim, how has Wendy been since she got her own place?”
“She’s doing great. I got to see her this afternoon. She has a really nice place.”
In the fall of 1988, Wendy had found her own place. It was a small house in a neighborhood near Mercy Hospital. Jim and Candi had been there quite a few times since she moved into the house with Emily and Charlie. It was a small house, but a very nice house. It was nowhere near as big at the house on Bethany Street.
Jim carried Julie’s duffle bag upstairs. Julie was right behind him, followed by Candi. It was something that Julie would stay in the bedroom that used to be Jim’s. Julie seemed to be happy about that.
Jim and Candi stayed with Julie for a few minutes. Julie needed a friend or two. Right now, she had Jim and Candi to look to for support. Julie knew she was going to need her friends now, more than ever. Julie found herself in a situation she probably never even dreamed she would get herself into. Julie told Jim and Candi she would finish high school and continue her ambition of becoming a minister. Just before Jim and Candi left her, she cried once more and wondered what she was going to do. Jim and Candi assured Julie she would be a good mother. They also assured her everything would be okay.
A few nights later, Luke showed up at the house. He had April Lynn with him. He needed to speak to Jim and Candi, and it would be about Julie. Julie was already in bed and asleep. Luke wanted to take Jim and Candi to a fast-food place and speak to them. Luke asked April Lynn to stay at the house with Julie. He would bring her and Julie something from wherever it was he would take Jim and Candi to eat.
Luke took Jim and Candi to a Wendy’s on South Kings Drive. Jim and Luke both had a triple burger with cheese. Candi opted for a chicken sandwich. All three had fries and Coke. Jim got a look outside at the Charlotte skyline, which was quickly lighting up. Luke asked, “So, how has Julie been doing?”
Jim answered, “Okay, I guess. She misses you and the rest of her family. She could use the support of you all right about now.”
Then Luke said, “Jim, she brought it on herself. You and Candi weren’t there when she told me and Audrey she was pregnant.”
Luke went on to describe everything. The morning sickness Julie had to endure for the past few weeks. The home pregnancy test Julie took, which showed positive. The mood swings. Missing two periods. Not very appropriate conversation at the dinner table at home, much less at a restaurant. Luke also described the yelling and screaming that took place. Maybe some of the neighbors heard it, but not Jim and Candi. Then Luke said, “Maybe Julie should come home. She’ll need our support. Her sisters miss her. Ashley’s a mess, April Lynn cannot sleep at night, Toni has been having nightmares, on and on and on.”
Luke did not say anything about Malachi. He graduated from Queen Charlotte High School three months ago. He had been working some at a nearby Winn-Dixie. In a few months, Malachi would be leaving for Duke University. From there, he would be going to Massachusetts and Harvard Law School to study law. Malachi did have a conversation with his friends. He made that promise to remain friends as well. Malachi told them he intended to keep that promise even though he would not be in Charlotte. He would maintain communication of some sort with his friends, and he also promised to return to visit every chance he had.
Just before they left the restaurant, Luke brought up another subject. “Jim, I wouldn’t mind if we could see your mother at her new house.”
Jim said, “Luke, I suppose we could. I know she’ll be glad to see us.”
Luke said, “That’ll be good. I haven’t seen her since she got the house, but I know Audrey has.”
Luke drove them to Wendy’s house. Jim gave him the directions. Wendy’s new house was located on a street near Mercy Hospital. The house was rather small, but it had a carport. And in the carport, Wendy’s car. Until about a month ago, Wendy had been driving a red Volvo she bought at the used car lot now known as Faulkner Motors. Now, she had a late model Saab. The smaller house and the smaller car, they were all Wendy really needed. It was now just her and Emily and Charlie.
They had a nice visit. Luke told Wendy a good bit about Julie. Wendy seemed more than a little shocked that she was pregnant at the age of seventeen. Wendy always thought Julie was a very pretty girl. Jim told Wendy about Julie staying at his house after she was kicked out. Candi was paying attention to the television. She was watching the news of an impending hurricane along the coast of the Carolinas. At one point, Wendy asked Jim and Candi when they planned on having their first child. Jim said, “Mom, me and Candi talked about waiting until she finishes nursing school before we plan to have kids.”
Candi got up from her seat. She walked to where Jim was sitting. She took his hand, and she said, “It would be nice to have kids.”
“How many do you two plan to have?” Wendy asked.
Jim said, “I would like to have at least one of each, a boy and a girl.”
“That’s nice,” Wendy said.
Then Candi said, “I’d like to have as many as possible. Maybe because Jim and I both love kids.”
That got a laugh out of Wendy and Luke. At no point did Wendy ask Luke what he hoped Julie’s baby would be. She felt there was no need to stir up any trouble. They ended the visit, and they headed for Bethany Street.
😊
Luke still had the white 1968 Buick he had when he moved into the neighborhood with his wife and his two oldest children (Malachi and Julie). He drove it on Queens Road. He was about halfway between Providence Road and East Morehead Street when Charlotte radio station WBT announced that Hurricane Hugo had already hit Charleston. The radio also said there was a good chance Charlotte could get the effects of the storm.
They arrived at the Faulkner house just after midnight. When they got there, April Lynn was asleep on the sofa. Julie was still asleep upstairs. The TV was on, with the sound down low, but low enough to be heard. It was on Channel 3 and they had already gone into a news bulletin. Hurricane Hugo has hit Charleston with a lot of wind, rain and storm surge. It is still a Category 4 and is now headed in a northwest direction. There is a high possibility Charlotte could be hit with effects of the storm, such as rain and a lot of high wind.
But fate would bring something else.
😊
Luke and April Lynn agreed to stay at the Faulkner house. Not only would Luke and April Lynn stay at the Faulkner house, so would Rebecca and Samantha. Jake was out of town and they did not want to stay by themselves, nor did they want to go all the way to Wendy’s house near Mercy Hospital. They all went to bed. Rebecca and Samantha slept in the living room. But at around five in the morning, everyone was awakened by the sound of heavy rain and a lot of howling wind. And when they got up, there was no power. Jim got a look out the window. It looked pitch black outside. Trees were swaying in nearly every direction. There were very few cars moving about. There was an occasional emergency vehicle. Some had their sirens blasting. Jim and Candi went downstairs. Jim managed to find a radio that ran on batteries and some flashlights. Julie was soon standing at the bottom of the stairs. She said, “You all. I thought I heard the window trying to come in.”
Jim quickly took Julie by her arm. He told her to sit down in one of the recliners. Candi turned on the radio and began flipping through stations. She finally ended up on WBT. From what they heard, they began to realize that they were now in a hurricane. Hurricane Hugo. And Charlotte was some 200 miles inland!
As everyone heard everything on the radio, they all had the same thing on their mind. They all pictured Charleston in shambles. At one point, they heard that a town near Charleston had been flattened. That was later denied. They heard news of trees down all over the Carolinas. And that included Charlotte. Charlotte had always been known for its many trees. Power was out all over, some for a couple weeks or more. Jim and Candi kept close tabs on all their friends, especially Vince and Marissa. Despite being crippled, Marissa managed to hold out well during this trying time. On Bethany Street, power was restored by late that Sunday evening. For those two days, Jim took every pack of meat, and he grilled meat on the gas grill. Jim and Candi had the help of everyone in the neighborhood.
Jim and Candi returned to work and classes the following week. Faulkner Motors pretty much remained unscathed, except for some downed streamers and pennants. Jim and Paulina spent some time that Monday putting them back into place. Walter said it would take more than a hurricane to stop Faulkner Motors. That week proved to be rather slow. Everyone all over Charlotte was too busy cutting up downed trees, picking up limbs, and helping their neighbors.
😊
As the rest of the year progressed, everyone tried to clean up the mess Hurricane Hugo left behind. Charlotte slowly returned to normal.
The eighties became the nineties. One decade of change was over, and another one was about to begin. One of the friends had left town. But they would still be friends with Malachi, regardless. They still had each other. In late April of 1990, Julie had her baby. It would be the first of five she and Todd McClendon would have. It was a girl. Julie and Todd decided to name her Natalie.
Also in 1990, Walter made the painful decision to leave Charlotte. Faulkner Motors would be closed for a short time. This would leave Jim without a job. But it wouldn’t be for long. Jim still enjoyed working at a car lot, so he took advantage of a job opening at one of Charlotte’s oldest and best new car dealerships. It was called Queen City Chevrolet. It was located on South Tryon Street. It was just blocks from the Charlotte skyscrapers. Jim felt the view was just as good as it was when he worked at the used car lot. Jim felt he would like it at Queen City Chevrolet.
Walter also made another major decision. He decided to take Kate and tour the country to find sites for new auto parts stores. Walter found a friend of his to be the new president of the company. Renee decided to stay in Charlotte, where she would finish high school. Renee chose to take business courses at King’s College. These classes would be taken at night. In the fall of 1990, Renee made the decision to reopen Faulkner Motors. She asked Paulina to work with her. Paulina agreed. Renee also asked Vince to work for her on a part time basis. Vince agreed, and he would enjoy his job of selling cars. Together, Renee and Paulina and Vince would make a great team.
And once again, Walter had left. Jim felt he had abandoned him and Renee. But really, he didn’t. Walter would return. While on the road, Walter and Kate would have two more kids. A girl named Rachel, and a boy named Jerry.
Jim still had his friends to get him through this difficult time. But Jim did not really have time to worry about anything. He was now working for one of Charlotte’s best car dealerships. Jim would eventually become the manager of Queen City Chevrolet. That would make him proud.
😊
There was yet another change. Jake had been promoted to dispatcher, and he would begin working at the Fairburn Transport facility in Birmingham. To say the least, Rebecca and Samantha would be moving to Birmingham with Jake. Jim, along with everyone else, felt sad that they would leaving. They promised to keep in touch with one another. They would never break that promise.
They would also eventually return to Charlotte.
😊
Jim graduated from UNC-Charlotte in 1992. That summer, Jim was able to work five days a week. Jim was never much for working weekends or holidays. He felt those were for home and family. Also that summer, Jim began to give the house and yard a makeover. In addition to new paint, he also gave the kitchen new cabinets. He gave the living room, bedroom and den new carpeting. In the yard, he had new grass put in. He also planted a few trees and some flowers.
In the fall of 1990, Todd and Julie were married at Salem Church, with Reverend Q officiating.
Mark and Kendra wasted no time starting a family. Their oldest, Kellie Cavanaugh, was born in 1989, not long before Hurricane Hugo. In 1991, they had another daughter, and they named her Brittany. Their youngest daughter, Kristyn, would come in 1994. Not long after Mark and Kendra got married, Todd and Julie got married at Salem Church.
Meanwhile, in 1992, the neighborhood saw four friends graduate high school. April Lynn, Hannah, Sydney and Zoe all graduated from Queen Charlotte High School. During her senior year in high school, April Lynn wanted to prove she was very beautiful by going out for cheerleading, singing in the chorus, and trying out for homecoming queen (she lost). April Lynn also tried out for the Miss Queen Charlotte High Pageant. She ended up coming in fourth. Allison and Paulina graduated from Queen Charlotte High School the following year. After Paulina graduated from Queen Charlotte High, she started working for Faulkner Motors on a full-time basis. Paulina also started attending Central Piedmont Community College to take business courses, graduating three years later in 1996. Allison entered nursing school, the same one Candi was attending.
Candi finally graduated from nursing school in 1993. She became a registered nurse. She got a job as a nurse at Carolinas Medical Center. That summer, Jim and Candi reopened their plans to start a family. Candi always wore a dress or a skirt. But on Sundays after she became a nurse, Candi began to wear even more prettier dresses, skirts and suits. Candi also sang more solos in church. She sang many upbeat songs, and she moved a lot while she sang. Maybe she was trying to tell Jim something. Maybe she was being serious about starting a family. Jim was quick to take a hint.
Jim and Candi made love a lot that summer. In late August, Candi missed her period, and then she found out she was pregnant. Jim and Candi celebrated that by spending an entire summer Saturday evening in the master bedroom. They had the TV on, but the volume was turned all the way down (it was set to MTV, playing “The Real World”). The stereo was on, playing R&B. The window was wide open, letting the fresh summer evening air in. Jim was in a T-shirt and shorts, and Candi was in a white frilly sundress. Jim was looking out the window. The Charlotte skyline was lit up. Jim watched those on Bethany Street ebb and flow around the Faulkner house.
Candi got up from the bed and slowly walked to where Jim was. She softly touched his shoulders, but it did not startle Jim at all. Candi softly asked Jim, “Sweetheart, aren’t you glad we waited to start a family?”
Jim did not say a word, at least for the next two minutes. He just held Candi’s hand and gently squeezed it. Then he gave her hand a kiss, and he held it to his cheek. Then Candi put her arms around Jim. Jim put an arm around her, and then the two kissed.
Finally, after about two minutes of kissing, Jim said, “Candi, I did want to start a family as soon as we got married. But you did want to finish nursing school before you wanted to start a family. I did agree to that.”
“Yes, Jim. I did want to start a family after I became a nurse. I guess the time’s right to get that family started.”
Jim and Candi had now been married for five years. During those five years, not only was Jim anxious to start a family, so was Candi. But she did have ambitions of being a nurse and she did not want the pressures of having children to get in the way of reaching her ambition of becoming a nurse. And now, five years later, there was a baby inside of Candi. Something they created. Something they both wanted!
During one of her solos in church, she called Jim up on stage. Candi was wearing one of her prettiest white blouses (accented with a big bow) along with a dark gray skirt and black high heels. Candi took Jim’s hand, and she made the announcement to the congregation. Everyone seemed to be happy for Jim and Candi, including Reverend Q and Anna and their daughter Madison.
But there was something else. And it was not good. In 1993, there were signs that Reverend Q and Anna’s marriage was starting to fall apart. Anna said her husband had been spending a considerable amount of time out of the house. It did not really sound like church business. Anna constantly checked the odometer on their minivan. There were some unanswered miles. Some evenings, Reverend Q would not get home until quite late in the evening, or even the wee hours of the morning. He would tell Anna he was going out on church business. But to tell the truth, Reverend Q really spent time out of the house with other women. One evening, Anna found receipts from several motels. Some were from as far south as Savannah, and as far north as Lynchburg, Virginia. Eventually, one thing would lead to another. Reverend Q confessed to everything at a church service on Sunday in February of 1994. Everyone knew Anna and Madison were not in church. There was a reason for that. Earlier that week, Anna took Madison and left the house, taking everything they owned. Reverend Q and Anna made the decision to separate. A week later, Reverend Q made the difficult decision to resign as pastor of Salem Church. By Easter, Reverend Q was gone. No one really knew where he went. There were rumors that he went to his brother’s house in Lansing, or the home of another brother in Alleghany County in northwestern North Carolina. Then in May, Reverend Q and Anna divorced. Reverend Q and Anna would share custody of Madison. Reverend Q ended up living in Ashe County. He was now preaching at a small church just outside of West Jefferson.
In the spring of 1994, the doctor ordered Candi be put on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy. Candi spent a lot of that time watching TV, listening to music, or reading. The time seemed to have helped Jim improve his cooking skills.
One Saturday afternoon, Jim decided to make some oyster stew. He took a bowl upstairs to Candi. He spent an hour watching TV with Candi and enjoying some oyster stew. Jim heard the doorbell ring. Jim took his empty bowl and went downstairs to answer the door. Wendy showed up with Emily and Charlie. Jim asked Wendy if she would like some oyster stew. She said yes. Jim made a bowl of oyster stew for Wendy, and he heated up a can of Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs for Emily and Charlie. Wendy noticed that there were no cars at the Holbrook house. Jim said, “Oh, Mom. Didn’t you hear? April Lynn’s in the Miss North Carolina Pageant.”
A few months before, April Lynn was crowned Miss Charlotte. Now, she was in Raleigh for the Miss North Carolina Pageant. For the last two days, Jim could not help but to look at the Holbrook house and see the driveway empty. In addition, the Cavanaugh, Cattrall and Marlowe families were with them. For now, Jim felt the neighborhood was empty. Jim had to stay behind and care for his pregnant wife. But Jim and Candi were very proud of April Lynn. When Jim and Candi met, April Lynn had a tremendous crush on Jim. At that moment, April Lynn showed some signs of jealousy. But those signs faded when April Lynn got to know Candi better. From that moment forward, April Lynn and Candi became the best of friends. April Lynn became happy for Jim and Candi.
About a couple hours into the visit, Jim heard a scream from upstairs. It was from Candi. “Jim! Jim! Come up here! Quick!”
Jim and Wendy ran quickly upstairs. Wendy told Emily and Charlie to stay downstairs and eat their spaghetti. Jim and Wendy quickly got to the bedroom. They saw Candi lying on the bed, wearing nothing but a white T-shirt. “What happened?” Jim asked.
Candi answered, “I think my water broke.”
Jim and Wendy both walked to the bed. Wendy looked at the soaked bed, and she said, “Yes, Candi. I believe your water did break.”
Jim said, “Yes. I see it.” Then he held his nose and added, “And I smell it.”
The entire Holbrook family was in Raleigh cheering on April Lynn, except one. Julie was at home taking care of her kids. A couple months earlier, Julie and Todd had another baby. It was a girl, and they named her Megan. Julie and Todd had been married since the fall of 1990. Right now, they were living in a small house just a short walk from the Faulkner house. Eventually, they would occupy the Holbrook house.
Wendy would be going with Jim and Candi to the hospital. Emily and Charlie would have to stay at the house, so a baby-sitter would be needed. Jim quickly got on the phone and called Julie. Jim explained to Julie what was taking place. She agreed to go to the Faulkner house and baby-sit Emily and Charlie. Not only that, she agreed to bring Natalie and Megan with her.
Julie showed up at the house in her car, a used Cadillac Seville Todd bought for her. It looked like one that was once on the lot of Gilmore Auto Sales when Jim was working there. Julie brought Natalie and Megan into the house. She put them at the kitchen table with Emily and Charlie. Then Julie ran upstairs as quickly as she could. When Julie got to the bedroom, Jim and Wendy were trying to get things ready. Jim was trying to get a bag packed for the hospital. Julie saw how Candi was dressed, and she said to her, “Candi, sweetie. Let’s get you dressed and ready.”
Wendy grabbed some clothes, and she and Julie took Candi to the bathroom. Jim went downstairs and called their family doctor, Herb Firestone. Doc Firestone (as he would be known) asked Jim how far Candi’s contractions were. Jim took the cordless phone to the bathroom. He asked about Candi’s contractions, and Candi answered, “About five or six minutes.”
Jim relayed that to Doc Firestone on the phone. Then Doc Firestone told Jim to get Candi to the hospital as quickly as possible. After Jim hung up the phone, he went back upstairs to finish getting her bag packed. Jim put a few of his clothes in the bag as well, along with a small radio with headphones and a couple car magazines.
It took them a good five minutes to get Candi into the back seat of Jim’s Camaro. Wendy would follow them to the hospital in her Saab.
Jim drove to Carolinas Medical Center as fast as the traffic on East Morehead Street would allow. It was a Saturday afternoon, so the traffic was light. Jim was playing a cassette tape from Electric Light Orchestra on the car’s tape player. Candi’s contractions continued, as she continued to feel pain. Candi just sat there quietly as her pains continued. Wendy had no trouble staying behind Jim’s Camaro.
They finally arrived at Carolinas Medical Center. Jim and Wendy met with a receptionist and got Candi registered. For now, Candi would be staying in a room with a good view of the Charlotte skyline. Jim would remain with Candi the whole time. Wendy would stay with Jim and Candi for about an hour before she would have to return to Jim and Candi’s house and care for Emily and Charlie.
After Wendy left, Jim went downstairs to get him and Candi a sandwich, a bag of chips and a soda. Jim had Coke and Candi had Sprite. Jim managed to finish his sandwich. Candi ate what little she could, and she chose to save the rest of her sandwich for later. For the rest of the night, Candi’s labor would not restart.
Jim watched the last of a car race on TV, and then he watched the news. He wanted to see if there was any news of the Miss North Carolina Pageant, but there wasn’t any. After the news, Jim read one of his car magazines. After a while, Julie showed up. She wanted to see how Jim and Candi were holding out. Jim told Julie everything was okay. Julie called Todd at work. Todd was now working as a diesel mechanic at a garage on the east side of Charlotte. Julie told Todd about Candi going into labor. She also told him she would possibly be late coming home, and she told him to pick up Natalie and Megan at Jim’s house. Wendy would go back to her house with Emily and Charlie after Todd picked up Natalie and Megan at Jim’s house.
At around eight o’ clock, there was a phone call. Jim answered it. It was from Wendy, letting Jim know she and the girls made it home okay. Not long after that call ended, there was another one. Once again, Jim answered it. This call was from Todd. He got home okay with Natalie and Megan. Todd asked Jim if he was planning to watch the pageant. He said he would watch the pageant with Candi and Julie. Todd asked Jim, “What channel is the pageant on?”
Jim looked at Julie, and he asked her, “Julie, what channel is the pageant on?”
Julie answered, “Channel 3, I think.”
There was a newspaper on the table. Julie picked it up and checked the TV listings. Then she said, “Yes. It’s on Channel 3.”
Julie asked Jim if she could speak to Todd. Julie made her way to the phone. Julie spoke to Todd for about ten minutes. She told him to have Natalie and Megan in bed by nine o’ clock. Julie also said she would be staying with Jim and Candi for the night, and she would call him if anything happened during the night.
The three watched the pageant on the TV in the room. They all smiled when they saw April Lynn being introduced. They smiled even more when they saw April Lynn was one of the ten finalists. For her talent, April Lynn sang “From a Distance.” After a couple hours of watching the finalists in evening gown and talent and swimsuit, April Lynn was still in it as she was one of the five finalists. But it ended with April Lynn finishing fifth. They were still happy for April Lynn.
😊
Everyone slept through the night, including Candi. Jim slept in the recliner in the room. Julie slept in the waiting room. She walked into the room around seven o’ clock the next morning. She saw Jim looking at the Charlotte skyline. The sun was just now coming up. Everything outside looked peaceful. Julie walked to where Jim was standing. She put her arm around him and asked, “Jim, how did you sleep last night?”
Jim answered, “Okay. It’s not our bed, but it was okay. How about yourself? How did you sleep last night in the waiting room?”
Julie answered, “I slept okay, considering. I slept on the recliner also.”
Candi was still asleep. Jim and Julie got a look at her. They were glad Candi was able to sleep and not be in any pain for now. But they knew Candi’s labor could restart at any moment.
The phone rang. Jim answered it. It was Wendy on the other end. Wendy told Jim she managed to get a hold of Trisha. Cecilia suffered a stroke and passed away in the spring of 1993. After Cecilia died, Trisha sold the house and took a job as a flight attendant for USAir. Trisha called Wendy from Philadelphia. Wendy said, “Trisha told me she would get the first available direct flight to Charlotte.”
“Thanks, Mom. That’ll be great,” Jim said.
Wendy asked Jim how Candi was doing this morning. He said, “Mom, her labor hasn’t restarted yet. It could happen today.”
After the phone call, Julie said she was going to the cafeteria for breakfast. She asked Jim if he wanted anything. Jim looked at Candi, still asleep. Then he said, “I suppose I’ll join you. Hopefully, her labor will not restart before we get back.”
Jim and Julie went to the cafeteria. Julie had two pieces of toast, a bowl of Cheerios and some iced tea. Jim had scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, grits and a glass of Coke. Jim wasn’t too impressed with his breakfast. The eggs were rather cold, the grits were quite runny, and the toast was burnt. At least the bacon was good. Jim said, “Julie, I hope Candi and I are prepared for this. After all, this is our first child.”
Julie said, “Jim, you and Candi are going to do just fine. Todd and I felt the same way after Natalie was born. We turned out pretty good.”
Then Jim said, “Yes. Candi and I were very anxious to start a family. And now, here we are. I guess we’re about as ready as we’re gonna be.”
For the next few minutes, Jim and Julie talked about everything. They talked about the last few years. They talked about how far they came, along with their friends. And they really did come a long way. Of the ones who made that promise to remain friends, eight of them became married couples. Jim and Candi. Todd and Julie. Mark and Kendra. Kurt and Hannah got married just two months ago. And now, Jim and Candi were just a short time away from becoming parents.
😊
At around noon, sure enough, Candi’s labor restarted. She began to cry out in pain. Julie quickly stepped out to find a nurse. That did not take long. And an added surprise. Doctor Firestone stepped into the room with the nurse. Doc Firestone got a look at Candi and said, “I would say this is it. Let’s get Candi into the delivery room. The sooner the better.”
A nurse showed up with a wheelchair. Jim and Julie helped Candi into the wheelchair. Before they left the room, Luke and Audrey showed up. They had Ashley, April Lynn and Toni with them. They agreed to stay in the waiting room. Jim and Julie would be in the delivery room with Candi.
In the delivery room, Candi cried and screamed, and she managed to fight off the urge to use swear words. Candi pushed and pushed. Jim and Julie both squeezed Candi’s hands as she pushed and cried.
Before long, Jim and Candi’s first baby entered the world. The baby would be born around a month late. It was a girl, and she was very beautiful. They decided to name her Chelsea Lynn Faulkner.
Candi and Chelsea remained in the hospital until that Wednesday. When they got home, there was a big welcoming party. As soon as they got home, they sent a letter and pictures of their new baby girl to the Constantines.
😊
There were even more changes in the neighborhood as the nineties continued. In 1995, Todd and Julie welcomed another child, and it would be their last one for the next eight years. It was a girl and they decided to name her Morgan.
At about the same time Morgan was born, Jim got a visit from Jake. It took place at Faulkner Motors. He had a major announcement. Rebecca was pregnant with what would be their last child. Jake told Jim the baby would be a girl and that they planned to call her Kayla.
Also that year, Salem Church got a new pastor. His name was Jason Courtland, and he arrived from Alamance County. Reverend Courtland was married to Amy Holbrook Courtland, who just happened to be Luke and Audrey’s niece. Jason and Amy brought two of their kids with them, a daughter named Mackenzie and a son named Donnie. Two more would follow, and they would be born in Charlotte. Amy became the new manager of the Sunbeam Bread Store. The previous manager retired and Sunbeam Bread threatened to close the store if another manager could not be found. Amy worked at a Sunbeam Bread Store in Greensboro so she knew her skills would prove valuable.
In 1996, Jim and Candi welcomed another daughter named Lauren Rebecca. Jake and Rebecca’s now baby girl, Kayla Constantine, was born two days after Lauren.
The following year, Scout and Paulina were involved in a bad car wreck in Gaston County. Scout’s injuries were minor. But Paulina was so badly injured that it tore her womb. Paulina would never be able to have any children of her own.
As the nineties wound down, there were more changes. Renee, Toni, Emily and Charlie were included in the promise to remain friends forever. Amy would eventually be included in that promise. The Marlowe bunch left Charlotte, but they would eventually return. There were more kids born in the neighborhood.
Among those with new kids included Ashley and April Lynn. Ashley married a man by the name of Brian Partridge. In 2000, Ashley gave birth to a boy named Dakota. Ashley’s marriage eventually ended in divorce. In 1999, April Lynn gave birth to a boy named Ryan. Ryan’s father did not want anything to do with him. April Lynn was left to raise Ryan on her own.
A new decade was about to begin. But not only that, it would start a new century and a new millennium. And there would be even more changes.
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2022.03.08 05:53 randomtinkerer City Slickers and Hayseeds, Chapter 31 (SSB Verse)

Setting by u/BlueFishcake
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When he was much younger, Levi had often wondered if the old grandfather clock actually ticked once every second. He could make it all the way to “two Mississippi” in a single swing of the faded brass pendulum. Now, as he sat across from his mother, it possessed a capacity for temporal distortion that rivaled anything he’d ever seen on Star Trek.
“Do you have your credit chit?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She nodded.
He nodded.
The clock ticked.
“Do… Do you have your jacket?”
“Uh… no?”
She nodded, though hesitantly this time.
“Do you think you might need it?”
“Mom, it’s July! Why would I need a jacket?”
“You never know,” she shifted in her seat, not quite meeting his eyes. “It could rain, or something…”
Levi sighed and looked at the clock. It had been thirty seconds since he’d last looked at the clock. He really hoped the girls would be early.
“You have everything you need, then?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Everything?” She winced. “Just in case?”
Levi rested his head on the table. “It’s a movie, mom. I’m going on a date, not storming the beaches of Normandy.”
“Well, it’s a first for me, too! I just-”
The doorbell rang.
“Oop! That’s probably for me!” Levi dashed out of the dining room, headed for the door. “Gotta go, love you mom!”
“Not so fast, you little scallywag!” Jennifer rounded the corner as Levi pulled the door open.
Rhe’alla and Melody stood side by side, wearing identical yellow sun-dresses. The setting sun suffused them in warm light, making the fabric seem to glow and hinting at what it hid. They both grinned as Levi’s jaw dropped.
“Hi Levi!” rang out in perfect harmony.
Levi stammered ineffectually.
“Don’t you two look lovely!” Jennifer gave her best smile as she came to a halt beside her son. “Melody, did you make those dresses?”
“She taught me!” Rhe’alla’s grin widened as she swished her skirt back and forth.
“We had a great time making them together.” Melody nodded. “What do you think, Levi?”
“Wow, I… you look great! I, um… wow!”
The two girls beamed
Jennifer turned an upraised eyebrow on her son. “Now you better be on your best behavior, young man! You treat these girls right, you hear?”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. McClendon,” Rhe’alla gave a reassuring smile. “We’ll make sure he gets home by ten.”
Jennifer blinked. “I… Right. Yes, I suppose you would have to be the one to do that, wouldn’t you?”
Rhe’alla and Melody both nodded before turning towards the oversized Shil’vati-pattern car sitting in the driveway.
“Alright then…” Jennifer smoothed the shoulders of Levi’s white T-shirt, her voice unsteady. “I guess you should be-!” Her voice caught, and she looked away.
Levi wrapped her up in a warm embrace, a tiny lump forming in his own throat. “I’ll be fine, mama.”
“I know you will.” She whispered in reply.
“I love you.”
“Oh, get outta here, you!” She forced a smile onto her face, and waved him off. “You’re already making them wait!”
Levi trotted over to the car, where the two girls stood at the rear. Rhe’alla pulled open the door and offered him a hand, and a moment later, Melody did the same, a mischievous smile on her lips.
“Uh…” He canted his head to the side, looking from one girl to the other. “Are you messin’ with me?”
“Certainly not!” Rhe’alla gave him a wounded look. “It’s our first date! I’m not going to mess this up!”
Melody’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Yes, you’re just going to have to get used to being pampered once in a while!”
Levi’s eyes narrowed as he glanced between the two women. “I’ve heard of ‘good cop, bad cop,’ but never ‘good girl, bad girl…’”
Melody giggled.
With a sigh of resignation, and feeling his pride deflate ever so slightly, Levi took the offered hands and climbed into the back seat of the car.
Rhe’alla shut the door behind him, and turned to Melody. “So… am I the good girl, or the bad girl?”
Melody shrugged. “We’ll just have to see, won’t we?”
---
Rhe’alla felt like she was walking on clouds as the three of them made their way out of the theater, hand in hand. She’d claimed Levi’s left hand about fifteen minutes into the movie, after seeing Melody pounce on his other one. Neither of them had seen fit to relinquish their respective claims, though her bladder’s quiet insistence threatened to change that.
“I’m hungry.”
Levi’s announcement cut through the haze of contentment that she floated in.
“It’s only nine.” Melody looked over at the two of them. “We could get something at The Soda Fountain?”
Levi brightened. “A milkshake sounds really good!”
“A milkshake?” Rhe’alla canted her head to the side. “What’s that?”
“A drink that’s thick, sweet, and delicious! C’mon!”
Levi tugged her into motion and they all made their way across the twilit street to the combined pharmacy and restaurant. Warm, wonderful aromas greeted them as they stepped inside, and Rhe’alla’s mouth began to water.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to petition for release before we get too much farther.” Levi brought his hands up, still clasping theirs in his grip. “Nature calls.”
Relief flooded Rhe’alla as she followed his gaze to a sign hanging from the ceiling that indicated the location of the restrooms. “That’s a good idea. Meet you at a table?”
As soon as the two girls were through the door, Melody scampered to a stall.
“Thank God! I thought I was going to float away!”
Rhe’alla hesitated. “Uh… yeah, it was a bit close there at the end.”
Melody’s relieved sigh echoed off the tile walls of the bathroom. “I vote that we do movies at my house, next time. The couch is super comfy, and we can do snacks, too. I could make cookies!”
Rhe’alla frowned. Sure it was an alien world, but it seemed like it would be a universal rule to do one’s business in dignified silence, right?
Melody hummed quietly as the toilet flushed in the adjacent stall, followed by the sound of water running in the sink. The water shut off, and silence echoed off the cold tiles.
“Rhe’?” The Human girl’s voice held a note of concern. “Are you okay in there?”
“I’m… just not used to talking to people in the bathroom.”
“What, really?”
Rhe’alla stepped out of the stall, uncomfortably aware of the warmth in her cheeks as she moved to wash her hands. “Yeah, it’s just… I don’t know, feels like violating a private space? I guess?”
“No, silly!” Melody plucked a stray kernel of popcorn from the hem of Rhe’alla’s dress and flicked it into the garbage can by the door. “This is our private space! We can talk about important stuff here! Like Levi!”
“Levi? Can’t we talk about him anywhere?”
“Well, I guess, but then someone might hear us.”
“But… someone could walk in here at any moment!”
“They don’t count, they’re girls.”
“...oh.” Rhe’alla thought for a moment. “So… what about Levi?”
“Oh my gosh, did you see his face when I grabbed his hand? I thought his eyes were going to pop out!”
Rhe’alla snickered. “His eyes weren’t the only thing…”
“Huh?”
“Never mind, you’re right. He blushed so adorably!”
Making their way out of the restroom, they scanned the sparsely populated dining area for Levi. Rhe’alla spotted him in a quiet corner, and they made their way towards him.
“Wait!” Rhe’alla pulled up short as they approached the table. “You got something already?”
Levi looked up from his phone. Sitting on the small round table in front of him was a large glass chalice, with brown, white, and pink each occupying one third of its volume
“I figured that you could try a bit of everything this way.” He shrugged.
“But… you’re not supposed to pay for the food!”
“Why not?” Levi’s brow wrinkled. “You got the movie.”
Rhe’alla sputtered as she glanced at Melody, who studiously avoided eye contact. “Fine… I guess that’s okay. But please - whatever you do*,* don’t let my mothers find out!”
The two humans exchanged a puzzled glance.
“Uh… okay?” Levi hesitated. “Is something wrong?”
“It’s not anything bad, it’s just…” Rhe’alla winced. “Letting a boy pay on a date? They’d just never let me hear the end of it!”
Levi handed a straw to each of the girls and Rhe’alla watched as Melody stuck hers into the pink wedge of goop and took a sip.
“Mmm, strawberry!” Melody licked her lips and sighed. “This was a good idea.”
Intrigued, Rhe’alla followed suit. Her palette was flooded with a sweet, fruity flavor that sent a shiver down her spine. “Oooh, that is good!”
“Careful,” Levi raised a cautionary hand. “If you drink it too fast, it’ll give you a splitting headache.”
She nodded, and asked after the flavors of the milkshake. Melody and Levi explained the differences between Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry. The conversation quieted as they slurped down the delectable concoction.
“So, I have a question…” Levi leaned back in his chair, looking between the two girls. “Is there a reason that I was alone in the back seat of the car?”
Melody glanced at Rhe’alla. “We talked about it, and it seemed like the fairest thing to do.”
“Fair?”
“Yes,” Rhe’alla nodded. “Melody doesn’t have a car, so you and I will be doing the driving on dates and stuff. That’s a lot of extra time for you to make out in the back seat!”
“Rhe’alla!” Melody gasped.
“Hey, it’s what I’ll be doing!”
“Wait,” Levi held up his hands. “You’re waiting until you can both take turns before either of you will sit in the back seat with me?”
The two girls nodded.
“So you’re just gonna chauffeur me around?!”
Exchanging glances, they nodded again.
Levi pursed his lips. “Maybe I should get Ol’ Theseus into better shape…”
---
It had been a looong morning, filled to overflowing with paperwork, meetings, and negotiations.
Thry’sis stepped out of her oversized, Shil’vati pattern SUV and surveyed the single-wide mobile home, chicken coop, and garden beds with a critical eye. “How many people live in this tiny thing?” She asked as she shooed an indignant rooster away.
“Five.” Zachariah turned to help Trik’sis as she climbed out of the back, her arms full of paperwork.
Thry’sis shuddered. “Seems rather irresponsible to have all those children in such cramped quarters…”
Zachariah looked at her out of the corner of his eye, his face carefully neutral. “So… sounds like the poor shouldn’t be allowed t’ have kids?”
“That’s not what I meant!”
“I ain’t sayin’ that’s what ya meant. I’m just tryin’ to understand what ya did mean.”
“Oh…” Thry’sis shuffled her feet. “I… um, I mean that it’s the responsibility of parents to plan ahead, right? If you’re going to bring children into the world, you should at least be able to care for them properly.”
Zachariah nodded sagely. “You didn’t happen to come across nothin’ ‘bout Jake’s history when we were sortin’ this out, did ya?”
“No,” Thry’sis frowned. “Why?”
“No reason.” Zachariah moved forward and climbed the rickety wooden steps to rap on the door.
The barking of a dog from inside the trailer heralded the sound of approaching footsteps . The door opened, and a skinny man with dirty blond hair peered out.
“Mornin’ Jake!” Zachariah offered a hand in greeting.
Thry’sis blinked. That… was the wrong hand.
“Zachariah.” The door opened wider and the man shook Zachariah’s hand as four golden haired heads, one of them decidedly canine, crowded around his legs. “What brings you round here this afternoon?”
“We’ve got some business to talk over with you an’ the missus, if you’ve got a minute.”
“We?”
Zachariah stepped back from the door and gestured towards Thry’sis and her daughter.
The man’s eye flashed at the same time Thry’sis heard her daughter gasp. Previously hidden by Zachariah’s body, the right sleeve of the man’s t-shirt hung empty, and rough scar tissue rippled up his neck and across the lower right side of his jaw.
“What the hell are they doing here?!”
“Hold on, hold on, deep breaths, Jake.”
“Hold on, nothin’!” The blond man stabbed a finger at the two Shil’vati women. “They ruined my life! They killed my friends! Good men died for no reason, and not one of them ever gave a shit! So, what the hell are they doing here?”
“Givin’ a shit.”
The yard went silent as Jake’s eyes narrowed, weighing Zachariah. A few tense moments passed, then the man heaved a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. “What do you want, McClendon?”
“We’ve all got some business to talk over with you ‘n’ Tammy. Won’t take but a minute for you t’decide whether you care t’hear all of it. Just wanna talk about what ya owe on your property.”
“That’s private!”
Zachariah gave the man a flat look.
Jake returned a scowl, then turned his attention to the children at his feet. “Back inside, all of you. Tell mommy I need her out- God-dammit! Playdoh! Get back here!”
The enormous yellow beast that bounded down the steps towards Thry’sis came at least to mid thigh. An errant chicken scrambled out of the way as Thry’sis took an involuntary step back, and Trik’sis yelped.
“It’s alright!” Zachariah called as he hurried down the steps. “He’s just bein’ friendly!”
Thry’sis heart was pounding in her throat as the vaguely Rakiri-looking animal collided with her legs, looking up at her with its tongue lolling out of its mouth. “What’s it doing?!”
“Gimme your hand.” Zachariah chuckled as he approached. “He’s just sayin’ hi.”
Looking back, Thry’sis would admit that the apprehensive squeak was rather undignified, but she was far too distracted by the size of its teeth to care as Zachariah held her hand out for the creature to smell, and then lick.
“What do I do now?!” There definitely wasn’t any panic in her voice.
“Scratch under his chin. They all like that.”
She complied, and the writhing mass of fur instantly stilled, leaning against her leg with only its foot thumping rhythmically against the ground.
“Traitor,” Jake grumbled from the doorway.
---
The deal had been presented neatly, the terms laid out in plain English. The debts on the house had been negotiated with the bank, and the Barnsworths would walk away free and clear. So, Zachariah sat back in his chair and deployed his favorite conversational tactic:
Wait and listen.
Of course, listening required silence, and that only happened if it was allowed to. He glanced at the two Shil’vati women to either side of him with what he hoped was a smile that said “keep your mouths shut, this is fine.”
In fairness, that was an awful lot for a smile to say. He’d have to remember to explain the usefulness of silence to them later.
The first handful of seconds passed, and Trik’sis shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
That wasn’t a great sign.
He sent another reassuring glance her way, his lips quirked into a modest smile.
Thry’sis caught his eye near the thirty second mark, the question plain on her face. He lifted a hand slightly, waving her down.
She looked between him and the Barnsworths, who sat across the kitchen table from the three of them. Jake had his head resting on his hand, staring at the papers laid out before him, and Tammy sat beside him, idly rubbing his back.
Zachariah kicked himself for his absent mindedness as Thry’sis hesitantly drew a breath. He assumed that she’d follow his lead, given how well they’d been working together. Well, lesson learned. It wouldn’t damage things too-
“I can’t do it.”
Zachariah blinked. “I… you, uh… ya can’t?”
Jake looked up from where he’d been staring down at the papers on the table. “This doesn’t solve the problem!” His jaw was set, but his eyes were pleading. “This place, this land… it’s all we got in the world! If I give that up… We’ll have nothing!”
Zachariah searched the faces of the couple. “I… I don’t understand.”
“What choice do I have?” He spread his remaining arm and what was left of his shoulder in a lopsided shrug. “Am I supposed to just give up on everything I’ve ever tried to build?”
“So… you’d rather do it slow? Just… wait to be bled dry by the payment and losin’ it to foreclosure anyway?”
Jake’s face grew hard. “Go fuck yourself, McClendon. My family will be on the street when we lose this place, and you’re gonna sit there on your high horse and preach at me about how I should just roll over and give up?! You and your-!”
“Whoa, whoa, time out! Hang on.” Zachariah held up his hands. “You’re right. I spoke in haste, and for that I apologize. It was unfair and unkind, and I’m sorry.”
Jake glared, but gave a curt nod after a moment.
“Further, I seem to have fundamentally misunderstood your situation. Why on earth would you and yours end up on the street?!”
“You think it’s easy, keeping the wolves at bay?” Jake’s eyes flashed as he spat the words across the table. “Everything I earn has gone to keeping us from dying, in one way or another! Whether it’s keeping food on the table, the lights on, or the heat on in the winter! But the noose just keeps getting tighter, and I only have a hundred and sixty eight hours in a week!”
Zachariah drew back in his chair as the pieces began clicking into place. “So… you can’t even afford to move?”
“If I can’t afford my mortgage payment, how the hell am I supposed to scrape together first and last month’s rent, plus a deposit?!”
“You think we’d all just turn our backs on you like that?!” Zachariah ran his hands through his hair. “Jesus, Jake! I mean, hell, the Greens stayed at the church for-”
“Would you like to stay local?” Thry’sis voice drew the eyes of the three humans, as she frowned down at her omni-pad.
Jake regarded her, his eyes smoldering. “Obviously.”
“And you are currently employed?”
“Am I fucking em-?!” He closed his eyes and let out a long breath. “Yes. Twice over. I barely have time to sleep. Not a lot of high-paying trades that you can do well, single handed.”
Thry’sis frowned. “You have no training at all?”
“Listen here, you-”
“Whoa, wait, just…” Zachariah held up his hands in the shape of a T. “She’s tryin’, aight? She’s tryin’, but how’s she supposed to get anywhere or learn anything if nobody plays ball? Just… I don’t know, pretend she’s Russian. Or from New York. Or both.”
Tammy tried to disguise a snort of laughter as a cough.
“...fine.” Jake sighed and turned a stony gaze on Thry’sis. “I was a helicopter pilot. Gotta have four limbs for that.”
“...oh.” Thry’sis winced. “If I may ask, how did…?”
“About a third of my cockpit melted when orbital bombardment slagged Fort Riley.”
Thry’sis swallowed and nodded slowly.
Trik’sis waved a hand, drawing all eyes to herself in the silence. “Why… ah, I’m certain that there are programs available that would help get you a prosthetic. Have you looked into those?”
“Several times.” Tammy patted her husband’s shoulder. “The hospital has been trying to modernize for quite a while, but they’ve never made any headway that we’re aware of.”
“That is changing now.” Thry’sis swiped at her omni-pad a few more times, before setting it on the table. “After the events of the Festival of Colors, certain individuals were made aware of how neglected the local emergency services had been. Efforts are being made to expedite the process.
“In the meantime, I can get you into temporary housing for the duration of vocational training. With a background as a pilot, the Marines or the Navy would be glad to have you,” She held up a hand as Jake's eyes widened. “Though I can understand why that might not be your preference. Still, there are many private enterprises who are also in need of pilots, in both atmospheric and interplanetary capacities. Of course, there are plenty of other options, but all that can wait for another time. I’ll send you the information.”
Jake, a stunned expression on his face, mouthed the word interplanetary, before his eyes narrowed. “Wait, what’s the catch in all this? Why are you going to all this trouble to buy this land?”
“There will be other families moving into the area. Mr. McClendon believes that they would better integrate if they were spread throughout the community, instead of grouped together.”
“You wanna buy my land so a bunch of Purps can live on it?!”
“As a matter of fact, no.” Thry’sis swiped at her tablet and turned it around. “They look more like your ‘playdoh’ creature.”
The picture on the display was of a family of humanoid beings with faces that looked halfway between golden retrievers and lions. They were all smiling at the camera, and the half-dozen children were waving.
“Awww,” Tammy leaned across the table for a better look. “They’re so cute!”
Jake looked from the picture to his wife and shook his head. “Traitor.”
---
Zachariah groaned in relief as they climbed into Thry’sis’ SUV. “That was… rough.”
“It was.” Thry’sis nodded.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a male get that angry.” Trik’sis spoke up from the back seat.
“Yeah, he got pretty heated, didn’t he?” Zachariah gave a heavy sigh. “I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was, either.” He winced. “I’m sorry.”
“I…” Thry’sis glanced at him, a quizzical expression on her face. “...I accept your apology?”
Thry’sis pulled the vehicle out onto the road, and for a time, the only sound was the hum of the tires.
“What did you mean by ‘Temporary housing’?”
“It doesn’t have to be temporary…” Thry’sis studiously kept her eyes on the road.
“But where do you expect to find temporary housing for a family of five?”
“There are plenty of houses for rent in town!”
“Rent?” Zachariah blinked. “You’re not planning… I don’t know, something weird? Nationalizing someone’s couch, or something?”
She shot him a wounded expression. “I’m not a tyrant!”
“I didn’t say you are, I just… What program? I’ve never heard of the Shil’vati providing housing assistance to anyone around here.”
“We’re not in the business of neglecting our citizens, Zachariah. Even the ones who don’t like us.”
“Fair enough, but it’s still gotta get paid for.” He raised an eyebrow. “So… who’s doin’ the payin’?”
“That man and his family have been allowed to fall through the gaps in the system. I intend to see that rectified. In the meantime, I’m sure that reimbursement is available, should someone find and address a problem such as this one.”
Zachariah nodded slowly. “And… if such reimbursement isn’t available?”
Thry’sis’ brow furrowed momentarily, then she let out a deep breath and seemed to relax behind the wheel. “I will see to it that my people are cared for.”
A beat of silence passed, and the ghost of a smile bloomed on Zachariah’s lips. “That’s good to hear, Lady D’saari.”
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2022.02.17 23:39 jim21869 Friends and Family (Chapter 15) Part 1

This chapter will be done in TWO PARTS.
On a warm Friday evening in May, Valerie and Caitlyn brought up the subject. Maybe Jim had been putting off that subject for too long. Now, Jim’s two youngest daughters were finally about to find out about the mother they barely knew.
The subject came up when Jim was getting ready to go to bed. Valerie and Caitlyn stepped into Jim’s bedroom. Valerie said, “Dad, we need to know something. What was Mom like?”
Jim looked at Valerie and Caitlyn for a moment. Then, he asked them, “Why do you two want to know?”
Valerie answered, “We need to know. You talk about Mom to Chelsea, Lauren and Lindsay a lot. But you never say anything to us about Mom. Now we want to know.”
Then Caitlyn asked, “What was she like?”
Jim told the two girls to sit down on his bed. Then he tried to find the words, hoping he could explain about Candi in a way girls of their age could understand. Then, he finally started talking. “Girls, your mother was like you and your sisters, in a lot of ways. She was very sweet, pretty, caring, and she loved you all. I see a lot of her in you girls.”
Then Valerie asked, “How did Mom die?”
Once again, Jim tried to come up with the words. He wanted to explain it so that they could understand it. After a moment, Jim said, “She and the preacher we had before Julie went on a plane ride. The preacher’s brothers and his sister-in-law went with them. The preacher was invited to preach for a revival in New Orleans. But the plane didn’t make it to New Orleans.”
“What happened?” Caitlyn asked.
Jim answered, “The plane crashed in Mississippi. A place called Hattiesburg. It took about a week for a lot of people to find the plane. Everyone on the plane died, along with your mother.”
“That’s a bad way to die,” Valerie said.
Jim said, “Yes, Valerie. It sure is.”
Then Caitlyn said, “I can’t believe we barely knew her.”
“You girls were very young when she died. I had to send you two to stay with your Nana and your Aunt Emily and Aunt Charlie. You two stayed there for a few days. Chelsea, Lauren and Lindsay stayed here with me.”
“Did Nana and our aunts live in Ballantyne at the time?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “Yes. The same house they live in now.”
Nana was Wendy Faulkner, Jim’s mother along with two of his half-sisters, Emily and Charlie. They lived in a part of south Charlotte called Ballantyne. Jim went to their house every chance he could, and he took his daughters with him from time to time. Most times, Jim and his daughters would eat at one of the many restaurants in Ballantyne. Wendy, Emily and Charlie would join them on occasion.
Then Caitlyn had another question. “Dad, how did Mom look?”
Jim held up his hand, and said, “Hold on a moment.”
Jim stepped into one the two closets in his bedroom. He took out two things. First, a big shoebox. Second, a huge photo album. Jim sat back down on his bed between Valerie and Caitlyn. Jim opened up the shoebox. The first thing Jim showed the two girls was a photo of Jim and Candi at their wedding. Caitlyn said, “Wow! She was pretty. She looked like a pretty model.”
Jim said, “Yes, Caitlyn. She sure did.”
Caitlyn said, “That was a beautiful dress.”
Then Valerie said, “The wedding looked awesome.”
Jim said, “Yes, it did. We chose a tropical theme. We had seashells, palm trees, and the cake was made out in different colors. It was beautiful.”
Then Jim took out another picture. He said, “This is me at my high school graduation. Your mother and my mother were with me. And so was my father and your Aunt Renee.”
“I know they were very proud of you,” Valerie said.
Jim said, “Yes. They were.”
Then Caitlyn said, “Mom must have really liked to dress nice. I see she wore a dress or a skirt.”
Jim said, “Yes. She did. She was very pretty. Just like you girls.”
Then Jim took out another photo and said to the girls, “I want you girls to see something else. This picture was taken at church the day after our wedding.”
The photo was taken when Jim and Candi were baptized by Reverend Q…together. Valerie asked, “Dad, when and where was this picture taken?”
Jim answered, “Something I hope you girls get, someday. Baptized. That picture was taken in church by your Nana. Your Mom and I were baptized together. And believe me, it was a beautiful thing.”
Caitlyn’s attention went back to the wedding photo. And to the shirt Jim was wearing. It wasn’t a dress shirt! But he was wearing a jacket and slacks. It was a T-shirt, with a motor oil brand. He was also wearing a golf cap. Caitlyn asked Jim, “What’s Valvoline? And why were you wearing a T-shirt with a suit and that cap?”
Jim answered, “Valvoline is a popular brand of motor oil. And I decided to wear that shirt to my wedding. And that cap is a golf cap. I decided to wear both to my wedding.”
Valerie asked, “Were Mom and Nana upset?’
Jim laughed a little, and he said, “No. In fact, they enjoyed it. Nana said it was my wedding and my decision.”
Caitlyn took out yet another baptismal photo. She noticed something. She asked, “Was Mom really baptized in a wedding dress?”
Jim answered, “Yes, she sure was. I found that to be a bit unusual. But that was what she wanted. I guess I could say it was beautiful.”
Then Caitlyn asked, “Who was that pretty brunette girl?”
Jim answered, “That pretty brunette girl is April Lynn when she was younger. She got baptized that Sunday morning also. She was a bridesmaid at our wedding. She got baptized in the dress she was wearing as a bridesmaid.”
“You knew April Lynn back then?” Valerie asked.
“Yes. And Julie, Malachi, Ashley, Toni, Mark, Kendra, Alex, Sydney, Simon, Ariel, Jodi, Tia, Vince, Marissa, Kurt, Jeremy, Hannah, Russell, Scout, Paulina, Jonathan, Zoe, Allison, Jonah and Catalina. I also hung out with Reverend Q and Anna and the parents of my friends. We were good friends then, and we still are!”
“Wow! You knew everybody then and now!” Caitlyn exclaimed.
“We sure did,” Jim said.
Then Valerie asked, “Was that Reverend Q baptizing you all?”
Jim answered, “Yes. You know Anna Quattlebaum and her daughter Madison from the church? Anna was his wife and Madison’s their daughter.”
Valerie said, “We know. They talk about him a lot.”
Then Jim said, “And your Mom and I and a guy named Todd McClendon used to hang out together as well.”
“You mean Julie’s husband?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “Yes. Todd died in a car wreck not long after Mom died.”
Caitlyn said, “I know. Julie told us once.”
Then Jim said, “And girls, I’ll have you know I graduated from high school, got married, and got baptized…all in one weekend!”
Valerie exclaimed, “Wow, Dad! You stayed busy that weekend!”
Jim said, “Yes. I most certainly did.”
Jim took the photos and put them back into the shoebox. Then he put the shoebox behind him on the bed. He took the photo album. He showed the girls the first page. On the page was a newspaper clipping. It was from The Charlotte Observer and it said, Charlotte Pastor Among Five Missing. That referred to Jason Courtland, the minister at Salem Church at the time. There was also mention of Candi and Reverend Courtland’s brothers, and the wife of one of those brothers. The newspaper reported about Reverend Courtland’s plans to preach at a revival service in New Orleans. It also reported about the plane going down in Mississippi.
There was also another newspaper article. This one was the one where the bodies were found in a part of Mississippi near Hattiesburg. And there was also a newspaper obituary for Candi. It did not take Valerie and Caitlyn long to recognize their names. There was also an obituary for Reverend Courtland.
“When and how did you two meet?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “We met at a get-together. We had an opportunity to meet a new pastor by the name of Al Quattlebaum and his wife. That’s also where I met Pam Gilmore and her kids, Russell and Scout and Paulina. That was in 1984 and we were all young at the time. Candi, your mother, walked to where I was sitting and eating. We got to know each other. We became boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“And the rest, as they say, is history,” Valerie said.
Jim said, “Things got more and more serious, rather quickly.”
“How so?” Caitlyn asked.
At that moment, Jim got up, walked to the closet, and took out yet another photo album. This one did not have as many pages, or as many photos. This photo album was one Jim made in 1984, after the trip to the mountains with the Salem Church Youth Ensemble. Julie was the one who took most of the photos. When Julie had the film developed, she gave copies of the photos to Jim, her siblings, and some of her friends. Not all of the photos in the album were from those two trips (the South Carolina coast and the mountains of North Carolina). Some of them were from the last part of 1983 and the early part of 1984. Jim showed Valerie and Caitlyn the photos. Jim was only too proud to show them the photos. He showed them photos from Luke’s gas station, Pam’s used car lot (where Jim was working at the time), the Sunbeam Bread Store, and from the neighborhood park. Jim also showed them a photo Wendy took of him and Candi that Easter. It did not take Valerie and Caitlyn long to recognize everyone in those photos. They recognized Jim and all his friends in the younger days. Valerie and Caitlyn knew that, even then, they all looked as good as they looked now.
“Dad, you worked at Pam Gilmore’s used car lot back then?” Valerie asked.
“Yes. I really enjoyed it. Paulina worked with me as well.”
“What did you do there?” Caitlyn asked Jim.
“I did a lot of things. I washed cars, helped out in the office, and I even sold some cars. That job was my first one. It helped me reach my goal of being a car dealer.”
Valerie said, “I see you all had a lot of fun together.”
“Yes, Valerie. We did. We became friends. We were there for each other through good times and bad, just like now.”
Jim turned the pages of the photo album. He showed Valerie and Caitlyn the photos from the youth ensemble trip to the mountains. The first photo he showed them was one Julie took of him and Candi on the bus. Valerie and Caitlyn recognized young Paulina Gilmore and Sydney Cavanaugh sitting behind them. Then Jim showed the girls a photo of the race car he and some of the guys on the trip saw at that convenience store in Catawba County. That race car was a 1969 Chevelle, and it was being hauled on a trailer that was being pulled by an orange Chevy truck. Valerie and Caitlyn seemed to be impressed by the race car. Valerie said, “Dad, you sure liked cars even then. I can see that.”
“Yes, Valerie. I did. And so did all my friends. And we still do.”
Then Valerie said, “Dad, I can see why you all became friends. You all have a lot in common.”
Then Jim showed the girls photos of the ensemble singing at that church in Lansing (Julie had Luke take those photos). He also showed them some photos of Jim playing the guitar and Todd playing keyboards and April Lynn, Candi, Paulina and Sydney singing. He also showed them one of the moment when Sydney was holding an empty can of Valvoline Motor Oil (when they did that commercial parody). Once again, Caitlyn had a question about the T-shirt Jim was wearing. “Dad, why were you wearing a Valvoline T-shirt in church?”
Jim answered, “It’s like this. Reverend Q gave me and the boys T-shirts. He gave the girls dresses. He gave me the Valvoline shirt. As you can see, Todd was wearing a Firestone shirt, Kurt wore a Champion Spark Plug shirt, Vince wore a B.F. Goodrich shirt, and Mark wore an Esso shirt. The others wore car T-shirts. That was what Reverend Q wanted. And the girls wore dresses. And boy did they look pretty!”
Caitlyn agreed with Jim and said, “Yes, Dad. They sure did.”
“You weren’t even there, Caitlyn,” Valerie said.
Jim hugged both girls. Then he said, “It’s okay, girls. You didn’t have to be. They looked pretty. Just like you and your sisters.”
“Didn’t you all go to Asheville also?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “Yes, we did. And I have a few pictures from there.”
Jim showed Valerie and Caitlyn the photos Julie took in Asheville. Most of them were outside. One of the photos was one where the whole ensemble gathered in the parking lot of a shopping center, with the mountains as a backdrop. Marissa, who was in her wheelchair, was sitting in front of the bunch, with Vince sitting beside her. Valerie asked, “Who are those two standing beside you and Mom?”
Jim answered, “The older one is Charmaine Cattrall, Ariel’s mother. And the younger one is her sister, Jodi. She’s about a year and half younger than me.”
Jim showed Valerie and Caitlyn some more photos. He showed them one of him fishing on The Battery in Charleston when he and Candi took their honeymoon. He also showed them one of Candi holding baby Emily, and another of her holding baby Charlie. It did not take Valerie and Caitlyn long to recognize their Aunt Emily and Aunt Charlie as babies.
Then Jim showed them one of Candi accepting her nursing degree when she graduated from nursing school. “Mom was a nurse, wasn’t she?” Caitlyn asked.
Jim looked at Caitlyn and answered, “Yes, honey. She was. And a good nurse at that. Your oldest sister, Chelsea, was born not long after Candi became a nurse. She wanted to finish nursing school before having kids. We both wanted to have a family.”
“Did she ever want a boy?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “Yes. When she died, we talked about having one more child, and we hoped it could be a boy.”
“So sad that didn’t happen,” Valerie said.
Jim said, “Yes, it was sad.”
Then Valerie said, “I guess I would like to be a nurse when I grow up.”
Jim let out a laugh and said, “You girls can be anything you want to be, if you set your minds to it.”
The bedroom door was open. When Jim said that to Valerie and Caitlyn, Chelsea stepped into the room. She had a can of Coke in her hand. Jim looked up at Chelsea, and he gave her a smile. Chelsea smiled back at him. Then Chelsea said, “Hi, Dad. I see you and my two youngest sisters are having quite a time in here.”
Jim let out a little laugh, and then he said, “Yes, Chelsea. We are. We’re going back in time. You want to join us?”
Chelsea did not say a word, but just stepped to a chair in the bedroom and sat down. Jim continued to show Valerie and Caitlyn photos, and he continued to tell them about Candi. He also showed them “just born” photos of each of the girls.
Chelsea picked up the photo album from Jim and Candi’s wedding. She looked at one photo and said, “Dad, I cannot believe you wore a T-shirt and a cap. And at your own wedding.”
Jim said, “Everyone else thought it looked nice.”
Then Caitlyn said, “Mom got baptized in her wedding dress.”
“Really? I’ll bet that was something,” Chelsea said.
Then Valerie said, “Dad graduated from high school, got married, and got baptized, all in one weekend.”
Chelsea said, “I know. Dad told me.”
Then Chelsea picked up another photo album. She looked at a beautiful photo of Candi. Jim saw Chelsea was trying her level best to fight back tears. Chelsea did manage to say, “Mom sure was beautiful.”
Jim looked at Chelsea, and he said to her, “Yes, honey. She sure was. And I was telling Valerie and Caitlyn how much of your mother I see in you girls.”
“I can see where my sisters and I get our beautiful looks,” Chelsea said.
Jim asked Chelsea, “Are your sisters still up?”
Chelsea answered, “Lindsay’s almost asleep. Lauren’s still up.”
Jim said, “Chelsea, I am glad I told you and Lauren and Lindsay about your mother. Tonight, I was finally able to tell Valerie and Caitlyn about her.”
Chelsea asked them, “Valerie and Caitlyn, are you two learning everything about Mom?”
Valerie answered, “Yes, and I’m glad Dad told us about Mom.”
Caitlyn added, “Mom was beautiful.”
Then Jim said, “They’re learning a lot.”
Then Jim went to something else. He said, “Girls, twenty-seven years ago in 1984, me and your mother and our friends took a couple of trips. We were part of the church’s youth singing ensemble. We first went to Charleston and North Myrtle Beach. Then, a few weeks later, we went to the mountains. The trip to the mountains was the one we would remember the most. One evening in the backyard of a house in Ashe County, we all got together. We made a promise to remain friends forever, no matter what. Your mother and I were part of that promise.”
“Who all were part of this promise?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “A lot of us. Malachi and his sisters, Julie and April Lynn and Ashley. Mark, Simon, Alex and Sydney Cavanaugh. Jodi and Ariel Cattrall. A girl from Brazil named Tia Mendes. Vince and Marissa Crabtree. Mark was dating Kendra when she was known as Kendra Braddock, and she was also in on it. Kurt was dating Hannah, and she was known as Hannah Duncan. Todd McClendon was with us. Russell, Scout and Paulina Gilmore were part of that promise as well.”
“Were any of the parents there?” Chelsea asked.
Jim answered, “Yes. My mother was there. And so were Autumn Cavanaugh, Charmaine Cattrall, Leanne McClendon and Pam Gilmore. And of course, there was Reverend Q and Anna.”
“What about the Holbrooks and the Barretts?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “Audrey didn’t make the trip. But Luke showed up at that church we performed at that evening.”
“Where were Audrey, Randy and Lori?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “Audrey was at home in Charlotte, having baby Toni. Randy and Lori were at home with baby Jeremy. Lori made the trip to the mountains, but Randy did not make either trip.”
“Toni and Jeremy were just born at the time?” Caitlyn asked.
“Yes,” Jim answered.
“Some trip!” Caitlyn exclaimed.
Then Jim said, “I told you girls this story because I wanted to prove something. A promise can be very special, especially this one. After twenty-seven years, we are still holding true to that promise. Or at least, most of us are.”
Chelsea said, “A promise is a promise, and it should be kept.”
Valerie added, “I like it you all stayed friends after all those years.”
Then Jim said, “And I’m glad you girls have interest in becoming part of the singing ensemble Julie is wanting to start up in church. And I’m glad the other kids are also.”
Chelsea said, “Lindsay plays the guitar very well, and I know Ryan can really play the keyboards.”
At that moment, they all heard the doorbell ring several times. They hoped neither Lindsay nor Lauren would answer it because this conversation seemed to be getting good. But Lauren announced that she would answer it. Jim continued to tell the girls about that trip, and about Candi. “We walked from the house we were staying at to a grocery store in town. I got me some toy cars, and I also got a ring. But not just any ring. A promise ring. When we got back to the house, I gave your mother that ring. And with that, we became serious. That, along with making that promise, was a beautiful moment. I’ll never forget those trips to the beach and the mountains or that place if I live to be a hundred.”
“Where was this place?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “It was in a small town called Lansing. It’s in Ashe County, in the far northwestern part of North Carolina.”
Then Jim showed them photos of him proposing to Candi. It was at the Indianapolis 500 in 1987. Jim got down on one knee and popped the question to Candi in front of the race car of the winner of the race that year, Al Unser, Sr. The car was yellow and was numbered 25. Jim’s father, Walter Faulkner took Jim and Candi to the race, along with Kate and Renee. Walter managed to get a pass for himself, Jim, Candi and Renee to meet the race winner in Victory Lane. Jim wanted to propose to Candi at the Indianapolis 500, and he did just that. What Jim did not know was that the ABC Television Network had their cameras shooting Jim proposing to Candi. But it didn’t really matter. Candi still said yes!
Valerie asked, “Dad, wasn’t Mom embarrassed by that, I mean you proposing marriage to her at a public sporting event and the whole thing being on every TV set in America?”
“If she was, she never let me know about it. She said it was memorable.”
Then Valerie brought up something else. “Dad, we finally learned something new in school.”
“Oh, yes. And what was that?” Jim asked Valerie.
Valerie answered, “We learned about how babies are made!”
Right then, Jim put one hand in front of his face and mumbled, “Huh, boy!”
And then, Lauren shouted from downstairs, “Dad, come down here! Autumn’s here and she’s got Julie and Mark with her and it doesn’t sound good!”
Jim threw up his hands and said, “Thank heavens.” Then he and the girls ran downstairs as fast as they could. When they got down there, they could see Autumn and Mark and Julie were quite upset. Autumn said in tears and sobs, “Jim, please come with us.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” Jim asked.
Julie answered, “Jim, it’s Lyle McPherson. He was badly injured in a wreck at a car race tonight. And it doesn’t look good at all.”
😊
Part 2 Follows.
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2022.02.16 00:18 jim21869 Friends and Family (Chapter 14)

The spring break was over. Jim returned to work and the kids returned to school. It was rather cloudy that Monday, but there was very little rain. Jim’s housekeeper, Svetlana Baranova, returned to work at the Faulkner house on Bethany Street. Jim had yet another good day at Queen City Chevrolet. The other black 2011 Corvettes arrived at the dealership that morning. Mark also had a good day. One of the best cars he sold that day was a new Corvette, but it wasn’t one of those black ones. It was a blue one.
Around eleven o’ clock, Jim got a phone call from April Lynn. She needed to speak to him at lunchtime. They agreed to meet for lunch around noon.
Jim and April Lynn agreed to meet at a Pizza Hut on East Boulevard, just a few blocks from the car dealership. They agreed on a large pizza with pepperoni, green peppers and mushrooms. They both drank Mountain Dew. April Lynn had something she needed to tell Jim. She said, “Jim, I got a call from Malachi last night after I got home from the park.”
“Really? What did he have to say?”
“He and his wife and kids are all packed and ready to start the move to Charlotte.”
“That’s good. Any idea when they’re gonna get here?”
April Lynn answered, “Malachi said he and Stacy would be here in a couple weeks. Chandler and Michaela will be staying with some relatives of Stacy’s in Boston. I’m gonna help them find a house here in Charlotte.”
Jim said, “April Lynn, that’ll be great. Nearly all of us will be back together.”
“You mean that promise we made,” Jim said.
“You betcha,” April Lynn said.
They ate for about two minutes. Then April Lynn said, “Jim, there’s something else. Adams and McGuire Agency will soon be closing.”
“Why?” Jim asked.
April Lynn answered, “Purvis Adams is moving out of state. And Johnny McGuire wants to go back to Fayetteville to open a real estate agency of his own.”
Jim nearly choked on his pizza when April Lynn said that. But he recovered and he said, “Oh, April Lynn! That’s awful!”
Then April Lynn said, “Well, Jim. It’s not all bad news.”
“How so?” Jim asked.
April Lynn answered, “This morning, Promise and I came up with a plan.”
“What kind of plan?”
“I saved up enough money to open my own real estate agency. I felt some doors may be opened.”
“I know you want to open your own business. Maybe this would be a good opportunity for you.”
“I’m going to speak to Purvis and Johnny about it this afternoon. Maybe they’ll go for it. Then, if they say yes, I’m going to speak to Promise and see if she’ll go along with the plan.”
“April Lynn, that’ll be great. You are raising Ryan on your own, and you’ve got him to think of.”
“I feel confident I can do this. And I know I’m ready for this.”
“April Lynn, I know you can do it.”
Then April Lynn brought up another subject. “It seems Reverend Q and Anna’s pretty daughter Madison is going to be the new assistant music director at Salem Church. She’ll be working with Autumn, who’s already the music director.”
“April Lynn, that’ll be great,” Jim said.
That would be Madison Quattlebaum. She was the only child of Reverend Al Quattlebaum and his wife Anna. Madison was born in 1987. She graduated from high school in Charlotte in 2005. She was presently attending UNC-Charlotte. Reverend Q and Anna had been divorced since 1994. Reverend Q had remarried, but Anna hadn’t. Madison had been paying her way through college by working part-time at a nearby Walgreen’s. She had ambitions of being a paralegal. Madison had been seeing both of her parents, at separate times. Reverend Q and his new wife were now living in Asheboro, some 70 miles from Charlotte, in the middle part of North Carolina. Anna was still living in Charlotte, and she and Madison still attended Salem Church.
And now, Malachi Holbrook was planning on returning to Charlotte. Except for Candi Faulkner and Todd McClendon, both now deceased, it seemed like the friends who made that major promise many years ago were about to be reunited.
😊
Jim and April Lynn had finished their lunch. It seemed like this lunch hour was pretty interesting. Before they left the Pizza Hut, Jim said to April Lynn, “There’s something I need to do. I need to sit down with Valerie and Caitlyn and tell them about their mother.”
April Lynn said, “Jim, I hope you know what you’re doing and what you may be getting yourself into.”
“I know I have got to do it,” Jim said.
Then April Lynn said, “I know that, Jim. But you may be getting ready to stir up a real hornet’s nest.”
“I’m prepared for that.”
Then April Lynn said, “Maybe it is time they knew about Candi. I know Chelsea and Lauren and Lindsay know a great deal about her.”
Jim said, “Yes. But I cannot let Valerie and Caitlyn feel left out.”
April Lynn gave Jim a hug. Then she said, “Jim, good luck. Let me know how it turns out.”
Jim hugged April Lynn back. Then they left the Pizza Hut.
Jim drove back to Queen City Chevrolet. On the way, he thought about how he was going to approach the subject with Valerie and Caitlyn, his two youngest daughters. Jim felt they had just as much a right to know about their mother as his three oldest girls. Maybe it would be easy. And then again, maybe it wouldn’t. Either way, he knew he owed it to Valerie and Caitlyn to allow them to know about Candi, even though they barely knew her.
Jim worked the rest of the day at the dealership. The rest of the day went by without a lot of fanfare. Jim closed the dealership, and then he drove home.
😊
When Jim got home, Svetlana had dinner ready. She made baked chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and garlic bread. Svetlana had already eaten, so she left for her home. But not before Svetlana said, “Chelsea and Lindsay helped with dinner after they got home from school.”
Jim and the girls sat down. While they ate, he asked each of the girls how their day went. Chelsea and Lauren both announced they tried out for cheerleading. Lindsay said she read “The Odyssey of Homer” and really enjoyed it. Valerie played with her friends on the school playground. Caitlyn was rather quiet and did not really have much to say. She just said her school day went okay.
Mark and Kendra and their kids stopped by the house just as Jim and his girls were finishing up dinner. Mark and Kendra Cavanaugh had three daughters named Brittany, Kristyn and Kellie. Kellie was the oldest (at age 22), and she was a student in college, studying to be a teacher. Brittany, at age 20, was also in college, taking business courses. Kristyn, at age 17, would soon be wrapping up her junior year at Queen Charlotte High School.
Jim and his daughters and Mark and Kendra and their daughters gathered in Jim’s living room. After a few minutes, the daughters stepped outside. Mark said, “Jim, I am going back into racing this weekend.”
“Mark, that sounds good. What kind of car and where will you be racing?”
“I will be racing at a racetrack in Gastonia. And the car I’ll be driving is a 1979 Chevrolet Nova.”
Mark bought the Chevy race car, second hand. He spent a good deal of time fixing it up. It took Mark about nine months to get the job done. Now, he was about to taste the fruits of his labor! Jim said to him, “Mark, I think it would be a good idea to put the Queen City Chevrolet name on the car. After all, you are my assistant manager and I feel it would be good for business.”
Mark excitedly said, “Jim, it’s already done!”
Mark took pictures of the race car on his cell phone. He pulled them up, and he showed them to Jim. Jim was impressed by what he saw. The car was a bluish gray, numbered 10, and it had a great deal of racing decals (Valvoline, Firestone, Champion Spark Plugs, etc.). And sure enough, the Queen City Chevrolet name was on the back fenders of the race car. Mark said that he showed the pictures of his car to his mother and two sisters. He also showed them to Simon and Ariel and their son. He also showed the pictures to Tia Mendes, and to all the Holbrooks except for Malachi.
Jim said, “Mark and Kendra, I guess you two haven’t heard the good news. Malachi Holbrook and his wife and kids will be moving back to Charlotte.”
Kendra said, “Jim, that’s wonderful news!”
Then Mark added, “That’s awesome news!”
Then Jim said, “Stacy’s job is moving to Charlotte. Malachi will be opening a new law office in Charlotte.”
“Who’s Stacy?” Mark asked.
Jim answered, “Malachi’s wife. They have two kids named Michaela and Chandler.”
Kendra said, “I am glad one of our good friends will be coming back to Charlotte where he belongs. Now all our friends will be together again.”
Jim somberly said, “I know. But without Todd and Candi, of course.”
Mark said, “Not a day goes by when I don’t think of them.”
Kendra added, “When we don’t think of them.”
Then Mark asked Jim, “What did you think of our new associate preacher, Amber Bianucci?”
Jim answered, “She’s beautiful inside and out. And I think she’s good for the church.”
“I agree,” Mark said.
After less than a minute of silence, Kendra asked, “Jim, you weren’t flirting with her Sunday, weren’t you?”
Jim answered, “No, Kendra. I wasn’t.”
Then Mark said, “It’s okay, Jim. But there were a lot of folks saying you were flirting with Amber, and that Amber was flirting with you.”
Jim said, “Yes. I know. But trust me, I wasn’t.”
Then Kendra added, “And if that wasn’t enough, it seemed like her sisters were flirting with you also.”
“You mean Amanda and Callie?”
Mark said, “Yes, Jim. And they’re pretty, just like Amber.”
At that moment, it looked like Kendra was giving Mark a rather murderous look. After all, Kendra was Mark’s wife. Mark said to her, “Kendra, sweetie. Please don’t worry. You are my wife and I wouldn’t flirt with anyone else.”
Kendra said, “It’s okay, Mark. I know you wouldn’t.”
Then Mark asked, “Jim, you think you’ll ever fall in love again?”
“Mark, what a thing to ask!” Kendra exclaimed.
Jim said, “No, you two. It’s okay. I get asked that a lot.”
Then Kendra asked, “Jim, you think it could happen?”
Jim took a few moments, and he thought it out. Then, he finally answered, “I don’t know. Maybe. But I’ve got my five girls to think about. But if it happens, then it happens.”
Mark tried to reassure Jim by saying, “Jim, there are lots of sweet, beautiful women all over Charlotte. I’m sure one will come along.”
Jim said, “Yes. I know one will. And you’re right about one thing. The girls all over Charlotte are pretty.”
Jim used the term “girls” and not “women” or “ladies” as much as he could. Maybe he felt it was more appropriate. Maybe Jim used that term because it made a girl feel special, no matter what age she might be. Jim had a knack of making a girl feel special. He could do that.
At that moment, Chelsea and Kellie stepped into the living room. Chelsea said, “You all, we have something to tell you.”
That got the attention of Jim and Mark and Kendra. Kellie said, “We and the other girls have made a decision. We want to take part in this singing ensemble Julie’s wanting to start up.”
Then Chelsea smiled as she said, “And we’re gonna get the other young ones to join us as well. And we just might do what you all did many years ago.”
“And what’s that?” Mark asked.
Chelsea answered, “That promise you all made to stay friends forever.”
At that moment, Jim and Mark and Kendra looked around at each other. They knew that their kids, along with April Lynn’s son and Julie’s kids and Ashley’s son, were all friends and would forever be. That promise they would make the friendships even more special, just like it did for Jim and his friends when he made that same promise back in 1984. They also knew that their kids were told time and again about that promise, about what it meant, and about how special it was. And still is.
Jim and Mark and Kendra spoke for a few more minutes, and then they wrapped up their visit. For Jim, it seemed as though maybe this visit was special. For a lot of reasons.
Later that evening, Jim got another visit. This time, it was from Julie and Ashley and April Lynn. Jim asked them to sit down at the dinner table. He fixed them each a glass of Coke. Jim told them about his visit from Mark and Kendra and their daughters. He told them about Mark’s racing car, and that he would be racing in Gastonia that weekend. Julie and Ashley and April Lynn said they would attend, and they would bring their kids if they would like to attend. Jim also told them about Chelsea and Kellie wanting to join the church’s new singing ensemble. Julie seemed thrilled about that. Jim also told them about the possibility of the kids making a promise like the one they made that summer evening in 1984. All three women were very thrilled about that.
Maybe Julie seemed the most thrilled about the whole thing. After all, she was the pastor of Salem Church. Julie said, “You all, it seems we may be off to a good start. It seems our kids may be carrying on our tradition.”
“You mean about that promise,” Ashley said.
April Lynn said, “Yes. I told Ryan about that promise enough times.”
Then Julie said, “I know. I told my kids about that promise enough times. So much so it bored them to death.”
“It shouldn’t,” April Lynn said.
Then Ashley said, “I told Dakota about that promise and he seemed to enjoy it.”
Jim said, “It’s good we told our kids about that promise. It’s also good we’re letting them carry on that tradition.”
Then Julie said, “I spoke to Renee and Amy today. Their kids also want to take part in the singing ensemble.”
April Lynn said, “I spoke to Simon and Ariel. They’re going to let their son Nelson take part as well.”
Jim said, “All that is good. Now, with Malachi coming back to Charlotte, it seems like things are getting even more special. And let’s not forget about Stacy, Michaela, Chandler and Madison.”
Julie said, “I know. I can’t wait for Malachi and his wife and kids to get here.”
Then April Lynn said, “I got a house set up for them. I’m going to meet with Malachi about it when he gets to Charlotte.”
And then Julie said, “I know. And I would love to officiate Russell and Madison’s wedding.”
“Have you done weddings before?” Jim asked Julie.
Julie answered, “Yes, I have. I enjoy doing them.”
“Okay, Julie. Maybe I’ll let you do mine. If and when that happens,” Jim said.
“Yes, Jim. If and when you find that girlfriend,” April Lynn said.
Then Julie said, “April Lynn, don’t start.”
April Lynn said, “I’m not, Julie. I’m just saying…”
Julie cut April Lynn off and said, “Then don’t.”
Jim said, “It’s okay. Maybe I’ll find her, someday.”
After Julie, April Lynn and Ashley left, Jim made him one more glass of Coke, and then he went to bed.
😊
Saturday evening came. This was the evening Mark was set to race his Chevy at a speedway in Gastonia called the Carolina Speedway. Jim went to Mark’s house and helped him get his race car onto his trailer. The trailer was hooked up to a GMC pickup truck that once belonged to Brad Cavanaugh, Mark’s late father. In addition to being a pediatric dentist, Brad also raced cars before he died of cancer in 1976.
The Carolina Speedway was a dirt track in Gastonia, not far from Charlotte. It was on Highway 274, not far from the South Carolina state line. Mark had raced there quite often, as did Luke Holbrook and Brad Cavanaugh before they died.
Jim and his daughters went to the race. And so did April Lynn and her son, Julie and two of her kids, and Simon and Ariel and their son. They all sat beside one another. Mark and Kendra’s daughters were also in attendance. Kendra was on Mark’s pit crew, along with Kurt and some of the guys from Queen City Chevrolet. Simon and Alex were also on the pit crew. Marissa was hanging out with the pit crew. Vince was with her. Jim had an opportunity to check Mark’s car before the race. He saw the names of Queen City Chevrolet, Faulkner Motors and Sterling Drug on the rear fenders. Not only that, Jim noticed something else. There was also another name on the rear fenders. Salem Church also occupied the race car. Mark said, “It was Julie’s idea. She insisted I put the church’s name on the car.”
Jim said, “That’s good. Julie’s here tonight. I’m sure she’ll enjoy seeing you race. And I’m also sure she’ll be delighted to see the church’s name on the car.”
Then Sydney, Mark’s other sister, showed up. Sydney was eating a plate full of egg rolls, drenched in soy sauce. She was also eating some fries and drinking a cup of iced tea. Sydney also checked out Mark’s race car. She said, “Hey. Mark. Nice job on the car.”
“Thanks, sis,” Mark said.
Jim added, “I got a feeling Julie’s gonna be impressed.”
“She just might,” Sydney said.
Then Marissa asked, “Sydney, you got enough to eat there, girl?”
“Yes, Marissa. I do.”
Then Jim said, “I guess she does. This is a sporting event. I don’t think you can get too much food at a sporting event.”
Jim left the pit and went back into the grandstand, with Sydney behind him, carrying her food. Jim returned to his seat. Sydney sat behind him. Sydney asked him, “Jim, did you notice something about Mark’s race car?”
“You mean the name of my car dealership and the church?”
Sydney said, “No. Mark has Valvoline decals on the car.”
“So? What does that mean?” Jim asked.
Sydney answered, “Jim, the decals say Valvoline. Think. That summer evening in 1984 in Lansing, North Carolina.”
Jim had to think about that. That concert at that church in Lansing. That song they did with Sydney holding the empty oil can. Done to the tune of George Hamilton IV’s “Abilene.” Valvoline, Valvoline. The best motor oil I’ve ever seen! And with Jim were April Lynn, Paulina, Sydney and Candi, doing vocals and Todd McClendon playing keyboard. And Jim playing guitar. Jim remembered that quite well. And to add to that, Jim remembered something else. That was the very same evening Jim and his friends made that very special and very important promise to remain friends forever, no matter what.
Jim said, “Yes, Sydney. I do remember.”
“You can’t forget something like that,” Sydney said.
Jim said, “I sure am glad we’re still keeping that promise.”
“Yes, Jim. So am I.”
Then Jim said, “Sydney, there’s something more. My kids and everyone else’s kids want to make a similar promise and they wanna keep it.”
“Jim, they’re learning our ways,” Sydney said.
“Sydney, I wonder if we can recreate that scene, I mean all of us around that campfire making s’mores and roasting hot dogs and making that promise.”
“Jim, that may be a slim chance, but anything’s possible.”
Twenty-seven years had passed since that evening when that promise was made. Jim never forgot that memory. Neither did his friends, even though two of them were gone. And one was about to return to Charlotte. And in recent years, Jim’s half-brother and four half-sisters, along with Toni Holbrook and Jeremy Barrett, who was also on Mark’s pit crew, were added to that promise. That just made the promise even more special.
The race got ready to start. A beauty queen from Gastonia sang the National Anthem. And then she gave the command. Drivers! Start your engines! And with that, the race was underway. Mark started off in row four in his Chevy. Next to Mark in that same row was a Dodge Aspen. And a few rows back was a Ford Crown Victoria that looked like it started life as a police car. And not far ahead was a car that looked like a Lincoln Town Car from the mid-seventies. And beside the Lincoln, a red 1937 Chevy.
Mark stayed in fourth place for about the first nine laps. That Lincoln was in front of Mark, and in third place was an old Plymouth station wagon. And in first place…another Chevy about as vintage as Mark’s.
By lap twelve, things began to get rather ugly. The Plymouth and the Lincoln and a Pontiac got tangled up in a bad crash and forced the first yellow flag of the race. Luckily, Mark was not involved. Mark, along with some of the other racers, took advantage of the opportunity to make necessary pit stops. The yellow flag lasted for about ten minutes. When the race returned to green flag status, Mark had advanced to third place. He would stay there for about the next twenty laps. By that time, Mark had made it to second. Then, a driver in a Toyota had engine trouble, and that caused his car to catch fire. That forced yet another yellow flag. There was another yellow flag during lap twenty-four when the 1937 Chevy had transmission trouble. When the race returned to green, Mark was still in second place.
The race continued without any more incidents. But when it was over, Mark finished in second place. The winner of the race was a driver from Shelby in the Dodge Aspen. But Mark still felt proud. He felt he did a good race. Jim and Julie were proud also. The names of Queen City Chevrolet and Salem Church were on Mark’s car. Mark would try his best to win races. He felt he could.
After the race, Jim drove home. As Jim drove back to Charlotte by way of Highway 49, he did not know Mark was a few vehicles behind him. Despite Mark finishing in second place, everyone still seemed to be in good spirits. They had to be. Maybe their friendship depended on it. Many of those friends, including Jim, had kids of their own, kids they had to give their very best to. Everyone was pleased that their kids wanted to join the new singing ensemble Julie wanted to start up at Salem Church. Maybe the kids would take trips, just like the old youth ensemble did. It was possible the kids would make an all-important promise to be friends and stay friends forever, no matter what. If the kids did make that promise, it would make Jim and the others proud. Everyone felt kids were important to this world.
As soon as they got home, Jim and his girls got ready for bed. Before he went to bed, Jim stopped by each bedroom and got a look at his girls. When he stopped by the bedrooms of Valerie and Caitlyn, he had one thing on his mind. Those two barely knew Candi, their mother. When Candi died, they were very young and had no idea what had taken place. Jim was sure Valerie and Caitlyn, along with their three older sisters, had the memories of Candi.
Jim knew he had to tell Valerie and Caitlyn about their mother, sooner or later. And it was probably best they heard about Candi from Jim, and not anyone else.
😊
Sunday came. The church service was nothing really eventful. Julie did make an announcement about the mortgage burning. Julie announced that the final payment on the mortgage had been made. It sounded like Julie was ready (and anxious) to get the mortgage burned.
Julie set the ceremony for a Sunday in June, during the church’s homecoming.
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2022.02.12 19:32 jim21869 Friends and Family (Chapter 12)

Book Three
The meeting at the church would turn out to be interesting, and informative.
When Julie McClendon, who was now the minister at Salem Church, made the announcement that she would start a singing group, Jim’s mind went back to that summer evening in 1984 in Lansing, North Carolina. That was the evening when Jim and his friends made a promise to remain friends forever, no matter what. Now, it was the spring of 2011. So far, they were making good on their promise. At least, the ones who were still there. Candi Faulkner, who was Jim’s wife, was killed in a plane crash in 2007. Malachi Holbrook was now living in Boston, where he was running his own law practice (he was licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Massachusetts). Malachi and his wife now had two kids. Kurt and Hannah Barrett were now married with a daughter named Summer. They still lived in the neighborhood. Vince and Marissa Crabtree still lived in the neighborhood as well. Russell Gilmore was now a pharmacist in Charlotte. Scout Gilmore was still living in Charlotte and was now working at a gas station. Simon Cavanaugh married Ariel and they had a son named Nelson. Alexandria Cavanaugh (Alex for short) was still single and lived in the neighborhood. Alex’s sister, Sydney, was still single but seeing someone. Mark Cavanaugh and his wife, Kendra, had three daughters. April Lynn Holbrook, Julie’s sister, had a son named Ryan. Ashley Holbrook Partridge, another one of Julie’s sisters, was now divorced and had a son. The Brazilian girl named Tia still lived in Charlotte, and she was now working as a teller at a nearby Bank of America. Julie was now widowed and raising five children. Julie’s youngest sister, Toni Lynn Holbrook, was still single.
And of course, there was good ol’ Jim Faulkner. He had been raising five girls on his own since losing his wife. And he also had his own dealership, and it was named Queen City Chevrolet. Mark Cavanaugh was the assistant manager. Jim was also the chairman of the deacon board at Salem Church. Mark was Sunday school director. It seemed like everyone made good on keeping that promise that was made back on a warm but dreary Saturday evening in August of 1984.
While Jim thought a lot about his mother, Wendy, and her two daughters, Emily and Charlie (two of Jim’s half-sisters), he also did a super good job of caring about his father, Walter Faulkner, who had been out of his life for a good chunk of his childhood. Walter had since remarried to a woman named Kate. Jim gained two more half-sisters, Renee and Rachel, and a half-brother named Jerry.
Julie went on about the meeting, and what could be the biggest reason for it. Everyone at the meeting was given some sheets of paper. And on that sheet of paper, the name of the candidate for the associate minister. From what Jim saw, she seemed to be pretty, and maybe a little shorter than him, with light brown hair and blue eyes. I hope I don’t spit up, Jim thought.
Jim read the papers. Julie went on to describe her. “Folks, what you are looking at is info on the candidate for associate minister. We think she would be good for this church. Her name is Amber Renee Bianucci. She is originally from a town called Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. She was born in 1978 and is the oldest of three sisters. She also has a young son named Skylar. Amber has never been married, and she’s raised her son by herself.”
Jim looked at the picture of this woman named Amber. She did look pretty. Right away, Jim imagined her in a dress. Jim tried his best not to flirt with Amber, hard as it may have been. Julie announced that Amber was single. A thought went through Jim’s mind. Oh no!
Julie continued to describe Amber and her background. “Amber graduated from high school in Pennsylvania. After high school, she attended college in Hancock, Maryland. Then Amber went on to attend Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Amber graduated from Liberty University with degrees in ministry and music. Amber was also a member of the Marshall University Singers. Amber was a cheerleader in high school and in college and at both universities.”
Jim saw singing programs on TV on Sundays since losing Candi. He watched a lot of those programs. Usually, Jim watched them just to see who was singing, and if the singer was female, or if the group of singers involved at least one female. Jim would flirt with them, seeing what they were wearing, and even checking their left hands to see if they were married or spoken for. When Julie mentioned the fact that Amber was a singer, Jim pictured Amber in his mind, wearing either a dress or a blouse and a skirt, pantyhose on her legs and high heels on her feet, carrying a microphone and looking pretty. And right now, Jim was looking at Julie. She was wearing a white blouse, a scarf around her neck tied to one side, and a black skirt. Right now, Jim did not want anything serious. And if he did get anything serious, Jim sure wasn’t going to let her enter the lives of his five daughters unless she loved them, and they loved her. Jim had always been good at keeping his options open.
Julie said, “The floor’s open for questions and comments. Anyone?”
For a moment, everyone just sat there, quiet as mice. Especially Jim. He had a hunch that someone was going to ask if this Amber Renee Bianucci was single. Right then, Jim just wanted to crawl under the pews and get out of that church as quickly as he could. Jim did stand up and was about an inch away from walking out the door. But Julie saw Jim and said, “Jim. I got a feeling you wish to say something.”
Jim just stood there, not saying a word. Jim looked to his left, and then to his right. April Lynn was sitting beside Jim the whole time. She just gently took his arm and pulled him back down onto the pew. Rachel was sitting behind Jim and April Lynn. Rachel leaned forward and made an intense thing out of whispering something in April Lynn’s ear. Rachel tried not to let Jim hear what he was whispering. But he heard it. “April Lynn, maybe Jim should ask Julie if Amber Bianucci is single and looking for a man to love and marry.”
Then Rachel quickly backed off, but not before April Lynn said to her, “Rachel Faulkner! I cannot believe you would suggest a thing like that.”
Then Jim said, “I heard that. And neither could I.”
Julie quickly asked, “Rachel and April Lynn, something you two want to ask?”
Mark said, “Julie, I got a feeling Rachel and Renee want to know more about her so that they could hook her up with Jim.”
Then Rachel asked, “Mark, why would you think a thing like that?”
Mark answered, “Oh, come on, Rachel. We all know what you and Renee are up to. You just don’t want to see Jim alone and raising those girls by his lonesome.”
Then Jim said, “You all, I am doing quite well with my girls.”
Kendra said, “Jim, we know you are. And there is a time and place for matchmaking and this is not the time or place.”
Then Jim said, “Thanks, Kendra.”
Then Julie said, “Yes, Kendra and Mark. Thanks.”
Then Renee said, “I got three kids and I guess we’re doing well. But I don’t know if I could do it with five.”
“I’m doing well, thank you,” Jim said.
Rachel quickly stood up and said, “Jim, I don’t know why you cannot get out once in a while and go out with someone instead of trying to do it on your own.”
Then April Lynn jumped out of her seat and said, “Jim will meet someone in his own time and when he feels like it. Let’s just leave it there.”
“I agree, April Lynn,” Mark said.
Then April Lynn said, “Rachel and Renee, maybe you two should start up your dating website. Don’t charge anyone for anything. I’d be happy to be your first customer.”
Renee screamed, “April Lynn Holbrook! I cannot believe you would suggest a thing like that!”
April Lynn said, “Why not? You two seem to be pretty good at arranging other people’s lives, starting with your oldest brother.”
Then Julie raised her hand and said, “Okay, everyone. Knock it off before I forget I am a minister and we are in a church.”
Then Kurt said, “Thanks, Julie. Let’s get back to the issue at hand. From what I saw, it seems like Amber has a good character and a good attitude. I feel she’ll be good for this church.”
Julie agreed with Kurt. She proved that by saying, “Yes, Kurt. I feel she could. I think she has a lot to offer.”
Then Vince said, “I think Amber has a lot of quality and all the things this church is looking for.”
Then Jim added, “It’s hard to believe there was a time long ago when no one would even dream about the idea of a female person taking the pulpit of a church. Everyone thought it was a man’s world. Since Julie decided to become the Salem Church’s first female minister since we lost Reverend Courtland, I feel we’ve come a long way. We’ve broken down some barriers.”
“Yes, Jim. I know we did,” April Lynn said.
Then Julie said, “I want to put this to a vote. But that will have to wait until she does a trial sermon. And that will be soon.”
“How soon?” Walter asked.
Julie answered, “This Sunday.”
Then Marissa asked, “And when will she be in town?”
Julie answered, “She and her son and her sisters will be leaving Pennsylvania tomorrow. They should be in Charlotte around seven tomorrow evening.”
Then Hannah asked, “Julie, if I may ask, what is the name of Amber’s son? And what are the names of her sisters?”
Julie answered, “Her son’s name is Skylar and he’s about nine years old. Her sisters are Amanda and Callie Bianucci.”
Jim said, “And I suppose Amanda and Callie are as pretty as Amber.”
Julie said, “Jim, I haven’t met them or Skylar. Just Amber.”
“Then I guess we’ll meet them soon enough,” April Lynn said.
Julie said, “Yes, we will. Okay, next item of business.”
Julie went onto her next item. “As you all know, we are about to pay off that stubborn mortgage that has been over our heads for so many years. Come the end of this month, we will officially make that last payment. And when we pay off the mortgage, I wish to do something special to mark the occasion.”
Jim asked, “Julie, what have you got in mind?”
Julie answered, “A mortgage burning. Churches do it all the time.”
April Lynn said, “Julie, I do hope you are planning on doing something legal.”
Maybe the cause for April Lynn’s concern was the fact that Julie was wanting to do some burning. A big one. Maybe April Lynn wanted to make sure Julie was not going to do anything to violate an ordinance in Charlotte that prohibits certain kinds of burning within the city limits. Julie eased April Lynn’s fears. Julie said, “You all, please don’t worry. It’s nothing illegal. I checked it out. All I’m planning on doing is burning the mortgage papers on the lawn. Don’t worry. It’ll be out as quick as it starts.”
Jim asked Julie, “Anything else planned for this mortgage burning?”
Julie answered, “Maybe a covered dish dinner.”
April Lynn said, “Sounds very good.”
Then Julie said, “Okay, then. It’s all set. Do I have a motion to proceed with plans for the mortgage burning?
Jim said, “As chairman of the deacon board, I make that motion.”
“Second?” Julie asked.
Mark said, “Second.”
And then Julie said, “Okay. Motion passes. I’ll let you all know when the mortgage burning is set.”
Then Julie went on to the next item of business. “And I want to bring up something that I found dear to my heart. I want to start a new youth singing ensemble. Maybe an ensemble consisting of both kids, and maybe a couple adults.”
“Julie, that would certainly bring back some fantastic memories,” Jim said.
Julie paused for a moment. Then she said, “Jim, it certainly would.”
Jim and Julie, along with April Lynn and Mark and Kendra and some of the others, knew that quite well. They all remember the old Salem Church Youth Ensemble. They also remembered the songs they sang, the times they had together, and most importantly, the friendships and the promise they made to remain friends forever, no matter what. And now, here they were, twenty-seven years later. And Julie came up with the idea of starting up a youth ensemble. And here, all those years later, they were still friends even though Malachi was now living in Boston. Candi and Todd were dead. Some of those friends had kids of their own.
Jim knew his girls loved to sing and that Lindsay, one of his daughters, played guitar. April Lynn’s son, Ryan, also liked to sing and could play guitar just like his Uncle Todd did. Maybe Julie came up with a great idea. Maybe the kids would love to sing and play instruments for the ensemble and carry on the tradition of the original members of the ensemble. Maybe those kids would make a promise like the one the original members of the ensemble made that summer evening back in 1984. Maybe it wouldn’t be the same, but the parents could show their kids what it was all about.
Julie said, “I know what some of you are thinking. And you may be right. Maybe it would be cool to hand down some of what we had to our kids. I feel the same way.”
Then Jim said, “Julie, I would love to play guitar and I’m sure Lindsay would, too.”
Julie said, “Jim, I would be upset if you didn’t.”
Jim said, “Then you have my vote. I make a motion.”
Then Mark said, “And I second.”
Then April Lynn said, “And maybe our kids will make the very same promise we made years ago, to be friends and stay friends.”
Just hearing April Lynn say that brought a smile to Jim’s face, and then Julie smiled. And then Julie laughed a little and said, “Okay. Motion carries. But we won’t jump into anything just yet. This will take some planning. But I can see we’re off to a good start.”
Then Walter stood up and said, “Folks, a promise is a promise and should be kept, no matter what. I can see you all made a great promise and that you all are doing a great job of keeping it.”
After Walter sat down, Julie said, “Thanks, Walter. Okay. Any new business?”
Jim said, “I guess not. Move we adjourn.”
Julie said, “Okay. I guess we covered everything. Do I hear a motion that we adjourn?”
Mark raised his hand and said, “I make a motion.”
“Second?” Julie asked.
April Lynn said, “I’ll second that.”
Then Julie said, “Okay. Meeting adjourned.”
And with that, everyone got up and made their way to the door. Julie met everyone at the door. She said to Jim, “I can tell everyone was in good spirits this evening. I never forgot our special promise.”
Jim said, “Julie, neither have I. Maybe we can show our kids what it was all about. Singing, fun, and friendships.”
April Lynn said, “Jim, I couldn’t agree more. Ryan does love to play his keyboard. Maybe we can let him play it some in church.”
Jim and Julie both quickly gave April Lynn a rather strange look. Maybe it was something April Lynn brought up. Todd McClendon also loved to play keyboard in church and as a member of the original ensemble. Todd and Julie got married after high school. That was back in 1990. Julie had just given birth to her oldest daughter, Natalie. Todd was killed in an automobile accident a few years ago. April Lynn quickly said, “Sorry, Julie. I guess it just came out.”
Julie said, “April Lynn, don’t worry. It’s okay. I understand.”
Then April Lynn said, “Jim, I know your girls love to sing. Lindsay does play guitar quite well. And I know Caitlyn likes to model and has ambitions of being in pageants. Maybe this new ensemble will give her the experience she’ll need.”
Jim said, “Yes. Maybe.”
Renee and Rachel were on their way out. Renee pushed Marissa out of the church in her wheelchair. Rachel said, “Jim, it really was good to see you tonight. You’re gonna have to tell us about this original ensemble and that promise you all made.”
Jim said, “Rachel, when I get some time on my hands, I’ll tell you all about it.”
Rachel said, “Jim, I’ll be ready to listen.”
Then Jim said, “I guess I best be getting home to my beautiful girls. They always like it when I see them off to bed, especially Valerie and Caitlyn.”
“You still see the older ones off to bed?” April Lynn asked Jim.
Jim answered, “Chelsea and Lauren see themselves off to bed. But when I’m not there, they see Lindsay and Valerie and Caitlyn off to bed.”
“We’ll talk to you some more tomorrow, Jim,” Julie said.
Jim gave a wave, got in his car, and he was off to his house.
😊
When Jim got to his house, he saw three of his daughters in the living room. Chelsea and Lauren were doing their homework. Lindsay was sitting in one of the recliners, listening to her iPod. Valerie and Caitlyn were already in bed. Jim asked Chelsea and Lauren, “Girls, why are you doing your homework?”
Lauren answered, “We just want to be sure we’re caught up in our schoolwork.”
Then Jim said, “Girls, you are all still on break from school. I figured you all would be enjoying yourselves.”
Chelsea said, “Dad, we’ve been enjoying ourselves during the first few days of this break. Don’t you want us all to do well in school?”
Jim answered, “Chelsea, you know I do. It’s also good to take some time off.”
Lauren said, “Dad, I agree. We just wanna get caught up in our studies.”
Jim agreed. Then he tried to get Lindsay’s attention. Lindsay took off her ear buds. Then Jim said, “Lindsay, I see you’re enjoying your music.”
“Yes, I am,” Lindsay said.
Then Jim smiled at Lindsay, and he said to her, “It’s okay, Lindsay. I like to listen to music, too.”
And with that, Lindsay smiled back at Jim. She put her ear buds on and returned to listening to her music.
Jim looked out the living room window. When he got home from the church, the rain had let up a little. But it started to rain some more. The forecast for tomorrow called for more rain with some clearing by that Friday. He said to the girls, “It looks like we’re in for some more rain. And there may be more tomorrow. Do you girls have any plans for tomorrow?”
Chelsea answered, “I don’t know, Dad. I guess we’re not going to the park tomorrow. Maybe we’ll just hang out around the house.”
Jim looked at the girls, and he said, “I guess that’s a plan. I gotta work tomorrow. After that, I guess my schedule’s free.”
Lindsay let out a yawn, and then she said, “I guess I’ll be making tracks for bed. Good night, everyone.”
Everyone said altogether, “Good night, Lindsay.”
A few minutes later, Chelsea and Lauren were off to bed.
Jim turned off the lights in both the living room and dining room. And then he went upstairs to bed. He turned on his bedroom TV and watched the last of a movie. Then he watched the news. He wanted to make sure the weather forecast for tomorrow was still calling for rain. It was. And he knew that things at Queen City Chevrolet would be slow, just like earlier today. No one would want to shop for an automobile in bad weather.
Before Jim could go to sleep, the phone rang. He wondered who would be calling at this time of the night. Jim answered it. On the other end of the call, “Hi, Jim. It’s Julie.”
Jim said, “Hi, Julie. What’s up?”
Julie said, “I need to ask you something.”
“If it’s about this Amber Bianucci, please save it. I told you. I’m not ready for a relationship. I got my girls to think of.”
“Jim, I know. And what makes you think I’m thinking about hooking you up with Amber? You haven’t met her yet.”
“Sorry, Julie. What did you want to ask me?”
Julie asked Jim, “Do you still have that book on how to play guitar?”
“You mean ‘Guitar for Dummies?’”
“Yes, Jim. That one.”
“Julie, are you thinking about playing guitar?”
“I thought I’d take a crack at it.”
“Sure, Julie. I can bring it to you sometime tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Jim. That’ll be great.”
“You think any of your kids may want to try their hand at learning to play guitar?” Jim asked.
Julie answered, “Yes. Maybe. Morgan and Megan had expressed some interest in learning to play guitar.”
“What about the other kids?”
“I’m not sure. Cooper’s still a little boy but maybe he’ll find his calling. Natalie has some interest in piano. Harmony’s more into singing.”
“That’s good. Lindsay learned to play guitar from that book. Maybe it’ll do some good for you, Megan and Morgan.”
“Thanks, Jim. I hope so. I can come over and pick up that book sometime tomorrow.”
“Okay, Julie. See you tomorrow.”
Jim stayed up for a few more minutes. He thought about that meeting at the church. He knew Renee and Rachel had been trying to arrange his life since losing Candi. At first, he thought Julie (and maybe April Lynn also) was about to join the two half-sisters of Jim’s in matchmaking. Todd McClendon, Julie’s husband, was killed in an automobile accident about a year after Candi was killed in a plane crash. Since then, it seemed Julie had done a fairly good job at raising her five kids on her own. Julie was not interested in getting into a relationship, any more than Jim. Just like Julie, Jim seemed to have been doing a good job of raising his five girls on his own, even though he did have a housekeeper who helped.
A while back, Jim was watching a sitcom on TV. He heard a line. He thought it was cool, and he liked it. Concentrating on your life can make you a better person. He would use that phrase a lot, along with many others. He also knew something else. If anyone cannot count on his or her family and friends, it is a sorry world. Jim did not make that promise back in the summer of 1984 just for the sake of making a promise, and neither did anyone else. Even though two of those friends were now deceased, the friendships were still there, and stronger than ever. Jim and the others knew they had friends to count on for the good times and bad, now and forever.
😊
Jim woke up the next morning. And sure enough, it was raining.
His daughters were not up yet. Jim figured he would just let them sleep. Good enough day for it, he thought. Jim just made himself a cup of coffee (black with sugar, just like he always liked it, and quite strong as well), and he took the cup upstairs while he looked in on his girls.
Jim stopped by the bedroom Chelsea, Lauren and Lindsay shared. He woke up Chelsea so he could speak to her. He tried to be as quiet as possible so as not to wake up Lauren and Lindsay. Jim said, “Chelsea, I may be at the car dealership almost the entire day. As soon as you can, please fix your sisters some breakfast, and please fix some lunch later, okay?”
“Okay, Dad. I’m getting ready to get up. I’ll get cleaned up and then I’ll go downstairs and start breakfast.”
“Okay, Chelsea. You girls enjoy your day at home. I’ll see you all this evening.”
Jim walked to Valerie’s room and Caitlyn’s room (Valerie and Caitlyn both had their own rooms). He checked on them before he left for work. On his way out the door, Jim grabbed two doughnuts and made him another cup of coffee.
😊
Jim spent nearly the entire day at the car dealership. Even though the weather was bad, business seemed to be okay, but not perfect. Jim did not go out for lunch. Instead, he ate a bag of Fritos, a pack of cheese crackers, and he drank a bottle of Coke. Jim did manage to sell two cars, a used Cadillac and a new Chevy truck. Jim took occasional breaks, and during those breaks he just looked out the window. He looked at the Charlotte skyline. It looked rather dreary, fog shrouding the skyline. Rain was coming down, sometimes in buckets. He thought about Candi, and how much he missed her. He also thought about the meeting at the church. He thought about how two of his half-sisters tried their hand at hooking Jim up with a young woman, who would soon be the church’s new associate minister. And no one, not even Jim, had met her yet. Jim also knew that Renee and Rachel were also trying to arrange the lives of Julie and April Lynn. They were not ready for a serious relationship, any more than Jim. Julie and April Lynn were now single parents. Julie had five children, including one in nursing school. April Lynn had a young son, and so did April Lynn’s sister Ashley. Before Jim left work for the day, he got a phone call from Julie. She needed to see him at her house as soon as possible. She said April Lynn, Ashley, Toni and the Gilmore kids would be there also.
😊
Jim drove to Julie’s house. After Julie married Todd McClendon, the couple lived in the house where she grew up, but Audrey Holbrook stayed in the house until she moved out and got an apartment in Dilworth, which she shared with Charmaine Cattrall. Now, Julie was still living there, raising her kids as only she could.
Jim arrived at Julie’s house. He went inside. Julie and her sisters and the Gilmore kids were in the living room. Whatever the reason was for this, it seemed important.
Julie said, “Jim, I got a major phone call this afternoon.”
Jim said, “It must be important, the way you spoke to me before I left the car dealership.”
“Yes, Jim. It is. It was from Malachi.”
“What did he have to say?”
“He and his family are coming to Charlotte soon.”
“Another visit?” Jim asked.
Then April Lynn said, “No, Jim. Malachi may be coming back to Charlotte permanently.”
“Is everything okay between him and his wife?” Jim asked.
Toni answered, “Oh yes, Jim. Never better.”
Then Julie said, “Jim, his wife’s job is relocating to Charlotte. Malachi will have to open up a practice here.”
Malachi’s wife. That would be Stacy Holbrook. Malachi met Stacy in Boston while he was still in law school. They eventually married and had two children, a daughter named Michaela and a son named Chandler. When Malachi made his periodic visits to Charlotte, he would bring his wife and kids with him. Malachi and his wife and kids would make a point to meet with Jim each time. The visits would be memorable. But when they left, Jim would be sad to see them go. But one thing was for sure. Malachi, like Jim and the others, never forgot that important promise they made to remain friends forever, no matter what.
When Jim heard the news from the Holbrook sisters, Jim thought of something. He said, “It looks like we’re all gonna be together again!”
April Lynn said, “And you’re talking about that promise.”
“Yes. I am,” Jim said.
Then Ashley said, “Of course, there are two who are no longer with us.”
April Lynn sadly said, “I know. Candi and Todd.”
Toni Holbrook and Jeremy Barrett were not with those kids that summer evening in 1984 when they made that promise. But Toni and Jeremy would be added to that promise eventually, with help from Jim and the other Holbrook kids and Kurt Barrett, as well as the Cavanaugh kids, Candi, Todd, Russell and Scout and Paulina Gilmore, Vince and Marissa Crabtree, Hannah Duncan, that Brazilian girl named Tia, and Ariel and Jodi Cattrall. As more friends were made, they would also be added to that special promise.
True, Candi and Todd were dead. But everyone felt they were with them, if only in spirit. They felt it made that promise even more worthwhile. Now, with Malachi and his family relocating to Charlotte, Jim and the others felt it would be nice if they could add Stacy to that promise. They planned to do just that.
Jim asked, “Do you think we should add Stacy to that promise we made to remain friends, no matter what?”
April Lynn answered, “Yes, Jim. I really think we should.”
Then Julie said, “Malachi told Stacy often about that promise. I’m sure Stacy will go along with it.”
Then Jim asked, “Any idea when they’re going to arrive?”
Julie answered, “From what Malachi said, about a month. He’ll be here in a couple days. Stacy will be with him, but the kids will be staying with relatives in Boston. Malachi will be looking for an office, and Stacy will be getting familiar with Charlotte, her new office and her new surroundings. And of course, they’ll have to find a house.”
April Lynn added, “And I will be helping them with that.”
“What kind of work does Stacy do?” Jim asked.
Julie answered, “She is a manager for a children’s clothing store in Boston. But the store chain is opening a new office and warehouse in Charlotte. The company appointed Stacy as regional manager. And besides, Malachi had been wanting to move back to Charlotte. I guess the move to Charlotte was what both Malachi and Stacy wanted.”
“What is the name of this children’s clothing store chain?” Jim asked.
Julie answered, “The Children’s Closet.”
Jim said, “I heard of them. I know they have three stores in Charlotte.”
Ashley said, “Yes. On South Boulevard, Albemarle Road and in the Cotswold Shopping Center.”
Julie said, “They want to add more stores in Charlotte and both Carolinas.”
Jim said, “It will sure be good to have one of our friends back in our fine neighborhood.”
The Holbrook sisters seemed to agree with what Jim just said. Like the sisters, Jim also kept in touch with Malachi. In addition to phone calls, Jim maintained regular chats with Malachi by way of Facebook and Skype. That way, even though Malachi was not in Charlotte, Jim was able to keep up with one of his friends who could not be there. The chats were memorable, but Jim (along with everyone else) wished they could be in Charlotte. And now, Malachi was about to return to Charlotte, bringing his wife and kids with him.
😊
Julie looked hard at the three Gilmore kids. Then she said, “Russell, Scout and Paulina. We all missed you at the recent get-together at Jim’s house.”
Then Toni asked, “Yeah, what was up with that?’
Paulina said, “Oh, I guess we should’ve told you. Mom took us out of town to see some relatives of ours.”
“Where was this?” Julie asked.
Scout answered, “Bristol, Tennessee.”
Then Russell said, “That’s where we’re originally from. You all know about Bristol, don’t you?”
Julie said, “Yes, Russell. We do.”
Then Russell continued to tell the story. “It’s like this. Bristol is situated over two states, Tennessee and Virginia. But then again, everybody knows that. Anyway, our father was a county agent for Sullivan County, Tennessee. Therefore, we had to live on the Tennessee side.”
Then Scout took over. “We did attend school on the Virginia side. We also did our grocery shopping on the Virginia side. We used to ride our bikes to the Virginia side to see our friends.”
Then, it was Paulina’s turn. “Those were some good times. But suddenly, we began to see some changes in Mom and Dad. It was becoming clear that they didn’t love each other any longer. One day after what we felt was a great Christmas, Mom packed up almost everything we had, and we left Bristol. She said she wanted to start a new life for us. We kept asking her and asking her where we were going. All she said was, ‘Until we run out of road.’ At first, I thought we were going to Florida. But somehow, we ended up here. Charlotte, North Carolina.”
Russell said, “Christmas of 1983. I got a boom box, an electronic football game and a train set. Scout got a slot car track. Paulina got some teddy bears and a small radio.”
Scout said, “Mom didn’t pack them. We asked her why. She said that she did not want to take any toys with us. We did, however, take some die-cast cars with us. Paulina took a teddy bear and a couple Barbie Dolls. Mom didn’t find out about that until we got to Charlotte.”
Paulina closed out the story by saying, “It made us sad to leave all that behind. Mom doesn’t like to talk about all that.”
Jim said, “Don’t worry. I won’t bring that up with Pam.”
He never would.
And as for why they were not at the get-together, Jim said, “Russell, Scout and Paulina, I can understand why you weren’t at my house. And don’t worry. There’s nothing to be sorry about. It sounds to me you all enjoyed yourselves.”
Paulina said, “Thanks, Jim. We’ll try to be at your next get-together.”
😊
Before Jim left the house, another subject came up. Jim asked, “Julie, what’s the last word on that new associate minister getting here?”
Julie answered, “I spoke to Amber a while ago. She is going to spend some time with some relatives of hers in Knoxville. She’ll be headed for Charlotte tomorrow. Her sisters and her son will be with her.”
“Sounds good,” Jim said.
Then Julie said, “They’ll be in church come Sunday. We’re going to have an opportunity to check her out.”
Then Ashley said, “I just hope things turn out okay.”
“What do you mean by that?” Jim asked Ashley.
Ashley answered, “Jim, I know Renee and Rachel are wanting to check her out so that they could fix you up with her, I mean if she’s pretty enough.”
Jim said, “I said it before, and I will say it again. I don’t want to rush into a serious relationship. I have my daughters to think about and I want them to like any woman I bring into my life. And I want her to like them.”
“We know that, Jim,” Julie said.
Then Toni said, “Jim, don’t ever be scared to have a girlfriend, even though you have five kids.”
“Thanks, Toni. I won’t,” Jim said.
Jim got up and made his way to the front door. Julie walked behind him. The two walked out onto the front porch. Julie said, “Jim, please do not what was said in there bother you.”
“You mean about Amber, and two of my half-sisters trying to arrange my life?”
“Yes, Jim. If you decide to return to dating, the time will come.”
“Thanks, Julie.”
Then Julie said, “You know that State Farm agent who has that office next to the Sunbeam Bread Store? He asked me out on a date a couple times.”
“And what did you tell him?” Jim asked.
Julie answered, “I told him I’d have to think very long and hard on that.”
“Anything else?” Jim asked Julie.
Julie said, “Yes. I also told him I have five kids, and that includes one in nursing school. I also told him they come first.”
“Good, Julie. Now I will say it. Don’t rush into anything.”
“Don’t worry, Jim. I won’t.”
Jim and Julie both got a look at the outside. It was still raining, but it looked like it was about to let up. According to the weather forecast on Channel 3, it would be clearing up tomorrow and getting warmer. Julie said, “I know we needed this rain. But I will be glad to see it clear up. I may take my kids to the park tomorrow.”
“That’ll be good. Maybe my girls can join you all,” Jim said.
Jim and Julie gave each other a hug. Then Jim headed for his house. When he got home, he saw the four oldest girls were in the living room. Jim asked them, “Where’s Caitlyn at?”
Lauren answered, “Caitlyn’s upstairs in her room. She hung out with us. I guess she got tired and went to bed. She’s been asleep for about an hour.”
Jim went upstairs to Caitlyn’s room. He slowly opened the door. He left the light off. The room was dark, except for light from the outside coming through the blinds. The radio beside Caitlyn’s bed was softly playing. Smooth jazz music. She liked it, just like Jim. Jim slowly sat down on the bed beside Caitlyn. He softly played with her curled blonde hair. It did not awaken her. But a soft touch of Jim’s hand on her shoulder did. He asked her, “Honey, are you okay?”
Caitlyn sluggishly answered, “Yeah. I’m okay. Just tired.”
“Your older sisters wore you out, huh?”
“Yeah, they did.”
“Well, at least you all enjoyed your day.”
That was when Valerie stepped into the room. She said, “We played with our Hot Wheels track and we played some video games. We had a good time.”
Jim looked up and smiled at Valerie. Then he said, “The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow. Maybe you girls can go to the park.”
“Can we, Dad?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “Yes, you girls sure can. And something else. Julie and her kids are going to be there tomorrow. Maybe you all can play with them.”
Valerie said, “Dad, that’ll be good. They’re a lot of fun to play with.”
Maybe Caitlyn didn’t hear what was being said. She just went back to sleep. Jim managed to wake her back up. He said to her, “Caitlyn, I was telling Valerie about you girls going to the park tomorrow. Julie and her kids are going to be there. Maybe you would like to play with them.”
At that moment, a song from Jim’s past played on the radio. It was from an eighties artist named Sade (pronounced shar-day). The song was called “Love Is Stronger Than Pride.” Jim said, “Oh, girls. You two just listen to that. That song reminds me of the good times I had with your mother and my friends.”
“You mean Julie and April Lynn and Mark and the others?” Valerie asked.
Jim answered, “Oh, yes. We had some good times.”
“Oh, I see,” Valerie said.
“A long time ago, we made a promise. We promised to remain friends forever, no matter what. We’re making good on that promise.”
Then, Chelsea stuck her head in the door and asked, “Dad, what should I prepare for dinner?”
Jim answered, “Oh, I think there’s a couple Red Baron pizzas in the freezer. Why don’t you put those in the oven and heat ‘em up? And there just may be some salad in the fridge. Those will sound good.”
“Okay, Dad. Sounds good,” Chelsea said.
Then Jim said, “I guess I’ll be stopping at the supermarket on my way home from work tomorrow.”
Jim always stopped at a supermarket at least once a week. He knew it took a lot of food to feed himself and five young girls. He always made sure there was some food for meals, plenty of Sunbeam bread, peanut butter, snacks for himself and the girls (the girls enjoyed them, especially after school), Cokes and juices in the fridge (especially Tropicana, Hawaiian Punch and V-8), along with plenty of milk and cheese, coffee and all kids of other foods as well.
Jim woke Caitlyn and he said to her, “Caitlyn, honey. Try to stay awake. Dinner will be ready soon.”
“Okay, Dad. I’ll be ready for dinner,” Caitlyn said.
Chelsea and Lindsay had dinner ready in about twenty minutes. Pizza and salad. It was really good.
😊
Jim always made a point to tell his girls about that promise he made with his friends back in the summer of 1984. Jim was sure his friends told their children about that promise as well. Jim, along with his friends, wanted their kids to know that a promise was something that should be kept, no matter what. Now, twenty-seven years later, Jim and the others wanted to hold on to that promise and hand it down to their kids. Jim and his friends hoped that by letting their kids know about that promise, they could know what friendships are about.
Jim asked his girls if they would be interested in joining the new singing groups Julie was wanting to start up. They said they were interested. The other kids expressed interest as well.
Now, they were about to see what that promise was about.
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2022.02.06 19:16 jim21869 Friends and Family (Chapter 10) Part 2

It was Easter Sunday. Wendy had to work at the produce plant. Jim and Candi went to the Easter Sunrise Service together. Jim wore a suit Wendy got for him, a beige suit with a purple shirt and a dark blue tie. Candi wore her new suit, a dark gray jacket and skirt and a burgundy blouse. Trisha also attended the service with Jim and Candi (Cecilia was not religious and sometimes kept her own agenda). Although the weather was nice, Trisha decided to drive Jim and Candi to the church in her red Plymouth.
The sanctuary was made out real nice for Easter, decked out in all kinds of flowers, in all different colors. There were also many pots of Easter Lilies. Malachi, Julie, April Lynn and Ashley sat on the same pew with Jim and Candi. Marissa sat on the front row, in her wheelchair. Luke sat in the pew behind them, along with Autumn and her kids. Pam and her kids sat in the pew in front of Jim and Candi.
Reverend Q opened the service with a prayer. Then the congregation sang a hymn, mumbled through a responsive reading, and then they sang another hymn. After Reverend Q read a Bible verse, he asked Trisha to sing a solo. Trisha wore a suit consisting of a white jacket and skirt and a burgundy blouse. Jim, along with many of the guys in the congregation, thought Trisha looked cute, singing and holding that microphone. Trisha had a beautiful singing voice.
After Trisha got done singing, Reverend Q delivered a sermon about Easter. He spoke about the “Last Supper.” He also spoke about the death and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He also spoke about his resurrection. He said that Easter may be about Easter baskets and chocolate bunnies, but he also said about how everyone should really celebrate the real reason for Easter, the fact that Jesus died and rose from the dead.
After Reverend Q finished his sermon, he gave the closing prayer. Afterwards, everyone went to the fellowship hall for doughnuts and coffee and soda. Trisha asked, “Jim, you got any plans for after church?”
Jim answered, “No, Trisha. Mom’s working today.”
“How would you like to spend the day with me and Candi and Cecilia?”
“Trisha, I’d love to. I don’t really want to be home by myself today.”
“Jim, that’ll be great.”
“Trisha, I will need to go by my house. I will need to change clothes.”
“Sure, Jim. Whatever you say.”
Trisha drove to her house. She told Candi she could drive Jim to his house in the Plymouth. Candi took Jim to his house. Jim asked Candi to go in the house with him. Candi had never been inside the Faulkner house. Right away, Candi was impressed by how neat and clean the house was. Candi stayed downstairs while Jim went upstairs to his room to change clothes. Jim kept his bedroom door open. Candi looked around the living room. The first thing she noticed was a knickknack cabinet. It had photos of Jim including his most recent school photo. Candi also noticed a model car on the top shelf. It was a red 1953 Chevy. Candi asked, “Jim, do you build model cars also?”
“I’ll bet you’re looking at the model car on the shelf.”
“Yes, I am. Along with these handsome pictures of you.”
“That red Chevy was one of the first model cars I ever built. I built that model car in Vacation Bible School about four years ago.”
“That’s nice.”
Then Wendy walked through the front door. Wendy shouted, “Jim, why is there a red Plymouth in front of the house?”
Then Wendy noticed Candi standing in the living room, and she said, “Oh. Hi, Candi. How are you?”
“Hi, Wendy. I’m doing fine. Jim’s upstairs changing. We’re gonna spend this Easter Sunday together.”
Then Wendy ran upstairs and said, “Jim, wait. Don’t change just yet.”
Candi walked up the stairs behind Wendy. Jim’s bedroom door was still open. He had not changed his clothes. Jim asked, “Mom, why are you home now?”
Wendy answered, “There wasn’t as much work as we thought, so we left early.”
“Why did you tell me not to change?”
“I was hoping I could get a picture of you in your suit.”
“That’ll be okay, Mom. Can Candi be in it?”
Candi gave Wendy a smile and said, “That’ll be okay with me.”
Wendy said, “I’m sure that’ll be okay. You do look pretty, Candi.”
“Thank you very much, Wendy,” Candi said.
Wendy asked Jim and Candi to join her on the front porch. First, Wendy got a picture of Jim by himself. Then Wendy got a photo of Jim and Candi together. And since Wendy’s camera had a timer, she managed to get a picture of her and Jim and Candi together. After Wendy got done, Candi asked her, “Wendy, can I get a copy of the one of me and Jim together?”
Wendy said, “Sure, Candi. I’ll have a copy for you.”
Jim and Candi went back to Jim’s bedroom. Candi got a look at Jim’s bedroom. She said, “Jim, your bedroom looks nice.”
“Thanks, Candi. A lot of the stuff in here comes from my childhood.”
“Your room has a nice view of the Charlotte skyline.”
“Thanks. I do like to look at it, especially at night.”
Jim took a polo shirt and a pair of casual shorts out of his closet. Before he could leave his bedroom to go to the bathroom and change, Candi said, “Jim, please wait. Before you go to the bathroom and change clothes, I would like to ask you something.”
“Sure, Candi. What is it?”
Candi asked, “Can I close the bedroom door?”
Jim answered, “Yeah, sure. I guess it’ll be okay.”
Candi gently closed the bedroom door. Whatever Candi wanted to ask Jim, it was probably major. Candi asked, “Jim, is it okay if I call you names like ‘Honey’ or ‘Sweetheart’ like girls do to cute boyfriends?”
Jim answered, “Yes, Candi. I’d like that, sweetheart.”
“Okay, Jim. And I would like it if you felt free to call me those sweet names as well.”
“Yes, Sweetheart. I most certainly will!”
Candi let out a laugh. Then she asked Jim, “Have you ever kissed a girl?”
Jim tried to find as easy an answer as he could. He said, “Yes, I did. My last girlfriend.”
“Where did you kiss her?” Candi asked Jim.
“Oh, different places. Sometimes, it was here at this house. And sometimes it was in the park.”
“No, Jim. I meant where? On her cheek or her lips?”
“On her cheek. I didn’t really have any nerve to kiss her on her lips. But I’ve seen how it’s done on TV and in the movies.”
Candi smoothed her skirt and sat down on his bed. She asked Jim to sit down beside her. After he sat down, she took his hand. Then she took his other hand. Candi said, “Jim, close your eyes.”
For about a couple minutes, Jim and Candi just sat there and did not say a word. Jim began wondering what pretty Candi Robertson had in mind. Candi put an arm around Jim, and then put her head on his shoulder. He smelled her perfume. He had no idea what it was, but he thought it smelled very nice.
Candi reached over to his nightstand. She turned on the radio. John Lennon. Imagine…there’s no heaven. She put one arm around him. Suddenly, Candi began kissing Jim on the lips! Jim couldn’t remember the last time he had so many feelings running through him. After about a couple minutes of kissing, Candi put her head on Jim’s shoulder once more. Wendy slowly and quietly opened the bedroom door. She did not say a word, but there was a good possibility she would have quite a bit to say about what was going on later.
A few minutes later, Candi excused herself to let Jim change clothes. Candi needed to use the bathroom. Jim showed her where the bathroom was, and then he changed clothes.
It took Jim about ten minutes to change clothes and put his suit neatly in the closet. It was warm outside, so Jim decided to wear sandals instead of his Nike tennis shoes. After he got done changing clothes, Jim opened his bedroom door, looked down the hall, and he saw Candi walking out of the bathroom. Candi walked back into the bedroom. She had one more question to ask Jim. Candi tried to find the words, but after some hesitation, she finally asked, “Jim, I love you very much and I want to know, do you think we can become serious?”
Jim thought about it for a moment. He had never been serious with any girl, not even with Mindy Birdsong. Now, at the age of fifteen, Jim was about to make what would possibly be one of the biggest decisions of his teen years. Jim took both of Candi’s hands, and then he said, “Candi, I love you and I want to become serious with you.”
And with that, Jim and Candi kissed each other. Before they left the room, Jim had one more thing to say. “Candi, if it’s okay with you, I have promised to save myself for marriage. I want to hold off sex until marriage.”
Candi took Jim’s hand, and then she said, “Sure, Jim. I made the same promise to myself. I want to go to college to study nursing. I want to reach that goal.”
Then Jim said, “Good. I have goals, too. And I want to reach them.”
Jim and Candi went downstairs and got ready to leave the house. But before they left, Wendy stopped them. Wendy said, “Jim, please let me speak to you for just a minute.”
Jim told Candi to wait for him on the front porch. Candi sat on the porch swing while Wendy spoke to Jim. She said, “Jim, sweetie. I stuck my head in your bedroom a while ago, and I saw you and Candi kissing.”
“Mom, it just so happens Candi and I love each other very much.”
“Jim, I know you do. I’m not trying to start anything bad. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Mom, don’t worry. Candi and I made the decision to become serious. But please understand this. We promised to save ourselves for marriage.”
Then Wendy smiled and said, “That’s good, Jim. That’s the right thing to do.”
Then Wendy told Jim to go and enjoy his day with Candi.
And so, on Easter Sunday in 1984, after a few months of getting to know each other, Jim Faulkner and Candi Robertson officially became a serious couple.
😊
Jim and Candi spent the day together. They ate dinner together at her house, along with Trisha and Cecilia. They told Trisha and Cecilia about their plan to go steady, and to save themselves for marriage. The aunts were pleased by their decision.
After they ate, Candi changed into a T-shirt and a skirt and tennis shoes. Then she and Jim went to the park. They swung on the swings, walked on the walking trail, and they played on the playground equipment.
Jim and Candi returned to Candi’s house. Jim stayed with Candi for a few more hours before he went home. Jim gave Candi a kiss before he left the house. Then he walked back to his house.
When Jim got home, Wendy was sitting in the living room. Jim told his mother how his day with Candi went. After he got done, Wendy told Jim that the Holbrook and Cavanaugh kids had called. He agreed to call them back.
Jim went into the kitchen. He called the Cavanaugh house. Autumn answered the phone. Jim told Autumn about his plans to go steady with Candi. He also told Autumn about his day with Candi. Before he ended his call with the Cavanaughs, he spoke to Mark. He told Mark pretty much what he told Autumn. Mark said he would tell Alex, Sydney and Simon.
Next, he called the Holbrooks. Julie answered. Julie seemed excited about Jim and Candi going steady. Somehow, Malachi and Ashley and April Lynn were listening in, and they seemed excited as well. Next, Jim called the Barretts, but no one answered the phone. He would try again later. Then, he called the Crabtrees. Vince answered. Jim told Vince about his decision to go steady with Candi. Vince said he was happy for them. He also said Marissa was already in bed, but he would tell her.
And last, and for good measure (he thought), he called the Gilmores. Russell answered. And, just like the Holbrooks, his brother and sister were listening in. Russell told Jim how proud he and his siblings were of him going steady with Candi.
Over the next few weeks, Jim and Candi spent a considerable amount of time together. Candi graduated from Queen Charlotte High on a warm Friday in June. Their relationship and their love for each other just kept growing and growing. Two upcoming church trips involving the Salem Church Youth Ensemble helped their relationship grow even more. Even with Jim and Candi being serious, they continued to remain friends with the other kids. Those same two trips strengthened those friendships even more.
😊
That summer after school let out, Reverend Q cooked up two trips, both involving the Salem Church Youth Ensemble and some of the mothers. What everyone didn’t know about Reverend Q was this. He had two vacation homes, both handed down to him by his late father. One was in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The other was in Ashe County, in the far northwestern corner of North Carolina. Additionally, Anna’s father was the pastor at a church in North Myrtle Beach. Reverend Q’s brother was the pastor at a church near the town of Lansing, North Carolina.
The trip to North Myrtle Beach would take place in the first week of July. Not only that, Reverend Q was also planning a side trip to Charleston. The trip to the mountains of North Carolina would take place in the middle of August. Reverend Q also got invitations to have the Salem Church Ensemble perform at churches in Burke and Ashe Counties and in Asheville.
Reverend Q tried to talk Luke Holbrook into joining them for the trips. But on the last day of the school year, Audrey was put on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy, and Luke had to care for her. Also, Luke seemed to be up to his neck in business at the gas station. Luke had Malachi, Julie, April Lynn and Ashley (already ensemble members) go along on both trips. April Lynn did not want to take the trips. She wanted to stay home for the birth of Audrey’s baby. But Luke insisted that April Lynn join her siblings for the two trips. She agreed.
The Holbrook parents were not the only parents that would be absent from the trips. Randy and Lori Barrett were just about to be parents for the second time. Lori’s due date was fast approaching. Just like Audrey, Lori was now on bed rest, and would be until her baby was born.
Nikki Crabtree was also unable to go. She had been depressed since losing her husband and youngest child. She felt she would not be good company.
The first trip came. Reverend Q and Anna got Wendy, Autumn, Trisha, Pam and Leanne McClendon (Todd’s mother) to go along. Reverend Q would be driving the bus. Anna and Trisha would be following him in the Chevy Van, pulling the cargo trailer. Anna and Trisha would take turns driving the van. Weeks before the trip, Reverend Q had the bus fixed up. He had the Salem Church name put on the sides. He had two of the back seats taken out and he replaced them with bars for hanging up clothes. He also had racks put above the seats on both sides. He also had a CB radio with a PA system installed on the bus, along with an AM/FM radio with a tape deck. He also had a CB radio installed in the van. This was so he and Anna and Trisha could keep in touch while on the road.
Everyone arrived at the church at six o’ clock on a Friday morning. On the rack in the back of the bus, there were different colored dresses. The boys were told to bring suits, and they could hang them up on the racks. Marissa got on the bus by way of her crutches, but Vince brought her wheelchair, and he put it in the back of the bus. Jim and Candi shared a seat near the back of the bus. April Lynn sat by herself in a seat across from them. Julie and Todd sat in front of Jim and Candi.
Reverend Q drove the bus out of the parking lot. He played a song on the tape deck. Sister Sledge. We Are Family! The kids and mothers sang along for the first few miles. Every trip would start with that song.
Reverend Q took Interstate 77 south into South Carolina. He stopped at a Shoney’s Restaurant in Rock Hill. Everyone took advantage of the breakfast bar. Jim, Candi, Marissa and Wendy shared a table. April Lynn sat at a table by herself, and her plate had nothing more than a piece of smoked sausage, a biscuit and an orange slice. She also had a glass of Sprite. Right away, Wendy got up and walked over to April Lynn. Wendy asked April Lynn to join Jim and Candi at their table. Then Marissa said to her, “April Lynn, sweetie. You cannot sit by yourself. Please come join us and I promise you’ll feel better.”
Wendy escorted April Lynn to the table. Wendy gave April Lynn some of the scrambled eggs she was eating. Marissa gave her a piece of her bacon. It didn’t take April Lynn long to finish her breakfast.
After Reverend Q and Anna got finished with their breakfast, they drove the bus and van into a convenience store next door and filled both vehicles with gas. After everyone got finished with their breakfast at Shoney’s, they all walked next door. Everyone walked into the convenience store and got themselves some drinks and snacks to enjoy on the way. Jim got him and Candi a big bag of Doritos. He got two Cokes, and she got two Diet Cokes.
Everyone boarded the bus. Once again, Anna and Trisha occupied the van. This time, Trisha was the one driving the van. As soon as Reverend Q got back onto I-77, Jim put on his radio headphones, and he got out a copy of one of his car magazines and started reading it. About a couple miles south, Candi fell asleep. The music Jim was listening to seemed to be keeping time with the traffic. After about an hour, Jim became drowsy, and he fell into deep, untroubled sleep.
Jim woke up when he realized the bus was now in Columbia, on Interstate 20 headed west. He saw a green sign, AUGUSTA, 74 MILES. He had a hunch Reverend Q was planning a side trip to Augusta, Georgia. After a few miles, he discovered they were not headed for Augusta or the state of Georgia. Reverend Q got onto Interstate 26 east and headed for Charleston. Jim asked one of the mothers, “By any chance are we going to Charleston?”
It was Autumn who answered. “Yes, Jim. Reverend Q said something about going to Charleston before we go to North Myrtle Beach.”
Jim realized he had never been to Charleston. Autumn said, “I’ve been to Charleston many times. It has a lot of old houses, pretty gardens…”
Then Pam cut Autumn off by saying, “And two extremely high bridges. I never did like crossing them.”
Almost everyone on the bus fell asleep. Jim managed to stay awake until Reverend Q reached Interstate 95. Then, Jim fell asleep all the way to Charleston. When they got to Charleston, everyone saw the two big bridges Pam was describing. Those two bridges were the ones crossing the Cooper River. Reverend Q got onto a street headed for the center of Charleston. Even though the streets were rather narrow, Reverend Q had no trouble driving the bus on those streets. Right away, Jim liked what he saw. He, along with everyone else on the bus, thought everything looked beautiful.
Reverend Q parked the bus on Murray Boulevard near White Point Gardens. This is a part of Charleston known as “The Battery.” Jim and Candi held hands as they walked along the waterfront. April Lynn just stood in one place, and just kept looking out to sea. The mothers walked along the waterfront as well, and they kept within shouting distance. Reverend Q, Anna and Trisha sat on a bench the whole time. Jim thought of something. When he and Candi got married, this would be a great place for a honeymoon. He did not say that out loud, and right now, he was not going to let Candi know about it.
After about an hour, everyone boarded the bus, and they rode through Charleston some more. They saw more gardens, and some more old houses and buildings. Anna, now driving the van, stayed behind the bus.
Reverend Q got ready to leave Charleston. He took U.S. Highway 17 north, taking one of the big bridges crossing the Cooper River. It took about two hours to get from Charleston to North Myrtle Beach. Reverend Q took a side trip through the heart of Myrtle Beach. He drove the bus on Ocean Boulevard. Everyone got to see the Pavilion, and the ocean. Reverend Q promised everyone a trip to the Pavilion the next day after a rehearsal.
They finally arrived at Anna’s father’s vacation house. It was in a part of North Myrtle Beach known as Cherry Grove. It was an oceanfront home. It was a good size house. It had four bedrooms. Some of the boys opted for one of the bedrooms. Some of the girls took another bedroom. The mothers took the smallest bedroom. Reverend Q and Anna took what turned out to be their own bedroom. Jim, Malachi and Scout agreed to sleep in the living room, as did Candi and April Lynn. Trisha also agreed to sleep in the living room. There were two sofas in the living room. Jim and April Lynn took the sofas. Trisha and Candi took the two recliners in the living room. Malachi and Scout took some blankets, comforters and pillows and slept on the floor.
Reverend Q and Anna got everyone together and they all went to a nearby seafood restaurant. Jim and Wendy got a seafood platter. Candi got a cheeseburger and fries. The others got either some kind of seafood or a burger. April Lynn got a salad and some fries. After everyone got done eating, they walked along the seashore. Jim and Candi held hands, as did Mark and Kendra (Kendra Braddock was along on the trip as a member of the ensemble), Julie and Todd and Simon and his girlfriend, a girl named Ariel Cattrall.
The next morning, everyone got up at around eight o’ clock. After a breakfast prepared by Anna and Wendy, everyone went to the church where they would be performing. After about an hour and a half of rehearsing for their performance the next day, Reverend Q made good on his promise to take everyone to the Pavilion in Myrtle Beach. Everyone played the games, rode the rides, and had a great time.
The performance was to be held during the morning worship service the next morning, which was Sunday. The boys wore suits. The girls wore dresses of different colors. The dresses looked pretty. The dresses had a low neckline that showed some upper torso. And, on some of the older girls, some cleavage. Right away, the boys thought one thing. Uh-oh. Even the slightest mishap with elastic, and anyone could really get a look at something that shouldn’t be shown in church. It was sexy-looking enough as it was.
The ensemble began their performance. Boys and girls stood next to each other. There were two rows. The taller ones in the back, the shorter ones in the front. Marissa would perform from her wheelchair, in the front row. The ensemble started off with “Blessed Assurance.” After that, they sang “I’ll Be Somewhere Listening For My Name” and “Step Into the Water.” Then, five of the boys (Mark, Simon, Malachi, Todd and Scout) and six of the girls (Candi, Sydney, April Lynn, Julie, Paulina and a Brazilian girl named Tia) took microphones and sang “I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen.” After that, the ensemble finished their performance with “Greater Is He That Is In Me.” Reverend Q watched singers close out Oral Roberts TV shows by singing that song. He liked it, so he thought it added a nice touch.
After the service, everyone spent a couple hours on the beach before they made the trip back to Charlotte. Reverend Q thought the trip and the performance were a success. He and Anna were already looking forward to (and planning) the next trip, the one to the mountains.
Upon their return to Charlotte, the Holbrook kids found out Audrey was already in the hospital and about to have what would be her last baby.
A couple days after the ensemble returned to Charlotte, Audrey had the baby. It was a girl, and she and Luke decided to name her Toni Lynn Holbrook. A week later, Lori had her baby. It was a boy. Randy and Lori decided to name him Jeremy.
😊
Part 3 Follows.
submitted by jim21869 to creativewriting [link] [comments]

2022.01.05 06:14 randomtinkerer City Slickers and Hayseeds, Chapter 27 (SSB Verse)

Setting by u/BlueFishcake
First Previous Next
Brelak stood in front of the door, his stomach churning. It had been a few days since the disastrous end of the Festival of Colors, and guilt had been eating at his mind the entire time. He’d only put this off as long as he had because he didn’t want to pile even more ill news onto the McClendon family.
“Papa,’ Solanna’s voice was pleading. “We really don’t have to do this!”
“You would do well to keep your mouth shut, Solanna.” Ny’xie growled at her blood-daughter. “You have no one to blame for this but yourself.”
“But, mom!” She protested. “It was his idea!”
Brelak spun to face her, his eyes wide with anger. “Don’t you dare try to blame this on him! I raised you better than to claim he was asking for it!”
Solanna’s chin quivered as she recoiled from the fury on her father’s face. She took a breath, hesitated, and then hung her head with a miserable nod.
Brelak turned back to the door, squared his shoulders, and knocked.
A moment later, the door opened to reveal Mrs. McClendon smiling at the three of them. “Well, this is a lovely surprise! What brings you three by our humble home?”
Brelak forced a smile onto his face. “Good afternoon, Jennifer. I’m afraid we have something rather… delicate to discuss.”
Jennifer’s brow furrowed, but she nodded. “Won’t you all come in?”
As she led them into the house, Brelak couldn’t help but notice how cramped it felt. There was a bench by the door with shelves built into it that were filled with shoes. A coat rack stood beside it, holding plastic looking jackets in bright yellows and oranges, in addition to the closet that was built into the wall. Nearly every square foot of wall space was taken up by something, varying between bookshelves that reached nearly to the ceiling, framed pictures of the children that marched back through the years, or examples of art from across a wide variety of styles.
“I apologize for the mess,” Jennifer said as she hefted a strange looking contraption that appeared to be made mostly of brown leather off the table and set it on the floor. “Would you like some tea or coffee?”
Brelak glanced at Ny’xie as Jennifer disappeared into the kitchen. “I… er, that would be lovely, thank you.”
When she reappeared, she was carrying a tray with four mugs, a coffee pot, and a plate of cookies. “The water will take a moment to heat,” she said as she set the tray on the table, then seated herself. “So, what can I do for you? It sounds important, whatever it is.”
Brelak took a second to calm his nerves, busying his hands with pouring coffee. “It’s about Eli, I’m afraid.”
Jennifer sighed and closed her eyes. “What did he do?”
Brelak blinked. “I… well, it’s not exactly what he’s done.” He cleared his throat, and gave his best regretful smile. “I am sorry about this, but I’m afraid that Solanna has been… conjugating with him.”
“Oh Goddess…” Solanna buried her face in her hands.
Jennifer blinked. “I’m sorry, did you say conjugating? With Elijah?”
Ny’xie nodded gravely, and soldiered on. “We understand that this is a serious matter, and we’re prepared to do what is necessary to make things right.”
Jennifer looked from Ny’xie to Brelak. “When you say ‘conjugating’, you mean sex… right?”
The two Shil’vati adults nodded.
“That boy…” Jennifer’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m so sorry, Brelak. Rest assured that he’s going to be grounded for a looong time. Did… did you want to speak with him? He’s out working with Zachariah, at the moment.”
“Grounded?” Brelak blinked in confusion, glancing at Ny’xie. “I don’t understand.”
“Oh, right. Um,” Jennifer tapped her chin. “He won’t be allowed to go into town by himself, no phone, no ‘net, and he’ll be confined to his room when he’s not doing chores.”
Ny’xie’s eyes widened. “You’re going to punish him?!”
“Of course! Isn’t that why you’re here?”
Ny’xie glanced at Brelak before replying. “Ah, we assumed that there would need to be… restitution for damages.”
“Damages?!”
Solanna rested her head on the table, and attempted to cover it with her arms.
“Yes,” Brelak winced, “For our daughter’s actions in… despoiling your son.”
“Desp…” Jennifer burst out laughing, holding her stomach as she rocked back in her chair. She held up a hand to forestall their concern, as she brought herself back under control. “Y-you thought that he was the one who needed to be persuaded?!” She wiped at her eyes, still chuckling. “I would bet dollars to donuts that he was the one who started the whole thing!”
“I told you!” Solanna erupted, throwing her hands into the air, an indignant glare pointed at her father.
“You’d better remember your manners, girl,” Ny’xie growled in Shil, with a look that could have scorched the hair off a Grinshaw. “Or we’re going to have a problem.”
Solanna transferred the glare to the tabletop.
Jennifer watched the Shil’vati woman a moment longer, then clasped her hands on the table in front of her. “So… how would you prefer that we proceed, Brelak? Ny’xie?”
Ny’xie hesitated. “If you do not wish to demand some kind of arrangement be made… I suppose all we can do is be a bit more watchful?”
Jennifer nodded sharply. “You can be absolutely sure that we’re going to be watching that boy like a hawk!”
---
Rhe’alla sat at the sewing machine, biting her lip in concentration. Careful to keep the folds of cloth lined up right, she watched as the machine nibbled up the seam while she pulled out the pins.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t kiss him,” she shook her head with a sigh.
“The moment wasn’t right!” Melody sighed as she taped the layers of crumpled paper over the dress form. “I just… wasn’t ready. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to kiss him!”
“I realize that makes sense to you, somehow, but I can’t imagine a moment that would make me not want to kiss a willing boy who didn’t have a face like a Reex.” She held up the finished seam, looking along the length of it. “I think I got it straight this time! Yes!”
Melody beamed. “Very good! See? You’re learning quick enough! All it takes is a little bit of practice.” She retrieved a balloon from one of the myriad of drawers that lined the wall of the craft room. “Now turn around for a minute, I need to get your cup size right.”
Rhe’alla set the mass of yellow fabric down and turned to face the room with a sigh. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do if he actually makes us wait. Well, that’s not true, I know exactly what I’m going to do, I just don’t know how I’m going to find the privacy to do it.”
Melody’s cheeks reddened as she blew up the balloon. “Patience isn’t your strong suit, then, is it?” She held the balloon up to Rhe’alla’s chest, letting a little air out of it before tying it off.
“It’s not about patience, it’s about keeping the monster in check.” Rhe’alla shrugged. “I get… hungry, I guess. That’s not exactly right, but it’s close.”
“Okay, so why can’t you just deal with it and be done?”
“I share a room with my sister.” Rhe’alla sighed.
“Can’t you just… I don’t know, do it in the bathroom?”
Rhe’alla gave an incredulous frown. “That’s not exactly comfortable, but I guess I could. It depends on what I’m using. Electricity and water don’t mix, you know.”
“Electricity?!”
Rhe’alla blinked. “Do you not use toys?”
“Oh, I thought…” Melody looked away. “Never mind what I thought. Hand me the skirt.”
Rhe’alla obeyed, and watched as Melody pinned the material around the waist of the newspaper wrapped dress form. Another minute’s worth of work had the top of the brightly colored summer dress taking shape, and Melody stepped back to look over her work.
“That’s… kinda cute, actually!” Rhe’alla stood from her stool and walked around the garment. “How did you make that happen?”
“It’s not that impressive, really. The color complements your skin, and a summer dress is pretty simple.” She shrugged. “It just takes a bit of practice to find the shape that works for your body.”
“That’s neat! It’ll be nice to have something that doesn’t make me look even worse.”
Melody canted her head to the side with a frown. “Worse?”
“You know…” She waved a hand vaguely over her torso. “I’m not all that. Trik’sis has the noble bearing, and the breeding. Solanna’s got the charm and the looks. I’m just kind of… here.” She shrugged.
Melody’s jaw dropped. “Just here?! You’ve got the body of Athena! You’re tall, athletic, and you’re at least a D cup! Your hair is amazing and your eyes literally glitter! How is any of that just kind of anything?!”
“You… you think my hair is amazing?”
“Yes! It’s like you have the night sky growing out of your head!”
Rhe’alla reached back and pulled the hair tie out of her ponytail, letting her locks fall free. She turned to look in the full length mirror by the door. “But… What do I do with it? Papa says that boys like girls with long hair, but it just… hangs there.”
Melody took a few strands carefully in her fingers. “I think I can help with that… sit down, I think I know something that will work.”
Rhe’alla returned to her chair, while Melody retrieved an assortment of tools from the other room. As the Human girl began to brush out her hair, she felt herself relaxing, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips. As fingers and comb began to do their work, she let her eyes drift closed. The sensations that danced across her scalp were soothing, comforting, and she felt stress melting off of her.
Far sooner than she thought possible, Melody was patting her on the shoulders.
“There we go! What do you think?”
Moving to the mirror, Rhe’alla gasped. Her hair was woven in layers that intersected in a seam that ran down the middle of her head. The rest of her hair, which was normally gathered in a loose pony-tail, hung in an intricate braid that flowed in the same pattern all the way out to the end.
“How did you do that so fast? That’s amazing!”
“Magic!” Melody’s eyes sparkled. “It’s called a French Braid. It takes a bit of practice, but I’m sure you’ll pick it up in no time. Here, I’ll show you.”
“We might have to wait on that, actually.” Rhe’alla winced at her omni-pad. “Time has gotten away from us, just a bit. I should be going.” She hesitated in the doorway. “Can I… come back again tomorrow?”
“Of course! We might even be able to get the dress finished, if everything goes well.”
The two girls made their way to the front door, where goodbyes were exchanged. As Rhe’alla stepped off the front porch, Melody called after her.
“Hey, Rhe’alla?” She stepped forward, closing the door and hugging her arms to herself. “Um… just out of curiosity, where would someone go to buy a… toy?”
Rhe’alla blinked, then coughed into the crook of her elbow as she ruthlessly suppressed the urge to laugh. “Ah, hoo! Um, that’s… right, well, there are shops that carry that sort of thing, but there aren’t any in town. Someone could order it on the ‘net, and have it shipped to their house?”
Melody, who was already avoiding eye contact, went red. “I’m pretty sure anyone who did that wouldn’t want the wrong person to open the package…”
“I see what you mean…” Rhe’alla tapped a finger to her chin. “Well, if someone were to take a trip, and just happen to come across a merchant who sold such things… I would assume that this person would be looking for something… entry level?”
“...Yes…”
Rhe’alla nodded, biting her tongue to keep from smiling. “Probably something small and quiet… something discreet?”
“...Yes…”
“Probably not something in the shape of an actual pen-”
“AlrightALRIGHTalright! Yes, you get the idea!”
Rhe’alla put on her best expression of innocence. “Something wrong?”
“I can see the horns holding up your halo, is all.”
"I have no idea what that means," Rhe’alla chuckled. “But, you know something? Levi’s right: you’re kinda cute when you’re flustered.”
---
Levi half sat, half stood at the lunch counter of The Garden of Eat-in, waiting for his father. The evening rush was in full swing, the sound of laughter and conversation blending into a happy buzzing in the background. Levi nibbled at his burger, frowning down at the message that had summoned him here:
Dad: Hey bud, meet me at The Garden for dinner, Mrs. D’saari wants to talk to you about something. Sent 3:51.03
He couldn’t imagine what the Liaison would want to speak to him about, much less something that his father wouldn’t simply discuss with him once he returned home.
He heard his name spoken against the buzz of conversation and looked up. One of the many men who he knew only by sight nodded to him, touching a finger to the bill of a grease stained ball-cap. Levi returned the nod, his stomach crawling back down out of his throat.
That had happened a few times since he’d been here. In fact, several things were oddly different. People were looking at him. Not staring, exactly, nor was it with any kind specific emotion. There was no malice in the looks that he was catching in his periphery, nor could he sense admiration. It was more like he had suddenly, and entirely without meaning to, become visible.
It was… unsettling.
Being inconsequential had always seemed like a fact of his life. He wasn’t made for big things, flashy things. His lot was to pick up the slack, oil the hinges, do the hard thing, and keep out of the way. He’d come to accept it, sometimes even take a quiet pride in it.
Now? Mistakes would be seen. Decisions would be weighed. People would disapprove of his choices. Worse still, some might imitate them! And after all, who the hell was he?! He didn’t know what the hell he was doing!
He sighed, and picked at the seeds on top of the hamburger bun. It would probably all be forgotten within a few weeks. Best to just lay low and let the rumor mill grind on without him. It always had, hadn’t it?
The jangle of the door chime cut through the din, and he turned just in time to see his father come through the door, followed by the Liaison, and-
His heart skipped a beat.
He knew that uniform.
Everyone in the world knew that uniform.
As Zachariah moved towards him, the Interior Agent’s eyes slowly scanned the crowd of diners.
“Hey bud!” Zachariah put his head in close, speaking over the ambient noise. “Sorry ‘bout the short notice, but Agent Ha’malay isn’t one for-”
“Ah!” A thickly accented voice rang out. “Mr. Levi! I am here to speak with you!”
Conversation throughout the restaurant died.
A handful of men, scattered around the dining area, slowly slid out of booths and rose from chairs, all eyes pinned on the Agent in the doorway.
“-subtlety…” Zachariah finished pinching the bridge of his nose.
The Agent looked around with a bright smile, waving at the standing Humans. “Hello! I am Agent Ha’malay! I’m very happy to meet all of you!”
Zachariah raised his hands in a calming motion. “She’s new, y’all. She’s just…” He shook his head and sighed.
Conversation gradually resumed, as people returned to their seats.
The Agent glanced over at Thry’sis. “They seem nice.”
“So…” Levi kept his face neutral as he looked at the three adults. “What’s this all about?”
Zachariah lowered his voice. “Agent Ha’malay wanted to speak with you about whether you would be willing to help with ‘integration efforts,’ or so she says. I thought meeting in public would be better for you.”
Levi nodded and scooped up his burger from the counter. “Well, lead on. Let’s get this over with.”
The four of them moved over to a table near the back, and Levi eased himself gingerly into the seat. Food was ordered, and the Agent launched into her pitch.
Levi, she claimed, was an inspiration to the Shil’vati. A pillar of Human virtue, a paragon of good-will. His was a face that could represent the citizens of earth to the people of the stars! Billions of beings would know his name! He would be adored! Admired! Wherever he went, and he could go a great many places, people would love him!
“I just know we’re going to work together so well!” Agent Ha’malay gushed, as Levi finished the last of his burger.
He watched her from across the table, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “No.”
“I’m sorry?” The Agent blinked. “No? ‘No’ what?”
“No, I’m not interested.” He shrugged. “Sorry.”
With a stunned expression, the Agent looked first to Zachariah, and then to Thry’sis. “But… why not? It’s such an amazing opportunity!”
Levi paused a moment, his gaze wandering over the restaurant’s patrons. “I don’t want to work with an organization that’d kill me for saying the wrong thing.”
The Agent recoiled in shock, while the Liaison focussed intently on the food on the table in front of her. His father coughed into a napkin and carefully looked away from the table.
“Mr Levi, surely you can’t believe that! No one would kill you for such a small mistake!”
Levi gave the Agent a flat look. “There should not be an Empress.”
The Agent’s jaw dropped.
The Liaison blanched.
Zachariah buried his face in his hands.
“Y-you can’t say that!” The Agent blurted out. “T-that’s-”
“That’s what? Treason?” Levi’s cold eyes bored into hers. “That’s something that might get an Agent like Stre’el to drag me out and shoot me in the head, for the good of the Empire?” He shook his head. “No. I’m not putting myself in that position.”
The Agent’s mouth worked soundlessly. After a few moments, she turned to Thry’sis with a pleading expression.
“Don’t look at me,” Thry’sis raised her hands.
The Agent turned back to Levi. “Alright, okay, but just don’t say that! I assure you that you’re perfectly safe!”
Levi raised an eyebrow.
Sitting next to the Agent, Thry’sis winced at the pronouncement.
“Safe?” Levi dead-panned. “Perfectly safe? Have you seen the pictures, ma’am?”
“I’ve…” The Agent swallowed. “Yes.”
“Well then, let’s try on another phrase, and see if it’s something I won’t get shot for.” He cleared his throat. “Agents of the Interior only care about the law when it benefits them.”
The Agent drew herself up in her chair, her eyes wide. “That’s not true!”
“So it’s legal for an Agent to try to blackmail a child into joining the Marines?”
“I-I’m sure it wasn’t like that! The Legion of the Interior is an honorable and dignified organization! We protect people!”
“You whip people.”
“You demanded that!”
“My other options were prison and conscription.”
“The law-”
“Bullshit!” Levi snarled. “What I did could have been completely reversed with half an hour on the tractor and twenty credits worth of gas! I made sure of that! If the law demands years of my life be paid over an inconvenience, it’s a stupid law!”
The Agent fell silent, her gaze passing back and forth between father and son.
“Fer th’ record,” Zachariah gave an apologetic smile. “I did say this was a bad idea.”
“You can say that again.” Levi grumbled as he stood from his seat. “My back hurts, my ass hurts, and I don’t think there’s anything further to discuss.” He glanced over at his father. “I’ll see you back at the house.”
He had only taken a few steps away from the table when the Agent spun in her chair. “Wait!” She stood, fishing in the breast pocket of her uniform, a pleading look on her face. “A-at least let me help you with your injuries! Here, it will help with the healing process! You shouldn’t have any scarring at all with this!”
Levi contemplated the small round tin in her fingers. “No… no, Agent Ha’malay, I want to remember the lessons I’ve learned. And what it cost me to learn them.”
---
Unknown Contact: Hey, you awake? Today at 10:47.31
Me: Uh… who is this? Today at 10:47.39
Unknown Contact: It’s Eli. I’m using Levi’s phone. I got grounded, so mine’s in mom and dad’s room. Today at 10:48.02
Do you wish to save this contact as Levi’s Phone?
Me: That sucks! I’m sorry! I would have warned you, but papa was furious! He had me scrub every floor in the house >.< Today at 10:48.25
Levi’s phone: Yeah it does! Got a surprise ass chewing, to go with the no-phone. Levi’s phone is all cracked to hell, too. Can barely type on this thing Today at 10:48.31
Me: So, no fun tonight then, huh? Today at 10:48.37
Levi’s phone: We can still do that. Just gotta delete these messages after Today at 10:48.47
Me: He’d be cool with that? Dang! That’s kinda hot Today at 10:48.50
Levi’s phone: What? No, ew. He’s asleep Today at 10:48.53
Me: Wait, what? How are you using his phone? Today at 10:48.59
Levi’s phone: I’ve known his lock pattern for years. It’s only four buttons, lol Today at 10:49.08
Me: …oh Today at 10:49.15
Levi’s phone: So… you up for getting down n dirty? Today at 10:49.18
Levi’s phone would like to start a video call. Do you wish to accept?
submitted by randomtinkerer to HFY [link] [comments]

2021.10.26 04:38 randomtinkerer City Slickers and Hayseeds, Chapter 22 (SSB Verse)

Setting by u/BlueFishcake
First Previous Next
For the second time in as many weeks, Sgt. Maja pounded on the door of the McClendon house in the wee hours of the morning. She shifted from foot to foot, frowning down at the envelope in her hands. It wasn’t long before the sound of feet approached the far side of the door, and it swung slowly open.
“We simply must stop meetin’ like this.” Zachariah gave a sleepy smile.
Maja returned a chagrined nod and held out the envelope. “I am being sorry for the hour, Mr. McClendon.” Even consciously trying to suppress her accent, it was still thick in her speech. “The Liaison said this was important.”
“You know, normally I sleep in until after the sun comes up on Sunday.” Zachariah observed, extracting the single slip of paper. His eyebrows rose as he read the hand-written note. “A meeting, with no phones, as soon as possible?” He frowned up at the Sergeant. “What’s this about?”
“I am not knowing.” She shrugged. “She asked me to be leaving my omni-pad, and taking... um, personal?” She screwed up her face in concentration. “My own car, yes? Instead of squad transport.” She hesitated a moment, before continuing with a wince. “She is also being very upset.”
“Upset?” Zachariah’s head canted to the side.
Maja made a drinking motion with her hand.
“Oh?” His eyebrows rose.
“And very tired. She has been being there all night.”
“Hmm…” He frowned. “Well then… no phone.” He took a deep breath, and blew his cheeks out. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
---
Zachariah stopped in the doorway of Thry’sis’ office. “I trust this is important, madam Liaison?”
As her office chair turned towards the door, he felt his stomach grow cold. Thry’sis’ usually immaculate hair was tied up in a messy bun, wild strands of it sticking out every which way. The dark circles under her glassy eyes, the rumpled blouse, the tumbler that she held in her hand, the bottle resting on its side on her desk… they all told a grim story. One he knew all too well.
“The Interior is coming for Levi.” The words slurred together as she glared down at the top of her desk. “I’m sorry.”
“The… Interior?” He froze in the middle of sinking down into one of the chairs in front of her desk. “Coming for him? What does that mean?”
“Mean’s she’s gonna arrest him. Maybe try to conscript him into the Marines. Maybe just stuff him into some prison cell.” She sipped from the tumbler. “I’ve been reaching out to family and associates. I think I can pull enough strings to keep him close by, and If she goes the Marines route, I think I can get him posted on Earth. Maybe.”
“Wait, what?! Why?! The Swimmin’ hole?! That was kid stuff! There ain’t been harm done to anyone!” He ran a hand through his hair, eyes wide. “And conscription?! They can just… haul people off t’ boot camp?!”
“No,” she shook her head, brushing the hair out of her face. “They offer it, but they make every other choice worse. S’been a background policy for a while: get Humans into the service! Show the galaxy how happy and cooperative they are!” She waved the tumbler. “As for Levi, he’s the cause of a problem, you see, and the Interior’s about making problems go away. How isn’t as important as done.”
Zachariah leaned back in his chair and swallowed. “What… what happens? Is there a trial? Does she need to show evidence?”
“She already has what she needs.” Thry’sis drained the last few drops from the tumbler, and reached for the decanter on her desk. “Texts, location data from his phone, the satellite coverage…”
“No phones...” He swallowed and stood from his chair, pacing in front of the desk. “There’s nothin’ you can do?”
She hung her head. “She threatened to go after Solanna for… stuff.”
“Stuff?” Zachariah’s eyebrows rose. “What stuff?! Solanna’s still a kid! What could possibly justify blackmailing you with your own children?!”
“She’s been…” Thry’sis glanced at Zachariah before looking away. “Enthusiastic about getting into trouble. And taking pictures of it.”
“I…” Zachariah frowned in confusion, then he gave his head a quick shake. “Alright, fine, but whatever that is, it’s a separate issue! Why bring that into this?”
“The Interior has a great deal of latitude in how they get things done.” She murmured miserably.
“Dear God Almighty…” He stood in front of the desk, hands on his head, gazing dazedly at nothing. “I… I’ve got to do something! I can send him t’my sister’s place, or… hell, maybe even just out into th’ woods til miss KGB leaves town! Anything’s better than doin’ hard time fer diggin’ a hole! Anything!” He spun around and headed for the door.
“Wait!” Thry’sis threw out a hand toward him, sprawling forward on her desk. “You can’t hide him! She won’t hesitate to bring down the full weight of the law on your whole family! She’ll ruin you!”
“She can… do that?” Zachariah’s hand froze on the doorknob.
Thry’sis nodded, her tusks scraping on the top of the desk.
The office was quiet as Zachariah shuffled back to the chair and sat. “What can I do?”
Thry’sis brought the decanter to her lips and took a deep drink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand before offering it to Zachariah. “Enjoy the time you have with him.”
---
“Psst…”
Levi looked up from where he was milking ol’ Bessy. His father stood in the doorway with his finger to his lips.
Levi frowned, but nodded.
Zachariah held his thumb and pinky to his head in the “phone” configuration, and then beckoned with this other hand.
Levi stood up and fished his old smartphone out of his pocket, handing it to his father.
Zachariah walked to the far side of the barn and deposited it on a shelf, piling some rags on top of it before returning to the milking stall.
“Dad? What’s going on?”
Zachariah ran a hand through his hair and took a deep, shaky breath. “Diggin’ out the swimmin’ hole caught the attention of the Interior. There’s an agent in town that pulled the information from your phone. Mrs. D’saari told me this morning. I suspect she wasn’t supposed to, but she did.”
Levi’s eyes widened as his father explained. “What’s she gonna do?! What’s the punishment for reinstalling a mud hole?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a tour in the Marines…” Zachariah’s face was grim. “Maybe prison time.”
“What?!” Levi stumbled backwards. “Prison for that?!”
Zachariah gave a somber nod.
“I-I can’t do that!” Levi stammered, sinking back down onto the stool. “I’ve… I’ve got to get out of here! I’ve got to hide!”
“That what you wanna do, bud?”
Something in his father’s voice gave Levi pause. He looked up at Zachariah, searching his father’s eyes. “What about you? What happens if I leave?”
“That ain’t your concern, bud. I’ll deal with whatever happens, if you run.”
Levi sat quietly, staring down at the floor with a deep frown. “If Mrs. D’saari wasn’t supposed to tell you, you’re not supposed to know. And I’m not supposed to know. If I leave,” he looked up again, meeting his father’s eyes. “They’ll know I was told.” A moment later he woodenly turned back, leaned his head against ol’ Bessy’s flank and resumed milking.
“Levi, are you sure?” Zachariah implored. “You don’t have to do this. You got a whole life ahead of you, boy!”
“It’s...“ He shrugged. “How can I not do it? Am I supposed to just let you all take the fallout? It’s just… it’s the right thing to do.” The rhythmic sound of milk squirting into the bucket filled the room for a beat, then he let out a humorless chuckle. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” He looked up and met his father’s eyes. “Or the one.”
Zachariah knelt down and wrapped his arms around his son, blinking back tears. “I’m sorry, Levi. I’m so sorry.”
---
The morning passed in a fog for Levi. The chores were done, though he didn’t remember doing them. Finding himself at the door of the house, he kicked off his shoes and trudged inside.
“You ready for church?” Hannah poked her head around the corner. “Hey, you okay? You look pretty… tired, I guess?”
“I’m fine.” He forced a smile. “I just got a lot on my mind.”
She nodded and disappeared around the corner. Levi followed her into the dining room, where she was setting the table for breakfast.
“Hey Hannah?”
“Yeah?” She looked up from across the table.
“Thanks for bein’ my sister.” He walked around to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I really appreciate you, and I don’t say it often enough. I want you to know that I love you.”
“I… guess you don’t say it very often.” She looked up at him, brow creased in concern. “Thank you. Is everything okay?”
“Just feeling mushy.” He gave her shoulder another squeeze. “Don’t worry ‘bout me.”
“Okay…” She mumbled after him, as he headed towards the Kitchen. “If you’re sure…”
Jennifer looked up from the stove as he stepped into the kitchen. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, and she set down the spatula when she saw him. Levi gave her the best smile he could, but it wilted as his mother’s eyes filled with tears and she rushed forward to wrap her arms around him.
“I’m sorry mama.”
“Shhhh…” Her voice was brittle, and he could feel her tears on his cheek. “You did what you thought was right. You’re still doing that. They’d be lucky to get a good man like you in the Marines. Who knows, you could save even more lives than I have!”
Levi nodded, swallowing at the lump in his throat. “I’ll do my best, mama. I’ll hurry back as fast as I can!”
“Going somewhere?” Eli stepped around the corner, munching on a carrot stick.
“Hey,” Levi turned to his brother, hastily wiping his cheeks. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have lost my temper over something so small.”
Eli paused, his eyes flickering between Levi and Jennifer. “Uh… yeah, okay. No big. Everyone’s a dick sometimes.” He shrugged. “Just don’t make a habit of it, huh?”
“Right,” Levi gave a frustrated sigh, turning to head to the bathroom. “Look, I’m sorry for everything. Maybe I can learn to not suck, eventually.” As he left the kitchen, the voices of his mother and brother echoed after him.
“Elijah Daniel McClendon!”
“What?! What did I do?!”
---
It had been nearly a day and a half since Thry’sis had left for the office on Saturday morning. Now it was Sunday afternoon, and Brelak’s nerves were stretched to their breaking point. He chewed his lip as his omni-pad attempted once again to connect to Thry’sis’, Akita hovering at his shoulder.
The long, agonizing seconds ticked by, and just when he was about to cancel the call, the screen resolved itself into… something.
It looked like a ceiling?
Brelak frowned as a purple hand passed in front of the camera, and the video began pitching wildly, finally settling at an angle. Thry’sis glared bleary-eyed at the camera, her hair a wild mess, her shirt collar open, and an empty bottle lying on its side atop the desk.
“Whaddya want?” She slurred at the camera.
Akitai’s eyebrows rose as she exchanged glances with Brelak.
“Sweetie?” Brelak spoke carefully. “Are you okay? You didn’t come home last night.”
“Oh, I’m fine!” Thry’sis picked up the bottle and swirled it in front of the camera. “I been waiting patiently for the sweet release of death!“ She rested her tusks on the desk, and her shoulders slumped. “Also drinking. Can’t drive. Wouldn’t be safe.”
“I’ll go get her.” Akitai headed towards the door, shoulder set with determination.
Brelak glanced after Akitai, then frowned down at the image on his omni-pad. “What’s gotten into you?!”
“The Interior’s gonna fuck everything up, my career is going down the toilet, and Solanna’s fucking the McClendon boy.” Thry’sis shrugged, her chin and tusks still resting on the desk top. “So… everything?”
Brelak struggled to breath, as the rapid delivery of terrible information crashed through his mind. His omni-pad slipped through limp fingers onto the tabletop, and his mind seized on the only thing he had any hope of affecting.
“SOLANNAAAAAA!!!”
---
Monday mornings were normally a quiet affair for the McClendon family. Chores never ended on a farm, and the little things that tended to get put off on Sunday had to be addressed, lest they turn into big things. This morning was one of few exceptions.
The ride into town had been a strange one. Elijah and Hannah were bursting with excitement for the Festival of Colors, gleefully commenting on the red, white, and blue decorations that graced every building along Main street, and spouting excitement for the annual rodeo. The three older members of the family, however, were quiet, lost in their own thoughts and suffering from a certain lack of sleep.
Rest had not come easily for Levi. He had spent a good portion of the night writing and rewriting two letters that he had tucked into his pocket.
After a brief admonition to check in with their parents, Eli and Hannah raced off into the star-and-stripe bedecked crowds that were milling about up and down the main thoroughfare, sampling the entries into the various cooking contests, buying food, browsing arts and crafts, or playing games that had been set up along the street.
Levi had first thought to stay with his parents, but soon found himself wandering aimlessly, talking with the people that he’d known his whole life. He hadn’t gotten far, just finishing a brief conversation with the owner of the pharmacy, when he’d felt a soft touch on his elbow.
“Hi Levi!”
“Melody!” He spun to face her then paused, looking over her shoulder. “Uh, hey Chloe.”
Chloe gave him a frosty nod.
“I was worried that you weren’t here!” Melody stepped up and wrapped her arms around his chest. “You didn’t answer my text!”
Levi glanced between the two sisters before cautiously returning Melody’s hug. “Yeah, uh, sorry about that. I turned it off last night, and I must have forgotten to turn it back on.” He fished the phone out of his pocket and powered it on. “What are you up to?”
“We’re interviewing people about their favorite part of the Festival of Colors!” She indicated the omni-pad in Chloe’s hand. “She’s filming, and we’re live-streaming it to the school’s Insta-face channel! You want to do an interview?”
Levi frowned at Chloe’s omni-pad, then at the phone in his own hand. “You’re posting live interviews?”
“Sure! You just tag the school when you go live, and it shows up on the channel. They’re going to do the announcements for the parade that way, too.” She pulled an omni-pad out and tapped at it a couple times. “See? #FestivalOfColors. Just search that, and all the festival stuff will show up.” She looked up at him with a smile. “So? Whaddya’ say?”
As he took a breath to reply, Levi spotted the familiar face of Sergeant Maja moving towards him through the crowd, a look of grim determination on her face.
“Melody, could you do something for me?”
“Anything!”
Levi fished the folded piece of paper out of his right side pocket. “Wait to read this. You’ll know when.”
“Mr. Levi McClendon.” The Sergeant’s voice drew a startled squeak from Melody, who had been looking at the folded piece of paper with a bewildered expression. “Please come with me. Now.”
Levi nodded to the Sergeant, then glanced at Melody before he turned to walk away. “Goodbye, Melody. I… goodbye.”
He didn’t dare look back as he walked away.
---
Sergeant Maja stepped into the observation room and glanced over at Ri’ved before turning to the one-way glass. “Did she tell you anything?”
Corporal Riv’ed shook her head. “Nothing.”
Maja scowled as she watched the Human boy pace the length of the room. “I don’t like this. The Liaison was a wreck yesterday, and now an Interior agent shows up out of nowhere and wants him brought here?” She waved a hand at the younger Mr. McClendon. “I don’t like it at all.”
Riv’ed sighed, leaning back in her chair and kicking her feet up. “Yeah, well, Her Majesty’s Interior doesn’t exactly care what we think, Sergeant.”
Eyes narrowed in thought, the Sergeant watched Levi pace for several more laps before she spoke again. “Where are Vasak and Dreta?”
“Vasak is off duty. She was so excited about hanging out with her new boy-toy that I thought she might spontaneously combust. Dreta’s on the security detail for the Mayor and the Liaison.”
“She’s here?” Maja looked over in surprise.
“Yup! Looks like Turox shit, but she’s here.”
Maja nodded, turning back to the window. “Get Vasak back here and in her armor. Tell her to suit up now, bitch later.” Maja rubbed the scar on her cheek, her eyes going unfocussed. “I’ve got that weird feeling in my gut… Something’s coming. I want to be ready for it.”
---
Pacing back and forth in front of the one-way glass, Levi looked down at his phone for what felt like the hundredth time. The parade hadn’t started, but the hash-tag was getting the occasional picture or video uploaded to it.
Wiping the sweat off of his palms, he resumed pacing. His stomach hurt. His shoulders hurt. Glancing at himself in the mirror, he corrected his posture again and ran a hand through his hair. How long had it been? Another peek at the phone told him that he’d only been here for ten minutes.
It felt like much longer.
The door gave a clank, and Levi fumbled with his phone as it swung open. The Shil’vati who stepped through exuded an air of crisp efficiency. She looked at Levi through narrowed eyes, then nodded at the chair. “Put your little toy away and sit.”
Levi swallowed as he moved to obey, tapping at his phone before setting it on the table.
“Hello, Mr. McClendon.”
Her voice was calm and quiet. Levi couldn’t help the shiver that washed through him.
“When do I get to talk to my lawyer?”
The woman looked up from her omni-pad with a sniff. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that, Mr. McClendon.” She raised an eyebrow. “The only person you’ll be talking to is me.”
Levi gave a faltering nod.
“Approximately two weeks ago, you made contact with a Mr. Stockdale and a Mr. Turner to conspire to break-”
“They don’t have anything to do with this.” Levi glared down at his hands as they sat clasped on the table.
“Ah,” The woman’s lips curled into a thin smile. “So you do know what this is about?”
“The swimming hole.” The words were bitter on his tongue.
“Not quite.” The woman sat her omni-pad down on the table top, and folded her hands. “You see, you knowingly and wilfully violated a legal injunction. Your actions were not only seditious, but could be viewed as a call to further sedition.” Her thin smile widened. “We can’t have that, Mr. McClendon.”
“What?!” Levi’s jaw dropped. “Digging a hole that’s been there for fifty years is sedition?!”
Her brow creased into a frown. “Don’t play games with me, Mr. McClendon. We both know that your actions made a statement. Do you really expect me to believe that you weren’t aware of this when you acted?”
“I don’t expect you to believe anything.” Levi glowered at the woman.
She met his eyes for a moment, before turning back to her omni-pad. “I’m feeling generous today, Mr. McClendon. I’m going to let you choose your sentence. You can spend a tour in the marines, which is about five years as you know them. Or you can spend an equal amount of time in prison.”
“What?!” Levi erupted. “How is that an appropriate punishment for something that could literally be undone with a few hours worth of work?!”
“Irrelevant, Mr. McClendon.” She waved a hand, dismissively. “Perhaps you should have made better choices, hmm?”
Levi folded his arms and scowled, his jaw clenched.
The agent regarded him imperiously as the silence stretched.
Levi returned her gaze with narrowed eyes.
“Oh come now, Mr. McClendon. In times past, your choices would have been things like Keel-hauling, or hard labor, or public flogging. It’s-”
“That.” Levi interrupted. “I choose that.”
The agent blinked. “What?”
“I choose public flogging as my sentence.”
The agent scoffed. “Be serious, Mr. McClendon. We’re not savages. I’m not going to have you whipped in front of city hall.”
Levi stabbed a finger at the agent, ignoring the shaking in his hands. “You said that the sentence was my choice. That’s my choice.”
It was the agent’s turn to scowl. “I’m not in the mood for games, boy. That’s not a choice that I offered.”
“You didn’t say anything about choices. You just said I could choose. I have chosen.”
“You’re already on thin ice.” The agent leaned forward menacingly. “It would be a shame if you were to meet the monsters that lurk in the deep.”
“Renegotiating already?” Levi raised an eyebrow, the tightness in his chest making it hard to breath. “The word of the Interior is worth nothing, then?”
“You’ve got an awfully big mouth, you rotten little stiff.” Her lips curled into a snarl. “I would hate to see it get you into trouble.”
Levi leaned back in his chair, a grim smile coming easily to his face. “There’s going to be a lot of people quite interested to hear that the promises of the Interior ain’t even worth the air they’re spoken with.”
“Nobody is going to hear anything from you, Mr. McClendon.” The agent smiled. It was a cold and cruel looking thing. “If you can’t find the maturity to cooperate, I will be making the decision for you.”
Levi willed himself to ignore the threat, forcing his own smile wider. “They don’t need to hear it from me, ma’am. They’ve already heard it from you.”
“What?” The agent glanced back over her shoulder at the mirror. “There’s nobody here for you, Mr. McClendon. No one is coming to save you.” She leaned forward, teeth displayed in something that hovered between a snarl and a smile. “You don’t matter to them.”
Levi swallowed, snatching up his phone from where it lay on the table before he leaned back away from the agent. “That may well be, but I ‘magine there’s a few people here in spirit.” He unlocked the screen with clammy fingers, and his eyes widened. “...or maybe more than a few.”
The agent plucked the phone from his fingers, and her eyes widened as she saw her own face reflected from the Insta-face app.
She was live.
She was live, and there were well over three thousand views on the stream.
“Do you realize what you’ve done?!” She shrieked.
“Show my friends and neighbors what you really are?” He retorted, his expression hard. The knot in his chest was changing into something else. Something that burned hungrily.
The agent glanced down at the phone again and scrambled to terminate the stream when she saw that the number had risen still higher, growling in frustration as she did.
“You rotten little creezax! Are you trying to destroy my career?! If we can’t scrub that video fast enough it could damage integration progress across the entire country!”
Levi’s lips widened into a feral grin of his own, the trembling in his limbs forgotten. “Sounds like someone should have made better choices, ma’am.”
submitted by randomtinkerer to HFY [link] [comments]

2021.09.15 04:27 randomtinkerer City Slickers and Hayseeds, Chapter 19 (SSB Verse)

Setting by u/BlueFishcake
First Previous Next
“Have a nice day!”
Melody gave a cheerful wave as the last of the afternoon rush of customers made their way out of the doors. She slouched against the checkout counter with a sigh of relief, and looked over at her sister-in-arms. “We made it, Betty!”
“We ‘shore did, Sweetie pie!” The elderly woman gave her an enthusiastic high five. “Land sakes, I thought I was gonna float away! Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta skedaddle over to the little girl’s room right quick!”
“Alright, I’ll man the guns while you’re away!” Melody grinned as her coworker hastened towards the back of the store. She was just about to sit down on the countertop when the bell over the door jangled.
“Good afternoon, and welcome- Levi!”
His face broke into a warm smile, and she felt herself melt a little bit.
“Hi Melody! Always glad to see you here.” He strode up to the counter and offered her half of a very worn out envelope with several lines of cramped writing scribbled on it. “Got the boys in the warehouse loadin’ up some grub for the critters.” He nodded at the list in her hand. “Two chicken scratch, one bag’a cow candy, one basic cat food, one hog feed…” he glanced over at the rack next to the register, “...and some gum.” He swiped her favorite flavor of Juicy-Fruit out of the display and peeled off the end of the pack. “Want some gum?”
Melody giggled as she tapped away at the ancient keyboard. “Aww, my favorite! How did you know?” She recited her part in their monthly ritual.
“My secret mind powers!” Levi held his fingers to his temples, crossed his eyes, and put on a goofy grin with his tongue hanging out to one side.
It got her every time. She covered her face with her hands, trying and failing to hold back the laughter that would give way to snorting if she wasn’t careful.
“Oh God! Brain cramp!” Levi wobbled in some ludicrous parody of a seizure. “Must! Stop! Thinking!”
As he sagged in mock relief, Melody wiped her eyes and tried to calm herself.
“Whew! That was close!” Levi said with a grin, holding out the foil wrapped stick of gum. “Almost blew a gasket, there.”
“Aaah ha ha… whooo!” She let out a breath. “My mascara’s running, isn’t it? Dang in, Levi!” She snatched the stick of gum and popped it into her mouth with a smile.
“Well, I keep tellin’ ya,” he pointed to a display of heavy duty permanent markers on the counter. “Those claim to be waterproof. Just sayin’.”
“I’d look like a racoon!” She stuck her tongue out at him. “You just keep your beauty tips to yourself and pay for your stuff, buster!”
He took out two credit chits, swiping the first one and punching in 0.25 credits. “For the gum.” He explained.
She rolled her eyes. “It’s a quarter of a credit!”
“Hey, a penny saved is worth quite a bit to a coin collector.”
“Firstly, that’s not how the saying goes, and you know it! And secondly, it doesn’t even make sense.”
“Just bein’ careful.” He shrugged. “Gotta keep track of every bit, if you wanna know how you’re doing at the end of the year.”
“Well, I declare!" Betty shuffled up next to Levi at the counter. "Melody, is this scalawag causin’ you trouble again?”
“Ya caught me, Betty!” Levi exclaimed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “It’s what I do best, innit?”
“Oh, pshaw! You don’t cause enough trouble, young man!” She returned the hug, before shuffling back around and settling down on the stool behind the second register. “Does a body good, little bit a’trouble every now and then!”
Levi held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine, I’ll see if I can find just a little bit of trouble on the way home, just for you.”
Betty gave a satisfied nod, and Levi headed toward the exit with a wave.
“Betty,” Melody turned to the woman. “Do you mind if I take five?”
“Go ‘head, sugar!” Betty’s eyes twinkled. “Get after it, afore he gets away!”
Melody turned back just in time to see Levi almost collide with a Shil’vati woman coming in through the door. She was dressed in sharp business attire, with her raven black hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her eyes widened, and she stared down at him in surprise. Levi shrank back and stepped out of the way with an apologetic nod.
“Um… Betty?” Melody hesitated. “Are you sure you’ll be…”
“I’ll be fine, sugar.” Betty stood up from the stool, and straightened her vest. “She tries to raise a ruckus, I’ma give her a piece a my mind she’ll never forget!”
Melody nodded, and made her way out the front of the store, being sure to give the Shil’vati woman a wide berth as she stood peering the way Levi had gone.
Outside, the guys in the warehouse were checking Levi’s receipt. The butterflies in her stomach began a particularly enthusiastic dance as Melody jogged over to Ol’ Theseus. “Hey,” she kept her voice low as the warehouse worker moved off . “Can I talk to you a minute?”
Levi’s eyebrows met in the middle. “What did I do?”
“Nothing, silly! I just missed you!” She shoved her hands into her pockets, hoping to hide their shaking. “I haven’t seen you since Sunday, and that makes me sad and lonely!”
Levi shuffled his feet and glanced around the parking lot. “Uh… yeah, I, um… it’s been a wild week.” He swallowed and met her eyes again. “Dad kinda got… well, not really arrested, but… kinda? That threw a wrench into everyone’s plans…”
“Is he alright?!” She gasped.
“Yeah, he’s fine.” He grimaced. “Bit of a weird story, that. You should ask him when you get a chance.”
Melody breathed a sigh of relief. “What about tonight?”
He shook his head apologetically. “Tonight’s my turn to milk the cow.”
“What about tomorrow night?” She pressed. Her cheeks warmed as she rested her hands on his forearms. “It’s Friday night, right? You’re usually able to hang out then.”
He winced. “We’ve been invited to dinner by the D’saari family tomorrow night. Something about helping the Liaison get a better feel for the community.”
“What?” Melody stepped back with a frown. “You’re going to hang out with her?”
“Her?” Levi blinked. “‘Her’ who?”
“Rhe’alla!” Melody threw up her hands in frustration.
“What’s wrong with her?” He asked, brow furrowed.
“She likes you!”
“What’s wrong with that?!”
“I like you!”
Levi froze. “W… what?”
“Aaaugh!” Melody put her hands over her face with a groan. “How can you not see it?”
“Wait, what?!” His voice rose an octave. “Are you serious?!”
“Yes!” She exclaimed in frustration. “I told you I wanted to marry you!”
“We were seven!” Levi threw his hands up above his head.
“I still meant it!” She retorted.
Levi pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’ve never said anything, though!”
“I thought it was obvious!” She yelped.
“Obvious? You glare so hard at anyone who makes suggestive jokes around you that they have to check whether their eyebrows have been burned off!”
“That’s... different!” She protested.
Levi raised an eyebrow. “Do you remember when Eli undid the tie on Chloe’s bikini?”
Melody frowned down at the ground, arms crossed.
“I believe something like ‘Elijah McClendon, if you ever do that again, I’m going to rip your nuts off’ was your response?”
“She’s my little sister!” She gave an indignant frown. “I can’t just let that go!”
“Oh, he deserved it! I ain’t arguing that!” Levi made a calming gesture. “I just… that sort of thing might convey… a certain attitude?”
“A-attitude?” Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Well, it sure seemed like you weren’t comfortable with flirtation, or with people being attracted to you, or even attracted to people around you. I didn’t want to be part of the problem, so…” He shrugged. “I didn’t.”
“B-but you’re not like that!” She sputtered.
Levi gave a burst of laughter. “Just because I don’t act the fool, doesn’t mean I’m not just as bad as anyone else!” He looked down at his shoes, kicking at a stray rock in the parking lot. “Matter of fact, I’m probably worse...”
Melody’s jaw dropped. “How could you possibly be worse?! You’re polite and considerate! I haven’t heard you be crass or make a vulgar joke in… in years!”
Levi covered his face with his hands. “Good God… Are we really having this conversation here, in front of God ‘n everybody?”
“Yes!” She waved her hands at the nearest pedestrian, a good fourty feet away. “Why wouldn’t we?! What possibly makes you think you’re worse than Eli?!”
Levi let out a mournful sigh. “You don’t actually like me, Melody. You like what you think I am. I try not to look at you or Chloe because I know you don’t like it. But that’s all. I’m just as depraved and awful as every other teenage guy.”
“That’s not true!” Her chest hurt, and her stomach was doing loops. This was not how she had pictured this conversation going.
Levi took a deep breath and met her eyes with a look of weariness. “Not that long ago, on a particularly lonely and boring day, I got off twelve times.”
“Got off? Wha…?” her eyes widened as comprehension dawned. She felt a rush of heat in her cheeks as the embarrassment washed over her, and she rocked back on her heels. “Levi! That’s not appropriate-”
“And there it is.” He interrupted, pointing at her with a finger that felt like it threatened to pierce her fragile soul. His eyes, which had earlier been so vibrant, were sad and lifeless. “All it takes is a little tiny peek behind the curtain, and the truth comes out. I disgust you.”
Ice formed in the pit of her stomach as Levi turned and moved towards the cab of the truck. He glanced back as he opened the door, a sad smile on his face. He opened his mouth, paused for a moment, then looked away. “Goodbye, Melody.”
“Levi, don’t go!” Her cry was drowned out by the rumble of the old truck as it rattled to life. The hot summer day suddenly felt cold, and as Levi turned out of the parking lot, she couldn’t help but shiver.
How long she stood there, she was not sure. Eventually, she found herself back at the register, having drifted through a dimly remembered haze to reach it.
“Honey?” Betty’s voice brought her back to herself. “Sweetie, you alright? You look lower’n a snake’s belly in a wagon rut!”
“I-I… I don’t know!” She cried, holding back tears. “One minute I’m trying to tell him I like him, and the next... he’s trying to talk me out of it!” She swallowed at the lump in her throat.
“What?!” Betty shuffled over and wrapped her arms around Melody. “There there, child, I’m sure there’s more to it than that! What did he say, an’ how’d he say it?
Melody took a shaky breath. “When I told him I liked him, he… he looked surprised. Like he didn’t believe me. Then he said something about how he’s as lecherous as his brother… or… or even worse!” She wiped at her eyes. “What do I do with that?”
“You poor thing,” Betty patted her back gently. “He might be tellin’ it right! Boy’s at that age where his jets’re burnin’ hot! Lemme tell ya, hon,” she stepped back, taking Melody by the shoulders. “Men’re simple creatures, an that ain’t bad, neither! After burying two husbands and raisin’ three boys, I can tell you that they need food, sex, and sleep. The order might vary, but the needs seldom do. And that puberty-addled boy?” She nodded towards the street. “Poor thing’s gotta fight for the driver’s seat! Prolly spends half ‘is time gettin’ drug along by his hormones. Lord almighty, my first husband, God rest him, if he didn’t get it purt near every day, he’d start to lose that spring in his step and the twinkle in his eye.”
Melody’s face had been growing steadily redder. “Are… are they all really that bad?” She squeaked
“Bad?! Oh bless your heart, hon’, they ain’t bad a’tall! They ain’t angels ‘r demons, they’re men! Be glad for it, girl, cuz’ you’re the one who benefits!”
Her brow furrowed. “I am?”
Betty paused, squinting at Melody. “Yer ma ain’t around to tell you right, is she?” She sighed. “Well, I’m here, and I’mma tell ya! A good man’ll carry the world on his back for ya. He’ll walk through fire for ya. He’ll give you everything he’s got just to see ya smile, and lord bless ’em for it! All you gotta do, sugar plum, is mean it when ya say thank you.”
---
The mostly rust-colored truck announced its presence long before it showed itself on the road heading out of town. Sgt. Maja felt a mixture of joy and apprehension as she watched it approach. She hadn’t seen the McClendon boy since the exceedingly bizarre night that began with her arresting his father, and ended with dating advice, of all things.. Goddess willing, he wasn’t too upset over the whole fiasco. He was a sweet boy, always ready with a warm smile and a joke. The Sergeant couldn’t help but feel a certain fondness for him.
She waved Vasak off as the truck rolled to a stop in front of the checkpoint, stepping forward and lifting her helmet off with a wide smile. She’d been working on her English, and proudly put on her best accent. “Mr. Heyoo! How are you today-”
She stopped short. Something was wrong. The little human held his ID out the window of the vehicle stiffly, head down, eyes on his lap, and moisture on his cheeks. As she watched, his lip quivered ever so slightly.
Maja’s heart broke just a little bit.
Gently taking the ID, she spoke softly. “Mr. McClendon, I am very sorry. I will try to no scare you anymore.”
The boy looked up at her with red eyes. “No, no, it’s not that!” He turned his face away, and swiped at his eyes. “I’m sorry, It’s stupid, not important. I just…” he trailed off.
“Sergeant?” Vasak called in Shil’vati, her voice worried. “Is he okay?”
Maja ignored the private as she moved closer. “Mr… Levi?” She hesitated, continuing only when Levi turned toward her. “Is not stupid. Is very important!” Her accent was getting worse by the second, but she couldn’t manage to care. “Are you hurt?”
Levi shook his head miserably. “I… I think I lost a friend today.”
Both Marines gasped, Vasak only slightly delayed by the latency in her translator.
“I’m sorry for the dying!” Maja lamented. “So much sad!”
“Wait, no, not like that!” Levi shook his head. “She just doesn’t… like me anymore.”
“What?” Private Vasak asked as she and Maja exchanged glances. “Who would stop liking a boy?!”
Maja shrugged before turning back to the truck window. “Is very not stupid, Mr. Levi! Is very important!” She tapped his ID to her omni-pad and handed it back to him, a worried frown on her face. Humans crying at a check-point wasn’t covered in basic training. “Is there a way we can help you, Mr. Levi?”
The boy searched her face before taking a shaky breath. He leaned forward and rested his head on the steering wheel. "No… I don’t think so." He gave a choking cough. "I don't think anyone can help me."
"I can…" Maja fumbled for something, anything, that she could say. How did humans comfort each other? "I can… give hug?"
Levi opened his mouth to reply, but then closed it and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “You don’t need to waste your worry on my troubles, ma’am.” He gave her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Tomorrow is a new day, right? Maybe it all works out?”
Maja’s heart sank even as she nodded. The need to help, to fix whatever would cause a man this much distress warred with her sense of professionalism. Hesitantly, she reached through the window and patted him on the shoulder. “If you need help, we are here.”
He nodded. “Thank you , ma’am.”
“Drive safe, Mr. Levi.”
He gave a dark chuckle. “It’s… it’s just Levi. That’s all I’ve ever been.” He sighed as he put the truck into gear. “It’s probably all I’ll ever be.”
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