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murielle2020 Survivor
Individual Immunity Challenge 7: Open
Herb insisted on driving her to the house.
“I’ll bring you back here, or I can drop you off at the motel, whatever you prefer. We don’t know what’s going on, so it’s better you don’t have to face it alone.”
He was the perfect gentleman, opening the car door for her and finding her favorite station on the radio. They were pretty quiet on the way to the house. Every now and then he would reach over and pat her hand reassuringly.
A light snow drifted down, sparkling in the glow of the headlights. If not for the anxiety of what they might find at the house, it would have been so lovely, romantic almost.
“It was such a beautiful evening, Herb. Thank you.”
He pulled over about a mile from the house and Anne looked at him questioningly, “I just want you to know that whatever we find I’m with you, we’ll work through it together. You’re not alone. Okay?”
She felt her eyes fill with unexpected tears, “Thank you, Herb.” How long has it been since she’d felt cared for, protected?
~~~
As they pulled up to the driveway they saw the garage door fully opened.
Illuminated by the lights inside and the headlights of two police vehicles were three police officers and two young men standing with their hands on their heads. Behind the tableau, Anne could see the garage in complete shambles, ransacked. Before she could say anything, Herb told her, “We’ll get that cleaned up in no time. Don’t you worry.”
One of the officers came over to the van as Herb was helping her out.
“Looks like some kids got bored after opening their presents. Andy was patrolling the area and noticed a car that wasn't yours, parked a ways over on the road, and thought he’d check it out and there they were, large as life.”
“Who are they?” Herb asked.
“Tall one hasn’t said, but the other one is Derek Michaels, the bank manager’s son. We don’t need any introductions to him.”
“I was just there, just yesterday morning, putting some things I found in the house in a safe deposit box. I spoke with Allison Michaels.”
The officer looked at her and sighed, “I see. Did you discuss what you found with her?”
“Well, yes, some of it. There were some gold ingots and I asked if she could check their value for me, while I was there.”
“Oh boy,” Herb said, “that doesn’t look good.”
“What?”
Herb smiled at her and said, “looks like maybe Allison was talking about it at home. Put some ideas in Derek’s head.”
“Well, we don’t know that,” the officer said grimacing, then turning to Anne he said, “you might want to have a look and see if anything is missing.”
“Have you been inside? I don’t know if I’d know if anything was missing.”
“Just do your best. We found some stuff on them, jewelry and some money.”
“Old bills and coins?”
“Yes.”
“I deposited some of those as well, they need to be changed to current currency. I mentioned that, too, but said I’d leave it till after the holidays.”
They moved up to the garage as they talked and now stood just a few feet from the boys, who looked to be in their mid-teens, regarding the mess they’d made. All of the bags Anne had brought through from the kitchen had been torn open and their contents were thrown all over the floor. The neat piles of things on the tables were on the floor as well. The bins she’s placed under the tables, sorted for the various destinations of their contents were empty and strewn across the garage. Anne felt Herb’s arm around her shoulders and was grateful. Her knees felt weak. The clothing looked as if it had been shredded. All she could think was that it would take hours to get everything straightened up again.
“Guys!”
Anne felt Herb tense.
They all turned to the sound of the voice.
“I just took the biggest dump of my life in one of those stupid garbage bags!”
A smallish youngster, about thirteen, with bright copper-colored hair and a huge grin on his face bounded through the door.
“Surprise, surprise, surp...
...Grandpa!”
To be continued…
Individual Immunity Challenge 7: Open
Herb insisted on driving her to the house.
“I’ll bring you back here, or I can drop you off at the motel, whatever you prefer. We don’t know what’s going on, so it’s better you don’t have to face it alone.”
He was the perfect gentleman, opening the car door for her and finding her favorite station on the radio. They were pretty quiet on the way to the house. Every now and then he would reach over and pat her hand reassuringly.
A light snow drifted down, sparkling in the glow of the headlights. If not for the anxiety of what they might find at the house, it would have been so lovely, romantic almost.
“It was such a beautiful evening, Herb. Thank you.”
He pulled over about a mile from the house and Anne looked at him questioningly, “I just want you to know that whatever we find I’m with you, we’ll work through it together. You’re not alone. Okay?”
She felt her eyes fill with unexpected tears, “Thank you, Herb.” How long has it been since she’d felt cared for, protected?
~~~
As they pulled up to the driveway they saw the garage door fully opened.
Illuminated by the lights inside and the headlights of two police vehicles were three police officers and two young men standing with their hands on their heads. Behind the tableau, Anne could see the garage in complete shambles, ransacked. Before she could say anything, Herb told her, “We’ll get that cleaned up in no time. Don’t you worry.”
One of the officers came over to the van as Herb was helping her out.
“Looks like some kids got bored after opening their presents. Andy was patrolling the area and noticed a car that wasn't yours, parked a ways over on the road, and thought he’d check it out and there they were, large as life.”
“Who are they?” Herb asked.
“Tall one hasn’t said, but the other one is Derek Michaels, the bank manager’s son. We don’t need any introductions to him.”
“I was just there, just yesterday morning, putting some things I found in the house in a safe deposit box. I spoke with Allison Michaels.”
The officer looked at her and sighed, “I see. Did you discuss what you found with her?”
“Well, yes, some of it. There were some gold ingots and I asked if she could check their value for me, while I was there.”
“Oh boy,” Herb said, “that doesn’t look good.”
“What?”
Herb smiled at her and said, “looks like maybe Allison was talking about it at home. Put some ideas in Derek’s head.”
“Well, we don’t know that,” the officer said grimacing, then turning to Anne he said, “you might want to have a look and see if anything is missing.”
“Have you been inside? I don’t know if I’d know if anything was missing.”
“Just do your best. We found some stuff on them, jewelry and some money.”
“Old bills and coins?”
“Yes.”
“I deposited some of those as well, they need to be changed to current currency. I mentioned that, too, but said I’d leave it till after the holidays.”
They moved up to the garage as they talked and now stood just a few feet from the boys, who looked to be in their mid-teens, regarding the mess they’d made. All of the bags Anne had brought through from the kitchen had been torn open and their contents were thrown all over the floor. The neat piles of things on the tables were on the floor as well. The bins she’s placed under the tables, sorted for the various destinations of their contents were empty and strewn across the garage. Anne felt Herb’s arm around her shoulders and was grateful. Her knees felt weak. The clothing looked as if it had been shredded. All she could think was that it would take hours to get everything straightened up again.
“Guys!”
Anne felt Herb tense.
They all turned to the sound of the voice.
“I just took the biggest dump of my life in one of those stupid garbage bags!”
A smallish youngster, about thirteen, with bright copper-colored hair and a huge grin on his face bounded through the door.
“Surprise, surprise, surp...
...Grandpa!”
To be continued…
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Guessing is good, but I'm not tellin'. ;-)
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Ugh to the 13-year-old (I'd hate to think of cleaning up that mess if there was anything valuable in that bag), and what an embarrassment for Herb!
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting so kindly. I'm way behind schedule this weekend. But I will catch-up. <3
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It feels like I'm on a roller-coaster careening toward...something. Not sure what, but something. It is so much fun!
*Hugs*
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I'm so glad you're enjoying it. I'm having a blast writing it.
*Hugs*
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The dialogue works well in this entry too!
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Thank you, I'm relieved to hear the dialogue worked. Sometimes what we hear in our heads is not the same as what is read on the page.
<3
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It's quite a ride! Poor Anne is right, but also, fairly fortunate Anne. :-)
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I love how supportive Herb is being of Anne, though, and how sweet <333 I'm totally here for the little romance story that has made it's way into what I thought in the beginning was going to be a murder-mystery-thriller!!
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Thank you so much for your kind words.
Yeah, Herb is kind of my hero right now. ;-)
What a kid, right?! (Shakes head.)
*Hugs*
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I can't tell you how much it means to me that you are all enjoying it. It warms the cockles of my heart. :-)