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SciFiction

Letters

Greetings from the Old Town…

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2 months ago · 1 like · Von

SciFiction

Ready for their Next Challenge

The next hour was fantastic. Sue relaxed more and more as time went on. Mr Madison did most of the talking, and showed videos of them from their bunny days (which the audience found most amusing, especially Frank getting bitten on the ankle) to their final few fights against pretty dramatic opponents. And when he did interview them, he asked the same ki…

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2 months ago · 1 like · Von

SciFiction

Home Again

Going back was tiring, but went well. It was annoying to miss all of Schipboard life; especially everyone listening to my poetry. But I was on a mission now, which was kind of like a hunt, and I flew through <fix dates>. I went first to my Poetry club…

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2 months ago · 1 like · Von

SciFiction

Class: Teacher

“Who is that?” I asked Andrew, as the two of us were walking through a yard at the edge of the school, where a young man... perhaps ten years older than me... sat watching a group of young men as they trained with the sword. Every once in a while he would call one of them over…

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3 months ago · 2 likes · Von

And Mr Madison had given them instructions on how to dress, too, so while his family were all dressed formally he was wearing (under a pair of sweats) his trademark shorts and his Lightning Chargers tight T-shirt. He felt like an idiot!

At least he got to wear shoes! Poor Sue!

And then they came around the corner and his heart about stopped. There must be two hundred people here! “I didn’t realize it was such a big event,” his mother said to him.

“I didn’t either!” Frank said. Was it too late to plead illness?

“Yo, my man,” Seth said, coming up. Where was Jullia? Frank would have expected her to be hanging on Seth. How on Earth had he attracted her?

“Yo,” Frank said, bumping fists. He was about to ask what was going on but that would make him, the fearless leader, sound like an idiot. “You ready?”

A quick look of confusion passed over Seth’s face, but then he seemed to get it and said, “As ready as I can be with all of the mystery that Mr Madison is putting us through!”

“Well, it’s almost time so I guess we’ll see in a minute.”

“Have you seen the door?” Seth asked, pulling him forward.

Frank’s family joined the crowd… it wasn’t really a line… as Frank went forward with Seth. There, on the doors, were two enormous signs. “Lightning Chargers! Grand Event, all public welcome, doors opening at 4:00pm” the one said, and the other was one of their promational posters.And both had the website details all over them. Frank felt his face turning red. Redder and redder.

“Frank!” he heard, and turned to see four of his classmates staring at him. “Frank, are you a movie star?”

“Umm, no, not exactly,” he said. “It’s not a real movie, its a game…”

“They’re opening the doors!” Someone yelled, and Frank turned and saw… Jullia? Jullia and Justice were opening the doors and people were pouring in.

Frank got caught up in the crowd and found himself in the hall, where he had been before, but never like this! Their posters were all over the walls, and one wall was filled with food, that is, tables laden with food. And there were three glass fridges with Coke and all in them, and people were taking them, and Jullia’s folks were here too…

“Hey! How’s it?” he heard, and turned to see Julia hugging, and kissing, Seth, but looking at him. Still a side hug, they seemed reluctant to do anything past that, but she did that very well. And she was rather free with her kisses. Odd girl.

“I’m totally freaked out,” Frank said, when the two had calmed down. “What’s going on?”

“Look up there!” she said, and he followed her finger to the stage which was set up exactly like Mr Madison’s studio.

“An interview?”

“Six months interview! (And no teleprompters,)” she came close and whispered into his ear. “I hope you’re ready. I’ve got go go, lots to do.” And she gave his cheek a quick kiss and darted off.

The next few minutes were chaotic, as people found seats, got food, found seats and then went to get food… the Brown’s kept restocking the fridge. And, he saw, Jullia put some donuts and drinks and all up on the stage. He chuckled. He could tell where her boyfriend was supposed to sit anyway. He had easily twice as many donuts, and a Coke.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mr Madison said, coming in without any warning, and yelling. “We are so glad you all have come. If I could have you sit down, please, and I would ask the Chargers to come back with me.

Frank, his heart pounding, mounted the stage and, with the others, went behind the stage into a kitchen. “Ok, get dressed,” Mr Madison said, and everyone except George removed their jackets or sweats they had been wearing. George was already in his uniform, which looked much more normal than the others. Sue’s dress looked wonderful, but hardly normal. And Jullia came over with some flowers, which they put in Sue’s hair, and around her wrists and ankles.

“Ok, you lot,” Mr Madison said, when the girls were done. “You wait here, and get ready to come on stage.”

“But, how will we know when to come?” Frank asked.

“Oh, you’ll know!” Mr Madison said. “Oh, and let’s get you in order. George, Seth, Sue, and then Frank. Ready?”

“No!” Seth said, and Mr Madison mussed his hair and walked out.

Seth frantically combed his hair (Jullia having handed him the comb), and they waited in line.

“Ladies and Gentlemen!” Mr Madison said, this time using the mike, so Frank figured he was sitting in his chair. “I hope you are all wondering why you are here!”

The audience duly laughed.

“Although I think some of the boys are happy just coming for the food.”

Another laugh, and some cheers from the boys.

“Well, we are here for an interview. You see those cameras? Well, they are recording all this and, by the end of the day, you should be able to see the entire interview up on the internet. An interview with who, you ask? Well, the answer is ‘The Lightning Chargers’. Who are they, you ask? Well, they are four of your own who, over the last few months, have been taking the game ‘Seven Realms’ by storm.”

“Who am I? I am their producer and director. I make videos of their adventures in the game, and those videos have been doing very, very well. And now, ladies and gentlement, I would ask you to give it up for the Chargers, starting with ‘George Anderson!”

The audience burst out in cheers and George walked out. Frank heard fighting and realised that Mr Madison must be playing a video. Probably something with George killing bunnies. He grinned. That woudl be funny.

“Seth Aaronson!”

Seth walked out and Frank was able to hear the ‘twang’ of the bow.

“The beautiful Miss Susan Williams!”

Jullia had to practically push Susan out the door and Frank made his way up.

“And, last, but certainly not least, their fearless leader, Frank Foster!”

Frank walked out and… the audience was standing and cheering! He almost paused but managed to walk up to his chair, getting a glimpse of the video. Oh, the fight against the giant. That part where he was banging his stick against the giants knee. Well, that did look rather good. Of course, Seth had been the one to really win that fight, putting out the giants eye with an arrow. The giant hadn’t been much trouble after that.

Frank sat down, and the crowd got quiet. And Seth took a drink of Coke and picked up his donus. He knew his schtick.

“Now, we have not been doing this out of the goodness of our hearts,” Mr Madison said, and Frank saw he was taking out checks. “We sell access to the videos, and our sales have been excellent. We are in the top one hundred of all Seven Realms video podcasts, and we have just reached one hundred thousand views.”

The audience cheered and Frank realized what had happened. They had told him, all those months ago, that they would tell their family and friends about the site and all once it had reached 100 thousand views. A few boys had found the videos, but they had sworn them to secrecy.

“Their pay has been rising every month until this month, well, we haven’t reached quite the target that I was shooting for but it still gives me great pleasure to hand them a check, for this last month’s work, for… six thousand dollars!”

The audience gave a gasp before they cheered, and Frank had to force himself to put the check in his pocket, hopefully in a rather nonchalant way.

Yes I know… that picture is totally wrong. So I’m not an AI prompt specialist… I get one thing right, and everything else turns out wrong. I didn’t even ask for the subtitle!

—

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

“Hello, Alexia,” he said, kissing her.

“Am I never going to get to see you?”

“Sorry. Been busy with my new job, and my book.”

“I know, but I miss you.”

George put down his clipboard. “Well, you have me now.”

The two had kissed for a few minutes when his mother came in. ‘George? Why does this shirt smell of gunpowder?”

Alexia leapt up and grabbed the shirt, “Really?” she said, sniffing it. “It does!”

“Seth’s girlfriend’s father and brother took our whole team to the range.”

“The gun range?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Oh, a boy that knows how to shoot,” Alexia said, sitting back down next to him.

“Well, as long as they are safe,” his mother said, doubtfully.

“Oh, they’re practically professional,” George assured her.

“So, how is it going with your ‘job’?” she asked him, after his mother had left and when they came up for air.

“We made some money. I told you that. And it’s almost that time of month again, so I hope I will… we will be getting some more.”

She nibbled on his ear. “Can I come watch somtime?”

“Watch me play?” he asked. “That would be fun. You can help me put my suit on.”

She stuck her tounge out at him. “No, silly, watch an interview?”

“Oh, yeah, you can come. At least, I don’t know why not. Seth brings his girlfriend.”

“I didn’t know he had one.”

“Well, he didn’t. But this girl moved in, with her family, across the way from Mr Madison’s house right about the time that we started with him. And she just took to Seth like PB to Jelly.”

“Are they sleepign together?”

“Seth? He would love to ask, I’m sure, but he isn’t exactly Cassanova.”

“Is she cute?”

“Her face and legs, sure.”

“What’s wrong with the rest of her?”

She wears these huge sweatshirts all the time. You can’t see anything.”

“Probably flat. Or maybe huge? Like, out of balance?”

“I don’t think Seth cares. He is just so excited with the attention.”

“Good for him.” She nibbled some more. “So, can I?”

“Sure, Thursday.”

Seth rolled over in bed, and then rolled back, and then got up and looked around, and then, finally, realized that his phone was beeping at him.

Julia: Seth: Hey, you up??

Julia: Seth: Come on, answer me!!

Julia: Seth: I’m sneaking in your house, I’ll be up in your room in a minute.

Seth leapt out of bed and barely managed to get some shorts on when his door quietly opened. “Hey, Big Boy, want to go on a run with me?”

“Umm, sure, yeah, just a sec. Let me get dressed.”

“Surely you don’t need to wear much more?”

“Umm, shoes and socks?”

“Fine, fine, I’ll wait.”

She stared at him as he got his socks and shoes on, and then the two of them crept down to the front door. “What’s with the run?” Seth asked, as they hit teh sidewalk.”

“Just thought it would be more fun with two,” she said.

“Umm, yeah,” he said, running alongside her and watching her. This was fantastic! She had come to his house, woken him up, to go on a run together! And she was so fun to watch run… altho he wished she didn’t have the sweatshirt on!

He was so busy watching her that he missed it when she turned… where are we going?” he asked, looking around.

“Up into the hills. It’s good for my workout, with all the ups and downs.”

Maybe so, but it was tiring. Seth arrived back at my house dripping in sweat, and quickly stripped off and went to the shower. “Seth! Breakfast!”

“I can’t, Ma, I have to get to my work. Sorry, went for a run with Julia this morning.”

Seth figured that the bit about Julia would balance out the bit about breakfast, but he hadn’t counted on his mother’s persisitence. When he got back to his room after his shower there was a plate on his desk. He hurridely scarfed breakfast and then pulled on his suit. Even after all this time it wasn’t easy.”

“Whoa!” he said, when he logged on. “What’s this?”

He had logged out of the game in a tavern, for all love, and now he was in the middle of some woods with a couple of rough looking guys hovering over him.

Don’t worry, I have this under control.

“What happened?”

They kidnapped you from the tavern.

“We snatched you out of that tavern,” the larger of the two men said, at the same time.

“But.. why?”

“Cause we was told do,” the shorter one said. “A lot of money.”

“Ok, Seth, get ready. You’re going to start fading a bit… you’re getting sleepy…”

“Hey, what’s up with him?” the short one asked. “He was waking up.”

“We should just carry him,” the taller one said.

“I ain’t carrying him!” the shorter one said. “I can’t believe that he’s going to sleep again. Hey, you!” he said, reaching down and shaking me.

And then Seith heard the swish of Frank’s sticks and a crack and then a yell and he opened my eyes and saw Frank wacking at the big one. Seth lashed out with my feet as the shorter one tried to get up and kind of tripped him. He was just about to swing on him when George arrived like a freight train and knocked him out of the ring… as it were.

Seth struggled to try to get up… no easy feat with his hands tied behind my back… and he hadn’t managed when Frank managed to knock his guy out, and George ran his through with a sword.

“Oh, poor dear,” Sue said, running up and casting Nature’s Touch on him.

“I’m all right,” Seth said, “Cut me loose!”

“I don’t have any weapons,” she said. “Frank, come cut poor Seth loose, will you?”

“Coming,” Frank said.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

The boys formed a triangle around her.

“Ok, I’ll do this on open channel, going public in three, two, one…”

“Sue, great news! You levelled up and gained a new skill. It’s called ‘Nature’s Sense’ and will be great for this job.”

“I hope so, we’ve been after these squirrels since forever!” she said, honestly,

“So, your skill is ‘Nature’s Sense’ and you go some new perception stats too. Close your eyes.”

Sue closed her eyes and then opened them up again. “What was that?”

“That’s your new sense. Close your eyes.”

“Oooh. I feel like there are ants crawling all over me.”

“Focus on the sense. Do you know where George is?”

“Yes.”

“You should be able to sense him…”

“Oh! Oh!! George,” she said, pointing, “Seth, Frank. And… oh.”

“Ok, now, boys, walk slowly. Sue, eyes closed, walk betwen them…”

They had gone a dozen steps when she pointed, “What’s that?”

Seth whirled, and shot. “Squirrel!” he said.

“Only four thousand three hundred and seven to go,” George said.

“But that was helpful!” Frank said. “Let’s keep going.”

—

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Lightning Chargers have finished their great squirrel hunt!”

Seth did his best not to grin. Although he supposed grinning was appropriate. Mr Madison had spent several minutes making sure they were all ‘rumpled’… as if they had come straight to his office after two weeks of squirrel hunting. A bit of dirt on his collar, some artfully sprayed ‘sweat’ on Sue’s face… Julia and Mr Madison had worked them over good. Frank even had a light ‘bruise’ on his forearm.

“Well, Mr Madison, our start healer really put us over the top. We were afraid we would spend the rest of the game in that forest, but her new sense made it easy for her to tell where the squirrels were..”

“Not easy,” Julia broke in (right from the teleprompter, of course). “The skill still creeps me out. It makes me feel like ants are marching all over me.”

“I guess it will take some time to get used to,” Julia said.

“It is such a powerful skill!” Frank said.

“Helps with the Murder Rhino, too,” George said. Pithy, if not funny.

“Oh, yes,” Sue gushed (yes, the teleprompter said ‘gushed’, and I know that Mr Madison and Julia had worked with her on ‘gush’… which got ratings, apparently. “It is so strong I can feel it from oh so far away.”

Her chest heaved and everything. Always a nice view even if she wasn’t that cute. But what was with Frank? He kept looking at her. And I swear he crowded her on the way into the room.

“You gained quite a bit from this little adventure, Seth,” Mr Madison said, and I so agreed with him I almost missed my lines.

“I sure did. It was a great assignment for me, getting to shoot squirrels…”

“And hit some of them, too,” George said, and I glared at him. (Yes, the teleprompter told me to do that, but I would have anyway.)

“So this has been good for my level and my skills. I have found ‘quick shot’ to be super useful.”

“Especially with the squirrels!” Julia said, leaning up against me with her hand on my leg. I guess Mr Madison must have given up on the triangle thing, since he always let her come in on our interviews.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

One of the funnest… what an insufficient word… parts of wet work was the long, hard, anticipation. The travel, the midnight ride to the drop off point, the creeping into position. And then the wait. He usually arrived in position just before dawn, and had to wait out the whole day. Sensors set, he would nap.

And then the next evening, wait until even the most decadent of party animals was finally asleep, and then he would strike.

“Mongoose is ready,” he subvocalised.

“Owl is ready,” he heard. Probably half a mile away, long scoped rifle, opposite side of the house from him.

“Kesterel is ready.” Same, separated from owl by a quarter mile or so, with what view of the house they both could get.

“Badger is ready,” he heard. Ready, in a vehicle, on the road… ready to come charging in if things went south.

“Clean up is ready.” Twelve men, not really part of second team, whose job was exactly that. They were armed, and dangerous enough, with submachine guns, but their main job was to clean. To bury what was left of the bodies, and clean the entire house so that not a shred of forensic evidence would be left. And then, and he always found this ironic, to plant a few incenderary bombs so there would be nothing left to find.

“Second team, Overwatch. We are confirmed. Mongoose, your leash is slipped.”

Those were the most joyful words in the English language, as far as he was concerned. He began his crawl up to the house.

—

“He is literally certifiable,” Overwatch said to his aide.

“And would be in some maximum security prison if he wasn’t working with us.”

“Have you ever been in a house after he visited?”

The aide shook his head. “I’ve never been brave enough.”

“I went in once. Exactly once. I’m an old military man and it still freaked me out. The throat, the pool of blood… it’s like they didn’t even know what hit them.”

“Overwatch, Badger. We have a problem.”

“What is it?”

“A panel van coming down the road.”

Overwatch said some words his mother hadn’t taught him.

“Mongoose, you copy?”

“Of course. How long till they arrive?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

“Plenty of time. Owl, Kestrel, take their driver out at the last minute.”

“Owl copies.”

“Kesterel copies.”

“One down…” Mongoose almost whispered.

“Owl, they are in the driveway.”

“Owl copies. No eyes.”

“Kesterel, no eyes.”

“Two down…”

“Owl has eyes!”

“Kestrel no eyes.”

“Three down…”

Overwatch shuddered. He had to keep reminding himself exactly how sick these men were that they were eliminating.

“Four down…”

“Owl lost eyes.”

“Kesterel no eyes.”

“And five down… two in another room…”

“Kestrel eyes!”

“Go ahead, Kestrel, take them out.”

“Shot! Van stopped, off road. Uncertain injuries.”

“Badger, move in! Clean up, Move in!”

“Badger charging.”

“Kestrel. One out of van… and down on road. Oooh, they’re shooting back at me.”

“Owl, taking shot. One down in bushes. Not killed.”

“And they woke up and I had to use my pistol. How sad. House cleared, Clean Up, come clean up.”

“Clean up copies, descending on house.”

“Badger on site. Three living hostiles.”

“Badger finished. No living hostiles. Will transport van and bodies to house. Kestrel, you shot a bit low on that van driver. Alive but childless.”

Overwatch laughed. “I wonder if they got the news out?”

“I’m sure the team hopes so,” the aide said.

“Overwatch, Badger, return to you position as soon as things are moved.”

“Hooked up and pulling now.”

—

Alfred stood in the yard, smoking his pipe. He doubted the habit would kill him. He was bound to hang or get shot first. He watched the clean up team coming running in, their big backpacks on. And the Badger team racing in with the van, and then go racing back.

He went and looked in the van. So messy. Altho the emasculating shot was interesting. Nothing he would do, of course. He preferred minimalism. He had shot the two waking up exactly in the heart.

He looked down the road and sighed. The next fight, if there was a next fight, would be far too messy. Still, it was fun to kill.

“Ok, guys, are you ready?”

The Chargers stared at him, and then at the teleprompters. They were off camera…

“Ready for what?” Frank asked, finally, as Mr Madison kept grinning at them.

“Going public, of course! Our videos go live… the actual videos not the ads for them… in ten minutes.”

“What?” they said, all together.

“Yup. I guess you lot haven’t been watching our ads. Now, I want you all to pull it up on your phones. My tech is good, but its always good to check it and get as many eyes on it as possible.”

The Chargers busied themselves with their phones and everyone soon had the site up.

“Oscar Madison presents… the Lightning Chargers!” the screen said and then, after a haze of lightning, the screen resolved to Mr Madison waving them to chairs…

“Have a seat. I will warn you, this is all being recorded. Unless I tell you otherwise, everything in this room is recorded, and I will use it without warning in any of my videos.”

Sue’s heart raced a bit as she watched herself sit down, qualing at how plain and scared she looked.

“So, this will hopefully be the first video in my new series,” he said. “My name, for those who don’t know, is Oscar Madison, and I direct, produce, whatever, gaming videos. And I have asked this party, the Lightning Chargers, into my office to discuss the possiblity of making them famous!”

The Chargers watched, their hearts racing, excited and appalled, as the first session played out. “I am very glad,” Frank said, when the video finished, that I did not see that on our first day. I feel much better watching it now.”

“And that’s why I delayed it,” Mr Madison said. “Now, you lot still good with waiting to tell your friends and all?”

“Oh, yes,” Sue said, quickly, before anyone had a chance to change their minds.

“Knock, knock,” she heard, looked up, and almost screamed.

“Frank?”

“Hi.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “How did you get in?”

“Your sister let me in.” He waved at her earbuds, “I guess you didn’t hear. Watching the videos?”

“Yes. Yes, of course, I always watch them,” she said, trying to act as if it was just something she did because, well, because.

“So… what do you want to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Pretty soon, not sure when, everybody will find out about the videos. And… and they will assume that we are in a relationship. So… what do you want to do? Should we just tell them that, nah, that’s just for the videos?”

Or? Or?? But when he didn’t say it, she managed, “What do you want to do?”

“Well, I don’t want you to feel forced into a relationship.”

“Oh, I don’t, I mean, I’m not. What do you want to do?”

“Well, I’m a guy. I mean, I’ve had a couple of girl friends and it didn’t go so well.”

“Well, but we are acting, right? We need to make it look good. So even if you snore or something…” I stopped, horrified at what I had just suggested, “I mean, pick your nose…” That wasn’t any better! “Sorry, I can’t really think of a good example but, you know, if we were acting…”

“Acting?”

“I’m sorry, I thought that was what you were suggesting. That we could start, you know, acting like we were boy and girlfriend. Like you did already, coming over here. Into my bedroom…”

I was sure my face was red.

“Oh! I hadn’t thought of that. You’re so smart. But… we would need lines. Not lines, lines, but like principles. Are we up to ice cream? Do I close your door? Do we kiss in public or just behind closed doors??”

“Oh! Yes, that is so smart. Do you want to work on them now?”

“Yeah. You got paper? We need a slow build up. And we’ll do lots of denial and not showing up together in public.”

“But we could, sort of, accidentally touch each other from time to time.”

“Oh, that’s perfect. Do you want to let your folks know?”

“No, no, much better not.”

“Ok.”

“So,” he said, taking the paper. “We start with today. You texted me…”

“Oh, no, nobody will believe that!”

“No, listen. You texted me with a question about the game, and I suggested that I come over and we talk about it.”

“But I missed your text, or I would have met you downstairs.”

“Oh, that’s good,” he said, writing it down…

Frank said to George, “Where is Sue?”

“I dunno,” George said, biting into a kolache. “How’s your dating going?”

Frank turned red. This was so awkward. Pretending to date a girl he really wanted to date. She wasn’t the prettiest girl in the universe, but she really seemed to like him… and that really was the most important thing, eh? It sure made a girl more attractive when she seemed to like you!

Just then Seth walked in, with Julia on his arm. How had he ended up with her! She was always so bouncy, so cheerful, so excited about everything the team was going… and so into Seth! And how he had managed Frank certainly didn’t know.

“How’s it going, Peeps?” Seth asked, going over and grabbing a coke, a sausage dog, and a chocolate donut.

“Frank’s worried about where Sue is,” George said.

“I am not, I just wondered,” Frank said, embarrassed. Which he didn’t need to be. Worrying about where Sue was good for the act they were putting on, no?

Seth pulled Julia onto his lap, but she frowned and got back off. But she didn’t frown that much and put her hand on his lap, and he grinned and put his arm around her shoulders and leaned up against her. “Girls are great,” he said. “Glad you’ve got one.”

“Sue and I aren’t… I mean, we sort of are… oh, good, here she is.”

“Hello,” Sue said, coming in. She was wearing a different dress this time, long, almost to her feet, with flat sandals that seemed like they almost weren’t there… which was probably the idea. Make it look like she was barefoot without making her run around barefooted. “Sorry I’m late, my bike got a flat. Good thing I keep a kit.”

She went over and got a water and a granola bar, which Frank saw that Mr Madison had started stocking.

“Oy, come on in!” Mr Madison called from the speaker. “Let’s get this show on the road. Get in here.”

The team got up and followed Frank into the studio. “Ok, guys, sit down!”

The team sat down and Julia went across the way and sat behind Mr Madison and grinned at them. “And… we’re live. So it’s been going great with you lot. Having a great healer is really helping you lot!”

Frank watched Sue blush. It was one thing he really liked about her, how modest she was. She hated getting credit for anything. And she looked so good when she blushed.

Mr Madison went on and on about how important having a good healer was to their team. He acted like they were the only team that had a healer!

“And how about you, Frank, how are you finding your job as leader?”

Frank looked at Mr Madison. Well, over his shoulder. And was tempted to frown. “Well, Sir, it’s been a struggle.” This wasn’t exactly the kind of image he wanted to show! “Learning to lead a group in battle is difficult. I have to not only do my own fighting, but think about how the whole team is doing…”

Well, maybe this wasn’t so bad, Frank thought as he read the prepared speech. It would cover for him when he messed up, and give him a ‘growth’ arc. Indeed, it would make everything he did seem better.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

“I dunno,” George said, biting into a kolache. “How’s your dating going?”

Frank turned red. This was so awkward. Pretending to date a girl he really wanted to date. She wasn’t the prettiest girl in the universe, but she really seemed to like him… and that really was the most important thing, eh? It sure made a girl more attractive when she seemed to like you!

Just then Seth walked in, with Julia on his arm. How had he ended up with her! She was always so bouncy, so cheerful, so excited about everything the team was going… and so into Seth! And how he had managed Frank certainly didn’t know.

“How’s it going, Peeps?” Seth asked, going over and grabbing a coke, a sausage dog, and a chocolate donut.

“Frank’s worried about where Sue is,” George said.

“I am not, I just wondered,” Frank said, embarassed. Which he didn’t need to be. Worrying about where Sue was good for the act they were putting on, no?

Seth pulled Julia onto his lap, but she frowned and got back off. But she didn’t frown that much and put her hand on his lap, and he grinned and put his arm around her shoulders and leaned up against her. “Girls are great,” he said. “Glad you’ve got one.”

Sue and I aren’t… I mean, we sort of are… oh, good, here she is.

“Hello,” Sue said, coming in. She was wearing a different dress this time, long, almost to her feet, with flat sandals that seemed like they almost weren’t there… which was probably the idea. Make it look like she was barefoot without making her run around barefooted. “Sorry I’m late, my bike got a flat. Good thing I keep a kit.”

She went over and got a water and a granola bar, which Frank saw that Mr Madison had started stocking.

“Oy, come on in!” Mr Madison called from the speaker. “Let’s get this show on the road. Get in here.”

The team got up and followed Frank into the studio. “Ok, guys, sit down!”

The team sat down and Julia went across the way and sat behind Mr Madison and grinned at them. “And… we’re live. So it’s been going great with you lot. Having a great healer is really helping you lot!”

Frank watched Sue blush. It was one thing he really liked about her, how modest she was. She hated getting credit for anything. And she looked so good when she blushed.

Mr Madison went on and on about how important having a good healer was to their team. He acted like they were the only team that had a healer!

“And how about you, Frank, how are you finding your job as leader?”

Frank looked at Mr Madison. Well, over his shoulder. And was tempted to frown. “Well, Sir, it’s been a struggle.” This wasn’t exactly the kind of image I wanted to show! “Learning to lead a group in battle is difficult. I have to not only do my own fighting, but think about how the whole team is doing…”

Well, maybe this wasn’t so bad, Frank thought as he read the prepared speech. It would cover for him when he messed up, and give him a ‘growth’ arc. Indeed, it would make everything he did seem better.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

“Knock, knock,” she heard, looked up, and almost screamed.

“Frank?”

“Hi.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “How did you get in?”

“Your sister let me in.” He waved at her earbuds, “I guess you didn’t hear. Watching the videos?”

“Yes. Yes, of course, I always watch them,” she said, trying to act as if it was just something she did because, well, because.

“So… what do you want to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Pretty soon, not sure when, everybody will find out about the videos. And… and they will assume that we are in a relationship. So… what do you want to do? Should we just tell them that, nah, that’s just for the videos?”

Or? Or?? But when he didn’t say it, she managed, “What do you want to do?”

“Well, I don’t want you to feel forced into a relationship.”

“Oh, I don’t, I mean, I’m not. What do you want to do?”

“Well, I’m a guy. I mean, I’ve had a couple of girl friends and it didn’t go so well.”

“Well, but we are acting, right? We need to make it look good. So even if you snore or something…” I stopped, horrified at what I had just suggested, “I mean, pick your nose…” That wasn’t any better! “Sorry, I can’t really think of a good example but, you know, if we were acting…”

“Acting?”

“I’m sorry, I thought that was what you were suggesting. That we could start, you know, acting like we were boy and girlfriend. Like you did already, coming over here. Into my bedroom…”

I was sure my face was red.

“Oh! I hadn’t thought of that. You’re so smart. But… we would need lines. Not lines, lines, but like principles. Are we up to ice cream? Do I close your door? Do we kiss in public or just behind closed doors??”

“Oh! Yes, that is so smart. Do you want to work on them now?”

“Yeah. You got paper? We need a slow build up. And we’ll do lots of denial and not showing up together in public.”

“But we could, sort of, accidentally touch each other from time to time.”

“Oh, that’s perfect. Do you want to let your folks know?”

“No, no, much better not.”

“Ok.”

“So,” he said, taking the paper. “We start with today. You texted me…”

“Oh, no, nobody will believe that!”

“No, listen. You texted me with a question about the game, and I suggested that I come over and we talk about it.”

“But I missed your text, or I would have met you downstairs.”

“Oh, that’s good,” he said, writing it down…

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

“Seth, I’m not sure how your ‘Tracking’ skill will work here, but it seems like our best bet. And George, keep ‘Look at Me’ on a low level.”

The others all nodded.

“And, of course, I will use ‘Quick Aim’ whenever we see anything. Oscar said the big things are the boars, and the squirrels of course, but I’m sure there are othe monsters. Ready everyone?”

Everyone nodded.

“Ready.”

“Ok, let’s do it.”

They started toward the forest, the company representative watching them, and only got about half way when Seth said, “There, that tree on the right,” and shot out an arrow.

Which the squirrel easily outmanouvered, and then just sat there. “This is going to be hard,” Seth said.

“You think?” George asked.

“I do think. But at least the stupid thing didn’t run away.”

He kept his bow taught as they walked forward. Sue and George kept their eyes on the wood, mostly, and Frank looked all over. Finally Seth shot again and just caught the left rear leg of the squirrel… which missed its jump (because of the weight of the arrow, no doubt), fell to the ground, and was promptly banged into paste by Frank.

“One down, nine thousand, nine hundred, and ninety nine left,” said George, a Frank put the squirrel into storage. They were getting paid per squirrel.

They were an hour into the hunt…

“I’m hearing something.”

They all froze and Seth, who had by far the best senses, was tempted to close his eyes.

“Three o’clock,” Frank said. “Loud but far away.”

“But coming closer,” George said.

“Guys, up in a tree!”

“What, why?” Frank asked, even as they all leapt into a trees, and Seth reached down to help Sue up. He wasn’t the strongest, by far, but he was the best climber.

“I was reading up on it, and this area is known for a sporadic wandering boss…”

“A rhinocerous?” Frank said, wondringly, as the bright purple beast came charging through.

“A muder rhinocerous!” Seth said, his arrows plunking uselessly off his hide.

“Very hard to kill, but pretty easy to dodge.”

“Hey, a squirrel,” Seth said and fired, hitting the squirrel. “One more down, nine thousand eight hundred and four to go…”

“I thought it was eight hundred and three,” George said.

“My inventory keeps track…”

Jullia: Hey, guys, my dad would like to take the three of you to the gun range on Saturday if you’re up for it. All day event, lots of different weapons… he says it will be fun. I’ll go along to cheer you on and provide food.

Frank stared at the text and almost quivered. If there was anything that red blooded American boy would like more than to go on a gun range, all day, with food. And he was kind of glad Sue wouldn’t be there, since he wasn’t likely to show himself off well. Maybe if he kept it up. Yes, definetly if he learned his way around a gun then he could… he could make it a team activity. And he could show off… oh, bother, he hadn’t answered!

Frank: Sounds like a great idea! Let us know how much we should chip in for range fees and the like. We mooch off your family too much as it is.

Seth: I’m in, obviously.

George: Count on me.

Julia: No need to pitch in. Although maybe a case of Cokes so Seth doesn’t bankrupt us.

George: My sister is already baking cookies.

Seth: Y’all put in your drink orders and I will have my mom get them at Sams.

Frank: What time would we leave?

Jullia: Is six o’clock our place too early? It’s an hour away and opens at seven.

Seth: I’m not even awake at six!

Frank: We’ll have George stop by his house and carry him over his shoulder in his pygamas.

Seth: I don’t wear pygamas

George: You’ll wake up quick, then.

Seth: I’ll be ready. My mom will take me over, since I’ll be bringing the drinks. And even George can’t carry all the drinks. Not in this world.

George: Not how many you drink.

“Wow,” George said, as they climbed into the back of the panel van. There were two seats in the front, where Mr Brown (George didn’t even know if he had a first name!) and Justice sat, and then a long bench, with seatbelts, along one side of the back, facing the center. And then the whole other wall was taken up with… guns. Guns in racks and drawers, clear plastic drawers, filled with ammunition, ear protectors, holsters, vests…

“This is totally awesome!” Seth said, standing in front of the front gun rack and looking at some long guns. “Good thing Sue isn’t here. I think she’s afraid of guns. Glockphobic.”

George snorted. “She’s a girl. It’s our job to protect her.”

“And she’s a wonderful healer and buffer.”

“Cute, too,” Justice said from the front.

“Well…” Seth said.

“Ok, not as cute as my sister.”

“Your sister is hot!”

“She’s my sister! Keep your pants on!”

“Well, unfortunately I’ve had to keep them on…”

“Boys!” Mr Brown said. “Now, Justice, go over safety rules with them…”

The range was up in the hills aways and we had to go through a code pad kind of gate. And then another half mile of road, well, driveway until we get to the lodge. At least, that’s what it said on the gate.

“Ok, soldiers, pick your poison.” Mr Brown said, when the aircar came to a halt.

“We get to pick?” Frank said.

“I believe in letting people pick weapons they can bond with,” he said.

Seth looked longingly at several weapons, but immediately chose a scoped rifle. “Can I get a pistol, too?”

“I insist,” Mr Brown said. “Pick your pistol, but everyone should have a long or medium gun, and a pistol.”

It took the boys a few minutes, and a gallon or so of drool, before they were armed, and then more while they were holstered and had gotten their ammunition.

They went in the lodge and were thrilled. A large living room type area, with a huge fireplace, a bar (no alchohol), a snack bar, and a gunshop. “Hey, George, anyone available to help teach?” Mr Brown asked as they walked in. “I have three students and only two of us to teach.”

“Sure, Sam is around,” George said, and went into the back, coming back with a short, black haird man with a neatly trimmed beard and a wild mustache. He took one look at the group and went over to Seth. “Come, Grasshopper,” he said and Seth, grinning at the reference, followed him.

Outside, up a small hill, and to what he thought at first was a small shed, made of concrete. Sam opened the door, and waved Seth in, and Seth saw that there was no far wall, just a wide open view of a hillside and targets. “My name is Mr Manunsun, and we will start with the long rifle. Very nice rifle you have there, let us go over all of its parts.”

Seth listented intenetly (if a bit impatiently) and Mr Magnunsun finally let him put the earmuff things on and shoot. “Let us started lying down,” he said. “The targets score automatically, so we will see how you do. Shoot at that green target.”

He had showed Seth how to zero in the sight, so he did that, steadied, and… shot.

“Very good, grasshopper. Just outside the inner ring. Now, yellow target.”

Seth rezeroed his site and fired. “Not bad. You dropped low and to the right. Be careful, Grasshopper, how you breath. Now, Red Target.”

Seth took a lot longer this time and then. “Good aim, Grasshopper. Inner ring. Now, the black target.”

Seth spend the next hour trying and failing to hit the black target.

“Relax now, Grasshopper. Stand and we will learn the pistol.”

—

“You were awesome,” George said, an hour later, as the relaxed in the lounge. He had lugged their cooler in and they were scarfing hot dogs and cokes.

“How did you know?”

“The target lights up.”

“Oh, I wasn’t paying attention to y’all’s lights.”

“That is because Grasshopper is a real shooter,” Mr Magnusun said. “To fire the long rifle a long ways, one must rid oneself of the world. Focus only on the task. Like when one has a woman.”

George snorted.

“You each have your own style,” Mr Brown said.

“And your role in the game fits well with the weapon you chose.”

“Ah, our valiant archer,” George said. “Killing Murder Squirrels.”

“Which were super hard to shoot!”

“Squirrels,” George said.

“And owls!”

“And rabbits. Murder rabbits.”

Suddenly Frank burst out laughing and the other boys did too.

—

The van pulled up to the house, and Julia jumped in, kissed Seth, and sat down. “So, boys, how did it go?”

“It was fantastic!” Frank said, as Seth tried to adjust to how close she was sitting. “I got to use this short barreled rifle. Triple tap, triple tap. You would think we were training for the Green Beret or something.”

Julia laughed, “I think you mean swat, not Green Beret. They haul logs underwater or something. And you, George?”

“Shotgun, with deer shot and slugs. And pistol, a lot of pistol.”

“And you, Love?” she asked Seth.

“Umm… long scoped..” he said, forcing his mind back to the gun range.

“He was awesome!”

—

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

Then she walked back into the kitchen, where the team was cleaning up dinner. The upper cabinets were all open, with a dozen monitors showing scenes from their house and the house across the street. All over, including many interior rooms. The family, the parents anyway, knew which rooms were monitored and could turn them off (on a timer) if they wished.

“Well, I think it is going well,” ‘Mother’ said. “You have that boy drooling all over you, Darling.”

“I thought he was going to die when you put your hand on his thigh at dinner,” ‘Justice’ said. “He’s never going to sleep tonight.”

“He’s a nice boy,” she protested.

“No one said he wasn’t,” Father said. “Let them have their fun, you are doing a great job.”

Julia pulled off her sweatshirt and unstrapped her holster. “It would be a lot easier if I didn’t have to hide this,” she said.

“And a lot more dangerous,” Justice said. “We’re still in early days, but you have to train him that your stomach is ‘off limits’.”

“Not as easy as it sounds, coming on to a teenage boy and keeping your stomach ‘off limits’. Even with this super high holster rig I worry whenever he goes to hug me.”

“He’d have to be going for forbidden territory to find your gun, Darling,” “Mother” said.

“Not forbidden for long, the way they are going at it,” “Father’ said.

“Maybe I should use a backpack, like I did in the last job,” she said.

“In the last job ‘Justice’ was our close in man. Are you going to carry your backpack around his house? No, I think we will eventually have to either go for medical or the ‘ex boyfriend’ excuse.”

“The question is, will he be more turned on by a girlfriend that’s packing, or turned off by one that has a murderous ex boyfriend?”

“Well, I’m sure he will be totally turned off if we pretend I have a colostomy bag!” Julia said. “That just won’t work if we are going for boyfriend. He will never even imagine going to bed with me if I have one of those.”

“Are you going to?”

“Justice!” ‘Father’ said. “You know that is entirely her choice, and I won’t have you teasing her.”

“He is a very nice boy,” Julia said.

“Ah, so close in protection is in the works!”

“Probably,” Julia said. “But not until things get hot and we want me sleeping over. I can arrange it with Sue easily enough. I’m sure she would jump at the idea of a ‘slumber party’, either here or at her house. But If I’m going to spend the night at Seth’s house it will have to be in his bed.”

“While Justice and I crouch in the bushes at the other two boys’ house,” Father agreed. He seemed more comfortable now that the decision was made. He hated to pressure her.

“Do we have more news on the guild?”

“Three more just last week. One bought off, one scared, and the third was kidnapped IRL for an hour or so. The company is getting very anxious for us to produce results.”

“But it knows we can’t right away,” Mother said. “It will take time to naturally develop our team enough to serve as bait. And team two is taking some direct action. They were authorised to act with prejudice against the rapist.”

“Really?”

“Unfortunately for him he lives in a third world country with a very limited justice system. Rape will no longer be an option for him, and the company has banned his biometrics.”

“They keep doing that, but the real work happens out here,” Justice said.

“Which is where we come in. Good job, everyone, I think the Chargers are definitely seeing us as their home away from home. It will be easy to get them here if there is an attack.”

“Well, Julia, that was brilliant,” Mother said, as Jullia removed her holster, rejoicing in the breeze. She hated wearing a sweatshirt all the time, especially when excercising, and even the holster made her sweaty. “That line about, ‘Oh, Father, won’t it be a bother?’ was positively inspired.”

“Well, my job is half acting.”

“Did your boy get a kiss?” Justice asked, coming in from the backyard, where he had been pretending to plant some trees. Well, he had been planting trees, but he had left Seth and Jullia alone in the exercise room this afternoon, so they could get hot and heavy… and she could start the process of being able to come over to his house and guard him there.

“Of course. Two. He sat down in my room on my chair, I had put it there for that, so when I got up to ‘get something’ I was able to come around behind him and smooch without him being able to put his hands anywhere near my stomach.

“The second one was at the door, and I had to use my hands in front of myself, but, still, he managed to explore my tonsils.

“And, before you ask, yes, he is getting to be a better kisser. How are we going to manage my not changing clothes all the time?”

“We won’t need to. When you get home just put your gun in the bathroom when you go to powder your nose, and You can change all you like, since he won’t be there.”

“Oh, good!”

“By the way, team two took out another guy today. Traffic accident.”

“Those streets can be dangerous,” Justice said, grinning.

“Especially in Russia,” Father agreed. “Hard to get at them any other way. It was a freak coincidence, but they were ready for it.”

“Good for them. One more evil scum down.”

—

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

“Stars and comets!” Seth said, holding it up to the light as if trying to see a watermark.

“Now, that’s not a bunch of money for the time you have been putting in, but things are looking up and upper. We are routinely getting ten thousand views for our videos, more for the interviews. I’ve had to turn down three interviews with other podcasts so far, I don’t think you lot are quite ready for that.”

“Wow!” Jullia said. “You all are doing good! Ten thousand views.”

“We’re shooting for a hundred thousand views,” George said.

“Wow!”

“Now for the gooder news. I think we are ready to move beyond training wheels. I’ve got some real jobs lined up for you. Ones that should pay game gold, and attract lots of views.”

“What do you have?” Frank asked, leaning forward, and barely managing to remember that this was all being recorded.

“Patience, patience, glorious leader,” Oscar said. “I’m not going to give away too much. But the first one is a road clearing operation. Not of trees, either, but of squirrels.”

“Squirrels?” Julia and Sue managed to say at the same time.

“Murder squirrels,” Seth said.

“Not so much,” Oscar said. “The squirrels are not so much dangerous as seriously annoying. They must have cross bred with pack rats at some point in the not so distant past. They are quick, stealthy, live in trees, eat nuts, and steal everything that isn’t tied down. And some stuff that is.”

“So the company that wishes to build the road, so another company can build a mine… or mine a mine or whatever… can’t do their work. These squirrels steal their axes! Let alone their food, clothing… as I say, anything that isn’t tied down.”

He looked at Seth, “So this is your time to shine. You will have to shoot them out of the trees, after you find them. The others will be coming along to keep you safe.”

“Oh!” Seth said. “Oh, umm, thank you.”

“Hey, we each have our role. And there are other monsters. The boars are the worst. Not only fast and strong and deadly, but they have an uncanny ability to charge out of the bushes…”

“You all are coming over to my house,” Jullia said, as they left the office. My mother is making a huge meal of spaghettis. Red sauce, clam sauce, cheese sauce…”

“And of course my father and brother are prepared to make you earn it.”

Seth groaned, but they all followed her over to her house. They had started keeping spare shorts there, so everyone was soon dressed. Seth still found it odd that Jullia always wore a baggy sweatshirt over her shorts.

And he was amazed at the progress that they were all making. The Browns had forced them over more and more, and they each had had a regime tailored to them.

Sue was still pretty much just using the treadmill, on its ‘variety’ setting, with Jullia pounding away next to her. But she was using it longer and longer, and at a faster, but still walking, speed.

George was still pulling various cords in varioius directions, as well as doing pull ups and push ups.

But Frank and Seth had both been given an enormous variety of excercises and weights and all. Seth almost didn’t feel embarassed working out with his shirt off now. He was getting more and more defined all the time. And certainly Jullia never complained.

They worked out a good two hours and then took turns in the shower, and then they all moved into the great room with its enormous table and buffet. And, sure enough, there were several varieties of noodles and sauce.

“I’m in heaven!” Seth said, as they all formed a line to get their food. Julia came up along side him and took him by the waist, her hand a bit low. After a brief, nervous, glance at her brother and father, he said, “I’m seriously in heaven,” and turned and kissed her.

Which seemed to take him more by surprise than it did her, but as soon as he turned toward her she turned away, grinning, and patting him.

“Smooth move,” Frank whispered as the two of them walked toward an empty spot at the table, while Jullia’s brother told this story about a hunt he had gone on.

“Do you think so?” Seth asked. He was seriously confused. “She kissed me back… I mean, seriously.”

“We all saw that.”

“But then she pulled away.”

“She has certain boundaries.”

“Well, I can’t figure them out!”

“Well, her front?”

“I guess.”

“I mean, the baggy sweatshirt?”

“All right you two, stop gossiping,” Mr Brown said. “I do have news for you. A friend of mine from the army, retired a couple of years ago, wants to come over and work out with us some, and he’s an expert in unarmed combat, and I’ve got him to agree to teach you lot some. Even you two, Jullia and Sue. He has some moves just for women worked out… dirty blows for a deadly situation, he calls them. I’ve arranged for him to come by when you lot get done your interviews, Jullia got us the schedule. So hurry on over here right afterwards. You boys should just work in your shorts, but you, Sue, should bring a variety of clothes, so he can teach you what to do. He says that he will bring some too, good for getting out of grabs and all… clothes he doesn’t mind if they get ripped.”

“Oh, father, that must be such a bother for him…” Jullia said.

“No, not at all. He’s going to be setting up his own workshop… that’s what he calls it.. and wants you lot as his first adverisement. But please make sure you come since he will be making a special trip…”

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

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Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von