The Accidental Watch 8th in the STOPWATCH SeriesChapter 14
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"But ... you Have to. I've seen you do it." Violet flickered again. "I was just there! I watched you go to Montgomery and turn in the ticket. You have to go!"
"Funny thing about the future, Violet. Getting up late in the morning changes it. Good night, Violet."
"But..." she tried to follow them in but she couldn't get past her own wards.
The Monster Millions computers shut down every night at eleven and start working at five am. It was ten after two when they finally went to bed. The reason it took so long? They repacked the chests in the truck ... unopened. They didn't do it to harass Violet. They couldn't find the keys.
Why two trunks? They stored the tipi, liner, ozan and door in the first trunk. It kept the cover clean. The second trunk was their traveling altar.
They put the plywood over the chests and slid the two trunks, one empty, one full, on top of the plywood. They locked the Van and started a little fire in the tipi fire pit ... to keep out the mosquitos. They made gentle love for forty-five minutes, and then talked about it. They never raised their voices during the night, but they made a clearcut decision.
They had a voice mail. "Call Home." They did ... the fortuneteller thought it was a wonderful idea. In the morning, they drove to town and bought a ticket. They went to the Post Office and mailed it to the Gypsies at home. Violet didn't see that.
They drove back to the gathering ... took down the lodge, repacked the trunk, loaded the poles and left a little note in the middle of the sacred square of earth.
Violet heard them leave the first time and smiled ... they were fulfilling her future. She heard them come back ... comforted, she went to sleep. She did NOT hear them leave the second time.
This time, they drove to 99 stores in town that had the Monster Millions sign outside and bought a winning ticket at each. They spent a ninety-nine bucks buying tickets.
Two different groups of graduated high school students spun out their varied stories about why they couldn't afford college and promised to share the winnings. If they won, they'd go to school and their friends who couldn't afford to go ... well, they'd see that they got the chance. They all signed the back of their tickets.
Ed said, "you all know what your families are like. If there's the faintest possibility your mom or dad would take your ticket and blow the money ... don't tell them. If you win, bum a ride to Montgomery Monday morning, collect your winnings and put it in the bank.
"Go to Auburn and apply. Tell the registrar that you'll be checking on acceptance. Don't let them send a letter home. Don't apply for loans or grants. Pay cash ... live at home and tell your folks you have a shit job somewhere. Go to school.
"You kids who can't go college because your parents are truly trying, but just can't help pay ... help out at home. Your parents deserve a better life too."
The students were the most faithful in keeping their promises.
They gave two tickets to the director of the local homeless shelter. He was at his wits end searching for non existent funding.
"Look, all we're asking you to do, is write your name on the back of the tickets and watch the drawing tonight. Just that and nothing more. Watch the TV."
After the drawing, he got down on his knees and thanked God for sending an angel.
An entire older subdivision promised to share and pay off mortgages for everyone near foreclosure in their area.
A developer was very unhappy.
They drove to an African Methodist Church and passed out a dozen tickets to reliable looking older folks. Yes M'am ... we will give back to the community, they said ... in varying voices and promises. Most of them did. Homes sported new lawns and new paint.
The entire neighborhood gleamed with pride.
They passed out tickets to bums on the street and prostitutes on the corners. Those were among the ones who disappeared. From corners and alleys they fled the life they had in search of new ones.
They drove to the Student Union and gave a ticket to a girl who had just lost her sports scholarship because she'd broken her leg.
She hunted out others in the same kind of fix and helped them through.
They gave two tickets to the directors of the Rape Crisis Call Center and two more to a Battered Women's Shelter.
One said, "It's eighteen million dollars!! I can do so much!"
The other said, "It's not enough." He closed the shelter, took the money and disappeared.
When they couldn't think of anything or anyplace else, Seph tossed all but one out the window. There were only three left for the tossing.
One landed in the lap of a chair bound wounded warrior, a casualty of the desert. A programing genius, he started a business building artificial limbs that fit ... and worked.
Another slapped the face of a man coming out of a bank ... his last resort to save his farm. He'd been turned down yet again ... his farm had suffered a string of freak 'accidents.' He wasn't a good risk.
Yet another developer lost his project.
It took the entire 180 days for the last ticket to show up at the lottery headquarters. The old man who won collected his check, walked outside, endorsed it over to the Alzheimer's Foundation and died in the street.
They drove to Sharpe Field ... Harold Franklin was back.
"You Mr. Franklin?" Seph asked.
He looked at the Dodge and the State of Michigan front license plate. "Yup ... you've come to collect your aircraft." He grinned, "and your boat."
"If you want the planes gone, you're going to have to teach us how to fly." Ed was all teeth and happy eyes.
"Not a clue?"
"Nope ... never even flown a paper airplane." That wasn't true ... every school kid in the United States has flown at least one paper airplane ... it's in the curriculum.
"My dad knew a pair of ladies like that. They learned to fly multi engine bombers in six days and a few nights. The FAA hated issuing them licenses but it's hard to buck the Marines.
"Well ... come on in. Let's get started." Harold led the way to a small class room. He turned on some lights and unlocked a case. "It's going to be hot today. Megan picked a good one for the gathering."
He switched on the air-conditioning and motioned them to the desks. "Got money? Bags of it? It used to be cheap to learn to fly. Damn Democrats have made it expensive to walk across the street. At least we work with the CAP and get a major discount for fuel used for lessons.
"Lessons from sitting in this seat to flying your own single engine out of here ... and standing a pretty good chance of living through it ... are twenty five hundred ... each ... plus the plane, fuel and metered hours. One hundred and twenty an hour if you used my aircraft. One of yours is the best primary trainer in the world.
"There's a semi restored Piper J-3 Cub out in the hangar. A number of older pilots had their first aircraft experience with the J-3 Cub. I believe that Cub trained pilots have an edge over others because the Cub requires the use of all controls to perform even simple turning maneuvers. Cub pilots who solo from the rear seat instinctively fly the airplane, rather than fly the engine.
The 65-hp Continental rates down towards the bottom in power and at the top in reliability. The Cub will spin, but not loop. Cross-wind landings, the Cub will dip a wing so low, you can write your name in yellow dope on the runway and the rudder will still hold it straight.
"I soloed in a Cub. It's not a good idea these days but, students scared him so bad my instructor never flew unless he drank before climbing in the front seat. I soloed in 6.5 hours and loved Cubs ever since.
"So, stand up ... now rub the top of your head and pat your stomach while hopping up and down on one foot with your eyes closed."
There was a lot of laughter but they did it.
"Now switch hands and hop on the other foot."
"Very good." He stopped them. "I'm surprised ... very few pilots can do that, but it was required right at the start of the war. That and a lot of other foolishness that had no bearing on flying. A lot of men who would have made good pilots ended up as navigators because they couldn't do that.
"If it's not one of theirs ... whose is it?" Seph wondered. "They don't have a clue," Violet said, "they don't even know how it works." "Do you?" He asked. "Nope." "How do you know it's a Timepiece?" "What else could a 78 thousand dollar Audemars Piguet's LatLon in platinum watch be that was found in a box in a locked chest in a locked trunk that hasn't been opened in more than 20 years taken from a house that's been in probate for fifteen. And another thing ......
In the dead of night ... you know, I've always wondered why it's called 'the dead of night'? The night is Not dead ... it's very much alive. Alive with the things that go bump ... and chirp ... and snap ... and huff and snort ... scurry and cry. Yeah ... the night's not dead ... it is people who are dead to the sounds. Not all of them though ... there are those who know the night ... who understand that the cry is the rabbit taken by owl, panther, fox, wolf, ... snare. They understand...
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"Harold, we brought our own housing. Can we set up here?" Ed asked. "Nope, sorry. The housing authority here said no camping or trailers, but you can sleep on the boat. It's wired, there's a working john on the boat and it's hooked to the airbase plumbing." Harold sounded a little envious. "You really need to see what you're giving up. It's a classy boat." Ed bumped Seph in the ribs. He whispered, "we can see if there are any clues for a watch." If you think one hundred and...
"No. We weren't looking for a watch ... we were looking for a boat title." "I see," she looked a little disappointed, as if she thought she was in command of the situation, and realized, she wasn't. She gave the two of them, totally ignoring Megan and Franklin, a look that said, you win. "Could we please look? It's important." "Ah, " said Seph. "The magic word." There was a long pause, the anxiety from Violet was redolent. "Sure ... Ed? Let's see what we've got." "Thank...
It was mid summer, 1928. Ed finally saw her. Glimpsed ... imagined ... hallucinated. Whatever. Definitely 12 ... maybe 13, she flickered into the Antler. Maybe it was the watch ... maybe it was the pair of watches recognizing each other. She sat at the counter. Ed sat next to her. A flickering translucent Ernie waited on her ... Frank waited on him. Mayor Carver came and sat down next to Ed ... Wendy and the mayor both occupied the same space. "Morning, Ed." "Morning, Mayor." "I'm...
A bell sounded. "Trunk? What trunk? Seph? Do you see a trunk?" Ed asked. "Nope ... not me." Persephone countered. Violet was looking perturbed, to say the least. "All right you two ... there's two trunks. The one we took the Ritual gear in and the other one." "Ok ... show me," Ed suggested. "The one you and Persephone are carrying." Violet pointed at it. "Trunk? This isn't a trunk ... well ... maybe ... it's a carrying implement used to house things." Seph said. Ed nodded...
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Persephone attacked the directions manual like a kid with a new game. In other words ... she didn't. She grabbed Ed's wrist and started pushing tiny buttons like mad. "I don't understand it, Ed. It's not working." The turned off TV started scrolling again, PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK ... PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK ... PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK ... PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK ... PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK... "I am going to kill that TV." NO KILLING THE TV ... READ THE...
"My gods!" exclaimed Seph, "she won't shut up." She snuggled up to Ed, "if you were from the northeast you would be called taciturn ... to me you're pensive. You think before you speak and that is sooo nice." They were in the Dodge following the last bus. Megan tried ... but it was very evident there was no room in the Van. "We could catch the next light and get lost." It was Ed trying to keep pressure off his darling wife. Where women get THAT look is unknown. It must be...
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Meanwhile, simmering off the coast of northern California and in to Oregon, Washington and a bit of British Colombia, the Juan de Fuca plate had increased its movement from 60 millimeters to 18 centimeters ... that's almost 10 inches ... accompanied by outgassing (bubbles) and a noticeable drop in local sea level. The Cascade Arc of volcanoes were pooting and poofing a little more regularly and the forest was yellowing like mad. Fishing in the neighborhood sucked and boats needed painting...
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After they got back from Montgomery, Megan was waiting at Harold's shop. She was quite surprised to find Edmond and Persephone landing a King Air A90 Turbo Beech at Sharpe Field. "Violet is so mad at you," she was speaking to Seph. "I don't know why ... we bought our ticket ... like she said we would." Ed answered instead. "Well ... someone ... who we suspect has the initials, PH and EH, bought 99 additional tickets and gave them away." "This would be untrue," said Seph. "Yeah...
Adam stepped off the school bus, walked through the driveway and entered his home. He threw his school bag onto the floor and stomped his way upstairs, tired and fed up due to yet another boring day in high school. They do nothing but pile work on top of you in senior year. He barged through his bedroom door and slammed it shut behind him and it was then that he found it. Laying there on his bed was a stopwatch, placed right in the centre. "Mom?!" Adam called. "What?!" his mother replied from...
Mind ControlThe Stopwatch "So, here is the way this will work," she said matter-of-factly. "I will start the stopwatch when you enter me and you have to hold back from cumming for 30 seconds, or else you then have to eat me out! Deal?" "I think I can do that," I replied with some trepidation. I'm not sure when the last time was that I actually lasted as long as 30 seconds, but I was going to do my best to get there. "OK, before we start, I want you naked," she said. I disrobed and stood in...
You were out browsing the local small market, looking for a present for a friend, when you spot the Small Antique Shop tucked away between a Burger Bar and a Pharmacy. Entering the shop, you browse the aisles stacked with old books, toys, paintings, pottery and such when you come across a small gold stopwatch in a leather case. Something about it appeals to you so you purchase it. “Ah, a good choice,my young friend” smiles the Shopkeeper “The minute I saw you walk into my store, I just knew you...
BDSM"Momma? Who is Tim?" "Wendy, remember when I told you I brought my diary ... Tim is in the diary. It's complicated and I might get it wrong ... so," She handed me her diary. The original title had been Journey. The newest title was STOPWATCH. I read it. Straight through, one sitting. While she caught up with Violet and Tim, the Shaman, I read. This was momma's life before and just after she married. I finished it. I jumped up and headed for the Club. I have to pee. She didn't say...
The dig began like all digs. Before the crew arrived, a USGS survey marker was located. This one happened to be at the junction of Co. 210 and US 550. The Elevation and North were stamped on the cap of the marker. Declination from magnetic north was listed. The marker was dated 1920. Davis supplied his own 'pit boss.' Steve was a professional who ran his own archaeological survey crew. They mostly did foot survey for the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. They also worked...
Imagine yourself in a similar position: A 12 or 13 year old girl ... a kid ... fer chrisake ... never met her and she knows you have a time travel watch?!? To make matters worse, there's a man coming up behind the girl who looks an awfully lot like Professor Timothy Leary. "But ... but ... but," Andrea stammered, "Timothy Leary's dead." Junior and David both said, "Oh no. He's on the outside looking in." They looked expectantly at Andy. She was stunned. Tim grinned and laughed....
I wound the watch. I was careful to count the clicks of the stem winder. I quit at ten. “Wendy! Did you wind the watch?” Hmm ... Mom was in a panic. That was unusual. “Yes! I wound the watch. What do I? ... Gawd, mom ... they’re awful close.” “Something’s not right. The other boat is still there heading right...” The other boat, looking like a Coast Guard Cutter, plowed right through our boat ... or not. We were pretty confused. There should have been an enormous impact. That didn’t...
It seems like everything comes in bunches. That and ancestry. Suddenly, Andrea NEEDED to know her roots. Not wanted ... NEEDED. How and why did the Koenigsknecht's end up in Michigan? If you have a watch that travels in time, going back is easy. Time may travel but it only transports going home ... unless you have one of 'those' watches. Time is supposed to go forward. Science says so. Yesterday, last week, last month, year, century ... they all are in the past ... and the past is...
One of the Seven ... a Separatist ... separated from the Seven and tossed Andrea a watch. "Here, have mine," He shouted and conjoined with the rest. Even though he was One of Seven, they could hear him laughing until he was out of hearing. I'd like to say Tim was speechless ... I know Andrea was. Very little could shut Tim's mouth. "Holy Shit! Holy Shit! Holy Shit!" he exclaimed. "You know ... No I guess you don't ... I'll tell you." He paused for breath, "The Powers that Be...
"Oh Hell ... Junior? Run next door and send your David over here." Wendy Too asked. "My David? You mean dad?" Junior was confused. "No ... Andrea's David." "Andrea has a David?" Now she was really confused. "Junior! Git!" "Yes mom," she got. She was intercepted at the door. "Members only, girl," said Geoff. "I need David ... My big mouth has caused an emergency ... Mom sent me." Junior explained, quite unsatisfactory. "Who are you?" Ah, the big question. "Junior...
'Well, ' those of you who say, 'Why didn't Andie use her watch to get them out of the storm?' 'Well, ' those of who you say, 'Why didn't David use his watch to get them out of the storm?' Hmm? Before the storm; 'Damn it all, ' thought Andrea and David in stereo, 'I can't use my watch. If I was alone I could.' Andrea didn't know David had a time piece. David didn't know Andrea had a time piece. (This is sounding like a Dick and Jane reader.) (With bigger words.) (I was...
At noon the next day, the crew was assembled with David on the foredeck. Coins were flipped and rock, paper, scissors was played until the six sextants all had students. Shooting the sun at noon is simple ... it's the math that gets you. Bowditches' Tables helped, but at least one student discovered that they were at the source of the Amazon ... everybody else was close to their actual position. As soon as the intrepid Amazonian explorer discovered that decimal point placement could have a...
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It's been a long and tiring day for the gods ... there's always so much to catch up on after a long Labor day weekend. Thor and the boys aren't all seeing, all hearing, or in complete control like one of the other gods ... or so he claims. Fate had her feet up and munching buttered popcorn. She'd been looking ... and planning this little disaster ever since Andrea managed to slip past her fate when she caught the watch batted by the sturgeon. "Damn it all! I missed it the first time...
Aboard the Pretty Penny, the crew watched in horror as the explosion jellied the four men in the water. Wikipedia says: The effects of an underwater explosion depend on several things, including distance from the explosion, the energy of the explosion, the depth of the explosion, and the depth of the water. Underwater explosions are categorized by the depth of the explosion. Shallow underwater explosions are those where a crater formed at the water's surface is large in comparison with...
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Well, Tim was in watch invisibility mode and wondering the same thing. 'That bunch on the barge are absolutely guilty ... the Coast Guard knows it ... the girls know it. If I just flash the pen ... then nobody remembers ... no one can testify because no one knows. When they get that wreck off the bottom they're going to know there was no reason for that boat to sink.' The higher ups ... the ones who pay for all this ... felt it was getting too dangerous to let it go on. Snuff movies pay...
There is something about a half drowned terrified kitten ... Yup ... five out of six ends are sharp and the one that isn't sharp may not have good sphincter control. David said, "First thing we do is get a fifty five gallon drum of beach sand ... and probably the same again nest week. Can you believe the volume of that kitten? OUCH! Careful with the iodine!! Nyoman ... is your nickname Doctor Pain?" The crew was sitting at the portable sidescan sonar trying to decide if the helicopter...
This is to fix a problem with how Connie and her brother became crew on the Pretty Penny: The original intention was to have two parallel stories running at the same time ... So 'Begin Again' was started. I never finished it. It was the laser hair removal her brother gave her for her sixteenth birthday ... and they didn't grow back ... and didn't leave a scar ... well ... maybe just a little one, ... when the technician slipped ... but it wasn't completely disfiguring ... not totally...
(Authors note: I know I made it sound like Bill Slagle knows about the watch ... he doesn't.) The welcome home was enthusiastic ... satisfying and thorough. Changing the sheets for a dry spot and opening the windows on both ends of 'the attic' dissipated the 'freshly fucked' atmosphere. Our happy lovers showered and headed out to replenish depleted energy sources ... PIZZA! Anyone watching the pair would never expect they were married ... married couples don't cuddle on one bench in a...
"If you were setting up the course, what would you recommend?" David was curious, now that he was over stunned. Junior gave the chats a quick glance, "Lake Erie is shallow and this end has a lot of wannabe islands ... rises and humps that make life interesting for sailors. I'd steer 123 degrees off north and pay close attention to Rattlesnake Island. We'll miss Sister to starboard but 123 would rack us up on this ... bump ... can't call it a reef ... a reef is coral." David looked at...
While they were sailing in circles waiting for the C-130, the Twins asked David to marry them. No ... not David ... Chris and Sarah ... C'Twin and S'Twin asked David to perform a wedding ... Damn it all. The Twins asked Chris and Sarah to be their respective brides and then they asked David, in his office of Captain to marry the four of them ... No ... Not David taking the four of them as brides ... Damn it all. "David, Sarah and I want to get married, will you perform the office?"...
The cats turned up their combined noses at bag cat food. The Pennies tried them all. Al Sanchez found the only good use for dry cat chow ... not necessarily the brand ... to the cats it's generic ... like fridge ... kleenex ... coke ... things of that nature ... it's all cat chow ... and they won't eat it. Al put it in a cheesecloth bag and tied it to a fishing line in front of the hook, so ... if a fish bites he gets the hook too ... sea bass love cat chow ... the cats love fish guts,...
A New Old Watch: 83. You remember last time, David had recovered from his fall and was about to be married to Andrea onboard a British Submarine. They did. After that, they sailed into Pearl, fired off 21 guns to the country, dipped the flag to half a dozen Admirals, hoisted the US flag, the Hawaiian flag and called on the Port Authority. Andrea made an impressive Fleet Admiral of the Nevis and St. Kitts Navy. While Andrea was impressing, David, dressed in his whites but wearing his charred...
"Thank you officer." "You're welcome, Miss." "Mrs." "Excuse me. Mrs Slagle. You have a doctorate? Kinda young for that, aren't you?" "I got skipped a few grades in High School," she said, all the while thinking, 'Mostly.' That brought a slight smile to her face. The two policemen tipped hats to the room, thanked the owner for her time and left. Daisy showed them out. "I know this isn't the time or place for it ... it might even sound like levity, but, I'm going to check...
It is an axiom of life: Horny girls and horny boys make babies ... in 1963. However, a modern, right thinking, twenty-two year old girl from 1988 will be on the pill. By the way ... Horny ... hormonal ... how about that. "Professor Slagle? Taking my life in my hands, I beg your indulgence," said David. They were putting away the beer. Big boats have room for extras ... like a nice, big, propane powered fridge ... in this case, a walk in cooler. It was behind the bar in the salon. Boats...
Oh, yes. It was exciting. It was so exciting that Andrea forgot her nautical. "David, turn right. And for God's sake, slow down. The screen that watches the bottom has bumps and some of them are pretty damn close..." David did slow down... "Right a little..." She held up her left hand, looked at and... "No ... my right ... er ... left ... yes, turn left." She hollered, "Junior! I need you!" "I'm busy, Andie." "I need someone to watch the other screen." She screeched,...
Myron C. Jones, USMC, at times could swear the life Jerry Garcia wrote about was Myron's life... 'What a long strange trip it's been.' Marine Lance Corporal Jones, "Jonesy," was a crackerjack bulldozer driver before he joined the Marines ... after nineteen years in the Corps, he wasn't much better. (Crackerjack. A cheap prize from a box of popcorn.) Jonesy has been, variously, a private, a Sergeant, a Warrant, a Sergeant, a private, and nearly every possible rank in the Corps. Once...
They left from the porch. For a couple of days, Jean wondered who the man in her house had been. She certainly didn't know why she had a complete Intensive Care Unit and bed ... complete with monitors she'd never seen and pumps that didn't exist ... on her newly enclosed back porch ... in the addition she had no idea was there. There was plenty of evidence that the bed was recently used. "Christ! I get enough of that at work ... why would I do it at home?" But, everybody at the Shelby...
You remember last time. They had just made a purchase of six sextants ... really good sextants, with mahogany cases and the New American. It was Andrea, the Twins and David ... remember? David pulled away from the curb and decided the best way to find the dock area was to keep going to the river. The French were partial to wheel spoke streets. Detroit was laid out by the French so there were three main spokes in the wheel centered on the Fur Trading Post on the river. Coming in from the...
Of course, the King's Knight had already sailed. Julia stayed ... she left the cameras. After all, it was Andrea who was supposed to be taking the photos for National Geographic. The girls from the boat had been transferred by helicopter to a secret government hospital in Ann Arbor. It must be admitted that the Coast Guard thought they got them all. So, the Knight was long gone ... well, about four hours ... when the barge sunk. Middle Bass Island is where they were headed so David could...
They had six sextants to calibrate. David wanted to do them all at noon. That meant six days on the islands. "Does that mean we'll be here for the Last Bash?" asked Junior. "Looks that way," said David. "Great ... I'll call mom and see if I can go." Mom showed up seconds later. After an explaination of Last Bash and a couple of fades from Wendy Too, mom stabilized in front of Junior. She turned her head and spoke to Andrea, "Wow! Sometimes I forget what normal kids are like....
"Well," said Andrea. "We know where the watch is. The only problem is it's not broke." "Shall we give Amos the shadow of a doubt? I'd hate to accuse the boy of stealing it" "He's your employee ... you're calling the shots." "You have the most unusual way with words ... Calling the shots? Where is that from?" "In my time, it's a pool ... that's billiards with pockets ... term. Calling the shot is calling the pocket." "I am aware of the game ... sinful is what it...
The second thing Andrea did after eliminating the threat to the 'Colored Burying Ground, ' was dropping back to 1937 and purchasing a set of fenders, front end chrome and rocker panels for the 1934 Ford two door sedan that would soon become Pink. For some unknown reason, the watch knew to the second when to drop off the parts. Then she checked the Spanish Lottery, discovered the winning numbers and left the note. Smuggling the paint into the body shop took a little ingenuity, but she got...
The grieving process is different for everyone ... no matter what 'licensed professionals' try to tell you. In Andrea's case they tried to stuff her in a grieving box that had absolutely no connection with the facts. "Your husband is dead," the tenth licensed professional said. "You keep telling me something I already know." "You need to move on." "You won't let me." "What do you mean?" "My husband is dead ... and you keep telling me that. Give it a rest. The man who...