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Category Archives: Granite Hill

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Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on April 28, 2014 by JeanApril 28, 2014

“Yo! Boss! You want that special machine installed at the country club today?”
Danny looked up from paperwork on his desk, “Yeah. Make sure the special options are installed before leaving the shop, then stock the Cokes after you deliver and set it up.”

“Got it.”

“Take ’em cold, though. Don’t want anyone at the country club getting a warm Coke in the middle of the golf course.”

“Right.” X started to leave, stopped, and stepped back in the office. “By the way, the South route is coming up a little short every now and then. We need to keep an eye on what’s happening with Da Boyz.”

X got Danny’s attention with that comment. “No tolerance for that shit. Get it straightened out. Quick.”

“Consider it done, Boss.”

X left, and Danny waited until the door closed indicating X had left before slamming the desk with his fist. He hated when someone in his organization ripped him off. That X mentioned it to him for his own homeboys meant he had someone he didn’t trust in his gang that he wanted to get rid of. Then he smiled. The next week would be interesting. Somebody was going down. But it also meant he’d need to be hiring soon. He reached into his drawer and pulled out the folder of job applications. Laying it on top of his other paperwork, he opened the folder and ordered the papers in order of preference for hiring when the time came. Slipping the folder back in the drawer, he resumed working on the paperwork he needed to get to his daughter-in-law, Carolyn. She was his bookkeeper, and she kept him on the right side of the IRS. He had to make sure she got the right information. Dickie would kill him if he got Carolyn in trouble. He’d made Dickie’s life tough enough, so he was careful to keep the screwed up aspects of his life away from Dickie and his family. He usually succeeded.

Finishing the financial paperwork, he shoved it in an envelope and sealed it. Standing, he stretched. Grabbing another cigarette, he lit up and went out the the shop to check on his machines. He had a mechanic just about ready for certification. This guy was a straight mechanic. Danny didn’t trust him with the special setup, so when he finished with the machines, they went to what he called the final prep shop where his experienced and trusted technicians performed final configuration. The prep pros had alerted him to a refinement the new mechanic needed to make in his work. Danny was going to observe and provide the corrective training.

He sauntered onto the shop floor and pulled up a stool. “Hey, Doug. How’s it going?”

“Pretty good. Got about four more to go for today.” He glanced at the clock, “I should be able to get them all done and to the prep shop.”

Danny nodded. “Good. How’s that baby of yours doing?”

Doug grinned, “Aw, she’s gonna be a heart-breaker, Boss. Got her first tooth last week though, so the wife didn’t get much sleep.”

“My mom always used ice chips to help dull their pain.”

“I’ll tell Christy. Anything will help. We both hate seeing her in pain.”

“I know what you mean.” Danny handed Doug the the wrench he was going to need for the next adjustment he needed to make.

As Doug made his next adjustment, Danny said, “Wait a second.” When he had Doug’s attention, he continued, “There’s a tolerance on that adjustment. We find it works better for us if you set it on the loosest setting.”

Doug raised his eyebrows, “Really? Usually the tighter is better.”

Danny agreed, “Usually, but in this case, our final prep has told me they prefer the looser setting for better performance in our environment.”

“Okay, Boss. You got it.” Doug made the adjustment and tested it before buttoning up the machine and moving on the next one.

Posted in A - Z Challenge, Granite Hill

Vihn-dicated

Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on April 25, 2014 by JeanApril 25, 2014

“Mom, I’ve decided to buy a convenience store.” Vihn helped her make the bed and clean the hotel room while she worked so he could talk to her. It was among his oldest memories, spending time like this with his mother. She’d taken him to work with her until he started school, and on days when school was closed down, because she couldn’t afford and didn’t want day care for her son. Vihn loved the time he’d been able to spend with her and considered it perfectly normal to help her.

“How you pay?”

“I have a down payment, and I have financing arranged for the store and for initial inventory.”

“Financing mean loan? No loan!”

“Mom, I have to get a loan. There’s no way I can buy this building without a loan.”

“Loan bad. You talk father.”

“I did talk to Dad, Mom. He understands.”

“Why so hurry?”

Okay. Maybe he didn’t love this part of their conversations. She was such a stickler for paying in full in advance. How was he going to explain this opportunity? “I’m twenty-five. I’ve learned everything I can learn about the convenience store business working for someone else. You know I want to serve in a community that doesn’t have easy access to quick food, staples, and gas.”

She was impatient. “Of course, I know that. No reason make loan.”

Vihn ignored her and continued on. “I found an ideal setup in Granite Hill. The building is available and in good shape. The owner is willing to sell. Not lease. Sell. It would be my store.”

“No!” she interjected vigorously, “Not your store. Bank store. Take anytime. You lose. Bad.”

She stopped work and began a long tirade in Vietnamese that he mostly followed. He didn’t need the details. The gist was he was making a huge mistake and even if he was Mr Big Pants Twenty-Five, she didn’t have to stand aside and let him make it. Neither did his father have to do so. They would talk. He was dismissed.

He kissed her on the forehead before leaving, “Yes, Mom. I’ll see you at home tonight.”

Posted in A - Z Challenge, Granite Hill

Quarry

Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on April 19, 2014 by JeanApril 19, 2014

(Note: This post contains adult situations and mild adult language.)

Prissy

Prissy hadn’t been able to wait to get back to school after Christmas vacation. She went straight to the sorority house. Her best friend Glynnis was there. She couldn’t wait to show her the new rock, but she didn’t want to say anything right away. She hugged Glynnis, asking, “How was your break?”
The stepped back from one another and sank into the comfy chairs in the House living room. Glynnis said, “My little brother’s basketball team is looking like they are heading to the state championships, so we’re pretty excited about that.”

“That’s great!” Prissy held her left hand up to her face and carefully brushed her hair out of her eyes, even though it wasn’t in her eyes to begin with.

Glynnis did not miss the move, “Oh! Let me see!”

Prissy extended her hand for Glynnis to admire.

“Randy proposed! When’s the date?”

“June!”

“Oh, girl, you’re going to be bu-u-usy. Graduating then getting married. Wow.”

Prissy preened, “I know. I can’t wait though. Mrs. Randall V. Grant IV. It’s going to be soooo exciting! It’s going to be so perfect.”

Glynnis was ecstatic for her friend. “You’re the first one back from break. That means you’re the first with the story book ending for her college career.”

Prissy realized she needed to be hopeful for others, “I hope we get a few more. Wouldn’t that be so exciting to have a bunch of June weddings for our sisters?”

Glynnis came back to the present, “How did he propose?”

“Oh, he was the perfect romantic gentleman. He came to town for Christmas Eve and Christmas. After Christmas Eve dinner, the whole family opens one Christmas present. Randall waited until everyone had opened theirs, and he handed me mine — my brother had the camera, so he must have been in on it — and I was so surprised! But of course, I said yes.”

Glynnis had to ask, “Did he, you know, try anything later that night?”

“No. He was the perfect gentleman. He spent the whole night with my family then went back to his hotel room just before eleven. He came back in the morning for opening gifts and breakfast.”

“Are you sure he’s not gay? I mean he’s never tried anything with you?”

“Oh, he’s been very sexy. He’s pushed a little, but I’ve told him we need to wait. He’s always backed off and respected me.”

Glynnis had a dreamy look in her eyes, “Oh, I wish I had a Prince Charming like yours. I hope you know how lucky you are.”

Prissy nodded solemnly, “Oh, yes. He’s preparing to take over the family business — banking! Half the things in Granite Hill are named after his grandparents. I’m going to have some responsibilities. We have to set the example for other people, and, of course, we have to be seen in all the right places and be involved in all the right things. I can’t wait to find a nice charity to support.” She got a far away look in her eyes and breathed, “The Randall V. and Priscilla Grant IV Foundation. It’s going to be wonderful to be able to make a difference.”

Randall

Randy checked into a hotel in Arlington, Texas, helping his personal assistant get settled into her adjoining room. Once he had her settled into her room, he entered his room from the hallway door to keep up appearances. Once the door was closed, he opened his adjoining door, and hers was already open. He entered her room, and she performed some personal assistance on him to tide him over until he could get back to the room after Christmas Eve dinner and family time. He kissed her deeply before he left, “Get yourself some room service for dinner, whatever you want. I’ll be back about eleven, and we can have Christmas. I have something for you later.”

She smiled in anticipation, “I’ll be right here.” She rubbed the palm of her hand over his crotch and grabbed playfully.

He slapped her hand, grinned, and closed the door to his room behind him. He had to make sure no signs of her remained on his person. He couldn’t afford to have Priscilla or her family suspect he was anything but chaste. He showered, put on clean clothes, and headed for Priscilla’s parents’ house. Once there, he was the doting boyfriend, charming and witty. After dinner, the family each opened one present, as was their holiday tradition. Randy — Randall to them — had pulled Priscilla’s little brother aside and asked him to take pictures of Priscilla opening her present from him. Randy was pleased. Everything went according to plan, and Priscilla was thrilled. Randy grinned like the fool he was supposed to be at this time. He politely excused himself at eleven, feigning tiredness after a long drive, a big evening, and a big day tomorrow. It helped that he was excited thinking about what he’d be doing when he got back to the hotel, so Priscilla thought he was hot to trot for her, and he pretended he was. He readily backed off when she reminded him she was saving herself for the honeymoon. He gave her some version of “Me, too,” and hurried off to “take a cold shower” before bed. He’d see her first thing in the morning.

Once back in his room, he carefully removed anything he would need to wear the next day, slipped off his shoes, and knocked quietly on the adjoining door. It didn’t take his personal assistant long to open the door and surprise him in a revealing private school student uniform. “Oh, baby,” he breathed, have your been talking in class again?”

She came back with a coy, “Yes.”

Randy shook his head in mock dismay, “Oh, my. You know what that means. Mr. Grant is going to have to take you over his knee.” He strode into the room, pulling her behind him. Sitting on the bed, he pulled the girl over his lap, raised her skirt to her bare bottom, gave it a couple of slaps, and bent down to nibble each cheek of her buttocks. She giggled, and he rolled her over onto the bed and covered her with his body, making sure she could feel how very interested he was. It didn’t take long until her assistance became very personal; a private joke between them. He also had an administrative assistant, who handled only bank business.

After they finished, she asked, “So, when is the wedding?”

He stroked her in very personal areas as they talked, “She wants June. So, sometime then.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Whatever she wants on that matter. I don’t care. It’s her day. After that, they’re all mine.” He grinned. “She’ll become the very proper Mrs. Randall V. Grant IV. That’s all she wants. I need a respectable wife for business and family purposes, and that’s what I’ll get. For the rest….” He trailed off, then grinned mischievously, “I have you.” And he thought, And you and you and you and whomever the hell else I want.

She laughed, “Surely we can’t carry on like this after you’re married?”

“Why not? You’re my personal assistant.” He rolled back onto her for another go round. After she’d gone to sleep, he disentangled himself, went back to his room, closed the adjoining door, took a long shower to clear off any lingering scent of animal sex, and slept in his own bed, rising and dressing with the alarm to get to Priscilla’s parents’ place in time for gift opening and breakfast. He had duties to perform as well.

________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for visiting for the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. Today’s entry is a work of fiction. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it in comments — what you liked or didn’t like. Each day will be a little different, so if you don’t want to miss an entry, please enter your email address below, press sign-up, then check your inbox to click the validation link to get these blog posts in your inbox.

Posted in A - Z Challenge, Granite Hill

Granite Hill

Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on April 8, 2014 by JeanApril 8, 2014

Hi. Welcome to Granite Hill.  I mostly mind my own business, but I’ll show you around since you’re here.  You’ve probably passed through here before — stopped in the convenience store like you’re doing now. We’re a small town.  Like most small towns.  Lots of people know your business — or think they do.  Take Vihn Trank.  Most folks look at that young fella, and after they get done wondering how a 15 year-old can own this business and wonder which boat he came in on, might stop to realize he’s a third generation American.  He’s got no more idea what Vietnam is like than I have of France.  Think of it in those terms — or whichever country your ancestors affiliated with before coming to this side of the ocean.  My name’s deBonet. Hamilton deBonet.  You can see why people just call me Hambone.  Fits better.  While you’re at it? Vihn is thirty.  Not fifteen. He was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Texas, and he chose to set up shop here to serve an under-served area like Granite Hill.  Sure. Tourists stop in here, and they help a lot with the bottom line, but Vihn is here for the people of Granite Hill. And I’m here to help Vihn with his odd jobs he needs doing so he can focus on doing just that.

Walk with me a bit while I rub this mop over the floor.  I’m happy to talk, but I do have a job to do.  That girl over there?  Yeah. The preggo one with two rug rats hangin’ on?  That’s Danny Forrest’s oldest girl, Janie. Apple don’t fall far from the tree for that girl, and she’s bad news. Been bad news ever since Tiffany took her out partying at 14 and pimped her out to her friends.  She’s been poppin’ out welfare babies, turning’ tricks, and dealing drugs ever since.  Most a’ her kids take after her.  Half of ’em born in jail. This one probably will be, too.  She’s got a 16 year-old daughter due a month after her — or a month before.  I can’t keep up. She’s got a bi-racial boy.  I think he’s thirteen.  That boy’s got his shit together.  Because of him, maybe the younger ones will have a example to follow.  As bad news as she is?  Danny’s other kids are a parent’s dream.  Only one stayed in town.  If you’re planning on camping, you can’t go wrong staying at Dickie and Carolyn’s camp ground on the way out of town on the Enchanted Rock side.  Good people.

Ooh.  Lookie here.  Mr. Randall V. Grant IV.  Big man about town — don’t let his stature fool you none.  He’s not to be messed with, and he’s in here cuddling up to his whore.  I’m wondering what kind of explosion there might be if old Danny Forrest found out his best buddy from high school was doing his girl. On the other hand, anyone with a mind to has done his girl, so maybe he’s gotten over it by now.  Only one I feel sorry for is Miss Prissy, Randy Randall’s poor wife.  He had to marry her from out of town, because everyone in town knew all about Randy’s antics when he was younger, and no respectable girl would hitch her star to him even if he was from the richest family in town.  No one tells Miss Prissy, Priscilla is her real name, on account she’s not from here. Some things stay in the family if ya’ know what I mean.

Now out there at the pumps, see that man in the ball cap?  That there’s Brandon Wagner.  His family farm is down by Crabapple, Texas.  If you come up from the south, you probably went through that old ghost town.  Maybe you stopped there?  No?  Consider it sometime.  Worth the look.  In addition to taking care of his mommy and daddy, he done right by another man’s child.  Adopted him as his own, even when he couldn’t really afford it after he married the boy’s mom.  There’s a fun story about how those two got together.  If you’re here longer sometime I might share it with you.  I see you found your beverage of choice.  Probably anxious to get back on the road.  Nice talking to you.  I need to get back to my mopping.  Long way to go yet.  Have a  nice day!

________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for visiting for the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. Today’s entry is a work of fiction. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it in comments — what you liked or didn’t like. Each day will be a little different, so if you don’t want to miss an entry, please enter your email address below, press sign-up, then check your inbox to click the validation link to get these blog posts in your inbox.

Posted in A - Z Challenge, Granite Hill

A Decade of National Novel Writing Month

Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on December 1, 2013 by JeanMarch 28, 2023

In November, I completed a decade of participation in National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known at NaNo. In my first attempt, in 2003, I wrote my first novel, Polar Bear on the Loose. I finished the first draft while deployed to Bahrain in the summer of 2004. Here’s a brief … Continue reading →

Posted in 30 Days to Regularity, FoolingMotherNature, Granite Hill, HotCoffee, NaNo2013, Parallels, PBOTL, Reunion, Something's Fishy, Threads & Ties, Twilight, Writing

NaNo Day 21: 42, 398 Words

Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on November 21, 2013 by JeanNovember 21, 2013

Things got a little slow tonight working on NaNo, so I decided to try a little “conflict” exercise.  Too often, I avoid conflict at all costs, and it weakens my fiction.  Tonight, I made up two characters on the fly who were told to remain on the couch by their … Continue reading →

Posted in NaNo2013, Writing

NaNo Day 1: 3369 words

Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on November 1, 2013 by JeanMarch 28, 2023

I’m doing “backwards” NaNo* again.  That means I start with a lot of words per day as my goal and work my way down to one word on the last day.  Today’s goal was 3346.  Every goal will be less for the rest of the month.  So, today was, theoretically, … Continue reading →

Posted in NaNo2013, Writing

Official NaNo Winner, 2011

Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on November 25, 2011 by JeanDecember 14, 2016

Yes, I know I blogged it was done a few days ago.  I had another chapter and a half to write, so I did that.  First draft of Granite Hill is complete at 52,739 words. The NaNo Site doesn’t allow winner validation until November 25th, so I had to wait … Continue reading →

Posted in Granite Hill, PBOTL, Writing | Tagged HTRYN

NaNo Day 23: 50024

Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on November 23, 2011 by JeanNovember 23, 2011

Yes, I’m done.  50,024.  I’m not done with the book, but NaNo has been won.  Will keep working to bring the book to it’s conclusion.  I’m on the second to last chapter, and there’s much to be said and done before all is said and done.

Continue reading →
Posted in Granite Hill

NaNo Day 22: 49037

Philosophical Meanderings, Too Posted on November 23, 2011 by JeanNovember 23, 2011

Yes, that’s right. 49,037.  Oh, so close.  But that’s the count for today.  I’m going to stay up a little longer and try to get it finished tonight.  Hubby arrives from San Antonio tomorrow, and it would be nice to be done with this before he gets here. 963 words … Continue reading →

Posted in Granite Hill

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