HLFIC-L Gathering Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (Part 1 of 1) =========================================================================== Date: Sun, 31 Mar 1996 11:20:04 +0300 From: Antonia Mandry Subject: War: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow without Coke Title: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow without Coke Author: Ma Wombat aka Toni Mandry When: Saturday morning (after everything else) Where: The smoking lounge in Wombat HQ (not really smoking but that's where everybody lounges) "Less Filling!" "Tastes Better!" "Less Filling!" "Tastes ..." Oh, you're here already. I can explain, really, Doc and I were just practicing vocal exercises. Why would we argue over Pepsi and Coke? No reason, *really*. This is hard to do in first person so I'll think I'll switch to third, ok? Well, tough, I'm doing it anyway. Anyway, the War was over. Everything had been taken care of. The wombats were still loopy from the night before at a certain weasel infested area and Doc and Ma were trying to regain some equilibrium from the events of the War. Egit, egit, egit, egit. Ma thought, that was a trip alright. Ma was packing to go back to Chicago and take up the reins of the division there and as Doc was doing the same for the Virginia branch, they were leaving Rose in charge of the Seacouver branch. As Ma waved goobye to all her 'bats, she shouted, "Bye Anvil, bye Rose, bye Gavin and Odin, bye Comet and Cupid, Kathleen and Dorcas. Too all a good year!!!!" (so it's abbreviated, what?) Ma was very well staisfied with the events, though she had a nagging thought that she might see that little tow-headed brat again. Erg. She'd come to that when it happened. Doc tried to untangle himself from Rose ... no, not like that -- he was still recovering from Amanda, anyway. Giving her a hug goodbye, his fur had gotten tangled in her coat button. He morphed to disentangle himself and whispered in her ear, "Less Filling!" At that, the wombats parted and relaxed, not knowing that another War loomed potentially on the horizon ... "That's it?!" Zeke growled. "It's over?" "Hey," Cat complained, "That's not fair. We want to hear more about the wombats and ..." Sondre: The Trenchcoat Brigade. Guppy: We haven't seen that much of that *really* cool aspect of the War. Toni: Fine. If I give the T.B. an epilogue, will you leave me alone? Zeke: Has she always been this way? (to the sky) Toni: Argh! Ok, ok, I give! Here goes ... Epilogue: Sometime in the near future ... Four figures walked into the cafe area on the Rue de Ste. Marie. Patrons took one look at them and immediately deduced they were American, so they sneered. Then they deduced from the various glinting implements, that they were gangsters. They all left, throwing sneers as they went. The T.B. relaxed and stretched out in the spring sun. Ahhh, they loved it here in Paris, though they had no idea *why* they were here. the main reason, they supposed, was that they had followed Zeke here. Whatever. Sondre tried to feed his duck a couple of crackers, but the duck wouldn't eat it. Maybe it was because his mouth was sewn shut (stuffed, you know) or maybe it just wasn't hungry. Cat rummaged through her duffel bag and found what she was looking for. "Here," she said, handing wire and a pair of cutters to Sondre, "here you go, just what you wanted. It took me a while to find them." Sondre brighteneed up and immediately started making chain mail for his duck. In case of an attack by archers, don't you see. Guppy snored blissfully, oblivious to the UPS delivery men advancing on him. All was peaceful for a few moments, and then ... the duck had a fit, Zeke had an argument with God (a throwing argument no less, the cafe was a mess), Cat insulted a Frenchman in bad French, and the UPS men reached the table ... And through all this an aardvark watched peacefully ... The End or so you think .... Toni M. = CFW for Kinman,Cord & Methos' Sword/FW for Kalas/Vaquera with pretensions to Cousinhood/Skinner fan/Chief Wombat (no tails!)/Dueser (Dief devotee)/Kermit lover/Trekkie /"I drank what?!" (courtesy of my Cat) the Cat speaks? The chinchilla types!? MA97AD14@acs.wooster.edu =========================================================================== Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 11:18:39 -0500 From: "Jimmy Murphy @ GA Southern University" Subject: WAR: Matchmakers Anonymous Title: "Matchmakers Anonymous" Author: Donna Griffon When: 3/23/96, morning to noon Where: Anne's backyard The day dawned bright and clear. , Donna thought. She sighed. Two hours later Donna was settling Anne onto the settee at Chez Lindsey. "OK, are you comfortable? What can I get you? Marie went to the store and stocked up on *so* much food that you won't have to shop for 3 weeks!" "I'll have whatever you're having," Anne replied lazily. "Uh-uh, no way, girl. I'm having Massive Amounts of Chocolate--I deserve it after all I've been through lately. But you, you, my dear, are recuperating from anaphylaxis *and* you are breast feeding. Chocolate is off limits to you!" "Oh, come on. You're just saying that because you want all the chocolate for yourself!" They both started to laugh and recall all the fond memories of chocolateering they did growing up. Anne thought. "Well, how about we both have ice tea--herb tea, my dear." "Sounds good to me. Hey, when it's ready, let's plod outdoors and sit in the sun. We can have some quiet time together while Marie is out with Mary." "Sold. So keep put til I get everything together. You're still too wobbly to go hoofing around on your own." When they were settled later in the back garden Donna pursed her lips and stared intently at Anne. "OK, Donna, I know that look. That's your I-have-something-to-say look and, from past experience I know nothing I say or do will stop you. So out with it!" Donna smiled. "It's scary when someone knows me too well! But seriously, I just can't get it out of my head, and since I'm only going to be in Seacouver for a few more days, well, I just have to say it. I *know* that you and Duncan are meant to be together. I've watched you and I've watched him. And I've watched you *with* him. Each of you lights up like a Christmas tree whenever you're near each other. And when you were dancing at the christening--well, my dear, all I can say is it *is meant to be!*" She nodded her head to add emphasis. It was Anne's turn to smile. "I know you mean well, but there's more to this than you know. I mean Duncan's life--well, things just don't match well. He isn't.... I mean he won't be...." Anne saw that with each statement Donna was becoming increasingly suspicious. "I mean there are things about Duncan that you...." She stopped speaking, knowing that she was getting into territory that was unwise to be in. "What do you mean "things"? Are you saying he's *married*?" Anne shook her head. "OK, well, I didn't expect him to be gay." Anne gave her a perturbed look. "OK, then, what? Is he terminal? You wrote me that you met him at the hospital--don't tell me he was a *patient*! What, undergoing chemo? No, that can't be it; he looks too healthy...way too healthy. Oh, for crying out loud, tell me." Anne reached over and touched her friend's hand. "Donna, I've known you mu whole life. You've always been there for me--even now, as adults, you're still here for me. I know you want the best for me, just as I want the best for you. But on this one, there's nothing you can do. Please, trust me on this. Duncan and I can never have the life together that you imagine us having." Donna looked long and intently into Anne's face. She saw strong resolution there. "Well," she said after a moment, "I think it's the wrong choice, but I'll defend to the death your right to choose it. And speaking of death, I think it's time for my Death by Chocolate. And if you're good, I might be coerced into giving you a taste." "Oh, my gosh! Tomorrow's your birthday!" said Anne recalling Donna's traditional birthday dessert. "I'd forgotten all about it, what with the christening, the diasasters, and getting sick and all. We'll have to do something really great!" "Well, I'm glad to see your memory's still intact. For a while there...," she let her voice trail off. Something well-meaning but slightly devious was coursing through Donna's mind. "Well, yes, I think we girls should *all* go out to lunch tomorrow, you, me, Marie, and Mary. Some place outdoors, with good vegetarian food, lots of chocolate desserts, and a view. Any suggestions?" That evening, Donna smiled as she got ready for dinner. She had successfully steered Anne towards agreeing on the Pier Restaurant, and was quite pleased with the opportunities the choice presented. Anne and maybe even some others may not think that things could work with Duncan now, but after all, tomorrow is another day. Donna *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* You don't give a man a weapon until you've taught him how to dance. --Celtic Proverb *-*-*-*-*-* =========================================================================== Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 10:29:43 -0500 From: "Jimmy Murphy @ GA Southern University" Subject: WAR: Yeah, He's 'whipped.... *Note: The "Karen" depicted in this story is not Karen Droms of the SJD Camp; it's Karen Meeks, my g/f. Title: "Yeah, He's 'whipped...and Loving It" Author: Jimmy Murphy When: 3/23/96, occurring during "Matchmakers Anonymous" Where: Upstairs at Chez Lindsey Jimmy had figured that Karen, his girlfriend from Georgia, was angry, but until he got on the phone with her, he had had no idea. "I know that the paternity suit was your dramatic way of saying 'come home *now*', but you did not have to tell everyone in creation that we are having problems! I mean, really! I had to come here to see Anne, and to see Mary. I'm her fath...I'm her godfather, for goodness sake! What do you want me to do...tell Anne I can't attend because my girlfriend wants me to stay home and watch 'Melrose Place' with her?" Suddenly Jimmy is forced to pull the receiver from his ear; a loud, angry voice could be heard from across the room. Despite her tirade (perhaps *because* of it) he could not be angry back at her; in fact, he was smiling at how "expressive" she could be. It was very sexy, if scary at times. Attempting to resume the conversation, he interrupted her. "No, you *know* I am not leaving *you* to be with her! How many times...okay, the....oh, Karen! Will you let me get a word in? You aren't even pregnant, for God's sake! I'm suprised you did not send a cop over here to arrest me for kidnapping the Lindbergh baby! Ever since you started hanging out with that Mary Anne Thorpe you have become such a drama queen!" Karen did indeed have her moments. When Jimmy had lied to her about staying home (he had actually went to a party at a friend's), she had called the Statesboro PD to tell them that Jimmy had burned down the Dunkin'Donuts franchise. Forty-five officers came storming into Andrew's party to cart Jimmy away. And then there was Christmas, when Jimmy had said Karen's fruitcake was 'dry'. He had discovered that CD players do not function well after being buried in the backyard. Now it seemed that Karen was renewing her insecurity about Jimmy's past relationship with Anne. The paternity suit made for good theater, and since her dad was a judge in Bacon County, he could help her get some satisfaction from her absentee boyfriend in a dazzling array of ways. Karen wanted Jimmy back in Statesboro immediately...especially since the Christening was now over. He explained that Anne had gotten sick and that he had been forced to stay around to be sure she was okay. Karen pointed out that Anne was a doctor and that she could take care of herself. "There's been a lot of things going on here, Karen, honey...things I can't really explain over the phone. Look, I promise I will explain everything when I get back to GSU..." He sat silent for a while, listening to the angry replies from the other end. He did not blame her one bit for being so angry with him (although he did _fear_ her a bit at this point...but what's love without a good dose of fear? Again, Jimmy could only smile). How could Jimmy explain all the weird things that had gone on in Seacouver over the past week? All the things he had learned, all the things he had gotten involved in....all that time in jail! Keeping secrets from Karen, however, was deadly; when she had found out he had a child with another woman, she told the police that he was the Unabomber. Jimmy had nothing to lose (at least from this far away) by blurting out the truth. "In one week's time, I have been arrested twice, shot, threatened with death by an international criminal, been stink-bombed, and joined a secret society of killers. My goddaughter's Christening has been marred by eight-hundred year-old practical jokers, murderous potato salad, women trying to hit me with umbrellas, and killers who carry axes around in their car trunks. I tried to kill someone with a loaded gun, then shot someone else with a paint pellet in a charade to flush out a murderer working for one of Anne's best friends. I fought to get possession of an antique book that documented the lives of people who live forever and can't be killed unless you whack their heads off with a sword (or that axe in the trunk). I was driving a $350,000 Rolls Royce that got creamed in Anne's driveway, and got painted to look like Scooby-Doo's Mystery Machine. The man that Anne is in love with is four hundred years old, and he looks as though he's *my* age. A girlfriend of Anne's is eleven hundred years old, yet could pass for a Miss America contestant. On top of it all, there is not a single radio station in this town who even knows who Janet Jackson is. If I hear one more Miles Davis CD, I will have to jump off States Street Bridge!!" "Should I expect you on the next plane?" was Karen's terse reply. =========================================================================== Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 17:57:57 +0300 From: Antonia Mandry Subject: War: And Once more Into the Breach Title: And Once more Into the Breach Author: A wombat of course, silly people When: After Parting is such sweet sorrow yadda yadda Where: On a plane Reason: Cuz, i'm bored. aahhhhh!!! Ma boarded the plane and sat down in the seat. Thank God the war was over, she had never been through more ... ahem ... confusing days in her life. Not even as a cadet in the Wombat Academy. She closed her eyes for a few minutes and when she opened them next they were in the air heading towards Chicago. Ma stretched a bit and looked around. She stiffened in horror and bad memories (and perhaps that Coke with lime she had had earlier this after- noon). It was Kenny, he was here! She yelped in silent terror (you try it). She got up to morph and to run like hell into some unsuspecting person's bag or maybe a convenient plothole but then relaxed as she saw it wasn't Kenny but some kid who didn't even look like him. Must be my guilty conscience, she thought. He didn't even smell like Coke or Pepsi or ... Peeps, the ultimate ... those Peeps. He looked to be all alone and a name was pinned to his chest which was rising in even breaths. W.E. Crusher. Hmmm. She didn't recognize the name. Underneath his feat was a white wolf who was looking at her steadily, some perverse side of her nature made her mouth the words, "Know where the bathroom is?" (Like she couldn't figure it out herself) The dog-wolf-whatever shook his head and looked toward the back of the plane. Ma did a double-take. I didn't really see what I saw, she thought. The she realized, Ohmigod! She was in a multi-dimensional plothole! Argh!! Ma woke up. Blinked a few times, shook off the weird dream she had been having and looked over. Row after row of passengers were morphing madly back and forth from wombat to human form distressing the stewards greatly (I would say that was the understatement of the *year*). The only wombat who was not present that she knew well (and that the readers had remotely heard of) was Rose. Okay, some continuity is called for. "What!" yelped Ma, at Doc next to her,"What's going on? I thought I sent you guys off?" Doc looked at her and smiled. He opened his mouth and little bubbles came out. Oh great, Ma thought , he is *really* chugging too much Pepsi. But then she realized they were just word balloons. She relaxed ... a bit. "We decided that since we all are flying home anyway, to take a roundabout way. We just can't bear to part." After all I've been through, Ma thought, having to make guest appearances in all these posts, now he's getting all maudlin on me. "Where's Bob?" Ma asked. Doc blushed, a bit. "Ummm, I don't know really but I get a sense of say ... coffee? Maybe not." Gavin tripped coming over to me, "I'm gonna have to turn right around to find my Mac again, you know, Doc. But this is fun! More Coke!" The wombats took up the chant with a few poor misinformed creatures calling for Pepsi. The fur started to stand on end. The fur flew .... take your pick. Ma could never let Doc have the last word. Nuh-uh. How ever much she thinks his kids are cute. "Ouch!" Ma exclaimed, looking down at the most unusual creature she had ever beheld. It was a scriptwriter. "No way, babe" it said, pen in mouth and complete with slicked back hair and undesignated liquor. "You're getting your parallel universes mixed up." "Oh, sorry" Ma said, "it's just as I get closer and closer to home it all starts to run together. Is that what this is, just a mad hallucination?" The scriptwriter shrugged, "You wanna talk to God about that one" Ma winced as the scriptwriter continued, "Anyway, it's really up to the viewers. They can decide whether or not they want to see all the wombats (or most of 'em anyway) to fly off into the sunset together or just to part as you had in part written that you had parted before." It's up to you to decide. Heh heh heh. The No Smoking and the Fasten Seatbelt signs blinked off and were replaced by the following scrolling words: Bye Anvil, bye Rose, bye Gavin and Odin, bye Comet and Cupid, Kathleen and Dorcas. Goodbye all you furry animals. See ya Bob!!! Bye Kimmies, and DFWs, Methos and all your little women. Watcher's watch wombats too? Richie has nice eyes, guys. Cheerio you lone CFWs! Kiss my a** Horton! Sorry. Cheerio all of Anne's buddies. Benny, Kit? Watch out Lizbet!! And if I've missed anyone you can shoot me during the next war. :) Are we gonna do a quote list for this war? Uh-oh, Ma thought. That damn things gonna overload. She morphed into wombat form and jumped out the window. Good thing I packed my parachute, she thought. ------------ Bye guys! I had a lot of fun and i'm not this psychotic and strange in real life. I'm not! Really! ask ... well ... ask ... somebody else. Cheerio! Toni Mandry aka Ma Wombat, Rabble and Rafael. We won't even get into Rupert, Renata, Roscoe, and Rassendyll. MA97AD14@acs.wooster.edu =========================================================================== Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 12:27:03 -0500 From: "Jimmy Murphy @ GA Southern University" Subject: WAR: Happy Birthday, Donna! Title: "Happy Birthday, Donna!" Author: Jimmy Murphy When: 3/23/96, afternoon to evening Where: Downtown Seacouver, later to Anne's house Donna's birthday was rather unique, since it was the first time she had tried to celebrate outside of her usual routine of cake and candles with her family. This year, she was out on the town with best-friend Anne and her new friend, Marie. Donna had suggested the Pier Restaurant for two good reasons: first of all, Albuquerque was not exactly known for its seafood catches, and secondly, it was just a few blocks from Duncan MacLeod's place of business. Donna made sure she drove past, and though Marie had no idea what they were looking at, Donna surely did. "Of all the streets..." Anne said, casting a suspicious eye in Donna's direction. "Well, do you want to stop in and say hello?" Donna was relentless, in Anne's opinion, but the reason Anne refused was because she wanted to make sure that when she saw Duncan again, it would be after the war was over. Marie and Donna were better off not knowing about how this war had been a guiding force in their coming to Seacouver, so Anne did not voice her contention that things would be much easier all around if she and Duncan just kept a distance for a bit, until all the interferences from outside were removed. "It's her birthday..." Marie said, "and she is being treated to dinner." The waitress took one look at the three women and thought "Big tippers...", but she was not impressed by the idea that it was Donna's birthday. "What would you like?" she droned. "Something lavishly expensive and totally decadent!" was Donna's reply. The waitress pursed her lips. "Out-of-towners..." she thought. "Well, could you be a little more specific?" The three ladies were treated to the best lobster and king crab that Marie's gold card could buy. Between rolling their eyes in pleasure at the food, Donna continued to ask Anne if she wanted to make a stop-over at Duncan's. "I should call Jimmy and check on Mary...." she responded, valiantly changing the subject. Donna just smiled and let her leave the table. Back at Anne's house, Jimmy was trying to warm up "Stouffer's Pasta and Sausage" in Anne's "conventional" oven. "Why can't your mommy get a microwave like everyone else?" Jimmy asked Mary, who was sitting in her baby carrier and enjoying Jimmy's distress. He was not very well versed in anything that did not come in a box, pouch, can, or plastic bag and was microwaveable. The phone rang just as he tore open the box. "No, everything's...just terrific. Mary took her bottle and now I'm teaching her to play chess." Jimmy saw the box instructions but placed the entree in the oven minus the holes in the wrapper and without a cookie sheet anyway. Mary began fussing, so he told Anne not to worry and that she should have some fun with Birthday-girl Donna. Reading the box further, he said aloud to Mary: "It *says* 10 minutes at 300 degrees, but I'll bet if we put it in at *600* degrees for *five* minutes, ol' dad could be eating in half the time!" He cranked up the oven and began thumbing at Mary's perky little nose. "Everything's fine, right?" Marie asked as Anne returned to the table. Anne agreed, but she was not quite sure what could happen when Jimmy was left to his own devices. The walk through the restaurant's dining area had attracted some attention to Anne; a young, dark-haired gentleman could not keep his eyes off her. After she seated herself, the house band began playing a slow song. "Would you care to dance?" the man asked, suddenly appearing at Anne's side. Marie was suprised but pleased, and gave Anne a look that said "Go, girl!" Donna even managed to be taken by suprise. Anne rose, but warned him that it was only recently that she had learned to dance very well. "Lessons?" the man asked. "Sort of...I had a very good teacher." Marie and Donna were at the table, watching intently as Anne and the tall gentleman danced alongside three other couples. Anne gave them a look that said "Will you quit staring!?" but neither of her friends could resist. At one point, the man dipped her dramatically, but the look of suprise did not pass after she was back upright. "What are they talking about?" Donna asked, noting the serious look on Anne's face. She continued talking, but they soon parted and she returned to her friends. "What was that?" Donna asked. Marie wanted to know also, but Anne only told them was that he was being a bit too forward. As she continued with dinner, Anne was reminded of that feeling of his sword (yes, a sword...this is PG13) under his coat. "Why is it," Anne thought disgustedly to herself, "that all the good ones are either gay, married, or Immortal?" Jimmy was back at home, reading the instructions on a can of Easy Off Oven Cleaner when the girls returned. He quickly slammed shut the oven and leaned against it, greeting the women pleasantly. Knowing what Anne would ask, Jimmy addressed her directly. "Mary is fine...she's upstairs snuggling into that quilt you received at the Christening." Seeing Donna and Marie (and wishing to divert attention) he continued. "Oh, you have some phone messages over in the living room," indicating Marie and Donna. Anne noticed Jimmy's wide eyes and strange pose, then the can of Easy Off on the counter. "What does this say?" Donna asked. She re-entered the kitchen with a note splattered with blackened tomato sauce. "Sorry, but I had to write it left-handed. It says..." he took the note and resumed his leaning against the oven door, "The hospital bought out the Clinic in Lordsburg and they need Dr. Griffon to put it down....no, to set it up, that's it." Donna's jaw dropped. "WHAT?!?" she exclaimed, grabbing the note again. "Oh, heck....the hospital was supposed to postpone this garbage until next month." "Hate to tell you, Donna, but it *is* next month..." Anne said, noting the calendar on the wall said it was April 4th. "Wait...it's only the twenty..something of March." "At any rate," Marie interjected, "it sounds as though you could get someone else to set things up, don't you think?" Marie hated to see the good times end so abruptly. "Are you kidding? If I let Dr. Shuman take charge of things, I will never hear the end of it. I would rather have Dr. Kevorkian take charge of my patient load." Everyone laughed, but she did not stick around. Donna headed straight for the phone. Marie had a message of her own, and it made things seem even more final. "Ivan called to say that the girls really want me to join them all in Hawaii. The...volunteers are erupting?" She held the note to Jimmy. "Volcano," he corrected sheepishly. "But how can I leave you right now?" she asked Anne. You have no nanny, you need to go back to work on tuesday..." Anne told her that she planned to take a week off extra, just to make sure she was okay and to interview part-time nannies. "Go...Ivan would kill me if I kept you from him any more." Marie was still very skeptical about leaving, but went into the den to start an e-mail message to her husband. Anne crossed her arms like a mother could only do, then looked toward the slightly nervous Jimmy. "Remember to scrub in circles and not streaks," was her only reply as she headed upstairs to see her daughter. =========================================================================== Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 15:08:18 -0500 From: "Jimmy Murphy @ GA Southern University" Subject: WAR: Say Good-Night, Gracie Title: "Say Good-Night, Gracie" Author: Jimmy Murphy When: 3/24/96, morning Where: Anne's house, later to Seacouver Airport It was a busy morning at Chez Lindsey. Marie had called Ivan and the girls to announce that she was Honolulu-bound (well, actually "Hilo-bound", but anyway...). Donna was still arguing with Dr. Shuman via telephone in the den. Jimmy had packed his things and was spending some remaining quality time with Mary. Anne was trying to thumb through a collection of resumes sent by nanny services. "Don't you *dare* do any 'personnel adjustments' until I am there, Kevin!" Donna said into the phone, letting everyone on the bottom floor know what was going on. She eventually hung up, but only because everyone had to confirm their flights. Anne showed Marie the six applications that seemed the best bets, as if to show Marie that everything would work out. "You're sure? I can tell Ivan..." Anne interrupted. "No...this will all be fine. I have the hospital daycare...courtesy of *you*, I might add, and six applicants to choose from to hire as a part-timer. You need to have some fun in Hawaii with the girls. Now GO PACK!" she added the last words with mock anger, gritting her teeth and smiling at the same time. Marie just grinned as she assumed the monumental task of loading up that collection of Louis Vuillton luggage. No matter where she went, Marie always managed to bring back more than she left with. Donna later entered with a notepad. "Well, our flights will all leave within two hours of one another, so I guess we can go together to the airport." Anne was sorry to see them all leave at the same time, but she could not help the way things turned out with airline schedules. It was imperative that Donna get back to New Mexico to stop her colleague from running roughshod over the office, and even more imperative that Jimmy get back to Georgia to smooth things over with his angry girlfriend. Anne had never had so much activity in that house, and though a lot of it had been rather...shall we say, "unique", it had been great to have so many people she cared about, who cared about _her_, so close. Jimmy helped Marie get her luggage out to the car, which was a task in and of itself. Donna hung back for a few minutes, saying she had to make one more phone call. Anne prepared Mary for the trip to the airport. "I'm sure she won't mind..." Donna said as she swiped the last chocolate eclair from the refrigerator before picking up the phone. "Yes, I think it really needs to be seen after...." Donna said into the phone, waving Anne and Mary out to the car with chocolate-stained fingers. After Anne and Mary were on the porch, she continued. "Yes, the inspector came and everything. Since you know so much more about this situation than anyone else, I just thought you would be the one to call." Jimmy hoisted his own bags into the trunk, then leaped on the trunk to make it close. It shut, barely, and then Anne remembered Donna's makeup case left on the porch. "Uh, oh...." they all thought. "Yes, that would be perfect!" Donna exclaimed into the phone. "Anne will be around...she will need to hire a new babysitter and will be recuperating some more. Oh, yes, she is okay...but it's a slow recuperation, y'know? I think the only true repairs that might need to be done could take a week...maybe two...and then an inspection by the housing board." She listened for a moment. "Oh, yes, I enjoyed it a great deal...she had a fabulous time, all things considered. If you could just come out to the house on, say, monday and take a look, I'm sure she would be happy to see you. She said you were the type she could always count on in a crisis." Donna, feeling her work was done (for now), marched out to the car to join Anne and friends. "Who'd you call?" Anne asked, picking an eclair crumb from Donna's blouse. "Angus!" was her reply, as if challenging her friend to object. Anne certainly was not convinced, but had no time to argue. Marie's flight to Honolulu was leaving at 12:55, while Donna's to Albuquerque was only fifteen minutes later. Each of the ladies had a while to say good-bye at the terminal. Marie insisted that she would try to get back to town in a few months to see Mary again..and to size up this new nanny, whomever she might be. Donna reminded Anne that she should never give up on love...that she can be fine on her own, but that being with "a good-looking guy with an accent wasn't all that bad, either." Anne just rolled her eyes and gave her friend a hug. "I'll try to keep that in mind," Anne said. Donna was trying her best to make sure Anne was not *allowed* to forget it. "By the way," Donna added as she walked toward the boarding gate, "expect a suprise to arrive in a few days. Call it my belated housewarming gift." Jimmy had to wait a bit, but the extra time with Anne and Mary was certainly welcome. "You can visit anytime..." Anne said, referring to Mary. "I'll take you up on that," he replied, trying to be nonchalant. As his flight was announced, he told her he hoped that she and Duncan could get it together eventually; he wanted Anne to be happy, and MacLeod made her happiest. He could wish nothing better on Anne and Mary than to have a man in their lives who loved them and could take care of them. As Jimmy crossed to the boarding gate, he turned away from the Lindseys to see a large contingent of warmongers also boarding the flight to Atlanta. It was mostly the same group he had arrived with! Having experienced a fiction war first-hand for the first time, he could now see why they had been so excited on the flight in, and hoped the good feelings would last all the way back to Atlanta. He also hoped the stewardesses would not run out of Pepsi. PS: Thanks guys...this has been a blast! JM =========================================================================== Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 12:59:45 -0800 From: Elizabeth Ann Lewis Subject: War: News Flash Title: News Flash Author: Elizabeth Ann Lewis When: 3/25/96 Where: UCLA Campus -------------------------------- Article in the UCLA Daily Bruin March 25, 1996 MISSING CHRONICLE A MYSTERY by Elizabeth Rich Yet another item has been filched from UCLA's stores of precious source material. Only a few months after several items were discovered missing from the Arts Library, the Department of Special Collections reports that a seven hundred year old manuscript has been stolen from their archives. The manuscript is especially important because it is one of a few--if not the only--example of medieval "science fiction." Entitled ~Annales Immortalorum~, the Chronicle of the Immortals, it details the life of an "immortal" man named Methos who beheads his enemies in pursuit of an indefinite "prize." Although he refers to neither the chronicle nor UCLA's Department of Special Collections, this is no doubt the basis for UCLA graduate Gregory Widen's screenplay "Highlander" which was made into a movie in 1985 and has spawned two sequels and a hit television series. "We care completely baffled by this theft," acting head Charlotte Brown reported. There are no suspects in this case. The disappearance of student assistant Elizabeth Lewis the same day that the manuscript was discovered to be missing was determined to be unrelated by the University Police. Lewis returned to Los Angeles yesterday, unaware that her disappearance had caused an uproar. "I met some of my Internet friends for a conference," she said. "I am very sorry that my absence was so misconstrued as to have people believing that I had been kidnapped." While the manuscript seems to be lost for good, however, the information in it remains. "We have a negative, a master copy and a second copy of the chronicle on microfiche," Brown stated, "so this highly original work will not be lost to future generations." The reader who paged the manuscript, James Horton, could not be reached for comment. -------------------------------------- THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!!! :) Lizbet |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ elewis@ucla.edu | METHOS!!!!! ~ Lizbetann@aol.com |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Listowner, Middle Ages | "Arnyd yw Ewyll hyd yw" Life List | Passion is the will to be http://members.aol.com/Lizbetann/mypage.html ===========================================================================