Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:40:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: JMH <trandar2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Love in Passing Chapter 12-13
Chapter 12
Hearing a beeping sound coming from his pocket, Brian Gano
reached inside and pulled out one of the few technological wonders of the
outside world that he had allowed himself... a cell phone.
"Hello?"
"Can you here me on this tiny thing Father?"
"Yes Sheriff I can," Brian sighed.
"Amazing."
"Save your wonderment for later. What's happened?"
"You're sister is gone... that's what happened."
Brian let out a deep grunt. Just what he needed... more
problems. "Do you know where she has run off to?"
"Uhmmm... according to your ma she went looking for you,"
The Sheriff said nervously.
"Imbeciles..." Brian swore to himself. Maybe Daryl had the
right idea of leaving. His month outside of New Hope Settlement, had
surely opened his eyes to the larger world. "Did I not leave clear
instructions that you were to not let her out of your sight?"
"Well, she sent me to the market to pick up a few odds and
ends you see." The Sheriff floundered.
"She trick you... you, the man in charge of law an order in
New Hope. Luckily, I so happen to be in a position as to be able to
relieve you of that post."
"But Father." The Sheriff protested.
"Oh come on Sheriff... you knew this day was coming. The
only reason why I picked you was so that your son could take over one
day. Now put Landon on the phone."
"Yes Father, Forgive me Father..."
"Just put Landon on," Brian sighed. He was only 34 years
old... too young to feel comfortable having a 58 year old man fawning over
him.
"Yes Father..." a younger, more reverent voice eventually
came from the phone.
"Landon... my sister had gone and done a terrible thing."
"I know father. What would you have me do?"
"Find her, and bring her back home as gently as you are able
to manage and keep her there. I don't want her ruining things. You're
the Sheriff now. I believe you know how to keep things under control?"
"Yes Father... I won't fail you."
"I know you won't. Remember that I love you and all of the
Blessed."
"I love you too," Landon replied, in a tone that revealed
his feelings went deeper than mere admiration.
Closing the cell phone, Brian went back into the large office
he was now renting where a man stood by, tapping a clipboard. "Sorry
for the interruption. You were just about ready to show me how to use
this... rat."
"It's called a mouse sir," the man said, covering his
mouth to hide a chuckle.
Brian did his best not to glower at the man. He hated
looking like a fool, especially in front of a total stranger. If only
Daryl was here to teach him.
Chapter 13
"What is this?" Daryl asked when he found Steven in his
office, a stack of boxes on the desk.
"You're gateway to the twenty-first century... or in your
case at least the late 90's. Either one would be a significant
improvement from the 1950's you've been living in."
"You mean the black and white televisions?" Daryl
replied., remembering what Patrick had said.
"Yep... I think that's all they had back then," Steven
said, not getting the reference.
"So what amazing bit of sinful corrupting technology do you
have in these boxes?"
"Now that's no way of looking at it," Steven squinted.
"I'm joking. I just have to warn you though florescent
lights were only approved fifteen years ago back home, and even then many
people avoided the buildings for several months out of fear that the
white light would blind them."
"That too was a joke... right?"
"No, I'm afraid it wasn't," Daryl sighed. "Open the
box."
"It's a computer!" Steven shouted, as he lifted the tower
out of its box.
"A computer?" Daryl replied, a little taken back. "You
really shouldn't have."
"I didn't really know what kind to get you, so I went
online to Dell and picked every option they had available," Steven
said, taken up by his own excitement.
"How much did that cost?" Daryl asked warily.
"About six grand."
"But I can't afford that!"
"Who said anything about you paying for it? I got it for
you as a gift," Steven said, a little miffed.
"But..."
"Dare..." Steven said in a tone that warned he was not
about to have his gift refused.
"But we don't believe in accepting gifts."
"Not even birthdays or Christmas."
"Nope."
"Wait a minute... say a neighbor needs a cup of four. You
are telling me that under your religion's rules you wouldn't even be
allowed to give her one?"
"That's different... the rule that says we can not let a
fellow member go hungry takes precedence."
"Ok... how about a box of nails? For whatever reasons
someone in the community needs a simple plain box of nails... you're not
allowed to give him even one?" Steven said, feeling that Daryl was
purposefully being difficult.
"No... not without bartering." Daryl replied, a little
amused by the bright shade of red Steven's face was turning.
"You mean your people still dicker with the barter system?"
"It's the oldest economic system in the world," Daryl
replied.
"I don't understand."
"Considering that every family in the community owns
significant shares of NM Mining and giving the royalties it pays... we had
what you would call a slight inflation problem," Daryl said with a hint
of embarrassment.
"I don't understand."
Well... since we are not allowed to buy goods outside the
community without the approval of the Father, the only people we could
trade with on a daily basis were each other. Given basic laws of supply
and demand... your one little nail would be selling for around 15
dollars... a whole box could run over 500. Going to the barter system
turned out to be a lot easier to deal with."
"Dare... you know I love you but your people are plain
crazy. Every day you seem to surprise me on how normal you turned out."
"Probably because I'm the only one who's gone to a real
university."
"What about your doctors, lawyers, nurses, dentists, and
such?"
"We have a community college but would you be upset if I
told you we use the old apprenticeship system?" Daryl asked worriedly.
"God forbid I ever go there and need an operation."
"To be honest, I wouldn't want old doc Foley operating on
me either. Luckily NM Mining has its own emergency clinic. For anything
serious, our people are sent there. It's just..."
"Yes, tell me. Can't be any crazier than what I've heard
already."
"You see they have to get the approval of the Father before
they can go, and he always requires that the patients remain sedated the
whole time while they are gone from New Hope."
"I stand corrected," Steven moaned, before giving Daryl a
bear hug. "God I'm glad you're somewhat normal."
"Now about this computer," Daryl said once Steven had let
him go.
"You're going to get over this Blessed nonsense and accept
my gift." Steven said sternly.
"If only if it were that easy," Daryl sighed.
"We'll barter then..." Steven said, reaching for a half
chewed pencil. "I hereby accept this fine writing utensil in exchange
for this lousy computer. There... does that meet your religious
requirements?"
"Are you sure you're not schizophrenic?" Daryl chuckled.
"First... you just told me this computer cost you around six thousand
dollars. A fair value trade on that pencil would be a paper clips or a
few staples."
"Can't I place whatever value I want on this pencil?"
"You can, but according to church law I'm not allowed to
take advantage of another person's misplaced value on an item."
"Now I'm certain you are trying to be difficult on
purpose," Steven accused.
"See why we don't give gifts?" Daryl retorted. "You've
been to my house so you know I don't have anything worth six thousand
dollars to trade with you... not even my car is worth that much."
"Speaking of your car... does it even have airbags?" Steven
asked, at the mention of another thing he wanted Daryl to work on
updating.
"No... it's an 87 model. Air bags were still only an option
back then."
"I'm going to get you a new one... just for your own
safety."
"Fine," Daryl sighed.
"What?" Steven said surprised. "No arguing, no haggling,
no spouting of insane religious dogma?"
"Well if you insist... one of the oldest church laws clearly
states that each member has a duty to help protect one another. As a
result, the only gifts that are ever given in New Hope are some form of
firearm."
"So... because I want to give you a car with airbags, you're
allowed to accept it."
"Yes."
"Can't I just say that the computer is also for your
protection?" Steven said.
"What am I going to do... throw it at some would-be-attacker
or use it as a mace?"
"Won't you give me just a little wiggle room?" Steven
pleaded.
"No... you will just have to keep it until I have something
to trade it for." Daryl said as Jessica walked into the office.
"It's that time of the year again," the nurse laughed as
she shook a small plastic barrel filled with money.
"Well here's my token dollar." Daryl said as he pulled
out a folded dollar bill.
"What's this?" Steven asked, surprised.
"It's our annual collection for the Dr. Gavin virginity
fund." Jessica grinned.
"That's not what it's called," Daryl blushed.
"Ahhh... I remember. And where does the pot stand now?"
Steven grinned.
"I think we are going to break the twelve thousand mark this
year." Jessica replied.
"Good..." Steven said as he reached into his pocket and
took out his money clip. "Here's another five hundred to make sure
that happens."
"Why thank you Dr. Nash. You better be careful Dr. Gavin...
I think Dr. Nash might try to win his money back," Jessica said before
leaving.
"I'm counting on it." Steven grinned lustfully.
"Steven..." Daryl said nervously.
"Well Dare... it turns out you do have something to barter
with... something that's worth twice what this computer cost."
"I'm not going to sleep with you over a computer Steven."
"No... you're going to sleep with me because you've been
wanting to for weeks now."
"I'm your patient... it wouldn't be professional."
"I'm glad you said that!" Steven said as he reached into
his satchel and pulled out a blue document. "Your discharge papers."
"What?" Daryl said surprised.
"I'm releasing you from my care as a patient."
"I know what a discharge is. Why are you giving me one?"
"Because I decided that your depression is situational, not
chronic and given that the best way to handle such depression is by
removing the patient from his depressing environment, I'm taking the
necessary steps to enact said treatment."
"By quitting?"
"Yes... or at least that's part of it." Steven said,
hesitating for a bit before continuing. "I want you to move in with
me."
"What?" Daryl whispered.
"I don't want you living alone in that big empty house of
yours... it's a major cause of your depression. You've been shunning
yourself for too long."
"Shun?" Daryl asked.
"Yes... that's what I determined what you were doing. You
were shunning the outside world."
"Maybe I am... but why did you use that particular word?"
"If the shoe fits..." Steven said, trying not to look
guilty. "What's wrong?"
"That word has a special meaning to my church and to me...
it's what they did to my brother. It's what drove him to kill
himself. Now I want to know why you chose to use that word," Daryl
demanded.
"I wanted to tell you after you moved in, and I would still
rather do it at the house but there is a secret I've been keeping from
you, and if you want me to tell you now I will." Steven whispered.
Just at that moment, Daryl beeper went off. "This will
have to wait until later," he sighed. "Sorry if I seemed angry."
"Trust me... you have every right to be angry with me."
"We'll just have to wait and see." Daryl said before
leaving.
******************************************************
Those looking for the rest of Love in Passing can find the chapters in
the yahoo group. You'll also find several other stories listed there
including Children of Mir a sci-fi fantasy series. Enjoy.
JMH
trandar2002@yahoo.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adultwritingworkshop/