CHAPTER 40
Ian was away not that long after his first session of treatment, and that was difficult enough for the girls. Perhaps even harder than seeing him trying to smile through his pain, but he had a living to make, and his pride to uphold. For their part, they had schools to attend, and I gathered some new friends to maintain.

Part 46

Amazing Grace reminded me of this, so I'm posting it here

This is based on a nightmare or possibly nightmares I had 20 years ago,

For the younger readers, at that time the Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA) had gotten a ballot measure passed overturning an executive order by the state's governor that had forbidden discrimination based on sexual orientation by state agencies.

Emboldened by that success, they had put another measure on the ballot. This one forbade the state, or lower levels of government from "recognizing" homosexuals, sadomasochists and witches. With language that said that recognizing included issuing any sort of license or permit.

And there may have been something about schools saying anything "positive" (essentially, worded such that the only allowable mentions would have to be negative). Or that may have been part of the one they tried the next election.

Supposedly the bit about licenses and permits was supposed to keep them from becoming "professionals". You know, doctors, lawyers etc. But as some folks pointed out, the actual wording allowed a lot more.

Campaigning on both sides got rather heated. And then there was a firebombing of a house that a number of folks in the state capitol who were important in the campaign against Measure 9 lived in. It later turned out to be totally unrelated to the campaign (idiots got the wrong house!). But at the time it really ratcheted up the fear.

Now consider that at the time I was on the Board of a local BDSM group and before the ballot measure went public we'd done some publicity that included photos of all the board members. And while not strictly gay, I was definitely bi.

So against that background...

A guy with a hobby of photographing women in skimpy bikinis comes to Bikini Beach. He finds what he thinks is a way to get pictures of the patrons — against their will. He doesn’t count on the old woman being in a particularly bad mood.

This is one of the earlier BB stories; as such, grandmother isn't quite as smoothed-out as she is later. Be advised.

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"I can't believe the nerve of that that ..Jerk that asshole ...that creep.. I'm gonna kill him!"

The Struggle

A stray hair found its way down into her eyes, and she swept aside, tucking it behind her ear.

 
 
"Mad?"

"Drewbie."

"Any news?"

"I guess if no news is good news, it's good news."

The caravan leaves Tranidor on the last stage of the company's journey to Blackstone. All goes well until Garia spots something that has to be investigated... which leaves her literally in a mess. A chance find and a mellow evening around the campfire help to restore calm to the travelers.