PART FOUR
GARY/1950s DIOR NEW LOOK

1

Chapter 12: What’s in the Box

Kelly crossed her arms, her face a mix of impatience and curiosity. “Well, are you going to open the chests, or are we just going to stare at them all day?” The mystery of the chests seemed to hang in the air, adding to the intrigue.

Yuqi glanced at her parents, then down at the three chests sitting in front of her. They felt heavy, not just physically but with a sense of importance she couldn’t explain. Her medallion seemed to hum faintly against her skin as though it wanted her to proceed.

Chapter 1

It’s funny, you know, the things that stick in your mind. They ought to do a University Study on earworms. My grandmother was always singing or humming “I am strong, I’m invincible,” until the day she dropped dead. My mother had ‘Hotel California’ embedded in her brain. I didn’t listen to the radio at lot. Probably a good thing as having odd lines of ‘gangsta rap’ lyrics in your brain in later life would be like a living hell.

©2025 SammyC

0200hrs, Vineyard Property:
“Mobile unit 12, can you check out sector 6?” Betty was on monitoring duty and the security monitor had stopped transmitting over in sector 6.

“Mobile unit 12 here. No problem.” Felica was out making her rounds.

So, far it’s been a quiet night and she was heading back to the security office. Felica turns the ATV she was riding around and heads back to the sensor that monitors the perimeter of the vineyard. As she gets closer, she notices the concealed sensor unit is sparking.

A Grumpy Old Man’s Tale 63 Ever Colder

Too, if a man doesn’t spend any time wi’ his missus what the hell did he marry her for because it ’ould a bin a sight cheaper te gang te Carlisle, Maryport, Workington or Whitehaven and renting a woman from one o’ the pubs. Gods alone knows there’re enough o’ ’em at cheap enough prices. If you’re a bit choosy and prepared to pay a bit more you could always try Keswick, Cockermouth or even Penrith where you’d find a better class o’ whooer. Mind, in times gone by there’s many a Bearthwaite man as went to one o’ those spots and found hisel a likely younger lass and brought her back to rear a family wi’. Not all whooers are sluts, many on ’em are just desperate, may be dumped by some arsehole and left wi’ kids te feed or even full o’ arms and legs as well. Decent women ’ll do owt to put food in their kids bellies. I learnt a long time since not to judge folk because you never get to find out all the circumstances. And think on, the gods alone know how many o’ us are alive because one of our female ancestors earnt a few shillings to feed her kids wi’ from time to time from the pack pony men down at the Dragon.