Posted by Eleanor on 1/1/2002, 7:12 am I've been cleaning, as one is wont to do at this time of year, and ran across a "writing excercise", just screwing around with the characters. It's not really a story, it's actually usually just a way to kill 15 minutes, but I thought you might like to read this one. Eleanor A Writing Exercise 12 September 2000 Chris Larabee paused in the doorway to the saloon, barely resisting the urge to rub his eyes in astonishment at the sight that met his gaze.
Hello, all, and Happy Happy Day! 
It seems they have taken the Lords admonition to go forth and multiply, Josiah rumbled from behind him.
Good morning, Mr. Larabee, Mary Travis smiled. Mr. Sanchez, Mr. Jackson, as you can see, the saloons not open yet.
Needed ttalk tEzra, Chris told her, realizing that Mary was stationed by the door as the bouncer.
Do their parents know whats going on here? Nathan demanded, wondering why the hell they hadnt.
Their parents know that their children are receiving an education that would otherwise be beyond their reach ~ and their wildest dreams.
How muchs he chargin folks to teach their children how tcheat at cards?
A fair price.
Nathan snorted and Mary bristled. And just how would you feel if someone tried to thrust their charity on you, Mr. Jackson? Something tells me you wouldnt care for the condescension ~ these parents can and want to pay a fair price for what theyre receiving from Mr. Standish.
I aint talkin about charity, Maam ~ seems tme a man like Ezra owes somethin.
To whom, Mr. Jackson? To the people who ~choose~ to gamble with him, to the citizens of this town that he has more than once nearly died protecting? Or to you?
Chris gave Nathan a look that said hed really like to hear Nathans answer.
It aint like that! Nathan protested.
It never is, Mary pointed out. So, unless this is an emergency, gentlemen, youll have to wait until class is over.
It can wait, Chris told her, deliberately not acknowledging the presence of Vin Tanner in the shadows by the stairs. Cant it, Nathan?
A warning look from Mary made Nathan reluctantly to nod. He led the way out of the saloon, a Josiah behind him. Chris lingered a moment, enjoying the sight of happy children. The wistful smile on his face melted Marys stern resolve to the point where she would have let him stay, if he asked.
He didnt, pulling himself inward instead. A quick tug of his hat brim between his thumb and forefinger in her direction said goodbye, and he left the saloon.
He didnt go far, settling into Ezras chair on the porch and putting his heels up on the rickety old one the rest of them used. He could hear Ezras voce from inside the saloon, and somehow the numerical equivalents of cards had given way to history, as the fortuitous combination of an Ace of Spades, A Queen of Diamonds, and a Jack of Hearts had reminded Ezra of Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh,
Grinning, Chris leaned his against back on the top rung of the chair back. Pity the poor schoolteacher when they finally got one ~ every kid in town would argue to their last drop of blood that the pilgrims were nothing more than carpet-bagging squatters whod descended on Plymouth Rock like uncouth locusts when Europe could no longer stand their dour presence, and thus had made them the problem of the sovereign country of Virginia, whose had suffered greatly for their gallant and generous hospitality ever since.
God help them if theyre from South Carolina, he chuckled to himself.
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