Pass The Baton, March 2024

How the story started by Marla

“No.”

“But, I want you,” he whined. 

“That means nothing to me. I am not a USO Girl and you’re not the military,” she said sternly. I’ve given you my response.”

“It’s not fair. I want this! No, I need this, and I want you to do it with me!”

“You want free labor to make your dream possible, and I’m not willing to entertain being a part of something I don’t want to do. I actually know you, which is one of the many reasons you don’t want to ask me, Jeremy. I don’t deal with your nonsense very well. Find someone else.”

She left the room quietly. 

He plopped onto the couch, splayed out like a tired octopus. “She’ll never understand,” he bemoaned with a pinch of heavy sigh. 

➰➰➰

Sadje’s part:

Jeremy mourned the rejection from Stella for a day or two and then he was back to trying to recruit another helper for his house remodel project. 

But whoever he asked declined. It seemed that Stella had spread the news of Jeremy’s devious planning around and most people were pre-warned and were avoiding even talking to him. 

Then there was a surprising offer of help from someone he least expected….

➰➰➰

Fandango’s part:

“Hey, Buddy, I hear you need a hand.”

Jeremy was standing on a ladder skim-coating the drywall in a small closet when he froze. The voice sounded familiar but he couldn’t immediately place it. He climbed down off the ladder, turned in the direction the voice had come from, and his jaw dropped when he saw who it was.

“Surprise, surprise,” said the man when he saw Jeremy staring at him.

“Dad?”

“None other,” the man said, an ear-to-ear grin on his face.

Jeremy’s face turned dark red. “You son of a bitch. You abandoned Mom and me a decade ago and neither of us has heard from you since. How the hell did you find me and what do you want from me?”

“That’s an interesting story, son,” the man said.

➰➰➰

Nancy, The Sicilian Storyteller at The Elephant’s Trunk continues:

“I don’t have the time for this, old man …. just like you didn’t have the time for me and mom so show yourself out. I got work to do.”

“Still got that high-and-mighty stubborn streak, I see, Jeremy. Well, maybe you’ll be singing a different tune when you hear what I have to say. In the meantime, toss me a brush; four hands are better than two.”

Despite himself, Jeremy was curious about why his father bailed on him and his mother and what he had to say. He stayed quiet while his father continued.

“It all started when the Bellamy Twins came blowing into town. Those sons of bitches were fired up and looking for trouble. And they came calling on me.”

➰➰➰

I’m going to pass the baton over to Lisa at Tao Talk and hope she’s keep it going.