Part 405: Prodical
October 3rd, 2009
Mia held her daughter in her lap as she looked out into the field. The county fair was in full swing and they were having a blast. After snacking on home-made funnel cakes, then cotton candy; it was time for the archery tournament. John was among the eight other candidates from all over the California area. There was a furor about John competing at all, considering that he was silver medalist Olympian. But the judges ruled in his favor; saying he was no longer an Olympian considering he hadn’t competed in 5 years.
Mia tilted her bandana back as she looked toward her husband. John studied the target range and pulled out his arrow from his quiver. He slowly pulled back the string and aimed. The timer went off to his right, giving him exactly 6 seconds. John fired his arrow and struck the target dead center for the eighth them. The crowd went into an uproar and John flung his arms around as he cheered himself in his victory. Mia laughed and clapped for her husband. Little Shelley jumped up and down, as she was more than happy for her father.
Later Mia and Shelley walked through the crowd toward the trophy gathering. The wives of the other archers were gathered as well. A few of the men were still mad that John was even competing. Others were defending him; knowing him both as a celebrity and as a local gym teacher that the kids looked up to. The ringmaster of the fair gave the black man his third place trophy, then gave the other man his second place trophy. He then said, with great pleasure, that he awarded the first place with John Riggs. He gave him a trophy and then a good medal around his neck. The archer shook his hand and kissed the trophy. John then moved toward the second and third place winners. The second place guy just turned around and walked away. The third place man scoffed at his fellow archer but shook John’s hand anyway. “It was a honor to compete against you.” He told John.
“Thank you. I mean it.” John replied.
John then worked through the ground toward his wife and daughter. Mia leaned up and kissed him on the lips. Shelley then gave her father a hug and kiss on the cheek. John laughed as he couldn’t have been more happy since Shelley was born. The archer then said they had a victory dinner to go to. Shelley wanted to carry the trophy and her father let her; making her promise not to drop it. Mia held onto her husband’s hand as they walked back toward his truck. She looked up to her husband and smirked as all he was doing was staring at the gold medal around his neck. “John?” she asked, getting his attention.
He grinned from ear to ear and showed her the medal. “I finally got the gold.” He laughed.
----------------------------,
John sipped on his coffee after their dinner. Locke had gotten home from his job in enough time to join them. Mia was sipping on her coffee and slowly munching on her cherry pie. Little Shelley was also munching on her pie and drinking her glass of milk. However, she kept thinking she was big enough to handle it. She tried to glide it over and the bald man sitting next to her got her attention. “Both hands, Shelley,” he commented.
“Kay, grandpa.” She said, doing as she was told.
Mia giggled as Locke was practically responsible for raising Shelley. John sipped on his coffee and then reached over for the pie plate. “Anybody want this last piece?” he asked.
“You can have it, gold medalist.” Locke teased him.
“Thanks, pop.” He laughed.
“I’m so proud of you, John.” Mia smiled, “I know you’ve worked hard for this for a long time.”
“Thanks, Mia. You know I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Mia rolled her eyes, stared down at her plate and smiled. “Yeah.” She agreed with a giggle.
“I’m glad you know it, because it’s true,” John leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“What’s the old saying?” Locke smiled, sipping on his coffee, “Behind every great man, there is a great woman kicking him in the butt?”
“Mommy kicks daddy’s butt.” Shelley giggled.
Mia couldn’t help but laugh as well. John sipped on his coffee and looked at his young daughter. “So, Shelley, what did you think of the tournament?” he asked.
“You looked goofy.” She smiled.
John raised an eyebrow and smirked at his daughter. “I looked what?” he asked.
“Goofy!” the three year old laughed.
“You know something?” he pointed at her, “You didn’t look in the mirror today. You know why? Because you don’t have any front teeth!”
John then grabbed his daughter, as she screamed and laughed; trying to get away from her father. Once he got a hold of her, he hoisted her above his head and landed her across the back on his shoulder. “So when you get some front teeth, then you can tell me how goofy I look, okay?” he laughed.
“Okay!” she laughed.
“Say yes!” he commented.
“YES!” she giggled.
“Say, I hear you, Master Archer.” John continued.
“I HEAR YOU, MASTER ARCHER!”
“Say, I hear you, Big Daddy.”
“I HEAR YOU, BIG DADDY!”
“Say, you are my man.”
“YOU ARE MY MAN!” Shelley laughed.
John finally put her down. “John, she just ate, now-“ Mia tried to comment before in the hope that her daughter wouldn’t get sick.
The young girl then finished her milk. Mia then looked up at her clock and then back to her daughter. “Shelley, It’s time for bed.” She commented.
“Will you read to me, grandpa?” she said, tugging on Locke’s sleeve.
“Yeah, sure,” he said, wiping his mouth, “ What book did we leave off at?”
“Robin Hood!” she screamed with joy, as she slid off her chair.
John smirked as Locke shook a disapproving finger at him. The archer simply shrugged his shoulders; not carrying that his daughter practically worshipped everything about him. As Locke and little Shelley disappeared up the stairs. Mia gathered up all the dishes and placed them in the sink. John finished off his coffee, then walked over to place the cup in the sink. The archer then picked up his drying towel to be fully prepared to help his wife. However, he noticed Mia didn’t make a move to clean the dishes. “The dishes can wait till morning, John,” she said with a coy smile, “Let’s go out and sit on the porch a while.”
John smiled, leisurely tossing the towel to the side of the counter. He calmly then followed his wife outside to the porch. Mia stood next to the big swing and waited for John to sit down first. After he did, she then sat down and leaned against him. John leaned forward, smelling her hair. He calmly used his left foot to push them both back and forth. Mia closed her eyes, leaning into her husband. “What do you think would have happened had that plane not crashed?” she whispered.
“Who can say?” John raised an eyebrow, “ I guess we never would have met. Or maybe . . .just maybe I would have had enough confidence to apologize for Ramon’s bad behavior and we would have struck up a conversation, falling in love.”
“I like that.” She said, rubbing her forehead on his chin, “ I like that fate would have always been for us.”
“Speaking of fate, have you thought about what is happening in a few days?”
“October 8th, 2009.” She whispered.
“I’m so curious why your Granny wanted you to remember that date. What could possibly happen?” John then looked at his wife, “Are you pregnant?”
She laughed and slapped him on the chest. “John, if I was pregnant, I would tell you, silly.”
“I knew that, I was just asking,” he massaged his chest, “But still, what do you think will happen?”
“I don’t know. We’ll find out.” She said, kissing him.
The couple then held onto each other as the cooling Autumn winds began to blow. It was still warm by normal standards but in a month’s time, it will be cool again. The couple continued to rock back and forth, watching the fireflies dance in the local trees. Mia rubbed her husband’s arm a little, then leaned back into his chest. “I finally heard what Shelley wants for her birthday.” She commented.
“At last,” the archer chuckled, “What does she want?”
“A telescope.”
“A telescope?” John gasped, “She’s just three years old!”
“What can I say?” Mia giggled, “She’s already reaching for the stars.”
“She definitely gets her intelligence from you.”
Mia paused and smirked. “Yes. Yes, she does.” She agreed.
“You know, you really didn’t have agree to that statement so fast.” John tried to tickle her.
Before Mia could retaliate, they could hear the soft ringing of their telephone. John looked at the door, then to his watch. “It’s after nine, who is calling?” he asked.
“Probably McKay or Tony calling to see how badly you won.” Mia giggled.
“Oh, very cute,” he said, getting up and opening the door, “I’ll remember that went I participate in the tournament next year.”
John reached in and picked up the wireless phone, then click it to talk. “Hello?” he chuckled.
John then heard nothing. He checked his phone and made sure it was working; it was. He placed the receiver on his ear again. “Hello, is anybody there?” he asked.
A soft whimper echoed over the phone, like someone was crying. He listened carefully to who it was, trying to make it out. By then, Mia could tell something was wrong. “John, who is it?” she asked.
John held up his finger to silence her for a quick second. “Please, tell me who this is, I can hear you crying.” He whispered into the phone.
“Crying?” Mia stood up.
“Please, respond, who is this?” John repeated into the receiver.
“John . . . help me . . .” a soft female voice echoed.
John’s eyes slowly bulged up between his eyelids. He finally recognized the female voice but it wasn’t easy; considering he hadn’t heard from her in five years.
“Kate?” John asked.
Mia held her daughter in her lap as she looked out into the field. The county fair was in full swing and they were having a blast. After snacking on home-made funnel cakes, then cotton candy; it was time for the archery tournament. John was among the eight other candidates from all over the California area. There was a furor about John competing at all, considering that he was silver medalist Olympian. But the judges ruled in his favor; saying he was no longer an Olympian considering he hadn’t competed in 5 years.
Mia tilted her bandana back as she looked toward her husband. John studied the target range and pulled out his arrow from his quiver. He slowly pulled back the string and aimed. The timer went off to his right, giving him exactly 6 seconds. John fired his arrow and struck the target dead center for the eighth them. The crowd went into an uproar and John flung his arms around as he cheered himself in his victory. Mia laughed and clapped for her husband. Little Shelley jumped up and down, as she was more than happy for her father.
Later Mia and Shelley walked through the crowd toward the trophy gathering. The wives of the other archers were gathered as well. A few of the men were still mad that John was even competing. Others were defending him; knowing him both as a celebrity and as a local gym teacher that the kids looked up to. The ringmaster of the fair gave the black man his third place trophy, then gave the other man his second place trophy. He then said, with great pleasure, that he awarded the first place with John Riggs. He gave him a trophy and then a good medal around his neck. The archer shook his hand and kissed the trophy. John then moved toward the second and third place winners. The second place guy just turned around and walked away. The third place man scoffed at his fellow archer but shook John’s hand anyway. “It was a honor to compete against you.” He told John.
“Thank you. I mean it.” John replied.
John then worked through the ground toward his wife and daughter. Mia leaned up and kissed him on the lips. Shelley then gave her father a hug and kiss on the cheek. John laughed as he couldn’t have been more happy since Shelley was born. The archer then said they had a victory dinner to go to. Shelley wanted to carry the trophy and her father let her; making her promise not to drop it. Mia held onto her husband’s hand as they walked back toward his truck. She looked up to her husband and smirked as all he was doing was staring at the gold medal around his neck. “John?” she asked, getting his attention.
He grinned from ear to ear and showed her the medal. “I finally got the gold.” He laughed.
----------------------------,
John sipped on his coffee after their dinner. Locke had gotten home from his job in enough time to join them. Mia was sipping on her coffee and slowly munching on her cherry pie. Little Shelley was also munching on her pie and drinking her glass of milk. However, she kept thinking she was big enough to handle it. She tried to glide it over and the bald man sitting next to her got her attention. “Both hands, Shelley,” he commented.
“Kay, grandpa.” She said, doing as she was told.
Mia giggled as Locke was practically responsible for raising Shelley. John sipped on his coffee and then reached over for the pie plate. “Anybody want this last piece?” he asked.
“You can have it, gold medalist.” Locke teased him.
“Thanks, pop.” He laughed.
“I’m so proud of you, John.” Mia smiled, “I know you’ve worked hard for this for a long time.”
“Thanks, Mia. You know I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Mia rolled her eyes, stared down at her plate and smiled. “Yeah.” She agreed with a giggle.
“I’m glad you know it, because it’s true,” John leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“What’s the old saying?” Locke smiled, sipping on his coffee, “Behind every great man, there is a great woman kicking him in the butt?”
“Mommy kicks daddy’s butt.” Shelley giggled.
Mia couldn’t help but laugh as well. John sipped on his coffee and looked at his young daughter. “So, Shelley, what did you think of the tournament?” he asked.
“You looked goofy.” She smiled.
John raised an eyebrow and smirked at his daughter. “I looked what?” he asked.
“Goofy!” the three year old laughed.
“You know something?” he pointed at her, “You didn’t look in the mirror today. You know why? Because you don’t have any front teeth!”
John then grabbed his daughter, as she screamed and laughed; trying to get away from her father. Once he got a hold of her, he hoisted her above his head and landed her across the back on his shoulder. “So when you get some front teeth, then you can tell me how goofy I look, okay?” he laughed.
“Okay!” she laughed.
“Say yes!” he commented.
“YES!” she giggled.
“Say, I hear you, Master Archer.” John continued.
“I HEAR YOU, MASTER ARCHER!”
“Say, I hear you, Big Daddy.”
“I HEAR YOU, BIG DADDY!”
“Say, you are my man.”
“YOU ARE MY MAN!” Shelley laughed.
John finally put her down. “John, she just ate, now-“ Mia tried to comment before in the hope that her daughter wouldn’t get sick.
The young girl then finished her milk. Mia then looked up at her clock and then back to her daughter. “Shelley, It’s time for bed.” She commented.
“Will you read to me, grandpa?” she said, tugging on Locke’s sleeve.
“Yeah, sure,” he said, wiping his mouth, “ What book did we leave off at?”
“Robin Hood!” she screamed with joy, as she slid off her chair.
John smirked as Locke shook a disapproving finger at him. The archer simply shrugged his shoulders; not carrying that his daughter practically worshipped everything about him. As Locke and little Shelley disappeared up the stairs. Mia gathered up all the dishes and placed them in the sink. John finished off his coffee, then walked over to place the cup in the sink. The archer then picked up his drying towel to be fully prepared to help his wife. However, he noticed Mia didn’t make a move to clean the dishes. “The dishes can wait till morning, John,” she said with a coy smile, “Let’s go out and sit on the porch a while.”
John smiled, leisurely tossing the towel to the side of the counter. He calmly then followed his wife outside to the porch. Mia stood next to the big swing and waited for John to sit down first. After he did, she then sat down and leaned against him. John leaned forward, smelling her hair. He calmly used his left foot to push them both back and forth. Mia closed her eyes, leaning into her husband. “What do you think would have happened had that plane not crashed?” she whispered.
“Who can say?” John raised an eyebrow, “ I guess we never would have met. Or maybe . . .just maybe I would have had enough confidence to apologize for Ramon’s bad behavior and we would have struck up a conversation, falling in love.”
“I like that.” She said, rubbing her forehead on his chin, “ I like that fate would have always been for us.”
“Speaking of fate, have you thought about what is happening in a few days?”
“October 8th, 2009.” She whispered.
“I’m so curious why your Granny wanted you to remember that date. What could possibly happen?” John then looked at his wife, “Are you pregnant?”
She laughed and slapped him on the chest. “John, if I was pregnant, I would tell you, silly.”
“I knew that, I was just asking,” he massaged his chest, “But still, what do you think will happen?”
“I don’t know. We’ll find out.” She said, kissing him.
The couple then held onto each other as the cooling Autumn winds began to blow. It was still warm by normal standards but in a month’s time, it will be cool again. The couple continued to rock back and forth, watching the fireflies dance in the local trees. Mia rubbed her husband’s arm a little, then leaned back into his chest. “I finally heard what Shelley wants for her birthday.” She commented.
“At last,” the archer chuckled, “What does she want?”
“A telescope.”
“A telescope?” John gasped, “She’s just three years old!”
“What can I say?” Mia giggled, “She’s already reaching for the stars.”
“She definitely gets her intelligence from you.”
Mia paused and smirked. “Yes. Yes, she does.” She agreed.
“You know, you really didn’t have agree to that statement so fast.” John tried to tickle her.
Before Mia could retaliate, they could hear the soft ringing of their telephone. John looked at the door, then to his watch. “It’s after nine, who is calling?” he asked.
“Probably McKay or Tony calling to see how badly you won.” Mia giggled.
“Oh, very cute,” he said, getting up and opening the door, “I’ll remember that went I participate in the tournament next year.”
John reached in and picked up the wireless phone, then click it to talk. “Hello?” he chuckled.
John then heard nothing. He checked his phone and made sure it was working; it was. He placed the receiver on his ear again. “Hello, is anybody there?” he asked.
A soft whimper echoed over the phone, like someone was crying. He listened carefully to who it was, trying to make it out. By then, Mia could tell something was wrong. “John, who is it?” she asked.
John held up his finger to silence her for a quick second. “Please, tell me who this is, I can hear you crying.” He whispered into the phone.
“Crying?” Mia stood up.
“Please, respond, who is this?” John repeated into the receiver.
“John . . . help me . . .” a soft female voice echoed.
John’s eyes slowly bulged up between his eyelids. He finally recognized the female voice but it wasn’t easy; considering he hadn’t heard from her in five years.
“Kate?” John asked.
posted by Jason | 11:23 AM
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