Slim Randles'  Home Country

X marks the spot

[October 17, 2009]  Sometimes there's a feeling in the early evening air that makes you know this is a special time. The planets line up, the fish spawn, the squirrels ... well, do their squirrel-type stuff. Magic. And that's what Katie Burchell was feeling as she held Randy Jones' hand as they made their daily walk through our town.

"Randy?"

"Yes?"

"Are you happy having me for your girlfriend?"

"Oh, yes. I think you're ... wonderful!"

"Maybe we should take our relationship to ... a new level?"

"You mean ..."

"I think we should kiss each other."

Randy was silent and looked at shade trees.

"You don't want to?" Katie asked.

"Oh, yes. It's just ..." He stopped and looked at her. "I've ... never kissed a girl before."

"No problem. We'll get it done. Only thing is, to be proper, I think you should ask me first, OK?"

"Uh, sure. Katie, would ... may I kiss you?"

"Yes. But not here. I'll show you."

So they continued walking until they stood right in front of Marcia Fleming's house. Marcia the Magnificent, Princess of Teenage Dreams. Former princess of Randy's dreams.

"This looks like a good spot," Katie said, smiling. "So just close your eyes."

He did, and it happened, and planets went swirling into space and squirrels took a coffee break and a new world began. And they smiled at each other. Then Katie looked at the house and smiled at the face peering out the window.

As the bumper sticker says: Love your neighbors but brand your calves.

[Text from file received from Slim Randles]

Brought to you by Slim's Alaska thriller, "Raven's Prey." Order it at www.slimrandles.com.