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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • OCTOBER 2019 Vacation time invites all kinds of cover-ups When we left off last time,
Junkyard Frank had tried – and failed – to join Newt Pullman and Susan Henderson on their picnic lunch near the falls. And at their tropical getaway, Birdie had failed to convince Kenneth to join her and Deborah on their swim with the pigs. On the QT, Deborah
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Chronicles by BOB COLLINS
recalled to Birdie and Bernie how Kenneth was already familiar with swimming at a pig farm. Rural Redemption, part 115, continues... Newt and Susan’s picnic lunch lasted most of the afternoon. They hiked upstream from the falls for nearly a quarter of a mile to the pool where Newt and his brothers swam when they were kids. They ate from the the box lunch that Cassie from the deli made for them. They couldn’t eat nearly all of it.
“I’m stuffed!” said Susan.
“Looks like there would have been enough for Frank after all.”
“Probably,” said Newt. “But lunch with Frank wasn’t part of the plan, was it?” “What is the plan?” “The plan is for you and me to spend the rest of the afternoon together and get to know one another better. What do you think?”
Susan smiled. “I think I like that
plan,” said Susan. It was nearly 3:30 when
they drove back up Tiny’s driveway. Ashley and Christopher watched the Packard pull into the yard. “That looks like the old car
from Mr. Pullman’s,” said Christopher. “And it looks like Grandma riding in it. What’s going on?” “I think maybe our
Grandma has been out on a date or something,” said Ashley.
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“No way! Grandma’s too old for dating.”
Out in the car, Newt suggested that Susan take the picnic leftovers in for Ashley and Christopher. Susan said she would and
thanked Newt for the delicious lunch and wonderful afternoon.
Newt said that it was his
pleasure and he hoped they might see one another again soon. Susan said she hoped so too, then slid across the seat and gave Newt a peck on the cheek. “Ewww,” said Christopher. Susan walked up the steps with the picnic box under her arm and waved as Newt drove away. Ashley went out to meet
her. “Hi, Grandma. Nice ribbon.
Where did you go?” Susan realized that her
grandchildren had just witnessed her kissing their next-door neighbour in the driveway. She started to fluster her way through an explanation. “Hey, Grandma. It’s okay. I
get it. Mr. Pullman is a really nice man.” “Isn’t he, though?” said
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Susan. “You kind-of creeped out Chris though.” “Oh dear. Maybe I should talk to him?” “Nah, I wouldn’t worry about it. Chris thinks Mr. Pullman is pretty cool, too.” Susan told them all about the picnic and the wonderful afternoon she’d had over lunch and quizzed them all about Mr. Newton Pullman. Christopher asked her all about the Packard and did she like Mr. Pullman? Susan said that she did, very much. Christopher asked if she thought Mr. Pullman liked her, too. Susan said she hoped he did. Christopher said it was cool then. Ashley sent her mother a
text.
Kenneth and Deborah joined Birdie and Bernie for breakfast in what would become a daily ritual for the rest of their stay. Kenneth endured Birdie’s excited speculation about how much fun she and Deborah were going to have with swimming pigs. “Are you really going to be swimming with them?” asked Bernie. “It sounds a little dangerous.”
“I think the pigs do most of the swimming,” said Birdie. “We just wade around with them.”
Kenneth glanced at Deborah and rolled his eyes. Deborah said she was
looking forward to it and their neighbour back home had a sow that raised a litter of piglets under an old truck and they rooted all the weeds out of garden in the spring, and she’d grown quite fond of them.
Kenneth said he and Bernie should be on their way if they wanted to make their tee time.
Bernie gave Birdie a kiss on the cheek and said he hoped she would have fun with the pigs, and they should all meet for cocktails at three. When they were gone, Birdie turned to Deborah. “The pig shuttle leaves in about an hour. It might be a good time to get your bathing suit on.”
Deborah grimaced. “You have a bathing suit,
don’t you”? asked Birdie. “A brand new one that Kenneth gave me. I don’t know that I’d be comfortable wearing it on the bus.” “Well, why don’t we stop by the little beach store and get you cover-up like I’m wearing?”
Deborah declined several
of Birdie’s suggestions and settled on what looked like an extra long baggy tee-shirt
vvv
with long sleeves and a hood. “How about this one?” “Well, it is a cover-up after
all, so you can’t say you’re not getting your money’s worth. It seems a little on the modest side, though.” “Trust me, the bathing suit
will make up for that.” They went to the Hendersons’ suite. Birdie waited on the patio while Deborah changed. “This is it.” “Hoo-wee!” said Birdie as
her eyes widened. “Kenny bought you that?” Deborah nodded. “It’s Italian. I think it was expensive.”
“Has he seen you wearing it?
Deborah shook her head. “Uh-uh, but he keeps
asking if I brought it with me.” “If anybody could make that suit work, it’s you, Honey, but I can see why you might want the cover-up.” “Ah, Birdie, we’re a strange
race, aren’t we?” “Race?” “People. Why is it some of them can’t desire what they already have? I know you can see how things are with us.” Birdie nodded but said
nothing. “This isn’t really something
for me. It’s a costume.” “A costume for what?” “So I can be a trophy.” “I don’t follow,” said Birdie. “We had friends in the city. I
never liked the husband very much, but Kenneth always admired him. He was a trophy hunter – big game. There was a room in their house that was full of animal heads and he was forever dragging people in there to look at them. “Isn’t this one great? I shot it from 500 yards away,” and so on. Once they were hanging on the wall, they were old news and it was whatever was coming next that seemed to excite him. It always seemed to me that his wife was old news, too.” “Maybe your friend just
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liked hunting. I have a cousin who tries to shoot a deer every year. He shares the meat with my aunts and uncle.” “I get hunting, Birdie. That’s not what this was. To be honest, I’m starting to feel like one of those trophies, and this bathing suit is just part of the display.” A worried frown creased
Birdie’s brow. “I’m sorry, Birdie. None of
this is your concern. Let me get this cover-up on and we’ll see just what kind of swimmers those pigs really are.”
To be continued...
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