Post by Fiona McFly on Nov 26, 2017 21:09:15 GMT
CHAPTER 14
"In Which Sarah Starts Her Day With A Laugh..."
16 November 2017 + 0800 GMT
The aroma of a royalty-sized breakfast permeated throughout the farmhouse on old Kimble Ranch.
On this particular sunny morning, it truly felt like a home away from home.
It was in the kitchen where we find Jack Gaither and Fiona McFly hard at work, getting the last-minute touches done on their first "full" meal in the Hill Country with trainee Sarah Dawkins. Whilst the exterior of the nearly 75-year-old house was chipping and had lost most of its luster, the inside was a completely different story--it had been newly renovated over the last few years by Regina Kimble herself, with stainless steel kitchen appliances, new countertops, and new leather furniture place all throughout.
And it felt as lively as it did, say, a little over twenty years ago.
Sarah Dawkins, the high school freshman trainee, stepped into the picture and outstretched her ams. Yet she looked ready to start her training, sporting her green-and-white Arlington High School P.E. uniform.
FIONA MCFLY:
G'morning, sleepy-bear. You look like you slept really well last night.
SARAH DAWKINS:
I did...slept like a baby.
She sat down at the table, waiting patiently whilst watching Jack and Fiona fill up three empty plates with the wide selection of breakfast foodstuffs. She hadn't had anything like it in a very long time, and so she was looking forward to the experience of it all before beginning her first day of training...
...and Jack? Oh boy, was he ever in a good mood or what?
JACK:
Oh Fi...ya gotta say that with conviction. Like this...
Jack, with Fiona's sheepish grin in mind, cleared his throat and launched into a spot-on impression of the late iconic actor Robin Williams in Good Morning, Vietnam.
JACK:
(as Robin Williams)
GOOOOOOOOOOD MORNIN', SLEEPY-BEEEEEAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! Oh-eight-hundred hours means one thing and one thing only ladies. It's time to rise 'n' shine and rock 'n' roll--all the way from Dallas to Deeeeeee-troit! You're just in time for the world's GRRRRR-eatest down-home cookin' phenom to show off some of THE best breakfast goodies in Texas lore! We got fluffy choco-chip pancakes with whipped cream, golden hash brows that are mmmm-MMMM, fried eggs that are as equally yoked as our marriage--
Fiona couldn't help but laugh. She loved the guy for his impressions as well as his cooking, and wasn't shy about feigning exasperation by throwing her hands up into the air...
FIONA:
Oh, WILL YOU STOP IT!?!
JACK:
--and lots and lots of sausage that's just as smokin' good as you, Fi!
...all the while as Jack finished his spiel, pointing out the goodies like a model would point out prizes on The Price is Right. Sarah perked up her right brow in curiosity...
SARAH:
Is he always this happy, Miss McFly?...
...leading Fiona to lean into her and whisper gently into her ear.
FIONA:
(whispering)
Only when he's on his medication...I have to prod him to take it every day; otherwise he'll go feisty and make wild rants on Twitter.
Sarah nodded, understanding the whole situation. She, like Fiona, wanted to see Jack as happy and excited about living as he could be. He took a seat at the oak-finished table and closed his eyes, reflecting upon the meal's country-style presentation...
JACK:
(normal voice)
Alrighty...let's get to munchin'--OH! Oh-oh-ohhhh...somethin's missin'.
...only to realise that there was no atmosphere in the house. A jaunt to the living room's iPhone stereo and docking station would do the trick, and as soon as he hit the play button, out from the surround-sound speakers played the Elvis Presley classic "Jailhouse Rock."
"The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing
You should've heard them knocked out jailbirds sing
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock..."
Sarah giggled, enjoying the moment that Jack's own personal music playlist provided.
SARAH:
Y'all make me laugh.
Jack and Fiona both grinned...before delving into what this moment was really all about.
FIONA:
Aye...nothing starts off a great morning with a great laugh.
JACK:
Uh-huh...helps ya get motivated to make your day as excitin' and rewardin' as the one before it. That's how ya win in life, both in AND out of the ring.
The three scarfed away as the music hits kept on coming along. For Sarah, it was a great start to what surely amounted to be an adventurous day filled with wonder and learning...
...after all, in Jack and Fiona's world, subtlety was the name of the game...
...or was it?
~TO BE CONTINUED~
FIONA:
Aye...nothing starts off a great morning with a great laugh.
JACK:
Uh-huh...helps ya get motivated to make your day as excitin' and rewardin' as the one before it. That's how ya win in life, both in AND out of the ring.
The three scarfed away as the music hits kept on coming along. For Sarah, it was a great start to what surely amounted to be an adventurous day filled with wonder and learning...
...after all, in Jack and Fiona's world, subtlety was the name of the game...
...or was it?
~TO BE CONTINUED~
Well howdy there pardner.