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Date Posted: 17:10:11 11/18/02 Mon
Author: CCCook
Subject: Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments
In reply to: CCCook 's message, "Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments" on 17:06:07 11/18/02 Mon

From CCCook:

Paul sat at the table, reading the morning paper and
having a cup of tea. It was a rare, quiet moment this
Saturday morning, since his parents had gone in their
rental car, and Winnie and Terry had borrowed his car
to go meet their respective real estate agents
earlier.

Gavroche and Eponine were napping on the vacated
couch, and Chantal hadn't gotten up yet. But the peace
and quiet was fleeting. Chantal came in looking a more
than a little annoyed. She got herself some tea and a
poptart, and sat at the table, looking glumly at one
of her school papers. She'd waited until now to say
anything, because she didn't want to embarrass herself
in front of her grandparents. She stuck the paper on
top of the article Paul was reading.


"Daddy, we need to talk!"


***************


"So...did we make the right decision, Anne? It's not
exactly New York City, but we'll be close to our son
and granddaughter without being on top of them...like
we are now!"

Early that morning, Anne and Jerry duThil signed the
papers that closed the deal on their new home in
Studs. It was a lovely two story house in a nice,
moderately affluent neighborhood about five minutes
drive from Paul and Chantal's. There was plenty of
room for a garden, which Anne had been particularly
insistent about.

"Yes, it's beautiful...or it will be as soon as I
redecorate! You know how I love to redecorate, dear!"

Jerry shuddered inwardly. He knew the look. Anne had a
project... which meant Jerry had one too, if he wasn't
careful.

"Yes, darling, I know. Perhaps I'll take a little
holiday on my own while you do that...we're not too
far from the Grand Canyon, are we? Or Mexico...Or
maybe a spot of rehab..."

Anne shook her head. She *also* knew the look.

"You won't have to lift a finger."

"No, just a few tons of furniture. No thank you! I
want to enjoy my retirement without requiring physical
therapy...or worse!"

"Gerard..." Anne started, then thought better of it.
"Well, at least we've picked a nice neighborhood! I
wonder who'll be living next door? That one's for sale
too!"

"I'd expect it to sell soon, if it hasn't already.
People are apparently moving to Studs in droves."

"Yes. Well, I suppose we'd better get back and tell
Paul and Chantal the good news!"

"Right. I'm sure our boy can't wait to get his room
back! Now if the other boy and his Mummy find a home
as well, Paul and Chantal will have their house again!"


"In that case, I hope Winnie gets some good news
today!"

"Good to hear you say that, dear!"

Jerry and Anne got into the car and started back to
their son's house. A moment later, a black, sporty
(but not too sporty, since it did have four doors) car
parked in front of the house next door.

"This is the place, Terry, darling! How do you like
it?"

Winifred Baker looked proudly at what was soon to be
their new residence. Terry looked.
"Lovely." He said mildly, lighting up a cigarette. At this point, Terry didn't really care about the house. He'd only
participated in the selection as much as he absolutely
had to. Besides, it was still much too early for him.

"Terry, put that thing out! You realise you won't be
smoking in the house, don't you?"

"And I'm not *in* the house, am I?" Terry grumbled. By
way of changing the subject, Terry continued. "I can't
believe Paul let you drive his car! He wouldn't let me
drive it. I don't see why. You've only been here a
little longer than I have. I do remember what side of
the road to drive on!"


"Do you remember what happened the last time Paul let
you drive his car?" Winnie said.

"That was fifteen bloody years ago! I didn't muck it
up too badly. They fixed it, and I was only in
hospital for two days!"

"If it weren't for Lydia, you'd still be there!"
Winnie recalled.

Terry smiled. "Probably so."

Lydia had managed to convince Paul that Terry was
really very competent, and that the accident could
have...*would* have happened to anyone. Lydia had
always been very persuasive, yet she never lost her
sweet demeanour, even when she had you wrapped around
her finger. Terry liked to remember his sister that
way.

Although their age difference really wasn't very wide,
Lydia always took care of Terry, her baby brother.
Even though he almost didn't appreciate it until it
was too late. Lydia was always the buffer between
Terry and Tony, the oldest. Again, not a very large
age difference, but enough.

The very fact that they were in Texas reminded Terry
of Lydia's horses. A Texas stereotype, yes, he
recognised that fact, but still. He wondered if Mum
felt the same way. Not that anyone would ever mention
it.

Soon after Lydia's death, all her horses, and all
but the most sentimentally valuable equestrian items
were sold or given away. It was all too painful to
keep. Yet, Terry wondered if he could remember how to
ride. Lydia was the one who taught him, much more than
the few lessons he'd taken. She'd taught Paul as well,
although he'd never quite caught on. He was always too
nervous, even though he'd trusted his wife completely.

Terry wondered if Chantal would ever experience the
sheer joy her mother once did riding and caring for
these beautiful creatures. As far as he knew, she'd
never taken any interest in horses or riding. Not that
she was ever exposed to them again once she left
England, but it was her birthright, after all.

However, it wasn't Terry's place to influence her that
way, and he knew it. He sighed involuntarily.

"I miss her too, son." Winnie said, her eyes moist.

She had been reminiscing as well. Winifred had been
through too much in her life. The loss of her only
daughter, she knew, nearly cost her own life. Only her
beloved Roger knew. It would have been so easy. She
had taken what was left in the bottle of
tranquillisers she'd got after the accident. Roger
discovered her, got her to hospital, and was with her
through every step of her recovery. She hated him for
it at first, compromising their marriage, but
eventually, with his help, she was able to fight her
way back into life.

Finally, Winnie was able to enjoy her world again.
Terry, Tony, and his wife Lucy were still there,
although Paul had taken Chantal back to America with
him, they still came back every two years to visit, as
the family made the decision to always remain so, as
Lydia would have insisted.

And Roger was Winifred's rock. Her stability. He was
always there to lean on, would always be there. Would
have still been there...were it not for his heart.
Several attacks turned her always robust,
indestructible husband into an invalid. At least
Winnie could thank God that she had him for as long as
she did, and that he'd been able to lend her his
strength. She was able to return the favour, at least
to a small extent. Indeed, she made what was left of
Roger's life much more bearable for him. Roger's death
was devastating, but because of him, Winifred would
not break. Now it was time to start again, and Studs,
Texas was the place. Perhaps someday, Tony and Lucy would decide to relocate, but Winnie couldn't honestly expect them to uproot, and she accepted that, but she was glad that Terry could.

Winnie squeezed Terry's hand as the real estate agent,
who had been late, finally parked his car and met them
in front of the house.

"Congratulations Mrs. Baker!" He said, smiling.
"They've accepted your offer!"


*********

Chantal was deep into a long-delayed tirade. She'd
been on her best behaviour since her grandparents came
to town, but now that they were away briefly,
she was able to make up for lost time. It seems her
paper was the final straw and she'd be damned if she
didn't speak her mind. Paul listened as patiently as
he could, but he'd soon be yelling right back at
her, as he'd always done - it had always been part of their relationship as soon as Chantal was old enough to talk back...but Paul had been on his best behaviour too, and it was time.

Gavroche and Eponine looked on with interest as Chantal
continued.

"I don't get it! I thought you wanted me to get
straight A's. This doesn't look like an A on my
paper!"

"Chantal, I told you. As long as you're in my class,
you are my student, and like it or not, I'm going to
treat you the same way as I treat the others! It's
the only way it's going to work, don't you see that?!"

"But Daddy, a B?!?!"

"That's the grade you deserved. It's not like you've
never gotten a B before. I've seen your algebra
papers! Really, I should have downgraded you to a C
for talking in class! I can't believe how much you try
to take advantage..."

"It's a language class, Daddy. Hello?!?! We're
SUPPOSED to talk in class!"

"You and Sarah were speaking English, not French."

"Sarah got an A!"

"Sarah got all the questions right!"

"Sarah shouldn't even have been there in the first
place. I mean, it's about time she got expelled from
St. Teresa's, but did you have to let her in your
class?! Why couldn't she take Spanish or something?!"


Sarah Meadows had finally stepped on the wrong
toes...namely Sister Leonarda's. She was caught
writing graffiti on school property, and uttered
something profane when the nun called her on it, and
so she was, like Chantal, expelled.

Lucky for Sarah, her parents were able to reach an
agreement with Hayward High's principal to accept her
this late in the term. Unlucky for Chantal, now her
biggest rival would be right in her own backyard
again!

"Sarah was doing very well in French back at St.
Teresa's, and her parents wanted her in the best
public school in Studs, since she certainly wasn't
going back to Catholic school...Hayward High IS the
best..."

"Houston High is pretty good too...and she'd fit right
in with those geeks!"

"Sarah lives in our district. Besides, I can hardly
tell Mr. Moorehead I don't want to teach Sarah just
because my daughter...recently expelled herself, I
might add...doesn't like her! Do you know what I had
to go through to get you into the school without
losing any credit? Do you?!"

"Oh Daddy, Dorky Orvy's a wuss, and you know it!"

"Mr. Moorehead is a fine educator, a wonderful
administrator, and a very kind man. You're lucky to
have him as your principal. You know, it's not too
late for me to go into administration...I could be
assistant principal before you finish your junior
year."

"But then you wouldn't have the awesome
privilege of having me in your class!"

"Not a problem. I'm sure you'd be in my office a lot
more than you'd be in any class!"

"Daddy!"

"You know, if you'd study more I'd be happy to give
you all the A's you can eat! How about this? I'll take
away your phone and computer privileges so you'll have
more time for study and cat duty. I've had to take
your turn twice this week! But really, if you'd study
you might even do better in algebra too!"


"What did Carol tell you?"

"Is there something she *should* tell me? I guess Miss Zapata and I will just have to have a private conference."

"Daddy! Leave her out of it! Don't you see her enough
in school anyway? Algebra's hard enough as it is
without you embarrassing me too! Damn!"

"Chantal. What have I told you about that?"

Chantal rolled her eyes and was about to respond
sarcastically, when to her relief, her grandparents
came in the front door.

"We're moving out!" Anne and Winnie gushed in unison.

*****************

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