He's been in the South some years, but never really assimilated into the culture, until this point having his family around. Now that he's on his own, he's forced to explore alone, with the resultant culture clashes.
>
>>“Yes, this is a good, old-fashioned redneck holiday
>>celebration. Fish fry, deep fried turkey, hush
>>puppies, other things that can be cooked in hot oil.”
>>She heard him utter a quiet laugh.
>>
>>“I’d love to come, though I’m a little afraid to ask
>>what hush puppies are.”
>>
>>“Actual dog is not part of the recipe.”
>
>LOLOLOL!!!
I've actually had to explain this before...
>
>
>She's hoping he doesn't decide to contribute a nice
>blood pudding. *shudder*
LOL! Or any number of other oddities that an Englishman's kitchen might produce.
>
As they turned from the parking garage back to the
>>street in the orange glare of the sodium vapor lamps,
>>Valerie sat back in the seat, glancing over at Daniel.
>
>When I first read this, it threw me a bit. It took
>another read before I realized they were now in the
>car.
It's fixed. I realized that too when I re-read it. A little paragraph about finding the car and starting for home.
>>
>>“I liked the story about the Confederate soldiers in
>>the Tolomato Cemetery.”
>>
>>“The ones whose graves got moved?”
>>
>>“Yes. Must be somewhat disconcerting to have lain in a
>>place for many years, then unceremoniously have your
>>maker moved but not your body.”
>
>Marker?
Yes, thanks for the catch.
>
>>“What do you believe in then?”
>
>I like her reaction here. Turning the tables
>instead of direct confrontation.
Val's a bit like Katie; she doesn't like confrontation/conflict. Not the real kind anyway. Arguing with her siblings is a different story.
>
what was left behind, it wasn’t her anymore.
>>She was gone.”
>
>I really feel for him here. I can feel his
>desolation at what happened. One minute the woman he
>loved was there in the room with him, and the next
>instant, she was irrevocably gone forever. Poor
>Daniel!
I hope it rings true. I have, thankfully, never been in a position to understand his emotions. I can only imagine.
>
>This is so moving. I like the peace she got from
>the dream, the certainty that it was a message from
>her mom, and not just a dream. And I particularly
>like that it was a squirt from a water hose that made
>her believe it. It shows very definitively where Val
>gets her playful nature!
>
>Great scene, Debi. Without them getting all mushy,
>they've been able to open up to each other about a
>serious subject, and to discuss painful memories. And
>through it all, I could feel the ease with which they
>communicated, and how comfortable they were with each
>other, even when they weren't so comfortable with what
>they were saying. Very, very well done!!
>
>Hugs,
>Page
Thank you. I'm not a big person for mush, guess that's why I don't write it. I just want people to be people, with real feelings and real ways of expressing themselves. Although, if this were my Real Life we were talking about, it'd be my Dad that hosed me in the garden. He's still a big kid.
