Teardrop Fiction

[Tumbleweed_Tex]

A lot of people have written and asked me to go back to the beginning…back to when Dog and I first came to park the teardrop at Renee’s campground. Most of them also want to know what’s REALLY going on between us…as in…are we ever gonna get together.

Time is no keeper of secrets, and eventually will tell.

RENEE

Her sweater was somewhere between an off-white and a medium dove gray, and she wore it much like a 2008 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 wears a coat of clear-coat paint...the only difference being the sweater was…lumpy. She was standing pretty much in the middle of the wood finishes isle, gazing up and down the shelves of one-step, two-step, and nineteen step varnishes and stains. I never once considered passing behind her.

Smiling and offering a "Scuse me Ma'am" as she stepped backwards, I paused, and confidently grabbed a small can of Minwax "Puritan Pine" polyurethane, and dropped it casually into my shopping cart. She bit...hook, line, and sweater.

"Wish I could do that..."

I turned the shopping cart sideways in the isle, silently retrieved the can, looked her dead in the eye, and switched over into what I call my Eastwood mode.

"It's so simple, even a cowboy can do it...see?" (Dog calls this my make-a-complete-fool-outta-yourself mode)

For effect, I let the can fall back into the buggy. For some reason (maybe because her eyes were like liquid jade...or because of the distracting texture of the sweater material) the can hit the side of the cart, glanced off, and landed squarely enough on my toes that I couldn't help but wince. Sweater-gurl giggled, and Eastwood blushed to his throbbing toenails.

A half-hour later, having ascertained not only that she was brave enough to tackle the job of refurbishing the office at her place of business...but also that current circumstances dictated that she most probably would be doing the job alone (poor dear), we headed for the checkout line. I, being the part-time gentleman that I am, had donated the shopping cart, and helped fill it with a few obvious supplies. There wasn't the slightest hint of awkwardness about my being new in town, or about her unspoken invitation for me to provide some willing cowboyly assistance.

As Dog and I followed her out to the Lucky Dozen Campground, I tried to explain to him that we would only be staying for a day or two. She did, after all, own a campground…and we had to stay SOMEWHERE.
No, I had not noticed how pretty her eyes were.

Admittedly, that was the first time in years I'd been to Home Depot and come out of the store without buying anything...but I had a good excuse. I mean, it wasn’t my fault…they really should outlaw sweaters in those home improvement centers.

On most occasions, a typical male visitor, invited into the home (office) of an attractive female, would bring a bottle of wine. I brought a black Labrador Retriever, a notebook, and a ball point pen that insisted on skipping. She pointed and dictated, I scribbled and nodded, and Dog checked out the interesting smells in the corners. Eventually, we agreed on a week’s free rent, in exchange for 30 hours of professional remodeling expertise. (ok…30 hours labor…geez, you people are terrible)

After tucking my little trailer into spot 121, and spending seventeen minutes setting up camp, I walked back up to the office to…um…ascertain the details of material purchases…yeah, that’s it.

Renee had supper going, and when she opened the door, I immediately faced a very large problem. The sweater/jeans/boots of the hardware store had been replaced by tee shirt, cut offs, flip flops, and a ball cap complete with ponytail. I couldn't decide which outfit best suited her. The shirt was two sizes too large, and the way she had it tucked in...well...it left just enough to cowboy imagination to be overwhelmingly distractive. She invited me and Dog for supper, and the rest is history.

So there you have it, folks…a week turned into two, and a month became a year or three. As a business owner, she smiles a lot. As an employee, I watch her smile, and smile a lot myself. She has incredible green eyes, great legs, and at forty-four, she could probably pass for thirty-five. I do the maintenance, and she keeps the books. The free rent now includes a small salary and a regularly shared meal.

As for anything else, let’s just say she and I are…aware…of each other, and leave it at that. She dates whenever she pleases and she knows it annoys me. She gets real matter-of-fact when I go out, or flirt with the customers. She treats Dog like a favorite son, takes care of my taxes, and makes a really mean meatloaf. She sleeps in her upstairs condo, and unless the weather is really kickin’ up, Dog and I head for the tear. All in all, I suppose our relationship can be classified as casual and comfortable.

There HAVE been occasions (like the one involving the big cast iron tub, the cowboy hat, that bottle of tequila, and Ms 118) when I seriously questioned just how casual our relationship IS…

All things considered, bologna is not all that bad…

Tex

[Ratkity]

Hugs,
Ratkity

[Ratkity]

QUIET!

“Ugh! Not again!? Who ARE these people? All I want is a quiet house and to be toasty warm. Do they live in barns? Shut that door! Why do they have to talk so loud? I can’t get a moment’s rest.â€

[Cliffmeister2000]

Awesome! Great! Both stories!

[SmilinJack]

I was about to go into "Teardrop Fiction" withdrawal, so I went for a 3 night camping trip. I come home and viola!, more fiction. Alright! I'll have to go camping more often.

Tex, be sure to read, understand, and follow all manufacturer's instructions.

Ratkity, it's about time!

Love your stories, guys. Please don't stop...

[High Desert]

been out of touch for a while, glad to see things are still rolling along nicely 'round here. Like Smilin' Jack said, keep it up folks

And thanks for the backstory Tex, inquirin' minds like to know, ya know?


Ratkity, yours explains a lot about a certain resident in my house

[Cliffmeister2000]

Sometimes, not sure if it really happened or just a sweet dream, I find myself taking a poorly marked trail and end up in the most beautiful, strangest places...

[Ratkity]

Hugs,
Ratkity

[Ratkity]

ANOTHER RESIDENT

I hang around this RV park a lot. It's not one of my only places I visit, but I sorta like the owner. She's a nice lady that will feed me periodically and doesn't throw rocks or yell at me. I think she likes me hanging around when the birds start getting into her berry bushes. Oh boy, do I love me some fresh birdies!

Oh, by the way, my name is Bossman. Some people just call me Boss. I'm white with a gray tail, several gray spots and gray ears. Yep, I'm of the feline persuasion. I'm not one of those pedigree kitties. Just your typical handsome cat with yellow eyes. I easily out-weigh a lot of those doggies the campers bring with them. Heck, I'm longer and larger than most cats. As a result, I don't get picked on much by any other cats or dogs. Most stay out of my way like I might eat them, but in reality, I'm really a mellow kinda guy. I don't go looking for trouble, if you know what I mean. . My philosophy is to remain calm, stay still, wait and watch. A cat can learn a lot by just observation.

I guess I've been hanging around the campground for a few years. The owner and I have a mutual understanding: I don't dig up her flower pots and use those as litterboxes and she cuts up some chicken periodically as a snack for me. If I do my sleepy-blink , I can get her to give me a great head scratch as a bonus. Normally, I just sit in the shade and watch all the different humans come and go. I don't bother the campers at all and just hang around the lady's office/house. I do like to see which humans I can do the "sleepy-blink" on to get a head scratch. Most don't pay attention to stuff around them. If I was a snake, I'd have bitten several of them because I was so close.

I'm not sure when "he" started visiting her. First he was alone. He came around more and more and then was fixing broken things. I'm not sure he even saw me to be honest. He seemed to watch the lady an awful lot and not watch what he was doing. He seems to be a nice enough fellow though, as humans go. It's been fun to watch him try to get close with the owner lady. If I sit up in the tree closest to the house, I can watch from there. It would be easy to get up on the window sill, but that's a bit too presumptuous.

I like the way he talks. A bit of a cadence, slow and easy. I think I heard he was Texan, but I'm not sure. The human language is difficult enough to understand without adding accents. The way he talks is soothing and doesn't seem to get the owner lady's shoulders all bunched up like that other guy that used to come around. That one talked constantly and it was always a relief when he left. He wasn't mean or anything, just talkative.

One day this big black dog was following the Texan. I'd see this canine sniffing around outside the campground all alone for a while. I acknowledged his presence and he acknowledged mine, but that was it. I was sorta glad the black dog found a human to follow around. Dogs are always a bit lost with their humans. Must be a dog thing.

So now the both of them have been visiting the owner lady. I like the days where she fixes supper for all of them. After they leave, there is always yummy leftovers; something tastier than the cup of yogurt she'd have when she was eating by herself. After they leave for the night, she comes out on the porch and talk to me while I eat. I think she keeps talking about the Texan, but I get distracted by the periodic head scratches and sleepiness from a late supper.

Life in the campground isn't too bad for us guys, feline, canine or otherwise. *yawn* Seems she's gone inside for the night. Guess I'll find cozy camp chair left out by one of the campers to take a nap in before prime hunting hour.

[SmilinJack]

[Ratkity]

MORE INFORMATION

So, one summer evening while I was outside pretending not to be interested in the cooking smells coming from the lady's kitchen, up walks the Texan and Dog. The Texan made Dog stay outside while he went inside carrying some sort of hot dish while wearing these goofy too large mittens to protect his hands. I inhaled deeply trying to determine what he cooked. Dog settled in by going around in circles a few times and finally satisfied, laid by the door. Another one of those dog things. The food smells were distracting, but I decided to try and be polite and speak to the canine. After all, he seemed as laid back as the Texan. From my perch on the deck railing I tried to strike up a conversation.

"Hi, good to see you again", I said, as casually as possible. It was hard not to drool over the wafting smells of cooking food.

"Well, howdy yourself", Dog drawled after blinking a few times to focus on where I was on the railing. He looked surprised that I spoke to him.

"So you and the Texan are together now?", I asked.

Dog blinked at me and slowly answered, "Well, we've been hanging out together for a while now."

Either Dog was also a Texan or he'd been hanging around the human way longer than I'd surmised. "Think he'll get lucky?", I asked as nonchalantly as possible while examining a claw.

Dog sniffed the air a bit. He had to be distracted by the food smells too, but he wasn't showing it like most canines. He contemplated the question a bit.

"As long as he does do some fool-thing and get stupid", he drawled.

I lifted my eyebrows and repositioned myself on the railing to better see Dog, "Oh? And exactly how can you tell when a human does such a thing?"
Dog appeared to chuckle and actually smiled a tiny bit, "Oh, you'll know. All you'll have to do is listen".

With that last piece of sage advice, the conversation lapsed. The rattling of pots, pans and utensils filled the silence. Periodic low conversation could be heard during the meal. Soon it was obvious that the meal was over by the silencing of dishes.

Dog said out of the blue, "wait for it".

Suddenly, there was shuffling of feet and the Texan was at the door, clearing his throat and saying good night to the owner lady. He had his cowboy hat in his hands and looked a bit flustered although it was obvious to any animal species he was trying not to show it.

I swear Dog winked at me as he followed Tex down the stairs. I looked back at the owner lady standing by the screen door. She was harder to read and I'm pretty good at human-watching. I wasn't sure if I should even try the sleepy eye-blink.

She saw me on the railing and said, "I hope you're hungry, there's lots of leftovers". She held the door open for me in a rare invitation inside. I didn't give Dog or the Texan another thought as I raced inside.

[Cliffmeister2000]

I like it! I like it a lot! A whole lot!

[High Desert]

Awesome! The flip side of the coin


also helps explain where a certain Texican has been lately....

[steve smoot]

very good indeed...

now we have Ratkity, Tex and Dog all livin' in the same RV park...this could get interesting...

[Ratkity]

Thank you! I changed my avatar to show you what Boss looks like.

He's a ham, btw. At the time of the picture, he was staring the parrot down.

Hugs,
Ratkity