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Post by Evangeline on Nov 17, 2008 23:06:23 GMT -5
"That looks like an art and craft supply place on the next block." Kendall pointed out the place. He turned as Ebony started to look for the kids. "Guys!?! Don't get too far from us."
"I live with my grandparents over the ridgeline." Elsie said. "And I spend the holidays with my great-grandmother. My mom and dad died when I was still a baby."
"Look at those little guys." Dawn noted perhaps nine or ten small hydroplane types that were taking to the course. Their engines almost sounded like the buzzing of flies as they went up to start. Dawn went back to a cooler they'd packed aboard, amongst others, and fetched a large thermos of fruit juice and some cups. "Anybody else want some?"
Bree sighed, knowing that Shale was only too right about this. "She's going to take a lot of work, but it's not good for her to keep going this way. She'll start looking for other "escapes". Bree's professional experience told her all too well the forms such escapes could take.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 17, 2008 23:45:52 GMT -5
"Kids," Ebony called out to them, "Stay where we can see you, please."
*****
Artemis's hazel eyes swam with tears, "My Gramma Mel died not too long ago... I miss her..."
Kestrel and Falcon turned as they heard their parents call out to them.
*****
"They're fast," observed Raven.
"Yes, they are," agreed Delfina as she watched the small hydroplanes race by, throwing up waves of water.
"Well, it's a good thing that you all are aboard me," said Freda. She was pretty sturdy and the small waves lapping against her hull weren't much to worry about much than the ones further out in the open ocean.
"Yes," nodded Delfina as she turned as Dawn brought out the juice and cups, "I'll take some."
"I guess I will too," said Raven.
*****
"Mom and I have been working to prevent that for awhile now," said Shale, "At least she's been clean of drugs for a few months now."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 18, 2008 0:00:07 GMT -5
"Real easy to get lost here." Robin noted as the crowds surged around her.
Kendall went over to the kids, seeing that Artemis was upset. "What's the matter?"
Elsie looked down at the ground, figuring that it was her fault that Artemis was crying.
Dawn poured out some lemonade for the others. "These races are pretty short, just twenty or forty laps or so. Erika's on at 11:00."
"So have you had any outside help?" Bree asked.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 18, 2008 0:25:52 GMT -5
"I wanna go back to the cove," sobbed Artemis.
Ebony's engine ached for her daughter and she wanted to go to her and comfort her, "Excuse me, Robin. Arte's upset. I gotta go over to her."
*****
"That's good to know," said Delfina, accepting her lemonade.
*****
"We managed to get her to go see a therapist, but that didn't last long," said Shale.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 18, 2008 0:39:21 GMT -5
"OK." Robin moved aside for Ebony, while explaining the situation to Rosemary.
"At least she only has two others to compete against." Dawn looked back out over the course.
"Has she always been like this or did it start in her teens?" Bree asked. "And what does she say when anyone asks her why?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 18, 2008 0:59:01 GMT -5
Ebony went over to where her daughter was and touched her roof. "Honey, shh," she softly, "It's okay. Don't cry. Everything will be alright."
Artemis sniffled and looked up at her mother with tear-stained eyes. "Miss Gramma Mel..."
"I know..." sighed Ebony, "I know... I do too..."
In response, Artemis buried her front into her mother's fender.
*****
"Well, good thing the course isn't gonna be too crowded then," Delfina.
*****
"This started five years ago when our father died and she took it pretty hard," replied Shale, "but she doesn't give her reasons why. She just keeps silent. It, of course, hurts our poor mother."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 18, 2008 1:12:29 GMT -5
"She can't stay like that." Bree said. "Something has to be done to shake her out of this, and if therapists don't work, you might need some stronger methods."
Kendall kept an eye on the boys while Ebony was comforting Artemis. He gave an apologetic glance to Robin and Rosemary, and then a nuzzle to Artemis.
Elsie came up to Ebony and Artemis. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, it could be tough getting back into it after what she's been through." Dawn concurred.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 18, 2008 1:23:54 GMT -5
"What kinds of stronger methods?" asked Shale, "Know of any?"
*****
Artemis lifted her front again and looked at Elsie. "S'Okay... M'fine..." she mumbled tiredly while her mother rubbed her roof.
*****
"It's always a good idea to start small than work your way up," said Freda, "At least that's what my father always said. He lived by that rule."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 18, 2008 1:32:22 GMT -5
"Smart dad." Dawn nodded. "Mine left when I was nine." That had been two years before the blowup.
Elsie lifted her front as she heard another voice from the direction of the docks, and turned. "Tiffany!"
Kendall nudged the boys reassuringly as their mother comforted Artemis.
"This is going to sound like it'd be a bit harsh on her," Bree explained, "But we have to create a situation in which she has no choice but to engage with us, simply by making it the one "escape route". Perhaps the way to do it is to appear to give her what she thinks she wants."
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 18, 2008 1:40:40 GMT -5
"You're father left you?" asked Freda.
*****
"Artemis," Ebony said, "I'll take you to the library here where it's quiet. You won't have to worry about anything there and no one's gonna force you to talk about your feelings. That's your decision."
"Kay, Mom..." nodded the little Viper/NSX.
*****
"She seems to want to be alone alot," said Shale, "I know that seeking solitude every once in awhile is okay, but excessively is not a good idea."
(((((OOC: I am getting sleepy and need to go to bed now...)))))
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 18, 2008 1:51:56 GMT -5
<<< Last post >>>
"He'd been seeing another woman behind Mom's back." Dawn downed the last of her lemonade with a single gulp. "One day, I came back from school to find her sitting at the table, crying, because he'd left the country with his new girlfriend and cleaned out the bank account. He left us with nothing."
"Boys." Kendall said. "How about we go and get some art supplies for Mama, and then we can watch Erika race and meet Mama and Arte at the library afterwards?"
"Whatever we do, we need to talk it over with your mother first." Bree said.
<<< Last post >>>
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 18, 2008 10:09:13 GMT -5
"You still seem very bitter about it," said Raven as he was observing the human's behavior.
*****
Kestrel and Falcon nodded, "Okay."
Ebony nudged Artemis to get her moving. "Alright, we'll see you guys later."
*****
Shale glanced at his mother. "Yeah," he said with a nod.
Cornelia was watching the races with the other helos, though she was still aware of what was going on with her youngest daughter.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 18, 2008 15:22:29 GMT -5
Dawn looked back up. "I'd never wish death on anyone, but I hope that Dad, wherever he was at that time we all remember, realized just what he did to us."
"Laters." Kendall waved to Ebony, then turned back to the boys. "Now let's see what Mama's gonna need in that place." He shepherded them over to the art supply store, which also doubled as a gallery for local artists.
Bree looked back at Taranee as she continued to wander about. The girl was a bundle of issues. Oh well, when you married one, you married the family as well.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 18, 2008 15:37:10 GMT -5
"We don't know whether or not he has even survived the blow-up or not. For all we know, he either has or hasn't. But, you're gonna have those memories for the rest of your life," said Delfina.
*****
Kestrel and Falcon followed their father over to the art supply store. Once inside, they glanced around at the place. It reminded them somehow of the store back home in Cortez.
*****
Shale sighed, "We'll think of something... I really hate seeing her like that..." He glanced toward his sister for a moment.
*****
Ebony led Artemis through the streets to the library, entering inside.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 18, 2008 16:17:10 GMT -5
Bree nuzzled Shale in a gesture of support. "We'll work on it together."
Dawn pursed her lips. Delfina was right, of course, but it would be an irony if somehow her old man had clung to life in the aftermath.
<<< That would be funny in a dark sort of way >>>
Kendall looked around, picking up some high-quality wiper brushes, some heavy watercolor paper, a paint set, masking tape, pencils, and sharpeners, gum erasers, and a drawing board, some paints and craft items for the kids, a frame for the final painting, and a portfolio case to put it all in. Cost was no object to him. "Could you help me put that in my trunk, boys?"
Doris looked up as Ebony came in with her little girl. The libarian was settled on a raised floor section in the children's area of the library, conducting a story hour for a number of children sitting before her.
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