MILKSOP Chapter 22

The Bar Exam
courtesy photobucket.com

 

Archie finally finished his studies and passed his tests. While it wasn't time to shout "free at last" it was a big step into the future.

Studying for the bar exam was the next hurdle but it would be six months until he could take it.  

He now was able to work full time at the law office and he was able to focus on gaining as much knowledge as possible concerning Mergers and Acquisitions or at least that was his hope.

He was called in to one of the board meetings and told that they wanted him to concentrate on becoming a defense attorney.  

He started to object but before he could speak the chairmen of the board said, “At present we have all the attorneys we need for M&A work.  

What we need is someone who can look over our proposals and give an opinion on the document.  We can't afford to make a mistake that will cost us a lot of money.

We have for over two years trained you to understand the ins and outs of M&A and now this is where we need you with your background.

As he left the board room Archie felt deflated for this wasn't what he had in mind as he studied.

So now he had to get ready for the Bar exam and his new position which was headed up by one of the older partners.  

 

As Archie sat in his copula, for as yet he didn't have an office. He had his name on his desk but it wasn't the same as having it on an office door.

He knew he had to put his desires aside and do as they wanted him to.

He was relieved of the duties he had in the past and could devote all his time to preparing for the bar exam and the new task he was given.  

He thought back over his life when he was little, very little size wise, and how over the years he grew to what amounts to a normal size.

 

He went over his progress step by step and when he arrived to where he was now he said out loud, this is just another step along the way and I'm still on the right path even though I might not be able to see it now.

Having this positive attitude gave him a new perspective on his present position.

That evening he told Alice and Celia what happened and they looked at each other wondering.  Finally Alice spoke up and said, “What happened to the dream?”

He answered, "A step at a time my sweetie."

With one month left till the bar exam Archie felt very comfortable about it and was ready. He had been spending most of his time studying contracts and the law that governed them.

For the last five months he was making a better salary and he and Alice and Celia occasionally went out for the evening that is when Celia didn't have a date.

Archie would like to have these times private with Alice but he didn't want to leave Celia home all by herself.  

Celia knew they needed some time alone for they were still on honeymoon for all practical purposes, so she went on some dates she didn't particularly want to go on just to give them special time alone in the house.

The morning of the exam Archie had an extra cup of coffee and tried to focus on the direction the test might go. The tests were passed out and everyone was ready, the timer was set and the tests were opened.

As the hours wore on Archie breezed through the testing; except for a couple of points.  

 

After checking his answers he turned his papers in and left to prepare for tomorrow's questioning.

There were fewer questions the next day, but they were requiring that he present a contract covering the scenario they laid out for him.  He completed that without a hitch, and at last it was over. 

It would be a while before he knew if he passed.

To be Continued  

   

MILKSOP Chapter 21

Aunt Celia Fishing
courtesy free clip art

 

Alice began to get busy working as a court reporter, and this time it was an important trial.

The accused was charged with embezzlement and the lawyers were going hot after each other.

They talked so fast it was difficult for Alice to keep up with them.  

 

It so happened that an investor had been managing the account for a widow, and when her son looked into her account he discovered there were funds unaccounted for.

It reminded Alice of the time when Celia was duped by her money manager. Alice had to transcribe her notes for the next days hearing so she was busy and up late.

Archie knew better than to bother her so he left her be, and retired early.

It took two cups of coffee the next morning to get Alice's eyes open. She had to be at the court house by eight with her transcriptions, so she didn't have time for conversation with Archie, just a hello and a quick kiss goodbye.

Celia came down and after the usual good mornings she asked Archie about some of the men she had been dating.

Archie was a little hesitant to discuss them with her, because he didn't know what her motives were for doing so.

If he was down on someone she had taken a liking to then he might look like he was being too judgmental.  If he said he thought they were fine, then he might appear as uninterested in her pursuits.

When she asked him about a certain man Archie said, “First we must clear the air. Are you looking for approval of a decision you have already made, or are you asking me to give you a reason to dump him?”

She said, “I'm not sure what I want.  Perhaps I'm not attracted to any of these men or am too romantic and am looking for "My hero" to sweep me off my feet, I just don't know.”

Archie said, “What I think you should do is to go out and have fun and leave it at that, for this is what most of the guys you know want to do. At your age if the guys were interested in marriage they would already have been hitched.

Then there are those who have been to the altar more than once and didn't like it enough to stay the course. Something to seriously consider might be a widower, someone who wants a good woman, but one whose wife has passed away.

Since I think you don't know just what you want to do, I would say, "Just have fun/" If you have any specific questions about anyone I'm acquainted with, I may be able to help you there.”

Celia said, “I think you are right for I don't know what I want to do at present.”

Archie suggested, “You will find that a lot of them are looking for a "Sperm dump," and if you don't respond to their need they will stop coming around.”

Celia answered, “Yes that is true; several have unceremoniously departed already having completely missed their target for tonight.”

Well Auntie, “Welcome to the world as it stands today.”

She answered, “I don't think things have changed that much it is just the same with a few new lines the men are using seeking the same results of yesteryear.”

Archie suggested, “Perhaps it is somewhat like fishing, you will have to throw back the undesirable ones until you find one you want to keep.

“Yes, that is what I have had to do so far, but I'm still fishing nevertheless.”

They both laughed at that and Archie said, “Any time, but now I have some studying to do before class begins.”

Celia said, “Thanks for the use of your ear for a while; I suppose I just needed to vocalize some of the things I have been feeling.”  

 

To be Continued

 

 

MILKSOP Chapter 20

Men Began to Notice Celia

Archie wondered why is it that time slows down as you approach the end of something. He still had a year to go in school, and that meant the tedium would continue to enfeeble him.

Study is Hard Work
courtesy photobucket.com

If it wasn't for him working in the law office it would have been a lot worse.

For this last year they were able to came up with some scholarship money and that made life a little easier.

Archie wasn't studying to be a trial lawyer for his desire was to be a corporation attorney with his specialty being Mergers and Acquisitions.

He knew he still needed help in people skills so he would spend the next months taking various courses relating to that.

The work in the law office was in a sense flunky work, but he was able to observe works in progress, and steps needed to put the deal together.

Nothing ever went as planned, and being able to circumvent to issues that arise was the secret to getting the deal done.

One thing that had changed was Alice had become certified, and was now getting a court job occasionally. Most of her work was just two or three days on cases quickly resolved.

 

She knew in the future there would be trials that would last for weeks, and she hoped to be used on them.

Alice in her free time began to take Celia out with her, to meet new people.

Among them were a number of eligible bachelors, and some of them around Celia's age began to notice her as a woman.

Prior to this Celia had avoided as much contact with men as possible except on business, and to see them in a social manner was something new to her.

She told Alice, “The way these men are looking at me makes me nervous. It is like they are hungry, and I am on the menu.”

Alice laughed and said, “That is about it, because that is the way most men are.  

It is that hunter instinct in them. I will have to show you how to hold their interest and keep them at bay at the same time. It is a game that goes on out in society, and can be fun if you can stay above the pitfalls.”

“Pitfalls,” said Celia, “I don't know if I want to play this game.”

Alice said, “It will be second nature shortly, and you will master it.”

After a few safaris into the dark land of make believe where the cave man syndrome prevails, Celia began to get the drift of what it was all about.

Many wanted to play the game but were handicapped by being married. Others tried to forget about the ring on their finger and were short termed at best.

Along with several other categories there were a few who were interested in a genuine relationship with the goal of finding a lifetime companionship.

After a few sorties into this sea of purple promises, Celia was able to stay off the rocks of disappointment.

While she remained aloof, underneath she was thoroughly enjoying the attention paid her. When they were at social event men would be attracted to Alice, and she would shift their attention over to Celia without them realizing it.

Celia said, "I don't know if I will ever want to be married again, but an occasional date might be fun."

Alice answered and said, “This is what it is all about, living life to the fullest, and you can't do that when you stay at home all the time.

Celia agreed, but for me - - men are just a part of that, and not the whole thing.

To be Continued  

 

MILKSOP Chapter 19

Aunt at 50 - Looking 40
courtesy photobucket.com

 

The days were quickly passing by and Archie and Alice were settling in to married life.

Celia seemed to be enjoying the whole arrangement for not having children of her own. 

 

As she had raised Archie when his mother passed, she began to take on the role of his real mother, and the feeling of motherhood slowly descended upon her.  Now she felt that she had two children of her own.

She promptly began to care about Alice, before there was any talk of marriage between her and Archie.

One day when Alice and Celia were alone, Alice asked her why she never married and she said this is something Archie doesn't know for neither I nor his mother ever told him, and that is I was once married.

We ran away and married against the wishes of our parents. We had a hard time for my husband was young, and couldn't earn enough to support us. I soon became pregnant, and it was more than he could handle, so he left and I have never seen him again.

When his parents found out what had happened they took me in, and when they died from the fever they left me all of their estate.

“Well what happened to the child?” Alice asked.

Celia replied “It was a boy, but he was still born. His grandparents and I were heart broken. I never felt the need to tell Archie about this, and he has always considered me to be an old spinster.”

“And you never wanted to marry again?” asked Alice.

“No,” Celia replied, “After my love left us, and I lost the baby I had no interest in what a young woman should want at that age.

It was when Archie came to live with me that I began to start to live again. It was slow at first but I picked up as the months passed.  As things stand now he is my baby, and I hope you know with what high esteem I hold you in order to share him with you.”

   
Alice said, “I understand what you are saying, but I have to say this; you are still a young woman barely over fifty and look forty. Should you choose there are a lot of men who would be interested in you, and you could pick up where you left off some years ago.

 

Whether you do anything a long these lines I mentioned or just realizing that there is that possibility, it has to increase your self-esteem.”

Celia said, “I think you are right, and it does give me something to think about.”

Archie came home and saw them looking shyly at him and he said, “What are you two up to?” Alice said, “Nothing.” but she couldn't help from grinning as she said, “We were just talking about you.”

He said, “Wait a minute I don't think I want you talking about me when I'm not here to protect myself.” Alice said, “Would you like us to talk about some other men?  There are a lot of them who would like us to be interested in them enough to be in our conversations.”

He thought, “There she goes again out talking me. I should learn to not get caught up in battles I can't win.”

Alice said, “Now don't go getting all pouty on us because we only said good things about you.” He had to laugh at the way they controlled him and said, "I bruise easy so don't be too hard on me, what's for dinner?"

Alice said, “Anything you want for we're going out for dinner for my birthday, silly.”  “Why?” he answered, “It's not your birthday, I know when that is.”

“Well it’s someone's birthday so we will celebrate theirs.” Archie asked, "Do I get to choose?" Alice replied, “Yes.”  “Then it is Chinese!”

This was an enjoyable evening out for the three of them for they didn't do this very often due to their heavy schedule.

After Archie and Alice went to bed Aunt Celia was thinking about what Alice had said, "You are barely over fifty and look forty.”  

 

 To be Continued

 

 

THE MOTHER’S KNIGHT

This is an extra post to share at Hazel's "Tell Me a Story, and my Fictional Continued story will be here shortly!  My Home page is: http://musingsbyrobert.blogspot.com/

 

Black Knight
courtesy Photobucket.com

 

The knight of old wasn’t very bold but forth he went, anyway!

Of the night he was afraid, still he sought a maid but only during the day.

His mother said Son, don’t be afraid to run if you need to get-a-way

Better to live not die, to fight another day regardless of what some say                                                                 

The knight now embolden went forth and waited for one to challenge his will. 

Inwardly he wondered if anyone had ever seen an armor suit filled with such fear,
 
- - and one who held his life as dear as he.

 
Backward yea backward to the bushes his retreat.

For hoofs approached, and he waited for the champion knight to appear.   

Suddenly burst upon the scene, the knight trembled and knees did shake

for alas the fearful sword was almost here.

Then he saw what had made him quake, twas a farmer with oxen numbering eight.

Pulling his wagon for heaven’s sake,

Not the Castle Champion that he so feared, that only the thought of him…

Could make him quake.

 

With neither victory nor defeat counted this day,

To home he did wend his way,

Thinking of grog in the night, for he could down it with the best of men but then!

Standing before him, the Black Knight blocked his way…….

Some say it was the shortest of all fights ever fought in that land,

- - and still standing was the fearful one with no blood on his sword.

It was a butcher knife still held in a mother’s hand that ended the life of the baddest black knight in the land.

 

This post is shared at: Tell Me a Story

 

 

 

MILKSOP Chapter 18

A Private Wedding
courtesy photobucket.net

 

Archie sat stunned for it had never entered into his mind that he would be getting married anytime soon.

He just wouldn't let the thought be debated in his mind.

It wasn't as if he didn't have moments of passion when he and Alice were near each other, and when they kissed it was almost more that he could control so he avoided most of those kind of times.

He said to himself, “It isn't enough that I have to deal with these feelings, now she comes up with this idea.”

He said, “What makes you think we need to marry now?”

She answered, “Archie my man, I can almost read your mind, I know what you are thinking when we are close, and it would do you no good to deny it.

You need a wife, you need me without reservations and your Aunt agrees with me.”

Archie gasped, “You mean you have talked all this over with Celia?”

“Yes, she agrees with me one hundred percent.”

Archie said, “I will never be able to face my Aunt again.”

Alice said, “In two weeks we have a few days break from school, and we can take off from work for a short honeymoon. Then we will be back to the business at hand, and afterwards we will make time for ourselves.”

Archie said, “I will be so embarrassed every time I see Auntie for she will know what we are doing.”

Alice said, “Archie you are going to have to grow up and enter the adult world. You have been so involved in getting educated you haven't bothered to act your age.”

 
Their wedding was a private affair at Alice's folk's home, and they went to her folk's cabin up at a nearby lake for the few days they had off.

Her folks moved her trunks and things over to Celia's while they were gone, and when they came home everything was ready for them. Alice told Celia all (well not exactly all) about their time at the lake.

Archie had never gone fishing before, so Alice had to show him how it was done.  He had never cleaned a fish before either, so Alice told him what to do but made him actually do it.

It was the same when they took the row boat out, he didn't know how to use the oars.

The one thing Alice did was the cooking for she wasn't about to let Archie do that.

His contribution was to clean up, wash the dishes and put them away. When they returned home, Alice said, I had to teach that boy about everything.

Aunt Celia smiled and said, “I bet you did.”

The next day it was back to the old routine and after a little teasing, everyone soon forgot about Archie's new status.

A couple of weeks passed and Archie still had trouble putting all of the last few weeks into some perspective. He had the opportunity to speak to his Aunt alone and he asked her what she thought about what happened.

She said, I think it's wonderful. Archie said, “Yeah but you know I didn't ask her to marry me, she just told me we were going to get married.”

His Aunt Celia asked him, “Aren't you glad to be married?”

He said, “Yes, sure, it's just that it doesn't seem right the way it came about.”

Celia answered, “If Alice had left it up to you would you be married now?”

 He said, “Probably not.”

“Then aren't you glad it worked out the way it did?”

“Yeah,” he answered.

His Aunt then asked, “What is your problem?  C'mon out with it. I'm tired of you tap dancing around what you want to say.”

Archie answered, “Well it's this way, every since we met, she has been, well it's like she can read my mind, and she tells me what we are going to do. That doesn't seem normal, does it?”

She thought for what seemed alike a long minute and said, “No it isn't ‘normal’ unless you have found the right woman. If you have then it is the way it should be. For then there is an oneness between you, spirit, soul and body.

It is an intuitive thing with women. Men don't have that, and it confuses them, even scares them at times. Besides that she is wise beyond her young age, she has wisdom that few women have.”

Celia said, “I hope that helps you a little, if not we can talk some more.”

Archie said, “No I think that's enough and when he left her - -

He was thinking, “I get it’ boy am I lucky.”

To be Continued.

MILKSOP Chapter 17

Steno Machine for Alice
courtesy photobucket.com

After graduation Nan proceeded to enter the work force. With her father's influence she had no trouble gaining employment.

Due to her popularity she was planning on settling on a M.R.S. degree and becoming a house wife within the upper crust-ers.

There was no short supply of suitors and it seemed inevitable that she would land a rich husband.

Agnes went from the R.O.T.C. program into basic training for the Marine Corp.  She wrote that it was considerably harder than the program taught at school.

She managed to score well in the overall performance, and was placed in the motor pool for the time being. Her weight of two hundred and twenty pounds from when started in high school, was down fifty pounds, and she was very well muscled up.

Both Archie and Alice had little time off.  With her working, going to school and studying, their social time together was completely changed.

She began to understand what Archie had been going through the last couple of years in High school. The one thing that helped them be with one another was they studied together.

They didn't talk much as they studied, but just being with each other counted heavily in their relationship. They alternated on having Sunday dinner, one week it was with Aunt Celia and the next with Alice's folks.

During the first year Alice managed to get an old stenograph machine from a reporter who was retiring.  He had no further use for it and all the court reporters wanted the newer models.

She took it to work with her and in her spare time learned to use it while letters were being dictated to her.

She had learned short hand while in school but reading and transcribing the machine notes was a little different.

The reporter, from whom she got the machine, also gave her a full carton of paper so she wouldn't have to buy any for some time.

She fantasized about being in court, and taking down testimony during an important trial; where she would have the responsibility of providing the written text for the attorneys.

Even as she thought about it she realized she was a long way off from being a "Registered Professional Reporter." This was going to take some time to accomplish.

High school was one thing but the next four years was to be tedium plus.

Archie realized that he and Alice needed to have something to focus on besides work and study.

As things stood now Alice had gone from the “Chase mode” to the, "I have captured him state." Or in other words her attitude changed to, "I've got him now.”

As for Archie he had concluded that sooner or later he would marry her, or perhaps it would be better stated that she would marry him.

It was in the second year of college that Alice sat Archie down and said, “I think we should have a serious talk.”

He knew her well enough to know something was up.

She said, “We have been going together for three years isn't that right?” and he agreed, “Yes that's about right.”

 

She went on and said, “You know that I intend to marry you?” to which he answered, “I figured you would.”

image courtesy photobucket.com

Then she went on saying, “What you don't know is I'm going to marry you now.”  

Archie said, “Wait a minute, we haven't discussed that.”

Alice said, “We are discussing it right now.”

He objected and said, “We can't afford to get married until we get our education over with.”

He knew just as sure as he was sitting there that she had already solved that problem at least in her mind.

She went on, “We can get married now, for I have thought it out, and see no reason why we can't.”  

He was afraid to ask about where they could live. 

 

She anticipating that question said, “I have discussed this with Aunt Celia, and we came to the conclusion that I will move in with you and her, because she said she would enjoy the company.”

Alice went on saying, “We are young and there isn't any reason why we can't begin to enjoy the benefits of being married, instead of waiting for years and struggling with the frustrations of being single.”

To be Continued