Winter dragged its feet but finally spring arrived. The sun began to shine longer and the temperature swung wildly from day to day. It was just a typical southern spring. It was also nice and wet. Our version of the spring monsoon pounded us for days at a time. Still it was a good time of the year, if one didn't mind staying in the house. I chose to work one day a week and just be drenched the whole day.

"Good morning Mr. Abba,"Michael said as he headed for his car.

"Good morning Michael. How is your job going." He had been my tenant and neighbor for about two and a half months. He had been employed by a local law office for about the same length of time. Fortunately he was not employed by the Seymore group. My private life pretty much stayed private.

"It's just fine. I didn't realize how much I would miss being outside though. I always thought I would love being inside out of the wind and rain. Now I seem to miss it more and more each day."

"Ah I can only imagine how much that must weigh on a young man. I never worked in an office a full day at a time. I was always in and out. Now I only work part time."

"I know you have the ideal job, I think." he smiled as he spoke.

"Well, I'll let you go. I'm off to serve some divorce papers then make a photograph."

The day went along just as planned. As a matter of fact my life was going along pretty much the same one day to the next. My life as a cop had been a lot like that except the boring days were punctuated by moments of sheer terror. So far there had been damn few of those punctuation marks.

Mary and I were, as my mother would have said, keeping company pretty much every weekend. It wasn't a great passion, just a comfortable relationship. It has less to do with sex than with someone being there in the morning.

Fortunately for me Mary had come to realize that I wasn't the one. I expected her to find the one any moment. When she did find the one, I hoped that I could wish her well and move on. Of course there was no way to determine that until it happened.

Dog was developing his own personality. He was big old playful brute by summer. Michael had replaced Molly and Misty as he weekday playmate. Mary was still his special lady on the weekends. I was just the guy who bought his food. That is until someone appeared to be the least bit threatening. When that happened, dog was all growls and gnashing of teeth. Dog was very territorial. I liked that about him.

My first festival was in the spring. Mother's day weekend to be exact. I wasn't sure that what I did would be a good Mother's day gift, but I gave it a shot nonetheless. I set up in one of those sideways in the park art shows. The organizer couldn't decide whether to put me in the craft section of a show or in the arts section. When I arrived I found myself in the crafts section. Since I had no better idea than the promoter where I fit in, I wasn't upset.

Even though the show was in Williamsport just a few miles from home, I left the display up over night. I covered it with clear plastic and died it down. I looked inside my metal money box on the way out of my display. I had sold twenty two dollars worth of note and post cards. The posters drew people in but didn't sell. The small three dollar card assortments did best. Followed by the one dollar post card assortment. Actually they were the only two selling items I carried.

Since I planned for the first year to be a learning experience, I wasn't all that disappointed. I spent the night at Mary's house. She had insisted that Dog spend the weekend with her. I have no idea what they did, but both seemed happy to see me.

"I can take Dog home now, if you like," I suggested. "Or first thing in the morning." Since the show didn't start till noon there would be plenty of time. either way."

"Dog can stay with me tomorrow till you are finished. I think I will give him a bath and take him shopping for some toys. He needs toys here."

"What did he chew?" I asked smiling.

"Nothing of any real value, but like you, I need something to redirect his energy."

"Oh and what do you use to redirect my energy?"

"My body of course," she laughed.

When the show finally ended I picked up Dog and home we went. Once we arrived he and I spent some quality time on the rear deck. Michael came over to visit with Dog before bedtime.

"Mr. Abba, I'm planning a cookout next weekend. Will that be a problem?"

"Not for me. I think I will be home but I never know for sure."

"Just thought I would let you know."

"It is always a good idea to keep folks informed of things that might effect their lives."

Mary had gone back into the unit to check the window sizes or some such thing. "Mr. Abba, I want to be honest from the beginning, so that we don't have an issue later down the line." he paused then took a deep breath before he continued. "I am Gay. I hope that won't be a problem."

"It will only be a problem, if you or one of your friends forgets that I'm not." I smiled my fatherly smile at him.

"That sounds fair to me."

Michael moved in while I was out serving papers. Since the place was half assed furnished all he did was bring his clothes, books, and computer. I found him sitting on the deck reading a book when I got home.

"So Michael you all moved in?"

"Yes sir," he replied.

"Good if you need anything let me know."

"I did want to ask, there is a small electric heater in the bathroom?"

"That must belong to the last tenant. Use it till they come asking for it." I suggested.

"Thank you."

"Isn't it a little cold to be reading on the deck?" I asked.

"Not at all, as I said before I was raised on a farm. It got really cold there."

"Okay, well I'm going to get Dog and fix dinner. See you later I'm sure."

"John?" The voice coming through the cell phone belonged to Mary.

"Yes Mary, what's up?"

"Just called to see if Michael is all moved in."

"He is and all is well. By the way don't worry he told me he was gay. I'm okay with it."

"Good, do you and dog want to come for dinner Saturday night. You know I have a nice doggie bed now, he can stay over. I guess you could as well."

"And which one of us has to sleep in the doggie bed?"

"Dog of course, I haven't gotten that kinky yet." She laughed.

"Damn shame but I'll be over for dinner Saturday about six okay?"

"Perfect," she said just as she hung up the phone.

I expected Macon to call and I wasn't disappointed. "What the hell happened?"

"Eddie listen to me, don't every try to send my your poison again."

"Did she show her ass again?"

"No, she kept her clothes on, but she is a real pain in the ass. I have too many things going on to deal with her childish antics."

"Well I guess I'm going to have to put here in a dorm."

"Or maybe the juvenile detention center."

Eddie had his problems and I had mine. Mine would end with a simple rental contract, his would take several years. I had finished my walk before Eddie called, so breakfast was the next order of business. An Egg and cheese sandwich made on a bagel was my choice. The egg and cheese got cooked in a saucer in the microwave, and the bagel toasted in the toaster oven. It was an easy to make and easy to cleanup after meal.

After breakfast I worked on a couple of shots I made the days before. I had been making my 'image of the day' at historical sites in town. Places I could reach on my Ebike were my choices so far. I even had a retail location for their sale. Since it was historical, the museum had agree to put them in their gift shop on consignment. The historical landscapes and the reenactments were allowed in the museum. The local senior center did the same. I doubted that I would ever sell a card at either location but it was a start.

I had made a few dollars from posters. A couple of Misty and Molly's friends had their images made into posters. Usually they resulted in orders for five or six posters each to pass on to friends and family I supposed. The bigger advantage was that I got more and different samples from each of them.

Mary solved my tenant problem for me a couple of days later. She found a young paralegal who needed a place to live while he did her internship. Since the apartment was so small, I had come to understand that temporary people would probably be the best I could do. Families were pretty much out of the question. So it would likely be a constant search for new tenants.


Mary just showed up after the Macon fiasco with the young man in tow. Since Mary found the tenant, it was a man naturally. Michael was just 20 years old, and fresh out of the paralegal course at the local community college. Yes it was the same school Molly and Misty had attended. I probably should have asked the school to just send me their kids and cut out all the middle men. Of course they wouldn't since they didn't offer residential aid there.

He was a good looking kid about twenty five pounds or so over weight and god awful young. He was absolutely the kid next door type. He had good manners, when I complimented him on them, he informed me that he was raised on a farm by his grandparents. His dad had died in the military, and his mom just fell apart. It was more than I needed or wanted to know, but it did explain his seemly open and honest manner.

Since he was fresh out of school, I agreed to make the rent 600 a month for six months but no security deposit. After six months it would drop to the five hundred I quoted Macon. I did tell him that I controlled the thermostat and he might need a small electric heater for really cold evenings.

He assured me that it wouldn't be a problem. Mary took me aside while he looked the place over. "I'll cover any damage he does. Dad and I have kind of taken him under our wing. We know his situation and are helping him get started. You won't lose anything John."

"Don't worry, unless he is prone to rages, I can handle it."

"Michael there is one more who had to approve of you." I led him out to Dog's kennel. I opened the gate to judge Michael's reaction. He was very comfortable with Dog. Dog however was a little shy, since he was partial to women. Dog did come around though when Michael began to rough house with him. "Well that settles it, when do you want to move in?"

"I have my things all packed up at home. I can move in today if that's okay?"

"It's just fine with me. I need to spend some time out working this afternoon, so I'll give you the key, if you write me a check for five hundred dollars. I won't even wait for the check to clear. If Mary says your check is good, then it is good."

"It will be good, I promise. I had a part time job in school and saved for my move to town."

"Well this isn't exactly New York or even Williamsport, but it is a town I guess."

Shelly Macon showed up at my door unannounced. "You John Abba?" she asked.

"Depends on who you are."

"I'm Shelly Macon. Dad said you would be expecting me."

"Well as usual he was wrong. I was expecting you to call for an appointment."

"Well if I had your number, I would call now."

"And I would tell you to stop by tomorrow. I'm busy now."

"Well I'm already here," she said in what seemed to me to be a rather irritated voice.

"You know what, I think we are not going to be a good match. Sorry you wasted your time. You really should have called first."

"You are not going to rent to me because I didn't call first?"

"No, I'm not going to rent to you because I'm not your daddy and I don't have to take that kind of attitude bullshit. So next time you want to do business with a grownup, remember we aren't your family. Try to act like you have some maturity, even if it is an act."

"Hey you can't do this," she said angrily.

"oh I most definitely can do this. Now get off my stoop."

I turned, then walked into the house. I closed the door in her face. "Brat," I whispered.

That was just before I heard her say, "Prick."

On Monday morning I drifted back into my routine/rut. I walked, I delivered papers,I kept the computer on almost all the time. Even in the cold I rode my bike at least a mile or two.

The time until Christmas passed slowly. It was my first Christmas 'Off Line', job wise that is. I got invited to three Christmas parties by Mary. I told her to pick one and I would go.

"Then I want you to come to my dad's party. I know he would like to wish you a merry Christmas."

"It's the one I would have chosen. I think I would rather spend time with him and your friends than the bar association's Christmas dinner."


Molly and Misty wanted to have a party as well, so I said. "Sure. same rules as before. Keep it inside and the noise down to a roar."

I planned to exchange gifts with the three women in my life on Christmas day. Dog was in line for a new chew toy from me. Molly and Misty had a sweater for him. I just knew he would never wear It no matter how cool they thought it was. Mary bought him a fancy new dog bed. The bed would stay at her house she informed me. So it was more her present to herself, I suppose. It was obvious that Mary intended to have Dog whenever I was out of town. Yet another thread in her tapestry.

"So you do own a tie," Mary commented when I showed up at her door the Saturday night before Christmas which was also the night of the Christmas party.

"Three actually, they are left overs from my shameful cop days."

"It's good that you have the right attitude going into a crowd of drunken lawyers. They will probably want to challenge you to a duel."

"Egg nog cups at thirty paces no doubt."

"No doubt," she agreed.

"How about we leave before they get too drunk?"

"If we do that, what are we going to do for the rest of the evening?"

"You choose, anything to get away from a bunch of drunken lawyers," I replied.

"Boy are you going to regret that." I doubted it, but I did try to look worried.

We left the party at before midnight with Mary slightly drunk but not mean or loud. What alcohol did was made her adventurous. For about three hours she kept me as busy as a porno star. It was interesting, but also tiring. I decided that, exotic sex was over rated.

Mary fell asleep about three AM and I slipped out quietly. Dog had been in his new present from me. chain link kennel. when I left for the party. He would be happy to be in the house, I knew. It was possible that he barked most of the time I was gone. It was also probable that if he did, the girls took him into their house.

When I finally made it home, I opened my door to find that Dog had been brought in by someone. I let him out on his front cable to empty his bladder. Afterward we crawled into bed. "Did the girls let you into the house?" Since he didn't answer, I assumed that they had. I would probably find something Dog had chewed, which he shouldn't have, in the morning.

Molly came to see me on new years day. "My Abba, I wanted to let you know that Misty and I will be moving at the end of the month. I am working now and I found a bigger place. I really am going to miss you." She was almost in tears.

"Well if you need anything just let me know. I can honestly say that I am going to miss you two as well." I wasn't close to tears but I did feel down a little. The two girls had been my models as well as tenants. Of course I hated the thought of looking for new tenants. I was like most guys my age, I just didn't like change.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I put the word out that I was going to looking for a new tenant. Renting half a duplex with the owner living next door would be a hard sell to some people. For others it might be a selling point. Either way it was to be a factor in renting the other half of my home.

I put the word out to the city employees via the city web site. They had an online bulletin board so it was easy to reach all the employees of the city at once. I didn't expect much, but still it was a start. The local newspaper would be my last resort. The kids, as I thought of Molly and Misty, put the word out around the community college as well. I decided to give the word of mouth and my bulletin board post a chance before I did anything else. That being my decision, I promptly forgot about renting the other half of my home.

Dog was in his chew everything stage so I tried to keep valuable out of his reach. I spanked him for getting too close to the power cords and valuables, otherwise I just redirected him to his chew toys. I had dogs before, so I knew that it was inevitable that he ruin a certain amount of my clothing and furniture.

I put him in his kennel at least once a day for an hour or so. I never removed him when he whined or barked excessively. I would wait till he was tired barking or whining, then bring him into the house. He spent every night in the house with me. As the dog man had predicted Dog became my best friend.

Dog got left behind, when I served papers. I had absolutely no intention of ever leaving him in the car even for a few minutes. Half the time when I got home Misty or Molly had Dog in their house. I didn't mind but I doubted that it would have mattered a lot even if I did.

The girls started to move on the last weekend in January. It was a sad time for us all but they did need more room. Misty would be graduating from the community college in the spring and starting to job hunt soon after. She might or might not work close enough for them to continue their friendship, but that was something I just didn't care about. I had enjoyed having them as tenants, but over the years I had learned when they go, they are gone. So I turned my attention to finding a new tenant.

I had done all that I could do except begin public advertising. I was very reluctant to go public. I decided to give the feelers I put out until at least the middle of February before I went public. In the meantime I attended every function of the local museum. They sponsored historic days in their thee house village. The buildings were old enough to be used either as colonial or civil war era backdrops for displays.

The museum went from a couple of times a month displays in the summer to one ever two months in the winter. Usually they were about holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas. There was only one display in March and it was cold as the devil. It was one of those Colonial things. I got there early enough to shoot pictures of them setting up with my 35mm camera. I switched to the big camera for the portraits of the actors.

I spent most of my spare time the next week working on the images. Turning one into a poster and the others into note cards, and post cards. I did learn something from the Christmas show at the Armory, I made only two tear sheets of each. One of them I cut up for product and one went into my master catalogue.

I was in the middle of cloning out some modern day background from the museum show, when I got the call,. "John this is Edward Macon from the Carthage Police Crime lab."

I placed him immediately. "Eddie, that sounds real good, except I know you are the crime lab. What the hell can I do for you."

"You are just as personable as always, ain't changed a bit."

"Why would I change, this works fine for me."

"I was calling about your apartment for rent."

"Sorry Eddie, it's part of my duplex and I don't rent to cops."

"It ain't for me. It's for my daughter."

"Why does she need a place?" If she was too old to live at home, she was old enough to find her own place. If daddy was footing the bill, I wanted no part of it.

"She is driving me nuts. She is working part time and going to the community college. She needs to get a place of her own."

"So she pisses you off?"

"Yeah, but I'm not ready to give up on her completely. I want to know she is safe. I figure you are not going to let too much crap go one next door to you."

"You got that right. But Eddie, you know those guys who killed Charlie may come here."

"They ain't never gonna get bail. I did check."

"True but they claim they are connected. When it gets closer to the trial somebody might want to keep them quiet enough to come for me."

"Abba, believe it or not, you ain't the only one who can read odds. I figure she is as safe with you as she would be with some drug dealer living next door." He paused and I tried to think of some excuse not to rent to his daughter. "So how much?"

"Five hundred and it includes water and heat, but I have to meet her and she has to sign a six month lease."

"How about I sign it?" he asked.

"Absolutely not, I will not rent to a cop. The place is in her name and she pays the rent or forget it."

"Alright John, I will have her call you after school and set up a time to meet. The place is available immediately isn't it."

"She can move in as soon as her check for a grand clears."
#############################################

On Monday morning I drifted back into my routine/rut. I walked, I delivered papers,I kept the computer on almost all the time. Even in the cold I rode my bike at least a mile or two.

The time until Christmas passed slowly. It was my first Christmas 'Off Line', job wise that is. I got invited to three Christmas parties by Mary. I told her to pick one and I would go.

"Then I want you to come to my dad's party. I know he would like to wish you a merry Christmas."

"It's the one I would have chosen. I think I would rather spend time with him and your friends than the bar association's Christmas dinner."


Molly and Misty wanted to have a party as well, so I said. "Sure. same rules as before. Keep it inside and the noise down to a roar."

I planned to exchange gifts with the three women in my life on Christmas day. Dog was in line for a new chew toy from me. Molly and Misty had a sweater for him. I just knew he would never wear It no matter how cool they thought it was. Mary bought him a fancy new dog bed. The bed would stay at her house she informed me. So it was more her present to herself, I suppose. It was obvious that Mary intended to have Dog whenever I was out of town. Yet another thread in her tapestry.

"So you do own a tie," Mary commented when I showed up at her door the Saturday night before Christmas which was also the night of the Christmas party.

"Three actually, they are left overs from my shameful cop days."

"It's good that you have the right attitude going into a crowd of drunken lawyers. They will probably want to challenge you to a duel."

"Egg nog cups at thirty paces no doubt."

"No doubt," she agreed.

"How about we leave before they get too drunk?"

"If we do that, what are we going to do for the rest of the evening?"

"You choose, anything to get away from a bunch of drunken lawyers," I replied.

"Boy are you going to regret that." I doubted it, but I did try to look worried.

We left the party at before midnight with Mary slightly drunk but not mean or loud. What alcohol did was made her adventurous. For about three hours she kept me as busy as a porno star. It was interesting, but also tiring. I decided that, exotic sex was over rated.

Mary fell asleep about three AM and I slipped out quietly. Dog had been in his new present from me. chain link kennel. when I left for the party. He would be happy to be in the house, I knew. It was possible that he barked most of the time I was gone. It was also probable that if he did, the girls took him into their house.

When I finally made it home, I opened my door to find that Dog had been brought in by someone. I let him out on his front cable to empty his bladder. Afterward we crawled into bed. "Did the girls let you into the house?" Since he didn't answer, I assumed that they had. I would probably find something Dog had chewed, which he shouldn't have, in the morning.

Molly came to see me on new years day. "My Abba, I wanted to let you know that Misty and I will be moving at the end of the month. I am working now and I found a bigger place. I really am going to miss you." She was almost in tears.

"Well if you need anything just let me know. I can honestly say that I am going to miss you two as well." I wasn't close to tears but I did feel down a little. The two girls had been my models as well as tenants. Of course I hated the thought of looking for new tenants. I was like most guys my age, I just didn't like change.

I have to be honest here, sex with a woman on medicare is a little different. I learned that there are things that require planning. I think that is why she decided in advance what the outcome would be. Sex with the dancer was quite workman like to be honest.

Now that said, let me add that it was a very good experience over all. The dancer had grace both in and out of bed. She wasn't demanding nor was she docile. All in all, the tiny dancer was an experience I was happy to have had. Before anyone gets the idea that it was charity or my part, let me assure you that she took pity on me.

Sunday morning, After I arrived at the campground, I moved the trailer to the marina parking lot, so that the campground could rent my space. It was not likely that anyone would be checking in on a Sunday, it was just my way of being one of the good guys.

The Sunday show started at noon and ran till five PM. I did a little business, but very little. I did talk to a lot of people about photography and how it was used during the civil war era. I was certainly no authority one it, but I had done a lot of reading on the net about the history of it in self defense. People always asked me photographs were sold and who brought them whenever I showed any picture of the re enactments.

The afternoon ended without anything remarkable happening. It also ended without the dancer showing up at the table to say goodbye. It looked as though the dancer had used me and discarded me. I found that thought amusing.

The drive home wasn't eventful at all. I stopped for gas at a truck stop on the highway. I rightly guessed that it would have an easy access gasoline pump and food of some kind. The snack bar was about one stop above prepackaged microwave able trash, but the hamburger came from a grill not a microwave.

I picked up Dog on the way home. He might have loved Mary but he went bananas when I showed up. It was a good thing that neither Mary nor I were in the mood to play pinch and tickle. Dog would have had none of it. He didn't leave my side as Mary and I drank a cup of coffee before I drove home. Mary kissed me goodbye. Her kiss had absolutely no passion. For Mary it was normal. Don't get me wrong Mary was a loving woman, but also very reserved. She was actually a lot like the tiny dancer. Okay she was less forward with strangers but not with me.

Mary could be quite demanding when the mood struck her. What puts women in that mood is a mystery to men. We think we know but we don't have a clue. Hell I doubt that they do either. I actually doubt that there is any one thing universal to all women or that works every time. I expect it's one of those 'If it's the second Tuesday in May, blow in my ear,' kind of things.

Dog and I got home before midnight but not a lot before midnight. My mailbox had a two day accumulation of junk. Offers of unwanted credit cards, and one bill. It looked as though I hadn't missed a thing. I wasn't up to analyzing the lessons learned from the show, so I unhooked the trailer and fell into bed.

The man who installed the trailer hitch, also welded on a rack for the bike. The car's trunk was going to be difficult, if not impossible, to use when the bike was attached to the car, but without the bike the rack was hardly in the way at all. When not in use, the post and top lock for the bike holder came off and then went into the trunk . Only the bottom wheel cups stayed in place. It was a nice system, even if it was home made by the same welder who had installed the hitch onto my car.

The time between the purchase of the trailer and the date of the show passed slowly. I served a few papers and I made a few pictures. Mary and I went out a few times, and dog grew like a weed.

The day finally came for me to drive Dog to Williamsport for his sleep over with Mary. Dog didn't seem at all upset with me for leaving him. Probably because Mary was a friend, who always spoiled him. The drive pulling the trailer took a few hours longer than the drive would have taken without it. I looked at it as an adventure,so it wasn't so bad. I found the municipal campground easily enough. I paid for a space, then parked the trailer on a concrete pad. Since I didn't have water or sewer needs, all I had to do was to plug in the power outlet. the power in the trailer looked to be on one of those power strips with six plugs. The single circuit breaker was an inline box. There was nothing fancy about it at all.

The breaker would blow at anything over 20 amps. It was enough to run the dorm style refrigerator and a toaster oven, with a quartz tube inside, at the same time. The trailer had come with a two burner gas stovetop looking thing. The fuel was from a tank like those used by plumbers to soldier. I figured it was pretty much useless. I kept it but I also bought an electric frying pan.

"This model is deep enough to double as a slow cooker," the saleslady told me. I had no idea what I would do with either, but I wanted it. The refrigerator was empty when I pulled into the space. I planned to buy something on the way back from the armory.

The drive to the civil war armory located on an island in the James river was a dream. Without the anchor of the trailer, the car seemed to fly along. As stated in my information packet, the armory was open for set up after noon on Friday. It was a couple of hours after noon, so I parked the Ford near the entrance, then I went inside to find my site. The show's promoter had me set up in the center of the room. Since I had never done one of the shows before, it seemed as good a place as any.

I spent about half an hour filling my table with product. I also set up the two wooden poster display cases. Those were no more than v shaped holders on legs. They would allow customers to just flip though the heavy paper posters. When everything was ready, I took a few steps back to look at the display. It looked pretty darn professional, I decided.

I spent the evening with a grocery store's deli pizza, and a six pack of diet coke. I had seen the campground's sticker for Wifi. After about thirty minutes of boredom, I decided that I would buy some kind of Internet device before I did another weekend show.

Saturday morning I had breakfast at a McDonald's somewhere in Richmond Virginia. I could probably never find it again. It was just on the side of one of the roads leading to the armory. It wasn't a great breakfast, but it was fast and relatively inexpensive.

When I arrived at the Armory, I found that my display had been disturbed a little. Nothing seemed to be missing, so I didn't mention it to any of the promoters staff. There were plenty of staff members wandering around while the other vendors set up shop. I found the vender selling coffee and made friends with him first thing. He had agreed to give his fellow venders a discount on the coffee. Even then it was way more than McDonalds had charged. Even so, at that moment I might have paid even more for coffee.

The customers began arriving around 8:30 AM. I made my first sale just before lunch. the foot traffic was good, I just didn't have a big Christmas gift product. I did manage to sell a few of the note card packs. It seemed that there were a few civil war buffs about. The art posters went slowly but a couple of them did move as well. By the end of the day I had sold slightly over a hundred dollars worth of product. That had been the price of the space rental, so I felt vindicated.

During the day I made friends with a couple who were selling handmade jewelry. She designed the items, and he made them from gold wire and non precious stones. He also did some silver foundry work. The pieces were all his wife's design and were quite popular it seemed.

"Several of the vendors are going over to Momma Leon's for dinner and a few drinks. Why don't you come along?" the husband asked.

"I'm pretty tired but I do have to have dinner somewhere, so why not. I will have to leave early though."

"That's fine stay as long as you like or leave whenever you are ready," he suggested.

Mama Leon's was just one step above a grill. It had long tables with table clothes, and a bar, but otherwise it was just a down home style restaurant. I ordered a hamburger steak with slaw and french fries. It came with cornbread which was fine with me. The table seated twelve but there were fifteen of us. So the eating area was a little cramped.

"So you are the civil war photographer?" The question came from a woman even older than me, if that were possible. She had mostly gray hair and some pretty serious wrinkles in her face. She would have been unremarkable, had it not been for her bearing. She sat perfectly straight in the restaurant chair. There was more, but her posture was the one thing I could put my finger on.

"Yes that's me." I replied.

"Too bad you didn't get some of those re enactors to pose as dead bodies. I think that would have been more interesting to the tourists," she explained.

"That's a good idea. Frankly I haven't quite got a grip on what, if any, use the images might be."

"From the ones I saw there are quite good."

"Thank you. I'm afraid I haven't seen your display what do you sell."

"Nothing actually, I am the instruction of those charming little ballet dancers."

"Oh I see. I'm afraid that I don't know much about dance."

"Not many people do," she said almost sadly.

"That's what it is about you," I exclaimed stupidly. When she looked at me curiously I went on. "I was impressed by your presence, your bearing if you will. Now I get it, you have a dancer's grace."

"Why thank you," she replied with a warm smile.

"So tiny dancer, is your dance school here in Richmond."

"Yes it is, and where are you from."

"A little town in North Carolina. I'm just in the big city for the craft show."

"Ah well you don't sound like a small town boy. You seem to have an eye for beauty and balance. That's what I noticed first, the balance."

"I didn't see you at the display."

"Oh I saw your display after the rehearsal last night. I guess you might say I'm stalking you. I convinced Edgar and his wife to invite you to dinner so I could arrange a meeting."

"I am flattered," I replied more than a little bewildered.

"Well it's more about your talent than you. Still I wasn't disappointed."

"I'm glad. It's too bad that I have to leave tomorrow, we could have had dinner or something."

"Well we have had dinner, and the night is young." I was a little surprised that the woman who was a few years older than me at least, seemed to be flirting hard with me. I decided to quietly go for it. All she could do was say no in a very public manner. Even if she did, so what, I didn't know any of the people sitting around the table.

"So I have a camper at the city campground. Have you ever done it on a tiny little camper bed."

"No, but I have a real house with a real bed and I have done it there."

"If that is an invitation, I accept."

"Then settle the bill and let's go?" she demanded.

Mary was probably the best woman I knew, or had known for some time. Even though she was a shyster defense lawyer, she had some good qualities. She loved Dog for one thing. I had a standing offer to leave Dog with her any time I needed to leave town. It was a good thing, because I still wanted to do the festival and reenactment weekends. I doubt that Dog would have taken kindly to a kennel. I had originally thought that the kids next door would feed dog while I was gone, but Mary insisted so I agreed.

The first test of the arrangement came around the first of December . I had read about a monster arts and crafts show in Richmond Virginia. I found the information on the Internet. At the time I was checking out festivals trying to get a feel for the spring festival circuit. I had no idea that I would be doing one so quickly.

The Christmas show was being held on an island in the James river inside the city limits of Richmond Virginia. The building was some kind of armory from the civil war or something of the kind. According to all the information I could get the show was a big deal in the arts community. I decided to give it a try and began making plans.

Mary agreed to take care of Dog for me. Agreed hell she insisted. By that time dog was big enough to take for short walks. My walks tended to wear him out for the day but that was a good thing. I had no idea what Mary's walks would do, or even if she would walk with him. She had a less than strict exercise routine. Mine was only slightly better than hers, but it was some better.

The show's promoter was providing tables and chairs, so all I needed was a table cover and something to sell. I had previously spent weeks making product, so I had more than enough. Actually it was my guess that one of everything would be more than enough. I didn't expect to even cover expenses on the trip. I was doing it solely for the experience.

I made the final decision to do the show in early November just after the weather changed. The promoter sent the names of three motels in Richmond which had agreed to a special rate for the show. He also sent a map to the city campgrounds. It would be open all winter, but he assured me the weather not be suitable for tent camping.

I didn't commit to anything at the time. I did increase my efforts to find a small lightweight camper. The winter gave me the prefect chance to buy one cheap and then spend time getting it ready for the spring festivals. I searched the newspaper, I checked out the RV sales lots, finally I found the ideal camper on a small country grocery store's bulletin board. I stopped for a bottle of milk on my way to serve a paper. I saw the picture of the trailer as I walked by. It was a knock off of a very old airstream. You know the one that looks like a thermos bottle.

The man who owned it had done the very minimal amount of work to make it useable. I knew that I would probably do more, but it would do for the time being. The thing was about six feet wide and maybe 14 feet long. It had a sofa/bed on the tongue end. A sink and cabinets at the rear. there was no heat and no bathroom. It did have a hotplate, and a dorm sized refrigerator.

"I redid the wiring when I got it. There is a circuit breaker in one of the cabinets," the man just a little older than me said. "Wife and I took it to the coast a couple of times a year. Now that she is gone, it ain't no fun. Just kind of reminds me of her." His eyes misted over.

I paid him a deposit, then went to have a trailer hitch and lighting system installed on the ford. Even though the trailer was small, it had electric brakes. A wire had to be run for those as well, I got the trailer back to my house two days after I paid the deposit. I doubted that I would ever save enough to repay myself for the purchase, but I really didn't care.

The weather had been changing for a couple of weeks. Of course the weather is always changing, but for the last couple of weeks it had been slipping in and out of the comfortable temperature ban. That was my opinion anyway.

On November first the temperature took a nose dive, and to make things worse it rained all day. It was one of those soaking rains that just didn't show any signs of ending. By the end of the day I was thinking Ark and pairs of animals. It was just a miserable rainy period that carried on into a second day.

Just when it looked as though the fall monsoon might have set in, the sun came out. The temperature however stayed cool. It was cool enough to have me evaluate my winter clothing situation. I had several suits and sport coats that I planned to never put on again. Besides they would be a couple of sizes too large. My summer dieting had been reasonably successful.

During the rain I had been walking at the mall. At the mall it was a big social club, since all the people knew each other. That is all but me, I was the outsider. I did get to see some faces I hadn't seen since my last days walking there.

The first thing on my mind was heavier clothing, so I stopped in a couple of the stores after I walked. The prices almost sent me into shock. I knew for a fact that I wouldn't be buying my clothes at the mall.

Since I had been working on my house and the bike all summer, I had been buying more or less throw away clothing at the thrift store. I bought cotton pants for three bucks, which I went home and cut into shorts. I also bought tee shirts of various types, which I didn't cut up. I also had a couple of 'Lightning Express' uniforms. The khaki pants would do even in the winter. Even the short sleeve white golf shirt would work with a jacket. The jacket would hide the snubbie, should I feel threatened. Problem was I didn't have a jacket, at least not the kind I wanted.

I found the jacket I wanted for the uniform at Walmart. I got what would have cost me thirty bucks at the mall for twelve bucks at Wallymart. I didn't expect that I wouldn't be doing much work at on the house, or the bike until summer, but I still wanted work clothes just to wear around the house. The thrift store had already changed it's stock over to winter clothes. it seemed that most people had enough sense to clean their closets before the cold weather actually arrived.

At the thrift store I bought long pants and sweat shirts. The twenty dollar sweatshirts were five and the pants were three fifty. I bought lots of used clothes just to wear and not care if I got grease on them.

Since the cold rain served to get me ready for the winter, I guess it wasn't all bad. I did find that riding the bike was fun, even in the cooler weather. Actually it was just as much fun in the fifty degree weather as in eighty degrees. I figured it might be a little rough to ride at 30 degrees, but I decided that I had no reason to ride it when it got that cold. The bike was just a hobby.

It was a good thing that I bought the thrift store clothes, since the bike required work after ever ride. Grease on my clothes had become a way of life. My Vietnamese laundry woman was not happy about returning clothes to me with grease stains. I told her at least a dozen times not to worry, I knew they stains would be there when I gave them to her.

If you want to pick up girls of any age just get a puppy. I was told to take the puppy where people were, so he could get socialized. I carried him to every event, I attended. Dog developed a great personality. He also developed a cult following.

"Hey Mr. Abba, can Dog come out and play," Molly asked on more than one occasion.

I always sent the little fellow out to play with her. He was quickly developing a love for women of all ages. Mary often wanted to take him home with her, but I refused. I wanted him to know where his home was not be a gypsy.

"Well if you won't take him to the park for walks yet, I will." She bought him this tiny little leash that would fit him for about a month. I had refused to buy a wimp leash for the dog. Mary however had sprung for the little bit of braid that looked like a Christmas ribbon. They were gone for much longer than Dog could have walked in the park. I was thinking seriously of going to look for them, when Mary came through the door.

"Dog has had his puppy checkup and shots," She announced. "Since I paid for it, if you give me any problem, I will sue your ass for custody." I couldn't tell if she was serious or not.

Dog fit in my life style pretty well. He got puppy food mostly, but also got all my bits and pieces of left over dinner. Since I was losing weight pretty well, there was a bite left over almost always.

The first time I had a sense that Dog had been the right choice for me was when Dog and I were at the park. I got in what might have escalated to a heated conversation, except that I kept my voice low and serious. Some kid was hassling a little old lady and her wimp dog. It was just words, but it began to get on my nerves.

"Kid, it's time for you to move on." I said it quietly but dead serious. Dog growled at the kid as a kind of reinforcement. He was just about to make a smart remark out the puppy, when I stopped him with a warning, "One more word and you are going to need dentures." I have no idea why, but he must have believed me because he left without another word.

"God boy Dog," I said giving him a bit of a doggy chew.

"I think that little fellow would have bit him," the old lady said with a grin.

"I certainly hope so." I laughed as I scooped dog up and took him home.

The box method seemed to house break dog with only a couple of minor accidents. He was proving to be a great choice and a good companion. He watched TV on line with me every night. Actually he slept at my feet while hoping for peanut butter cracker bits.

I squeezed my walk in before I met with Sam. The house was in an older neighborhood and was really large, but not at all stately. It was simply a big old house. "You been waiting long?" I asked.

"Just enough time to eat my breakfast, and drink my second cup of coffee."

"Good then I won't feel bad that I wasn't here first," I suggested.

"Well lets go get you a puppy," Sam said leading the way to the old wooden door. Sam knocked then looked at me and smiled. "You gonna love Ms. Alma."

The woman who came to the door appeared to be eight years old if she was a day. She also appeared to have her wits about her. "Sam, I thought you promised to give me one more week. The puppies were just weaned."

"I'm not here to take the puppies, I brought John Abba to look at them. He is looking for a best friend. John don't like people much, and I hear tell people don't like him much either." Sam smiled and the woman took a good look at me.

"Mr. Abba welcome, I don't like people near as good a my dogs." Her smile was warm and gentle.

"It isn't quite as bad as Sam says I promise."

"You take care of my puppy, and I don't give a hoot in hell what people think of you." She smiled that, grandmother's just made warm cookies, smile at me.

The puppies were on her rear porch along with the mother of the brood. The older dog watched us carefully. "She might get a little upset," Sam suggested.

"I would expect so Sam," I replied. I turned to the old woman and asked, "So what's the breed?"

"Well Rosie is a irish setter, and I'm pretty sure the boxer down the street caught her in the yard and raped her." There was that grandmother smile again. "I don't know for sure, since Rosie didn't complain."

All of the puppies except one had brown coats and just looked ordinary. Sure they were puppy cute, but were going to be just ordinary brown dogs when they grew up. That is all of them except the little guy who came up to me and peed on my shoe. He was brown, gold, and rust all brindled together. He was gorgeous. He was also the only who stood beside his mother but kept his attention focused on me and Sam.

"I think I like the brindle one," I said to Sam.

"Let me run some shelter tests to see, if I can predict what his personality will be." Sam spent about five minutes handling the dog and pushing him around. "John he probably will be a good match for you. But if you want him to get along with people you should spend a lot of time socializing him. I had watched animal planet on TV enough to know what Sam meant.

Ms Alma took Rosie into the house and we took the puppy out the rear. I knew she missed him, and knew she would realize that he was gone forever, but at least she didn't have to watch him go.

The puppy rode on the floor in front of the passenger seat. I drove straight home, since I didn't really want to leave him in the car alone while I went puppy shopping. Fortunately Molly's car was in the drive. I thought that it might be since school was over for her. Misty had a year to go, but Molly was already working for the fire department. I expected her to tell me any day that she would be leaving soon.

She took one look at the puppy and it was obviously love at first sight for both of them. "You got a puppy. He is beautiful. What's his name."

"No name yet. Thought I might just call him dog."

"I should tell you that he needs a proper name, but I kind of like that idea."

'Would you do me a favor would you puppy sit? while I go buy him some dinner and a place to sleep?"

"Of course I will, but I warn you I may not give him back."

I felt like it might all be behind me. At least until it went to trial. Mary managed to get a copy of the grand jury transcript. I planned to read it until I knew every word I had said to the jury. I knew it might come back to haunt me at a trial. That was another favorite trick of defense attorneys as well as prosecutors.

The transcript wasn't free. It cost me that midnight picnic in the city park. I chose a park with no fence or gates. Nothing for me to break maybe a trespass rap if somebody got a case of the runs. I didn't care for that thought either, but what the heck you only live once. At least I hoped that I wouldn't have to go through all this again.

The picnic ended up being a little more, but that was okay. We were both adults and well over the legal age. The only witnesses might have been rocky raccoon and maybe a possum or two. I didn't think even the state's attorney could get them to testify.

"So," Mary said as we entered my house. "Did you threaten to cut him into little pieces then bring his brother in to do the same to him."

"I don't think I should answer that."

"Sure you should, I'm your shyster lawyer. I can do a better job, if I know the truth."

I had been willing to tell her dad, so I couldn't see any good reason not to tell her. If she ran away, which she might, it could also be a good thing. "What Robbie said is pretty much what happened."

"Would you have cut him into little pieces for Charlie?"

"No for Charlie's wife. I promised her I would see that the men who did it paid. I try to always keep my promises." I could see her mind working.

"That's what I like best about you."

"That I tortured that thug?"

"No that you always keep your word, no matter what the cost. Be careful what you promise me. I will expect you to always make good on them."

"I'll remember that." I said it smiling. "Now who's hair clip is this." she asked holding up a silver hair pin thing.

"Where did you get that?"

"I found it the last time I was here. I have been saving it for just the right moment."

"You mean it isn't yours?"

She burst into laughter. "Actually it is. I just wanted to see if you would cop a plea, and true to your nature you decided to bluff it out. I gotta admire that,"

"Good."

Mary left the next morning after breakfast. She was in a good mood and I was glad. I had plenty to do that Saturday morning. I didn't need to fight with anyone.

I spent the morning at Office Depot having printing done on their laser printer. They printed stacks of post cards, note cards and mini posters. My bill came to over a hundred dollars but I didn't mind. Win or lose, it was worth it just to have a reason to go to the re enactments.

I should have known from the cool mornings of late that fall was upon me. Fall meant the number of festivals and re enactments fell. The ones that were scheduled were attended by very few tourists. Mostly there would be only participants until spring.

Since I didn't want to sleep on the cold ground and since I was making a two to three hundred dollars a week delivering the court papers, I decided that I would go looking for a small lightweight camper. Something I could pull behind my small ford. I knew there were such things, I had just never seen one for real.

I was still looking in late October when Sam the dog catcher, aka animal control officer, called. "John do you still want a dog. I saw a woman yesterday who has a litter of pups. She wants to try to place them before the shelter takes them."

"What kind are they?" I asked.

"Mixed but there is at least some boxer in them."

Can you meet me there to help pick one out. I don't want to get the wrong one."

"John there ain't no wrong one, but yeah meet me at her place at nine."

Sam gave me the address and I wrote it down. It appeared that I was about to become a dog owner.

I slept away most of Monday morning. It had been a long couple of days for me. I hardly slept at all Saturday night and Sunday night my mind just wouldn't shut down. I had a really bad feeling that something was going to happen. However, the Monday morning sunny weather, and mild temperature made me feel much better. I went to William sport to collect the papers for me to serve. I got Susan's without a hitch, but when I got to the Seymore office, it was a different story.

"You need to see Mary," the receptionist informed me. I knew Mary liked to make a bit of a production of handing me the papers, so I wasn't surprised at all.

I nodded and a minute later Mary came from her office. "John, come in we need to talk a minute."

When I was seated she went on, "John we got notice this morning that you are being called before a grand jury. The state is not going to let go. It seems they want to investigate all the circumstances related to Charlie's death. They are adding Robbie's treatment by the Carthage police department to their inquiry."

"Well do I get to serve myself and charge them for it?" I smiled.

"John this could be serious. Did you know what Charlie was up to?"

"As far as I knew then, and as far as I know now, Charlie was clean. He did no more than any other cop has done. A friend asks a favor and if it isn't illegal we did it. That's all Charlie did as far as I know."

"And that's how you plan to testify?"

"It is."

"Then they will paint your whole department as corrupt."

"I hope not because it is the truth. If that makes us corrupt, every cop in the world is corrupt."

"How about Robbie's finger. He is going to claim you did it."

"He can claim anything he want's. I'm going to tell the truth there. I did go to see him when he got out of jail. I wanted to ask about Charlie. He rode with me while I tried to talk to him about Charlie. I drove over to that overlook by the lake. You know the one right off the highway.

Robbie tried to jump me and we struggled. When he finally stopped fighting, he was bleeding like a stuck pig. I got a towel from the trunk of my car, wrapped his hand in it and carried him to the ER. On the way I asked him about the knife. I guess he was in such pain he couldn't figure out how to lie. I never did get to ask him why he did it."

"If you tell that story, you are going to prison."

"It's the truth, but if you think it best, I'll plead the fifth. I don't give a crap if they think I did it' I would prefer not to go to prison."

"How about I try to work out an immunity deal."

"You can, if you want, but I have nothing to give them."

"Yes, but they don't know that. If they think you will roll up everyone in Carthage they might well give you immunity on Robbie. They don't care about Robbie or Charlie, they think there is systemic corruption in Carthage. That's the publicity they want."

"What about Robbie. Does he still go down for Charlie, or will they throw out the knife."

"They will probably throw it out."

"Then I can't swap it out. I promised his wife he was going down for it. Do what you can, but I won't give Robbie away."

That's how, three days later, I came to tell the story to the grand jury. When I told it, I thought one of the women was going to cry.

"So if things happened as you said, why did you tell the police that you had no idea what happened to Robbie?" the state's attorney asked.

"Because I was Charlie's partner and friend for years, I knew how it would look. I really don't want to wind up in prison with the men I put there."

"Yes and that's exactly how it looks. You tortured a confession from the suspect."

"I knew that was how it would look to others, but it just isn't true. Robbie is an accomplished liar and a thug, I knew he would come up with some fancy story right off some TV show he had seen. I didn't really lie, I don't know exactly how it happened, but I know all I did was defend myself from a vicious killer."

Now most of the time a prosecutor can get the grand jury to indict a ham sandwich, but he get them to indict me. I was worried for a while but he just couldn't make it go. He didn't have anything but the word of a felon and murderer. He was an unarmed man in a gunfight. so he didn't even try to go the preliminary hearing route. If he had arrested me after the grand jury's findings, he knew he was facing a huge false arrest and harassment trial, one he would most likely lose. That would be a career killer.

"I will pose for you, but definite not naked, you Yankee scum."

"Hey, I was born and raised right her. I ain't no Yankee scum."

"If a strong handsome man like you is not in uniform, you are either a Yankee or a Yankee sympathizer."

"Ah well I guess I'm the 1863 version of a 4f."

"There ain't no such thing. You must be a Yankee."

"Hey, I'm and artist." I said it holding up the camera.

"Ah I see, so you are one of those sissy boys."

"Take a walk with me, you will be safe after all I'm one of those sissy boys." I knew how to use her words against her. I had made a living for years doing just that.

"Very well, since my scoundrel of a husband is off being a weekend sailor why not." So I would be trying to take advantage of her family squabble, so what.

We walked outside the campsite and along a small creek, Someone obviously kept the creek bank clean and trimmed. Most likely a lot of people had walked that same route. Probably even more than one couple had moved quietly along the creek bank.

I didn't realize how deeply she was into the civil war role play game until she said, "So do you think that horrible Lincoln person can really free all the Negroes?"

"I think he already has," I replied.

"It takes more than a piece of paper to make a man free," she informed me.

"So it does, so it does." I replied. As we continued to walk I wondered how a rake like me seduced a married woman in 1863. I decided on the full frontal assault. She stopped to look at the moon for a second, so I gently turned her to me and tried to kiss her,

She surprised me by not running away, or allowing me to kiss her. Instead she said, "It's too soon for that."

"It's never to soon for a kiss in the moonlight," I replied. She turned her face back to me and allowed me to kiss her gently. After a few seconds she broke the kiss. She turned without a word and led me back to the encampment. I expected something different, but she went to the fire at the center of the tent circle. She poured herself a cup of coffee, took a sip, then began to sing Amazing Grace. My blood ran cold at the sound. It was played or sang at ever cop funeral I ever attended.

The last one was Charlie's. That moment brought all the last few weeks back to my mind. I have a strange feeling that something bad was about to happen. Something besides me shooting another roll of film that is. I had no idea if I captured the beauty that was Jenny or not, but I know that I sure as hell tried. Even with the high speed film and the roaring fire the odds were against me.

Saturday morning began with the re enactors waking me up at 6am with orders to leave the tent city. My little canvas shelter could stay ,but me, my camera, and my blankets had to go.

I went out to breakfast at McDonalds again. Then I spent the day shooting images that could have been a reenactment or real. Actually the camera was so modern that the images were easily identifiable as coming from a modern camera. Old cameras had worse optics, but better negative to print ratios. It was a noticeable difference.

Jenny chose to avoid me most of the day. I tried to engage her in conversation early on, but she was cold, so I knew better than to try again. There were lots of possibilities for her coolness, some involved me being a jerk , some involved her being timid, and others involved what might get back to her absent husband. All in all, I decided that the ball was in her court.

The plan was for Sunday to be just a typical day around camp, so that the tourists could see what life was like. One of those living history exhibits that had become so popular of late. My plan was to get an early start for home the next morning. I had plenty of shots of camp life. I made them before and after the battle.

The campfire singing and story telling lasted until about eleven. I was fairly tired so I retired to the small tent like shelter to sleep immediately after. I had been asleep for sometime, when I felt the hand on my shoulder. I looked at my watch to find that it was 3am more or less.

"Shhhh," Jenny hissed and made the universal finger motion to follow her. She led the way back to the creek. I follower her to a blanket spread under a tree. She motioned me to sit and I did of course. I leaned back against the tree trunk, then Jenny sat between my legs with her back to me. She leaned back allowing me to wrap her in my arms. She leaned her head back against my chest. It was obvious she did not want to speak. She just seemed to need to be held.

I sat under the tree until almost sunup. I held Jenny and she fell asleep in my arms. I nodded off from time to time myself. As the sky began to lighten Jenny and I separated. I made it back to my makeshift tent just in time to be awakened by the fake captain, who told me to get my shit and get out. He phrased it a little better but that was still the gist of it.

There were no last words between Jenny and I. I suppose she didn't need any and I sure as hell didn't. It had been a night right out of some silly southern romance novel. One of those trashy thinks women seem to love so much. Well she had her illusion just like the rest of the role play game she was involved with.

I made quick work of packing the car and even quicker work of getting the hell out of Kentucky.

For the next two weeks I delivered court papers twice a week, I also made images three or four times a week, then when I had a few minutes to spare, I took the bike out for a spin. Most of my time was accounted for doing things that I enjoyed. It was hard not to expect something to come along and cause a reversal of my fortunes.

I went out with Mary Seymore a couple of times during those two weeks. It seemed to be a harmless relationship so I just ignored the fact that it was a different thing to each of us. To me it was all about enjoying the moment. To Mary it was about building a relationship from moment to moment. I felt that somewhere in her mind there was some grand plan. Yes I should have run away, but I made a well thought out choice not to do so.

I really did like Mary. At least enough to do the dance with her for a while. She would move forward and I would move back. As long as she remained careful not to push me against the wall, I would play along.

Friday morning I headed to the Foxton reenactment. Even if the beautiful Jenny was married, a chance to spend the weekend shooting pictures of camp life, among the re enactors, was too good an opportunity to miss.

Jenny had emailed me that I needed to bring a couple of blankets to sleep under, but since mine would not be authentic, I would have to pack them away before the tourist began to arrive, It was all a giant hoax, but I didn't mind. 'Honesty at all cost' as a concept was fine, but in the real world I knew that it just wasn't practical. The two blankets were probably plain enough to pass muster, but they were surely the wrong color. I had bought them from a salvation army store.

After a disaster the army ran shelters. The blankets had been used at one of the shelters. There were a couple of stains, probably blood, that were never going to come out, so the Salvation army put the stained blankets in their thrift store. I bought them to use on the ground, when I worked on my car. I had yet to find an occasion for their use, so when I pulled them from the trunk of my car, in the parking lot reserved for re enactors, they were clean just not very pretty.

I had made good time thanks to the excellent highway system in this country. The six hundred mile trip took me just under eleven hours. When I stopped for gas. I emptied what needed to be emptied, and filled bags with 'one hand food'. That is food that could be consumed safely while driving.

There was a gentleman standing picket at the edge of the parking lot. The edge of that parking lot was also the end of 2010 and the beginning of 1863. It was impossible to tell the eventual size of the encampment, since it was still being built. The parking lot was busy with men in jeans and sweat shirts running back an forth with loads of camping equipment. The thing that set them apart from an ordinary camper was the age or look of the items they carried. If the items weren't authentic, they were damn good replicas.

The quartermaster was issuing camp spaces and generally in charge of the bivouac. He explained that there were no quest quarters available, but that knew all about me.

"I gave Jenny the approval for you to stay here with certain conditions," he explained. The conditions were pretty much as Jenny had told me. Nothing to disrupt the good order of the battle or camp life. "Now go to the supply sergeant and draw a temp shelter kit. He will tell you how to erect it.. If you still need help one of the guys here can help you I'm sure."

The 1 each temporary shelter kit was no more than a sheet of white canvas 6.5' by 4.5'. Wrapped up inside it were two 3' dowels, four stakes, and a half dozen pieces of light rope. It all appeared to be period or made to appear to be of the period. Also inside the kit was a set of hand written instruction, complete with crude hand drawn illustrations. The shelter wasn't a tent and it wasn't a lean to , but it was a little of both. One of my blankets was for the floor. I was able to put up the shelter and leave it since it was period,. The blankets would have to be removed first thing then next morning. I didn't expect that the canvas structure would last the night. I imagined it would be a moisture cover flat over the blankets come the first gust of wind.

I shot a picture of the shelter once I had it erected, then I moved on to shoot pictures of other tents in various stages of completion. I made pictures of men setting put the portable wood fired cook stove. One of the re enactors made it himself He was the man who gave the old time blacksmith demonstrations for a museum.. He combined his love of metal working with his hobby and out of it came a camp stove able to feed the whole company of re enactors. There was a donation jar to pay for the food and fuel.

I decided to pass on the bacon and beans with cornbread, which was on the dinner menu that night, I did drop five bucks in the jar anyway. I did it because the images I had shot that day, and the stories I heard were worth a heck of a lot more to me than five bucks.

Instead of the bacon and beans, I shot pictures of it all until dead dark. Then I used my GPS to get me to a McDonalds for a big Mac and fries. The coke was by far the best thing that night. It was a warm night and I knew I was going to be in trouble without water the next day. Since they were going to make me a tourist, I decided to buy a six pack of bottled water. It went against my grain to pay for water, but I had no choice.

I had made the conscious decision not to shoot anything with flash. I was planning to make period type images, so the flash would have just been out of place. That did not prevent me from bringing my fastest lens and the fastest film I could find. I loaded it in the camera for the campfire shots. Even so I doubted that they would be of any use. I shot it in black and white so that I could manipulate the images.

Jenny found me around 9pm. "Well hello picture man. I expect to see some beautiful images next week on you web site."

"Only if you pose nude for me," I whispered.

"My, my how you do talk. You will have me all red and flustered," she said in her best fake drawl and then she giggles.