THE NEW BRADY BUNCH # 3

THE NEW BRADY BUNCH: THE PLAYGROUND PROBLEM While, for nearly a century, the children, of Clinton Avenue, had grown up playing at a local park. A place, which had been donated, to the city, maybe 150 (+) years ago, and where children, and teens, of ALL ages, could enjoy the heavy duty playground equipment, with slides, swings, monkey bars (jungle gyms?), and teeter-totters, all built out of what was, presumably, considered left over construction debris, from a building. A building which, itself, had been condemned, due to vastly out-of-date lead paint, and so many other issues. Even architect Mike Brady saw the wisdom, in checking everyting, built, of these materials, for toxic chemicals. There was just one problem. After the firm, which employed Mike Brady, was retained to check for any locations, where the toxics might have been put to use, Mike Brady FOUND atleast one location, where lead was found to be at near-toxic levels. Before Mike Brady would issue the bad news, he made certain of his findings. Every reading was triple-checked. Still, the evidence was clear. Every part, of the park, from sliding boards, to swing sets, monkey bars, and so on, were not only coated, in lead paint, but test samples PROVED that the equipment was BUILT of lead pipes. When Mike would inform Carol, and Carol would ask "Where will the children play?" Mike would inform his wife "Its not my decision. There is enough lead, in that park, to poison every child, within 100 miles. I dont like it, any better, than you but the lead MUST be dealt, with, according to the LAW." Even as Carol,and Michael, Brady, were meeting with local parents, to discuss the future, of the park, the towns mayor would make a public announcement. The mayor would be televised, saying "Friends, and Neighbors, I want to promise you that this park, which has served our community, through several generations, will NOT go the way, of the dinosaur. No, in fact, your community has, already sought funding, for replacement playground equipment. The park will remain open, with ONLY the playground being closed, until new, safe, equipment, can be installed. That is your mayors promise, to those, who elected me to office." While as many as 100 people turned out, to watch the old playground being torn out, and the park being levelled, and graded, to increase safety, what no one could have expected was what happened, next. While the mayor held another, news, conference, to announce the re-opening, of the park playground, it was not long before the Brady's, and other families found severe FAULT, with the new playground. When Carol went to investigate the problem, she found that her children were correct. There were, very definite, signs, posted, warning that "Only children, under the age of ten", were allowed to use the playground. When Carol asked Mike, about the age restriction, Mike suggested "Let me talk, to the mayor. Maybe I can find out something. Who knows, maybe the cheap stuff is only until regular use equipment can be installed." When Mike DID speak, to the mayor, however, he was in for some very BAD news. As the mayor would explain, "Mike, we have known one another, for a very long time. You know I would not "snow-job" you, right?" Mike would say "Of course. Thats why I wanted to ask you about the new playground equipment. How soon will the temporary stuff be removed, and replaced, with the same quality, which we had, before?" The mayor would say "Mike, I hate to tell you this, but, the current equipment is ALL that the state, and federal, governments, would allow funding for." When Mike would ask "What do you mean? I thought that the state just approved the construction, of three, brand new, GAMBLING casinoes. If the state can afford more gambling..." The mayor would say "I have been informed that GAMBLING means potential REVENUE. A playground is considered "Not a priority", since a play area does NOT produce revenue". When Mike would ask "What about the frederal government? Washington D.C. has been sending hundreds of billions, of dollars, per year, on the "War on Terror". Surely, they can spare a couple of million, for a proper playground, for our children." The mayor would say "Mike, dont you think I thought of that?" When Mike would ask "Tell me, old friend, What DID Washington D.C. tell you?" The mayor would say "The Office, of Management, and Budget told me that Congress remains convinced that reducing/eleminating taxation, of the super-rich, is far more important, than a safe playground." Mike Brady would say "The same, old, rhetoric. Cut taxes, on the super-rich, NOW, and EVENTUALLY, SOME-day, th super-rich MIGHT, POSSIBLY, consider re-investing in the American economy." The mayor would say "Sorry, Mike, but that is the "bottom line. I even had to BEG a child-welfare group, for the funds, for what is, currently, in place. Without child-welfare funds, there would be nothing, at all." While Mike Brady would shake his old friends hand, saying "I do appreciate your taking the time to meet with me. I will inform my family." The mayor would say "Not at all. We should visit more often." Mike Brady would smile as he said "A wife, six kids, and a housekeeper, keep me VERY busy." At the Brady household, when Mike called a family meeting, Carol would be the first to ask "Are you saying that the government thinks that GAMBLING, and blowing up other nations, is more important than OUR childrens welfare?" Mike would say "Thats about it. That, and further tax-cuts, for the super-rich?" When Greg would ask "Why do the super-rich need tax-cuts? Even our teachers, in school, say that the super-rich control 99.9%, of America's money. What do the super-rich need even MORE money for?" How was Mike Brady to answer that kind of "Common Sense" question. Instead, Mike Brady would issue his family a challenge. "Instead of complaining, about what we DONT have, why not place our efforts, and energy, into finding a positive solution, to the problem." When Peter would ask "Like what? Build the new playground, ourselves?" When Greg would say "Dont be a dufus. We cant afford the construction permits, alone. Let alone the price, of the equipment." Mike would suggest "Peter DOES have a point, Greg. Now, while our family, alone, might not have enough money, for the entire project, what is to prevent us from engaging our neighbors, friends, even your class-mates? When Carol wuld suggest "Like a fund drive?" Mike would say "Exactly. get people involved. Show them how the park has, and will, benefit, the community." When Bobby would say "I hope the new park has a play-station." Greg would say "Bobby, playgrounds are a place to exercise, and relax. Not to play electronic games." Mike would say "thats enough Greg. Now, the question is: How MANY of us are "IN"?" Carol, and the girls, would be first to say "We're in". The boys would follow up, saying "Yeah, us too." As for Mike Brady, he KNEW what his part would be. As part, of the work, of an architect, is to obtain price quotes, for various jobs, Mike Brady, already, knew the prices, of YOUNG childrens playgrounds. This is why Mike Brady did not bother with the normal, childrens, "play-stations". When Mike Brady, instead, visited a sporting goods store, for price quotes, on equipment, designed to withstand anything a teen could "throw at it", Mike was in for "sticker-shock", when he saw the prices. Mike Brady was wondering if he would be paying, for the equipment, OR the brand name. This is why Mike Brady would turn to his creative side. If he could not find reasonable prices, on what he sought, he would do the same thing, for his family, and neighbors, as he did, for his clients. He would "re-purpose" materials, for park use. When Carol hosted a community gathering, on the Brady's property, one of the first questions, which Mike Brady would be faced with was "Since the current playground equipment has a weight limit, of sixty pounds, HOW will this affect your plans?" Mike Brady would make a joke,with his friend, and neighbor, saying "As long as you weigh less than a ton, my plan will accomodate your weight." This met with laughter, all around. It was when Mike laid out the plan, which included using construction piping, as framing, and tow chains, on things, like the swing sets, as well as "re-purposing" other construction materials, friends, and neighbors, all agreed to "think about it." Later, to Mikes surprise, the mayor would approach Mike, at the construction firm, saying "Mike, word, around town, is that you plan a new park, for your neighborhood." When Mike would say "I wouldn't call it "new". Just replacing what was there, before." When the mayor would ask "With SAFER materials, I hope." Mike would say "Trust me. This, new, place will last, for another century." The mayor would say "I HOPE so. I am committing myself to SUPPORTING this project. Dont let me down, okay?" Mike would say "As an architect, you have my word. No shoddy workmanship." Before the mayor would depart, he would suggest "Mike, in case your idea DOES work, WHAT does your family plan to do, with the equipment, which is, already, on-site?" Mike would say "We haven't discussed that, yet." The mayor would say "Good. If your project works, I have an offer, to SELL the current playground equipment to a pre-school center." Mike would, then ask the mayor "Sir, about building permits." The mayor would ask "What about them?" Mike would say "We will be re-placing the old with the new." The mayor would suggest "As far as I know, your plan is simply to update some aging equipment. Unless you plan to BUILD something, like a community center, I dont see where a permit would be needed." When Mike would say "Thank you, sir." The mayor would say "Anytime." While it WAS true, that Mike Brady DID adhere to the basic plan, of the original park, about the only thing he did "differently", was to add on some extra parts. For example: According to some "ancient blue-prints" Mike found, in the Hall of Records, it would seem thatt the reason why the original playground had only twelve swings, two slides, and four teetter-totters, was because there were only eight families, living in what was, at that time, mostly wilderness. What local government had FAILED to do, over the years, since World War Two had ended, was to "upgrade" the park, as more veterans moved in, and started families. The same, tiny, playground, which had been fine, for the use, of a handful of families, had become a "sore-spot", as the community grew, while "leaving the park behind". While Mike Brady, never, had any intention of becoming the "leader" of the renovation, Mike,, successfully, rallied friends, and neighbors, to accept that an ENLARGED park would suit the community, better. Before cutting down any of the tree's, in the park, however, Mike Brady made certain thatt, when the tree's health was examined, that the choice, of examiner, as well as the examination, itself, were public knowledge. As the "ancient" tree's were cut down, Carol performed the job of "tour guide", showing those, who were interested, the health, of the tree's. Carol did not have to say, or do, much, since the gathering watched the sampples being brought down, and the rotted, and hollow, interiors, of the tree trunks "said it all". In fact, it was a good thing that the tree trimmers tied off the tree's, prior to cutting. This because, with atleast three tree's, no-sooner did chain saws go to work, when the vibrations caused the tree's to split, into sections, which fell to the ground. By the time Mike, and Carol, Brady, were asked "WHAT do we replace them with?", Mike would place three proposals, before his neighbors. While the people were deciding upon what kind of "shelter" they wanted, from the elements, Mike found himself not just overseeing the construction, but, it seems, doing so, on payroll. It would seem that the mayor had made a point of informing various, civic-improvement, groups of what the Brady's were doing. As a result, money began being gathered, to aid the construction process, as well as to make architect Mike Brady the OFFICIAL head of the effort. Soon, A-frames, and cross-members, were being assembled, to hold new groups, of swings. Sheet metal was being formed into sliding boards, and a local, demolition, crew even "donated" several tons, of flat iron (Which the crew would have had to PAY, to send to a dump, anyway). Once sliced into strips, sanded smooth, then covered with heat-resistant paint (For those who remember burning "backsides", during hot, summer days, when wooden teeter-totters surfaces got so hot that "bottoms", and legs got burned.), the strips would be turned into eight teeter-totters. When the Brady's neighbors would ask how they could make "special contributions", to the park, Carol Brady had suggested "Why not donate a sitting bench, or part of the picnic shelter?" In fact, the only, REAL, "complaint", about thee whole project, would be when the Brady kids would be informed that, since it was the KIDS, who started the project, it would be the kids, who would be in charge of trash collection, landscaping, and so on. When Peter would say "Thats not fair! Why should WE have to clean up, after everyone else?" Carol would ask "WHO was it who wanted to SAVE the park?" Greg would sigh and say "We get the picture. WE wanted the park, and now WE get to PAY for it." Mike would say "Thats right. Remember. Everything, in life, comes at a PRICE. There are NO "free rides"." When Bobby would add "Except for little kids. They get everything, for free." Carol would correct her son, saying "Parents are responsible for paying for children." While Mike, and Carol, Brady, would have been happy, to let th mayor take all of the credit, for both the effort, and the Grand RE-Opening", of the park, it would seem that Mike, and Carol, Brady, would be called upon to say a few words, in honor of the occassion. Both, of the Brady parents, would agree to give the credit to those who had helped. "Without the combined efforts, of this community, this project would, never, have come about. Thank You, one and all." While the mayor DID sell the playground equipment, to a day care center, no one cared about this. What made the Brady family, their neighbors, and friends, happy was that, as it had been more than a century before, the park was, now, large enough for ALL of the local kids to enjoy themselves. No matter how OLD the kids were, or how heavy the kids might be. THIS playground had NO height, weight, or age, restrictions. Life was back to "normal", for the "Brady Bunch". Atleast until the kids next caper...

THE NEW BRADY BUNCH # 2

THE NEW BRADY BUNCH: It was a warm, sun-lit, afternoon, in the neighborhoood, when Marcia Brady would wander into the family home. It was the kind of day where most high schoolers would be thrilled to be "free" of school, for after-school activities. Both Carol Brady, and Alice Nelson, would be enjoying the day, while going about housekeeping duties, when Marcia would walk in. When Carol would ask Marcia "How was your day, honey?" Marcia would say nothing. When Carol would ask "Didn't the test go well?" Marcia would just walk out of the kitchen, after passing her mother her test results. When Alice would ask "Dont tell me she didin't pass. She was studying, for a whole WEEK." When Carol would pass Alice the school paper, Alice would say "I dont understand. She should be thrilled, with this score." Carrol would say "I dont know what it is, but I think its time I play "Sherlock Holmes". When Carol would join Marcia, in the girls room, Marcia would be staring out the window. When Carol would mention "Marcia, you look like you just lost your best friend. What happened?" Marcia would not answer. This is when Carol would pat her daughter, saying "When you want to talk, I will be downstairs, with Alice." By the time Carol returned to the kitchen, Greg would be coming in, looking as if his favorite pet had been run over. When Alice would mention "I have your football uniform all nice and pressed. All ready for you to get it all muddy, again." Carol, and Alice, would be surprised, when Greg would mention "fine. By the way, Alice would you find me a bag, big enough for the uniform, AND the helmet?" When Carol would mention "I THOUGHT you had a bag, at school, in the team locker room." Greg would say "yeah, right. Alice, find me that bag, would you?" Alice would say "Sure." After Greg slumped towards the dining room, then upstairs, Carol would call Mike, saying "Mike, we have a problem. No, I DONT know what it is. What I DO know is that both Greg, and Marcia, are "in the dumps". A moment later, Carol would tell Mike, "No, it wasn't the test. Marcia got a 97 on the test. This is something else." Carol, and Alice, KNEW something was wrong, when the other four kids came in, all looking like their world had come to an end. When Carol stopped the "caravan", saying "Okay, out with it. Something is going on. I want to know WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY." When Peter would begin, asking "If I knew of someone, who did something, wrong..." Jan would add "Very wrong." Peter would ask "Would it be snitching, or tattling, to tell someone what the person did?" When Carol would ask "Did someone get hurt?" Jan would say "More than that." To which Peter would scold his sister, saying "Shut up. I dont know..." When Carol would ask Jan "What is it that Peter is trying NOT to tell me?" Carol noticed that even Jan hesitated, as she said "There is word, going around school..." Peter would be quick to say "More like a rumor." When Carol realized that ALL of her children were stalling, she said "Alright, just wait until your father gets home." To Carols surprise, Peter would ask "Can we talk to him BFEORE dinner?" When Carol would ask "Is it THAT important?" Peter would say "Its like Mission Impossible important." This is when Carol would call Mike, saying "Mike, something is, definitely, up, yet the kids say its too important, for me. They want you to talk to them, when you get home. Get this, Peter even asked to talk to you BEFORE dinner." When Mike would say "Sounds serious." Carol would say "Peter even referenced Mission Impossible." Mike would say "Now, I KNOW its serious. I will be home, as soon as possible." While Michael Brady would wonder, on the way home, what could be so important that DINNER had to wait, the architect would have NO idea what he would be walking into. Maybe, it was another, school, fight, between Peter, and Bobby Hinton. Maybe, Marcia was caught, with lipstick, again. Maybe Greg used foul language, on a team mate. (Something most players do, when injured.) Michael Brady was prepared for most anything his six kids could "throw at him" (or, so he thought). It would not be until he stopped at the boys room, first, asking "Okay guys, WHAT is so important that FOOD can wait." Greg would ask "Dad, what if I knew of a guy, who did something, really, terrible, yet the school wont do anything about it." When Michael Brady would ask "Did it happen OFF of school property?" Greg would give an "un-fortunately" look, as he said "No, it was, definitely ON school grounds." When Mike Brady would ask "Did one student hurt another student, beyond sports injuries, I mean." Greg would say "Yeah.. You could say that." When Mike would ask "How bad, broken bones, bloody nose, dis-located shoulder?" When Greg would say "If only it were that simple." Mike would say "I am running out of things to guess at. Did a student hit someone?" Greg would say "You can say that." Mike would ask "How bad? Wheelchair bad?" Greg would say "I wish it were that simple." Mike would say "Okay, Gregory, OUT with it. What is it that you are trying NOT to tell me, or your mother?" Greg would say "Dad, what should happen if a student hurts a student, REAL bad, yet the school does not WANT to know about it?" Mike would say "Something happened, at school, yet you are willing to forgo dinner, to try and tell me what is happening." When Greg would say "I am quitting the football team." When Mike would ask "WHY? I thought you loved football." Greg would say "I do. or, atleast I did." When Mike would say "Now, we are getting somewhere. WHAT would make you want to leave the team." Greg would say "I thought they were just a bunch of guys, out for some fun, and sports." When Mike would ask "What changed?" Greg would say "A player did something. Something really bad. I dont want any part, of it." When Mike would say "Come on, it cant be THAT bad. Its not like a player committed murder." When Greg just looked at his elder, Mike would ask "No one murdered anyone, did they?" Greg would say "If it were only that simple." While Alice kept the dinner warm, Carol would wonder WHAT it was that Mike, and the kids were speaking about. What could be more important than dinner? It was not until Mike came down, to dinner, calling up, to the kids "Remember, wash up, before dinner." that Carol would ask "Mike Brady, WHAT is up, with the kids?" Once Mike Explained, Carol lost her appettite, then began calling her friends, in order to find out WHAT the facts were. While neither Mrs. Witherspoon, nor Mrs. Logan, nor Mrs. Longtree, had much more information, it would only be when Carol would telephone the Livingston's, that the situation became more clear. It was when Mrs. Livingston's neighbor would inform Carol "the family is at the hospital, with their daughter, Linda" that Carol would ask "What happned to Linda?" The woman, on the other end, would say "Not over the phone. If you want to know, the family is at the hospital." When Carol told Mike, about this, Mike Brady would announce "Lets find out what this is, REALLY, all about." While both Brady's drove to the hospital, in silence, each parent was "running 1,000 different scenarios" through their minds. It was only at the hospital, that the facts began to come to light. Facts, which both parents had HOPED were not true. From what hospital staff, and the girls parents, could "pump out" of Linda, it would seem that, following a rather successful, practice, game, Linda had thought her boyfriend had wanted a "success" kiss. When she found out what he REALLY wanted, Linda had declined. (Un-fortunately, the boy was not about to take NO for an answer) All that the trauma doctor would say was "it was multiple. No question." The full back, on the football team, had TAKEN what he wanted. Now, Linda would be left to "pick up the pieces". On the way home, Mike Brady would call the school, and arrange a meeting, for the next day. It would, not, however, be until Mike and Carol, returned home, that Greg, and Marcia, would remind their parents of school policy. When Greg would start out "Remember that school policy, which Las Vegas has?" Marcia would add "The one, which deals with assault, by having both parties sign a LAME, No Contact Contract." Carol would remind Mike "I remember hearing something, about that, but isn't that limited to bullying?" Carol was surprised when Greg would say "Boy, mom, are you behind the times". When Mike would ask "Greg, just WHAT does that mean?" Greg would say "You, REALLY, need to get up-to-date, and big time." Marcia would say "Just ask the principal. You wouldn't believe us, if we told you." The next morning, breakfast was so quiet that Alice would remark "You know, for a house, containing nine people, and enough action, to fill any newspaper, I get the feeling that, this morning, I am working in a graveyard." First Mike, then Carol, then the kids, would say "Sorry, Alice. Something else on our minds." Maybe an hour later, Carol, and Mike, Brady, would be in the principals office, hearing what they NEVER thought they would hear a school administrator saying. "Mr. and Mrs. Brady, you have to understand. With everything, which is going on, in schools, today, the school board HAD to take proactive action." When Carol would ask "What KIND of proactive action?" The principal would say "Following in the steps, of Nevada, we have instituted our own form of "sexual harrassment" policy." When Mike would ask "What form would that be?" The principal would say "Mr. Brady, it is all here, outlinned on section 325, sub-section 12, sub-paragraph A, as outlined, under Article 3117. As I will quote, Following any suspected act, of sexual violation, the victim has three hours to report such an attack to school administrators. This, of course, mirrors the sub-section, regarding in-appropriate touch, which must be reported, within one hour." When Carol would ask "You mean to say that, when a girl is...., she is required to come directly to the principals office and tell you "By the way, I was just..." The principal would say "Mrs. Brady, if you WONT SAY the word, then reporting would be useless. The victim MUST come forward, right after the "attack". Other wise, as far as the school is concerned, the "attack" never happened." When Mike would ask "Never happened? There is a girl, lying in a hospital bed, traumatized, by what you say "never happened." All the principal would do was say "While un-fortunate, such things DO happen, in life." When Carol would ask "Such things happen, in life?" The principal would say "Mrs. Brady, the simple fact is that no boy is an angel. Not even your own. Tell, me, WHAT would YOU do, if one of YOUR OWN boys committed this act?" Carol would, no-sooner say "The boy, who did this, would not LIVE to see his next birthday. THAT is my guarantee, about MY boys." Mike would go even further, telling the principal "If one, of OUR boys did something, like this, **I** guarantee the boy would not see the sun-rise, tomorrow." When the principal would say "Fine WORDS, both of you, but I have over 100 students, whose parents may feel differently." Mike Brady's final question, to the principal, would be "By the way, WHY is this the FIRST we are hearing, of this school policy?" The principal would say "Mr. Brady, it is NOT the districts responsibility, to make parents aware of every, single, rule, and regulation. It is YOUR duty, as parents, to ASK us. Now, good day." Later that day, while Carol, and Mike, Brady, would be discussing what could be done, about the attack, on the girl, Greg would come home, beaten, and bloody. When Carol saw her son, and asked "I thought you said you were quitting the team, because of what the full back did. How did this happen?" Greg would inform his mother "When I went to turn in my stuff, the full back asked my reason. When I told him, he made a remark, suggesting that the girl was a slut." When Mike would ask "Okay, what happened." Greg would say "Honest, dad, ALL I wanted to do was turn in my equipment. I never planned any of this." When Mike would ask "WHAT happened?" Greg would say "After the full back insulted my friend, he commented, suggesting that Marcia could be his next "victory". Thats when I taught him about threatening my family." When Carol asked "How did it turn out?" Greg would say "When the coach found us, and pulled us apart, and while the coach insisted upon talking to the full back, first, I just kicked my bag, told the coach I was quitting, and the next thing I know, the coach is telling me that I am suspended." When Carol would ask Greg "How can you be suspended, if you quit the team?" Greg would say "Not suspended, from sports. I am suspended, from SCHOOL." When Mike asked "WHY?" Greg would say "Coach says that **I** attacked, without provocation." When Carol would say "For defending your sister?" Greg would say "Thats right. Now, may I go to my room. I have some thinking to do." Mike would say "Of course. I will have Alice call you, when dinner is ready." No-sooner was Greg heading upstairs when Marcia burst into the house, saying "Gregory Brady, how could you!" When Carol would ask "What is it?" Marcia would say "Its all over school. Greg told the team to leave me, for HIM!" When Carol would ask "Your own brother?" Mike would ask Greg "Whats this all about?" Greg would say "Honest, I told you what happened." When Marcia would ask Greg "WHY?" Greg was just starting to tell Marcia the truth, when Jan came in, saying "Its all around the neighborhood. Greg is making a play, for his own sister." When Greg looked as confused, as his parents, Carol would say "I think its time for me to make some phone calls." Mike would say "You take the kitchen phone, and I will take the den. Its time to find out WHAT is going on, here." By the time Carol, and Mike, verified, a few dozen times over, that it was members, of the football team, who were spreading the incest rumors, that Marcia apologized, to her brother, saying "I should have known that you would never do such a thing." When Greg would say "Dont you forget it." Marcia would add "Besides, I KNOW who you want." This is when Greg would growl "MARCIA!". It would be perhaps a month later, when another girl was "attacked", that things reached a boiling point. This, when Greg, and Marcia, would march home, telling Carol "After Sally was attacked, and reported it, as the school insisted" Marcia would ask her mother "Do you KNOW what the principal did?" When Carol would say "I have no idea. Was the boy punished?" Marcia would say "Not the boy." Then Greg would fill in the gap, saying "The principal ordered an assembly, and, in front of the WHOLE, student, body, ASKED Sally "DID this player RAPE you? I mean, right in front of the whole school! The principal might as well have taken an ad out, in the Wall Street Journal." When Carol would ask "What happened, to Sally?" Marcia would say "She ran from the assembly hall, and away from the school grounds. NO one knows where she is." By this time, Alice was handing Carol her contacts book, saying "I will use the phone, in Mr. Brady's den." Not long after the calls began, Carol would receive a call, saying "Mrs. Brady, if possible, you, and Mr. Brady, are requested to join a special meeting, at the town hall, tonight." When Carol asked "Whats the reason?" The caller would say "To discuss the events, at Westmont High School, today." Carol would say "Mr. Brady and I will, denifitely, be there." After this, Carol would call Mike, who would, then, tell his boss "Family crisis. I have to leave, early, today." That evening, at the town hall, the principal would face a very hostile audience, for his actions, that afternoon. While the administrator would plead "You have it all wrong. I was TRYING to make the student admit to what happened, so that the boy could be, PUBLICLY, disciplined." When Mrs. Livingston would ask "By parading the girl, before the entire student body, like some FREAK, then asking her if a boy attacked her? Like some television FREAK show?" The principal would say "I felt it best, to make a PUBLIC show, NOT to humiliate the girl, but to set an example, for the boys." When Mr. Silverspoon would ask "What KIND of example? That girls could be humiliated OUT of reporting attacks?" The principal would say "Just the opposite. I had hoped to SHAME the BOYS OUT of "attacking" more girls." Mrs. Chester would say "Well, sir, you really BLEW it, didn't you." All the principal would say was "In order for the school to take action, all the girl has to do is return to school, face her attacker, and make the public charge. We can, then, press charges." When Carol would ask "Are you insane? Make the girl stand before the public and say "Yes, he did it!?" The principal would say "Mrs. Brady, this is the ONLY way to put a stop, to such activity. The girl MUST go public. this is school policy." Shortly after this, the Town Hall would empty, as enraged parents would depart, wondering how to protect their daughters, NOT from athletes, and students, but from this "monster", who called himself an administrator. Not only on the drive home, but inside the house, Carol, and Mike, Brady, would continue to ponder the problem. How could schools be so in favor of things like the Nevada No Contact Contract. Were such agreements even "enforceable"? Even architect Mike Brady had no idea how to solve this problem. The next day, and to the schools annoyance, when Sally's body was dragged from the local river, the media made a point of stating the primary reason for the tragedy. The girl had given a note, to a friend, for her parents, asking their forgiveness, for her not being "perfect". She just could not face having to admit to the crime, in a public setting. Even while the principal was preparing a condolence speech, for the girls family, the principals office would be "flooded" with petitions, all of which stated "Either the rules, and the principal, goes, or we remove our daughters, from this school." When the principal would inform the press "This is NOT how this is to be handled." The principal "got the message" when, after his wife received a call, saying that one, of her children, was injured, at a public play area, and that her other children needed her. After the woman was, safely, away from the property, the home was burned to the ground, with effigies, of the principal, staked into the lawn. The principal, FINALLY, "got the message". Un-like Nevavda, however, this principal submitted his resignation, while suggesting a "review" of the school district rule, about "exposing crime". By this time, however, with the girls suicide note, the full back would be arrested and, over his parents objections, would be sentenced to prison. (As an adult). VERY shortly after this, the sports team members, suddenly, became very modest, in their actions. Maybe this had something to do with a team member being imprisoned for the commission of a crime? All anyone knew was that Westdale High School would be banned, from school events, for the next two years. Would Nevada learn a lesson, from this????

THE NEW BRADY BUNCH

THE NEW BRADY BUNCH CHORUS: Here's the story, a lovey lady, who was bringing three strong and healthy boys. A good mother, with no clue about raising boys. Here's the story, A man named Brady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls. A good father, but totally clue-less, about parenting girls. The meeting: Architect Michael Brady meets widow Carol Jenkins, at a single parents support group. During a break, in the meeting, the two discuss parenting. When Carol tells Mike "You have it easy. Three girls are such a joy to raise. I envy you." When Mike would ask "You envy me?" Carol would say "Compared to my three boys, I would rather have three girls to raise." When Mike would say "Oh, come on, Carol. Boys aren't so bad." Carol would say "Is that so? Well, let me tell YOU, Michael Brady, that three boys can be a real handful. Always taking things a part, and the dirt. I swear my boys never heard of staying clean." Mike would say "Carol, if you think thats "rough", try figuring out how high a skirt should go, or what eye-liner goes with what hand-bag." When Carol would say "Thats easy", then try to explain, what even Mikes deceased wife could, never, explain, Mike Brady would find himself making what HE thought was just a joke. Mike Brady would say "I wish you could spend just one day, with my girls. I bet they would run you ragged, before the day is out." Carol Jenkins would respond with "Michael Brady, I will bet YOU that YOU would not survive a full day, with my boys." When Michael Brady would ask "What stakes do you want?" Carol Jenkins would suggest "Two, candle-light dinners. The loser pays." When Michael Brady was about to say "You're on!", then thought about it, asking "How do we determine who wins?" Carol Jenkins would suggest "The first parent, who "bails out", is the loser, and pays for dinner." This is when Michael Brady, almost committs a faux paus, by starting out to embrace, and kiss Carol Jenkins. Remembering the rules, of the meetings, the two would shake hands, on the deal. Later, two conversations would take place, nearly simultaneously. While Mike Brady would be infoming his girls "If none of you have any objection, I have asked my friend, Carol Jenkins to spend the day, with you girls" When his oldest girl, Marcia, would ask "You mean, that lovely woman, from your group?" Mike would say "Thats right. Carol has asked to spend some time, with all three of you." When the girls would say "How cool is that? A woman, to spend time with." Mike would be quick to point out "Now, girls, I want you to remember. Carol is a friend, and I want you to treat her with respect. Dont go running her ragged, just to make her flee. I want you to treat her as you would your own mother. Is that, CLEARLY, understood?" When Jan would say "Sure, dad, we understand. Mind our manners." Mike would say "Okay, then I will let Carol know, and we can set a time, and date." At the home, of Carol Jenkins, much the same conversation would be taking place, with her boys. When Carol would say "Mike is my friend. I want you to treat him as you would, your father. Got me?" The oldest son, Greg, would say "Sure mom." This is when Carol would ask ALL three boys "Do we, ALL agree to treat Mike Brady, with the same respect we would treat our father?" As if in chorus, Greg, Peter, and Bobby, would say "Yes, mom." This is when Carol would tell the boys "Fine, I will let Mike know. Now, remember, boys, Mike is my friend. NO schenanigans. Manners, right?" The boys would say "Yes, mom." On the day, in question, while Mike's daughters might have thought they would have more "latitude", with Carol, the girls would, soon, find themselves facing the "ghost of their mother". This, because, more than once, and whether the subject was G-string bikini's, short skirts, or make-up, the girls would find themselves hearing Carol saying "No daughter, of mine..." While Carol, and the girls, were spending the day, enjoying themselves, with shopping, and fittings, Mike, and the boys, would be tackling a variety of items, including bicycle maintenance, home repairs, to Carols place, and even re-packing some material, to create extra storage space. While the boys "touchdown", of the day, would be some football practice, with Mike, when the brothers looked at one another, saying "I hope mom does not find out what we have been doing." Mike would suggest "If you want to "hide" the truth, better get washed up, before she gets home". That evening, Mikes daughters would compliment Carol, making the suggestion, to their father "She is really COOL. Any chance SHE could become our mother?" Mike would, only, say "We will see." It would only be after Carols boys remarked, in the same, about Mike, that the parents called it "Even." When Mikes girls would suggest "Dad, why dont you give it a try? Whats the worst that can happen?" Mike would remind his girls "You need to remember that what you are suggesting is NOT "temporary". Marriage is NOT like buying a home, or a car. You cant return it, if you find you dont like it. Once you make the purchase, you are STUCK. After the vows, there is NO going back." Carol would find herself telling her boys the same thing. "IF I marry Mike, its for keeps. Once we take the vows, there is NO going back." It would be at THIS point that Mike Brady would consult his long-time housekeeper, Alice Nelson, asking "IF I take this step, HOW do I know it is right, for both me, AND the girls?" All Alice would say was "Mr. Brady, there is only ONE way to answer that question." When Mike would ask "What if I am wrong? What happens to my girls?" Alice would ask "Mr. Brady, are you more afraid that it WONT work, or that it WILL work?" Mike Brady would, simply, look at his long-time housekeeper. Before making any decisions, Mike Brady, and Carol Jenkins, would take their time, reviewing the pro's and cons. Sure, the kids seemed to like the adults, but the question was: What would happpen when three boys lived in the same house, with three girls? Would the result be a "gourmet's delight"? Would it be Botulism/Tomaine? While Architect Mike Brady was ready to, thoroughly, investigate ALL the angles, prior to committing to the project, Carol Jenkins would have to encourage his cooperation, by saying "Mike, there are no guarantee's. The only "sure things" are death, and taxes." THE PROPOSAL: Mike Brady would only express "It is not the honeymoon, which concerns me. It is the long-term. Maintenance. How well we put the foundation together, and how sturdy the construction is. After all, the best intentions, in the world, will not keep a poorly designed building standing." Carol Jenkins would remind Mike "Every home has its problems, over time. Walls have to be painted. Windows need to be washed, grass needs to be mowed. All we can do is the best we can." Mike Brady's only question would be "Are you SURE you WANT the added responsibility, of adding three girls, to your family?" Carol Jenkins would say "Mike, if YOU can handle my three boys, then I CAN handle three daughters." It would be after the proposal that Mike and Carol would start looking at homes, to fit their soon to be expanding family. the parents would agree that the childrens bedrooms would need to be atleast as LARGE, as the master bedroom. With three children, per room, SPACE would be "Priority One". FINDING SPACE, FOR EVERYONE: While Carol Jenkins, and Mike Brady, would split their time, between wedding preparations, and trying to find a house, large enough, to house nine people, in comfort, it would turn out that the wedding preparations were just as much an "assault", on the couple, as their search, for a large enough house. In fact, Michael Brady had forgotten how stressful wedding preparations could be. For every question answered, there were a thousand, other, questions, all of which DEMANDED answers, yesterday. Add in the search, for a house, large enough to house all nine, people, and the best that Mike Brady, and Carol Jenkins, could come up with, was to split the duty in half. While Carol, her mother, and Mikes girls, would work on the wedding details, Mikes father, Mike, and Carols boys, would focus on locating a home, for the "new venture" (As Mike Brady would refer to his expanding family.) While Mike, and the boys, found plenty, of homes, which fit the SIZE needed, the problem was that the homes were derelict. Most had not been occupied, for decades, and with good reason. What concerned architect Mike Brady, was NOT the rumors, that some of the homes were "haunted". Mike Brady's concern was over the fact that, so many, of these homes were built in the days LONG BEFORE construction codes existed. With the aid, and assistance, of some contractors friends, Mike Brady toured several homes, all of which received FAILING grades, from the contractors. The reason why the homes were not occupied, was not due to "ghosts", "goblins", or things that go "BUMP!, in the night". The reason why these homes were un-inhabited, included lead pipes, which, in the 1800's, provided drinking, bathing, and washing, water, to the homes occupants. Then, in every, single, house, every wall, and ceiling, surface, tested, positive, for lead paint. When even Mike Brady saw that the only, real, structure, to the homes, was the stairway, and outer walls, and Mike Brady agreed with the contractors. The cost, of restoration, would be ten TIMES the cost, to build from scratch. Result, the Brady family would move into a modest, three bedrooom, house, complete with maids room. Michael Brady would promise his family "As soon as we can find a bigger, more livable, house, we will leave this one behind". THE WEDDING: While the vows went off, more-or-less, without any problems, with camcorders, and videodisc recording, now, available, when Tiger got loose (presumably after being taunted, by Fluffy), what should have been a solemn occassion, turned into a laugh riot more over the fact of all of the damage, caused by HUMANS, than of any damage, caused by dog, or cat. The girls beautiful, full length, dresses, would be just as caked, with mud, and dirt, as the boys tuxedo's, as the children tried to wrangle the animals out of the way of the wedding. What made the wedding day so memorable was the fact that, while people COULD have gotten either upset, or furious, about how events transpired, even the minister found himself laughing even as the minister told the assembly "This is just the wedding day. Just imagine what is AHEAD, for the Brady family." MOVING IN DAY: While Carol, Mike, and Alice, had decided on a modest, three bedroom, home, the problem would be the day the family moved in. While Bobby, and Peter, had only one carton, of belongings, as well as furniture, to move into the new house, Greg would, ofcourse, have his high school stuff, as well. After moving their belongings into their new room, Mike would assign the boys to carry up the girls cartons, as well. This would not go so well. While the age of the Walkman, and Ipods, would "solve" the problem, of music, Carols boys just could not believe that, no matter how many cartons the boys brought into the house, and delivered, to the girls room, there seemed to be even MORE cartons, waiting for transport. Between this, and the fact that, as Mikes girls un-packed their cartons, closets filled up, in record time, even as the girls searched for more closet space. When the girls decided that they needed some of the boys closet space, for their clothes, this would be when Mike Brady would be required to enter into creative, and collective, bargaining. With his daughters saying "We need more closet space", and the boys saying "You HAVE your closet space, we need ours, as well." Mike Brady THOUGHT he came up, with a solution, but ONLY for a moment. While the architect would suggest that the girls store their remaining cartons, in the attic, Greg would ask "Where do we store the holiday decorations? The Christmas Tree, the pumpkins, and the summer, holiday, stuff?" When Mike Brady would ask "How bad can it be?" Greg, and Peter, would say "Come with us." Sure enough, in the driveway, there were more than a dozen, additional, cartons, waiting for delivery. Peter would say "This is just the girls stuff. The truck had to go back, for the holiday stuff." This is when Mike Brady would make a decision. Calling Carol and the girls, together, Mike Brady would announce "As of this moment, anything, which does not fit into a persons OWN room, is to be stored in the garage." When Marcia would lead the girls in saying "But, dad, this stuff is important." Mike would counter wiith "Then, you should pack it, VERY CAREFULLY, for later retrieval." When the girls gave a huff, Mike Brady would state "Further more, I EXPECT there to be enough room left, in the garage, for the cars. Am I clear?" Everyone, present, would groan. While the Brady family was scratching their heads, over what to do, with their belongings, an unexpected storm would take out the electricity, as well as demolishing the next door neighbors house. While the Brady's were more than willing to lend a hand, with clean-up, the land owner revealled surprising information, to the architect, about the house. When the neighbor informed Mike Brady " We wont be re-building." And Mike asked "WHY?" The neighbor would say "Our mortgage was "under water". The insurance company says the house is not worth replacing. We will look for another house." While Carol would agree "Thats terrible." The neighbor would, no-sooner say "I just hope the bank can find someone, to sell the land to." Mike Brady no-sooner said "I'm sure the property will sell, easily. How much is the bank asking?" The neighbor would say "$10,000. Which is more than I can afford." This is when Carol would call Mike aside, asking "I KNOW we said that money, in the fund, is for the kids college educations, but helping a neighbor. Isn't that equally important?" When Mike and Carol would return to the property owner, Mike would offer his friend, and neighbor, a deal. "If we, ALL, agree to keep this deal between ourselves. NO ONE else is to know, for any reason. Right, Carol?" Carol would ask "Why are you looking at ME, Michael Brady? It was my idea." When the neighbor would ask "What idea?" Mike Brady would suggest "We can give you the money, in exchange for the property. This way, you wont have to deal with the banks, or a realtor." Being an architect, Mike Brady KNEW how to handle lenders. This is why the process went so smoothly. Once Mike Brady verified that even the homes foundation had to be demolished, he drew up a set of plans, which would solve everyones problems. ADDING EXTRA STORAGE: Mike Brady KNEW why the neighbors estimates had come in, at such high levels. If only the neighbor had asked, Mike Brady would have informed the neighbor of the advances in modern building practices. As it was, Mike Brady designed a combination storm shelter, and storage area. All under a surface, of green lawn. A space on which the Brady children could play, and entertain. While the primary design, and build, was for a completely sub-surface until, to be covered with a play area, Mike Brady agreed with his new wife, Carol. With six, growing, children, in the house, times would change, even as the children grew. Even as grade school would be replaced with junior high, then high school, so boys, and girls, play-clothes, would be exchanged for high school gear. All of this, even as toy cars, and dolls, would be replaced with sports equipment, rings, and bracelets. With all of these "imminent" changes coming, this is why the architect would design the shelter to be dug into the bedrock, and with structural members which would be used, for "later development" (should the need arise). Problem is that "later development" arrived, sooner, rather than later, as Alice would notify the Bradys that the back yard clothes line just didn't have enough room, for nine peoples clothes. As a result the LARGE, play area, originally designed, for the kids, would be reduced, in size, to make room for extra wash-lines. As Mike, and Carol, would tell the kids "There are nine of us, now. Alice cannot be expected to use a space, meant for four people, to handle the wash, for nine people." STARTING A NEW SCHOOL While Mike, and Carol, Brady, had thought that life was complicated enough, when each had three children, to register for school, the parents would learn the TRUE definition, of "writers cramps"", not just from the normal registration forms, but from all of the other forms. Forms which, nowadays, included giving the schools the right to "random drug testing". Add in the anti-gang paper-work, as well as anti-bullying paper-work, and criminal background checks. By the time the couple was finished filling out all the forms, for their children to start their new schools, both parents found themselves taking both massive amounts of oral pain killer, as well as "rub on" pain killer, for wrists and hands. These, Mike and Carol Brady, would apply, to arms, wrists, and hands, to soothe the pain, from filling out the forms. As for the actual delivery, of the childrens new school forms, with six children to enroll, Carol Brady was prepared to use shopping bags, to deliver the paper-work. That is, until Greg, and Marcia, would remind their mother "Grocery bags are not permitted, on school grounds, anymore, rememeber?" While Carol seemed confused, Alice would come to Mrs. Brady's "rescue", asking the kids "Why are grocery bags not allowed on school property?" Greg would hesitate, while Marcia would say "The principals are spreading the rumor that drug dealers are using grocery bags, to sell drugs, to students. The school wants everyone to think that no one gives a second look, at grocery bags." While Carol would tell Alice "That may be true. After all, how often do WE notice other families shopping bags?" Alice would say "At a grocery store? Who pays attention, to ANY bags?" When Carol would ask Mike, for any suggestions he might have, Mike would suggest "Why dont you use my travel case? I dont have any out-of-town meetings, for a few weeks. Carry the papers, in there." Carol would embrace, and kiss, her husband, as she would say "Thanks, Mike. You're a life-saver." While Carol Brady was happy, with her husband, for the loan, of the brief case, the person Mrs. Brady was NOT happy with was the security guard, at the school. A brutish, arrogant, man, who INSISTED that not only did the breifcase have to be opened, BEFORE Carol and ALice, even entered the school buildings, but security insisted upon "rifling" through the entire contents, of the briefcase, before allowing the women to enter the school building. By the time Carol, and Alice, made it inside the buildings, and through the metal detectors, and entered the principals offices, staff were arrogant enough to say "You are late!" When Carol would mention the security guards, metal detectors, and so on, staff just ignored the women, saying "Next time, you should arrive, sooner. It is im-polite to keep administration waiting." By the time Carol, and Alice returned home, both women were ready to pull their hair out, even as Carol informed Mike of what a "nightmare"" school registration had become. While Mike Brady agreed with his wife, over how complicated school procedures had become, in the days since the adults were students, Mike would, also, remind Carol "Honey, we see it, everyday, in the news. Schools being shot up, students committing suicide, bullies terrorizing students. School is NOTHING like it was, when we were children." Carol would say "thats for sure. I just could not believe that, after that guard ransacked your briefcase, then left Alice and I to put everything back together, that school officials would only say "You should have arrived, earlier. Not one word, about the guard, ransacking your briefcase." Mike would say "Honey, schools are just trying to protect students." Carol would, only, say "Thank God, its all over with. One more meeting, like those, today, and you would be bailing ME out of jail, for attacking an attacker." (Mike Brady could envision the headlines. "House-wife attacks security, for ransacking private property!" Mike would supress a laugh.) THE SUBJECT WAS HECKLING: Not long after the Brady kids began attending their new school, and the boys, and girls, began referring to one another as siblings, the fights would begin. The schools bullies would begin heckling Greg, Peter, and Bobby, over the fact that the boys considered Marcia, Jan, and Cindy their sisters. When the boys asked "So what? We live in the same house. Whats it to you?" When the bullies would suggest "I wonder if your old lady really IS the girls old lady, as well. Maybe, THAT is why their old man married your old lady. Maybe he was "messing around, and got caught."" When Greg would step forward, saying "Take that back, right now.", the bully would say "Make me", then refer to the Brady boys as illegitimate. Result, Greg, and Peter, would return home, with black eyes, bumps, and bruises. This, while promising Carol "Its not that bad. We just had to defend you, and dad." After Greg, and Peter, would explain how the school bullies would accuse Carol, and Mike, of having three affairs, which lead to the three girls, Carol would suggest "Let ME talk to your father. Perhaps we can find a civilized way out of this." Carol was just as surprised, as Mike was, at the very idea that they had married, due to a past affair. After all, Carol and Mike had not even MET, until after their spouses had perished. HOW could anyone think that total strangers could have three children? It was not until Mike, and Carol, went to the school principal, to ask what action the school planned to take, that the principal would say "Mrs. Brady, kids will be kids. There is NOTHING the school can do, to stop kids from thinking certain things." When the principal would ask "After all, how do you think it LOOKS, to the community? A widower, with three girls, suddenly marries a widow, with three boys?" When Carol would ask "Just WHAT are you IMPLYING?" The principal would say "Lets face it, Mrs. Brady. far too often, nowadays, people ONLY marry when girls/women become pregnant. Even widowed people wait a respectable length of time, before pursuing new relationships. How do you think it looks? You, and Mr. Brady, after such a short time?" This is when Mike Brady would say "Sir, I dont think I like your attitude. Mixed marriages are nothing new." When the principal would say "Something we are TRYING to discourage. The school district wants children to be raised with PROPER morals, and values. I only hope you can understand this." Mike Brady would say "Oh, I understand. Just as anti-Negro racism is illegal, while anti-white racism is, totally, LEGAL. Yes, I understand you, sir." Then Mike would turn to Carol, saying "We are wasting our time, here. Come, darling, we are leaving." THE POWER/VOICE OF THE PEOPLE What the school principal never counted on was the "force", which a group, of eight Brady's, could bring to the publics attention. While Mike would contribute all that he could, when not working on his latest project, it would be Carol, Alice, and the kids, who would raise public awareness, regarding mixed/blended families. It would only be during this period, that several, local, children would learn the truth, about their own heritage. While some parents were re-married, after divorces, local children would be surprised to learn how many children were from widowed-based marriages. Something no one had informed the children about, since the adults did not think that it mattered. It was, also, not until almost three months, into the campaign that Carol and Alice noticed something which neither had paid any attention to, before. Was it just coincidence, or Racism, that there were only white families, living in the area? It was not until a home-owners meeting, to discuss how to proceed, with the school, that Carol brought up the subject, only to be met with a combination of blank stares, and others, who promised "Anyone is welcome, so long as they are buying, and maintaining, their property." As one neighbor would promise "Carol, I promise you that we have never been "white supremacists". Anyone saying otherwise is lying. Truth is that we "just happen" to be the ones, who bought, in this area. Just as you, and Mr. Brady did." As a result of the disclosure, of information, it would seem that both the principal, and several members, of the school board, would resign. It would seem that "Purification" HAD been their goal, all along. Now that the truth was known, and the blended families were accepted, the question became "Who will the next principal be? Who will select the next leader? What QUALITIES should we seek, in the next principal?" When Carol would ask Mike, Mike would be quick to say "Leave me OUT of it. I have enough work to do, with my job, and providing for our family." Carol would take her husband into a choke-hold, saying "Michael Brady, if I didn't love you, I would strangle you." Mike would smile as he said "You are doing a pretty good job, at both."

THE COMPETITION

THE COMPETITION While I would, never, have admitted that the "rules", of the competition, were to be decided, BEFORE the actual event was decided upon, When the bets were made, I think that I shocked Stacey, with my choice, of wager. While Staceys boyfriend, Michael, was wagering $500 worth of coccaine, his friend, Roy, made a slightly more reasonable wager. Two 24-packs, of his favorite beer. Simon, the "compulsive" gambler, wagered $1,000. Three, other, men put up car titles, while two men put up truck titles. When it was my turn, to wager, I put up "One month, with Stacey". (Even Stacey was surprised, when Michael had said "You're on!). As for the details, of the competition, Stacey had mentioned (to me, in secret) what was being planned, a few days in advance. Simply put, in the days, since graduating high school, very FEW, of the groups classmates, had lead active, healthy, lifestyles. In fact, most had slipped into their own parents routines. The reason why I knew this was not just because I could see that the other men were developing LARGE bellies, but, also, because Stacey was surprised, at my own health. Stacey had informed me that she was impressed, with my health, since she was amazed that, un-like her own father (who was about my age), yet 150 pounds overweight, that I was as slim, and shapely, as guys who were just over 20 years old. In fact, one of my own doctors had praised my health, saying "IF more of my patients were in as good of health, as you are, I would be looking for another job". As for the rules, of the competition, these were simple. Each man was to do his best to return to being in "high school" condition. The one, who came closest, would win. When Daniel suggested a time-limit, I was the first, but not the last, to ask "WHY?" After all, we were not training, for the Olympics. As for when we stepped on the scale, in order to determine how FAR each of us had to go, to "win", atleast two 265 pound men cried "foul", when I weighed in, at just 188 pounds. It was when the objecting men were told "You can quit, if you want to.", that the men decided to stay in the wager. What concerned wives, and girlfriends, was the question of just how LONG each man would stay with the wager. (Another) Michaels wife, and Rogers girlfriend, had, both watched as men purchased health club memberships, which they let lapse, come sports season. Rodney had spent $5,000, on a home gym kit. He spent four months building the thing, in their garage. Rodney kept saying "When I am ready..." Since the kits completion, Rodney's family had used the gym as storage. These are just some of the reasons why the women were not to concerned, with the wager. They had watched their men START health improvement projects, only to return to sedentary lifestyles. The reason why Stacey was a bit concerned, over my wager, was the fact that, even PRIOR to the wager, she had watched me exercise, on a daily basis. When she had asked "Why?" I had told her "Since I broke my back, I have to exercise, daily, in order to keep the pain under control, until my back is fully healed." When Stacey asked "How LONG will that be?" I told her "Depends upon which doctor you speak to. Some say I could be healed, this year while others say I will be in "rehab", for YEARS to come. All I know is that, if I want to be free, of the pain, exercise is my primary option." My answer astounded Stacey, who was well aware, of dozens, of men, all of whom consumed MASSIVE amounts, of pain killers, while body parts healed. While we men put our competition agreement in writing, on one computer, then each signed the paper, the women drafted their own agreement, as to how LONG each man would remain with the competition. For the first, few, days, of the competition, maybe twenty men took part, in the exercise plan. By day four, however, five men had said they would handle weight loss, on their own. By the end of week number two, it seems that I was, still, the only man, who was working out. While Staceys friends all shared tales, of how mens "healthy eating" had gone by the side, after just a few days, Stacey was the only woman, to be able to say "My guy may be eating MORE than I do, but he IS maintaining the diet, and exercise." Her friends had come to understand that the term "my guy", referred to me, not Michael. This is when Stacey's friends would annoy her, by, repeatedly, stating "He's NOT a MAN!" and "He does not DESERVE a woman!". When Stacey just shrugged, at the women, one wooman grabbed Stacey's arm, asking "Dont you understand? He's (me) NOT a MAN! Dont waste your time, on him! He is not willing to KILL, for what he wants. He's NOT a REAL MAN!" Stacey, simply, reminded the woman "No one is asking YOU to date him." As Stacey walked away, from the woman, annd woman called out, to Stacey's back "You'll be sorry. He is NOT a MAN!" While I, never, quite reached my goal, of becoming as slim, as I had been, just out of high school, even Stacey admitted that I was becoming firm as a rock. In fact, when the time came, to move the exercise equipment, to make room, in Rodney's garage, Stacey was not one bit surprised when I handled most of the lifting. While Michael, Rodney, and the rest, stopped even keeping weight journals, after "slipping" from the competition, their women kept journals, primarily of the mens weight GAIN. Even when doctors warned, of the danger, of excess weight, the mens "universal" response was "I can drop the weight any time I feel like it." After each doctors appointment, the women watched as men exercised, for two, to four, days, before returning to regular habits. For Stacey, the biggest laugh, of her days, were the many times when, during exercise, I would joke "Staying healthy is going to kill me." Still, Stacey became impressed enough that she began sharing meals with me (to find out just how healthy my lifestyle actually was). While her friends "boasted" that their men could "pack away" three triple-cheese-burgers, super-size fries, and five beers, at one sitting, Stacey would admit that while she ate regular size salads, with grilled meat, that I ate triple size salads, and some extra, grilled meat. While it was, never, part of the deal, when a charity brought an "adult obstacle course" to town, with the mens section being able to win a choice, of prizes, either for themselves, or others, I was pleased when Stacey snuggled up, to me, whispering "I KNOW you can do it." When I turned out to be the first adult, to complete the course, I chose a ring, for Stacey. And why not? One of the things that few people knew about was what happened, when Stacey had told her mother, not only about the competition, but of how Stacey, still slim, and trim, was, no-doubt, in high school condition, herself. When mother had said "II'll bet your not." Stacey had questioned her mothers opinion, but only until her mother produced a $100 bill. When mother said "Its yours, IF you can do the same exercises, which you did, in high school." Since Stacey's high school days were not half as far behind her, as mine were, Stacey was certain that the money would be hers, easily. That is, until midway through the exercises, when Stacey had to stop, and rest. This, while mother would mention "When you were in school, you, never, needed a rest." It was after Stacey had required two additional rest periods, for the school exercises, that Stacey asked to join me, in my daily routine. Before she joined me, in my routine, however, Stacey had asked her doctor just how far out of shape she was. When her doctor would say "It will take you atleast six months, to get back in condition, once you start." Like the doctor had said "Slim, and trim, alone, are not proof of health. Exercising the muscles was important, as well. Result, for the past three months, leading up to the charity event, Stacey and I had become not only exercise partners, but I began sharing her walks, in the city's parks. This is why, when I had entered the obstacle course, Stacey had no doubt that I would finish. (Stacey just smiled at the men, who stood by, watching, as a man, twice their age, did what they could not). After the charity event, when Michael tried to rule the competition "in-valid", Stacey told him "No you dont!. You agreed to the challenge." Stacey could see, plainly, why Michael wanted to erase the challenge. In the months, since the challenge had started, Michael had gone from 255 pounds, to 260. His most recent weigh in was at 275. While his doctors had cautioned the man, about his weight, Michael, still, claimed "I can lose it anytime I want to." While most people thought it would be Stacey, who had said "PROVE IT!", it would, in fact, be Penny. Not only did Penny say this, to Michael, but she said it, to Roger, as well. For seven, whole, painful, days, both men tried exercise, but this ended when results did not come fast enough. When the women asked Stacey HOW she motivated ME, to exercise, daily, Stacey had started out with listing my back injury, but smiled as she said "He loves me." One thing several, of the women, found humorous, was how their men tried to "get around" physicals. The women came to know when their mens work physicals were due, since this was the ONE day, every six months, when the men ate a healthy breakfast, and started the day, with exercise. While the women said nothing, and just obeyed their mens wishes, the results, of the doctors visits were, always, the same. When the men went for check-ups, doctors would remind the men "Since your exercise, and diet, begin, and end, on exam day, you are wasting your time. Two days exercise, and dieting, per year, is NOT going to make you healthy." The men grumbled, but accepted the diagnosis. Prognosis: Obesity, and lack of exercise. Doctors would restrict what work the men could do. Stacey would tell me that Marcy had told her that Neil had scoffed, at his doctor, when, at 375 pounds, the doctor recommended a visit to an undertaker. Neil should get measured, for a coffin, and choose the unit he wanted to be buried in. When Neil had informed the doctor "I can take the weight off, any time I want to.", Neil had been surprised when the doctor had asked "Why not start, now? What are you waiting for?" When Neils next stop, after the doctors office, then giving Marcy what Neil called the "whacked out" results, Neil, then, proceeded to an "all you can eat buffet", telling Marcy "I am going to toast my last day, as a "free man". Tomorrow, I start on my diet." While Marcy had been ashamed, enough, to be seen, with the man, while he "celebrated", Marcy would tell Stacey that, once she got Neil home, she asked him for a weigh in. Marcy wanted to know what exact poundage Neil was, when he began his latest "diet". Even sitting, on the scale, Marcy reported that Neil had weighed in, at 405 pounds. Marcy "knew" what was going to happen, that night, but she knew she could not prevent it. When Neil did not even kiss her "good night", she knew. Marcy would, later, ask Stacey "Am I evil, for not trying to save his life?" Stacey would, only, say "Each of us must decide, for ourselves. You did the best that you could." Neil was the seventh member, to sign the competition statement, and the fifth to die, an early death. Thankfully, un-like some of the other men, Neil did not leave behind a family, for his woman to raise, by herself. Out of the twenty-five signators, to the competition document, only three, of us, survived to the age of forty. Shortly after Neil passed away, Michael wanted to prove that he was in much better shape, then even his doctor said he was. As a result, once at 385 pounds, Michael told Stacey, and I "I will PROVE that I am in the best condition, since high school." Michaels U.S. Marine-style exercise plan was designed for men, who were in far BETTER shape, than Michael. This is why his exercise program lasted three days. After just three days, of Marine Corps exercises, the 380 pound mans heart gave out. At his paupers funeral, attended only by his closest "friends", Stacey thought back to Michaels, and the other mens, obituaries, and wondered. While a FEW, of the men, left families behind, most of the men were represented, by nothing more than "date of birth", and "date of death". While I, personally, did not FEEL like a "winner", the women told me that, as last, surviving member, of the competition, I had "won", by default. The one thing Stacey knew was that, beyond my health maintenance, I would be remembered, for far MORE, than healthy living. She knew this since I had a large enough internet presense, with my fictions, that my obit would be five times the size, of the normal, half inch, obits. What neither Stacey, nor my doctors, could have forseen, was what was coming, next. Due to SOME condition, which I developed, and the treatment, for the condition being rather severe, I would, in fact, have to give up my "position", as the BIGGEST LOSER, when my recovery meant that, like performing artist Raymond Burr, my recovery left me to weak to feed myself. For eight weeks, Stacey had to actually FEED me, until I was strong enough to feed myself. And, YES, I did pack on the pounds, during recovery. The doctors cautioned that weight GAIN, under such circumstances, is, perfectly, normal. The doctors also, told the media "Due to the patients health records, we can predict, with full confidence, that the patient will shed the pounds, in "no time". While I did gain 40 pounds, in recovery, as soon as the doctor gave both Stacey and I the "go ahead", Stacey knew where my first stop would be. By the time it was my turn, to be laid to rest, it was a recorded FACT that I HAD, in fact, shed the recovery pounds. What impressed Stacey, however, was the fact that my obit was neither a one inch piece, nor confined, to the "Death notices" section. No, my notice became a feature piece, in city/state. A full list, of my stories accompanied. Stacey would be listed as my widow, and inheritor. Stacey would suppress a smile, when she learned that my funeral was over-shadowing that, of a senator, who was pushing for repeal, of all, social, services. His funeral was pushed to page two, while I "dominated" page one. Stacey did get her wish, though. Not in the way she had thought that she would. Her long-term plan was to be the widow, of someone special. In many ways, she achieved this goal. Her remaining question was: WHAT do I do, with the rest of MY life?

THE HAUNTING PAST MYSTERY OF THE DRAG RACERS

THE HAUNTING PAST: MYSTERY OF THE DRAG RACERS When Tami and I received the case file, on this one, we were baffled, right from the start. Rightfully so, considering the states publicity campaign. For MONTHS, prior to being assigned, to this case, both Tami and I had seen, and read, the news articles, about how the State of Illinois was ready to out-smart speeders, using a brand new type of patrol car. While state government declared th cars power source "classified", rumors abounded. Rumors, of using chemical additives, to "soup up" performance. Rumors, of engines, which were just short of Daytiona, or Indy 500 standards. According to the case file, however, there was a problem, which Illinois wanted handled, as QUIETLY, as possible. What puzzled Tami and I, at first, was WHY the state wanted US on a case, involving speeders. This, when the Brown Agency had professional drivers, on staff. Men, and women, who could out-drive ANY-one, on America's road ways. It was only upon reviewing the contents, of the file, that Tami and I came to understand the assignment. While even the case file did not give the details, of the cars power, it seems the police were concerned over how the suspects cars could out-pace cars, whose top speed was projected, at 400 miles per hour. Officers were reporting that, when they gave chase, to the speeders, and even with cruisers running "pedal to the metal", the speeders were leaving the police well behind, to the point where cruisers had to abandon pursuit. While the state had tried check-points, and road-blocks, nothing seemed to phase the speeders. As for officers descriptions, of cars, and drivers, the police could not figure out how cars, which were described as "Happy Days", or "Grease" era cars, could outrun the cruisers. Not when the classic cars top speed was below 100 miles per hour. Then, there were the conflicting reports, of the identification, of the speeders. While some officers gave reports, stating that speeders were wearing vintage leather jackets, and sporting "James Dean/John Travolta" style hair-cuts, some officers THOUGHT that what they saw were skeletons, driving the cars. The states primary concern, at this time, would be the fact that these speeders were racing along a patch, of road, which was being expanded, into a modern highway. The concern was that, with the speeders about, construction could not proceed, on a stretch, of road, which, MIGHT, increase gambling revenue, for the state, by providing easier access, to the latest round, of state-run casinos. There was another concern, as well. One, which Illinois was certain that the Brown Agency could figure out, in no time. That problem was the fact that, while the classic cars were being pursued, down the road way, when pursuit car video was checked, for license plate numbers, the numbers all came back as REAL. The problem? Each time the police had "run down" a license number, and asked to see the car, the report was the same, each time. Each car was in pieces, either in private garages, or in mechanics shops. All were in various stages of renovation, with engines having been pulled, so that bodies could be repaired, while engines were overhauled. Each time owners were asked if it were possible for the cars to have been put together, raced, then returned, to shops, mechanics just laughed at this. Most of the time, the police were asked "Who do you think I am? Harry Houdini? This car hasn't run, for (months/years/decades)" Despite the cruisers video evidence, there was no denying that the suspect cars were in pieces. In one case, a school teacher was using the re-building to teach students the value of classic, car-building, craftsmanship. The school teacher was teaching how, when PEOPLE built cars, cars were beautiful, and built, to last. (Not like todays, computer-built, cookie-cutter, designs. Cars which have NO "personality"). To our relief, Tami and I were not the only agents assigned to this bizzarre case. Mr. Brown had been contracted to utilize any resources, which were needed, to bring in the speeders. While the agencies professional drivers were preparing to use our own, super-charged, race cars, Tami and I were assigned to find out WHY the speeders were using cars which, atleast LOOKED to be vintage. If there was a "message", behind the speeding, it was our job to learn what the message was. Mr. Brown did not even have to ASK the state to close down the road, to public traffic. Since the state was preparing to rip up the asphault, anyway, the road was closed, and traffic was being detoured, already. While Mr. Browns professional drivers had seen the wisdom, in using a variety, of pursuit cars, for our "stake-out", what only the drivers, and the Brown Agency, knew, was just how "modified" these cars actually were. Mr. Brown had recruited some of the finest "speed demon" mechanics, in America, to take classic automobiles, and "hide" super-charged engines, under the hood. To the "naked eye", these cars looked like normal use cars. It was what was "under the hood", and the chassis, which made these cars beyond equal. Yes, the Brown Agency had spent a fortune, on these cars, yet it would turn out to be money well-spent. While the drivers relaxed, and awaited their prey, Tami and I were busy, investigating the road way, itself. A road way which, according to the state, had started out as a horse-and-buggy path. According to both official, and un-official, sources, the current road way had begun life, during the pioneer years, by bringing settlers, and supplies, to the "Prairie State". In the beginning, it seems that it was not so much a "path", as it was, more-or-less a general direction. For reasons never specified, it seems that, over time, general travel, over the area, transformed from a general direction, with more and more traffic using a specific passage. According to atleast one web-site, the lane was in the finest condition, in the region, and was, therefore, closed, at times, to traffic, for horse races. Another web-site claimed that the lane was, just as typically, used, for "duels of honor". There were, even, rumors that some outlaws had ridden this lane, to escape authorities. For just the 19th century, alone, there were volumes, of information. Farms, which were either rustled, or burned, as well as more than a few jilted lovers, a few, of which actually kidnapped "lovers", and were shot down, by possies. For a stretch, of roadway, not fifty miles long, it seems that this roadway had quite the history. Tami and I knew that our job would be to seperate fact, from fiction. It would be our job to provide the professional drivers with as much background, on the speeders, as possible. If someone had been foolish enough to post car, or engine, specs, on-line, it was our job to locate information, and notify our drivers. While Tami and I were investigating stories, of horse races, challenges, and duels, some of which did, in fact, lead to multiple deaths, Mr. Browns pursuit team would have a chance to, finally, prove their value, to the agency. This would be the night when Mellissa Anderson would prove her value, as a race car driver, and under the most difficult, of conditions. Since most, of the Brown Agencies other drivers had, never, been in races, where speed exceeded 250 miles per hour, when Mr. Brown reviewed claims, that the drag racers were exceeding 260 miles per hour, he assigned Mellissa as lead driver. This, because Mellissa was the only driver, not professionally employed, who held speed records, just over the 300 mile per hour mark. Mellissa's task, that night, would be to attempt to over-take the "speed demons". Her fellow drivers would report in, when the drag racers were spotted, then Mellissa would "Put the hammer down". Mr. Brown, still, recalled the day, when he had recruited Mellissa. In fact, it was the very day, when Mellissa was ordered OFF of a race track (For having a qualifying time, and speed, which out-paced the men, by as much as fifty miles per hour). Mr. Brown had failed to suppress a smile, when track operators told Mellissa "Go home! FInd a husband, and make some brats!" (Like home, and family, are all that women are good for). When Mr. Brown had invited Mellissa to lunch, he smiled when she said "I'm NOT looking for a husband, no matter how good he looks." When Mr. Brown had said "Thank You for the compliment, however, I am here, to discuss your skills." When Mellissa asked "And WHAT "skills" would those be?" Mr. Brown had said "Lets see, Miss Junior League speed champ, three years running. Obstacle derby's, in Clayville, Bentonville, Bartonville, Jersey, etc. Oh, yes, and coming in, first place, in the Challenge Race, for the tri-state invitational. Such a shame the officials said they thought you were a man, when they sent you the entry form. Still, you did qualify, at 287 miles per hour." When Mellissa would correct this, saying "287.956 miles per hour, to be precise." Mr. Brown would ask "Did anyone tell you the reason WHY the local P.T.A. had you removed, from the race?" Mellissa would say "Same, old, story. Women should be wives, and mothers. Primitive." Then Mellissa added "So, you know, about me. Whats your game?" Mr. Brown would say "No game. I, simply, want to test your driving skills..." Mellissa would interrupt, saying "...so I can "prove" my skills, to another man, right?" Mr. Brown would say "You mis-understand. I want to PROVE that you would be an excellent addition to a team, which I am recruiting." When Mellissa would ask "What KIND of team?" Mr. Brown would suggest "First things first. Where is your car?" Mellissa would say "Back, in the shop, at the moment, why?" When Mr. Brown would ask "Operational?" Mellissa would say "Of course. WHY?" Mr. Brown would say "I find that drivers operate, best, in cars they are familiar with. I find that it borders on ignorance, when people are "tested", in un-familiar cars. Do you agree?" Mellissa would say "So true. I know my car, so well, it is like we are "linked", psychically." What Mellissa Anderson never dreamed of was that, just two days after meeting this Mr. Brown, her driving skills would be put to the test by none other than a living, racing, legend. A driver, who held multi-year records, at national tracks, for the most laps, and races, won. While Mr. Brown, and Mr. Blue, watched, it would turn out that, instead of the retired professional putting Mellissa Anderson through her paces, it would be the opposite. In fact, by the time the "test" was over with, the racing legend would bow, to Mellissa Anderson, kissing her hand, and saying "Girl, one day, I would bet a years salary that you will be in the Racing Hall of Fame. Thank you for the best ride, of my life." The racing legend would, then, inform Mr. Brown "Pay this girl, REALLY well. She has potential, to spare." When Mellissa Anderson had asked "Pay me, for WHAT?" It would be on a lonely night, along a two-lane black top, that Mellissa Anderson would find out just WHAT she had been recruited for. This, when one of her crew would whisper, into a microphone "Quarry headed your way. Red Ford. Looks like 1955. Warning, that engine MUST be modified. Your position, within two minutes." Mellissa Anderson thought "Boy, are they in, for a surprise.", as she brought her car up, to speed, to prepare, for pursuit. Un-like drag-racing movies, where cars spin tires, leave smoke, then pursue competitiors, Mellissa Aanderson had been taught, by a retired driver "Never bother "burning rubber". Bring the car to coasting speed, then increase speed, to compensate for competitors speed." When Mellissa had asked her teacher "Why do other people "burn rubber?" Her teacher had said "They are fools, with too much money, and too little experience. Take my advice. Get more miles per gallon, by coming up to speed, more gradually. Also saves on tire tread." That night, Mellissa Anderson was cruising, at about 50 miles per hour, when a red Ford, vintage 1955, "blew past", with amazing speed. With her recorders running, on all sides, Mellissa Anderson stepped on the gas, and her Brown Agency modified car sprang into pursuit, catching the speeder, with ease. Then came the "fun" part. No matter how much the speeders "poured on the gas", Mellissa Anderson stayed right with them. She even got a good look at the occupants, of the hot rod. It was true. Both occupants were young, white, males, with "James Dean" style hair-cuts, and leather jackets. At first, Mellissa Anderson thought that both males were late teens, to early twenties. She would have staked a months pay, on this. That is, until the "men" knew they were being pursued. Was Mellissa Anderson dreaming? When the young men turned her way, she would, later, swear "I watched their faces turn into skulls, like they were dead." With her speedometer easily exceeding 350 miles per hour, Mellissa Anderson wondered how much more either car could take. After all, 1950's cars were designed for beauty, and with top speeds, of 100 miles per hour. 150 miles per hour, was POSSIBLE, IF the engine was over-hauled, with an enlarged blower. Mellissa Anderson just could not believe that a 1955 Ford could top 375 miles per hour. As the two cars closed on 400 miles per hour, Mellissa Anderson was grateful, that this road had been closed, to the public. If any innocents got in the way, there was no way to stop. It seems that, when the hot rodders realized that Mellissa Andersons car was a match, for theirs, the drivers did what she expected them to do. The boys would think that, being a woman, Mellissa had no "drivers sense". As the two cars raced for the end of the construction zone, the hot rod cut off Mellissa, forcing her off the road, over a concrete barrier, and sending her car, tumbling, into a ditch. All at well over 250 miles per hour. When her team contacted her, via radio, Asking "Are you okay?" Mellissa would report "Only thing hurt is my pride. My car, however..." As Mellissa would find out, later, one of the advances, of her Brown Agency car, over traditional police cruisers, was the fact that, while police cruisers only recorded data, to be uploaded, when the cruiser came into the police garage, Mr. Brown had added a second layer, of protection, for his employees. All Brown Agency vehicles were equipped with "continuous data dump." Even as the driver saw the view, the images were uploaded, to a secure satellite, down to Mr. Blacks lab techs, and stored, for immediate viewing. While the video did NOT support Mellissa's story, of the young men, in the car, what the footage DID show was that NO one was in the car. When Mellissa would say "I'm SURE I saw them. They looked at me, directly." All Mr. Black would say was "Based upon the video, we have no idea WHAT you saw." Sure enough, as Mellissa Anderson looked at the video feed, from her own car, it showed the impossible. A car, racing down the highway, at over 300 miles per hour. With NO one inside. No driver, no passenger. Not even an animal. When the state police would ask Mellissa "Just what is it you THINK you saw, again?" Mr. Blue would come forth, saying "Officer, the video is proof. Our agent DID pursue a car, down a road way. The fact is recorded, in the evidence." When the police would ask "Oh, really? If there was a driver, WHY dont I see them, on the video?" Mr. Blue would say "Finally, an intelligent question." While Mellissa, and her team, would be medically-cleared, and told to go home, and rest up, for their next patrol, another event would occur, that same night. While Mellissa, and her team, were being checked, for injuries, the only tow truck, within miles, was dragging Mellissa's car out of the ditch. The tow truck driver, Emanuel Lorenzo, found this evening to be strange enough that he was not certain what was going on. Lorenzo had been surprised when, after his shift ended, and he returned home, to his wife, and two children, that the call had come. Lorenzo was being called back, into work, since there was a man-power shortage. It was being reported that car batteries, on the far side, of town, were going dead. The boss would say that it didn't make sense. The town had only three tow trucks since the community was too small, for more units. Emanuel Lorenzo was being called back to work, since someone had "totalled" a car, in a ditch. With the other two tow-trucks busy, Emanuel Lorenzo was told "Your dinner can wait. We need that car towed, before morning. Get it done, before midnight, and there will be a bonus, for you." Emanuel Lorenzo gave his wife a kiss, saying "I promise, I will be home, as soon as the wreck is in the yard. Keep my dinner warm. I should be home, soon." Thirty minutes later, Emanuel would radio, from his tow truck "Boss, this will take awhile. "Mario Andretti" really buried it, deep, in the ditch." (This would be Emanuels last radio message.) While Emanuel Lorenzo was thankful that the car had landed, in a pile of construction sand, instead of dirt, the thirty year old man still had to "wiggle" the car, to get it lose, then grip into to the flatbed, of his tow truck. What the young Latino paid no attention to, while dragging the car, was the "growl", of a muscle car, in the distance. Emanuel knew that younger men liked to race along this road, especially after dark. With no modern street lighting, the only light even Emanuel Lorenzo had, that night, were the flood-lights, from his truck. In fact, at one time, Enamuel Lorenzo had been a hot rodder, himself. Since the races were illegal, and un-official, however, Emanuel Lorenzo had no prizes, from his wins. His only "prize", from racing, was his beloved wife. A woman who, originally, was dating Emanuels competitor. A man, in whom the woman saw no future, except prison, or death. Just before Emanuels final race, his competitor suggested that his lady give Emanuel a "good luck" kiss. While Maria Garcia DID give Emanuel Lorenzo a kiss, it was after she looked into his eyes, saw his potential, then whispered "I love you", before an extended kiss. When her boyfriend remarked "Are you going to finish that, tonight, or should we postpone, until you finish kissing him?" When Maria would ask Emanuel "Would you give this up, for me?" When Emanuel said "Last race." The men had just been preparing to start their drag, when sirens approached. Maria's boyfriend, and others, took off, like a shot, leaving Emanuel to offer Maria a ride home. (The police, barely, paid notice, to the couple, who sat in the car, kissing, while the hot rodders sped away.) For some reason, the sound, of the motor, in the distance, brought back those delightful memories. Memories, which made Emanuel Lorenzo happy to have decided to propose to his wife. Once Mellissa's car was on his rig, Emanuel did his best to focus on tying the car down, to the flatbed. This because, as if out of nowhere, all of the beauty, of the couples relationship, was replaying, before his eyes. Even as Emanuel Lorenzo was securing the car, he could not help but remember his wedding day, and the promise husband and wife made to one another. The promise NOT to start a family, until safely across the border, into America. While both were good Catholics, Emanuel had suggested that crossing the border would be easiest, with only the two of them. (Maria had agreed.) Yes, Maria was his angel. She was his, daily, reminder, of why he loved life. In fact, Maria was foremost, in Enamuels thoughts, at the moment, when a red Ford hot rod came, "screaming", by, killing Emanuel Lorenzo, on impact. The reason why aid arrived, so fast, was because, due to the nature, of the case, Mr. Brown had asked Mr. Black to maintain round-the-clock surveillance, for information, on the hot rodders. Mr. Brown just had a "gut feeling" that something BAD was going to happen. Mr. Blacks agents, soon, sounded the alarm, after satellite recon first showed Emanuel Lorenzo going about his duty, recovering the car, when the next image showed the man, lying dead, on the road. When Mr. Black viewed the footage, then told his workers "Wide scan. I want to know every car, within FIVE MILES." Not surprisingly, with the road being ten miles, outside of town, there was nothing to see. While the state police had three cruisers, in the general area, until the speeders were arrested, by the time the Brown Agency contacted the police, and the units arrived, Emanuel Lorenzo was as "dead as a door nail." Since the Brown Agency had the only thing even resembling "facilities", near the scene, the tow truck, and the car, would be brought to agency storage. Inside the Brown Agency "temporary" garage, mechanics would work, into the night, and the following morning, piecing together the shell, of Mellissa Anderson's car, one piece, at a time. This, even as they examined the tow truck. The question everyone wanted the answer to was "WHY bother to kill a tow truck driver? A man, with no criminal history, a wife, and two children. Emanuel Lorenzo could not be more "Apple Pie" if he tried. Come morning, however, Maria Lorenzo would, no-sooner put her children off, to school, when the police would ask her to join them, down town. When Maria asked "Is this about my husand?" When the police asked Maria "When did you, last talk to your husband?" Maria had said "Right after the work call. He was told to collect a crashed car. I have waited, all night. Is my husband okay?" When the police said nothing, Maria knew what this meant. Shortly after Maria Lorenzo would identify her husbands body, the police would say "Sorry to inform you, but we checked the records. Neither you, nor your husband, entered America, legally. As a result, you will be returned to Mexico." To Maria Lorenzo's horror, this was not the worst of the day. The worst was not even when Maria Lorenzo was informed that, under current immigration law, her husbands body was required to be shipped, seperately, from her. When Maria Lorenzo asked "What about my children?" The police would inform her that immigration law required that each family member be transitted, seperately. Even her children, when picked up, at school, would be transitted, into Mexico, seperately. In THEORY, a recent administration had proposed that, tearing families apart, and leaving family members with the horror, of not knowing one anothers fate, while in transit, was SUPPOSED to be designed to DIS-COURAGE illegal immigration. All the change really did was to leave police, and communities, sick at heart, and stomach, that children would not know where parents were, until, and IF, the families, re-united, in Mexico. At present, however, all the legislation was doing was causing a greater rift, in the American public. A rift where, on one side, the argument was "They have been taking our jobs! Besides, they came here, illegally." The opposite side stood, firm, saying "We dont need to tear families apart! Deport families, together." When agency personnel asked Mr. Brown what was the "right" thing to do, the boss held his usual "We are here, on a case. We are not here to make national policy. Focus on the speeders. I want to know WHY they killed that tow truck driver. Legal or not. The family deserves to know WHO killed the man, and WHY." As for Tami and I, we were, still, trying to nail down facts, about the violence, associated with the area. HAD men run horses over fallen opponents, just for the "fun" of it? Had people actually fallen off of wagons, and been left to die? Was it true that jousts had been held, at the location? Add in the question, of HOW a 1955 Ford drag racer could top speeds, of 300 miles per hour, and all we had were questions. Shortly after Maria Lorenzo was identifying her husbands body, the Brown Agency mechanics made a report, which made only slightly more sense than the question of how a 1955 drag racer could outpace a modern cruiser. When the mechanics reported, to Mr. Brown "Sir, we have found something, which MIGHT explain things, a bit." When Mr. Brown would say "Go on." The mechanics would explain "While examining the bodies, of both the car, and the tow truck, we found evidence, that the car, in question, was, in fact, red." When Mr. Brown would ask "So, what? Many, American cars are red." The mechanics would say "The color, red, but NOT red LEAD." When Mr. Brown would say "Impossible! Lead paint was outlawed, decades ago. You could not buy lead paint, today, period." The mechanics would say "Never-the-less, the car was/is painted, with red lead paint. Chemical analysis proves it." When Mr. Blue would ask "Just WHERE would a person secure lead paint, nowadays?" The mechanics would say "We have no idea. We thought it would be significant, to the investigation. I mean, hot rodders, using engines, which have been turned into "rockets", and red lead paint." When Mr. Brown would say "Thank you, gentlemen. Now, I know you have had a long, hard, night. Get some rest." With that, the mechanics would depart. When Mr. Blue would ask "Classic cars, classic hairdo's, leather jackets, drag racing engines, lead paint work? Is this weird, or what?" Mr. Brown would mention "Come to think about it, my father mentioned something, about this, years ago. Something about outlaw motorists either buying surplus lead paint, or, sometimes, stealing the paint. Several times, he told me stories, abut how he, and his friends, "found" car parts, then rigged engines, for racing. You know, one time, he even showed me an old, leather, jacket. Claimed he wore it, in high school." When Mr. Blue would ask "Do you mean, like in the movie, "Grease", or the show "Happy Days"?" Mr. Brown would say "Yeah. Father called these some of the happiest days of his life. Leather jackets. Smoking in the boys room. he, even, claimed that, one time, on a "dare", he "made out", with a classmate, right under school officials noses." When Mr. Blue would ask "Did he say HOW?" Mr. Brown would say "To hear father tell it, he parked his parents car, right beneath a window, of the room where the P.T.A. was meeting, to discuss how to curb teen sex impulses." When Mr. Blue would say "I'll bet that went over, well, with the student body." Mr. Brown would say "When my mother was not around, my father told me stories, of his girlfriends, in school. He cautioned me NEVER to tell my mother, since several, of his dates, were her friends." When Mr. Blue would ask "Did your father ever get caught?" Mr. Brown would say "Father was too smart. He never used school property. Always used the family car. This way, if discovered, he could drive away, with the "evidence". Namely, his date." When Mr. Blue would say "I have to ask. Did any, of his friends get caught?" Mr. Brown would say "Father told me about some of the guys, who got caught. Guys with names like "monkey", "meat-head", "dopey". Mr. Blue would say "Let me guess. "meat-head", and "dopey", were among those, caught, doing un-Christian things, on school property." Mr. Brown would say "Worse. The idiots did not even have an escape plan. They just took dates to school grounds, and had their "fun"." When Mr. Blue would ask "When they got caught?" Mr. Brown would say "According to my parents, the boys were sent to juvenile detention, until their eighteenth birthdays." When Mr. Blue would ask "Kind of late to "lock the barn door", AFTER the horse has escaped." Mr. Brown would say "Trust me, the boys did not escape, and neither did the girls." When Mr. Blue would ask "Damage?" Mr. Brown would say "According to my mother, only one girl was ALLOWED an Abortion. Mother said this was only allowed, after five, seperate, doctors, verified that becoming pregnant caused the girl to contract either severe Asthma, or some other, chronic, condition. Whatever it was, the proceedure was ruled neccessary." When Mr. Blue asked "What about the rest of the girls?" Mr. Brown would say "To hear my parents tell it, forcing the girls to endure pregnancy, then being ordered, to give up infants, seemed suitable punishment." When Mr. Blue would ask "What made you think of that?" Mr. Brown would say "The more we work on this case, the more it reminds me of my own, high school days. You know, during my high school years, my buddies, and me, boosted maybe half a dozen cars. Boy, did we think that was fun. Picking locks, tripping ignition wires, and, oh, that one, I think it was a Plymouth Fury, Firebird, or something similar. Boy, while we had that car, all the chicks in school, were willing to give their all, for a chance to ride in that car." When Mr. Blue would ask "Did you, ever, drag with the police?" Mr. Brown would say "Me? No. I was just one of the mechanics, who revved the engine. Not that I did not see any "action", but, no, I never dragged." When Mr. Blue would ask "What did you, eventually, do with the car?" Mr. Brown would say "One night, when "Dice" had the car, a guy we called "Fuzzy" "boosted" the car, from us. The fool got busted, making out, with a chick, right in front of the car owners house." When Mr. Blue would ask "Did you get "nailed", for the theft?" Mr. Brown would say "If D.N.A. testing had existed, at the time, I would be in prison, now. As it was, when the police found the couple, making out, in the car, "Fuzzy" was "hung" with the "rap". He did 2-5." When Mr. Blue would ask "Where are they now?" Mr. Brown would say "Fuzzy" left prison, and went into one, of his family's businesses, until his record was forgotten. Last I heard, he was a middle manager, somewhere. As for "Dice", boy was that boy a gambler. Would you believe it, "Dice" gambled every penny he had, as well as his car, and all of his gear, just to win another players girlfriend." Mr. Blue would say "Let me guess. She gave the guy a "one night", then bailed, going back to her man." Mr. Brown would say "Sort of. From the stories I heard, including from "Dice", himself, after the woman gave him what he wanted, she tried to go back, to her man, but he had, already, found another woman. Funny thing is, while the woman spent almost two years, telling people how much she HATED "Dice", he no-sooner proposed, when the two were married. "Dice" told me that, one of the womans conditions, of the marriage, was that "Dice" give up gambling. When Mr. Blue would say "I'll bet THAT went over, real well, too." Mr. Brown would say "It must have. The last time "Dice" gambled, was at his bachelor party. After winning a small fortune, "Dice" stood, from the table, put an arm around his fiance, told his friends "This was my last game." then handed his good luck dice, to "moocher". "How long did "Dice" keep his promise, to his wife?" Mr. Brown would say "As far as I know, it has been twenty-five years, and four children." When Mr. Blue would suggest "You dont think that some, aging, men, are rigging all of this, as some sort of "mid-life" thing?" Mr. Brown would say "I might have suspected that, but only until Ms. Andersons encounter. The men, I know, are far too settled, nowadays. None of them would risk driving at close to 400 miles per hour. Add in the fact that video did not pick up ANY-one, inside the car. I think we can rule out mid-life crisis. What I am hoping is that Tami can come up with is a reason WHY these spirits are haunting this place, now. If they wanted to pretend to be "Fonzie", or "Richie Cunningham", why wait until now? Why not back in the day, when they were "in fashion"?" While Tami and I were, still, working on the early twentieth century, of the road, Mellissa Anderson, and her team, returned to the stake-out, then made a surprising report, to Mr. Brown. Mellissa would tell Mr. Brown "I just dont understand it. When their car hit US, we FELT it, and the cars have the damage, to prove it. When we tried to hit, them, however, it was like they were thin air. We never collided. When we tried a squeeze-play, we passed through them, like they were fog. How can it be that they can total our cars, yet we dont affect them, at all?" While Mr. Brown would give his deepest thanks, to Ms. Anderson, and her crew. When they asked "Why?" Mr. Brown would say "You have aided us, in narrowing both the case, and the suspects. If you wish to remain, for the end of the investigation, that is fine by me. I just want you to know that your work has provided us with valuable leads." What no one expected was what happened, next. According to both police, and agency, reports, it would seem that, one, thurday night, while Maria Consula, Tam Zamali, and Maria Lopez, were driving home, after a boring evening, spent fixing all of thier bosses computer input mistakes, the women were verified, as having visited the only pizza parlor, in town, which was open, at that hour. While the restaurants dining room was, already, closed, for the night, the drive thru cashier remembered the ladies, from previous, late night work. There was nothing suspicious, about their order, either. The ladies ordered a large, supreme, pizza, and three salads. A short time after this, the ladies had stopped, at a local gas station, primarily to purchase some soda, to go with their food. (It would seem that, to prevent employee's from drinking up store supplies, the restaurants owner shut down the drinks station, before they left work, each night.) While the gas station cashier remembered selling the ladies SIX diet soda's, the cashier also remembered seeing a local, drug dealer, hanging arund. (This, despite the fact that the station owner had a court order, against the dealer, ordering the dealer to stay OFF station property). The cashier remembered the night, suspiciously well, since they told police that the drug dealer hung, just at the edge, of the property, until the ladies bought their drinks. The cashier THOUGHT they remembered the ladies car stopping near the drug dealer, before driving off. The cashier would add "It was odd. That dealer, when he hangs around, he stays almost all night. Does as much "business" as he can, then takes off, before sun-rise." When Mr. Brown had asked the cashier "What was different, about this night?" The cashier would say "I only remember seeing the dealer, until the ladies stopped by. After that, I dont remember seeing him, for the rest of my shift." From what the Brown Agency would be able to piece together, from that night, it would seem that, aside from their food, and drinks, the women DID purchase some "pot". Exactly how MUCH will never be known. All that anyone can discover is that, somewhere, along the way home, the ladies had a flat tire. Itr would seem, however, that the ladies must not have been stoned, at the time, of the incident, since the impact scene showed no evidence of the women being impaired. It is thought that, when the tire went flat, the women, in the front seat, left the car, to grab the spare, and the jack, from the trunk. This, while Maria Lopez sat in the rear seat, enjoying her late dinner. Based upon how the scene was discovered, it was obvious, that the women took the supplies, from the trunk, got the spare out, and had the flat, off to the side. It is thought that Maria Lopez witnessed the hit-and-run deaths, of her friends since, moments after the women were run over, Maria placed a call, to police. By the time the dispatcher took up the call, it would seem that the dragster had returned, for its final victim. The dispatcher HEARD the roar, of the dragster, even as Maria Lopez went, tumbling, to her death, being crushed to death, by the cars weight. When the dispatcher barked, at computer control "Track this call, NOW!", the programmer went to work, tracing the call. This, even as the dispatcher insists that they listened to the cars engine revving, as its victim met her death. The dispatcher would, soon, tell fellow officers "I KNOW that engine sound. My brother is working to restore a 1955 Ford, in the family garage. The NOISE. Sometimes I have to sleep elsewhere." When the bodies, and the car, were brought in, there was THOUGHT that the dispatchers brothers car might have been involved. Just two problems. For one thing, while the motor, of her brothers car, was in prime condition, the body remained in pieces. The car could not have driven out of the garage, if it wanted to. For another thing, her brothers car was "Starlight Blue". The paint scrapings, from the ladies car, indicated that the car, which collided with it, was painted with yellow, LEAD, paint. It seems that this stumped police, since there were NO, yellow, drag racers, within 100 miles. In fact, according to the chief, of police "The last, yellow, drag racer, left town, maybe three years ago. Joined a classic car circuit." When Mr. Brown would ask "Last, known location?" The chief would say "According to the Gazzette, the team is touring in California." Mr. Brown would ask "Mind if I verify that?" The next victim would be line-man Manuel Garcia. A man who had been working late, on a power line, which had, somehow, gotten crossed, with phone lines. While the dead women were the second generation, of their families, to be born, in America, Manuel Garcia was the fifth generation to be born, in the United States. As far as Manuel knew, his family had come to America, legal, fair, and square. What Manuel did not know was that his family history had been "fabricated". Atleast the part, about crossing the border, legally. What Manuel had no knowledge of was the fact that his ancestor had brought his family to America, Across the border, on a moon-less night. Since, in these days, "night vision", Apache Attack Helicopters, and even infrared, had not been invented, yet, all the illegals had to do was remain silent, until well within America's borders. The family had, quickly, established themselves, as hard workers. People who would rather starve than accept charity. People who became "pillars" of their community. As for Manuel, the man had decided, near his thirteenth birthday, to learn all there was to know, about electricity. His reason: His friend, Enrique, had been trapped, when a freak bolt of lightning, had severed a power line. The high tension line had fallen, on the boy, knocking him from his bicycle. While Manuel had seemed certain that he COULD have freed Enrique, just by lifting the wires, and allowing Enrique to crawl out, from beneath, several adults had held Manuel back, saying that professionals would handle the situation. By the time the professionals had arrived, however, the power company had tried cutting power, to the line, only to cause an un-expected surge. A surge, which caused the downed line, to leap from the ground, and land across Enrique's chest. The boy died seconds thereafter. After watching his friend die, Manuel Garcia decided to learn eveything, about electricity. He wanted to PROVE that he COULD have saved Enrique. After years, of studying everything he could find, on the subject, Manuel Garcia not only realized that, had he tried to lift the power line, he, too, would have been electricuted, but he became the highest rated student, in his class, regarding "Industrial Arts". In fact, due to his grades, Manuel Garcia received a "full ride" scholarship, to the local Electricians Union. Soon after this, the mans passion, for safety, had lead to his promotion, to supervisor. This, in turn, lead to a salary, high enough for him to propose to his girlfriend, and for the couple to have five, healthy, children. At age 35, Manuel Garcia thought he had it made. A wife, home, family. How could life be better. On the night in question, Manuel Garcia was not, originally, on "stand-by", however, when he heard what happened, with the lines, he decided to check it, for himself. That night, Manuel Garcia had failed to find a reason, for the lines to cross. The connections were secure, and there was no evidence, of tampering. Manuel was puzzled, as he left the pole, and was storing his gear, when the two cars RACED out of the distance. (Manuel Garcia would not live long enough to know that he had been a victim, of hit-and-run driving.) Mellissa Anderson was the only witness, to the crime, this because she had been in pursuit, of the red dragster, for miles. Earlier that evening, At Mexican restaurant, which had learned that the recent deaths, of Latinos, were being investigated, as normal Americans (Not as illegal aliens), had offered Mellissa Andersons team a "Hope for the Best" dinner. After dining on three Taco Salads, Mellissa Anderson had started her car, and was enroute, to the closed road way, when a scene, of horror, caught both her eye, and her cars camera's. While stopped at a red light, Mellissa Anderson was just noticing the strange appearance, of a young boy, at the corner. "What was he doing out, so late, and at his age?" Mellissa Anderson was about to driver over, to the boy, and offer him a ride home, when, out of nowhere, came a red dragster. Travelling at close to 100 miles per hour, the car did not even attempt to swerve, to avoid the boy. With a roar, of its modified engine, and blower, the dragster sent the boys body flying, over to the street curb. This is when Mellissa Anderson made her decision. Speeding, on a closed road, was one thing. Hit-and-run, on city streets, as well as hurting a child? No way would Mellissa Anderson let the creep get away, that night. While Mellissa Anderson set off, in high speed pursuit, of the dragster, back at Brown Agency headquarters, the video uploaded, and an ambulance was sent to find out if the child was alive. While Mellissa Anderson might have been passionate, about bringing in a driver, who would hit a child, then drive away, her already high blood pressure would be sent beyond the boiling point, as the dragster mowed down Manuel Garcia, yet did not even slow down. Having just witnessed two acts, of attempted murder, Mellissa Anderson forgot all the rules, of safe driving. She was DETERMINED that these people would PAY! No way would they get away, this night. Pushing her pursuit car past the 400 mile per hour mark, she was surprised, when the men, inside the classic car looked back at her, first in mocking contempt, then in what was, clearly, fear. As the cars passed 405 miles per hour, computers took control, of Mellissa Andersons cars systems. Not to countermand her actions, but to stop her, if her life was in danger. The two cars travelled at 415 miles per hour, for just a couple of miles, before Brown Agency computers had Mellissa Andersons car terminate pursuit, in a measure which brought her car to a crawl, just five feet short of a barrier, for the local river. What Mellissa Anderson could not believe, aside from the fact that the dragster had exceeded 400 miles per hour, was the fact that, when the car jumped the embankment, she would have thought the car would sail, for miles, over the water, before splash down. To her disbelief, as the car jumped the embankment, it performed as though traveling at only 40 miles per hour. It plummeted into the river, just twenty feet from the bank. Then, Mellissa Andersons car, and her eyes, caught sight of something neither could understand. As the drag racer plummetted, into the river, the water became charged, as if someone had dropped a live wire into the water. Back, in the control center, the police chief stood, slack-jawed, at what the video showed him. When Mr. Brown would ask "What do you see? Who are those men?" Sure enough, it seems that, once the cars exceeded 400 miles per hour, the spirits became visual, to the video. When the police chief would say "Inmpossible! Those men are dead." When Mr. Blue would ask "WHO is dead?" The chief would say "Kicker", and "Stomper". They died years ago." When Mr. Brown would ask "Real names?" The chief would say "Dont bother. You wont find them, in any data base." When Mr. Blue would ask "Why is that?" The police chief would say "Because of HOW, and WHY, they died." While Tami and I were just reaching the 1930's, in our search, the police chief would be re-telling a tale, which he had hoped would, never, be told, again. According to the police chief "You have to understand. This is a Christian community. We dont take, kindly, to people hurting one another." When Mr. Brown would ask "Okay, lets hear it." The police Chief would say "It was 1957. We were just in high school. Most of us just got along, and worked our way to graduation." When Mr. Brown would say "I take it not everyone did." The police chief would say "There was a group. They called themselves "The Avenging Angels." They took the name from a World War Two military unit, which specialized in re-capturing "property", which the Nazi's took, by force. In high school, however, OUR version, of the Avenging Angels, seemed to think that the world belonged to THEM. Not to America, but to them, personally. Boy! Did they get steamed, when some Latino boys challenged the Angels multi-year lead, in dragging the local area. When the Latinos brought an end, to the Angels "command", of the drag strip, the Angels fought back, by rigging the Latinos cars, to crash, killing the drivers. After the Latinos girls went to the police, and while the Angels were awaiting trial, the Angels grabbed as many, of the Latinos girls as possible, and did terrible things, to the girls. After that, the Angels tried to get rid, of the bodies, but they took too much time. The county troopers took the Angels, and the bodies, in. Due to the severity, of the crimes, we just didn't think that prison was good enough, for the Angels." When Mr. Blue would ask "What did you do, with the bodies?" The police chief would say "We denied them Christian burial, lumping their corpses into a single, mass, grave." Another voice would join the group, saying "Then, you erased us, from all of the records. You even helped the Latinos sell OUR property, as compensation, for their loses." When Mr. Brown would ask "Who might you be?" The spirit would say "I was the LEADER of the Avenging Angels, and I tell you those Latinos got what they deserved. they were not here, legally. They took jobs, and our women. We took BACK what they stole, from us." When Mr. Blue would ask "WHY have you waited, so long, to make yourselves, known?" The Avenging Angel would say "We loved to drag that part, of the highway. Far enough, from town, so no one bothered us. We could do whatever we wanted, and no one bugged us." Mr. Brown would add "Then, the state decided to upgrade the road way." The Avenging Angel would add "Yeah. Rip up our spot, just for some lousy casino." When Mr. Blue would ask the Angel "WHY kill these Latinos. I doubt that they were, even, born, in your day." The Angel would say "They are Latino. Thats all the evidence that we need. They stole, from us, and we stole, BACK! We are Americans, damn it! We should not have to share with these INVADERS!" Mr. Brown would say "Son, it is a good thing you are, already dead. If you were alive, you would face the death penalty, for the killings." When the Angel would say "These were not people. They were illegals!" The police chief, and Mr. Blue, would agree, with Mr. Brown. "It is true, son. Three women, a man, and a child. If you were alive, you would get the death penalty, for sure." Mr. Brown would, calmly, add "Now, how many, of you, are there, hereabouts?" The Angel would say "There are enough to make your lives a living HELL!" This is when the enforcer demon would appear, saying "Dont count on it, my boy. The master wants to have a "chat" with your gang. Seems, you are causing too much trouble. Time to "pay the piper". When Mr. Brown would ask the enforcer demon "Are you certain that they will be punished, for their actions?" The demon would say "Trust me. After a few centuries, they will WISH they were angels." While no human, present, SAW the other "angels", when the enforcer demon would say "Follow me. Judgement awaits." The entire staff felt a "chill", as if over a dozen souls had just walked by. After the enforcer demon took the Avenging Angels away, Mr. Brown would instruct Tami and I to focus our research on the late 1940's through the early 1960's. As Mr. Brown would say "This seems to be the time-frame, which the spirits are operating from." For Tami and I, reviewing these records brought back our own memories, of public school. While we had not attended school, until well AFTER the 1950's, we had our own memories, as well. While reviewing school records, Tami would mention "I know I never mentioned it, before, but, if it helps the case, I think I should tell you that, while I was in high school, myself, some classmates TRIED to get me to join a lesbian group." When I asked "How HARD did they try?" Tami would say "While I did not mind the kissing, so much, it was the "other stuff", that they wanted me to do." (When Tami told me what the lesbians wanted her to do, in order to PROVE that Tami was a lesbian, I could understand her revulsion) When I mentioned how openly VIOLENT my own class-mates were, including slamming me into lockers, and shouting in my face "You ARE a HOMO, because I SAID you are!", and how my class-mates just could not STAND having a peace-loving student, in their very violent midst. When Tami asked me "How did you survive?" I told her "As soon as I was old enough, I quit high school, and went into the much more respectful "Adult Education". When I asked Tami how she, finally, dealt, with high school, she would say "Once my class-mates decided that I was a lesbian, I could not get a date, no matter what I did. Like you, and the Latinos, I was "labelled", by my class-mates. Like you, faculty, and administration REFUSED to take any corrective measures, against my attackers." Un-like myself, who had a mother, who began allowing me to make my own decisions, it seems that Tami's parents ORDERED her to remain in school, and graduate. Tami had not understood, for several years, what her mother had meant, when the woman would say "High school is one of the most SAVAGE places, on Earth. My own parents told me that this SAVAGERY is the way that future business leaders are molded." When I suggested "Kill, or be killed", Tami would say "that about sums up my high school life, as well." While Tami and I DID locate several references, to various, high school gangs, we, also, noticed how much care was taken, in "sanitizing" the high school experience. Since it was not so long, especially for Tami, since her high school days, Tami and I began taking our own "trip, down memory lane". While most of my own memories were of brutal beatings, by class-mates, over the fact that I refused to accept the "kill, or be killed" brutality, of my high school, Tami would remember which area's of school property, which she would, NEVER, go near (Due to what the lesbians did, to those girls, who did NOT comply). Anytime a class-mate wanted Tami to join them, in such places, Tami would go the OTHER way. When her class-mates shouted "Chicken!!!" after Tami, she just kept walking. In the present, I would remind Tami "Thank GOD, those days are behind us." Tami and I had just walked a short distance, around the local high school, when we found what we were not prepared to find. A group, of female spirits, which were standing over a piece, of school property, and weeping, while looking at the ground. When Tami whispered, to the spirits, "May we help you?" Atleast one female would say "Maybe 50 years ago, you could have helped. Today, you are, much, too late." When I examined the property, for clues (and relived my own, personal, horrors, of high school), Tami would begin conversing with the spirits, about WHY they were here. Since the dead have no reason to lie, Tami would find out that the girls, buried, deep under this soil, were those whom high school athletes had gotten pregnant. It would seem that the more "macho" types not only enjoyed beating, on peaceful students, but that, when girls told the boys that the girls were pregnant, some of the boys tried to BEAT the girls OUT of being pregnant. (Yep, sounded just like my class-mates. Violence was their answer, to everything) The problem was that, while the beatings worked, at "terminating" pregnancies, the same beatings terminated the girls, as well. While the athletes had "rigged" the scene, to look like an opposing high school had vandalized the schools maintenace shed, the athletes had broken into the shed, and used the gardening tools, to bury the bodies. Two, of the girls, asked Tami if Tami would believe that one of the athletes, who had gotten two girls pregnant, had made "double-sure" the girls were dead. This, by using his shovel, to bash the girls skulls, before, finally, covering the bodies, with dirt. When Tami and I submitted our update, to Mr. Brown, we were surprised at how "riled" the police chief got, at the news. As the chief would say "Little missy. I dont CARE what some "woogly-boogly" ghosts MIGHT have told you. Our community raises FINE lads. Maybe a bit rough, around the edges, but NOT murderers." When Tami was about to ask "Why would the dead lie?", when Mr. Brown would say "I suggest a compromise. Chief, if you allow a certain section, of the school grounds to be dug up..." The police chief would cut Mr. Brown off, saying "NEVER! I dont CARE what any "ghost" says. I WONT have you digging up a whole school, just because "little missy", here, says some "ghosties" told her something". When Mr. Brown would ask "Whats the harm, in doing a bit of digging? Only in one spot." The police chief would growl "FINE! But ONLY for two minutes." When Mr. Brown would suggest "30 minutes" and the police chief would say "TWO minutes, or nothing." Mr. Brown seemed shocked, Mr. Blue would suggest, to Mr. Brown, "Sir, I have an idea." When Mr. Brown would say "Proceed." Mr. Blue would suggest "Why dont we contact Justice Johnston. Maybe HE can clear the way." When the police chief would ask "And just WHO is this Justice Johnston? Another of your "precious" agents?" Mr. Blue would say "Hardly. Justice Phillip Johnston is a federal judge, on the state circuit. His honor has aided our agency, on previous cases. Once we present our case, I am certain that Judge Johnston will, not only grant permission, but the full court press, along with it." Suddenly, the police chief would seem almost sheepish, as he said "Go ahead. Dig up as much as you want to. Just do me a favor, and TRY to put everything back, when you are finished, okay?" Mr. Brown would smile as he said "Good as done." For some reason, after Tami showed some, local, diggers WHERE to dig, the shovels had, barely, broken two feet, when some protesters arrived. While the female protesters seemed vocal, about the cost, of land upkeep, it was a group, of men, who seemed the most vocal, in saying "You have no RIGHT!" When the police chief heard a protester shouting about desecration, the police chief walked over, to the crowd, and asked "What do you mean "Desecration"? This is a public building. A public school. WHAT is there, to desecrate?" When the man would say "It is, STILL, desecration!" The police chief would inform the protesters "Wait a minute. For your information, Desecration is limited, by LAW, to churches, and graveyards. HOW can this apply to a public school?" When the protester stood, silently, the police chief would say "I am waiting for an answer." When the protester stood, silently, the police chief would say "My patience is wearing thin. Explain that "Desecration" remark, before I have you arrested." When the protester would say nothing else, the police chief would call a deputy over, handing the protester over, and saying "He KNOWS something. Lock him up, until he talks. When he does, call me, IMMEDIATELY! Undertand?" The deputy would say "Right, chief." Then lead the protester away. A short while later, the deputy had not taken the protester to the city lock up. He had taken the man to the old two-lane black-top, where the deputy would ask "Are you crazy, or STUPID? Dont you know how much it took, to HIDE what we did?" When the protester would say nothing, the deputy would say "Thanks to you being too stupid, to keep your mouth shut, action will HAVE to be taken." When the protester would say "I had to do something, to keep them from digging. Desecration seemed the easiest to rationalize." When the deputy had said "Stupid! If you had just SHUT UP! We COULD have claimed the bodies were dumped, by some rival gangs. Hell, we COULD have claimed they were illegal aliens." When the protester would say "I am not losing my position, over this. I am NOT going down, alone. Got it, "Squiggly"?" This was all the deputy needed, to rationalize his next action. Without allowing the protester to see his actions, the deputy switched from regular police ammo, to full armor piercing ammo. As soon as the protester would ask "Did you HEAR me, "Squiggly"?" The deputy turned to the protester, and put a lethal round, through his head. The deputy would watch the man fall to the ground, then make certain he was dead, before whispering "I heard you, "Freak Monster"." The deputy was just thankful that there was just not enough, violent, local crime, to justify barriers, between between prisoners, and deputy's. In fact, if this town had any LESS violence, it would be VERY difficult to justify having law enforcement, at all. After "setting the stage", the deputy ran his cruiser into one of the construction barriers, then sat by the road side, ready, with his story, about the protester grabbing the deputy, thereby forcing the deputy to shoot. When his G.P.S. activated, the deputy gave his story, while asking for a ride. While waiting for his ride, the deputy would ask the body "Why couldn't you just leave well enough alone? We could have made it, free and clear. No one would have known. WHY?" Back, at the school, when the diggers would ask the police chief, to let them dig a bit deeper. Reason: "This dirt is not packed, firm, as it should be. If we dig a bit deeper, I think we will find something." Ten minutes after the police chief said "Go ahead." The diggers found the remains. This is when Mr. Brown would say "THAT is what the man meant, when he said "Desecration"." Even Tami and I could see that the police chief was surprised at the discovery. So was 95% of the town. No one could believe that their families had gone to class, over a graveyard. According to the medical examiner, the news was, even, worse. Due to the advanced state of decay, of the remains, the ONLY causes, of death,which could be ruled out, were gun-shots, and stabbing. When dental records came back, maybe eight families, who had spent decades, hoping that daughters were alive, and just living, in other parts, of the world, would face a bitter reality. Their daughters pictures came OFF of the missing persons lists. The girls had, never, left home. Not alive, that is. While the spirits, of the Avenging Angels, were no-longer dragging the two-lane black top, others were preparing to use this road, for "other purposes", when state politicians would announce "We may, now, proceed with the latest, state-run, casino." Locals were most vocal, in asking "WHAT do we need ANOTHER casino for?" When the politician said "Revenue!". The politician knew when to "exit, stage right", even as the assembly would state "We need MANUFACTURING jobs, not more gambling." Tami, myself, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Blue, would agree, on one thing. Over the next month, the person, in town, with the hardest job, would be the head-stone maker. As many as a dozen head-stones would have to be carved. ALL with dates, of death, half a century ago. Cause of death would have to read "Open/Unknown". While the Avenging Angels had been brought to justice, this was little consolation, either for the girls families, or for those, whose family members the Angels had run down. When Tami did some discreet checking, with some, of Mr. Brown's contacts, my partner would learn that ALL that immigration law changes were doing was increasing bitterness, against the federal government. It was NOT that people felt that illegal aliens should be given "sanctuary", in the U.S.. The opposition was to the new process, of splitting families up, for deportation. In THEORY, the process was to re-unite families, SOUTH of the border. The REALITY was that, to many families, the fate, of members, NOT arriving. Fates remained unknown. As Mr. Brown would remind us "We were asked to consult, on a case, about drag racers speeding down a two-lane black top. THIS is what our agency was contracted to do. The rest is beyond our control. Remember: We are DETECTIVES. Not gods!"