Curtis and Carol ... Update: Big Picture

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Didn’t See That Coming
I have to say that anyone dropping by Curtis’ house the following morning,
Just might have been a bit surprised Sherman was still there.

Stranger Things Have Happened, I am Sure.

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Where we catch up with our story,
Curtis had finished his morning workout and was watching the news from the kitchen …
While Sherman was just waking up from the first good night’s sleep
he had been blessed with in a while.

Without a whole lot of fussing,
Curtis told Sherman to get cleaned up while he fixed some breakfast.

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Well rested, in a better mood and getting fat on pancakes,
Sherman thought he just may give the pitch another try.

Sherman
”So … I was thinking while in the shower this morning …
You know, we could …”

Curtis was quick to cut him off at the pass.

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Curtis
”Hey Sherm … I don’t really want to emphasize the obvious,
but I could have killed you in your sleep last night and sold your body as cut-bait
to the fishermen we met day before yesterday in Mapleton.”

Curtis smiles and continues …

”Nah, really man … Leave it alone.
I’m not cracking on this one … No way, no how.

What is going to happen, is that we are going to make it through the next few days,
And I promise you, whatever else happens after that …
You’ll be okay.”

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More eating and less jawing occurred after that.
Curtis finished up the dishes while Sherman took the opportunity
to iron a fresh set of clothes for the day.

With plenty of time still left to spare, the two were ready to head for Valleyview.

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Sherman
”Honestly Curtis, I don’t know what to say,
You let me stay here last night, when I haven’t been much to you but a pain.
Man I have no idea why you did it, but I appreciate it.”

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Curtis
”Aw come on Sherman, thanks is enough.

Dude you are like a wildcat that is cornered, and you cannot help it.
You don’t see a way out, you’re not thinking straight …

And By Straight … I mean straight through it.

There are some things in life you just can’t get around.
You got to go through them … Good or Bad.”

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Curtis continued as they got ready to head out
” Hey … I got a plan.

How about you get a couple cases of books out the trunk of that piece of junk you drive,
And put them in the back of my truck?
We’re not in a rush, can take it easy
And maybe figure out something to help you.

I would suggest the bike but there’s no way I am showing up
with a dude riding .”


Now isn’t that something else …
Curtis may be rough around the edges, but he’s not quite what you would call clueless.
There may just be hope for that boy … Both of them really.

To Be Continued …

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Fly on the Wall
Hey there y’all … Glad to see you made it back!
We don’t need to waste a whole lotta time, and kind of get back into it.

Peter Winterly had run into Curtis and Carol earlier in the week,
and mentioned something about invites to the house.
Well come about Sunday, our two love birds had been enjoying their time together,
but certainly didn’t mind paying the Winterly’s a visit.

Everyone had lunch and was in a wonderful mood.
As the afternoon came around, things kind of moved out back around the pool.
If there’s one thing about this job I like,
Well … sometimes I get to do a little eavesdropping.

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Peter
”Well Curtis … We’ve had a lovely day today,
I’m kind of glad things are working out with you and Carol,
But I just have to ask …

Did you ever talk to Susan?”

Curtis
”No Peter …

When I was wrapping up the book and before it went to print,
I sent a preliminary copy to Susan’s lawyers.
I didn’t really try to get into what it all meant to her when I was writing,
but I wanted to run it by someone else and ensure I wasn’t overstepping.

About a week after that, they called me back ...
Said she didn’t have any objections to it.
When I asked if she mentioned anything else,
They said she didn’t want to talk about any of it with them.

Aw Peter …
I the pooch and made a mess of that.

Looking back I don’t think it should have turned out any different,
But I sure could have handled it better.”

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Peter
”I can’t say I don’t agree with you on that one,
but Susan was … Is, a Hollister.

One way or another those folks always end up on their feet.
It wouldn’t do any good to worry about that now.

Now I will warn you …
We’ve known Carol Anne for a while, and she’s like a daughter to me.
Things may or may not work out, but you better not make the same mess twice.

I ain’t like the law,
and I’ll come looking for you.”

Friends, it sounds like Peter is serious.
I’m gonna give those two dogs a minute to get on through that.
Let’s see what’s happening with the ladies over by the grill.

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Adele
”Carol, I always thought you and Curtis could make a cute couple,
Can’t say I might not have had a few designs on it myself …

But dang, when he cut that mop he was wearing on his head …
Lord Child girl, if I wasn’t a happily married woman,
I’d fight ya for him, and with a big stick.”

Seems like things might be a smidgen lighter over here,
And the giggles are dang near intoxicating.

Adele Continued
”I don’t know what to say Carol …
but if that man was sitting in my kitchen
every morning wearing his tidy-whitieys,
I would probably call in sick to work for a month.

And don’t you go trying to fool Mrs. Adele …
I drive by your place in the morning
and have seen his truck up in your yard all this week.

It’s okay darling,
I have just been wondering where that bike of his is.”

Well Carol had a sheepish grin on her face,
and hesitated a tiny bit before filling Adele in.

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Carol
”Curtis sold his bike,
but hear me out, because I didn’t really ask him to.

All I really ever said about the bike before he sold it,
is when I asked him to bring the truck the first night we had dinner.

When I saw him again,
the bike was already gone.”

Adele
”Oh I am sure everything will be okay Carol.
Curtis has come a long way from when he first set foot in Hidden Springs.

He’s growing all the time, making a few mistakes,
but we’ll keep our fingers crossed
and I think there may be a good man in him.”

Carol
”Curtis is a wonderful man.
I am not sure he has ever been in a decent relationship though.

He let’s me take the lead in a lot of circumstances,
That may change some over time.
but he respects me like no other man has,
pays attention and wants to make me happy.

I’d be a fool to have a problem with that.”

Adele
”Oh girl … You are in love.

I’m gonna have to nail your foot to ground
just to bring you back to Earth.”

Aw now … That’s just sweet and everything.

Let’s go back over to those men …
I bet those two knuckleheads can ruin it.

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Peter
”You wouldn’t believe it,
but I got a resume from that boy Sherman the other day.

Seems like he is looking at splitting out on BlackSand Industries
and maybe heading this way.

Did you have anything to do with that?”

Curtis
”Well we still email and text …

He had mentioned wanting to make a move.
My place will be up for rent soon.
I told him to give it shot with you.

I mean don’t do me any favors …
He would be working for you and not me.’

Peter
”That boy might have been a mess when he showed up here,
following you around on that book tour …
but I'm not going to lie,
spending a few week with you kind of changed him.

I’ll look at it again,
and it won’t just hit the circular file.”

Curtis
”You know, when that came up
I was asking him about Meadow Beach, BlackSand
and who may be interested in the property.

He said something about DHE or whatever,
He also said they purchased a lot of properties,
Including the one you are in.

What do you know about them?”

Peter
”Oh you mean Dixson and Howell Enterprises …
Yes sir, they are something else.

They don’t have anything to do with my business,
but they own the building we are in.
Can’t say I could really complain though.

When they came in, they upgraded security,
remodeled the lobby, put in new elevators,
and they are quick about fixing anything if it’s broken.

But they have a mess of personnel,
and all over the place in the region.
You can pick up the phone and complain about a toilet,
and it is dang near fixed by the time you hang up.

And they cover everything …
building security, janitorial services …
they even have an in-house concierge service
if you need a car or whatever.

Yeah … The rent is a bit more expensive.
but my coffee pot is always full.”

Curtis
”That’s odd … Because they own the Hotspot,
the Java Hut in town.

When I talked to Marcy,
She seemed a bit more skeptical about them.”

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I hope this doesn’t make you kind folks dizzy,
But I kind of want to make sure I don’t miss anything.

Adele
”Since you two seem to be all kinds of ate up in love,
Just tell me … Is there going to be a wedding date anytime soon?

Better yet, when are y’all gonna get busy
making me some de-facto grandbabies to chase around the yard?

Oh Lord Carol … I just love me some babies,
and I bet you two would make some cute ones.”

Carol
”I don’t think either one of us is necessarily running to the altar.
Probably going to give it more time to simmer if you know what I mean.

We might not be having all those babies you are looking for,
but I can’t say we haven’t spent a good amount of time pretending like we’re trying.”

Adele
”Carol Anne … That’s just a shame.

Not that you and Curtis are having a little fun,
but that means if I want to hear the little pitter-patter of tiny feet
anytime soon … I’m gonna have start working on that boy Nicholas.

That man is a fool sometimes …
There may not be a problem getting babies out of him …
but there’s a good chance he won’t remember the poor girl’s name.”

That seemed to strike those two as funny,
and the men started wondering what was going on over there.
Then the women headed to the pool,
but Peter thought it may be helpful to add one more thing.

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Peter
”I was just speaking from my experience with them
but now that I think about it, DHE bought the lab too.

Not long after that, I ran into Liam and Andrew
on the corner by the Grocery Store …
and I tell you, that Liam was hot.

I seriously thought he was about to stroke out
and was glad the fire department was two doors down.

He and Andrew were going back and forth about DHE,
and Liam was really upset about containment and specimens or something.

Oh whatever … When those two guys get to yakking
I think they are speaking Greek or something.”

Curtis
”Huh … Maybe that could be something serious …
Do you think it could?

And I think you’re talking about when they are using Latin terms.”

Peter
”Come on now … Don’t you go getting smart with me.

I got to have someone to talk to around here that doesn’t
require a whiteboard, markers and diagrams
just to understand what they want to talk about.

Speaking of that, Einstein … I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer,
but I know Adele Winterly like my back hand.

If we don’t move on over there and bust up those hens,
your fishing time is about to turn into knitting baby socks.’

Well Friends … It may not be a bullseye,
but I would say Peter knows Adele well after all.

Thanks again for stopping by, hanging in here with us for a spell …
and I am looking forward to the opportunity to do it again.

To Be Continued …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc5OyXmHD0w

Happy Simming!

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The Big ‘D’
You know folks … Most of the time that terrible old BlackSand leaves me alone.
Every once in a while, she just taps me on the shoulder and points.
While Carol and Curtis were enjoying their Sunday afternoon …
It looks like BlackSand noticed something going on in town.

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There seems to be a few things that could be interesting …
And I ain’t talking about Chef Francis in the background, teaching us how to make crepes.

Yep … That’s Sherman in the purple shirt ... I guess he made it back to town.
Then there is that man talking to Mayor Vanderburg, and I wonder what’s going on there.
Then, there’s a human gorilla in a black suit that looks like he could rip a phonebook in half …
I really don’t want to know any more about him.

But … Let’s sneak on outside, try to stay out of his way ...
And see if we can’t learn something.

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Alexander
”Margret, glad you called back quick, and how are Denis and the boys?

Well that's good to hear.
Hey, I know it is Sunday,
Nobody is going to like it,
but I need you to do a few things for me.”

Uh-oh … Looks like someone has made a plan.

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Alexander
”First on the list …
I was going over the hourlies from last week
in the car on the way over this morning.

I noticed around noon on the on Wednesday,
Peter Winterly at the Corporate Building here in Hidden Springs,
called about the toilet in the men’s room on the executive floor.

That’s the second time he’s called since we took over there.
I know it has been fixed, but we need to do what we can
to keep the friends we have around here.

Call that crew we have in Mapleton ...
Brady runs it if I remember correctly.

Line them up, and by close of business on this coming Friday,
tear everything out and redo both the bathrooms on the executive floor,
and be done with it by the time the doors open on the following Monday.

I don’t care how much it costs,
and I don’t care how many people he needs
to bring to get it done. … Just do it.”

Hmmm … That’s kind of odd.
Seems like this fella wants to make sure he keeps a few people happy.

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Alexander
”Next … And I know you are not going to like this.
Go ahead call in Cindy, Martin …
And you might as well bring in Bill out of Legal.

I want the three of them to go over that report Mr. O’Dorke
at the lab here sent in on Thursday,
just one more time with a fine-toothed comb.
Make sure we are covering due diligence.

Cindy can handle the OSHA side of things.
She’s bright and she knows what needs to be done ...
Safety first always!

Martin can handle the Science.
He worked with Adam on the other project in Mapleton,
and he can figure out if there is really anything to what
Mr. O’Dorke seems to be worried about.

Now Bill … Margret, I know you don’t like the man,
but he isn’t paid to be liked.
He makes his money keeping my rear-end
out of hot water with the Feds.

Once they’re done, have them compile, and send me their notes.
Highlight anything important because I don’t want to miss it.
Send it to Brett, he’ll print it out,
and I’ll look over everything in the morning.”

You know y’all … That almost sounds
like a serious case of Cover Your .
I’m starting to really wonder who this guy is.

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Alexander
”And I think Cindy is still single.
She has a young boy, around 6 …
Phillip is his name I think.

Tell her to go ahead and bring him in with her,
and to pack a few toys and a some of his favorite movies.
Call Ben in Services and have him set something up in Conference Room B.
The couches are nice in there and we can keep him comfortable.

If you can’t watch him for me …

Thanks Margret, you know how important
this kind of thing is to me.
Pick him up some snacks too …
We can spoil him some.

Get the rest something from Frittata's …
They all like that place.
But no dessert and lots of coffee.
I don’t want them sugar crashing too early
and I need them on their toes.

Everyone gets triple pay … This is a rush job and they’ll earn it.
Cindy and Martin can head home when they are done and take tomorrow off.
I’m going to need something else from Bill,
but he can punch out and take the day after that.”

I got to tell ya …
This guy is firing on all cylinders.

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Alexander
”Now I have something I want you and Amber to start working on.
I know she is an intern, but she needs to start learning how we do things.
You don’t need to start on it today, but don’t put it off.

I just got through talking to Mayor Vanderburg.
I cannot stand that greedy little man.
He kept talking to me about zoning restrictions
and pushing things through the city council.

He kept hinting at kickbacks,
and that’s not the way we do business.
I need the two of you to start reviewing some of the citizens of Hidden Springs
and find me someone we can support on a ticket to run against him the next time around.

I don’t care who, and they don’t have to agree with us.
I’m not looking for someone to be a yes man.
I need someone that knows the community and actually cares.
I also need someone that I don’t feel like I need a shower after I talk to them.

When you’re done, have Amber take it with a note to Amanda.
That’s why Amanda Howell’s face is on our billboards.
She has a much better chance of convincing someone else to step up than I do.
Have Amber go with her if they do any interviews.

Don’t be scared of Amanda either Margret …
She owes me one in this case.
I am the one stomping on fires out here right now.
I am just keeping us out of court, and short of 900 protestors
along with a couple of million in property damage if we fumble.”

Whoa Nelly … I gotta say I didn’t see that one coming,
This man isn’t playing … Or it isn’t checkers anyway.

I think I am starting to figure out who he may be.
I don't imagine there's a lotta folks that call Amanda Howell by her first name.

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Alexander
”Almost done, and then I’ll let you go …
We have a lot of work to get done.

Liam O’dorke …
I’m going to meet with him in the morning.
Let him know I am coming by
and have him meet me in the bullpen at the lab ten sharp.
Tell him to bring everything he needs with him.

Call security ahead of time and let them know I will be there.
I’ll come in through the front, but don’t want to do a lot of glad-handing.
Just keep things moving along, and straight to the bullpen.

Tell them to leave a member of the team in the hallway.
Preferably someone local and that Liam knows well.

Every time I have tried to meet with that man,
it has turned into a shouting match.
I am used to being yelled at, but he tends to do all the shouting
and then storms out before I get my turn.

This time, I am getting my turn …
Even if I have to have him duct-taped to the chair.
He is about to find out what the ‘D’ in DHE stands for …
And why the hell my name is up there to start with.

Thank You Margret … I don’t know what I would do without you.
Brett’s going to take me back to the hotel in Hughes Ferry.
I have to call Tina and tell my lovely bride
that I am not going to make it home when I expected.

She is going to be upset.”



Yep … That’s Alexander Dixson …
The ‘D” in DHE, or Dixson and Howell Enterprises.
I kind of thought he would be some crotchety old man.

Huh … I hope y’all didn’t get lost in there.
That was a whole lot of information.
To tell you the truth … I’m glad I’m not Margret.

Thanks for dropping in … See ya next time.

To Be Continued

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdEvL6jxUYA

Happy Simming

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Plans
You know friends ... When we last met,
that fella Alexander Dixson was making arrangements
to review what Liam O'Dorke had sent him one more time ...

And have a meeting with the prominent Hidden Springs scientist
at sometime the next day.

As Monday rolled around ...
It looks like some other folks are also making plans.

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Carol
"I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed
our time together, and last week was wonderful.
I'm looking forward to many more weeks like
that in the future.

But, you know ... A friend of mine contacted me
about this gig in the art world coming up.
We have the garden handled, cooler months are on the way,
and I really want to look into this.

I know it's not necessarily what we had planned,
but we can make it work.
Besides, there's a great piece of art in the balance ...
And if I finish this job, I sure won't mind having it."

Curtis
"Oh Carol Anne ... I knew we couldn't just stay
shacked up forever, without any other care in the world.
I mean, it would be nice, but not really practical.

I'll make a deal with ya ...

You don't get so busy we cannot find enough time
for me to chase you around the house naked ...
And you're gonna have to at least pretend
to trip and fall sometimes,
so I have a chance of catching you.

As long as that's not a problem ...
The deal is ...
You can do whatever you want to."

Carol
” You know I just make you chase me
to keep your heart in shape,
and to keep you from getting soft around the middle.

I like a solid man in bed."

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Curtis
"Oh ... So now I see ...
You just want me for my body.

You're probably just going to
throw me to the curb
when I get old and fat."

Carol
"Don't be silly ...
We will probably have had a few kids by then.
I will have put on fifty pounds ...
and your nickname for me will be Double Wide.

I'm still going to look at the bright side.
I won't have to pass up that extra cupcake anymore ...
And I do love those things.

No, Mr. Man ... I love you,
and you are stuck with me forever.
But I'm only telling you that,
because I would probably
make a pretty mean psycho-chick.'

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Curtis
"That still though ...
Cause now, I'm gonna have to find something to do.

I'm not laying around the house all day,
doing laundry and just waiting for you to come home."

Carol
"I don't know ...
You do a good job with the laundry,
and I don't have a problem with you
handling my undies ...
You should know that by now.

And you could always write again.
I keep telling you that you were good at it."

Curtis
"Nah ... That's not what I want to do.
You are right about it getting cooler soon though.
Rumor has it there is a spot
coming open at City Hall.

That should at least keep me through the Winter.
It might not be my favorite thing to do,
but I would get to poke around
and see what I could get into there."

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Carol
"Well ... I'm still taking that deal you offered,
and you can do whatever you want as well.

You worked out earlier, but I didn't.
I'm going to go hit the weights for a short set ...
How about you go downstairs, make us some drinks
and warm up the hot tub?

I'll be down shortly ...
and I may just forget my swimsuit.
How tragic ... I know!"

Well folks ... It looks like those two have some plans in mind.
I also gotta tell ya ... I like the way Carol thinks.

You know ... I kind of wonder how that meeting at the lab went.
Let's take a peek in that direction,
and see if we can find anything out.

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Alexander
"Hey Bill ... Alexander here.
I know the three of you worked through the night.
I cannot thank you enough,
and I appreciate you hanging there a bit longer this morning.

That thing we talked about ...
Yeah, go ahead and sit on that for a while.

There's no need for us to proceed with
Breach of Contract or
Unauthorized Release of Proprietary Information
charges against Dr. O'Dorke at the moment."

Wow folks ... I am not too sure Liam
knew everything that was in the works.

DHE seems to take some things seriously,
and that's for sure.

Alexander Continues
After A Long Pause
"I understand that Bill,
but Liam and I had a bit of a Come To Jesus meeting this morning.

There are concerns with the project he is working on.
I was able to get him to sit down long enough
to understand that those concerns fall under his jurisdiction
as long as he is working for DHE.

It's his responsibility to identify
possible problem areas, and likewise
it's his responsibility to see that
whatever concerns he may have
are addressed appropriately.

I really don't know what he was thinking.
I mean I respect the man and he is much smarter
than I am ... But I don't know why he
thought he was still working for us ...
It dang sure isn't his personality.

I'm pretty sure it all had something to do
with those pet projects of his we cut funding to.
He's accountable to our board now,
and cannot just work on whatever he wants to.

In any case, they aren't going to like it,
but I am going have Cindy and Martin come
over here and give Dr. O'Dorke a hand.

They can guide him, we can manage the concerns,
and if he is as good as everyone seems to think ...
Then he needs to sack-up and prove it to me."

Well, I don't know what Liam is thinking right about now,
But it's pretty clear what Alexander Dixson expects ...
And what he is willing to do to get results.

Come to think of it ...
I am pretty sure DHE would be doing the research
one way or another ...
And I'm also kind of glad Liam is
looking over their shoulder in the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYPWxymohWs

Thanks for dropping in ... Glad you could make it!
We'll be back next time.

To Be Continued ...
Happy Simming!

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