Chapter 12: It's a New Day
The day dawned bright and clear, much like the joy in Amanda's heart. She had a great job, good friends, and best of all, she thinks she met the love of her life, short as his might be. Nothing can go wrong on a day like today. Even I, your humble Watcher, am full of optimism.*********************************************************************
Leland: Yeah, right. Optimistic. That's the way to look at things. Why not? She meets this local heart throb, elopes with him and we're supposed to be overjoyed.
W:
Leland? Are you actually hearing me? I'm blown away!Leland: Been hearing you all along. Just real good at ignoring disembodied voices. Don't want folks to....you know, think I'm weird.
W:
Leland, my dear, you ARE weird. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Kelly: Well I'm not weird. I just like gardening in my bunny slippers. Makes them feel right at home in ol' McGregor's garden patch ya know.
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W:
Oh dear. They aren't supposed to.......Dylan: What? Hear strange voices telling people what to do? Not me. I just like sitting out here on the back porch enjoying my morning nosh. No voices heard here.
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W: *checks audio settings* (sigh) That's what went wrong. Oh well, maybe I should keep them in the loop.
Amanda: * Loop? What loop? Oh, W. I am so happy. Just gonna whip up this cake for my love and then bop off to work. * Ok honey love, I do have to go to work today. You'll be ok on your own with the boys, right?
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Don: mmmm, Sorry, mouthful Ya know, these are the best grilled cheese ever. Too bad no tomato soup. Say what? Work? Awww, hon. I thought we'd spend the day........you know..... Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm sure they will all come to like me, for your sake if nothing else.
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Don: Yeah.....like me. Easier said then done. Ok, how to impress the guys......work. Skillin' yeah. That's the ticket. Wonder what's up here....
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Don: Easels!! Yeah, I can DO this. I will so impress them with my artistic endeavors they'll have to like me.
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Don: Too bad I can't paint yet. Oh well. Maybe I can do a seascape. Nice view out there. (sigh) Wish Amanda hadn't gone off to work. She's the one I have to impress. (sighs and picks up brush)
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Meanwhile, downstairs, plots are afoot.Dylan: I tell you it's gotta work. We'll get together, like we're all bros, and put temptation in his path and voila! He'll either be a smuck or a hero.
Kelly: And all I've got to do is sound sympathetic and propose, I dunno, a bonding experience?
Dylan: Right! He's been moping upstairs ever since Amanda went to work so it will be easy.
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Dylan: Be cool. Here he comes.
Kelly: Hey Don, I'm feeling kind of bad here.
Don: Bad? *I'm feeling pretty bad myself* Why's that?
Kelly: Well, we didn't exactly make you feel at home. You know, no friendly "hey how ya doin'" or anything.
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Leland: That goes for all of us bro. Bad on us. Amanda wouldn't like it.
Dylan: Yeah. Apologies all around, big guy.
Kelly: So we thought we might just get together and, you know. Hang out. Bachelor stuff a bit belated but fun anyway.
Don: You mean it? Like.....just go somewhere and hang?
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Leland: Sure. Why not?
Dylan: I've been wanting to get out a bit anyway. Why not do it together?
Leland: Kelly, out of grilled cheese here!
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Don: I dunno guys. What if Amanda comes home and wants to be with me? New bride and all...
Kelly: She's never home till way late at night. I'm tellin' you we can do this. She'll never even know we've skipped out on chores.
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Leland: Look, this is our golden opportunity. She's so over the moon after the wedding she wouldn't even care. What have you got to lose?
Dylan: Besides you can chat about grilled cheese and tick off that requirement, not to mention maybe meet some new people. Get known as someone who is more than just a.......
Kelly: *kicks Dylan under table* I sure there's a lot of places we haven't hit yet, right Leland?
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Don: Ok, I'm in! Let's do this!
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Don: Boys! You really know what I'm about! (huffing) Pumping iron is where it's at. I'm really digging this guys night out!
Leland: *oh, I'm gonna regret this tomorrow* Right, (huff, puff), pumping iron.......(huff, puff)......be right there for that......(groans)
Dylan: Yeah, this is great. Take off those grilled cheese pounds, eh chubby boy?
Leland: And I thought we were friends.......(huff, puff)
Don: snickers
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Liza: So what's up with Don?
Kelly: Just a little test, to see if he's worth our fearless leader.
Liza: So, no girls?
Kelly: None. So far he is so absorbed in pumping iron he hasn't even looked twice. No flirty, no looking, nuthin'.
Liza: Guess he makes the cut, eh? I knew he had it in him. Once that boy is taken he's loyal to the end. Wish I had that.....
Kelly: The bad news is I'm so gonna hurt tomorrow!
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Well, I guess we've all misjudged Don. Despite his flirting with Dina and totally avoiding Amanda at her dinner party. Maybe he's a hero in the making.