At The Auxiliary Armory PLCAfter Capt. Bruce and his colleagues laughed happily, they got into their cars and left but he stayed back to wait for the bus drivers to return and pick up the remaining staff members who were waiting in their offices. Presently, apart from Capt. Bruce and the security men, Laura was the only staff left on the premises and she was still throwing tantrums. They would not have wanted to send her away if she was not disturbing them but her cursing gave them an edge.“You can return to your office and wait like the others if you don't want to go home yet,” Cpl. Simpson informed her and the other security officers waited for her reaction. She looked at the unfriendly looking Corporal who would not have dared talk to her in the past and shifted away silently.Meanwhile, Capt. Bruce decided to remove the offending cars from the gate to the appropriate park and she was attracted by the sound. She walked up to him, and pleaded, “Capt. Bruce, kindly help me with th
Soon, Collins returned with the fulfilled boys.“We are back, Brother-in-law,” they informed him after they walked in happily. He turned off his device and got up at once. “That's good. Let's go to your room,” he said and led the way. They got upstairs, he took them to a big room and they were thrilled, “Wow! It is so big.”“This is your room. I hope you love it.”“Thank you, Brother-in-law. We love it.”“It is all right. Can I see what you got from the mall?” he requested and they showed him their scanty purchases which they did in consideration of his poverty. He smiled after inspecting them and asked, “Are you sure that this is all you need?”Gerald smiled softly and answered, “No, but we can do with them for now. Thank you for your kindness.”“Thank you, for this, Brother-in-law,” Samuel appreciated him too.“It is all right. Take your bath and change. Dinner will soon be ready.”“We got it,” they answered happily at the same time and Gerald walked into the bathroom while Ti
“The meal is fine,” Samuel answered and Tim asked again, “Will the authority permit you to return with your food?” “Not at all,” Gerald answered with emphasis.“It is against the rules. They will permit if someone like Big sister's boss talks to them on our behalf,” Samuel added.“It is all right. Eat your food,” he instructed and they continued. When they were satisfied, they stopped and expressed their delight, “Thank you, Brother-in-law, for the meal.”“You are welcome. Before you go to sleep, you will have some fruit. Did you get me?”“We got you, Brother-in-law,” they answered in unison, and Samuel gave him an askance look. Tim was aware that they had so much to ask him about their sister and he would not leave them guessing.“Why are you looking at me like that, Samuel?” he looked into his eyes and asked.Samuel was bashful because he was caught in the act. All the same, he asked, “Did you beat Big sister?”Tim was calm and his mind ran through the ugly incident of that day w
At Lt. Col. Smirnoff's ApartmentHe was thrilled with the post from the Second in Command and asked himself, “Oh, my God! How did he know that it was my handiwork?”He looked at the post again (Thank you for a good job) and was satisfied with himself.“Does that mean that he was not pleased with the Commandant either?” He thought.Then, his mind went to the cause of his bitterness against the Commandant, Lt. Col. Innocent Faber. He recalled vividly the day he informed him that the former one wished to resign due to health issues and the Head of State wished to replace him without delay.“Oh, my God! Has his health condition deteriorated to this point?” Innocent asked him with genuine concern for the welfare of the Commandant. “Yes. And I think the position is worth applying for."“Really?”“Yes. The position has plenty of benefits.”“Plenty of benefits? Is it better than our present positions?”“Of course. As the Commandant, you have the opportunity to prove yourself because you are
“What does he want me to do? Does he think it is easy to pass the military Aptitude Test? Can any of them have passed the test?” She grumbled and took a step. Suddenly, she saw Pa Suresh's wife and two children coming towards her. The younger child was a boy of nineteen years and Gerald's friend. She smiled happily at them when they got closer. Just like their father, they did not recognize her.“Good morning, Mrs. Suresh. Hi, Ann and Fabian,” she greeted them warmly. When she saw the perplexity on their faces, she asked, “Have you forgotten me? I'm Laura. Pa Dickson's daughter.”Indeed, she had changed from a village farmer to a city girl. Her tan complexion due to constant exposure to the sun, was shining. Her simple dress looked beautiful compared to what she used to put on.“Oh, Laura! How are you?” Mrs. Suresh asked. Before she could answer, Fabian asked her, “Good morning, Laura. How are Gerald and Samuel?”Instantly, the smile on her face vanished and she asked, “Are they not
They laughed softly and told him all that happened in the kitchen and he tapped their shoulders one after the other.“I'm proud of you,” he complimented them. They got to the dining table shortly and began to eat happily as though their family did not exist.At Laura's HouseThe sunglasses covered only her swollen eyes but not her dejected and weak body. After alighting from the taxi, she walked quickly into the house. She answered the guards' greetings perfunctorily with a nod and moved on.“What has been troubling our boss since yesterday?” A guard asked his colleague.“It baffles me too. She has grown lean. Maybe because of the miscarriage,” he remarked.“Or is she missing her late husband?”“I don't think so. It was obvious that she never loved him.”Nevertheless, instead of walking into her house, she walked to her parents' apartment and they were surprised to see her alone. “Where are they,” they asked in astonishment. She sank slowly into the couch and began to cry which baf
At Lt. Col. Smirnoff's ApartmentHe was in a quandary after the chat with the Deputy Head of State. He was sitting in the parlor when his wife, Ruth was discussing freely with him from the kitchen but he was not as responsive as she expected especially when she cracked some jokes. She walked up to him and asked, “What is troubling you, hubby?” At first, he ignored her but when she persisted, he cheered up and lied, “Forgive my absent-mindedness. I was thinking of the victory of Savannah over her enemies.”His wife picked interest in the war and asked, “What about the war?”“Imagine if an enemy attacked our country.”“Oh, my God. I pray it won't happen.”“I pray so, too.”Afterward, his wife returned to the kitchen while he continued watching his television. Then, his phone rang and he was attracted to it. He picked it up from the center table and was disoriented when he saw the caller. Many thoughts flickered through his mind while he only looked at it until it timed out.“He has d
“You will write a 'Thank You' note for him and I will deliver it to him on your behalf.”The idea seemed good and they promised to do that, “We got it, Brother-in-law.”Nevertheless, Samuel who was in the back seat was not satisfied with his proposal. He wondered how a nobody like Tim would see the Head of State and inquired, “Do you mean to deliver it by courier, Brother-in-law?” Tim laughed inwardly and simply replied, “Yes.”He looked at Gerald and asked, “What excuse will you give for returning to school late?”“We will say that we were sick.”“Better. Tell the Commandant that you were sick and the Head of State took you to the hospital and insisted that you must return with your food.”The arrangements were pleasant to them and they agreed. Soon, they were at the school gate. Incidentally, they were not the only ones resuming that morning but the only ones with a funny car. He got out of the car and took his rightful position as the driver to the children of a higher-up.“You c
Tim walked into George's office and they locked eyes. He noticed that he was sad and inquired, “What's up, Boss?”“I don't know how the boys would cope with a new Commandant,” he sat down and responded.“You just said my mind. You should have advised the Second in Command.”“The Head of State distorted his work after he submitted the list to him.”“Ha! He must have his reasons.”“What could be his reason? That was the man responsible for the scandal against him,” Tim blurted out.George was bewildered and he locked eyes with him. After a while, he spoke, “Maybe he wished to disgrace him by sending him to where he cannot function well.”Tim looked at him for a while before he said, “You may be right. I have not thought of that. But he should not joke with the children's studies.”“Let's watch out.”Tim wanted to speak but the door opened and he halted. George smiled when he saw the visitor. Tim turned and saw the General Manager. He got up at once and greeted him, “Good morning, Maj.
Kay did not want to argue further with him and concurred, “It is good, Your Excellency” “Good. Publish the postings and the take-off date and time at once.”“I will do that, Your Excellency.”“It is all right. You can leave.”“It is all right, Your Excellency,” they appreciated him simultaneously and walked away. At The Second in Command's OfficeThey got to Kay's office and he asked Tim, “What kind of posting is this?”“Huh! Can Ben manage the school?”“It baffles me. I thought he would punish him because of that scandalous post against the school and the government,” Kay stated.“I thought so as well. Does it mean that he is compensating him for working against his government?”Kay walked to his swivel chair and sat down while Tim sat on the visitor's seat and waited for his response.“That is the challenge. He will assume that his act was not discovered.”Tim noticed that he was angry and pacified him, “Don't let it bother you. Just publish the postings.”“Thank you for your conce
At The President's Office Bright and Gilbert have observed that George laughed exceptionally aloud whenever Tim was with him and that day was no different. He walked in after he left the General Manager's office. Nevertheless, George had been curious to hear the outcome of his visit.He looked at his hand and grimaced his face, “What did he give to you?” He asked him anxiously.“I have not checked it,” he answered and sat down.He brought the gift out of the shopping bag and a smile beamed across his face, “It is a handset,” he announced happily.“Wow! What did you do for him to attract this? I mean what attempted deceit did you foil during the Widow and Widowers Empowerment Program?”Tim laughed and narrated the story. George laughed aloud and pointed out, “Oh! They don't value you but wish to enrich themselves through you.”“Just imagine that but he regretted it. Seeing a supposed ghost will disturb him any time he remembers it.”“You are right. Congratulations on your New Year gif
Tim shook his head and asked her, “What is remaining? Just make it five times a week.”“No. I'm not selfish. Four and a half are all right by me.”“Not selfish indeed. If I do, what will I tell your boss is my reason for frequenting his office?”Now, the die was cast and she looked forlorn. They locked eyes for a while and saw the burning desire they had for each other in their eyes. Tim looked away and his eyes fell on her phone.“Your phone is fine,” he complimented her.She smiled happily and said, “Thank you for the compliment. It was my birthday gift.”“Wow! That birthday cake was one in town and now this.”“I was shocked as well. Even the former President's wife had not celebrated her birthday with such size of cake,” she explained.“I see. What is the brand of the phone? Let me take a look.”She innocently gave him her phone and he pretended to be studying it. He kept her busy with compliments while connecting her phone to his. When he was done, he teased her by asking, “Can w
At The Complex Soon, he was in the complex. He got out of the car and Richard drove off at once.Tim walked into the lobby, greeted his men with his head, and walked to the elevator. He pressed the button of the last floor and waited. When it opened, he walked in.The unfriendly-looking security team answered his greetings and let him in. He walked in and greeted Bright and Gilbert accordingly before walking into George's office.He was happy to see him and asked him immediately, “How did it go?”“It went well. They have started planning how to visit the house.”“Huh! So early?”“It baffles me too. Samuel reminded me of the Waitangi Day holiday.”George laughed aloud and Tim was infested.Nevertheless, Major Bolton came around earlier to have a private meeting with George before the Weekly Meeting. He heard them laughing and wondered if another manager was there. He opened the door and walked in and was surprised at their familiarity. “Good morning, Major,” Tim got up from the visit
Likewise, he sent a message to Richard and informed him that they arrived safely. He pleaded for an off on Monday. Afterward, he began to wait for his response.He had been busy since he disembarked and had not gone online. Now that he had settled in his hotel room, he could do that. He was shocked to see their story and pictures trending.He furrowed his forehead and asked himself, “Who is doing this?”Presently, he was panting and sweating despite the January cold. He sat up from the bed and read the details of the story quickly. To his delight, the post was not harmful and his details were not explicit.He tossed his phone aside and breathed in and out before lying back on the bed.“What will she do if she finds out about my past?” He asked himself.“What about her parents and brother? They are too morally upright to accept me as their son-in-law,” he lamented.The fear that he would lose her gripped him at once and he began to cry like a baby. At that point, he could not think of
At Tim's House Although he lay on his bed to take a rest, he could not. The thought of Valentine and Ann gave him concern. When he was about to get over it, he remembered Stephanie and smiled.“How will I propose to her? Will I take her to the airport or railway station? What if she pushes me down and says, 'a driver like you is not my class'? That would be disastrous,” he concluded and picked up his phone.He was surprised to see that he got many social media notifications and decided to browse through them before checking his emails. He furrowed his brow when he saw the incident at the airport. “Huh! These bloggers will put someone into trouble,” he said after reading the caption - Valentine Proposed Marriage to Ann.He was unaware that the bloggers did not know anything about the new couple apart from their first names and the marriage proposal. He read through the post and was a bit relieved.“The story is not inditing,” he said and began to go through his email.“I hope they wo
“Which course will you study at the university, Ann?” Samuel asked her.“Cooking,” Gerald answered on her behalf with a silly smirk.They laughed aloud and Fabian added, “She will study Cure Meat.”Now, she laughed more than everyone and was a bit stable.In the operation vehicle, there was nothing to talk about. Even if there was, Valentine would not have been interested. He was not happy because that was not what he planned. They drove silently until they arrived at the airport. Tim parked and he parked beside him. Everyone got out of the cars and he rested his head on the seat.He looked at Ann who was laughing happily with the boys as they carried his luggage out of the car. Afterward, they walked to the lounge with Richard.“So, I have lost her to another man?” He lamented.Now, they have about forty-five minutes more. He thought for a while and asked himself, “What do I do with my flight ticket and the engagement ring?” He asked dispirited and unfastened his seatbelt.Furthermo
He stopped chewing his food and faced her. When he saw her gloomy face, he dropped his cutleries and asked her, “You said what?”“He is still angry with us.”“You are not accurate in your judgment, Ann. He is not angry with us.”“How do you know?”“I promised that I would get to the root of it,” he pointed out and resumed eating his food.Ann was calm and pondered on what he said. Shortly, Fabian and Mrs. Suresh, who were through with serving the staff, joined them. Fabian noticed her gloominess and showed concern.“What is the matter, Big sister?” he asked and focused on her.Instead of answering, she was mute, and her father explained, “She still believed that the Supervisor was angry with us.”“That reminds me, Hubby. You promised to get to the root of the matter. What did you discover?”“She has been accusing him wrongly. He had been on her matter by informing the Major of her departure on our behalf and they promised to take her to the airport.”“Wow! That is thoughtful of him,” h