I took over four rolls of film of her dancing that day, and saved every one of those pictures. I had set up a makeshift dark room in my hotel room, much to the staffs' dismay. For the amount I was paying for the suite though, they had to let me. It took some negotiations, and a bribe to the manager. I lay in bed that night, staring at a picture of her, sure I had never seen such a lovely girl.
The hotel was actually a set of rooms over a pub. They only had one suite; the honeymoon suite. It suited my taste though, since I need the extra room for my work. The staff were forbidden to open the doors to that room, when I put signs out. Late into the night, I could hear music coming up from the pub, but it was not that which had me awake. I was used to sleeping in all sorts of places and under many conditions. It was an anticipation of the photo shoot the next day, with my lovely guide. I decided that night that I would pay her for her trouble. Eventually, I fell asleep.
The next morning I ordered a solid breakfast of steak and eggs along coffee and orange juice. I did not know what the day would hold, and did not wish to be hungry later. I dressed in jeans, a button down plaid shirt and a vest which held pockets for most of my equipment. I wore a tripod in a sling on my back, and my camera on my chest when I left the hotel, along with a floppy hat with Hawaii printed on it.
The summer's morning sun broke beautifully over mountains, next to the little town. I took my rented car into town, using the on board GPS to find my way. Things sure have gotten easier since those days. Now you can just pull up the GPS on your phone. Back then, they were a rare and expensive beast.
I pulled up in front of a neat little house in the suburbs, with a black dog in the yard, who was excited to see me. I got out and went through the gate and then up the stairs to the second story apartment, with the dog at my heels. I paused to pet him, before knocking on the door.
Optimist Member
- Last Seen: MIA
- Joined: 12 yrs ago
- Posts: 430 (0.10 / day)
- VMs: 0
-
Username history
- Optimist 12 yrs ago
Status
User has no status, yet
Bio
User has no bio, yet
Most Recent Posts
Shadrack woke in the morning, to the sounds of Sheba scratching at the door of the Winnebago, begging to go out. He was still dressed in slippers, pajama pants and a white t-shirt, but did not bother to change. He slipped her collar and leash on, and opened the door. "Her ya go girl." She bolted out the door, pulling him out the cigarette heavy atmosphere of his home, into the clean air of the forest. His mother already sat in a camping chair, a cigarette in her hand. She was wearing a colorful sarong and had a cigarette in one hand and a copy of People in the other.
"Morning Shad," she called, puffing on her death stick. "Morning ma," he called back, before letting the dog pull him off into the forest a few yards. She was after the scent of rabbit, and he smelled it too. He sniffed the air, and the wolf inside him approved of the scent, and wanted to run free with Sheba.
The sun was breaking over the mountains, in the distance, and trickling down into the forest, glinting off the moist maple leaves. There was wet underbrush, indicating that it had rained in the morning, and Shadrack cursed as it soaked through his slippers, thinking he should have changed. He had been sleeping and had not heard the rain though.
Once he was dressed, they were heading into town, his mother to apply at the local restaurants, and himself to study at the public library. There was a GED test coming up at the local state college, in a month, and he intended to pass it this time. He had only failed by a few points the last time he took it. After that, he could work in mechanics' shops, rather than just doing odd jobs as he could find them. That was the goal. His mother deserved better than this old beatup RV, and he planned to earn enough to buy her a new one, even if he had to build it himself.
Once the dog had calmed down, and was done with her business, he returned to the RV to get cleaned up and dressed. After two weeks of dry camping, it was good to take a real shower again. He dressed in blue jeans, high tops sneakers and a t-shirt with a British flag on it.
Exiting the RV, he found his mother already breaking out the motorbike from the trailer, the RV had pulled. It was an old Harley, in good working order, painted black. Soon they were headed into town, with him driving and his mother riding passenger. He had not been comfortable in a car, since he was fourteen, despite the fact that they were relatively safer than his motorbike. That was the year he had almost died, when his drunken father hit inadvertently committed suicide, by driving into an oak tree.
They pulled into the beautiful Pennsylvania town of Hemlock Grove. It was a little town, with three main streets and a small high school, on the edge of town. They turned on to the main street, passing a pharmacist, a bookstore, a pizza parlor and a laundromat. At the end of the street there was an old time, metal sided dinner and that was where they were headed.
"Morning Shad," she called, puffing on her death stick. "Morning ma," he called back, before letting the dog pull him off into the forest a few yards. She was after the scent of rabbit, and he smelled it too. He sniffed the air, and the wolf inside him approved of the scent, and wanted to run free with Sheba.
The sun was breaking over the mountains, in the distance, and trickling down into the forest, glinting off the moist maple leaves. There was wet underbrush, indicating that it had rained in the morning, and Shadrack cursed as it soaked through his slippers, thinking he should have changed. He had been sleeping and had not heard the rain though.
Once he was dressed, they were heading into town, his mother to apply at the local restaurants, and himself to study at the public library. There was a GED test coming up at the local state college, in a month, and he intended to pass it this time. He had only failed by a few points the last time he took it. After that, he could work in mechanics' shops, rather than just doing odd jobs as he could find them. That was the goal. His mother deserved better than this old beatup RV, and he planned to earn enough to buy her a new one, even if he had to build it himself.
Once the dog had calmed down, and was done with her business, he returned to the RV to get cleaned up and dressed. After two weeks of dry camping, it was good to take a real shower again. He dressed in blue jeans, high tops sneakers and a t-shirt with a British flag on it.
Exiting the RV, he found his mother already breaking out the motorbike from the trailer, the RV had pulled. It was an old Harley, in good working order, painted black. Soon they were headed into town, with him driving and his mother riding passenger. He had not been comfortable in a car, since he was fourteen, despite the fact that they were relatively safer than his motorbike. That was the year he had almost died, when his drunken father hit inadvertently committed suicide, by driving into an oak tree.
They pulled into the beautiful Pennsylvania town of Hemlock Grove. It was a little town, with three main streets and a small high school, on the edge of town. They turned on to the main street, passing a pharmacist, a bookstore, a pizza parlor and a laundromat. At the end of the street there was an old time, metal sided dinner and that was where they were headed.
He was taken aback when the young woman in the pink sweatshirt pronounced herself mayor of the town. To say the least, she was not what he expected. Firstly she was a woman, and not a man as he had assumed, and secondly she looked more like a kindergarten teacher than a mayor. He tried not to let it show on his face, and avoided looking at the deputy for confirmation. It would not do to get off on the wrong foot on his first day.
He took an expensive been from out of his pocket, and scrawled an illegible signature on the line. Just like that, he was committed, to one year of service in this little town, for only about about half of his normal salary, plus a furnished apartment. If he was making a mistake, there was no going back now.
"Hello, its nice to meet you Alex. I'm Jonathan." He held out his hand to the cute blonde. The deputy had a look on his face as if he knew what was going on in the doctor's head. He next offered his hand to the deputy. He was apparently smarter than he seemed. Chances were they would all be seeing a lot of each other, in this little town, so he needed to be friendly.
"If it would not be to much trouble, could one of you show me to the clinic." So he could evaluate it was left unsaid. "I understand that there is a small apartment above the clinic, which is mine to use?" He did not hold out much hope that the clinic, or the apartment, would be up to modern standards. After all, how much could a town this tiny afford anyway modern?
He took an expensive been from out of his pocket, and scrawled an illegible signature on the line. Just like that, he was committed, to one year of service in this little town, for only about about half of his normal salary, plus a furnished apartment. If he was making a mistake, there was no going back now.
"Hello, its nice to meet you Alex. I'm Jonathan." He held out his hand to the cute blonde. The deputy had a look on his face as if he knew what was going on in the doctor's head. He next offered his hand to the deputy. He was apparently smarter than he seemed. Chances were they would all be seeing a lot of each other, in this little town, so he needed to be friendly.
"If it would not be to much trouble, could one of you show me to the clinic." So he could evaluate it was left unsaid. "I understand that there is a small apartment above the clinic, which is mine to use?" He did not hold out much hope that the clinic, or the apartment, would be up to modern standards. After all, how much could a town this tiny afford anyway modern?
"I'm Peter MacDonald. I'm an island boy myself, though I'm from Hilo Hawaii, on the Big Island. You've probably never heard of it." At the time, I thought her enthusiasm was cute, but she cut herself off so fast. "I'm going to hold you to what you said. I could use a guide around the island, if your not to busy that is. When is your day off?" I was afraid myself, that I have overstepped my boundaries, asking a complete stranger when her day off was, but I could not help myself.
The food was as good as she had promised, and the chips were excellent. I made short work of my meal while we talked. It is meals like that which have lead me to my current predicament. She always tells me that I'm silly, and that a little weight does not matter, but I'm still self conscious of it, when she is so fit. It's probably all of that hiking which keeps her so trim.
Anyway, I am getting off topic again. i expected her to shot me down. I certainly did not expect that she would simply take up with a stranger, and show them her island. Somehow I thought that I would have to convince her, or pay her, or let her do a background check. To my surprise, it was a whole lot easier than that. As it turned out, her day off was tomorrow and she was more than willing to tell me so.
The food was as good as she had promised, and the chips were excellent. I made short work of my meal while we talked. It is meals like that which have lead me to my current predicament. She always tells me that I'm silly, and that a little weight does not matter, but I'm still self conscious of it, when she is so fit. It's probably all of that hiking which keeps her so trim.
Anyway, I am getting off topic again. i expected her to shot me down. I certainly did not expect that she would simply take up with a stranger, and show them her island. Somehow I thought that I would have to convince her, or pay her, or let her do a background check. To my surprise, it was a whole lot easier than that. As it turned out, her day off was tomorrow and she was more than willing to tell me so.
There was a terrible scream in the night, and Martin woke with a start. It sounded closed by, though he could not tell how close. His cottage was located near the center of Braidwell Village and he though the scream had come from the West, towards the mill. He quickly pulled on his trousers, tunic and boots, and grabbed his staff, before running out the door into the dark night.
Martin was a tall, muscular fellow who worked as a blacksmith's apprentice. He had long flowing brown hair and a fair complexion. His brown tunic and trousers could barely been seen in the dark. Three days growth of beard were on his chin.
As he approached the old mill, another scream let out into the night. He quickened his pace, sure it was coming from the old mill. The miller and his daughter lived their, and he was sure that the scream was a female. He tried to open the front door, but it would not open. Lifting his foot, he kicked the door open, breaking the lock.
Martin was a tall, muscular fellow who worked as a blacksmith's apprentice. He had long flowing brown hair and a fair complexion. His brown tunic and trousers could barely been seen in the dark. Three days growth of beard were on his chin.
As he approached the old mill, another scream let out into the night. He quickened his pace, sure it was coming from the old mill. The miller and his daughter lived their, and he was sure that the scream was a female. He tried to open the front door, but it would not open. Lifting his foot, he kicked the door open, breaking the lock.
Here we go.
Jonathan was standing outside his vehicle, when a woman, a pretty woman at that, pulled up in a jeep and got out. She did not seem to see him, but he saw her and he liked what he saw. She was a pink sweatshirt and a purple knit hat, which clashed horribly, but it was cute somehow. He wondered if she was one of the locals, or was just passing through. It looked like he was about to find out.
The office of the sheriff, was an old brick building. He stepped into the office, to find a long, low wall cutting the room in two. There were chairs lined up, like in a barber shop, and a few older men sat in them. The old men stared at him as he passed and one waved. He waved back. On of the men looked like a Native American. He felt vaguely foolish for noting this, but they again he had never met one before.
In the middle of the wall was a desk, with the name placard of one Deputy Michael Fishburn. A big bellied, mustached man sat behind the desk, wearing a blue uniform. He was chatting amiably with the girl he had seen outside. He a balding head, with a gray comb-over and a good laugh lines.
"I figure this new doctor can do something about my sciatica. It's been Hell recently. I told Debbie that if he can't, I'm likely to drink myself to death." The deputies voice was a deep bass, which went with his corpulent figure. The doctor though that he would make the perfect Santa Claus, come Christmas, if he let his beard grow out a bit, to go with his mustache.
The doctor crossed over to the desk and said, "Excuse me, but I'm supposed to meet the mayor here. I'm the new doctor."
The office of the sheriff, was an old brick building. He stepped into the office, to find a long, low wall cutting the room in two. There were chairs lined up, like in a barber shop, and a few older men sat in them. The old men stared at him as he passed and one waved. He waved back. On of the men looked like a Native American. He felt vaguely foolish for noting this, but they again he had never met one before.
In the middle of the wall was a desk, with the name placard of one Deputy Michael Fishburn. A big bellied, mustached man sat behind the desk, wearing a blue uniform. He was chatting amiably with the girl he had seen outside. He a balding head, with a gray comb-over and a good laugh lines.
"I figure this new doctor can do something about my sciatica. It's been Hell recently. I told Debbie that if he can't, I'm likely to drink myself to death." The deputies voice was a deep bass, which went with his corpulent figure. The doctor though that he would make the perfect Santa Claus, come Christmas, if he let his beard grow out a bit, to go with his mustache.
The doctor crossed over to the desk and said, "Excuse me, but I'm supposed to meet the mayor here. I'm the new doctor."
Once they were on deck, they were met with the site of sailor lining up to get off the ship. A separate crew of workers would come on board, once they were off, to unload the goods. Roger nervously pushed the pirate captain forwards, with the rest of the crew, afraid that she would be discovered. Once they were next in line, the massive man know as Bane faced her and asked "Name?" Bane was in on the plan, but if anyone else recognized that she was not who she claimed to be, there would be trouble.
On the shore was a contingent of soldiers, loading onto a military vessel. It made the plan all the more dangerous. The baroness's carriage was waiting for her, just below, and the baroness was just behind them. Her ladies had gone ahead already, to prepare the servants for her arrival.
On the shore was a contingent of soldiers, loading onto a military vessel. It made the plan all the more dangerous. The baroness's carriage was waiting for her, just below, and the baroness was just behind them. Her ladies had gone ahead already, to prepare the servants for her arrival.
One morning in early July, an old Winnebago pulled into town, pulling a small trailer. It was from the eighties, and looked every decade of it's thirty years old. It snaked through the little town, past the Baptist church, the supermarket, the high school and the rows of old houses, until it was on the outskirts of town. Turning up an unpaved road, it worked it's way back into the dark woods. It did not stop until it was on an uninhabited lot, with nothing on it put a hookup for water, electricity and sewage.
A man, who only looked eighteen or so, stepped out of the passenger's side of the Winnebago. He stood a little under six feet tall and had shaggy brown hair. He wore faded blue jeans and a sleeveless t-shirt, emblazoned with an advertisement for Valvoline motor oil. His muscles were long and lean, coming more from working with his hands than working out. He had a handsome, clean shaven face.
The man hooked up the Winnebago to the hookups, as a woman emerged from the driver's seat. She was in her early forties, and had long, graying brown hair and a comfortable curves. She was wearing a long, flowing green dress and a sun hat. On her feet were sandles and on her fingers were golden rings. Her ear rings were dangling pentagrams. A dog followed her out. It was German shepherd, which she tied up to a tree. It was long and lean.
They worked together in silence, setting up a canopy and folding camp chairs. Next, the man started to build a camp fire in the existing fire pit. The dog fell asleep against the tree, after watching them for awhile.
The man's name was Shadrack and the woman was his mother. Her name was Sharon. They were gypsies, who's uncle owned the lot they were staying on. They had been on the road for two weeks now, and were glad to be settling in again. They carried their home with them, so wherever they stopped was home, but at a permanent camp site, they could start to rebuild their lives again and look for work.
As the evening came on, and darkness descended, they roasted hot dogs by the light of a quarter moon, and chatted together. An old transistor radio played classic rock tunes, warding off the sounds of the forest.
A man, who only looked eighteen or so, stepped out of the passenger's side of the Winnebago. He stood a little under six feet tall and had shaggy brown hair. He wore faded blue jeans and a sleeveless t-shirt, emblazoned with an advertisement for Valvoline motor oil. His muscles were long and lean, coming more from working with his hands than working out. He had a handsome, clean shaven face.
The man hooked up the Winnebago to the hookups, as a woman emerged from the driver's seat. She was in her early forties, and had long, graying brown hair and a comfortable curves. She was wearing a long, flowing green dress and a sun hat. On her feet were sandles and on her fingers were golden rings. Her ear rings were dangling pentagrams. A dog followed her out. It was German shepherd, which she tied up to a tree. It was long and lean.
They worked together in silence, setting up a canopy and folding camp chairs. Next, the man started to build a camp fire in the existing fire pit. The dog fell asleep against the tree, after watching them for awhile.
The man's name was Shadrack and the woman was his mother. Her name was Sharon. They were gypsies, who's uncle owned the lot they were staying on. They had been on the road for two weeks now, and were glad to be settling in again. They carried their home with them, so wherever they stopped was home, but at a permanent camp site, they could start to rebuild their lives again and look for work.
As the evening came on, and darkness descended, they roasted hot dogs by the light of a quarter moon, and chatted together. An old transistor radio played classic rock tunes, warding off the sounds of the forest.
Name: Shadrack Rumancek
Nationality: American of Romanian gypsy descent
Age:18
Profession: auto mechanic
Appearance:
Biography: Shadrack was born in the back of a camper van in Glacier National Park and has been moving ever since. His parents were gypsies, part of a larger family of gypsies, which migrated from state to state looking for work. He was in at least two different schools every year the entire time he was growing up, and sometimes three.
His father, Alin Rumancek, came from the old country. He was an auto mechanic and taught his son the trade. He was a quiet, taciturn man who drank to much and had a hard hand. He died in an auto accident, while driving under the influence, when Shadrack was only fourteen.
Shadrack's mother was born in Colorado and grew up in the migratory lifestyle of the gypsies. She is a seamstress of great skill and makes pottery as well. She is a loving mother, though somewhat over protective. Since her husband's death she has taken on a series of lovers, but never remarried.
Shadrack was in the car when his father had the accident, and was badly injured. He ended up in the hospital, in intensive care. It was there that he first shifted into his wolf form, destroying his hospital room in the process, and badly scaring others in the hospital. No one actually saw the transformation, but his mother, and she claimed her son walked off on his own, despite his broken bones and brain injuries. The wolf was chased by security guards through the hospital, and quickly escaped the building and ran off into the woods. Turning healed him, so he never returned to the hospital. When his mother returned home, she found him sleeping naked outside their camper.
It is time to move again. Mother and son have taken to their RV camper and moved to a new town; Hemlock Grove. He has been held back in school, because of his moving and eventually dropped out, so is working on his GED, so that he can get a job at a mechanics shop. His mother has taken a job waitressing at the local dinner.
Nationality: American of Romanian gypsy descent
Age:18
Profession: auto mechanic
Appearance:
Biography: Shadrack was born in the back of a camper van in Glacier National Park and has been moving ever since. His parents were gypsies, part of a larger family of gypsies, which migrated from state to state looking for work. He was in at least two different schools every year the entire time he was growing up, and sometimes three.
His father, Alin Rumancek, came from the old country. He was an auto mechanic and taught his son the trade. He was a quiet, taciturn man who drank to much and had a hard hand. He died in an auto accident, while driving under the influence, when Shadrack was only fourteen.
Shadrack's mother was born in Colorado and grew up in the migratory lifestyle of the gypsies. She is a seamstress of great skill and makes pottery as well. She is a loving mother, though somewhat over protective. Since her husband's death she has taken on a series of lovers, but never remarried.
Shadrack was in the car when his father had the accident, and was badly injured. He ended up in the hospital, in intensive care. It was there that he first shifted into his wolf form, destroying his hospital room in the process, and badly scaring others in the hospital. No one actually saw the transformation, but his mother, and she claimed her son walked off on his own, despite his broken bones and brain injuries. The wolf was chased by security guards through the hospital, and quickly escaped the building and ran off into the woods. Turning healed him, so he never returned to the hospital. When his mother returned home, she found him sleeping naked outside their camper.
It is time to move again. Mother and son have taken to their RV camper and moved to a new town; Hemlock Grove. He has been held back in school, because of his moving and eventually dropped out, so is working on his GED, so that he can get a job at a mechanics shop. His mother has taken a job waitressing at the local dinner.
© 2007-2026