California to Turkey II

For any pre-trip preparation, there are a few vitals that one needs: I already have my passport, plenty of things to keep me entertained on the flight, a photo of the loved one awaiting my return...all I still need is your help.

While I am a peace-builder, I am not a jetsetter, so there will be no frequent flier miles to assist with my flight, which is why I am asking you to fly with me to Turkey.

By following my blog and by contributing through your generous donations, you will be accompanying me every step of the way - from these budgetary steps, through the flight, all the way to the return when I share with the world how I grew from this adventure and the ways in which I was able to contribute to a better global community. But none of this will be possible without your help. All it takes is $5 from you toward my campaign and you're helping to build bridges to peace. So please, take a moment to look over my campaign's page by clicking on the image below and see how you can help!

"Where the Surf Meets the Turf"

Although my main priority and focus have been centered on the fundraising campaign that will help me travel from California to Turkey (keep reading to find out more), it's important that any peace builder find a way to relieve a little stress. This weekend has been all about re-centering my zen and having a good time.

Saturday morning, my boyfriend Devin and I set out to go "where the surf meets the turf down at ol' Del Mar." We went to the Del Mar Fair (most of you should be realizing that I'm a traditionalist with names. I recognize that most people call it the San Diego County Fair, but that takes too long to say). And for those of you who are unfamiliar with Del Mar, allow Bing Crosby to tell you a bit about the famous grounds:

The fair is among the biggest parties on the west coast and it lasts throughout June until the horse races start in July. Every year is a new theme and this year is Beatlemania.

Devin and I walked around the grounds, sampling the delectable fair food - fried zucchini, bacon wrapped jalapenos, a mile long hot dog and a loaded cinnamon bun. Unlike most fair goers, we avoided the corn as neither of us care for the edible gold.

Nothing against the vendor - corn just isn't our style

 We strolled through the shops and tried to catch a few shows. While we were unable to see too much of the pig racing, we were able to catch the Turkey Stampede. 

It was a bit weirder than it sounds, but it was entertaining to watch turkeys chase after and hitch-hike in a toy truck with feed in its trunk.

From there we walked to the bee exhibit to see what was abuzz.

Just beyond that was the horse ring where I bonded with the ponies and Devin showed off his rodeo skills.

After that we rode the ferris wheel and enjoyed the sights of the fairground on the sea.

It was a beautiful and exhausting day. After being couch-ridden all week, it was delightful to be out in the sun, but boy was I ready for a good, long sleep. 

Yesterday was all about being with my sisters and watching the US v. Portugal match, which we all know the results of, so I won't waste time there.

Today, it was back to the ol' peacebuilding grindstone, which I'm happy to bear. If you haven't yet heard, I'm going to Turkey as a citizen diplomat, but I am in dire need of your help. Please go to my fundraising website to see how you can contribute to peace.

Only 8 days left! Please jump on this peacebuilding train to help out your humble author!

-S. Faxon

Coming from a Coffee Shop

This blog post is being produced, if you will, from a round, foux-marble top table that leans to the left in the Living Room Cafe. I've been here for some time working on my indie-go-go campaign by sending out announcements, setting up pay-pal, and personally thanking contributors for their generous contributions toward my cause. Speaking of which, before we dive in to the last chapter of Providence, here's a word or two on why you should consider donating towards my campaign -

For those who have already contributed toward the campaign, allow me a minute to thank you publicly. Let me send out an ENORMOUS thanks to the following people:

Sarah M.

Eric G.

Carole M.

And the San Diego Diplomacy Council team!

My dreams of contributing to the bridges towards peace cannot be achieved without your support! If you would like to help this cause, please visit my campaign website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/intercultural-exchanges-california-to-turkey/x/7798533 

If you can't donate, that is fine, but please help spread the word! Imagine the stories I'll bring back from Turkey!

Now, speaking of stories, on to Providence! Dear readers, I proudly present to you the FINAL chapter in this adventure we've shared through the quaint town of the Reverend and the School teacher. 

Chapter 19: The Morning After

The morning after Christmas was hardly ever one to be remembered. Usually it was filled with the sorrows or the joys of relatives leaving. In Providence, like most other communities around the world, it would be the husbands who were secretly gilded with happiness to see their in-laws off while their wives wept for the same reason. The children were mostly always indifferent with the comings or goings of relatives, for they were usually in a state of placid post-Christmas joy that was an unknown state to most grown-ups.

However, on the morning after this Christmas, Thane and Laudine were on that same euphoric plain.

Tucked and interlaced together on the couch, she kissed his hand then chuckled as she drowsily asked, “How many Hail Marys for this one?”

He shrugged and answered, “I’d wager a fair few.”

“Well, maybe not so many if you think about it,” she reasoned. “You did sort-of marry us after all and we did not do anything wrong. We agreed to that last night.”

Thane laughed and said, “I don’t think that having a horse and maybe a few vampire spies as witnesses actually counts as a legal ceremony, which is why, again, I think that we should marry today.”

Laudine chuckled as she gently untangled herself from her love. They made it through the night sleeping soundly side by side. It had been the best night of sleep that either had enjoyed in a long time. The school teacher stretched her arms and legs while rolling over onto her back as best she could on the cramped couch. She turned her face to the dear man beside her. He, like her, was glowing. Laudine ran her knuckles down his cheek and in the morning’s light, her eyes noticed that something was amiss. Upon further examination of the back of her hand, Ms. Grace saw that a scar, which had been on her skin since she was a child, was gone. It was such a queer thing to think that the vampire’s blood could heal wounds from so long ago.

“Is everything alright?” Thane asked, adjusting himself to be able to see her better. The couch had them very close, so he had to lean back.

The woman nodded, but replied, “Yes, it’s just…it’s odd to see my hand without scars.” She flexed her fingers once or twice before elaborating pensively, “I was not in the house all those years ago when my home erupted in flames. I had snuck out to do something or other, but I can’t remember what. I was probably in the woods with the girls. My mischief saved my life that night.” Laudine sighed and put her hand down to speak properly. “My house was ablaze when I returned. I’m sure that my parents were already long gone at that moment, but um, I was certainly not thinking rationally then, so I rushed into my house through a window. I’ll never forget how stifling and how loud it was in there, in the bakery. It was what I can only imagine hell would be like.

“I could barely see anything, and actually, I-I think that was the night when my eyes started to go fickle on me, it was so bright and there was ash everywhere. But I was determined, I don’t know for what, but something told me to go inside and to stay there, which I did until I saw my father’s pocket watch on the table. I grabbed it, stupidly, and it burned this hand,” Laudine held up her left hand, “So I threw it up in the air and it landed on the back of this hand,” she held up her right hand, which had been scarred. “It wasn’t until then that my ration kicked in and I used my handkerchief to pick it up.

“I ran out of the house, I ran for my life,” Laudine stopped from the provocation of her own foolishness. “It’s odd to not see the marks from my past, you know? Those scars were the reminders of what happened that night, but now it’s like it never happened. Does that make any sense?”

“It does,” the reverend answered truthfully. He took hold of her hand and kissed her knuckles, “Perhaps their erasure is a means for closure.”

“Perhaps,” she airily replied. Maybe he was right, but Laudine’s concentration faltered from her scars as Thane’s lips kissed her wrist and his hands stroked the length of her forearm. The touches felt so sweet and the provocation was too wonderful, but they had vowed to stay morally bound. They kissed and then simply held each other for some time.

But there were ghosts dancing in Laudine’s thoughts. She decided to say what had been in the haunt of her thoughts all night, “Thane.” She pulled away from him to speak. “I know that this is silly of me, but I cannot help to be afraid.”

“Afraid?” the reverend dutifully asked. He sat up a little closer to Laudine so that maybe just the touch of his body against hers would be an assurance of his intent to be her guardian. “Afraid of what?”

Laudine then confessed, “I am afraid of…of Mr. Higley.”

Thane scoffed, he hardly thought that prick to be of any threat. “Laudine,” he sweetly started. “Mr. Higley only puffs a lot of hot air.”

“You don’t understand,” Ms. Grace quickly defended. She sat up completely as she explained, “I have reason to fear him. I, I didn’t tell you this before because I didn’t want you to know, but…those bruises on my back, they weren’t from anything falling on me.” (Due to Lin’s suggestion, the reverend already had that figured, but he had been afraid himself to admit what the potential other idea suggested.) It was not easy for her to confess, but she knew that it had to be done. Laudine swallowed hard then said, “Mr. Higley tried to force me into my house.” Her eyes filled with tears as the fear of that moment that had consumed her caught up to her thoughts. “I think the blackguard meant to cause me a great deal more harm than what he already did.”

Thane did not waste an instant. He pulled her tightly into his arms. He cradled her against his body, offering himself as a bulwark from her fears. Even though he did not initially consider Mr. Higley to be of any relevant threat, he was now furious with the man for harming Ms. Grace. He would be sure to do everything in his power to make that twit regret laying a finger on her. The peacebuilding skills that he had as a reverend would be thrown to the wayside in order to defend and avenge the love of his life. “He can’t hurt you any more, Laudine,” Thane assured. “I will never let him lay another hand on you.” Thane kissed her. “I promise.”

Ms. Grace sniffled then looked to her guardian, but before he could say anything a rather unpleasant sounding knock reverberated throughout the house.

Someone was at the front door.

Mr. Tamrin and Ms. Grace looked to each other in their moment of panic. As much as they were in love, they could not be caught lying together. Such an act was unspeakable in Providence. Without a word to each other, both hopped off the couch, but of course Ms. Grace’s rain-soaked clothes from last night were sprawled out in a bizarre trail that led to the fireplace. The poor woman wrapped the blanket and the damp clothes into her arms as fast as she could before scooting herself to the door of her room. She peaked down the hall to see if she could discern who was out there, but she went flying back into her room when a second angry knock beat the aperture.

“My God, who could it possibly be?” she whispered to Mr. Tamrin as he struggled to tuck his shirt into his pants to make himself look presentable. Nothing was ever easy when one was in a rush.

“I don’t know,” he answered. He actually did have a pretty good guess as to who it could be considering that the knocker was at the front door, which was hardly neighborly. Mr. Tamrin quickly tied the top of his shirt. “I’m coming,” Mr. Tamrin announced to the knocker as he walked out of the living room toward the front, rushing to the door. He gave one last look behind to ensure that Ms. Grace was safe in the other room before he opened the door.

His gut feeling had been correct. The man standing in front of him was hardly one to be considered a part of Providence’s community.

“Mr. Higley,” the reverend hardly welcomingly greeted. He said the man’s name very loud so to give Ms. Grace a warning as to who was here. (Her hands started shaking as she fussed to change from her sleeping clothes as quickly as possible). Mr. Tamrin was disgusted that this poor excuse for a man would dare to come to his stoop. “I did not see you at church yesterday; have you come to ask forgiveness?”

Mr. Higley was not in a joking mood. “No,” he said. He was here to collect. “Look, I know that a lot of people trust you because you’re a Holy soul and all, and even though my own mother seems to think that a weekend with you would edify my fiancé’s soul, I don’t care. Mr. Tamrin, I am here for Ms. Grace.”

“I beg your pardon?” Mr. Tamrin crossed his arms over his chest and he leaned against the doorframe. If Mr. Higley thought that he would be able to reclaim the lady after what he nearly did to her, he had another thing coming.

Mr. Higley shifted himself as well, puffing his chest forward and crossing his arms. “Look, I let Ms. Grace stay here for two nights because I knew that she would be in shock from what happened, but it’s only a couple of days until our wedding, so I would like to have my fiancé back.”

“That is not possible,” the reverend said warningly. His voice was reminiscent of a growl.

“Oh yeah? Why not?” Mr. Higley asked. He was not like the others of Providence; his perception had changed. He did see Mr. Tamrin as an eligible bachelor more likely to woo Ms. Grace’s affections than anyone else. “That girl owes me.”

“She owes you nothing,” Mr. Tamrin angrily and incredulously protested. He stood straight and domineering over the brute. “If you think for one minute that I will let you take her away after what you tried to do to her the other day, you are very wrong, sir.”

“Are you threatening me, reverend?” Mr. Higley asked with a chuckle. His good looks prevented his head from fully processing the seriousness of the man he was confronting. But after a stone-cold look from the reverend, Mr. Higley was able to appreciate the severity of the situation. The testosterone in his system was not keen to being challenged. He took a step forward meeting the proposed confrontation. His rage was clearly visible. “I don’t know what that girl said to you, but whatever it was is a lie. I only walked her home. She opened the door and the whole bloody house came down. It’s a wonder either of us are alive.”

“No. You know what is a wonder,” the reverend growled, he had enough of this boy’s attitude and lies. Without even bothering to look at who might see his deed, the reverend grabbed Mr. Higley by the collar and shook him. “It’s a wonder that filth like you could consider yourself good enough or even worthy of a woman as perfect as Ms. Grace.” The reverend pushed Mr. Higley back as he released him.

Ms. Grace emerged from her room completely dressed in time to see Mr. Higley charge the reverend. The two men came stumbling into the reverend’s house as they viciously swung and struck at each other. Ms. Grace could not believe what she was witnessing and neither could the reverend’s watching neighbors, the Joyce’s, who had a good view into the reverend’s house from their front window.

Mr. Tamrin managed to again push Mr. Higley away from him, he was the bigger of the two after all. The men stood red faced staring at each other with their furry fizzing wickedly for a moment.

“Gentlemen, please,” Ms. Grace cried, hoping to restore order within the house of the beekeeper.

The men looked simply murderous.

However, the intensity of Mr. Higley’s expression became only more concentrated when his eyes fell upon the golden band on Ms. Grace’s left hand. In an instant he realized what the reverend and the school teacher had done. In his twisted little mind, Mr. Higley’s rage was ignited from the way in which he perceived the situation. He firmly believed that the reverend stole his plan of claiming the girl so that no other man would be interested. The man named Brian Higley turned his face full of scorn to Ms. Grace. He shook his head once then with his hands folded as fists, his voice filled with a

demonic cruelty as said, “You stupid bitch.”

Though fear enveloped Ms. Grace, an emotion completely different filled the reverend. And then like a golden-main lion protecting his pride, the reverend charged. “How dare you speak to her so coarsely!” the reverend roared. “How dare you call yourself a man!” Thane grabbed Mr. Higley’s collar once more, but this time his point was more poignant.

The reverend wound his arm far back.

Mr. Higley nearly collapsed from seeing the fist of rage come rocketing toward his face.

With a smack from the contact and a crack from the break in his nose, the man named Brian Higley learned the true meaning of pain. But Mr. Tamrin was not quite done. Brian was hunched over and clinging to his face from the throbbing ache and once more Thane seized his opportunity, his pride was still in danger. Grabbing Brian by the scruff of clothes behind his neck, Thane wound back once more and sent Mr. Higley literally flying back with a single upper hook to the brat’s chin.

Mr. Higley tumbled down the steps leading to the beekeepers home. There was not so much as ice on the ground to catch him. The rains had washed away all the white leaving instead a delightfully deep mud pile for Mr. Higley to land in with a splash. His perfect face was swollen, bleeding, and doused with mud.

Ms. Grace rushed to Mr. Tamrin’s side. She clung to his arm to see if her guardian was alright. The reverend stood tall in the open aperture. His hand was throbbing, but that did not matter. He proudly looked down upon the threat he eradicated from his home. He partially wished that it was spring or summer so too that his bees could join the battle, but for now an appropriate enough lesson had been taught.

Mr. Higley screamed and grunted from his pain, but no one came to his aid. The Joyces were standing in their yard watching this scene along with Mrs. Heithly on her own. They were all amazed at the extent the reverend went to protect his guest Ms. Grace.

Mr. Tamrin did not notice his audience as he gave one last warning to Mr. Higley, “And that is not even half of what you deserve, Brian Higley, after what you have done and what you attempted. But if you ever dare to take a single step towards my fiancé, I will ensure that you receive full justice for your deeds.” Through the blood and the mud it was plain to see that there was nothing but fear stricken across the damaged face of Mr. Higley. The reverend kept from smiling at the pathetic expression of his foe as he pointed his arm in the direction of Mr. Higley’s home to command, “Now, get!”

The boy named Brian Higley scuffled to his feet and ran home with his tail between his legs.            The Joyces clapped and cheered at the sight of the wimp running away and even Mrs. Heithly said with a voice as strong as anyone’s, “Good riddance, you buffoon!” she shook a fist at Mr. Higley’s backside as it disappeared down the road.

Laudine smiled at the glorious sight of all her troubles running away from her for once. She sighed happily as the reverend turned her to face him. They laughed from their disbelief of everything that just passed. Before the eyes of the Joyces and Mrs. Heithly, the reverend openly pulled Ms. Grace’s face to his. During their victorious and passionate kiss out on the porch, precisely as predicted by Mr. Winford, the witnesses hooped and hollered in cheer as they realized that there possibly was no greater pair than the reverend and the school teacher.

“You know, I like this side of you,” Laudine said lightly as he held her tightly against his body. In the background, the youngest of the Joyce’s daughters went running off to spread the incredible news of the spectacular and unforeseen union of Ms. Grace and Mr. Tamrin. Ms. Grace saw the girl run down the road, sending the wandering chickens fluttering in every which direction, with an only too obvious task in her mind. “Oh, Lord. She’s off to the teashop, Thane,” Laudine quietly said. She was justifiably nervous and bashful for the town to find out about their amore. “Everyone is going to know about us before the end of the hour. People are looking!”

The reverend chuckled. He did not care. Again Thane pulled Laudine’s lips to his and he kissed her deeply. Their lips parted only long enough for Thane to say, “Let them see.”

Before Laudine ever became obsessed with time and before she lost her ability to eat a peach, she knew with every certainty of her heart that the reverend would forever belong to her and that she would forever belong to him. 

End

Well my dear readers that is the end of this story...for now. Because, if you read with me, you'll eventually find that I have a hard time letting characters go. They become such an important part of my life that they feel like close friends, family. This is not the end of the road for Thane and Laudine, merely the end of this chapter of their story. 

This blog is certainly not over as well. Be sure to tune in next week for a whole new adventure in the Weekly Read!

Your humble author,

S. Faxon

A Late Wednesday Read

For my readers in Hawaii, I suppose it's not too late for you, but with just over a half hour to spare before midnight on my coast, this certainly counts as a late night read.

When last we met Laudine and Thane, their fates had changed dramatically. We are going to step a step back to help set up this chapter as it has been two weeks since my last post of Providence. If you are not caught up, go back, don't proceed! Go catch up on the weekly reads!

Chapter 17 (Continued)

Regardless of the lovely brief ceremony, the heavens could hold back no longer. The rain came tumbling down.

The pair did not think the act cruel. They were hardly interrupted by the rain. For a moment longer they continued to kiss and hold each other tenderly, but the unhappy grunts from the horse stimulated them into sense. Standing in a silver winter’s rain would hardly end with anything good.

The pair quickly mounted the steed. Thane held Laudine close as they galloped through the trees of Homewood, bound for the house of the beekeeper. The rain poured upon the travelers, but the reverend and the school teacher hardly noticed. The horse noticed, and he was not pleased to be drenched even though his passengers were dull to the fact that they were nearly soaked through. The discomfort of the horse only proved to make the steed go faster.

The travelers reached the yellow house in no time. Thane and Laudine worked together to quickly unsaddle and set the horse to right in his little house beside the beekeepers home before they hastened inside.

The house was dark. The sun behind the mass of clouds had set almost an hour ago. The school teacher quickly lit a couple of candles while the reverend fussed over building a fire. They were both freezing from the wet, but they were too focused on their chores to remove any of their soaked attire.

Neither uttered a word from their lips turned purple by the cold. Even when Ms. Grace joined the kneeling reverend by the hearth that was finally glowing neither had words to speak. Their primary focus was to bring life back to their limbs tingling from the cruel winter weather.

Laudine was shivering from the lack of warmth. She kept her arms tucked tight to her chest as she stood like a pole beside the fire. She could hardly feel any of the warmth due to her wet clothes, but she was simply too chilled for her reason to tell her to take anything off.

Thane managed to remove his jacket, which he hung on the side of the mantle to dry the second he approached the hearth. Much to his delight, his underclothes were kept dry from his heavy outer coat. Only his shoes and the knees of his pants were wet. When he stood to say something to Ms. Grace, the gentleman could not find words from the sad sight of her trembling body. The poor dear was too frozen to fix or to do anything about the situation. Thane was shaking himself, but before he took any steps to help his own situation, he addressed Ms. Grace’s needs.

“Here, Laudine,” Thane directed the shivering woman’s attention to himself. Her teeth were chattering too much for her to say anything, but she moved her trembling hands down from beneath her chin to her heart so that she could be helped. The reverend pulled the drawstrings of her coat from the near choking lock it had around her neck. The thing was so heavy from the rain. He was surprised Laudine was not gagging from the rope, but then something else caught Thane’s eye. It was the other drawstrings that had been just below the first. This thin rope belonged to Ms. Grace’s dress that was also wet.

The reverend let the cloak fall to the floor in the small puddle of combined runoff from their bodies as he looked from the remaining knot to her eyes. She had been waiting for him to look to her.

Not a word passed between them. Everything that needed to be said was expressed from the glow in her dark eyes.

Thane took a step closer to Laudine. Their bodies were firmly pressing against each other. The orange light from the fire danced across their faces as they stood like statues for a second more. The gentleman held his breath as he gently touched his fingers warmed from the fire to Laudine’s neck.

Her ability to breathe normally seized from the touch.

His fingers slid their way to the second rope. He pulled the strings. The reverend swallowed hard as he then proceeded to push his fingers underneath the wet material that lay upon her upper chest and shoulders. He guided the material back so that her shoulders were completely exposed. Thane arched his back to fill the distance of his height to her shortness. His lips softly kissed the knave of her neck.

Laudine’s heart was racing and her knees nearly collapsed from the sensation.

Thane took a deep breath and then the pair of complete innocence happily explored the glorious new sensualities of kisses and soft caresses across the skin on their face. And yet, amidst the passions, the distraction of thoughts sprouted into Ms. Grace’s mind. She thought of Hewie’s countless comments about that word that made them all blush; she thought of and held tightly to the thrill and the anxiety running wild in her blood, for she was in a romantic relationship at last! However, her rational mind, which she cursed after the fact, strayed to the two of her students whom she presently felt to be betraying.

Thane had only two things on his mind: ‘is this really happening?’ And ‘can I let this happen?’

He was so focused on the glorious experience of loving and being loved that he hardly heard Ms. Grace call his name. When she said his name a second time, he ceased his course of kissing her neck.

“Thane,” she repeated with a smile. She so enjoyed saying his name!

The reverend looked at her with hopeful eyes. He could not even dare to imagine what she was about to say. Before his heart even had the opportunity to panic, Laudine pursed her lips to the side and she pressed two fingers to the reverend’s lips. Now the good man’s expression changed to concern. While he had no intention of breaking their unmarried vows of virtue, he worried that he was pressing too much. This was wrong and he suddenly felt consumed by guilt for being so forward. Even though there was nothing crude in his desire to be with the woman he loved, he could not help to feel wretched.

She sighed and kept her hands pressed upon his lips. Laudine held her breath as she stared at the triangle of Thane’s exposed chest, which she had helped to expose. Her fingers had been far more daring and bold than his. “My dear, how can we? I mean, what hypocrites would we be?”

Laudine had clearly thought the next steps through in much greater detail than Thane. A part of him had wanted to prove to her his love, he was a man after all, but he was also a good hearted gentleman. He made a sound half way between a chuckle and a sigh, but he was unable to speak.

The gentlewoman lightly scratched her index finger against the beige cloth of his shirt as she said, “Aside from our elevated expectancy for morality with our positions in Providence,” she swallowed hard and shivered because she was still cold and damp. “Think of Ms. Davis and of Mr. Thomas. Think back to that day when they used my bed.” She paused to subdue her lingering bitterness for that situation. “Think of what we said to them. Yes, there is love between us and yes we are rational, consenting adults, but…”

Thane thoroughly understood. He was only a few minutes away from giving her a similar talk about morality. Thane inhaled deeply then said, “I am going to marry you, Laudine.” He smiled then added, “And while I do agree with you that we must stay true to our moral posts, if you did conceive tonight and I married you tomorrow, who would know the difference?” While saying it, Thane realized that though intended to be a joke, he was quite serious about wanting to marry her tomorrow before anything else could try to take her away.

Laudine gave him a mock expression of disapproval, for she certainly heard the sting of sincerity in his voice. However, she was resolute in this decision. She wanted to wait. She wanted it to be proper, like the real gentle ladies of society. Just because nothing was going to stop her from marrying the reverend it did not grant her and him certain benefits or exceptions. In fact, in a town like Providence, it gave them less. Realizing this truth, she sighed and pushed herself away from him gently. She knew that her lips were blue from the cold, which was presently on the top of her list of matters to address. “Stay here. I’ll be right back,” Laudine firmly instructed. She kept her eyes on Thane as long as she could until she disappeared down the hall, leaving a trail of water running from her dress behind.

Thane knew that what was denied was a vice and a sin, but he felt torn. Exhausted from the day, the reverend dropped his body onto the couch. He kicked off his soaked shoes and pulled off his wet stalking. He threw himself into the padded backing of his sofa, spread eagle. ‘What just happened? And what’ll happen next?’ Clearly, she would no longer be comfortable staying in his home until they were affirmatively a unified couple through marriage, so what next?

And what did transpire certainly was not what Reverend Tamrin anticipated.

Laudine reemerged from the hall a short time later warmly adorned in a fresh outfit - the nightgown and his robe. Clutched in her arms was the thick blanket that had been atop of her bed. Thane was so bewildered by what was happening that he could not even bring his body to respond to gentlemanly stand when she entered the room. However, Laudine preferred it this way; it made the execution of her plan that much easier. She cleared her throat then sweetly asked, “Good sir, if you don’t mind, may I join you?”

Again, the reverend chuckled, and with a nod of his head, he said in a state of wonder, “Of course.”

The reverend was expecting the teacher to place herself on the other side of the couch. Instead, she tucked her legs beneath her as she sat, tucking herself directly against him. The poor man again dove into a state of confusion, but with a couple of words, she set his heart to ease; “Because we will not be…bedding each other tonight,” a red flare grew in her cheeks, “I thought, how wrong could it be for us to sleep by each other’s side upon your couch? I mean, we aren’t really violating any rules, right? We are merely…couching.” She arranged the blanket over the pair of them and once she was settled tightly beside him. Thane gladly wrapped his arms around her.

Kissing her temple, the reverend said, “I don’t think we’re breaking rules,” it made him smile to think on what Lin had said earlier, “It’s more like bending them.”

~*~*~

Ah, my dear faithful readers, what will happen next? We've almost come now to the end of this story (not to mention we've finally reached the end of chapter 17). So, to see the exciting conclusion of Providence, tune in next week!

Like what you've read and want to support this author? It's easier than you think. I'm campaigning to raise enough money to send me on a peacebuilding mission to Turkey in the fall. Want to learn more or interested in donating to an incredible cause, which you will read about exclusively here at the Weekly Read, check out the link below to learn about my efforts toward peace.

Your humble author,

S. Faxon

The BIG Announcement

That's right, you read correctly. I have a BIG announcement in store, so BIG that I have to capitalize BIG every time I write it.

As many of my loyal readers may know, when I'm not giving in depth tours of cities or writing epic fictions, I work in peacebuilding. It is a great, noble and worthy cause that I will follow until trumpets sound. And now, as it seems, my efforts in this field have been noticed by organizations for which I have not yet worked.

A few weeks ago, the Pacifica Institute approached me to say that I have been selected to be a citizen diplomat that will travel with them to Turkey. To say I was beyond myself with excitement is a drastic understatement. This news has been building within me for two weeks and now I am at last able to let it burst from my seams. I shamefully have never left the country, and yet now I am presented with the opportunity to travel abroad on a peacebuilding mission. It could not be more perfect.

So what does that mean, a peacebuilding mission? For starters, as a citizen diplomat, I am not representing the US government or going in any "official" capacity. I am not a politician and I do not represent any political agenda, which suits me just fine. Instead, I am going as a diplomat for American culture in order to exchange personal anecdotes with people from Turkey. In doing this, we will be making cross cultural interactions, allowing members of the majority population in Turkey along with many of the minorities, to learn about our Western cultures and for them to teach us about their own. We will be building bridges between our cultures by demystifying our own through personal interactions.

However, none of this will be able to happen without YOUR help. The organization will provide for the domestic arrangements, but I have to pay for the travel costs. By donating $10 towards my Indie-Go-Go website, "Intercultural Exchanges: California to Turkey," you are helping to carry the flag of peace. I really cannot do this trip without your help, dear readers. We only have 28 days to reach the intended goal, but I know that we will be able to get there. Even if you simply share the following link with everyone you know, you are helping to support the efforts of building peace.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/intercultural-exchanges-california-to-turkey/x/7798533

I'll continue to update you regularly on my progress with the fundraising and we will be returning to our regular schedule of Providence on Wednesday.

Until then dear readers.

Your humble author,

S. Faxon

And the Sun Sets on the West

Friday, May 30th

Our final day had come at last. There was no forestalling it, no asking Father time to roll back the clock, so it was up to us to take as best advantage of the sunlight as we could.

While we slept in just a tad, Gill and I were out on the road headed to Balboa Park. We parked over near 6th Avenue on the western side of the park so that we could walk across the Cabrillo Bridge (the Laurel Street bridge in case you don't know it by it's name). Walking into the park, Gill was instantly amazed by the beautiful detail of the Balboa buildings.

Gill said that the buildings reminded her of Greece and of Spain. We walked all over the park, seeing everything from the Old Globe, the Botanical Gardens, all the way to the United Nations Neighborhood.

Gill empathizing with the fish who were hiding their faces in shame

Gill was extremely impressed by our little UN Community. If you are not familiar with our UN Neighborhood, here's the gist - there are a number of cottages that each represent a different country. On every Sunday, the cottage doors open and the cultures of these countries spill out into the green. The local foods, customs, art and music of these countries are brought forward to be shared with each other and with the San Diego community, presenting to us an opportunity to meet the globe without leaving home.

Once we felt our tummies rumbling, Gill and I retraced our steps through the park and returned to the car. We drove the couple of blocks into Hillcrest where we had lunch at a great spot, D Bar.

I have been to this restaurant four times and I have never been disappointed. This was my first time eating there for lunch, but I was certainly not let down. I enjoyed the B.a.c.T Paninni (bacon, avocado, cheddar, and tomato) with a light side salad that was scrumptious. I could not have been happier with my sandwich. Gill enjoyed herself to a scrambled egg dish that had goat cheese, pesto, and ultra yummy potatoes. (Goat cheese is my numero uno cheese in case anyone is wondering.) So I helped Gill to consume her plate a bit. AND as if our meals weren't enough, we also ordered the CH-CH-Churro dish for dessert. This was my second time having this dish and yet again, it was quite satisfactory.

From Hillcrest, we headed to Seaport Village so that I could take Gill to the best coffee shop in San Diego, the Upstart Crow. The Crow is filled with books, knick-knacks, and oddities and it is a whole lot of fun. If those aren't your cups of tea, worry not, for it's almost guaranteed that there will be a cup with your name of it in that shop. It did not take Gill and me long to find ourselves delightfully entertained.

Seaport village was our last real oo-rah for the day. We walked around, stared out into the harbor for a long while and allowed ourselves to relax in the sun.

We went back to my house so that Gill could collect her things. Our plan was to meet my friend Devin out for dinner at Sushya, then my parents at Wine Steals before taking off for the airport. Both locations are within NTC Liberty Station, what is essentially the mall beside the airport. We ate some seriously spicy sushi while simultaneously meeting my sister Amanda and her fiance Tim. It was a nice farewell dinner, but it was time for one last glass of wine.

With tears forming in all of our eyes, my parents bid Gill goodbye. The pair of us, the lone trekkers, drove off for the airport. The ride was short and the run to the check-in even shorter. Those airport airport goodbyes are always tough and I'll admit that I left Gill snuffling, but the last thing I said to her probably stuck with the people around who heard, "Gill, stay classy."

It was an amazing, incredible, wonderful, beautiful, larger than life type of adventure that neither Gill nor I will ever forget. I am so happy and I feel so blessed to have had this week with one of my dearest friends. Indeed, Gillian, the West will always be here awaiting your next adventure. San Diego is paradise, I mean, even our trees are happy!

So dear readers, I hope you've enjoyed our traveling tales as much as we have in creating them. Tune in tomorrow to see what grand traveling adventure is coming my way...

Until tomorrow,
Your humble author,
S. Faxon

PS - Don't forget to check out Gill's blog too - https://memoirsofawayfarer.wordpress.com/

Operation: "Whale Watch"

Thursday, May 28

"TO THE SHIPS!" Gill and I chanted throughout the day and it became a bit of a theme for our Thursday without us yet realizing it. (For those trivia folks of you out there, indeed that is a reference to the Peter Pan musical...which I proudly have on my iPod).

Jolting ourselves out of the house on this morning, Gillian and I gave sufficient time to make it to the San Diego Whale Watch business where there were plenty of people waiting around, telling us instantly that this mission was happening.

Area where we waited to board

 We took our spots on the ship and headed out into the west. Almost immediately we were able to spot wildlife, a mama seal and her two pups taking in a tan on the bait slip.

Once the boat picked up a little speed, Gill and I took our positions on the port side, allowing the wind and the sea spray to touch our faces.

Of course, at one point we experienced a Sea-World splash zone wave, so we proceeded to back off from the side of the ship to warm up again.

For the first half hour or so there wasn't much to see except for the beautiful shore until...

An enormous bait cloud rose to the surface bringing hundreds of birds, dolphins, and seals to feast.

The dolphins surrounded the boat. They were flying into the air, racing with the boat and having as good a time as we were watching them.

As you can see, there was much rejoicing. It was a spectacular event on the seas, something that I had never before seen.

Alas, at the end of the tour, there were no whales spotted, but given that we experienced our own live version of National Geographic, it was absolutely worth the wait.

Our ship eventually headed back to shore, leaving Gill and me with hungry bellies. So we returned to In-N-Out for Gill's second burger and shake.

We took our food up to one of the most incredible locations in San Diego - Presidio Park, a historical Mission site that overlooks most of our town.

Some of the best views of paradise may be made up there where we took our picnic. We walked around the lighter trails and took in every ounce of the peace that is Presidio.

The sights and sounds were wonderful. But it was time to travel once more, though this time, not in the Snaggletooth. We hopped aboard the red trolley and headed south to the Little Italy County Center stop, on our way to the ships!

The Maritime Museum of San Diego is an absolute treasure in our harbor. With historical tall ships, two submarines, the state's flag ship and a movie star, if you have any slight interest in sailing or maritime history, this is your museum. It is a place where you can become your own master & commander...

Hoist and stow cargo onto the vessel of your choice,

Contemplate serious sailing issues...

Hoist the colors,

Spy on enemy vessels,

Bid farewell to loved ones back on shore,

Defend one's homeland,

And last, but certainly not least, enjoy the richness of life celebrated decades ago.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego is an incredible living history museum where you really can touch and interact with many varying aspects of sailing and life on the seas. Gill and I had a great time running around, pretending to be elitists and submariners.

 

Looking snobby in the Medea, the last of the Edwardian vessels

Coming out of the Soviet Submarine

Honestly, think to yourself, how often have you ever gotten to play on a Soviet submarine?

It was a phenomenal way to spend the afternoon. We sat on the Star of India, our 151 year old Iron Lady, and the Californian, our State ship, for over a half an hour each, just taking in the sun setting over the harbor and watching the ships go by.

After our boots were filled with seawater, we walked back to the trolley (trying to make our $5 day passes earn their weight in our wallets), so to go to Sea Port Village. While there, Gill and I walked around the Embarkadero to watch the man with all of the domesticated birds and to admire the art of the Henna stand. We walked around the shops and fountains, Gill made friends with the locals along the way.

Again, note our nautical themes...

We headed to Edgewater Grill for a bite and a sip, and the sips turned out to be much heavier than anticipated, but it was a good time.

Thanks Bartender Shane!!!

The sunset was too beautiful for us to miss, so Gill and I paid our bill then rushed out to capture the commencement of the night. 

From there we went to see Bob Hope.

Wheeere's Gill?

Our kitchy statue - take that, LA

And to see the beautiful monuments to commemorate our service men & women.

We ate at the Fish Market and had some incredible food, but then we realized just how exhausted we were. There was one last day for Gillian in the big SD, so we wanted to be properly rested up for our last day of adventures. 

To see Gillian's whale of a tale, a whale of a tale or two, (totally a reference to a Disney movie - can anyone guess which???), go check out her website https://memoirsofawayfarer.wordpress.com/ You won't regret it if you do!

Your humble author,

S. Faxon