Read Online AFTER THE DUST SETTLED (Countdown to Armageddon Book 2) by Darrell Maloney - Free Book Online Page A

Jordan, “Tell them, son.”
         “Dad wanted to surprise you. We were going to catch a few catfish, and we were going to clean them and cook them with some cornbread and beans, while you two took a night off from the kitchen and watched chick flicks with Sara.”
         Joyce and Linda looked at each other and suddenly felt foolish.
         Then they burst out laughing. Linda said, “Well, far be it from us to dampen such a great plan.”
         Joyce added, “Yes, indeed. Happy fishing, men. As you were and all that. Better get on your way now, the fish aren’t going to wait for you forever, you know.
         As Scott, Jordan and Zachary headed out the back door, Joyce caught Scott’s eye and blew him a kiss.
         She said to Linda, “You know, dear, that husband of ours isn’t such a bad guy after all.”
         The fish were still getting used to the new pond that Jordan had dug out for them the previous summer. Presumably, there were still worms coming out of the new mud. And a swarm of mayflies had swept through the area a couple of nights before. Many of them stopped for a sip of water and drowned or were eaten as they skirted the top of the water.
         Whatever they were full of, the fish showed little interest in the bait the guys were offering. At least at first.

     That gave them plenty of time to talk.
         “You guys remind me to plant some trees along the bank of this thing so we can have some shade to sit in later on.”
         “Where are you gonna get trees, Dad? Aren’t the nurseries like, closed and stuff?”
         “Don’t listen to him, Dad. He’s such a dork. They don’t have to be open. They deliver. Duh…”
         Scott laughed at both of them and shook his head. Sometimes they seemed absolutely clueless.
         “No, I’m thinking a couple of oak trees. I’ll gather some fresh acorns and bring them down and plant them sometime in the next few days. Right next to the water. And then mother nature will do the rest.”
         “And that’ll make shade next time we go fishing?”
         Scott laughed again.
         “No, but we’ll twist the green branches if we need to to make sure a good strong branch goes directly over the water. In your lifetime, you’ll be able to watch your grandkids swing on a rope into the water below. And you’ll remember this day, when we sat here cursing the fish for not biting and saying we wish we had a shade tree.”
         “I can’t curse the fish. Every time I say ‘damn’ you yell at me.”
         “I do not. Only when your mom or another female is around.”
         “Why only then?”
         “Cursing is like farting. It’s okay to do it when you’re around your friends, or other men. It’s part of being a guy. Women say we’re barely civilized. We like to scratch our ass when it itches, fart when we want to, tell dirty jokes and curse. But women are more refined. They’re God’s gift to man. They make our life so much more pleasant. So we treat them with a little more respect. We do things like open doors for them and compliment them when they’re feeling a bit down. We tell them we love them so they know they’re appreciated. And sometimes we give them a night off from cooking and hope the damn fish are biting. But we don’t fart in their presence or use foul language. It’s just disrespectful. They don’t like it and shouldn’t have to listen to it. Women are soft and sweet and refined, compared to us.”
         Zachary looked at him.
         “Dad, I’ve heard mom curse. Sometimes she’s worse than you.”
         Scott pondered his words for just a moment.
         “Yeah, well, she’s not always refined. Sometimes she just gets down in the dirt with us apes and wallows around in it for short periods of time. But generally, treat her with the respect she deserves. Joyce too.”
         He looked at Jordan.
         “And Sara as