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Authors: Patricia-Marie Budd
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the moment.
Todd, sensing Papa Dean’s distress, reaches forward to wrap his arms around the man’s neck. “I love the shirt. Thank you so much, Papa Dean.”
Still hugging Todd, Dean asks, “Is your friend still here?”
“Crystal? No. She had to go home.”
“I’m sorry she left so early,” Dean lies while smiling freely. “You know I am feeling a little better. Would you mind if I rejoined the party? I’d like to taste some of that cake I had hoped to make for you.”
“Crystal did a really good job!” Todd doesn’t realize how much his words hurt Dean.
Swallowing his disappointment, Dean determines to sound chipper, so he claps his hands together and declares, “Well, then I better taste it to make sure it really is good.” Winking, he adds, “It’s not like we get chocolate every day.”
Todd winces. “Mr. Hunter wasn’t too happy when he saw that cake.”
Dean laughs. “I didn’t think he would be. The chocolate I purchased was contraband. But today is your birthday so he simply has to endure it.”
“You shouldn’t get yourself into trouble for me, Papa Dean.”
Dean gets up and Todd follows him to the door. “I can handle Geoffrey. Let’s you and I go join the rest.”
As they walk down the hall, Todd proposes, “Hey, Papa Dean, how about when I become a bioengineer like my dad, I genetically alter the cocoa bean so we can grow it up here?”
Dean wraps an arm around Todd’s shoulder. “That’s a wonderful idea, Todd. Best I’ve heard in years. Until then, though, let’s go enjoy what’s left of your illicit birthday cake.”
* * * * *
Salve!
Extreme Weather
HNN—Melissa Eagleton Reporting
The legacy our forefathers have left us is never more prevalent than in days like this one. We all know of the changes to the earth’s weather systems as a result of global warming. We live in what used to be a thick boreal forest that is now more grassland. We live near what used to be tundra, now mostly boreal forest. Hudson Bay was once the world’s largest inland body of salt water—no more. As well as having to live with radical changes to earth’s bio-system, we also have to contend with the excesses of extreme weather. Without warning, the weather will change and, suddenly, we find ourselves swamped by torrential rainstorms or tornadoes descending where least expected. Worse yet are the super cell thunderstorms that used to show up only over locations much further south such as Montana in what used to be the United States of America, now a smattering of smaller countries, much like our own old Canada. What we are experiencing right now, over both southern quadrants and all of Antinous, is equivalent to the kinds of storms that used to hit desert regions in the rainy season. Meteorologists suggest that the rains pounding down on us will last for weeks. Tighten your belts, Hadrians, as very little yield is likely to come from this year’s crops. Already, city dwellers are complaining of having lost the bulk of their precious topsoil, and farmers are looking out, not onto the fields they have planted (if indeed they have planted any seed at all!), but at lakes! The question that sits in everyone’s mind right now is whether, after the rains finally stop and all the drainage has occurred, there will be enough time, and top soil , left for planting, growing, and harvest. I do hope you have taken precautions over the years and have extra preserves from last year’s growth since it is very likely our grocery stores will suffer a shortage of fresh fruit, grains, and vegetables this year! Remember, we do not bring in the same level of import as we have in the past. When a rough year hitsHadrian, we must all be prepared to ride out the worst of it. If your stores are low, do not be proud; speak to your neighbors. I am certain many a prudent man or woman has extra rations and will be more than willing to share.
Vale!
Spring Fever
As it nears the end of May, planting season is
Todd, sensing Papa Dean’s distress, reaches forward to wrap his arms around the man’s neck. “I love the shirt. Thank you so much, Papa Dean.”
Still hugging Todd, Dean asks, “Is your friend still here?”
“Crystal? No. She had to go home.”
“I’m sorry she left so early,” Dean lies while smiling freely. “You know I am feeling a little better. Would you mind if I rejoined the party? I’d like to taste some of that cake I had hoped to make for you.”
“Crystal did a really good job!” Todd doesn’t realize how much his words hurt Dean.
Swallowing his disappointment, Dean determines to sound chipper, so he claps his hands together and declares, “Well, then I better taste it to make sure it really is good.” Winking, he adds, “It’s not like we get chocolate every day.”
Todd winces. “Mr. Hunter wasn’t too happy when he saw that cake.”
Dean laughs. “I didn’t think he would be. The chocolate I purchased was contraband. But today is your birthday so he simply has to endure it.”
“You shouldn’t get yourself into trouble for me, Papa Dean.”
Dean gets up and Todd follows him to the door. “I can handle Geoffrey. Let’s you and I go join the rest.”
As they walk down the hall, Todd proposes, “Hey, Papa Dean, how about when I become a bioengineer like my dad, I genetically alter the cocoa bean so we can grow it up here?”
Dean wraps an arm around Todd’s shoulder. “That’s a wonderful idea, Todd. Best I’ve heard in years. Until then, though, let’s go enjoy what’s left of your illicit birthday cake.”
* * * * *
Salve!
Extreme Weather
HNN—Melissa Eagleton Reporting
The legacy our forefathers have left us is never more prevalent than in days like this one. We all know of the changes to the earth’s weather systems as a result of global warming. We live in what used to be a thick boreal forest that is now more grassland. We live near what used to be tundra, now mostly boreal forest. Hudson Bay was once the world’s largest inland body of salt water—no more. As well as having to live with radical changes to earth’s bio-system, we also have to contend with the excesses of extreme weather. Without warning, the weather will change and, suddenly, we find ourselves swamped by torrential rainstorms or tornadoes descending where least expected. Worse yet are the super cell thunderstorms that used to show up only over locations much further south such as Montana in what used to be the United States of America, now a smattering of smaller countries, much like our own old Canada. What we are experiencing right now, over both southern quadrants and all of Antinous, is equivalent to the kinds of storms that used to hit desert regions in the rainy season. Meteorologists suggest that the rains pounding down on us will last for weeks. Tighten your belts, Hadrians, as very little yield is likely to come from this year’s crops. Already, city dwellers are complaining of having lost the bulk of their precious topsoil, and farmers are looking out, not onto the fields they have planted (if indeed they have planted any seed at all!), but at lakes! The question that sits in everyone’s mind right now is whether, after the rains finally stop and all the drainage has occurred, there will be enough time, and top soil , left for planting, growing, and harvest. I do hope you have taken precautions over the years and have extra preserves from last year’s growth since it is very likely our grocery stores will suffer a shortage of fresh fruit, grains, and vegetables this year! Remember, we do not bring in the same level of import as we have in the past. When a rough year hitsHadrian, we must all be prepared to ride out the worst of it. If your stores are low, do not be proud; speak to your neighbors. I am certain many a prudent man or woman has extra rations and will be more than willing to share.
Vale!
Spring Fever
As it nears the end of May, planting season is
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