Chapter 01: The Snake Strikes Again
Life about the Thomas Farm continued on unabated. Evening times were still the focal point on the front porch for the community where time slowed down to the quiet hum of the insects. All were welcomed to come and share a bit of gossip, argue politics, or just share some small community talk. This is where Mac, from the Caldwell Parish News, would try out a new story line and sniff out some good leads. The Thomas family also saw fit to start some regular family barbecues every Saturday. These again were an open invitation to the community and in many ways were a way that Penelope and George could say thank you to everyone who reached out to assist them in their trials with the agency. On any one Saturday you might find several folks from the General Store, albeit leaving behind their chess and checkers boards. Folks from the Verdant Hills Senior Center would come over and always had a high expectation for agency hyjinks if “we do not keep a prudent watch.” Also attending were folks who had been helped directly by Penelope or George in their own lives. Soldiers from the Civil War encampment also made their monthly meetings now coincide with the Thomas barbecue. There was always a patrol car or two from the local sheriff’s department. Son Harold’s fire department folks were happy to pull up in their engines and share in the festivities. Last, there were curious onlookers who had followed the press stories about the Thomas family being enmeshed in the agency hullabaloo and just wanted to come on down and take the pulse. This strange mix of community was what made the barbecues such a happening place.
Penelope still worked for the lawyer Herman Schmaltz and volunteered regularly at the legal aid clinic. She also took on some new responsibilities to assist Dr. Connors in his blossoming work with the newly discovered members of the collective. His workload had significantly increased because of the release of the agency held lockups, which numbered in the 50’s. Penelope made a point to assist Dr. Connors on the days which George had appointments since George was usually there for most of the day.
George was flexing his new found triangle network abilities to better understand the extent of the collective members and their abilities. George’s brother Brian continued to make progress in his advanced number theory but seemed to be sidetracked now looking into Bayesian Cartographic spaces with their applicability to tracking parasite infestations. Well that was George’s big bro always drifting into areas of seemingly complicated analysis with expected applicability to something novel.
Penelope’s mother Geraldine seemed to suddenly have the energy and desire to prepare some special dishes in the kitchen. Now these meals did not come out of her Louisiana bred repertoire and in fact were from cuisines from different parts of the world. Tasty examples were Paella, Pasta Primavera, and Loganberry Walnut Spice Cake. All of these dishes were prepared with panache as if Geraldine had been trained by Le Cordon Bleu. At table when the Paella was served Penelope and George just winked at each other and Brian and George gave the zoom AOK salute. The family knew that Geraldine was now part of the Collective.
The entire community got behind the notion of having a fair to celebrate the demise of the agency visitations and the disruptions of their lives. The Agency Counter Culture Fair was planned and coordinated through the Verdant Hills Senior Center and it was their gift back to Penelope and George for their long involvement and help in giving them new life through the use of computer technology. Rodger, a retired chef, coordinated the chili cook-off to celebrate the heat the agency once blustered about so liberally. Melvin, a WW II Veteran and car restorer, helped to hold a demolition derby to celebrate the damage done to all of the agency vehicles. The Louisiana State Police Captain, Jimmy Taylor Lampson, ran the hounds and foxes event where children attempt to hide from the trained National Guard search and rescue dogs. Henry, the Verdant Hills Reporter, ran the essay contest on American Justice. Andy, retired glazier, called the square dance. Robert, the local chess master, ran the tall tail contest. Elizabeth, retired school teacher and avid ancestry snooper, worked hard to coordinate a great fireworks display to cap off the day. Lawrence, a retired Aerospace engineer, coordinated the local high school science fair. George & Penelope took on the opportunity to showcase Collective accomplishments, and demonstrations. Freda, a retired homemaker, coordinated the All Trade Fair where you could bring something of value and make trades with others. Harold and his fellow firefighters ran the barbecue with all proceeds going to support the local food bank.
The excitement during the fair planning was matched when the fair opened as the entire community turned out to either volunteer or participate. It was an easy decision to continue the fair on a yearly basis every second Saturday and Sunday in May. The only changes were to add awards and cash prizes and to make sure there was adequate room for expansion. The Agency Counter Culture Fair took on its own mystic becoming a happening in the state. As planned early on, the agency was always offered a bully pulpit to air their opinions. The agency bully pulpit continued to go unused but was kept in good shape through the continued redecorating.
The agency had been knocked down a few pegs as a result of Penelope’s court and legislative actions. There was of course the glorious release of the captives which the agency had justified all along as being in the interest of National Security. Fortunately the courts did not buy this argument. There was now a new Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the actions of the agency and make sure they were working within the scope of their charter. There was new agency management and a hope that the old agency ways would just be that. For now the agency was quiet and that was all the Thomas Family and the Caldwell Parish could ask for. Everyone knew they were dealing with a sleeping giant and that soon enough the agency would be raising its ugly head. The recent happenings were well documented in the Caldwell Parish News continuing serial column on the agency involvements.
Agency Continues Wildwest Tactics 3/3/2002
Just when we thought our small community of Grayson was free of agency hijinks, lies, surveillance, and outright outlaw activities, we get a new dose. Oh, for sure the black SUVs which were so common last year have given way to the new white, super-cab Ford F150 trucks with beds full of locked diamond plate, boxes. Any of you wonder like me what's inside those boxes?
There have also been rumors of a “black” helicopter making high speed passes over the Lampson, er excuse me, the Thomas Farm and the Russel Wet Marsh lands just to the Northeast. The duck hunters in their blinds have reported the ducks have been startled and in many cases have flown away and out of the area. Why are they making multiple passes in a crosshatched pattern?
By the time this reporter reached the area, the only evidence of the disruptive behavior was the missing ducks, the angry stories from the duck hunters, and a wide swath of saw grass which was laid down mysteriously. What is this a precursor for? Should we be concerned? Keep those calls coming into the city-desk phone. The more eyes and ears we have out in the community the better. Then we can provide the details to Penelope Thomas to help make her legal and political cases. These end up being broadsides aimed right at the agency which is violating its charter with the United States Government. Is there any way to stop these outlaw activities?
Mac the Ferret
your nose to the ground reporter