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Midday Confessions - A Lifetime of Memories

Posted Oct. 5, 2020, 11:14 p.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Shaun Grecken (Doctor) (Steven Sigle)

Posted by Lieutenant Kate O’Neill (Chief of Security) in Midday Confessions - A Lifetime of Memories

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Shaun Grecken (Doctor) in Midday Confessions - A Lifetime of Memories

Posted by Lieutenant Kate O’Neill (Chief of Security) in Midday Confessions - A Lifetime of Memories

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“Hey how did you do that,” Kate’s brow furrowed both angry and confused as to where the fire came from. Her attempt had only made a warm spot so far. She was no where close to having a real fire yet but somehow Shaun not only made a spark but an actual torch on the end of a stick.

“Well put the torch in the fire pit,” she ordered. We need to get the fire going if we are going to have receemores.”

“What… are those?” Shaun asked with a puzzled look, unsure if she stuttered or meant to say what she had. “Do you mean s’mores?” he asked, wanting to clarify exactly what treat she was trying to give him.

“You don’t know what Reecemores are?” The shock in her voice was easy to spot. Reecemores were an O’Neill tradition. There wasn’t a time when they didn’t make them over an open fire. If Shaun was going to stay around here with his family, he had better learn how to make them. If one didn’t you had to rely on your mom or dad to give you one and they always got stingy after two. Her brother’s however would make them on their own and get as many as they wanted, or as many as they could sneak past their parents.

Plopping down by the fire Kate pulled out one Reece cup for her and one for Shaun. Laying it near the fire on the stone ring that encircled the small blaze starting to take hold, Kate smiled. “So Receemores are like smore only you don’t use a graham cracker. You just slurp,” she poked the orange wrapper with a finger checking to see how squishy it had became so near the fire. Once her finger no longer met any resistance as she poked at the candy, Kate picked up one for herself and then handed one to Shaun. “Okay,” she said proudly turning her body to face him. “So what you do is to puh,” she held it in her hand and bit the top to rip the small wrapper open. It wa easier when her momma tore open the wrapper but her momma wasn’t here so it was up to Kate to do it herself. “Puh ulllll,” she talked through the process while doing the process which forced her words to be more mumbled.

“Are you sure this is wise? Won’t it burn you?” Shaun asked as he watched her. This seemed unwise, but he did want some candy. Following her instructions he did the same, pulling apart and eating the candy like she did with an uncertainness quickly turning to joy.

“Now that you got it open you can suck out the candy.” Placing the opened wrapper of peanut butter gooeyness to her lips, Kate sucked and was rewarded with a melty marvel of peanut butter goodness. “We learned to make them on a camping trip when Momma forgot to bring the graham crackers. Daddy said it was not a problem and that would could improvide. That means do it when you don’t have all the stuff. Want another,” Kate began to dig in her bag for two more.

The roaring fire filled the room with a nice glow. The yellow flames illuminated the room letting Kate see more of it instead of just the parts the latern and flashlight touched. Kate could feel herself getting sleepy now that her tummy was filled with a candy snack and the fire was making her warm. “When you get your Earth dog what kind of dog would you want? My daddy told us over dinner a few nights ago that it was an Earth Rule that every kid had to have a dog. Since we lived on the ship we couldn’t get one but now that we live on Earth I can’t wait for mine to come live with me .”

Kate O’Neill

Shaun looked over at Kate, he had a jacket on that she didn’t have as he slide close to her as he took off his coat. He saw his daddy do this for his mommy, warm her up he said. Letting Kate slide in next to him as he allowed her to rest her head onto his chest he placed the coat on top of them, thinking on her question. “I always wanted an Irish Wolf Hound, have you ever seen them?” he asked her with a big yawn as he got warm next to her. “They are huge! You could ride them into battle if you needed!” Shaun said with a near giddy thought of finding a saddle for his imaginary hound.

“What about you?” Shaun asked her as he felt a warm feeling in his tummy, surely from the treats and fire as he stared into the flames, whishing and flowing in front of him, as Kate began to talk he heard a loud beep, it seemed to echo through the chamber…

Present Day

Shaun snapped out of the memory as he looked around, the candle as he had set fire to one of Kate’s stuffed bears as he rushed over and began to put out the flame the fringe had caught on. The alarm had lucky snapped him out of his daze as he moved the candle away from anything else that could be set ablaze as he took the bear. It made him laugh a bit that this was the one that had begun to be singed, the damage not major but the smell permeated through the house.

Reaching to the end table he pulled out the holiday hearth spray as he began to clear the air before he placed it onto the table where he had laid the bear, pouring a drink he quickly swigged another of their family whiskey back as he picked up the bear as he inspected it once more. It was a little leprechaun bear, with a top hat and four leaf clover bow tie. It was cute yes, but it was from a very special time.

Time had gone as Shaun had gotten Kate to finally come with him to Dublin to see his family from across the pond. Every year, Shaun had left West Virginia and spent summers roaming the Irish country side with his friends and family back home. For the last seven years he had tried to get Kate to join him. She always seemed to have some excuse, school was tough, she was playing softball, it never seemed to change what events she had during the summer, she was simply never there.

This had upset Shaun, as by now the pair had become best friends, she was to him much like her brothers, all of whom he was very close. She was just one of the guys, spit, fight, listen to Van Halen and confuse lyrics. Shaun always went along with the confused lyrics, Animal was the name of the song now and no one could change that for them. Still, Dublin was a second half of his heart and he loved the times he and his sisters went back.

For a long time his family would only go for a few weeks, but Shaun always stayed for months at time with his two favorite Uncles Jeremy Clarkson and James May along with his cousins and friends from the region. While Shaun often talked of the big city, he often relished finding castles and roaming the hills of the Irish countryside just as much as the city life. It was something he couldn’t deny had become something he liked far more once he had meet Kate. She made him see their was adventure everywhere, and her friendship was something he couldn’t see himself doing without.

Still, she had never taking him up on his over for six years straight, but the seventh year… well the seventh year was lucky. The bear he now clutched tightly in his chest was a reminder of that day, which much like the cave ended up with them getting lost in a place that seemed to have a magical aura.

Thirteen Years Ago

“Little Shauny Boy!” came the beaming voice of Uncle James as he wrapped his arms around Shaun, his wife Matilda was behind him as she pushed James aside so she could get a good look at her favorite nephew. “Your mom said you had grown, but I wasn’t expecting this.” she said with a large smile as James began to get the bags from Shaun before he paused to look back at the bus.

“I did have a slight detour this time, I know everyone else is coming next week but I brought a friend.” Shaun said.

“Who just drops someone off on the side of the road,” Kate grumbled quietly to herself wondering why she hadn’t found some excuse not to come with Shaun. The trip to Ireland was entirely uneventful. Their parents dropped them off at the transporter station and waved them off. They materialized on the Irish platform seconds later but there was no waiting gaggle of Grecken’s to great them. Instead Shaun had to hail a vehicle which so far was the easiest part of the trip. From the second they left the transporter Padd in Dublin things progressively had gotten worse. From the deluge of rain that lasted just long enough to soak the top layer of their hair and clothes, to the group transport of about ten people in a glorified school bus, to being forced to pull out her universal translator to understand the thick accent of Kate and Shaun’s traveling companions, this day was only getting better. At least they were at their destination. Silently hating that Shaun had slung his duffle bag over one shoulder and took off, Kate pulled at the various bags she packed trying to keep up.

Kate, seeming to have packed for an apocalypses was seen by the side of the bus pulling hard on all of her luggage as she fell on her butt with a hard crack.

“Ugh pluck a duck,” she shook her hands out. Muddly spray flew from the tips of her fingers like lightening bolts. The back and butt of her pants began to feel the cool, squish of mud seeping through the fabric to her skin. “How can there be this much mud when it only rained a hot minute.”

“You learn to get used to it… Jeremey I am sure is dying to get you two out to go mudding, he might even show you the mud version of tarpalingalinging… I think at least that’s how Shaun described what you called that.” James said as he looked over at Shaun as his nephew began to take off to help Kate.

“Katie bug…” Shaun said with a worried tone as he moved to her side as he began to help her get up, brushing off the mud and muck that the Irish countryside had. The small village they were at was only 10 miles from Dublin, but Shaun’s maternal Aunt, Matilda, and Maternal Uncle, Jeremey, had moved out in this area a few years back. Jeremey and James had become best friends long ago through the marriage, finding an in-laws bound as the two shared love of large open lands and four wheels to have fun in. It was clear Jeremey was late, as usual, but Shaun has been grateful to have James and Matilda here.

“Let me help you … good lord what all did yer pack hon…” Shaun asked.

“Yer,” she let out a laugh. “Going native already and don’t,” she pointed a finger at him playfully, “ever make fun of y’all again if you are going to be yer’in it up ten seconds after we hit your homeland’s bonny shores.” For years Shaun drawled out the ya’ll that was so commonly used in her family making the word sound like they were barefoot from Kentucky. She had noticed when Shaun came back after visiting his family a yer or two would slip out. Kate just never expected it would surface so quickly.

“Hey your dad grew up here… he James went to the same school as our fathers. Don’t act like don’t get some emerald blood in you… O’Neill with two L’s.” he said with a teasing tone as he began to help her get the bags up as they all seemed drenched.

“Help me up.” Lifting her hands, the mud and fall were quickly forgotten. This was the first time she had ever went on a trip all alone without her family. It was both stressful and off balancing not knowing what to expect or where to go. It was also grand and exciting being allowed to venture out on her own.

James came next to them as he helped move back some of the bags as Matlida tilted her head at the sight of the two. Your mother was right… it’s clear as day. she thought as she watched Shaun take care of Kate smiling widely as she too came to help.

“You know we have stores here, you didn’t need to bring all of West Virginia with you.” James said, counting the bags as he began to feel cross eyed at the scene.

“My mom just wanted to make sure I had all I needed,” Kate said politely with a smile.

“Honey it wasn’t nice. You are family and family is always welcome whether they had ten bags or one,” Mathilda reached out embracing Kate in a warm hug.

This was not the first time she had met Shaun’s aunt but it was the first time she was a guest of Mathilda which was very different. Kate loved the way Shaun’s family instantly accepted one into their homes and lives without more than an introduction. Her family was not so different but until now Kate never had been a true guest of them without her parents there to run interference or make conversation. If this how every day was going to be around his family, Kate wished they would be there six months instead of three.

“Besides, Gertude is your size, you can always share he clothing.” Shaun said with a wide grin as he knew that was not a real option. Gertude was Shaun’s elderly Grandmother, who in her advanced age had shrunk over time yet somehow retained the same spunk she had in her youth. No one ever gave Gran Gert any lip, least they get the back of her shovel against their head.

“I also brought a few things for you guys for letting me stay this summer,” Kate looked around taking in the site of her new home away from home. “It was super nice of you. Thank you.”

“Anytime, Shaun has wanted you to come over for a long time. Your dad always talked proudly of all you and your brothers, I know you mom never really embraced her motherland.” Matilda said, it was clear perhaps she didn’t like the mother nearly as much, or maybe it was just simply the lake of time with her, but the tone did seem colder than when talking about her father.

” Anyway, I for one am glad to have another woman here.” Matilda said as she ignore Shaun and James making fun of Kate. “We will get you cleaned up don’t worry.

Grecken, Doctor

“Oh a little mud isn’t such a big deal. My grandpa says that if you eat a pound a dirt a year you will live longer. I am sure that wearing some has to have some benefit right,” Kate joked with Mathilda and James.

“Well let’s get you cleaned up and get you something to eat. You have to be starving. I got a pot of Irish stew on the stove waitin’ for ya and a second bowl for the rest of us,” Mathilda winked at Shaun. If there was one thing Mathilda knew about her nephew it was to make Irish stew as if she were feeding the hungry instead of making a single teenaged boy dinner. “Let’s go in before you catch your death of cold and get you outta those clothes huh.”

Kate reached down and picked up two of the lighter bags she brought. Shaun and James could lug the rest of luggage into the house. She might be a tomboy but she did at times pull the girl card when it suited her. The weight of the bags would make Shaun and James grumble yet also give her the perfect excuse as to why should could not carry them.

Kate O’Neill COS

Hours passed as the pair had settled into a roaring fire as Kate was clearly using Shaun for warmth as she laid her head on his lap as she held her feet propped up. Ireland was always a crap shoot when it came to weather, you never knew if it was going to be rainy, cold, hot, snowy, fog… and all of that was before noon. There was a sound of some small feet running through the house. James and Matlida had a pair of twins, boy and girl, who were at this time 4 years old. The two loved it when Cousin Shaun, but with Kate they had been cautious to bother him as they were not quite certain who she was.

Grecken, Doctor


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