It is Wednesday Story day again and last week we left Lucas having an interesting discussion with Alice Weston one of the members of the Property Owners Association. I don’t know about you but I got some distinctive cougar vibes from Alice. Well, Lucas promised to get the form back to Place which he did that afternoon. I think we can join Lucas at the Widow Murphy’s house where he has started to paint.
“Hey there, boy.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I talked to Alice Weston a few minutes ago and she and the property owner board members are meeting this morning.”
“Thank you, sir. She told me that yesterday.”
“Well if she told you that why are you painting. I don’t think this project has been approved.”
“Well sir, Mrs. Weston told me she didn’t think it would be a problem.’
“I know son, but we have rules. You can’t start on the house until the approval is official. Where is Mrs. Murphy?”
“Oh, she went to the store a few minutes ago.”
“Funny there is only one main street in this neighborhood and I didn’t pass her.”
“Well, maybe it was longer. I may have lost track of time.”
“You’re not a drinker are you son?”
“No, sir. When I’m busy I just lose track.”
“Yeah, I’m the same way. My name’s Gibson and I’m the sheriff here.”
“Oh, Mr. Gibson. So nice to meet you.”
“I also live down the street so I keep an eye on the rules. You understand?”
“I sure do sir. I certainly don’t want to break any.”
“Well then, I would get off that ladder and wait for your approval. When’s Mrs. Murphy getting back?”
“I couldn’t say, sir. It’s not my nature to pry. I didn’t ask and she didn’t tell me.”
“Okay, son. Tell her I was by and would like to talk to her. Nothing urgent. It’ about the police fundraiser’s all.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll give her the message.”
“No more painting until Mrs. Weston comes by with the approval.”
“Yes, sir.”
Fiction Favorites 
That’s a worry, if the Sheriff is on the residents’ committee…
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Yes. or just a “concerned ” citizen
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Check the colour of his neck, first, though.
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If you ever feel the need to understand what life was like in Nazi-Germany or Communist Cuba, move to a community controlled by a home-owner’s association.
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Yes. I live in one. I’m the one in charge of the sandbags and automatic weapons.
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I hope I did not give offense… but I witnessed strange things in my condo association.
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No offense. My comment was totally tongue in cheek. I do live in one but it has been a positive experience.
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Ah….the story thickens, and it involves the dreaded HOA. 🙂 Love the Hump image — too funny!
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Thanks, Gwen. Yes the HOA is alive and living on the street. *gasp* 😀
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This is why I’m glad to have never lived under an HOA. Don’t think I could cut it. Keep thinking they’ll turn into a cult that chooses a yearly sacrifice to whatever Cthulian beast is sleeping beneath the ground.
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Yeah, We just had our yearly sacrifice. It involved a lot of wine. 😀
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Wine or whine? Geez. Autocorrect is determined to finish my words after the first letter and without hitting space. No wonder it causes so much trouble.
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HOA…this is turning into a horror story.
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Well, hold on. It may get worse (or better) Thanks, Jill
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Ah, now I’m beginning to wonder what’s happened to poor old Mrs. Weston. I’ve known of paint to be used to cover decaying body smell. 🙂
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Oh my. I hope she’s okay. You raise a good point. Thanks, Jan
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This one came through the Reader like a champ. I love the idea of an HOA that’s completely over the top. I have notes along that line somewhere in one of my living documents. Now you’re making me think. They could make a good antagonist for Barbi, the girl who woke up post disaster.
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Yeah, I’m glad. The happy engineers got back to me and want a specific post that did not go through. They say all my settings look correct. You story about an HOA in the Barbi story would be hysterical. I could see the letter nailed on her broken down house requesting that she make the repairs immediately or face a fine.
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I need to hang onto the idea for a while. Maybe it will ferment into something good. Right now all I’ve got are HOA board flunkies wearing blazers with matching armbands, ala Nazis. It would require more story.
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True.
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Hmmm… most curious that the Widow Murphy hasn’t been around since the beginning. I like how the plot continues to thicken.
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She needs to make an appearance. (or not) Thanks, Mae Clair.
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This is beginning to sound a bit suspicious, John. Your HOA sounds like a fun group. I love the top picture. You find some great ones. 😀 — Suzanne
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Thanks, Suzanne. 🙂
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Hmm, this raises all sorts of questions, John. Did Mrs. Murphy really go to the store? If not, where did she go? What are the penalties for violating the HOA rules? Is this really Sheriff Gibson? Is he on the up and up? Lots of quandaries awaiting your magical touch!
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Thank you, Debbie. I hope I can deliver. 😉
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Oh no! Not a HOA!!! Anything but that! I think we should shoot the sheriff right now and let the poor boy paint, John.
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Oooooo…! The sheriff should have passed the widow as he came up the road — he’s already nosing around… Cougar Alice is on the way… John — the game is afoot!!!
“What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is what can you make people believe you have done.” ― Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet
Thanks for a wonderful Wednesday lunch break, John. Mega hugs.
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Thank you for the wonderful quote, Teagan. Glad we could spend lunch together Hugs
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I’ve heard stories about the HOA. Somehow this young fellow thinks he either knows it all or is super clueless. 😛 😀 😛
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We will have to see which is which. Thanks, Tess.
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Yup. I know that but I can’t help trying to sort things out.
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Well I love it when you do. 🙂
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Can a human body be ground down and secreted in paint? Eeek! The places you have sent my poor old mind spinning off to. Lovin’ this story. What was that song again … hmm … “I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy.” lol.
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Oh my, Soooze. Sounds like a horror story brewing. Ha ha ha. 😀
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Somehow I don’t think this is about painting. THis kid is a little to slick for me.
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Sometimes pain is just paint. Then as you point out, other things could be afoot.
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I don’t know. I can’t help suspecting the sheriff doesn’t care so much about the wall painting one way or the other but simply thinks the kid’s up to something and wanted to take a closer look. I’ll have to wait and see if my guess is anywhere near the truth or is wildly off.
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When anyone gets close I generally take a different direction. Maybe we’ll never know. Thanks, Bun. I will say he is a sheriff and by nature nosey
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I cannot begin to tell you how much I needed this today, John.
Thank you, man.
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I always stand to serve. Thank you , Hook.
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Is Lucas moving in on the Sheriff’s afternoon delight? Lucas is too young to get messed up in neighborhood drama.
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Ha haha. I love where you took this. 😀
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Giggle. I used to live in an affluent neighborhood in Houston.
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I used to visit affluent neighborhoods. I stay in the Woodlands quite often.
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I lived in League City. I’ve spent time in the Woodlands. Beautiful northern feel to it. The opposite of LC, which is so tropical.
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I have not been there. Maybe someday.
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Someday take a drive, however, looks a lot like your woods over there.
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I’ll bet.
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Gibson is my type of chap.
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Sure he is. Welcome back.
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Good to be back. I fear I’ve missed A LOT.
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What’s your name again?
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Stuart
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Ha ha ha.
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