THE LOST CONTINENT OF..

OOOOOOPS!!............by Coralynn

Marthy carries some of her many books into Marilyn's room. "This stuff is fascinating!" she glows.
"I know, aren't other times interesting? Let's see, you have a pretty big stack of books there, Marthy. Ahhhh, you even have a novel about people in the fabled coutinent of Atlantis! Have you started that one yet?"
"That's next........I'm just about through "The Sunne in Splendor," and I think I'm ready to go back in time even further...."
Marilyn fishes around in her pocket for the lipstick she knows she put in there this morning, and touches her magic coin instead, and, reaching out to touch Marthy's arm, says, "I would like to know more about how it was for the people living in Atlantis, if it actually did exist....."

"I say there, Marilyn, where are we?" Marthy looks about and sees buildings that resemble ancient Greece, but with a twist.
Marilyn realizes she's touched her magic coin, and gasps, "Oh no! William warned us not to even think about another timeframe when we touched our coins, and I did it by mistake. I was feeling around for my tube of lipstick, and, well, could we have actually landed in Atlantis?"
"This is no place I've ever been before!" Marthy exclaims, as citizens of the city move about in flowing robes of various hues.
"We must stick out like sore thumbs!" Marilyn warns, "I wonder if they're hostile to outsiders! They don't seem to be paying us any attention........ohhhhh look, here come some ladies wearing crowns! Think they have royalty here?"
The ladies with crowns draw closer, then the one in the green robe approaches Marilyn and Marthy. "Are you lost, my ladies?"
"Are we in Atlantis, really and truly?" Marthy bursts forth.
"Yes, this is Atlantis. Since you are dressed so quaintly, pray tell, where are you from?"
"New York!" Marilyn tells her, knowing it won't mean anything to the robed lady.
"Is that across the seas?"
"Welllll, probably! Do you have a map? I could point it out if you do."
"Yes, surely. Come with me. I teach at the Academy and we have many maps. We also have proper robes if you'd care to change into them."
Marthy looks down at her modern outfit and grins, "We'd blend in better, wouldn't we? Are people hostile to outsiders? Are we in any danger?"
"Ohhh my, no, my dear, but you do look strange. Come with me."

They walk to the Academy and climb the many steps leading up to the main entrance. Marthy and Marilyn are in awe. This place looks like a Greek temple! It's so clean! It's so white!
"Do you have names?" the robed lady asks as they enter the huge vestibule which has a ceiling adroned with beautiful paintings. Marthy thinks her neck will break from looking straight up at them.
"My name is Marilyn, and her's is Marthy," Marilyn answers, "And your's?"
"I am Theodosia, the Princess heir apparent," she answers casually.
"You mean you get to be Queen at some point?" Marilyn queries.
"Well, at some point. We have a Governing Board that chooses the Queen, but my name is pretty much at the top of the list," Theodosia informs her, "This City is run by women; no men are allowed to hold office, as they are less evolved and good for only manual labor and breeding purposes."

Marilyn's mouth gapes open as she looks at Marthy, whose eyes are wide. They grin and makes the thumbs up motion.
Theodosia gets out a book of maps and flips it open to the large World Map......
"Now, where on this map might New York be found?" she asks.
Marilyn looks at a map that doesn't resemble any map she's ever seen before. Hard as she tries, she can't even find North America, much less the United States, much less New York........
"I'm sorry, Princess Theodosia, but my place of residence doesn't appear on this map."

"Ahhhh, then, it must be in the lands of the mists!" Theodosia brightens, "You know that at the edge of the world there are lands you can only access through magic barges, propelled by the sun. These lands lie not only at the edge of the world, but are still primitive....they are in the forming stage. In our learning, we read that only wild animals inhabit these lands at this time."
"Ohhhhh, well, we also have people!" Marthy says with fervor, "We have buildings, and malls, and supermarkets and ......and TV, and microwaves..." she wants to explain as much as she can.
"Then you must be from the far future!" Theodosia smiles widely, "Tell me! Are the buildings all made of glass? Do the people propel themselves in the air in strange machines?"
"That sounds right!" Marilyn tells her, "but our buildings just have glass in the windows, since it isn't a very good insulator and especially in our colder areas, brick and stone and wood are better for the main parts of the houses."
"We have airplanes that take us up in the air so we can travel rapidly from place to place!" Marthy wants her to know, "I just returned from a trip on an airplane. My first time, too!"
Theodosia smiles and closes the book of maps, gesturing for them to be seated. The chairs are carved solid cherrywood, or at least they give that appearance, and are so large that both Marilyn and Marthy could easily fit into one of them, though they each take their own.
Theodosia hands them paper upon which various robe designs have been etched. "Which of these robes would you like?" she asks, "You haven't been here long enough to wear a Rulers Robe, but any of these others are quite appropriate."
"Do you even have a robe for housewives?" Marthy asks impetuously.
"House? Wives? What are those?"
"Well, you see, in the 21st Century in our country, some women have children and care for them, and also keep the house clean, and wash the clothes, and buy the food and prepare it, even if they also work a 40-hour a week job elsewhere!"
Theodosia laughs when Marilyn finishes, "Ohhh NO, our men do all the cooking and cleaning. A woman's brain is far too valuable to waste on such meaningless chores."

A man, dressed in a long tunic, that tapers toward his ankles, giving him just enough room to shuffle forward, slowly approaches Theodosia and smiles.
"Oh ladies, this is Theodosia's man. He cannot speak unless given persmission, that's why he's smiling at me. He wishes to speak. Yes, Theodosia's man, what would you like to say?"
"There's trouble brewing down yonder near the river," he begins.
"Trouble? What kind of trouble, Theodosia's man?"
"Some of the men are dissatisfied with their lots in life. They wish to be equal with the women."
Theodosia laughs dismissively, "Oh that old thing pops up every now and again. Tell me, Theodosia's man, are they wearing their proper rainment? Are they wearing their chastity grids?"
Marthy and Marilyn exchange looks.
"They are ripping their tunics so that they can walk faster, Oh great Theodosia. I sense trouble."
"Well, we'll have to investigate! Now, go back to our living quarters and make sure a sumptuous feast is prepared for our visitors! You can go now!"
He slowly makes his way to a door and goes through it.
"Chastity grid?!" Marilyn is dying of curiosity.
"Why yes, don't your men wear them? They open with a key so that the owner of the man is the only one who can release their reproductive organs when the time comes to breed."
Marthy and Marilyn's mouths fly open again.
"I can assign some men for you to own, I think we have a few around without a woman," she flips through a large volume, upon which names are written. "Oh yes, I think #597 and #581 are unassigned. I'll send for them. Here's a key to #597, Marilyn, and Marthy, here's the key to #581."
"You call them by numbers?"
"Until they're assigned, yes. After which they are called by the woman's name, in this case, Marthy's man, and Marilyn's man. You don't have similar customs in your country?"
"Not exactly," Marilyn grins as she runs her fingers over her key. "But, our time and place is not nearly as interesting as this one!"
"Do the men earn any money?" Marthy's curiosity is brimming over.
"Women have money. Each woman has a certain number of coins allotted to her every ten days as measured by the sun, and if she needs more she applies for them and usually is given them. The ruling women are given more than the citizen women, but the men have to rely on us for housing and clothing and food. If we are dissatisfied with the man assigned to us, we turn our key back into the main registry here and he is available to other women, though, I must admit, if a man is not valued by one woman, he is rarely valued by another."
"What happens to the rejected ones?" Marilyn asks.
"They live in a large hut at the outer perimiter of the city and partake of the leftover food from the regular citizens. They also work to repair roads and buildings. The system works well."
"Do they have to keep wearing chastity grids?"
"Yes. They have to wear them for the rest of their lives. It's a fair system. We can't have un-gridded men running around loose, that does not make for a organized society!" Theodosia seems proud of this wonderful system that works so well.
"I've gotta hand it to you," Marilyn laughs, "You really have it all figured out!! I like it! I like it! But, who takes care of the children?"
"We've imported some women from Lemuria. They are very gentle and totally suited for raising the young. Now, we also spend some times with our own birth children, but the hard work is done by these lovely, passive Lemurian women."
Marilyn looks at Marthy and says, "This is Eleanor's kind of place!" They both laugh.

"Have you chosen the robes you prefer?" Theodosia asks.
"This one would be wonderful," Marthy indicates her choice.
"What color would you like it to be?"
"Pale blue would be lovely!" Marthy is getting excited about the prospect of wearing something long and flowing.
"I prefer that design myself," Marilyn says, "but in pink, if you have it."
Theodosia smiles, "We have! I'll take you to the robe room and you can put them on right now."
They walk into a room with racks and racks of beautiful robes. Marthy can't help reaching out to touch the delicate fabric. Theodosia hands both women the robes they chose, and, as they change into the new garb, Marthy asks more questions.
"What will happen to the men we're assigned if we leave here? Will they be sent to the hut with the rejects? That seems cruel, if you don't mind me saying so."
"I agree, that would be cruel. No," Theodosia explains, "You'll have them on a temporary basis, and if and when you leave, they will actually be more valuable to the other women if you recommend them. It's only the men who are rejected because of poor work, poor ardor or a poor attitude that are sent away."
"Good! I'm relieved!" Marthy relaxes. "Where are these men right now?"
"I had Minverva fetch them; they should arrive momentarily. As a matter of fact, I hear them entering the Academy now. Oh you two look like real Atlanteans now in those robes......let us greet the men. This is the last day they are free to make any decisions for themselves, so we treat them gently at first. I hope you don't abuse them, at least not right away."
"Why would we abuse them? No, we promise we'll very gentle with them!" Marilyn cranes her neck around to see what the men look like. She's surprised to see that they barely look out of their teens. "Why so young?"
"They have to be trained when they're young so they don't get big ideas about their worth." Theodosia says this very matter of factly.
Marilyn frowns, as the idea of keeping someone down like that sounds unkind. Oh well, she thinks, we are in someone else's country, so, like they say 'when in Rome'....."
Theodosia says to one of the young men, "You are now to be known as Marilyn's man. You will answer to no other name. You are on probation, so you must prove your worth to these esteemed ladies."
Marilyn's man bows low, almost grazing the floor.
"And," Theodosia snaps her fingers at the other man, "Come forth, Marthy's man. This is your mistress, who you must obey in all things. You will be evaluated for your performance, so remember your training in school and defer to Marthy."
He also bows, but his head doesn't go all the way down to the floor. He glances up and winks at Marthy, who is startled. Is this guy going to be trouble?


HOME SWEET HOME.....by Terri

"Mummy! You're home!" Will threw his arms around Rosamond's legs. She scooped him up and kissed him all over his face.
"Oh, darling! I am so glad to be home! I missed you so much!"
John tousled Will's hair. Rosamond went into the other room and picked Julie up. She kissed her soft little baby skin and murmured, "Oh, I missed you!"
"Julie have a tooth yet?" She ran her finger in Julie's mouth. "Not yet, John! But I feel it under the gum."
Celeste came into the room. She hugged both John and Rosamond. "Oh, I am so glad you two are home and in one piece! How was the trip?"
John hugged Celeste back. "Wonderful, 'Mom'! We had a marvelous time!"
"How were the children, Celeste?" Rose handed Julie over to her father's waiting arms.
"Julie fussed with that tooth. It didn't affect her sleep though. And Will is the perfect gentleman always!"
Will stood up straight and proud. Rosamond was proud of him--so like Henry but with kindness and a heart.
Rosamond asked, "Is Eleanor here?"
"She's working at the computer, dear."
"I have to talk to her, John," she whispered. John nodded. He knew how close the two of them had become. He knew Eleanor would knock some sense into Rose about Billy Bob.
Rose stood in the doorway. Eleanor smiled with pleasure. "SO! Glad you are back!"
Rose sat down in the chair. "Eleanor? I need to talk to someone level-headed. Objective."
"Then I'm your woman! What's the problem this time?"
"I think I am losing my mind!"
Eleanor sat there with her eyebrow raised. "How so?"
The words came out in a rush. "Everywhere I turned I saw my husband! I saw him on the street corner. I saw him in the Opera. I saw him under the streetlight. John had gone up to get my sweater and I spoke to him!"
Eleanor looked at her. "Spoke to you?"
Rose poured out the whole story to her. At the end she said, "What do you think, Eleanor? Could he possibly be alive?"
"Rose, he's dead. If he were alive, he would have let you know. Why would he leave you when he professed to love you so much? He was so possessive. Why would he run off to Paris of all places? I think John's theory is right."

Rose gave a sigh of relief. "I feel better just talking to you. I'm just so glad to be home, even though I loved Paris. OH! John and I set our wedding date for October. Haven't picked the date yet. I am hoping Patrick O'Malley will get this annulment over fast but you know how the court systems are. Is Marilyn seeing him?"
"I don't know. I know he has called her a few times. Speaking of which...just where IS Marilyn? And Marthy, for that matter?"


TIM & MIKE.........by Coralynn

"Minerva, please show our guests to their living quarters!" she tells Minerva, who is obviously a gofer, then, turning to Marthy and Marilyn, says, "I'll have Minerva come for you when dinner is ready. I hope Theodosia's man is making beef Wellington.....it's my favorite!"
"YOU have that here, too?" Marilyn is astonished, "I thought you might all be vegeterians."
"Only during the week before the vernal equinox. The rest of the time we also eat meat."
"See ya later, then!" Marthy and Marilyn (and their men) follow Minerva to a smaller building with doors of various pastel shades. Minerva pauses in front of a blue door and opens it for them. Inside is a spacious living area with plants on every surface, and, as they walk into the place, see several bedrooms. The ceiling is high and light comes in through a sky-light, making the place radiate sunlight.
"Oooooo, I really like it!" Marthy exclaims, "I notice there's no kitchen, though. How are we supposed to cook food?"
Minerva gives her a puzzled look, "You don't cook. The men cook. They have a large communal kitchen over in that building.." she gestures outward.
"But Theodosia's man has his own kitchen. Is that because she's a Princess?" Marilyn asks.
"Yes, that's right. Theodosia had to reject the first four men she chose because, as she put it, 'they couldn't cook their way out of a paper bag!'"
"So for her the cooking is the ticket to her heart, right?"
"Definitely. But rumors are that she's been seen dancing nude with her various men out in the meadow and they weren't wearing their chastity grids at the time. Of course no one is going to question this behaviour, she is the highest ranking princess, after all."
"Well, I say why not??" Marilyn laughs.
"If you need anything, just lift this little handle and speak into it and someone will come and assist you."
Marthy picks up the little gizmo, "Kind of like a telephone!"
"Yes," Minerva says as she takes her leave.

After the door is closed, the men sit on padded benches gazing up at Marilyn and Marthy. The women roll their eyes at each other and Marthy whispers, "What on earth do we do with these guys?? I don't want mine to take off his grid, that's for sure. I love Jack, and when it comes time to uhhhhh.....breed?.....that's who I intend to do it with."
"Smart girl!" Marilyn smiles, "I must admit it's tempting, though, don't you think? These are the prototypical boy-toys and there they sit at our beck and call. Oh well. This will develop our self control. Won't it?" she shakes her head rapidly, "Well, maybe if I don't look at mine he won't look so appealing....."
Marthy grabs her arm, "I have an idea...let's give them first names!! It's so clumsy having to call them Marthy's man, names like that. What'd'ya think?"
"Good idea. I'll call mine Tim......"
"And I'll call mine Mike...."
They stop whispering and go to where the men sit eagerly.
Marilyn tries to sound authoritative like Theodosia, and tells them, "Since we are your Mistresses and get to make all the decisions, we have renamed you..." the men look at each other in confusion.
"You will not be called Marthy's man, you will be called Mike!" she tells one, "And you will not be called Marilyn's man, you will be called Tim!"
A look of consternation comes over their faces.
"You have a problem with that?!" Marilyn asks abruptly.
"Not meaning to cause offense, oh great Marilyn, but we could be put into the dungeon if we are called by any other names than the ones proscribed by the govenment....."
Marilyn waves her hand in the air, "Pish Tosh! If we are the ones making all the decisions for you, then we get to name you what we choose! I'm sure it'll be alright with Theodosia. Since we'll be going over to eat a meal with her soon, I'll check it out with her than. In the meantime, you, Tim, scrub the floor!"
Marthy pulls her aside, "But Marilyn," she whispers, "the floors are immaculate!"
"Had to give him something to do!! Can't abide seeing him sitting there like a puppy dog! Theodosia would say it's establishing my control, too. Wonder what the women do if the men step out of line? Whack them upside the head? I'll have to check that out with her, too."
Mike, who is still sitting on the padded bench, smiles at Marthy, which, she remembers, is the signal that a man wishes to speak.
"Yes, you may speak!" she tells him gruffly, then all but bursts out laughing at the sound of her own voice.
"I wish to breed," Mike says, grinning and winking at her again.
"NO! Absolutely no! There will be no breeding going on around here, and that's final! Where do you get off suggesting something like that? You're supposed to be passive, so.....be passive!"
Mike sighs loudly. She almost feels sorry for him, but, as she turns to walk away from him, she feels a pinch on her backside. Whirling around, she sees him clasp his hands together in his lap, but the smirk has not totally faded from his face.

I'm going to lie down for awhile," Marilyn announces. "Which reminds me, who sleeps where?"
She and Marthy walk into one of the bedrooms which has a thick pallet on the floor. Marilyn lets herself down on it and tells Marthy, "This is soooo comfortable! Now, that aside, let's look around." They go into another bedroom which is identical. They go into a third one that has thin pallets on the floor, several of them.
"The guys sleep in here?" Marthy frowns, "Those are horrible beds! But.....if that's the setup, then we'll just have to go along with it. Maybe they're used to sleeping on bad beds!"
"Sure hope so! I wonder how they tell time around here. My watch is working, but......is this really 6pm here as well as back home? My stomach's rumbling, so maybe it is!" They hear voices in the living area, and, when they reach there, Minerva is telling the men to please inform their mistresses that dinner is to be served at Theodosia's quarters.
"Talk about your good timing!" Marilyn comments cheerfully, "OK, everybody, let's go!" They leave their living quarters and make the walk over to the large building that Theodosia called the Academy, where her apartments are.

Theodosia greets them. "Have you been enjoying your living quarters? I hope they're sufficient for your needs! It's not everyday we get visitors from the far future after all!"
"You're not shocked that we're time travelers?" Marthy queries.
"No. Occasionally someone drops in from the future, though it has been several years by the stars. We had one man visit from.....oh, it must have been 1950, he said......and he was scandalized by the fact that our women run the place. We had to lock him up to keep him from mounting an insurrection! One morning the guards went out to bring him his morning repast, and he was gone!"
Marilyn laughs, "I remember the 1950s! Men ran the show bigtime!"
"Did they, dear? How quaint. What year is it now where you come from, and do men still run everything to this day?"
"It's 2003 now, and they pretend they're in control, but they're losing ground every day!"
"Good, good, that's as it should be! Getting back to that man who visited a few years back, though........he did plant seeds of unrest in some of our men. My man said that a group is fomenting trouble down by the river, and I attribute it all to that horrible man....."
"Did he tell you his name?" Marilyn asks.
"Let's see, it was John Twain? No, John Brain? No......"
"John Wayne?" Marilyn jumps on it.
"Yes, that was his name. You've heard of him?"
"He thought he was big stuff back then. But he's dead now, so you're free of any danger that he'll come back. Too bad he had to poison the minds of some of your men."
"Especially the rejects," Theodosia ponders as she leads the two women into the dining hall. "Well, here we are. Theodosia's man has prepared a surprise for us.......he wouldn't tell me ahead of time what it was, that little minx......"
"Why are there but three place settings at the table?" Marthy wants to know.
"Because there are three of us. Oh, are you thinking that the men should dine with us? That just isn't done, my dear. They eat in the kitchen. Standing up. At the counter. Once in a while one of them will sneak in a chair, but the punishment for that is to be deprived of all special treats for two weeks. Doesn't take long to shape them up again. They really are a simple minded gender. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Absolutely!" Marilyn says with gusto, as they take their seats, "Men belong in the kitchen and the bedroom. Period!"
"Speaking of beds, do they have to sleep on those hard pallets on the floor?" Marthy is concerned.
"Oh yes, they're used to it. Of course should you unlock their chastity grids, then they can sleep with you on your comfortable pallet, unless, of course, you are displeased with their breeding techniques, in which case feel free to send them back to their own rooms!"
"I don't think either of us wants to breed on this trip," Marilyn informs her casually, "We have men back at home we would prefer to use for that purpose, isn't that right, Marthy?"
Marthy blushes and looks down at her lap, then begins to giggle.
"I see, I see. Well, then, when you turn them back in when you leave, you won't be able to recommend them for breeding, only for cooking and cleaning, right?"
"Sorry about that, but....." Marthy begins.
"It's of no great importance. I myself have rejected several men because of their poor quality cooking alone. Their breeding was exceedingly good, but you can't live on that. One must take edible nourishment to live!"
Marilyn and Marthy nod, and smile. They've heard about Theodosia and the men out in the meadows!
Theodosia's man brings in beef wellington and side dishes and salads and fills their wine goblets. The minute one of them takes a sip, he's right there to fill it back up.
Marilyn gets a devilish gleam in her eye and lifts her wine glass to her lips.......the man begins to approach to replace the sip..... then she puts it back down without drinking any. She does this several times, and each time the man leaps to attention, only to drop back again.
Marthy notices and gives her a look, whispering, "That's cruel, Marilyn!"
Marilyn stifles a guffaw, and, to regain control of herself, asks Theodosia, "Is it OK that Marthy and I have renamed our men?"
"Why ever for?"
"Easier. Shorter. Look, if I call my man Marilyn's man, that's four syllables. If I just call him Tim, that's one, just one. See how efficient that is?"
"But if you do, how will anyone know he's your man and not someone else's?" Theodosia is trying to figure it out.
"We could always brand him!" Marilyn says in that innocent little voice of hers, which causes Marthy to spray out the wine she had just taken into her mouth.
"I do not understand the concept of branding, but if you like it, we could try it out on these men," Theodosia is bending over backward to be accomodating to her visitors.
"No, no, never mind, I was just being silly. It would hurt them. No, lets get back to the idea of calling my man Tim. Marthy wants to call hers Mike. This is OK, right?"
"Well, if you just address them that way when in your domicile, fine. But when you're walking the city streets, you'll have to go back to the old way."
"Fair enough!" Marilyn lifts her wineglass in a toast, "Here's to Atlantis! Our home, sweet, for a little while anyway, Home!"


CONFESSION: GOOD FOR THE SOUL?.......by Terri

John grabbed his car keys. "I have to go to the gym, Rose, and take a check on things. I know Daniel is capable but I want to make sure."
"At dinner tonight, we should tell everyone the wedding date. I want to get things started as soon as possible."
She gave John a long, lingering kiss goodbye.

At the gym, John walked in to Daniel sitting behind his desk.
John laughed, "I hope you didn't pretend to be me while I was gone!"
Daniel sighed. "No, but I'm glad you're back."
"How's that new guy working out?"
"Brad? People are screaming for Rosamond to come back. One guy called her 'ironpants in velvet spandex'. Several guys crawled out on their hands and knees and one guy, that guy they call Moose? Brad actually made him cry! So where was Rosamond?"
"In Paris with me."
"I thought she was at the ranch taking care of business. That's why she didn't come in? You know, you could have taken ME to Paris."
John said absentmindedly, "It wouldn't have been the same....hey! Is that Jameson Osgood heading out the door?"
Daniel looked up. "Yeah, I guess that's him. That's Montgomery's cousin, isn't it?"
But John was out of the office and catching up to Jameson in the parking lot. "Jameson? Hey, wait up!"
Jameson turned around and he said, Aw, nuts! to himself.
"Oh, uh, hi, Mr. Gwinnett?"
"Please! Call me John. Do you have a minute? I'd like to talk to you. It's important."
Jameson sighed to himself. This can't be good. "Sure. What's up?"
"Well, it's kind of personal. Could you come into my office?"
"Alright. But I can't stay long." Damn, this has to be about Billy Bob. Either that or I won three sessions with a personal trainer!
Daniel sat there with his feet up on the desk. "Out, Daniel!" John kicked his feet off the desk. Daniel glared at him but got up and slammed the door behind him.
"Your brother doesn't think too much of you, does he?"
"Oh, he's just mad because I didn't take him to Paris with me. That and a few other things."
Jameson's ears perked up. "Paris? Paris, France?"
John smiled. "Is there any other one?" Then he got serious. "Look, Jameson, I need to level with you. I took Rosamond Montgomery with me to Paris."
Jameson surveyed him cooly. "You did, did you? Her husband hasn't even been dead a month yet!"
John ignored the barb. "I have to ask you this and I know it sounds totally absurd. You ID'd the body. Is there a chance you made a mistake?"
Jameson looked him right in the eye. "No. No mistake. I identified the body as William Robert Montgomery." Yeah, I ID'd it at that. I did't say it WAS him.
John leaned back and frowned. "Any chance your cousin is still alive?"
"WHAT! If he were alive, do you think he would walk away from that wife and baby of his? I don't THINK so! What makes you ask such a weird question anyhow? I mean, isn't it bad enough he was murdered? What kind of a sick question is this?"
John ignored his question. "Rosamond thought she saw him on five different occasions. She thought she smelled his aftershave in our room." "Our room. Does that mean what I think it does?"

John ignored that question too. "Every instance she said she saw him, I didn't. I think her mind was playng tricks on her. Stress. She even said he spoke to her.Told her she could run but she couldn't hide."
Jameson sputtered, "That's totally ridiculous. She was at the funeral." He laughed weakly. "Maybe he's a ghost come back to haunt her."
John didn't laugh with him. "She's been to hell and back with Montgomery. I don't intend to see him do a number on her when he's dead."
Jameson stood up indignant. "You know, I always wondered about you two. I know you were involved that night you spent at the beachhouse. The way you two looked at each other. When did you two resume your relationship? Right after the funeral?"
John stood up too. "No, Jameson. We never stopped loving each other."
Jameson was getting angry on behalf of his cousin. "So when DID you two resume your....relationship?"
John looked at him and said in a level voice, "Not that it's any of your business, but... three days after her wedding to Montgomery. And ever since."
Jameson picked up his towel and walked out without a word.
Ohh, Billy Bob is going to be out of his mind on THIS one!

Jameson got back in his car, mad as all get out. How can she do that to him? I mean, he was so happy with her for a wife. So he said she was a bitch sometimes. Daughter of the devil, he said? Angel sometimes? Yet he was crazy about her. And that night we were at Chez Pierre with them...she was all over him.
For Pete's sake, they had that baby together!
As Jameson was fuming, his cellphone rang. "Hello?" "Hey, cuz."
Jameson exploded. "Why the hell haven't you called me? Every time I tried your cell it was out of service and you didn't return any of my emails for the last three days! I was ready to jump on a plane and fly over there to hunt you down!"
Billy Bob was unusually quiet. "She was here. I saw her. With him."
"I know."
"HOW?"
"Because I just had a discussion with her boy toy."
"WHAT?"
"He asked me if you were really dead."
Billy Bob laugh was humorless. "You mean he's starting to believe that little tramp I am married to?" "He said Rose saw you five times. Smelled your aftershave in their room. That you spoke to her. Please tell me this isn't true."

"Damn right it's true. They were sitting at a cafe together. I walked by and did a double take. So did she. I managed to make it around the corner. I peeked around and she looked like she had seen a ghost. Gave me an idea right then and there. So I had Bobby Joe find out where they were staying and I got their room number. I had to make sure she really was here. Yep! It was her! No one wears black velvet like my darling wife. Her perfume was all over the clothes. I found her little black whatever it is that she wears and ripped it into pieces. Let her figure that one out! I found out they were going to the opera and just where they were sitting.."
"How?"
"How what?"
"How did you find out where they were sitting?"
"Paid off the guy at the box office to tell me. So I bought a ticket opposite and sat there and watched them the whole time. He had his hand on her knee! I swear, if I could have pulled it off, I would have pulled a John Wilkes Booth on them! Shoot him in the head right in front of her. I followed them that night, they went walking along the Seine. Fantasized about hitting him in the head with a brick and pushing him off the edge. Then I hit a snag."
"What's that?"
"Uh, I need you or Bobby Joe to find out what Wanda Sue is up to and who she's been hanging out with."
"WHAT?"
"I think she must be working in a mental hospital because she has some crazy lady she's been with. I know it sounds absurd, but I could swear....never mind! NO! It's too bizarre! She probably blew all that money she got off me and now has to be a paid companion to a nutcase. Nutcase's daddy probably had him take her to Paris on their way to a top notch shrink in Vienna. But I have to lay off those escargots late at night. I could almost believe.."
"Believe what?"
"Never mind. You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Anyhow, Loverboy left her at the cafe and I walked up to her. She was so engrossed in some book she was reading that she never saw me. Damn, you should have seen the look on her face when I spoke to her!"
"ARE YOU COMING UNSPOOLED? Whatever for did you speak to her?"
"Listen, she's driving me crazy, isn't it about time I returned the favor?"
"So what did you say?"
"I said she could run but she couldn't hide. And I mean every word of it. Because I will dog her to the very end. She'll never be able to shake me. I mean, give me a break! It hasn't even been a month and she's seeing someone!"
Jameson coughed.
"What! Jameson, spit it out! Don't make me come over there and beat it out of you! What's going on?"
"Uh, Billy Bob, now, uh..."
"Jameson, so help me, I'll hire someone to do it for me, if I can't kick it out of you myself. What are you hiding?"
Jameson blurted it out all at once. "I got it straight from him. They've been lovers before, during and after!"
Dead silence. Then, "THEY WHAT?"
'THEY'VE BEEN LOVERS BEFORE, DURING AND AF..."
"I HEARD THAT, YOU MORON!" Jameson let out a breath he had been holding. "Whew! Glad that is out in the open!"
Billy Bob was incredulous. "When did she find the time? How long had this been going on?"
Jameson said, "Well, now, you know you've taken a few trips and she DOES like to shop! Maybe..."
"When did this start? After the baby was born?"
"Uh, no, Billy Bob. I asked him how long this uh, relationship had been going on and he said before you got married. I was right about the beach house. That was a romantic little overnight stay. But then you two got married..."
"How long after that? OUT WITH IT, JAMESON OR I WILL STRANGLE YOU WITH YOUR OWN TONGUE!"
"uh, three days after you got married...."
"WHAT?!"
"I SAID THREE DAYS AFTER YOU GOT MARRIED..."
Billy Bob said, "I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME! She'd been cheating on me ever since then?"
"Looks like it, Billy Bob."
"Get hold of Magruder. Double his fee. I want to know exactly who it was that ordered the hit on me. I need to get this cleared up and get home to my darling little wife before she does something I'll regret having to do... and Jameson?"
"What?"
"This takes priority over the jacket."
Click

Billy Bob ran his hands over his face. I can't believe it...it can't be possible...she cheated on me...REALLY cheated on me....it really wasn't my jealous nature...three days...three days...THREE DAYS AFTER OUR WEDDING? He angrily punched his cellphone numbers.
"Yo! Talk to me!"
"Bobby Joe, it's me."
"Yeah, well, Jameson and I haven't been able to get you since four days ago..."
"Spare me. I've already gone round and round with Jameson on this." He proceeded to tell Bobby Joe all that transpired on Rosamond and John's trip.
Bobby Joe listened and said, "I don't know what to tell you, Billy Bob. She never was seen with him at the Dew Drop Inn. That John guy came in here that night you were in Dallas. That was the night Tequila Sunrise was supposed to meet Verla...."
"Supposed to? She didn't?"
"No, she had a sick dog. Rufus got hold of a toad and was foaming at the mouth. She had to stay home with the dog. But your wife already was on her way. She stayed here and drank too much. Some skinny guy was bothering her. My back was turned and she was gone. I think she took a cab home. MEANWHILE that John guy came in here, and he drank too much too. I called his brother Daniel to come get him. But I never saw them together."
"OK, here's what I want you to do. Keep your eyes and ears open. Let me know every move she makes at the ranch. Watch her at the fitness center. I don't put anything past her."

"Aw, BB, come on, maybe it's time to let that flame die. You've got the kid, you've got Sundown, isn't that what you really wanted?"
"I want Rosamond. She's my WIFE! Cheating, lying little trollop that she is, she's still my WIFE! Light a fire under Magruder. I want to get this cleared up ASAP. I never should have listened to Jameson about his sure-fire scheme for drugging the horses. If I had just stuck to ranching and breeding, I'd still be at home, not one of the UNDEAD! Oh, and by the way, keep an eye on Wanda Sue. She's doing some weird stuff. Find out who she's been hanging out with."
"Billy Bob, do you still want me to look for that jacket?"
"Later! This is more important!"
Click!
Bobby Joe pulled the receiver back and looked at it incredulously. More important than the jacket? WHOA!


GUESS WHO DIDN'T COME TO DINNER?......by Coralynn

"Soup's on!" Bethia announces cheerfully. The group gathers around the dining room table.
Eleanor smiles, "Ya know, Bethie, it's almost like you never moved across the street! You're a dear to cook for us. Some of the rest of us," glancing at William, "are hopeless when it comes to fixing a decent meal."
"I beg your pardon..." William says good-naturedly.
Everyone laughs.
Bess glances around the table and asks, "Where are Marilyn and Marthy? Did they go to the mall this morning, and if so, shouldn't they be back by now?"
No one offers any answer to the question. As Celeste takes her place at the table, they look at her to see if she knows anything.
"Why are you all looking at me?" she asks as she devours her salad, "they didn't tell me they were going anywhere. You know how everyone pops in and out of there. Impossible to keep track of you!" she continues eating.
William looks worried, "I don't wish to alarm anyone, but it's becoming dark outside. They're not being home is highly unusual. I for one am worried."
Eleanor pats his arm, "You're getting to be like an old mother hen, William, which I think is very becoming to you. What I find strange is that their cars aren't gone. They're both parked out in the carpark. Now where could they have gone on foot?"
It hits everyone at the same time.
Rose asks, "Time traveling? Marilyn does have a coin, after all."
William groans, "I warned all of you to be very careful with those coins. Think she could have sent herself off somewhere by mistake, and if so, why is Marthy missing as well? Surely she wouldn't knowingly take that young woman with her. Marthy needs to stay here longer before going off......"
Jack frowns, "The two of them have been reading a lot of books together lately. They've been almost inseparable."
Celeste gets that 'I just got an idea' look on her face and gets up from the table. She walks into Marilyn's room and comes back with a stack of 4 books.
"Now.......let's look at the titles and see if we get a clue. 'The Sunne in Splendour' is right on top. By the bookmark I can see that Marthy is almost done reading it. So......the one directly below it is 'The Romance of Atlantis.' Hmmm, could it be?"
"Could what be?!" Jack asks.
"Please excuse me while I do something I keep for emergencies........my crystal ball. I'll see if I can locate them. Be right back..." she gets up and walks to her room, with Jack and Eleanor and Rose and William trailing right behind her.
As they enter her room, she sees how concerned the others are and shakes her head, "OK, you can be in here, but you must be perfectly quiet."

They sit quietly, looking intently at Celeste's crystal ball as she activates it.
It clouds, then begins to clear, and they hear her say, "Marilyn......I know you can hear me, Marilyn. Lift you left arm high if you can hear me.......yes, yes........OK, you can't see me, but I can see and hear you. Where are you, dear?..........yes, I thought you might be........are you safe there?...........Marthy is with you, I thought as much............is she in any danger? No?..............you say you're learning a lot..........too bad you couldn't have left us a note before you went off like that...............I see, a mistake.............when are you coming back? We're all concerned about you................good..........then I'll keep in touch............good. bye for now."
She replaces the dark cloth over the crystal ball and turns to the others, "You've probably figured it out from what I said, but yes, they're in Atlantis. You know, the fabled lost Continent of Atlantis."
"I thought that was a hoax!" Eleanor comments, "You mean the place really existed?"
"It would appear so, dear. They seem to be in no danger, and Marilyn says it's interesting and educational, so for now let's not fret about it."
Jack is agitated, "Marthy is too young and inexperienced to be in a strange place like that! I don't like it! I don't like it one bit!"
Celeste stands up and puts her arm around his shoulder as they walk back to the dining room. "I'll keep you updated, Jack, and the rest of you, too. I didn't sense any imminent danger......." she says, though in her mind she thinks, 'but danger is just around the corner, and I see Marilyn herself as the root of it.'


DANGEROUS IDEAS...........by Coralynn

When Marilyn, Marthy and the two young men arrive back at their own living quarters, the decision is made to turn in early.
"Do they change into sleeping clothes on this continent?" Marthy asks Marilyn.
They go into Marilyn's room and rummage around. Sure enough, in a drawer, are sleeping outfits of pure silk.
"I must have some of these in my room, too!" Marthy says happily. "I wonder what the guys wear, though.........think I oughta go check?"
"You take a chance on Mike pinching your bottom again," Marilyn laughs, "but that's the chance you'll have to take!"
Marthy grins and goes out into the main living area, then into the room the young men share. She peeks in and there they stand in the roughest looking material she has ever seen, even when she lived back in the 12th century. She returns to Marilyn's room.

Marilyn is excited, "Guess what, Marthy? Celeste just contacted me from her crystal ball. I told her we were OK. Seems Jack is jumping out of his skin worrying about you, and the others are concerned, too. She said she'd keep in touch. That makes me feel better......can't have our friends worrying themselves."
Marthy is impressed, "Celeste can use her crystal ball as kind of a telephone? Wow!"
"Sort of a telephone, with her end also equipped with pictures. Isn't that elegant? But, back to the matter at hand....those guys in the next room. How are they dressed?"
"Ya know, Marilyn, those guys get a rotten deal. You should see the scratchy looking material of their sleeping outfits!! Do you think the women here are overboard in their treatment of the men?"
Marilyn, now in her lovely silk nightgown, sits on the plush pallet and ponders this. "As much as I appreciate women being in control, I think there's too much control in this place. I know it doesn't seem that way to Theodosia, because she's used to it, tradition and all, but even when men were the high lords of the household back in the 20th century, the woman weren't treated that badly!! It's sad."

"Wonder if Theodosia and whoever is Queen right now would be open to some.....uh.....what would you call them......"
"Reforms." Marilyn supplies the word. "We can ask, but don't get your hopes up, Marthy. Customs get entrenched and are very hard to change, especially if you expect the changes to take place rapidly. Why, did you know that until something like 1920 women in the United States were denied the vote?"
"Why?"
"Because they weren't considered important enough to make decisions that effected the country. They weren't considered very intelligent."
Marthy's mouth drops open, "Why......that's incredible!"
"I know! They had to fight long and hard for the vote. Some were dragged off and slapped into jail because they led protest marches....."
"These guys don't look like they have the nerve to do that...."
"But don't forget, Marthy, Theodosia told us that the men down by the river are fomenting trouble. I don't know what kind of police force they have around here. I haven't seen any yet, but however they keep the men in line will come out in great force if they stage a protest march.......unless........no, that would be too dangerous...."
"Unless what, Marilyn?"
"It's a long shot, but......if women led the protest march, what would happen I wonder."
"Women?!"
They both sit and think about it.
"Oh, no, no, no, you aren't thinking of you and me...."
"It's just a thought, Marthy. Now go get into your silk nightie and get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day..........very interesting."


THE ITINERARY.........by Coralynn

Marilyn wakes up slowly. It takes a minute or so for the fact that she isn't back in her own bed on Winding Willow to fully form in her semi-conscious mind. When it does, she sits up with a jolt. She listens for sounds coming from elsewhere in the apartment. Apparently she's the first one up. After a good stretch, she proceeds into the main living area, and hears a light tapping on the door.
She opens it to see Minerva standing there with an envelope in her hand, which she holds out for Marilyn to receive.
"Come in, Minerva! Please!"
"I can stay but a moment because I have many errands to complete for Princess Theodosia," Minerva tells her as she steps in the room.
Marilyn indicates a place where she wants Minerva to sit, which the other woman does. "Now......Minerva......you know this place pretty well, don't you?"
"I have lived nowhere else."
"I know Theodosia is the highest Princess, but what's the name of the Queen?"
Minerva points to the envelope that Marilyn has just received, "You are to meet the Queen this morning. That's one of the things in your itinerary. Her name is Gargantua."
"Gargantua?!" Marilyn stifles a laugh, "And that word means....."
"It means highest and most mighty."
"OK, I'll go along with that, but........I know this is a subject people here probably don't want to discuss, but........does it strike you that the men are treated shabbily? More shabbily than they deserve?"
Minerva pulls her chair closer and whispers, "I have always thought so, but if I dared to express it I would be damned to eternal iceberg."
Marilyn squinches up her face, "Iceberg?"
"Yes, you see in our religion, if you break any rules, your spirit spends eternity freezing on an iceberg, and there is no respite from the cold. You go mad because you cannot warm up no matter what you do. This fate is greatly feared."
Marilyn rolls her eyes, "OK, then.....you have a religion and a government...."
"Ahhh, but they are one and the same!"
Marilyn makes a mental note: no separation between church and state.
She senses that Minerva is becoming uncomfortable discussing her homeland, so she smiles and says, "Thank you! You are most helpful! Tell me, are there any books about history anywhere in this city? I so much desire to learn more."
As she walks to the door, Minerva answers, "Oh yes, there is a huge library next to the Academy. There is also a large church nearby. I think Princess Theodosia would like you to attend church with her, and time is fleeing and so am I." She exits.

Marthy emerges from her bedroom, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
She sits down by Marilyn and sees the envelope. "What's in there?"
"Ohhh, this is our 'itineary!' Seems Princess "T" would like to give us a guided tour. Minverva just delivered this........" opening it, she reads from the sheet......."first Church, then a meeting with Queen......now get this!!!......Queen Gargantua!"
Marthy and Marilyn both laugh.
Tim and Mike, just awakening from their fitfull night of sleep, hear this and Mike says, "Sounds like our mistresses are in a good mood this day. Shall we??" He throws on his long, tapering tunic and looks out. Ahhhh yes, the women are in rollicking spirits this day. Now, how can I take advantage of that? he ponders.

There is another light rapping at the door. This time it is Princess "T" herself standing there with a friendly smile on her face.
"Hurry, ladies or we'll be late for Church!" she says cheerfully.
"It'll just take us a minute!" Marilyn replies as she and Marthy go into their bedrooms to dress for church. Not knowing if there are any special dress codes for this, they don the robes they wore the day before and go out to where "T" is impatiently awaiting them.
"Do the men attend church as well?" Marilyn asks as they walk toward the large domed church.
"They have their own little church in the back of this one," "T" says proudly, "It doesn't contain the same relics and statuary. I can show it to you after we attend services."
They enter the large church, and the inside makes our time travelers gasp. It is crammed with large statues of the Goddess Tempestua. All of these representations show her standing on head of a male, with blood gushing from his mouth, eyes, ears, nose.....
The church has a very quiet atmosphere, but Marilyn still whispers a question to Princess Theodosia, "Why is your Goddess standing on those men's heads?"
Princess "T" looks at her incredulously, "Why, to remind them of their lowly state!"

Unlike the outside of the church, which is a gleaming white marble, the inside has red flocked wallpaper everywhere. The music emenating from the large bank of singers and players is heavy and ominous.
Marilyn and Marthy are fascinated. What madness is this?! They see "T" close her eyes and begin to chant. They wonder if they are supposed to do the same. But how? The chanting is in some language they have never heard.
They look at each other and shrug.
Soon what would pass for a minister or priest comes to the lectern and speaks loudly, "The day of judgement is at hand! Are you yet perfect? Are you doing what the Goddess Tempestua has required of you? Have you whipped your man today? Remember, the Goddess can see you every minute, and if you have failed her by not whipping your man, you stand in danger of spending eternity in Icebeg. Do not fall heir to whisperings of other religions, the ones brought by the evil one, commonly known as John Wayne. Do not listen to the words of the renegade cult brought to our shores by the evil man Albert Schweitzer. And, most of all, reject the dangerous ideas presented by the Dalai Lama, the most evil of them all, who spent but one day here, yet caused more trouble than all the others combined. Reject these ideas! These radical notions will put your soul in peril of spending eternity in Iceberg, from which it will never return, but freeze forevermore..."

This is even worse than I thought, Marilyn thinks, The Dalai Lama, that great prince of a human being was here? And now they equate him with the devil or whatever they have that would be the devil??
The entire congregation then stands and chants together: "Hail to Goddess Gargantua. Death to the infidels. Death to the evil visitors to our shores. Hail to the conquest of evil. Hallelujah!" They repeat this about ten times, then the service is over.
As Princess "T" leads them out of the building, she smiles proudly, "This morning service always inspires me for the rest of the day!"
As they then walk to the smaller church behind the large one, "T" tells them, "This is the men's church..." and, entering, they see walls painted black with paintings of ice everywhere. Men are depicted sitting on the ice with looks of great pain on their faces. Princess "T" doesn't say anything about this church, but closes the door again and cheerfully asks, "You do have a little free time now. You aren't scheduled to meet the Queen until after lunch, so....would you like to see our library? It's the pride of Atlantis. We have our entire history written, and there are even some books that contain stories made up....."
"Novels?" Marthy asks.
"I know not the word, but they are made up in fantasy."
Marilyn thinks, Good....this was the place I'd planned to go anyway. Now I won't have to sneak in. Wonder if the library is also dripping with propaganda. This place is creeping me out!!

The library is the most normal looking place they've seen yet, much to their relief. It has shelves flanking the walls and many banks of books are also on shelves in the middle of the room. Princess Theodosia leaves them there alone, as she tells them she has to attend some trials at the Palace. The Queen is the only judge and jury, and, since she may very well be Queen someday soon, she has to attend these trials. After she's gone, Marthy whispers to Marilyn,
"Wonder if 'justice' in this place is as crazy as everything else!"
"Sure it is! This place is running amok, if you ask me!! Now, where would the history books be? Oh! This huge shelf is labeled history, so let me begin. Perhaps we can figure out how this place got to be the way it is!"
The two women peruse through many history books, then Marilyn nudges Marthy and points to a page she's found:
"Listen to this!! It says here that...' thousands of years ago the land was perfect and people were perfect and content and there was no pestilence in the land, and no dissention. Then....a man named Bruce raped a woman named Purity and from that day on evil was born. All the other men found out they had a body part that could inflict great pain on women, and so the chastity grid was invented.' Well, well, isn't that a handy story to pass on generation after generation? I suppose if you hear it enough times you begin to believe it. No one is allowed to present any other fable..........or......."
Marthy grins, "Or they spend eternity in Iceberg!"
Marilyn snaps the book shut and replaces it on the shelf.
"Speaking of men, the rat-bastards of Atlantis, wonder what ours are doing right now? Think we oughta go back and see? According to the fables around here, they could be up to all manner of mayhem!"
The two women return to their living quarters and find Tim and Mike sitting on that bench that runs along one side of the wall.
"Why don't you guys sit on the regular chairs?" Marthy asks, "They're ever so much more comfortable!"
"Not allowed," Tim tells her, "Men sit on the bench; women sit on the chairs......it has ever been thus."
Marilyn sighs in exasperation and walks over and looks down at Tim. "You have been fed a pack of lies, my friend."
At that Tim touches his forehead six times in rapid succession. When he sees Marilyn's puzzled expression, he explains, "We have to do that to ward off evil whenever someone questions our ways....."
Mike sits there shaking his head. He smiles. Marilyn says, "You may speak, Mike."
"Not meaning any disrespect, but Tim is brainwashed. This whole thing about men being inferior is a load of crap!"
Tim gasps and touches his forehead six times in rapid succession, then, not feeling it's enough, does it again and again.
Mike reaches over and swats Tim's hand down, "Cut it out!! Your passivity is driving me crazy!"
Marthy approaches Mike and looks at him intently, "How do you know these things, Mike, while Tim does not?"
He looks around for some unseen spy, then, seeing none, whispers to her, "I attended the meeting when the Dalai Lama was here. We were forbidden to go, but I did it anyway and was not caught. The ones who were caught were tortured and killed, I heard. Anyway, the Dalai Lama told us that all are created equal, male or female, and that the Great Spirit that created the world loved us all unconditionally and that we would never be sent to Iceberg because there was no such place!!"
Marthy pats his shoulder, "You are totally correct, Mike, but never tell anyone else. Tim here has heard, and if he knows what's good for him.." she glowers at Tim, "he'll keep his big mouth shut."
Tim again begins his 6-times to the forehead ritual. Over and over.
Marilyn and Marthy then walk to Marilyn's room, and, after closing the door, Marthy asks, "What are we going to do about this, Marilyn? I, for one, think that when we leave we must take Mike with us. He'll be found out eventually. Tim could even squeal on him; he's just brainwashed enough to do that. What do you think?"
"I agree completely!" Marilyn exclaims, "Let's get ready for our meeting with the Queen. We'll have to watch every word we say so that we aren't lumped in with those others they said were evil.......you know, the evil ones who came to their shores......even if we can time travel our way out of here in ten seconds flat, I'd rather do it from here than a jail cell."


JOHN...HOW COULD YOU?.....by Terri

"I'm home! Sorry I'm so late. Bethia!" John gave Bethia a kiss hello. "What's the occasion?"
Bethia gave him a quick hug. "Roger should be home tomorrow from that medical conference and I didn't want to eat dinner all by myself. So I wandered over here."
Eleanor said, "And she's always welcome!"
John bent over and kissed Rosamond's upturned face. "Hello, darling." He glanced around. "Where are the two powerhouses? Shopping till they drop?"
William replied, "Uh, Marilyn and Marthy decided to time travel."
"Really! Where did they go? Victorian England? Renaissance Italy?" Celeste said, "No, the Lost Continent of Atlantis!"
John dropped the ice cube tray as he was getting ice cubes out. "WHAT?! Of all places? Has anyone checked on them?"
Rose said, "Celeste got out her crystal ball and made contact. They seem to be allright, but I for one will not feel comfortable until they are back safe and sound. Jack is a basket case over it, I think he really has a thing for Marthy."
John dished some of Bethia's beef stew into a plate and helped himself to some Italian bread. "One thing we learned, William, is that the coin works instantaneously. If they are in trouble, they can get back in a blink of an eye!"
William frowned. "Just so there are only TWO of them coming back!

Rose put the coffee on and Eleanor cut the cherry pie. Bethia dished out the vanilla ice cream.
Rose asked, "How did it go at the fitness center? Daniel muck it up?"
John carried his plate to the sink, rinsed it off and put it in the dishwasher. He put the salt and pepper shakers away. Rose whispered to Bethia, "I hope he cleans up like this after we're married! Billy Bob didn't lift a finger to help!" Bethia giggled.
John grinned, "Well, you were missed! Brad made Moose cry!"
"NO! HE DIDN'T!" Rosamond dissolved into laughter. "Moose is 6'4" and 250 lbs of teddy bear!"
Bethia and Eleanor joined the others in the living room and John said, "OK,. here's the real scoop. I saw Jameson. Honey, he said he I.D.'d the body as your husband's. One thing led to another and I told him we were involved before, during and after your marriage to Montgomery."
"JOHN, YOU DIDN'T!"
John got indignant. "I'm sorry, but he pushed my buttons! What difference does it make? The man is dead and can't hurt you anymore."
"John, how could you! Those people were my friends! Jameson...Bobby Joe...Verla...now they are all going to think I am a slut!"
"What do you care? They are out of your life, aren't they?"
"Well...yes..but I run into everyone occasionally! And Bobby Joe is out at the ranch. How can I ever face him?"
"What are you getting so upset about?"
"You had no right to tell anyone our personal business!"
"Well, excuse ME, MRS. MONTGOMERY....."

Eleanor, Bethia, Celeste, and William all raised their eyebrows at the exchange in the kitchen. Eleanor counted, "One...two...three...." pointed her finger to the door and said, "...now CRY!"
Immediately the sounds of crying came from the kitchen. Everyone tried to keep a straight face but they all burst out laughing.
Eleanor put her hand up and said, " four....five...six..." and her voice and John's from the kitchen said simultaneously, "..aw, honey, I'm sorry, come on, let's kiss and make up...."
Eleanor continued, "seven....eight....nine...TEN!" and sounds of kissing came from the other room. Eleanor smiled smugly and brushed her hands together.
Everyone rolled on the floor laughing and applauded Eleanor.

Rosamond and John came out of the kitchen arm in arm. Everyone tried to keep a straight face. John sat down, Rosamond sat on the arm of his chair.
"We'd like to start making our wedding plans. I wanted to get married in Paris but Rosamond wants the full monty. Even if the annulment doesn't come through, I don't think Rosamond has anything to worry about. But I'll see what Patrick O'Malley says."
Rosamond continued. "We set the wedding date for October 4th. William, would you give me away?"
William smiled broadly. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure! I mean, the honor, not the fact that I am giving you away, Rosamond! It's no secret you've alway been my special little girl!"
"Celeste? You are my co-ordinator! If you will have it!"
Celeste laid a hand on her arm. "Darling, I knew you and John would be together that morning you hurled mutual coffee cups at each other! It was like Dorothy, you just had to find out for yourselves."
Eleanor, would you do me the honor of being my maid of honor? Bethia, I want you and Marilyn and Bess and Marthy in the wedding party, too!"
John smiled to see his best girl making plans and taking her mind off Montgomery.
I'm sure he's dead, he thought. He has to be...right? But a little part of John's brain kept saying 'what if....what if....what if..."


THE RED QUEEN.........by Coralynn

"We're off to meet the Queen, guys! Thanks for the great lunch, see ya later!" Marilyn says cheerily as she and Marthy go out the door.
Once outside, however, she turns serious, "If this Queen is as bad as I think she may be, we're in trouble."
"Why?" Marthy asks.
"Because she can dispatch you, and I mean dispatch you at the flick of her wrist. I read in one of those history books back at the library that if you displease her in any small way, it's......" she gestures by drawing her hand across her throat.
"Then we won't displease her. We'll have to tell some falsehoods, though. Tell her how much we admire her country, all that nonsense."
Marilyn breathes out audibly, "This is going to take all the self control I have. You know how outspoken I can be!"
"I'm finding that out!"
As they go up the steps to the Palace, Marilyn whispers, "Here goes nothing!!"

They are shown into a room that, when first entered, appears to be half a mile long. At the end of the room is a raised area upon which an enormous throne is mounted, with a personage almost as large sitting thereon.
Marilyn whispers to Marthy, "Looks like Queenie here could use a shot of Jennie Craig!"
"Shhhhh, someone will hear you!"
The room is eerily quiet, and as the two women approach the Queen's throne, their shoes make echoing sounds, clack, clack, clack.
A Palace guard is standing at the base of the throne and tells them, "Prostrate yourselves before the Queen."
Prostrate? Prostate? No, that's a male body part. They watch as the guard demonstrates by lying down full on his stomach and face. Marilyn and Marthy glance at each other with looks of horror.

When the guard gets back up, he gestures to them. Marilyn bows low, but does not lie on the floor. Marthy follows suit. The Queen has an angry look on her face and bellows out, "Prostrate yourselves!!"
Now, the Queen's 'bellow' is in a high-pitched voice, perhaps the highest pitched voice ever inflicted upon anyone. Marilyn has the strongest urge to laugh, but Marthy, seeing her friend's face begin to form a laugh, pokes her. Marilyn stops, but it's not easy.
They lie down, but Marilyn can't resist doing push-ups from that position. Marthy has no idea what Marilyn's up to, but begins to sweat nervously.
The Queen thunders down the stairs that separate her from the place where Marilyn and Marthy are, and yanks Marilyn up by the hair. Marthy is beginning to shake in fear.
"SO?? How dare you mock the Queen?" she says in her Minnie Mouse voice. Oh-oh, Marilyn thinks, I may have gone too far with this. Now to do damage control.
"Oh gracious Queen Gargantua, I meant no offense. But where I come from, the motions I just made are in homage to royalty, to the highest royalty. Anyone can prostrate themselves, but to then push up and down makes it a double-prostration. I hope you understand."
The Queen smiles, her mouth being almost lost in the folds of her cheeks. "Well, come then, come up and sit at my right hand."
The women follow her back up the steps. Now, at her size, the Queen had no trouble coming down the steps, but going back up is another proposition. She takes a step up, wobbles precariously, then another step, reaching out to balance herself by hanging on to Marthy, who all but topples over from the weight. She doesn't dare look at Marilyn for fear of losing control and laughing.

When they finally reach where the throne is mounted, the Queen stands in front of it, then lets go and topples in. There are two small chairs on the right hand side, on which Marilyn and Marthy sit.
"You must have a very venerated Queen where you come from!" the Queen begins, "I have been told that you come from the far future. Theodosia said 2003. It must be that the land of the mists has been civilized with people, is that true?"
"Oh yes, your gracious highness," Marthy says.
"Is this the land where John Wayne, Albert Schweitzer and the Dalai Lama live?"
Marilyn decides to take this one, "The first two men are dead, oh gracious and ever-powerful Queen, and the last one does not live in our country, but across the seas, at least most of the time, I think."
"You have heard of him, however?" The Queen's face clouds. (probably because it's so huge it has it's own weather system!! Sorry, couldn't resist!)
"We have heard, but then we have heard of many people. We have not met with this Dalai Lama." There! Marilyn hopes that throws her off.
"Some of our men have!" the Queen says with hatred in her little pip-squeak voice, "And some were put to death! The evil that stranger to our shores was spreading amongst our men, especially the rejects, polluted our citizenry even to this day!"

"I am sure they will soon forget." Marilyn says without conviction.
"Not as long as THESE circulate!" the Queen pulls out a poster and shakes it open. Sure enough, there was that sweet-face Dalai Lama with a look of joy on his face.
"How did they get here?" Marthy asks.
"He left a big stack of them, and if anyone is found harboring one of these pictures, they are immediately put to death."
Hmmm, Marilyn thinks, that's pretty plain, isn't it? I can't wait to get out of this Palace, hopefully in one contiguous piece!!
"Do you renounce this person?" the Queen is still waving the picture of the Dalai Lama in the air.
It takes all Marilyn's self control, but she says, "Absolutely!"
The Queen then glares at Marthy, who parrots, "Absolutely!"
"You may go now. You seem to be harmless enough. But do not fall in with the evil factions that meet down by the river or you may never get to see your own timeframe again!"

Marilyn and Marthy have the urge to run as fast as they can out of the place, but manage to walk sedately the half mile back to the door by which they entered twenty minutes before.
As they walk toward their own living quarters, they say nothing. There could be spies in the crowds around them, but when they enter their apartment and close the door safely behind them, Marthy turns to Marilyn and announces, "I'm gonna DO something about this! It is so corrupt!"
"Shhh," Marilyn warns her, "Tim will tell. I have the feeling he's a spy, so watch out." They go into Marilyn's bedroom and shut the door, "We'll have to formulate a plan......but we need more information before we actually do anything drastic. Think we ought to meet with these 'men down by the river'?"
"Yes."


MORE DANGEROUS IDEAS.......by Coralynn

Celeste puts down her pen, "There! Done!"
"Which questions did you answer, Celeste?" Eleanor asks.
"I took one of those 'my boyfriend is cheating on me' ones, and one from a woman whose son, she thinks, is on drugs, which means he no doubt is. How about you?"
"I told one man to get off his fat behind and get a job, then there was the one from the young ninny who said she found her soulmate, but he was resisting her advances. I told her to get over herself."
"Think anyone will notice that Marilyn, or rather, Sally, isn't writing these replies?"
"Nope! You just think like she would and voila!"
Bess enters the room, "All done with the Dear Sally columns?"
"Sure are! We've done enough of them for the next two days! If Marilyn isn't back by then, well......I guess we just do more!" Eleanor answers.
"You are all such good friends! I envy you!" Bess looks longingly at Eleanor.
"Why, Bess! I didn't think you felt you weren't one of our friends! You certainly are. Being new to the household it'll take you a while before you feel totally at home, but, believe me, you are a wonderful addition to our family," Celeste assures her.
"What can we do to help?" Eleanor asks.
"I need someone to confide in!" Bess tells them, "I miss Marthy. She was my best friend, but she's gone...."
"She'll be back soon!" Celeste puts an arm around Bess' shoulder, "Would you like me to locate her with my crystal ball?"
"Would you??" Bess is eager.
They go into Celeste's room and in no time she has the crystal ball all warmed up and ready to go.
"OK, here they are........Marilyn! Marthy! Look up! wave if you can hear me!.........Bess wants to know how much longer you're going to be away......" They hear the answer, "We have to help out some people who are being vicimized...."
"Is it dangerous, though, dears?"
"Probably!"
"We would all feel a lot better if you just left without doing that! What can you accomplish, after all?"
Marthy's voice becomes louder, "The men here are treated worse than dogs!"
"And you think you can fix that?" Celeste asks.
"We'd like to try!" Marilyn breaks in.
"Now, Marilyn.......do not, I repeat, do not bring all the men from Atlantis to the 21st Century, do you hear me? Do you understand? You cannot do that. I know you'd like to; you're very easy to read, but do not."
"Oh, alright!" Marilyn says with a grumble.
"Before we disconnect, I want you to know that Eleanor and I are doing your Dear Sally column for you till you get back. Hurry back, though, as Eleanor has just told this one man to get off his useless ass and get a job. Some of her terms are rather harsh."
"Sounds like good advice to me!" Marilyn replies. "OK, then, hopefully we'll be back before long...."
"Tell Bess I have a lot to tell her!" Marthy exclaims just before the crystal ball goes blank.
Eleanor shakes her head, "They're going to try to reverse hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years of discriminatiion against men, by themselves? The two of them? Have they gone mad?"
"If they get into danger, will you go to Atlantis and bring them back?" Celeste asks.
"Sure! I could wear my Wonder Woman outfit and scare the bejeebers out of those Atlanteans. In fact, I like the idea so much.......that......."


THE SPOOL UNWINDS.....by Terri

Rose came into the den as Eleanor and Celeste were finishing up. "How's the column going?"
"Great, but we wish Marilyn were here to do it!" Eleanor said.
Celeste picked up one letter. "Here's one Eleanor answered. It reads,
'Dear Sally,
I was helping a friend play a trick on someone. It backfired--on me! I think I have found my soulmate but he doesn't want anything to do with me now. I can't sleep, I can't eat, (and I can't afford not to). I think he is still in love with another woman who I have known for centuries but she doesn't want him. How can I erase her memory and get him to forgive me? Signed, DESPERATE'

Rose picked up an apple and bit into it. "Here's MY answer! LOTS OF LUCK, HONEY! Too bad it's not Billy Bob...er, God rest his soul!"
John came down the stairs. Rosamond handed him a cup of coffee and said, "Would you like me to make you breakfast, John? Some bacon?"
John made a slight grimace. "Uh, no, darling, I'll grab something on the way to work. Besides, I've seen what you do to bacon!" He kissed her goodbye. "Are you coming in today or shall I give the class to Brad?" Rosamond said, "I think I will go to the ranch and see what Murphy has done."
"Poor Moose. Who's gonna tell him that his spandex goddess won't be in?"
"I need to give Murphy a check, too. Will? Do you want to go with Mommy to the ranch and help me plant some of the herbs?" "Sure, Mommy! Can I see the horses?" "I don't see why not! Maybe Mr. Austin will let you give them some sugar."
John frowned. "Honey, I don't know about this..."
Rosamond was a little exasperated. "Know about WHAT? Bobby Joe and I have been friends for quite a while, John."
"Rose...."
"What?!"
"I don't think you should say anything about seeing Montgomery..."
"Why? You think I am losing my mind?"
"No, darling. Come on, send me to work with a smile, OK?"
Rosamond kissed him goodbye and watched as John drove off.
"Ready, Will?"
"Ready, Mommy!"
"Then let's go! Thanks for watching Julie for me, Celeste!"
"My pleasure, dear. Be careful!"

Rosamond and Will pulled up behind the stables.
"Will?" Don't wander off. I'll be right in that yellow gatehouse there." Rosamond watched as Will went into the stables, Jake trailing behind him. A boy and his dog, she thought.

She opened the door and pulled out the last of the remaining lawn furniture. Behind it Rosamond found all sorts of terra cotta pots of various sizes. This will be great to start the seedlings in. The soil seems to have assimilated the cow manure and top soil I worked in. Billy Bob was alive at that time. It seems so long ago. She reached down behind the wall studs and pulled on some cloth. Seems to be stuck. She yanked harder and it let go suddenly, sending Rosamond flying into the wall.

She sat there, rubbing her elbows. Gingerly she picked it up. A blue backpack. I didn't see this when I cleaned up the place, she thought. Maybe it was here all along. After all, this is the first I've been in here since.....since the funeral. She reached into it. Hmmm..three pairs of sox...a pair of Levis...two T-shirts....a letter-should I read it? Maybe later....
Rosamond dug further in the backpack. There was a wallet. She opened it. Inside was sixteen dollars. A picture of a pretty dark-haired girl, with an autograph that read, 'Thanks for all the laughs! Mary Jo XOXOXO' A driver's license...what's this?
'Randy Griswold...age 32....blond hair, blue eyes....6'3"...215 lbs....an address, it says 2294 Blackwell Court...Bethesda Maryland. There's a Swiss Army knife....dog tags with the name PFC Randall P. Griswold....and a scrap piece of paper with the phone number of 415-964-3439.
Just then a shadow fell over the backpack. Rosamond stifled a scream and jumped a mile.
"And just what do you have there, Rosamond?" Bobby Joe Austin stood in the doorway.

"Bobby Joe, you scared the life out of me! I didn't hear you outside." "Well, the door was open so I didn't bother to knock. I just wanted you to know that your son is feeding the horses for me. He's quite a little kid!"
Rosamond smiled. "Yes, he is. I was just cleaning out behind the wall studs, thinking of boarding them up and putting shelves in here. Maybe drywall it. I want to grow herbs and make some oils, aromatherapy and some lotions and herb ointments. I found a book of my grandmother's and she wrote alot of stuff down. I had it in my trunk when I brought things over when I was married. I never did unpack it."
"Maybe you thought way down deep you wouldn't be here that long?" "Bobby Joe, is it going to be one of those conversations again?"
Rosamond sighed.
"What's behind your back?"
"This? Oh! This is Will's pre-school backpack. He always leaves it in the car and I have to get it out and root through it to find his school papers. You know how kids are!"
She tossed the backpack over in the corner next to her purse.
Just then her cellphone rang.
"Hello?"
"Darling, it's me. I'm sorry, I can't meet you for lunch."
"Why not? I was counting on it."
"Brad is mucking things up. People are clamoring for you. In fact, Moose..."
Struggles over the phone.
"HEY! Spandex goddess, when are you coming back?"
"Who's this?"
"Moose McCarthy. *sniff* Lots of us want you back *sniff sniff* It isn't the same...that guy is *sniff* mean!"
Struggles over the phone.
"Give me that phone! It's MY girl!"
Rose said, "John, what is going on and what is all that sniffing about?"
"It's Moose. Brad made him cry again. You'd better count on being here tomorrow or half the membership is flying out the door."
Rose sighed. "Alright, alright. But I may have to put Julie in the daycare there. I can't continue to impose on Celeste."
"No problem, babe. In fact, she can stay in the office with me."
"We'll discuss this later."
"OK, darling, we'll work out the terms of your surrender later. I love you."
"Love you, too."
Before Rosamond realized what she said, she realized too late that Bobby Joe was still standing there.
"Love you too? Tequila Sunrise, what is going on? Level with me."
Rose said, "Before I do, why don't you join me for lunch? I have cold chicken, potato salad and beer...oh, don't look at me like that! I didn't make it, if that is what you are worried about."
Bobby Joe grinned. "Billy Bob told me lots of stories."
They closed the door of the gatehouse, called Will and walked up to the ranch house.
After getting Will settled with his food on the porch, Rosamond dished up potato salad and put some chicken on BJ's plate. Bobby Joe opened a beer for both of them.
"OK, Tequila Sunrise, tell me what is going on, please."
Rosamond sat there and said quietly, "Please don't think badly of me, Bobby Joe. I'll try to explain. John Gwinnett and I have known each other for several years. There was always a chemistry between us that is hard to explain. I don't even understand it myself. I've never felt this way about a man in my life. We worked on As the Planet Turns but I knew him before that. I met him at the time his wife left him for a reverend and I was involved with...with a married man. It's a long story. John was always there for me. Anyways, Daniel is his twin and Daniel blew into town and pretended to be John. I didn't know it. I--I spent a weekend with him before I knew it and lots of things happened. The night I met you and Billy Bob things came to a head and blew apart. My life was so complicated and you two were so nice to me."
"Billy Bob was really hot after you right from the start, Tequila. I'd never seen him so besotted. He really loves-loved-you."
"I know it, but he was so possessive after we got married. I married him for all the wrong reasons. I was pregnant and he was wonderful about it. He offered to do right by me and I took him up on it. Maybe it was the heady atmosphere of New Orleans. But when I got home and right away Billy Bob got so demanding, acting like I was his personal property...well, remember when the Miata got trashed?"
"Yeah, someone backed into it, over and over again."
"No, John was so upset with me he took a crowbar to it. Bobby Joe, if that isn't love, I don't know what is!" she laughed. "One word led to another and I found out that John was going to propose to me. Remember when I got those cramps and almost lost the baby? Billy Bob didn't care, he just pulled me out of the hospital. That was the beginning of the end for us, Bobby Joe."
"I'm sorry, Tequila Sunrise. Do you ever wonder if he didn't come in that night, if you and I would be the ones together?"
Rose smiled and touched his hand briefly. "I don't think so, Bobby Joe. Not that I don't find you attractive! Very much so! Billy Bob was always standing there waiting when I fell between the cracks with John. If it weren't for John, Billy Bob and I would probably be another story. I did love him. But John is my soulmate. I need to tell you so don't get upset with me. John and I are engaged. We are getting married October 4th."
Bobby Joe started to choke on a piece of chicken. "Engaged? But how can you be..?"
"Bobby Joe, there is no sense for John and I to wait. I love him and he loves me. We never stopped. Billy Bob and I were just not meant to be. I was going to file for divorce anyways. And besides, I found out he never terminated his marriage to Wanda Sue. So I am filing for an annulment so I can marry John with no strings attached. Please, Bobby Joe. Be happy for me."
Bobby Joe stood up and scraped his plate into the garbage. "I wish you all the best, Tequila Sunrise. John is a lucky man."
"Thank you, Bobby Joe. That means alot coming from you.
Just so he stays a lucky man. And alive, too.

Subj: Tequila Sunrise
Date: 7/15/2003
From: austintatious@aol.com
To: olsen007@aol.com
Mark--nothing new to report. No news is good news.
Bobby Joe


THE CAPER SUCCEEDS......by Coralynn

As darkness moves in on Atlantis, Marilyn and Marthy have their plans in place.
They go out into the main living area and tell Tim and Mike, "We're going for a walk and will be back soon. If anyone comes to see us, tell them we're taking a nap."
Mike winks at them, but Tim glowers suspiciously.
As they close the door behind them, Marthy whispers, "Tim is going to be trouble! We'd better move fast!"
They walk rapidly down a side street and in the distance see the river. Walking in that general direction, they do finally get to the place by the river where about forty men are congregating.
At sight of the two women, the men begin to disperse, but stop when Marilyn says in a loud voice, "We come as friends!"
Most of the men turn and walk back, but cautiously.
"Come closer and I'll tell you of my plan to save you from the oppression of this place," Marilyn says in a normal voice. "I know that the Dalai Lama has told you many wonderful things, and my opinion is that what he speaks is truth. Would you like to escape this place and go to where the Dalai Lama lives?"
There is a general buzz of conversation. A spokesman approaches her and asks, "How would you do this?"
"I have a way of traveling around the world in the blink of an eye," she says. Marthy stands there and nods that this is true.
The men cluster and discuss and finally the spokesman approaches her again and says, "Yes. We would all like to go."
"Then make a circle....hold hands......there must not be a break in the chain of hands.....ok, are you all holding hands? Then, Marthy and I will get into the chain and take you to the Dalai Lama!"
She holds her coin and thinks, "go to wherever it is the Dalai Lama lives....now."

They are in a place with mountains. There are huts, there are Buddhist temples......and men in maroon robes. One of them comes up to the group and asks, "May I help you, friends?"
That's all I need to know, Marilyn thinks; grabs just Marthy's hand and instructs the coin to take them back to Atlantis.
They end up at the end of the street where their living quarters are located. As they walk toward their apartment, they see Tim skulking about outside.
"TIM!" Marilyn says angrily, "What are you doing outside? You were instructed to stay indoors."
He glares at both women and goes inside.
Marilyn shakes her head, "Can't wait to get away from that one! Think we oughta take Mike and skeedaddle out of here?"
Just then there is a terrible commotion near the Academy and Church down the street. Marilyn and Marthy hear women screaming "Goddess!" over and over.
"Mike, please accompany us," Marthy instructs, "But you, Tim, get inside or we'll have to chain you up! Do you understand? NOW!"
"What's all the screaming about, do you know, Mike?"
"I hear them screaming 'goddess'.....there is a fable that says the great goddess Tempestua will visit on the day of reckoning. Well, this may be it!"
As they reach the church, they see women prostrating themselves all over the floors of the place.
Entering, they see a woman wearing a brilliant gold robe, and with a loud, loud voice, sounds like she has a microphone, she's telling them........."You have all failed me! You, my daughters, have been cruel. You have depicted me standing on the head of men, you have mistreated half of my creation, and mistreated them grievously. You are all going to......."
"ICEBERG!" the priestesses scream.
The statuesque woman then slowly makes her way down through the group of women who are groveling on the floor, and walks straight up to Marilyn, Marthy and Mike.
"Take my hand and quick. We've gotta blow this popsicle stand!"
"Eleanor!"
In a flash they're standing in the living room in the big house on Winding Willow.
Mike looks around. "This must be the opposite of Iceberg!" he laughs.

Marthy and Marilyn can't help but laugh, too, but not just at Mike's statement, but also at Eleanor, who stands there in her gold robe, a clip-on mike on one lapel and a battery pack protruding from the back of her waist.
"At first I thought of dressing like Wonder Woman," she tells them, "but Celeste convinced me that dressing like a prototypical goddess could be more convincing. Ergo....," she gestures to her outfit, this!!"
"You fixed them but good!" Marilyn gets out between bursts of laughter.
"Wellll, thought I'd leave them some food for thought!"
"That you did!" Marthy chimes in, "but how did you know the situation?"
"Celeste told me. Remember how you communicated with her? She told me and I took matters into my own," at this she blows on her fingernails, "hands! But, I was about to blow it bigtime at the end. I almost said they were all going to hell, but, thank goodness I paused and they all filled it in with the word Iceberg!"

William hears loud talking and laughing as he comes in the back door off the kitchen. He walks to the door leading to the living room, peeks in, and sure enough! They've brought another 'rescue' back with them! Blast! Can't anyone around here time travel without adding new people to the household? Do they all have some kind of mad saviour complex?
"And what have we here?" he asks as jovially as he can as he joins the group, "A new person! Ahhhhhh. Did you aid the ladies in returning from Atlantis, young man? If so, you have my gratitude."
"I did nothing but follow them," Mike answers humbly, "I am Marthy's man, so I did whatever she requested."
Jack has been watching this and can remain silent no longer, "YOU are not Marthy's man, I am!"
Mike looks questioningly at Marthy. "It's true, Mike, my heart belongs to Jack."
"But I've been assigned to you! For life!"
"We'll figure out a plan to 'unassign' you," Marilyn takes over, "We could have a ceremony, kind of like a reverse wedding!" with that she begins to laugh again.

"Wedding? Marthy! Tell me you didn't marry this guy!" Jack is beside himself.
Marthy gently takes his right hand and looks into his eyes, "No, no, Jack, I have not married anyone. There is nothing romantic going on nor has there been between Mike and me. He was assigned as sort of a slave."
Jack gives her a big hug and smiles, "I'm so glad you're back. I was worried out of my mind."
"I was, too!" Bess tells her, "I missed my best friend. I was so afraid I would never see you again!"
"What was Atlantis like?" William then asks, "I take it you had to totally straighten out their society in the two days you were gone, right?"
Everyone sits as Marilyn recounts the events of the last two days. When she finishes, William says, "I can't believe you dumped forty men on the Dalai Lama! Whatever will he do with them? Better that than bringing them all here, however, so thank you, but don't ever go off like that again, promise? My old heart can't stand it. Now come, let me hug you and then prepare a feast fit for.........for......."
Mike has been taking this all in and finishes William's sentence. ".....for Heroes! for the greatest ladies of.........just a minute, what century did you say this was?!"


CAN YOU SAY MOOSE, MCGEE, MANHASSET AND MARTY REAL FAST?.....by Terri

Rosamond came down to breakfast, yawning.
John was already there, eating his bacon and eggs.
"John, how can you look at food first thing in the morning?"
"I have to keep the fuel in the furnace, don't I? Maybe you should attend Rachel's nutrition class. You aren't eating right, honey. You ARE teaching that aerobics class at 10:00, aren't you?"
Rose nodded sleepily. "I'll be there. Celeste has some things to do, so I'll have to take Julie with me. Will is over at Bethia's helping her clean out the basement. When she and Roger moved in, it was full of furniture. So they put it all in the basement until she had time to sort through it. Will is doing alot of the legwork for her. Wish I had the energy of a five year old!"

John poured himself a cup of coffee and picked up his gymbag. "I'll keep these things stashed there. If you want, Rose, I'll get a locker for you. That way we don't have to keep taking things back and forth. See you in a couple hours, honey."
Rose kissed him goodbye. She went upstairs. Julie was still asleep in the crib.
Rosamond pulled the backpack out from under the bed. She went through it again.
The letter was still there. Should I read it? But it's personal...but it was left on MY property...but maybe it will tell me who he is...and how I can return his backpack to him. The letter was crumpled up. Oh, what the heck!
It was on pale pink paper. She carefully opened it.
It read:
Dear Randy,
I know this is an awful thing to do. But I can't live like this anymore. I found out about your drug dealing and I don't want any part of it. By the time you get this letter I will be in California. Please don't try to contact me. I'll always love you.
Mary Jo.


Rosamond sat there, thinking. This Randy--could he have been running from someone? Looks like he was traveling light. She dug deeper in his backpack. Three funny little cigarettes..a white packet...what's this? A map? Looks like a map of the ranch...there's the stables....that big oak tree....the lake....Watson's meadow, yeah, like I could forget about THAT!....that copse of trees there....what's this? Fifteen feet marked.....an 'X' on a spot...
Rosamond put the map between the mattress and the box springs. She pulled out the paper with a phone number on it....415 area code. She pulled out the phone book and looked at a map of California...sure enough, 415 area code is San Francisco. She crammed it all in the backpack and shoved it in the back of her closet. I'll worry about it later. Yikes! I have to take a shower and get the baby ready!

At 9:30 Rosamond walked into the gym, loaded down with the gym bag and baby things, Julie in her arms. John jumped up and took the baby from her.
"Thanks, honey, you're a life-saver. They're all ready lined up for your class."
Just then a huge guy burst into the office, threw himself on the ground and hugged Rosamond around the knees, practically sobbing. "Oh, goddess, goddess, you've come back to us! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!"
Rosamond tried to disentangle herself. "Hi, Moose! I missed you, too!"
Moose wiped the tears away with the back of his hand and sniffed. He grabbed a kleenex and blew his nose. "Oh, Miss Rose, I can't begin to tell you what that...that..DRILL SARGEANT was like! Buddy and Spike crawled out on their hands and knees. And he...he YELLED at me!"
Rose reached up and patted him on the shoulder and said soothingly, "Don't worry, Moose--Mama's back!"
Moose gave a weak smile and a thumbs up and backed out of the office. Rosamond and John burst out laughing. "Now who can argue with that?" John said.

Rosamond handed over the diaper bag to John.
"I'll be a sweaty mess in about an hour so I'll take a shower here. Oh, bother! Look who just came struttin' into town with a big city attitude!"
John turned around to see Travis McGee go into the aerobics class area. "Guaranteed he'll get a spot right behind me..or next to me."
John laughed. "You want I should put Moose in back of you and Buddy and Spike on either side? I'm sure they would be MORE than willing to oblige!"
Rosamond said, "No, I'll handle that Opie Cunningham on steroids myself! Oh, great! Can this day get any better? There's Jameson and Bobby Joe. What's with these guys, can't they go to Brad's class?"
"Honey, I think they are all afraid of Brad. Besides, the view from the back isn't too shabby!" John leered.
Rose stuck her tongue out at him. "Are you sure you aren't Daniel?"
"Rose, if I get busy in the office, I may have to put Julie in the nursery with Corinne. Is that OK with you?"
"Sure, I trust her!"

Rosamond grabbed her water bottle and her towel. True to her predictions, Travis took a spot right next to her. Moose tried to nudge him out but Travis held his spot so Moose moved over one. Buddy and Spike were on either side of Rosamond.
When Rosamond walked into the room, the entire class hooted, hollered and prostrated themselves.
Rosamond burst out laughing. "I guess you guys missed me, huh?"
Everyone but Travis said "Yes!" "Sure did!" "Don't ever leave us with Colonel Mustard again, Rosamond!"
Travis said to himself, Oh, yeah, babe, I missed you--but for different reasons. So you went off with Loverboy, huh? Well, let's see how blissful you are when ballistics comes back.

Rosamond's class was in full swing when John got swamped with phone calls and paperwork. He took Julie into the nursery and handed her over to Corinne. John then went into the office and closed the door.
Daniel watched it all. After five minutes, he walked into the nursery and said to Corrine, "I just came in to see how the little Princess is doing." He held out his arms and Corrine put Julie in them. He whispered to the baby, "Hey, darling! You have a smile for your daddy?"
Julie looked up at him with her blue eyes and gave a little baby smile. Daniel's heart melted. At least Corinne thinks I am John! Daniel cuddled her close and just stared at her. After about ten minutes, he handed her back to Corinne. "I just had to see her."
Corinne smiled. "She's a beautiful child, Mr. Gwinnett! Mrs. Montgomery has a lot to be thankful for."

Rosamond's class ended with Moose yelling out, "SANDWICH!" and Buddy and Spike pressing Travis like ham and cheese. Travis gasped but by the time Rosamond turned around, they let him go and had cherubic looks on their faces.

Rosamond stopped back in the office and said, "Julie is with Corinne?" John looked up. "Yes. How did it go?"
"Look at the sweat stains and then figure it out for yourself! Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you--Marty Henshaw asked us out to dinner. Said he needed to talk to both of us tonight. Are you free?"
John said, "You'd know better than I would, honey. Are we?"
"We are but I wanted to check with you first. Shall I accept?"
"Why not? But not before 8:00 PM."

Rosamond took a shower, changed, and went by the nursery to pick up Julie. Corinne said, "Mr. Gwinnett sure is attached to your child, Mrs. Montgomery! He even came back here to see how she was doing!"

Rosamond stopped in at the office. "Class went well. Travis McGee left me alone. Bobby Joe gave me a quick wave and Jameson glared at me. All in all, things as predicted! I am going home now, I'll see you there?" "I'll be home about 6:30, darling."
Travis McGee stood there, watching the entire scene. As Rosamond was leaving, he said, "You and John Gwinnett can't keep your hands off each other, Mrs. Montgomery."
Rosamond was hot, sweaty and tired by this time. Julie was fussing. "Officer McGee, I'm going to say this once and once only. Leave me alone. It's not your business. Go write a parking ticket or apply for the job of crossing guard. Because I don't see you making any progress on who killed my husband. And as far as John Gwinnett and I are concerned, not that it IS any of your business--but we are getting married in October."
Travis stood there with his mouth open. Hell, the plot clots, he thought.

John came home at 6:15. He stopped dead in his tracks. For at the table was a stranger.

John whispered to Marilyn, "Who is that?"
Marilyn grinned. "Oh, that's a little souvenir that Marthy picked up from Atlantis. I TOLD you Rose was her mentor! He's got the brains and libido of Hotspur!"
John shook his head and went upstairs. Rosamond was in her room. John said, "Did you get hold of Marty and Barbara?"
"I did and we are going to that new seafood restaurant in Manhasset. John? William is in a ticked off mood. You'd better take a shower in your own room!"
John made a face but grabbed his robe off the hook, grumbling about hypocrisy and childbirth and engagements.

By seven thirty they were dressed and out the door, heading to Manhasset. Marty and Barbara had just arrived and were seated. Rosamond and John waved to them and joined them. Marty kissed Rosamond and John kissed Barbara hello.
They ordered drinks. Marty said, "I hear congratulations are in order, Rosamond!"
Rose held out her hand and Barbara gasped. "I had no idea the two of you were engaged! I didn't even know you were seeing each other! When did this happen?"
Rosamond and John looked guiltily at each other and Marty covered over. "I guess after Rosamond's husband died they felt they had been more than acting, Babs! Which brings me to why I asked you to dinner. John, your part has been kind of minimal since Rosamond quit..."
"Leave of absence, Marty!" Rosamond said.
Marty raised his eyebrow. "QUIT is what your late husband said. But what I would like to do is bring Daisy and Brad back."
Rosamond arched her eyebrow. "What about Pastrami..Penelope...Patterson?"
Marty groaned. "She was the WORST! The network is going to buy out her contract. Our viewing audience has dropped to half. And we used to be #1 when you two were there. What do you say?"
John and Rosamond looked at each other. Work together again? Besides the gym?
John said, "I don't know, Marty. Rosamond and I will have to talk it over."
Marty pleaded. "The fact that you are now engaged in real life and the drama over Rosamond's husband's sensational demise can't hurt! People will be tuning in again to see if they can catch that flame that sparks in the two of you."
Rosamond frowned. "That's sick, Marty! But I would LOVE to stick it to Penelope Patterson. John and I will give you our answer after we talk it over...right, darling?"
Barbara Henshaw said, "How is that darling little baby of yours, Rose? Marty said she looks just like her father. It must be hard with her daddy being dead..."
Rose, John and Marty exchanged covert glances. At least Marty can keep his mouth shut!

On the way home, Rose snuggled up next to John in the car. "What do you think, John? Do you want to go back to acting?"
"I don't know, Rose. I really did enjoy it. Especially with you. I had him put me on minimal because I couldn't stand that pushy Penelope. But if you were with me, it would be great again. I suppose Daniel could run the gym...and maybe we could do it a couple days a week."
Rose laid her head on John's shoulder. "I want to bury Penelope Patterson. I want the Hottest couple award again. I want to blow her out of the water. She's the reason we almost broke up for good."
John smiled. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, huh? So let's talk about this tonight...with a cognac..."
Rose kissed him on the cheek. "I DO love your pillow talk, my darling!"

NOT EXACTLY A DIVORCE.............by Coralynn

In the morning, everyone is up bright and early. Mike has spent the night in the extra bed in Jack's room, trying to convince Jack that he is assigned to Marthy for life. Jack believes Marthy that there is no romantic involvement, but still.......

Eleanor begins ringing a loud bell, which causes them all to rush into the living room to see what the rucus is about.
"Before we begin our day, and Mike's first full day in 21st Century Westchester County, we must unglue him from the 'assignment' he says he has to Marthy. Now....come over here, both of you. Stand back to back. This is an un-hitching ceremony, so we'll do everything backwards!"
The others stand and watch as Eleanor puts a ring on each of their fingers, then in a loud voice yanks them back off, saying, "You are now UN-assigned, Mike! You are a free man. Free to find your own true love. Free to shop at the Mall, free to watch any TV show you prefer, free to hammer out your own future. It is done!!"

Mike then turns toward Marthy and grins, "Would you please give me the key to my chastity grid now?"
"Oh my goodness, yes! Let's see, where did I put it? It must be in the pocket of that robe I had on when we were in Atlantis, hold on.....I'll get it....." she races to her bedroom.
She returns with the key and hands it to him. "Now you really are a free man in every sense of the word, but try not to go wild because that contraption is off!"
As Mike goes to the room he shares with Jack, William ponders, "We'll need someone to show Mike around.....take him to a clothing store......explain the lifestyle and how it's changed....I have to go into the City and tape my cooking show, and Jack, don't you have a class to attend? John is at the fitness center, I wouldn't dare ask Henry8 to explain anything to a neophyte.....so, who can we ask?"
"BILL!" they all say at the same time.
William goes to the phone in the kitchen and returns shortly, saying, "As fate would have it, he has some free time. However, I need one of you to go along to explain to Bill the situation in which Mike was found. Marilyn?"
"Gladly!!" she smiles, "I feel responsible for the lad, after all. We could have left him in Atlantis or with the Dalai Lama, but we brought him, so I'll be more than happy to mentor his education in what a man is like in the 21st Century. What IS a man like now, what shall I tell him? Shall I instruct him to go out and buy a gun and take it into the woods and blow the head off a woodland creature? Euuuu, no! Shall I tell him that men drink beer to access and get sodden and drunk? No! Shall I introduce him to Playboy magazine so he can see how debased some women have become? No! Hey, guys, help me out here!"
"You could take him to the fitness center!" Eleanor suggests.
"Yes, that idea is fine, Bill and I will take him to the clothing store, the barber, and the gym, none of which will turn him into a wild testosterone beast. I'll have to watch him closely to make sure he doesn't bow or prostrate himself in front of the women he meets..........ahhhhh, where were guys like him back in the '50s when I could have used them?"
Everyone laughs, then they hear, "Who'd like some bacon and eggs?"
They barrel into the dining room where Celeste is placing plates around the table.
"You don't have to go to all that trouble, Celeste!" William tells her.
She smiles, "For his first day here, I would like to make it special for Master Mike. He is so young and inexperienced I feel like he's a grandson!"
Everyone lifts up a coffee cup and in one voice chime out, "Here's to family!"


BACK TO THE MALL, again!.....by Coralynn

Mike peers out the curtains at Bill as he approaches the house.
"What is that thing he was just in? I swear it moves on its own."
"That's a car, dear," Celeste answers, "And it transports people from one place to another a lot faster than if they walked. It's usually safe to get into a car. You'll see."
As Bill rings the doorbell and is admitted, Mike announces, "I'd rather walk!"
"Well, hello, you must be Michael," Bill extends his hand for a shake, which confuses Mike, who has no idea what he's supposed to do in return.
"Michael? No, my name is Mike. Actually, my name was 'Marthy's man,' but now that we've been un-assigned, I go by the name Marthy and Marilyn gave me in Atlantis: Mike."
Bill nods and smiles, "So the fabled continent of Atlantis actually existed?"
"Well, yes!" Mike replies, "We were just there yesterday or the day before, and it still exists."
"I have bad news for you, Mike. It sunk. No one is sure just why but it is now lying fathoms deep under the Atlantic Ocean."
"You lie!" Mike accuses him, "We were just there!"
"But that was several thousand years ago, my friend. You didn't realize that not only were you whisked to Westchester County, but also taken into the future several thousand years?"
"NO! And how long is a thousand years?"
"About forty lifetimes! A long, long time! Longer than you can even imagine!"
Mike squints his eyes and tries to understand, but it's too mind boggling, so he says, "Marilyn is coming with us, you know. She is my mentor, whatever that means."
"It's like she's your teacher," Bill explains, "She knows you need to learn a great deal before you're comfortable here."
Marilyn bounces into the room. "Ready to go, guys?"
They go outside and when Bill opens the back door for Mike to enter the car, Mike leans in, touches the seat, then very slowly gets in. After Marilyn and Bill get in the front, and Bill starts the car, Mike opens the door nearest him and steps out in panic.
Marilyn rushes around and urges him back into the car. When she then sits down in the front passenger seat, she whispers to Bill, "better lock all the doors so that doesn't happen at 60 miles per hour!"
During the drive to the Mall, Mike sits ramrod straight, looking out the windows as the scenery flashes by. It's too frightening, so he puts his hands over his eyes.
Marilyn explains to Bill, "This newcomer has the most to adjust to because of the enormous difference between the two timeframes. We're going to have to be very gentle with him. In Atlantis the men were so oppressed that in order to speak they had to smile at a woman who then would decide whether or not to give him permission to speak.....or not. They were totally powerless. Mike is going to have to imitate the men he meets here; that's one reason I'm keeping him away from some of our more aggressive types like Daniel or Henry8. We don't want to turn the lad into something macho. If he just learns that he has regular human rights, that's enough. It could take years before he acclimates."

Bill whistles, "You sure do take on some tough assignments, Marilyn! Why did you bring him here? Might he have been better off staying in Atlantis?"
"Reforms were about to be made just as we left, but because we liked Mike, we just brought him along with us when we time traveled back. We took about forty men to live with the Dalai Lama!"
Bill laughs, "OH! Now I understand what I saw on the news this morning. The Dalai Lama was being interviewed and he said that someone had just left forty men on his doorstep, so to speak, and he wasn't sure where they were from or how they got there, but he's helping them as a humanitarian effort."
"Good! That's what we hoped for!" Marilyn says as they park near the south side of the Mall entrance. She looks back at Mike, who still has his hands over his eyes. "You can look now, Mike. We're there."
He keeps his hands over his eyes but separates the fingers and slowly he takes his hands down. "Is this ...."
"Yes, it's where we buy clothes. We'll buy some for you. It was good of Jack to lend you some, but you really need your own. Come along now, just take my hand and everything will be fine."
They exit the car, and Jack takes Marilyn's hand as the walk into the Mall.
"Would you like a haircut first?" Bill asks the younger man, "You're hair is pretty long, and out of style. About the only men with that hairstyle are guys who play in rock,,,,"
"There he is!!" several young female voices yell, "There he is!" They run up to Mike, shoving autograph books at him.
Mike blanches and steps back, totally confused and frightened. Marilyn and Bill are surprised, too, and wonder just who these girls thinks Mike is.
"Who do you think he is?" she asks the nearest teenager who is literally jumping up and down.
"He's Criminal-X from the Criminals!" she screams, which only attracts more teenaged girls to join in the fray.
Marilyn and Bill shrug their shoulders as neither of them have heard of that rock band.

Bill whistles the way people do with several fingers in their mouths (a skill you either can or cannot do; it may be genetic.). This stops the screaming, but not the jumping up and down. Then they see who Bill is and thrust autograph books at him as well. He signs a few, but all the while is telling them, "This young man is named Mike. He may resemble this Criminal-X guy, but he is not him! Believe me, he is not a rock star!"

The girls are visibly diappointed. Then one of them shrieks, "But you're Marilyn Monroe! I have a poster of you on my bedroom wall! You never died, did you? How about James Dean? Do you know where he is, too?"
"My dear girl, if I were Marilyn Monroe I would be in my mid-70s today, so obviously you are again seeing a resemblance and jumping to conclusions. My name is Sally, never was Marilyn. Sorry about that, but....."
The group of girls disburses slowly, but they stop yelling and screaming.
Mike looks from Bill to Marilyn, back and forth, and asks, "Is this what I have to look forward to in this Century? Do girls come up in groups and attack like that every day? I don't like it. The women in Atlantis treated men like slaves, but these women are crazy! After we get me some clothes, can I just stay indoors for the next twenty years? Perhaps these girls could see I was without my chastity grid? Is that why they acted like that? Did they wish to breed?"
Marilyn and Bill laugh, then, when they're back under control, Mariyn informs Mike, "No, dear. Men don't wear chastity grids here. But.......I have an idea," she turns to Bill, "Could you help him buy a jock strap? That may make him feel more comfortable until 'living free' in that area doesn't feel weird to him."
"Come with me, young man, we are going to do some serious shopping!" Bill claps him on the back. Mike looks Bill in the eyes and sees no malice, which produces the first smile he's had on his face since his arrival. "Yes," he says, "I would like that, Bill."

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