I thought I could give the summer challenge a try. Here we go.


Option #4


“That’s not how Mommy does it.”

His pint-sized assistant chef watched every move with her eagle eye and had done nothing but complain from the moment he’d tied her little red apron around her waist.

“Okay – what does Mommy do differently?” He wasn’t a fool, if he wanted to get out of this kitchen any time soon he’d have to fold. A strong man always knew when he was bested.

“She shifts it first.”

“Shifts it?” Baffled, he looked at his daughter quizzically.

She giggled. “Silly Daddy. Everybody knows you gotta shift the flour into another bowl before you put it in the cake batter.”

Making a comical face that left her rolling on the floor, he stepped over her writhing form and fetched another bowl. “Shift it, huh?” It made no sense, but then the kitchen wasn’t usually his domain. He dumped the mixture from the earthenware bowl into the big red plastic bowl. “There, happy now?” he asked, whereupon the pint-sized version of his wife climbed back onto her stool, dropping her head into her hands she shook it woefully and asked in a tone perilously close to a whine, “Is Mommy ever going to come back home?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beep, Beep, Beep.
Jack suddenly woke up. That was the fifth time this week he had that dream and his alarm clock always woke him up at the same part. Today was no difference. "What's with me? Why do I keep having this dream?" he vented. In his frustration he picked up the alarm clock and threw it across the room where it hit the wall and broke into tiny little pieces. Walking out of his room he headed for the shower.

A dream? That's an interesting angle.

Very interesting angle -- and it could go in so many different directions. Welcome to the challenge!

kav

Great idea making the scene a dream. Can't wait to see where you take this.

Yes, a very interesting angle. I, too, can't wait to see where you take this!

Lynn

interesting start

cath

That's definately a different beginning than I expected. It just shows that this topic can go numerous ways. Can't wait to read more.

fantastic idea and maybe the dreams trying to tell him something
more soon please Jade
Lin

Come back, great begining, you have me intrigued....

Next post

Walking into the bullpen his mood hadn't improved from this morning if anything it was worse. After the alarm clock incident, his coffee maker wouldn't start so he decided to pick one up on his way to work. After getting his coffee he was stuck in stop and go traffic making him even later and to top it all off some impatient guy behind him ran his car into Jack's bumper totalling the back end of the car and making Jack spill his coffee all over his shirt. Yes this morning was not turning out to be a good morning at all.

"Stay away from Sparky." Bobby warned. Jack sent him a dirty look and continued towards his desk.

"What's wrong with you Jack and what happened to your shirt?" Tara questioned.

"Don't ask." Was his reply as he looked through his e-mail. When Jack was starting to get into his paper work he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"ARE YOU OKAY?" Sue signed.

"I'M FINE, JUST HAVEN'T HAD A GOOD MORNING."

"WELL WHY DON'T I TAKE YOU FOR COFFEE?"

"THAT SOUND LIKE THE BEST THING I'VE HEARD SO FAR." They grabbed their coats and left the Bull pen.

AHHHHHHHHH the only woman that can calm jack is sue the love of his life I hope more soon please jade
Lin

glad he's gonna talk to sue and she ignored bobby's comment about staying away from him

cath

What a wondeful start! You have more bravery than me I have to admit...starting a challenge story...awesome job!!!! Can't wait for more!

Great idea you have here!! I'm totally hooked!! I'm glad that you decided to join the challenge!!!

Joy

Only woman brave enough to brave the lion's den! I think his day is suddenly looking up.

kav

I'm glad Jack didn't take it out on Sue.

And I agree, Kav... Sue was sure brave.

Aw, but Kav and Marlene, remember Sue loves Jack with all her soul and so it wasn't brave of her at all to approach Jack. She knew, in her heart, he wouldn't bark at her...and if he did, she would have just the right compassion and unconditional love for him that we see her have with everyone and that would make him immediately regret any snappiness on his part!

Great post, Jade.

Lynn

Very intrigued by the dream angle... looking forward to where this leads!
Frwdgranny's right about him not grouching at Sue - he only does that when she starts doing something risky!

Thanks for all the replies!

Here's the next post.


"So do you want to tell me why you had such a bad morning? I'm a good listener."

"I don't know?"

"Come on."

"Well, I've been having this dream for days now and then my coffee maker wouldn't start so I went to pick one up on my way to work and then this idiot drives right into the back of my car, getting my car totalled and making my coffee spill all over me."

"I see; that could damper even the best mornings. So what's this dream about?"

"I don't really know? There's always this little girl, who I think is my daughter, and she is yelling at me because I'm not making the cake the way her mom does and something either happen to her mother because I never see her in my dream and the girl keeps asking when her mom's going to come home, and I don't know what the answer is."

"Wow, that's a pretty confusing dream."

"I know; Sue thanks for this, I feel better now just having talked about it."

"It's no problem, if you ever need anything, just ask and I'll be there for you." Sue replied as she threw out her coffee cup and left the park with Jack by her side.

Ok, now Jack has confided his dream to Sue. Except he should have told her the little girl looks like Sue, or at the least, is blonde! That might have given Sue a glimmer of hope that Jack's feelings for her go deeper than friendship.

Uh oh! There I go, doing what I told my granddaughter not to do to me...don't mess with a writer's story!

Forgive me Jack Fan...you write the story any way you want. I'll still be here to read!

Lynn

i think he'll feel better for having talked about it

cath

Im sure he feels better but maybe he should have told sue
that in his dream his baby girl had blonde hair and looks like sue would
give her and jack some hope of the future more soon please pretty please
Lin

Next post


By the end of the day Jack's mood had increased tremendously.

"Hey Sue if you don't have any plans, would you like to go to dinner with me?" he whispered.

"Umm… sure Jack." A little taken back by his invitation, not that they hadn't been out to dinner before, it's just the way he said it made it sound like a date.

"Great I'll pick you up at 7?"

"Okay, where are we going?"

"That's my surprise, just dress up." Yup this defiantly sounds like a date.

"Okay." She replied as Jack walked back to his desk.

woohoo, sounds like a date to me too

cath

A date fantastic I have to agee with Cath it sure sounds like A date to me as well
Lin

Yeppers...that definitely sounds like a date to me...
Way to go Jack!!!!!!

I'm glad Jack talked to Sue about his dream!! And, Jack's picking her up at 7:00 p.m. and she has to dress up - I'm calling it a date!!!

Joy

Not just a date, but a dress up date!
kav

thanks for all the replies!

Here's the next post


It was 6:30. Jack would be there in thirty minutes and counting and Sue still hadn't picked out an outfit that she thought was suitable. What did Jack mean when he said dress up? Did he want nice restaurant dressy or gala dressy. This is so frustrating! It was a night like this she had wished Lucy wasn't out at her grandmothers. After trying on ten different things she found something that she found appropriate. She now had fifteen minutes to do her hair and make up before Jack came. As Levi alerted her that someone was at the door she had just finished putting on her last earring.

"Hi." She replied seeing Jack there.

"Hi, you look… Wow." That was all Jack could say as he saw her in a navy blue halter dress.

"Thanks so do you." She replied as Jack was wearing a navy blue suit with a white shirt and blue, purple stripped tie.

"Shall we."

"Yes let me get my wrap and we can go. Are we bringing Levi?"

"We can it's up to you; you don't need to but if it would make you more comfortable then by all means."

"No I think he deserves a nice break at home. Okay I'll see you later buddy." Sue told Levi as she left her apartment with Jack.

Looking good so far...have fun lovebirds!!!

More please

i bet they have a great time

cath

they even dress alike those lovebirds im hoping they have A
fantastic time on this date and they now tell each other there true feelings and
the dream can become reality more soon please Jade pretty please
Lin

Next post

"Jack… this restaurant is amazing."

"I was hoping you would like it."

"I love it."

"Hello sir, madam can I help you?"

"Yes we have a reservation for two under the name Hudson."

"Here we go, right this way sir." They followed the hostess to their table. The waiter then came up and took their order for drinks.

"Jack you really out did yourself."

"I want to thank you."

"For what?"

"For helping me today, if it weren't for you I would probably still upset and miserable."

"Jack you didn't have to do all this."

"I know but I wanted too, you've always been there for me and anyone else who need help, I thought I could treat you to dinner."

"Well thank you."

As dinner progressed Jack had become distracted.

"Jack are you okay?"

"Huh…oh yeah sorry I was lost in a thought."

"Oh it must have been some thought."

"Yeah it was. Hey Sue there was another reason I asked you here tonight."

"Really and what was that?"

"I wanted you to know how special you are, not just to me but to but to the whole team. I also wanted you to know that you mean a lot to me personally. I mean we have an amazing friendship but in the 4 years I've known you that friendship has deepened and grown into love. What I'm trying to say in a roundabout way is that I love you. I have for a long time and I just thought I should let you know."

"Oh my God Jack… I love you too."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I have since the night you had your heart attack, I was going to tell you in the hospital but Allie showed up and I didn't think it was the right time."

"Wow that was a while ago but I wish you would have told me. There wasn't anything between Allie and I then and there isn't going to be anything between us now. I love you and that will never change." Jack then leaned in a kissed her with passion and longing.

that was so cute, and they finally kissed

cath

Jack's declaration of love was perfect! I'm glad Sue thought so too.

kav

that was wonderful at last they have told each other
there feelings fantastic and they
Lin

Catching up on three posts, Jade! I agree with the others, if it talks like a date and dresses like a date, it must be a date! WooHoo! as Bobby would say.

A navy blue halter dress and navy blue suit? I'm in dream-dream land!

Can't wait to find out where they are going. I hope dancing!

Oh, this is better than dancing...he told her he loves her and she told him the same; I'm beside myself jumping for joy!

Lynn

I love doesn't-know-if-he-should-say-anything-but-is-going-to-anyway Jack!!!

Joy

Jack's declaration was awesome!!!!

Okay this is another short one so the is the last post of the story! I hope you enjoyed it.


4 years later


“That’s not how Mommy does it.”

His pint-sized assistant chef watched every move with her eagle eye and had done nothing but complain from the moment he’d tied her little red apron around her waist.

“Okay – what does Mommy do differently?” He wasn’t a fool, if he wanted to get out of this kitchen any time soon he’d have to fold. A strong man always knew when he was bested.

“She shifts it first.”

“Shifts it?” Baffled, he looked at his daughter quizzically.

She giggled. “Silly Daddy. Everybody knows you gotta shift the flour into another bowl before you put it in the cake batter.”

Making a comical face that left her rolling on the floor, he stepped over her writhing form and fetched another bowl. “Shift it, huh?” It made no sense, but then the kitchen wasn’t usually his domain. He dumped the mixture from the earthenware bowl into the big red plastic bowl. “There, happy now?” he asked, whereupon the pint-sized version of his wife climbed back onto her stool, dropping her head into her hands she shook it woefully and asked in a tone perilously close to a whine, “Is Mommy ever going to come back home?”


Wow dejavu. Jack thought as he turned his attention back to his daughter.


"Don't worry mommy is just with aunt Lucy for the weekend, and listen she is calling now." Jack picked up the phone.

"Hey Sue, when are you coming back?"


The End

that was wonderful from start to finish
Lin

And, so the circle is completed!!!

I love how you told this story, Jack fan!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Joy

So the dream came true

That was wonderful!

Kim

What a great ending. Beautiful short story, Jade. A novel twist to the usual Jack and Sue story!

Lynn

a sweet ending

cath

I just read your story in one shot.....great job! I especially loved the way you worked the beginning into the ending!

Wow!!

What a sweet story and dream!

Congratulations! So cute those two!

Bravo!


Tere

This was a great short story. I would have replied more often, but I am so far behind and I'm trying to catch up to the best of my ability. This was a great read, though. I love how it started out as a dream and then four years later it came true. I'm glad Jack got to live this dream; I'm sure it was one he was looking forward to.

Love the way you brought him round full circle. Great short story!

kav