Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

We are Jemima and Easter Yeggs.  Lieutenant Yeggs wants his son to write these reports to keep in touch when we are out having our adventures, and Rev C.S.L., my Dad, doesn’t mind an update either.

I cannot believe this, but I first reported on these girl talks on January 25, 2023, in Blinded by the White.

It has been nearly three and a half years since we started these things.  And of those who have come to know the Lord are Dr. Ellie, my best friend Mary, Wilma, Mitzi, and Fred (although not a girl and thus not part of the talks – but a Turtle team member).  Okay, Mitzi was a rededication.  There are others that have come to know the Lord through the Sunday School class, but I am restricting this to the Turtle team.  Arabella was already saved.  Kevin and Joseline came to the Lord through Aunt Pink.

Who else?

Oh, yes.  With last summer’s large scale data collection on the Florida coast, I had invited Mags and Mercy Kildare, along with Madison Dykstra.

This was not a racy lingerie girl talk.  We all wore pajamas.

Of course, Stormie was in her pajamas and she was running around.  Amazon entered with Misty, and Dr. Ellie brought Joan.

And we finally had a boy at our girl talk.  B.B. arrived with baby Ethan in a stroller, all of ten days old.  Whatever anyone says, the girl talk gender barrier has been breached. 

B.B. asked, “Can I have Ethan here?  I could have used the breast pump and left my husband to take care of him, or I could have dropped him off with Jochebed, but it’s only been ten days.  Even if we were in slinky lingerie that I am not ready for, his field of vision is a foot or less.”

I snickered, “We may have more boy babies.  I think we should establish a rule, either behavior based or age based.  You know, like when they start putting sentences together or simply a year old.  And the three little girls are all over a year, but then, they are girls at a girl talk.”

The others nodded, but no one made a suggestion.

I led us in prayer.  And then, I suggested that we extend the girl talks to include the Forlorn Four from Pawnee Heights.

Dr. Ellie, known as Ellie within the girl talks, said, “I think if you want to head up a support group for them, and I think they need it, you need to create another girl talk.  If they take a meteorological class, just to be part of the Turtle mania, then we can invite them to join.  But I have two that already qualify.  One is a freshly minted sophomore and the other is a recent high school graduate.  They are both taking the same meteorological class Easy and Stinker took to be in the Turtle for its maiden voyage.  I would like for everyone to welcome, Carla Munsford and Brooke Baxter.”

Carla and Brooke emerged from the bathroom.  Stormie ran and nearly tackled her unofficial Aunt Brooke.

I asked, “How did they get in our bathroom?”

Ellie shrugged, “When you host a party, never turn your back on your guests to change a diaper.”

I muttered, “So, you enlisted my own daughter to be part of this scheme.”

Ellie smiled, “No, but it was impeccable timing.”

Joseline said, “Car, don’t feel like a token ethnic minority.  These ladies just see breasts and then they divide by two.  I have been trying to get special recognition as an Amazon, but they are not buying it.”

Carla replied, “They can’t deny my dark mocha.  But at this point, I have not had the first class.  I’m keeping a low profile until I pass the first test.  I see that you and I enrolled in a couple of classes that are the same.  I hope we can collaborate to graduate.”

Ellie said, “No cheating!”

Carla laughed, “No, Dr. Ellie, I have a couple of golf tournaments this Fall, and I might miss a couple of Wednesday and Friday classes.  They make accommodations for the athletes, but we are required to make up the work.  So, if I can borrow Joseline’s notes, with that and the homework, I will be able to stay up with the lectures.  Some people might hire someone as a tutor, but I do not like taking advantage of the college-athlete tag.  I want to earn it.”

Ellie smiled, “Than again, Carla, you were wired that way.”

Wilma said, “Hmmm, Brooke Baxter.  Does that mean you and Goober haven’t tied the knot yet?”

Brooke smiled, “We decided to wait until next Spring.  He has football practice that starts near the beginning of August.  He is taking this class with me, but he may not be in the storm chase.  We want to see how my first year and the softball schedule jives with his spring practice schedule for football.  Since we have become Christians, we have gotten a better attitude about the physical aspects of the relationship.  We aren’t in a big rush.  Car And Brent are different.  They already have a house, of sorts.  People see the lights on and think they are the servants.  They live in the old servant quarters.”

Wilma asked Carla (Car), “And Carla, when are you and Brenton starting a family?”

Carla blushed.  With a dark Mocha skin tone, you had to look carefully, but her eye contact disappeared, and her face showed discomfort.

I said, “I am sensing that something has happened that was not planned.”

Carla nodded, “It would be the Stinker who picked up on that.  I had an IUD.  It was supposed to be more than 99% effective, but we went off to a softball game in Oklahoma before the regular conference schedule started.  There was a golf tournament there right afterward that featured a mixed team entry.  So, Brenton and I went as the T.R.U.S.T. entrant.  We won the tournament.  But when I got home, something did not feel right.  I took the test and found out I was expecting.  The state and the conference do not allow you to play after the first trimester, but that coincided with the end of the season.  If we had won one more game and qualified, I would not be able to play.  It was that close.  What is the rule with the Turtle team?”

Ellie smiled, “You are safe.  We do not allow storm chasing in the third trimester, and you can opt out without a penalty halfway through the second trimester.  That is your option.  And while we are on the subject of timing, everyone, even Goober will have a chance at a storm chase within the next month, but the hurricane data collection is not your ordinary storm chase, unless we chase the tornadoes that the hurricane spawns.  And those are hard to chase.  If we go out, it will be to help the victims of the tornadoes.  There may not be a landfall hurricane this year.  So, it all depends on when.  Maybe a tropical storm in July.  Now, let’s all welcome Carla to the Mommie Club.”

Carla huffed, “I’m barely into the second trimester.”

I said, “The Mommie Club is for expectant mothers too.  Now, group hug!”

There were congratulations around the room, even though the pregnancy was not expected.

Carla said, “The nice thing is that I will have the baby before the season starts next year.”

I said, “Now, we have two expectant mothers in Sunday school, you and Irusya.  At least I do not know of any others.”

Brooke asked, “What about you?”

I shrugged, “Easy and I are not trying yet.  If we could get pregnant at the right time.  I would like to start right now.  That lets me stay open for the summer storm chases, and then I can teach classes in the classroom, while continuing to make instructional videos.  I really love doing those.  Right now we are doing very small children, and it is mostly play time.  But I suppose that I could go on a hurricane data collection.  That does not mean bouncing around too much.  We’ll see.”

Ellie smiled, “Don’t look at me.  Ben and I have talked about it, but neither of us is taking another child seriously.  What about you, Amazon?”

Joseline smiled, “Right now, I am focusing on premed.  But then, I want a basketball team of little boys.”

Arabella shouted, “Boys?!  I thought you swore some Amazonian oath.”

Joseline shrugged, “There is no oath, Fireball.  You either have the bloodline or you don’t.  If a man was called into the Amazonian community and he produces a girl, he is allowed to leave.  If he produces a boy, he is forced out along with the child.  It is a strange way of doing it, but it is kind of like our divorce court.  They used that criterion for the child’s custody.  But I have the girl to make my mother happy.  Now, Kevin and I can focus on our family.  More girls would be okay, but for Kevin and me, it does not matter.  We want healthy and happy and God fearing.  But I may have been a co-valedictorian, just like Margie and Blaise, but these premed classes are kicking me hard.  I am definitely in on the chase this summer though.”

I said, “So far, the only restriction is the lack of Goober if we do not go out before August first.  Who from the younger set?”

Madison said, “I’m not pregnant.  Mike and I are hardly dating, just arm candy at weddings and parties.”

Mercy snickered. “And I like Maddie’s brother, but we aren’t serious.  But I am not that young.  I’m right there with Brooke, but since my step Dad is the head of the department, I am asked to be on storm chases.”

Everyone looked at the one person who usually talks first, and loudest, and making a joke out of it if she could.

Arabella asked, “Why look at me?  I’m just a high school sophomore.”

B.B. snickered, “Come on, Belle.  You joke around.  You are always talking.  What’s going on?”

Mitzi said, “I’ll give her some time to think of a good story.  I have slipped up and claimed Baldy as my boyfriend.  It is weird how half of his job is wedding venue setup, but the brides are pleased with his work and they even tip him.  We have eaten out at fancy places lately, but that’s just because the storm chasing is in a lull.”

I corrected her, “No, I have been doing a lot lately.  Stormie gets along fine staying with Gigi at night, and then playing in Aunt Pink’s office.  Isn’t that right, Stormie?”

Stormie looked up from her playing, “Mommy!”

Ellie said, “I think there are two reasons that we have not had a girl talk in a while.  Everything is going smoothly, and when we are home, the new mothers cherish the time with the girls.”

B.B. corrected, “And now a boy.”

Amazon nodded, “Yes, and he has three girlfriends who will torture him.”

B.B. huffed, “He might not like all three of them.  Give him a break.  He’s ten days old.”

Wilma snickered, “Ten days old and he’s already the heartthrob in the room.”

B.B. looked down at her son, “Hear that, Ethan.  You are the most handsome man in this entire room.”

Arabella mumbled, “The only man in the room.”

I asked, “B.B., when do you think you will be back in the saddle?  Not pushing.  You need to enjoy this time off.”

B.B. said, “Stinker, if we go to take data on a hurricane, I might go along.  You, Amazon, and Home Wrecker all took your girls last year.  But, I want to get back into shape before I do a lot of storm chasing and bouncing around in the Turtle.  I will be ready in August, September.”

Ellie said, “So, Wilma, you will be busy for the next month.  If a hurricane starts to head toward a coast, we will re-evaluate.  But Stinker and Easy can do most of what B.B. does.  If Easy is in that role, we’ll need Skinny or Fred doing the driving.  We can test out communication and chemistry with various team combinations.  That information will be good when we are back into primary teaching mode in the Fall.”

Wilma nodded, “I’m ready.  And as for Fred and me, we are taking it slowly.  I don’t have meltdowns like my roommate.”

Mitzi said, “I’m ready.  My meltdowns have subsided.  I can handle the pressure of the moment.  Baldy has taught me a lot about patience.  Funny, I am supposed to be teaching him.”

I snickered, “Okay, Belle, if you are not ready to tell us the truth, we’ve given you enough time to think of a lie.”

Arabella nodded, and then she took a deep breath.  This was totally unlike Arabella Dalton.  She never needed to be encouraged to talk, and she never measured her words.  Whatever was in her head simply came out.

Arabella said, “About six weeks ago, we had our first calving.  Dr. Threatt was there and I was there.  We had a couple of video cameras going.  But then, the mama cow shifted violently, and she knocked me off my feet.  Right on top of me came the calf.  The amniotic sac came out.  About five gallons of amniotic fluid all over me.  Then the calf, feet first, then the head.  Wham! Right on top of me.  The vet said I was too close.  I should have listened.  It was all over except for the placenta.  The placenta came out five hours later.  That ranges from 2-12 hours.  But while we were waiting, it was cold that night and I was soaking wet.  The vet was going to drop us off on his way home, but he wanted to wait for the placenta.  Cows don’t need any help most of the time, but he was there in case of complications.”

Everyone smiled and nodded.

Arabella, a.k.a. Fireball, added, “Michael had been working with his goats, and he was sitting at a safe distance.  While the vet got the calf off me, Michael came to my rescue.  He found a blanket and wrapped me in the blanket, but I was wet.  I was shivering.  He got some shop rags that Clyde and Barry had handy.  I told him to get under the blanket with me.  I kept shivering.  So, he put a few rags between us. We wrapped in the blanket and flopped onto the hay.  He took some extra rags and started to rub my clothing to cut down on the wetness.  I was wearing heavy cotton clothing, but everything was wet.  I would not have won a wet T-shirt contest, but Michael started rubbing down my entire body.  He even rubbed down the places where the swimsuit should go.  I didn’t care.  Just him rubbing the clothing made me feel a little warmer.

“But then, I started enjoying what he was doing.  He never reached under my clothing.  We both had all our clothing on, but there were two bodies under a single blanket, and lying on the hay kept us out of the wind. I was warming up and liking what he was doing.  I moaned a little bit.  I suggested that he rub a little differently.  And then, he started realizing what he was doing and why I liked it.

“About that time, the vet came over and asked us what we were doing.  I said, Michael had come to my rescue and was keeping me warm.  The vet started laughing and said, ‘I bet!’  He said our secret was safe with him and he can attest to us not taking any clothing off.  I mean, we are both turning fifteen this summer.  I do not want to do what the vet thought we were about to do.  The vet told us what he was waiting on, and he suggested that we both go to the back of his van.  That way we could warm up and get dry.

“Of course, in the van, we weren’t being chaperoned, but Michael and I felt so guilty about what we had already done that we could hardly look each other in the eyes.  We got warm and dry and then came back out to watch for the placenta.”

I asked, “Did you tell anyone?”

Fireball nodded, “I told my mother.  She said that I needed to slow down with Michael, but until that moment in the barn, we were really good friends who had the goats in common.  But suddenly, we were really a romantic couple.  The sudden change scared both of us.  Sure, we kissed before that, but it was almost like it was a fantasy.  Now, we look at each other, and we dare not kiss.  It might bring back the temptations.”

I asked Ellie, “And has Michael said anything?”

Ellie nodded, “Not all this detail, but he said he wrapped Fireball in a blanket and tried to dry her off.  He said that they did not take any clothes off, but he got under the blanket with her to share body heat.  I made sure that they kept their clothing on and did not reach underneath.  Then, he got defensive.  He said that Belle was not the cute little girl with pig tails anymore.  She was a beautiful young woman and he would not defile her.  His words.  I saw the hurt in his eyes, and I said that I accepted his story.  Then, he said, ‘Mom, remember when B.B. pulled me out of that raging river?  I was shivering just like Belle.  You wrapped me in a blanket.  You rocked me back and forth, hugging me, singing to me.  I felt I had to do that with Belle.  That’s all.”

Ellie paused, “But he had said that Belle was not a little girl, she was a woman.  I realized that your relationship was more serious.”

Fireball nodded, “Yes, ma’am.”

I sighed, “And that is part of what this girl talk has become.  Everyone here is a professing Christian.  That doesn’t mean any of our walks of faith are perfect.  We might need to make sure that Jesus is in our hearts, and we might need to know we have totally surrendered.  But for the most part, we can share without judgment.  We can hug each other.  We can love each other.  And we can all grow closer to Jesus.  And who knows, maybe the next person we invite is not a believer and it’s one of you who brings them to Jesus.”

We were reading Scriptures and praying when there was a knock at the door.  We went through the usual pantomime about not opening the door to strangers, but then Stormie yelled, “It’s Daddy!”

The pantomime was over.

Easy, Fred, and Michael Rowe Casey came in loaded down with flavored popcorn.  Counting baby Ethan who was not going to eat popcorn, we now had male humans in the room.  It was our traditional way of ending the girl talks.  After all, what is a girl talk once the guys show up?  We started eating a dozen different flavors of popcorn, some were experimental new flavors where the shoppe wanted our comments.  We were becoming regular customers.

Credits

I wrote a hurricane watch and data collection story in 2025, but there were no hurricane landfalls in the USA last year.  That’s what you get when you write fiction in anticipation of a normal year.  There was one tropical storm, Chantal, in July that made landfall.  Due to the predicted strong El Nino this summer, the prediction for hurricane development is for a below average year this year.  But as the weatherman says, “If you are in the one storm, it was a bad year for you.”