Valerie Strate

Essy, That was beatiful poem. Thing that makes it so awsome was the fact that you can tell it's heart felt. It expresses your emotions and many other folks emotions. Great peice. You are right though the people here are uniqueine to any other place I've seen on the web. It's very comforting to be here and you sumed up all those wonderful feelings in one peice. I care about you to Essy. Thanks. Take care all and have a great day, Val Strate

"Flapjacks on a Ferris wheel! MaryAnne's ok!" Cletus exclaimed as he chewed on his popcorn. "Cletus! That ain't funny! Quit jokin' around, MaryAnne's..." Enos chastised Cletus. When Valerie looked up and finished his sentence, "Alive" Enos stopped when he seen his sister respond like a flower reaching for sunlight. "She's alive 'E'! She's alive!" Valerie smiled in surprise at her brother. She quickly hugged Enos then Cletus. Then the trio had a big group hug on the roof. They all dried their tears and were counting their blessings that MaryAnne Coltrane was among the living. As Valerie dried her tears she looked at Enos and slightly chuckled, "Crickets and Crocs...!"

Enos sat with his sister intensely watching the fight. His eyes widened when MaryAnne and Brian drew their guns. When he seen Brian point the gun at MaryAnne and she slammed Brian against the wall of the bar with his eyes intensely fixed on the pair he breathed, "Possumonagumbush." Valerie was frozen in her position. She held her breath. Enos glanced at his sister, "Valerie... Val..." He shook her lightly but she didn't move or speak just sat still like a statue in her brother's arms. Then a shot rang out suddenly and the twins jolted. Valerie's body tensed and she screamed and Enos grabbed her closely rocking her like a baby doll. His eyes too misted from the scene and he just held her tightly and she wept into his shoulder hysterically.

After begging Daney not to go Daisy turned around in time to see the popcorn and soda bath. She giggled slightly and slipped back to her seat next to her cousins. Bo and Luke were now laughing at the sight of popcorn every where. Cletus was trying his best to help Hillery out but she didn't seem interested in his help. Bo then truned to Luke as they watched the fight, "Boy, MaryAnne sure does pack a punch." "Uh hun.... I sure don't wish to be in Brian's shoes." Luke replied. The Duke boys continued to watch the fight with the rest of the town folk.

Enos and Cletus arrived late to the fight. They brought the popcorn and sodas for everyone watching this grizzly event. He climbed the ladder with sodas in hand to the roof where his sister was sitting hunched over with her elbows on her knees, hands clenched together as if she was prayinging, and her full attention was on what was going on below. Cletus was right behind him comming up with the bags of popcorn and his soda. Enos walked over to his little twin and sat down next to her. She didn't notice him till he took his arm and around her shoulders and his hand squeezed her shoulder gently. "Things will be ok..." his voice drifted and he glanced at the sence below and his stomach turned, "I brought ya something to drink. Chocolate milk, your favorite." Val then turned to him and began to cry on his shoulder. "SSssshhh, Val ya gotta be strong here, sugar." Enos said softly. "I can't... I don't even wanna be here. I don't even wanna see this happen." she whimpered. "I know... but they need ya. God has a reason for this Val and we dare not question it." he replied his blue-green eyes looked into her soft tear brimmed blue-grays. She knew he was right and nodded slightly as she sat up straight. "Ya gonna be ok?" Enos asked her. "Yeah... I'll be ok, I guess." Val replied softly as she took the milk carton from him and sipped on the straw. He bit his lip and smiled softly at his sister and grasped her hand. The twins then watched the fight. As they looked at the scene below, Val couldn't help but feel for the Coltrane Cousins. Her mind also drifted to another person, a friend who would be pained even more about this that she was. She looked around to see how they were handleing this and if they needed someone. However she couldn't find her friend anywhere on the roof. Cletus was handing out popcorn after everyone got their drinks. He was just ready to sit down when he tripped. His huge tripple buttered jumbo bag of popcorn flew all over Hillery Davenport. "Oh! Golly I didn't mean to do that Hil. I'm sorry. Here let me help you." Cletus replied as he leaned down and as he did the top to his drink came off and spilled all over Hillery's shirt, "OH! Gosh! I'm so sorry."

(Note: I'm posting now cause I won't be able to until after 10pm est tonight. Thing called workie...) Val got up that morning and was going to head into the woods for work as usual. She got to the preserve and seen how quite and peaceful it was. It was an ironic twist to the fact that all chaos was going to go on behind the Boar's Nest and soon after that would be in her heart as well. She felt her throat tighten as she felt her eyes began to tear up. She had to visit a friend before this tragedy took place, the heck with work for now. She ran back to Cricket and hopped in. The maroon Chevelle headed to the Duke farmstead. (Cue Daney)

With arms crossed, her Game Warden hat tilled down, and shaking her head in disappointment, "Sad state of affairs... Sad sad state of affairs. I hope they know what their doing cause alot of folks are gonna be hurt after this is over. No matter who wins. By the way, I ain't watching. Just tell me the verdict." *leaves in maroon Chevelle* Then thinks about who will be hurting inside besides herself, "Lord please don't let them do this."

Crickets and Crocs! HOLD IT!!! Deputy! Brian! Have you lost your mind! Brian you can't shoot MaryAnne! What the heck are you two thinking! You can't do this... you can't possibly be serious! *Game Warden steps up to Brian and MaryAnne* Come on! We can settle this over a game of checkers, or an arm wrestling match, a game of tic tac toe! Please don't do this.... alot of innconece will suffer if you two destory each other.

Crickets and Crocs! HOLD IT!!! Deputy! Brian! Have you lost your mind! Brian you can't shoot MaryAnne! What the heck are you two thinking! You can't do this... you can't possibly be serious! *Game Warden steps up to Brian and MaryAnne* Come on! We can settle this over a game of checkers, or an arm wrestling match, a game of tic tac toe! Please don't do this.... alot of innconece will suffer if you two destory each other.

I can make Monday's and Wednesdays as well. My college schedule is Monday and Wednesday so work usually gives me those nights off. So anything on a Monday or Wednesday is great most of the time. The 8th sounds fine for me MaryAnne.

Possum on a gumbush! I got D's! Gee golly, I must be a Strate! Love the question about lying... that was great Brian. Thanks for the tid bit of fun. I think that would be a good game for the page.

We'll see Vick . I'm sure we'll all be around sometime or another. Val

Nice bio Kristy.