A Glibertarians Exclusive: North Country, Part V
Fort McKay, Alberta, June 1946
“And so that’s how it happened,” Ted concluded. “That’s how Albert got it. It’s not really fair. I know it’s not. I got this little scratch on my shoulder (the field hospital, groans and screams from the wounded, the acrid stench of antiseptics, doctors and medics red-eyed from exhaustion), and Albert, well, Albert is in a grave in France. When we got hit, I got out of the tank without a scratch, and Albert is dead. It’s not fair.”
Ted and Penelope were sitting across from each other, in rough wooden chairs at a table that was so narrow as to nearly be a tall bench. Penelope had served Ted two fried eggs and a couple of links of sausage that tasted odd. “Moose,” she had explained, on seeing Ted’s puzzled expression.
The cabin was dim. One narrow window on the south wall let in the sun. Dust motes swirled in the air. At least it was warm; the June day was mild. Penelope’s dog, a medium-sized mutt of no discernable breed, lay on the floor next to her chair. Outside, Ted could hear the chickens clucking quietly to themselves as they dozed through the early afternoon.
“No,” Penelope said at last. Her eyes were red, but she had maintained her composure throughout Ted’s spiel. “Nothing about war is fair, is it?”
“Well, no.”
“It is what it is. Albert is there and you’re here. What will you do now?”
“Go home to Edmonton. I had a job in a lumberyard there before the war. I suppose I can get my old job there again. My uncle runs the lumberyard, after all.” He managed a weak smile. “What will you do?”
“What can I do? I have this place. I go on like before.”
“That’s true. Did your parents leave you this?”
“My first husband.”
Ted’s eyebrows raised. “First…?”
“He died in 1941. Tuberculosis. He was older. I was fifteen when we married, in 1939. My parents were dead. My uncle was tired of feeding me. I did not love my first husband, but he was kind. Now he’s dead. I did love Albert. Now he’s dead. But I am here. I go on like before.”
Ted remembered his best friend’s description of his girl: “Probably the strongest gal I ever met.” She lived up to the description.
“I’d better be going,” Ted said.
“I will walk you to the automobile,” Penelope said. She had a strangely formal way of speaking.
They went outside. The sun was high in the sky, and a warm breeze was gently stirring the grasses. Penelope walked with Ted down the narrow laneway to his old Grey-Dort.
As they reached the car, Ted turned to face her. “Albert was my best friend,” he said. “He was my brother. If you ever need anything…” He handed over a folded piece of paper. “If there’s ever anything I can do for you, this is where I am.”
Penelope tucked the paper in her trouser pocket. “Thank you,” she said. “I will be fine.”
“Oh. There’s one other thing.” Ted opened the back door of the car and extracted an object, a bundle of cloth, oddly gray-green. “Albert was talking about getting you one of these. It’s a Kraut winter coat. Heavy wool. I picked it up in Germany when we overran a German supply depot. Albert wanted you to have one, against the winters up here.”
Penelope nodded. She took the coat, shook it out, examined it, then folded it and tucked it under one arm.
“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for the coat. Thank you for coming all this way to tell me about Albert. Thank you for being his friend.”
Ted nodded. There didn’t seem to be anything else to say. He cranked the battered old Grey-Dort to stuttering life, climbed in and drove away.
Penelope watched the battered old car turn left onto the road and rattle away in a cloud of dust. She went back inside. There were chores that needed doing, but they could wait. They would have to wait. She went back in the tiny house and hung the German coat up on a hook on the wall behind the door.
She ran a hand down the heavy wool.
She picked up the tin plates they had eaten eggs and sausage from. She put them in the little tin sink, along with two coffee cups. She pumped the sink full of water.
Then, unable to do more, went into the narrow bedroom at the back of the house. She sat down on the bed. “Albert,” she said once.
Then she laid down. It was past sunset before she stopped crying.
When Penelope got up the next morning, she found Albert’s letter, still on the table. She read it one more time. Then she put the letter back in the envelope. From a high shelf, she took down an old cigar box. In it were her few important papers: The deed to her property, her marriage license, her late husband’s death certificate. She put Albert’s letter in the box, closed it, and put it back on the shelf.
Her dog came up to her and whined softly. Outside, she could hear the chickens complaining. She sighed. The stock had to be fed. She had to look after her garden. Life had to go on, regardless of how she felt. She went outside. The dog followed her, tail wagging.
***
On his way through Fort McKay, Ted stopped again at the general store. The old Indian was still standing behind the counter. He raised an eyebrow in query as Ted walked in.
“I saw her,” Ted told him. “Thank you for the directions.”
“How is Penelope?” the old man asked. “How did she take the news?”
“As well as you could expect, I suppose. She’s a strong woman.”
“She is that.” The old man pulled a carton of Players from under the counter. “You did a good thing, coming all this way. Albert would have been happy you did. Keeping a promise is always good.”
“How could I have done anything else?”
“Yes. Please, take this.” He handed Ted the carton of cigarettes. “I’m sure Penelope was grateful to you. But I am, as well. Her dead husband was my son. I can not do much to thank you, but I can do this.”
“Thank you.”
“Will you be coming back this way?”
“No.”
“Then take my thanks with you. Live in peace. I think you have seen enough trouble to last you a lifetime.”
“Something to that, I think.” Ted turned and left.
As he put the car back on the road headed south (the constant clanking of tracks, the smell of the tank turret, burnt powder, oil, mothballs and sweat) he looked to the right. For a moment, he thought he could make out his friend: The broken nose, the shining black eyes, the grin showing yellow, crooked teeth.
“Well, buddy,” he said, “I did it. And yeah – she remembers you. Wherever you are, she’ll always remember you.”
He shifted up as the car picked up speed. I should be in Edmonton by tomorrow night.
The old Canadian car rattled away to the south, leaving only a trail of dust behind.
***
So, if you’re travelin’ in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
Thanks Animal, a great conclusion. Always enjoy the works from the Allamakee Author
Thanks! I was pretty pleased with this segment – Ted’s survivor’s guilt, his flashbacks, and the short, choppy sentences and replies that marked Penelope’s shock. I don’t always like all my work but I like this bit.
Next one will be something completely different.
How not to be seen might be more practical for us.
Now I have to wait again but it’s worth it.
Nicely wrapped up.
Thanks Animal!
The cabin was dim. One narrow window on the south wall let in the sun. Dust motes swirled in the air. At least it was warm; the June day was mild. Penelope’s dog, a medium-sized mutt of no discernable breed, lay on the floor next to her chair. Outside, Ted could hear the chickens clucking quietly to themselves as they dozed through the early afternoon.
I was there. You have a gift, dude.
Fantastic ending, too. I really look forward to these, Animal.
I agree, fantastic series.
“Then take my thanks with you. Live in peace. I think you have seen enough trouble to last you a lifetime.”
*sniffle*
I’M NOT CRYING – YOU ARE CRYING!
Shut up and hand me a Kleenex for my allergies!
Stupid dusty room…
It’s a good ending.
The father caught me by surprise. Great story.
OT:
Rumble enters the fray.
Heh. That will make it harder for Spotify to muzzle him.
I wouldn’t mind getting a letter like that.
Spotify CEO Apologizes to Employees for Joe Rogan, Says He Doesn’t Believe in ‘Silencing’ Him
TLDR – we’ve paid too much money to him to cancel.
after host’s use of a racial slur in previous episodes sparked outcry
So freaking shady. Anybody who has been following this knows that’s a misreprentation, at best. The outcry was sparked when he had Dr. Whatshisface on the show to critique the vaccines. Everything else is typical prog-fascist mudslinging.
And he was saying it instead of using the idiotic “n word” fill in, not using it as a pejorative. Context does matter even if those cocksuckers don’t think it does.
Their feelings, won’t somebody think about their feelings….
How about “Rogan brings in the money so I can pay you. If we can him, then how many of you are willing to step up and quit their jobs in order to balance the books?”
Or perhaps:
“You all work here because you are supposed to be intelligent, sophisticated people. Yet you are apparently incapable of grasping context and intent. Concepts that are absolutely fundamental to a communications platform such as this. Further complaints about Mr. Rogan’s uttering a racial slur, in a context and with intent that make it crystal clear that he was not using it to demean or attack anyone, will be regarded as your notice of immediate resignation. If you have any questions about this, either keep them to yourselves and get back to work, or leave now.”
This country would be much better off if such a statement wasn’t met with government, institutional shareholders, and half of your employees throwing a shit fit in response.
Was about to post that. That’s a sweet offer although I’d bet he has some kind of clause in his contract that doesn’t allow for an immediate jumping of ship. Then again he could just ignore it and use his megabucks to tie it up in court.
Now he can sic his lawyers on Spotify for taking down shows, refuse any more apologies, beat up lefty guests they send him (like he did with at idiot CNN doctor). And if Spotify fires him, they still pay him until he starts at Rumble.
On that note, it went lightening fast from their opening salvo that it was about “covid misinformation” to racist to now “he doesn’t have enough left wing guests” Social media is a bane but that movement would have never been seen in real time otherwise.
Yeah, funny that but his dumbass also played right into their hands by the apology and the acceptance of leftist talking points. As you point out though, it’s not about covid misinformation or any one thing really, it’s just a desperate attempt to reign in an independent media voice using any means necessary and it’s obvious.
Relevant.
I’m surprised they’re not dragging up his “If you can take a dick you can take a joke” jokes from 10-15 years ago…
Oh wow I forgot his “gym buddy” bit Stern used to play all the time.
LOL good times.
Ma, we’re liftin’, alright? That’s what happens, you know? We get pumped up, we scream
(That’s NSFW audio, btw)
Impressive if true,
I could get a new roof put on my house with that kind of coin.
Or you could put a new house under your roof
Bravo, Animal!
I enjoy your writing very much.
Great story – and you avoided the cliched ending where Ted and Penelope embrace and eventually fall in love and get married.
I thought moose sausage was going to be some foreshadowing.
…it was. For the moose.
Not often we get a story where the sister bit the moose.
*polite applause*
Great stuff Animal.
Wonderful ending Animal,
Bravo!
Thank you for the wonderful story.
*has a sad*
The guy that ran over the protestors in Winnipeg was antifa
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-police-hit-and-run-david-zegarac-1.6341667
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Zegarac
And an alleged rapist…
#FreedomConvoy2022 Netherlands
Trudeau Claims Truckers Only Hate Him Because He’s Black
Not true. It’s also because he’s a lesbian.
Huh, is it weird that I suddenly find him/her kinda hot?
Great stuff, Animal. Beautifully told.
Great story.
Heartbreaking.
WRT: nothing
I love having new tires. I hate buying new tires since I always feel like I’m somehow getting fucked.
When I don’t go careening off the road in shitty weather I never feel ripped off.
Probably the most important dollars spent on a vehicle.
Tied with brakes, perhaps.
Brakes? Where we’re going, we don’t need brakes.
This sounds like the words of someone who’s planning a Thelma and Louise ending. Should we be worried?
I’ve got a full tank of gas, a half pack of cigarettes, and I’m wearing sunglasses.
Well, I can’t say I condone this and you’ll be missed. But if you’re going to go out, make it EPIC!!!
Did you trade your last car for a microphone?
Fair enough. But even metal-on-metal will stop the car.
People need to realize that the stock tires on their vehicle were likely chosen for cost and low-rolling-resistance. So, pretty much the shittiest of all worlds.
Make the dealer put on real fucking tires before you take delivery.
Stock tires don’t last long. I replace them pretty quickly.
An aftermarket supercharger is a strong contender for the short list, as well.
I always feel like I’m somehow getting fucked
Why?
rubber and fucking go together
Creosote Achilles, meet Pie. Pie, Creosote Achilles.
His safeword is ‘garlic’.
On the twitters, Tariq Nasheed is saying that Vaclav Dracul was black.
rubber and fucking go together
Not at my house.
R.S. just raw-doggin’ it…
Go on…
Information asymmetry?
It is not the cost of the tires or the mount and balance but the additional fees. The addition of fees and surcharges are creeping into every transaction. Lincoln now has a surcharge in addition to the purchase price of their welding wire.
Washington Commanders Unveil New Mascot ‘General Custer’
To Improve Trustworthiness Of The Hosts, ‘The View’ To Replace Whoopi Goldberg With Alex Jones
OK, the Custer one is a classic, I literally LOLed.
Destined to be wiped out by the Chiefs?
Meanwhile, in New York…
“At least BLM was fighting for freedom.”
??
People called for BLM to be run over by cars when they did this. Now that it’s whites doing it the answer is different. At least BLM was fighting for freedom.
It had nothing to do with the violence of BLM against people in said cars…
Three short sentences that perfectly encapsulate why Twitter is such a loathsome cesspool.
I think reading that gave me a tumor.
I try not to scroll down on twitter links, those three short sentences are why I regret it when I do.
I was thinking that. I agree with being against blocking the streets both for BLM and the truckers.
But if I came across a trucker blockade I feel I could ask them nicely to move and if they couldn’t I would get directions around the blockade. If I came across a BLM blockade I would be in fear of my life.
Today in “it seems like this should be bigger news”:
It goes on to mention family ties between Blinken and Soros.
Say what now?
I, for one, am shocked.
The U.S. Navy called this a ‘landing mishap’ last month
You can buff out those scratches.
I’d like to know who in the flight control center was dicking around filming screens with their phone, instead of doing their effing job.
That was the shot from the LSO’s video position. 100% of those are recorded, and I would say this is a playback of the recording, not taped in real time.
Its a little wobbly, which made me think it was some prat on his phone. Plus, its that annoying vertical orientation typical of phones. Still, I’d rather be wrong on this one.
It’s someone filming a playback of the LSO’s recording, after the fact.
You really have to squint.
@MattBrevner and I had no luck finding a white supremacist at Vancouver’s Freedom Convoy today.
Check out our cross Canada convoy coverage at http://ConvoyReports.com
She’s pretty.
https://babylonbee.com/news/trudeau-orders-all-geese-rounded-up-and-shot-for-honking-in-solidarity-with-truckers/
I thought we were for that in these parts.
I AM. DEATH TO HATE BIRDS!
Now I’m worried he’s going to become popular.
IRS to abandon facial recognition plan after firestorm of criticism
The Internal Revenue Service has abandoned its plan to require Americans submit to a facial recognition check through a private company to access their online tax accounts following a firestorm of criticism from privacy advocates and members of Congress.
The IRS said Monday it would “transition away” from using the company ID.me for new accounts “over the coming weeks” and would develop an additional authentication process that does not involve facial recognition.
“The IRS takes taxpayer privacy and security seriously, and we understand the concerns that have been raised,” IRS commissioner Charles Rettig said in a statement. “Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal information is secured, and we are quickly pursuing short-term options that do not involve facial recognition.”
“I can’t understand why anyone was concerned with this.”
-Charles Rettig
NO MORE HONKING!!!! The court sez so:
Ontario Superior Court Justice Hugh McLean has granted a 10-day injunction restricting truckers parked on city streets in downtown Ottawa from constantly honking their horns.
McLean says the injunction is temporary because he needs to hear more evidence, but says he has heard enough to make this ruling today.
Let’s note that the civil suit was brought by a 21 year old Chinese national, who works for the Canadian government.
https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/biden-admin-to-fund-crack-pipe-distribution-to-advance-racial-equity/
Who’s getting the government contract to supply crack pipes?
Will is be sent out for competitive bidding?
Will there be a made in the USA requirement?
What are the specifications that the crack pipe manufacturer will be required to meet?
Which congresscritter will get the contract for his district and brag about bringing back “good American manufacturing jobs?”
See: $600 hammer
WHAT
THE
FUCK?
Who’s getting the government contract to supply crack pipes? Hunter Biden, duh.
Will is be sent out for competitive bidding
The competitive bidding will be completely transparent meaning not at all. See above for reason.
What are the specifications that the crack pipe manufacturer will be required to meet?
USA makes the best crack pipes.
Which congresscritter will get the contract for his district and brag about bringing back “good American manufacturing jobs?”
Whichever congress critter can best help the Bidens.
Completely unfair.
Where are MY crack pipes?
I’m really hoping for something along the lines of the NGSW trials.
Alas, I’m sure it will be like the “free” coofmasks/tests
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/grants/pdf/fy22-harm-reduction-nofo.pdf
Plus, my favorite:
because you shouldn’t feel bad about being a crackhead.
I’m wondering how a “safe” crack pipe is different from the usual ones, myself.
“because you shouldn’t feel bad about being a crackhead.”
‘Help for Hunter’
Not the Bee.
Good point.
Perhaps they can get away with a “Designed in USA made with imported materials” label.
“Made with Global Materials”
I can’t tell if this is satire or not.
Google search shows lots of articles on this topic.
See my link to the program grant above.
At the very end…
*snort*
Heh, missed that the first time.
Another fundraiser gone
A fundraiser in Quebec City for a protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions was cancelled by crowdfunding platform Simplyk, which refused to accept payments to support the event.
The protest organizers hosted a four-day protest in Quebec City that ended on Sunday, coinciding with the Freedom Convoy’s ongoing protest in Ottawa.
According to CBC, Simplyk’s CEO François de Kerret claims the fundraiser was terminated because the campaign violated the conditions of the platform’s terms and services because it is not a non-profit organization.
Money is printed by the government. Only those who support the government should be allowed to raise it. It’s simple logic.
We’re learning in real time just how deep the government has its fingers in “private” enterprise.
It’s not really a matter of, “government having it’s fingers in ‘private’ enterprise.”
It’s more that politicians and CEOs (and likewise government bureaucrats and corporate middle-managers) mostly belong to the same socio-economic classes, and as such tend to have similar political beliefs.
They’re doing it to please the government.
Same thing in my book.
They’re not though, and the distinction is an important one.
They’re doing it to please themselves.</themselves.
The things that please them and the things that please the government are very similar, because they’re all similar people.
Welcome to the pettiness of small companies. It’s completely different from the pettiness of Fortune 100 companies, but it’s there too. I’ve worked both.
A data management employee quit. Then the nastiness began
I’m an excellent boss.
I saw little nastiness and no followup on how the company coped. I feel gypped.
I’m sure I should be outraged on someone’s behalf. I’m just not sure who…
For me when you threaten an employee who likely has little legale experience with frivolous legal action that goes in the “you are the dick” in this situation box.
OTH, educate yourself if you are the employee.
I saw that as the weak mewling of a little bitch trying to be a big shot. Yeah, he’s a dick, but a dick of the ‘meh’ variety.
Just got to reading this. Great work, Animal.