So Swiss went begging again for content, and though I thought serializing one of my doorstoppers would be de trop, Swiss does not. So here we go.
During Prohibition, Trey Dunham only wants two things out of life: money and respectability. And he doesn’t care how he gets them.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
APRIL, 1929
“DON’T GO GETTING above yourself, boy.”
Trey slid a glance at the old man beside him, his eyebrow raised in question.
Boss Tom Pendergast’s glance slid across the street toward the prim young woman who’d caught Trey’s eye. She was short, her cheeks filled out, with clear peaches’n’cream skin. She had sleek chocolate brown hair rolled up into a fat bun, which meant it was long and thick and straight. She wore a fashionable blouse and trousers of good quality fabric and construction, but they were all the wrong cut and color. He could only guess at her figure, but he’d seen hundreds of women nude, so he had a pretty good idea she was an hourglass with just enough plump in all the right places.
She and another girl were walking toward Kresge’s with their schoolbooks clutched to their chests, chatting and laughing. Her friend was blonde, with a cute permed bob and she was wearing a pretty dress.
“You know who that Jane is?” Boss Tom asked.
“Nope.”
“Dot Albright. Her daddy’s a Mormon bishop.”
Trey’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. “On your payroll?”
Boss Tom shook his head. “Not him, no. He’s straight, works for himself. He just doesn’t get in his congregants’ business, even if their business is with me. And you know those folks’re armed to the teeth.”
Trey was too, and he wasn’t somebody who could legally be shot on sight. “But they let their girls wear trousers.”
“The one in trouser’s Gil Scarritt’s daughter. Marina.”
Trey pursed his mouth. That was … interesting, especially when the girls suddenly caught him staring. The pretty blonde in the pretty dress curled her lip.
“Told you not to get your hopes up.”
The interesting brunette in the trousers blinked at them innocently then looked at the pretty one with a scowl. Their lighthearted discussion turned into something more contentious.
“Two preachers’ daughters,” Trey mused. “Why’s a Pentecostal lettin’ his girl wear trousers?”
“His idea of a chastity belt.”
Trey nodded approvingly. “That’s logical,” he said. “Inconvenient and a damned shame, but logical.”
“Her?” Boss Tom hooted. “Marina?”
“Yeh. Pretty girls are a dime a dozen and I got a dozen of ’em on my payroll. How old is she?”
“Sixteen. What is wrong with you? She’s no looker.”
“Likely not to anybody else, no.”
“You have weird taste in dames.”
Trey’s taste was in interesting-looking dames. As he watched, the pretty one dragged the interesting one into the drugstore, with one last sneer over her shoulder at them.
“Trust Reverend Albright’s girl to know what’s what,” Boss Tom muttered, turning away.
“I thought you said he was a bishop.”
“He is. Reverend’s his given name.” Trey had heard stranger. “Dunham,” Boss Tom rumbled, amusement heavy in his deep voice. “You wrestle that bluenose into bed and knock her up, I’ll turn the keys to 1520 over to you, as is, free and clear.”
Trey was so shocked he barely kept his cool. “Marina, you mean?”
“Yes, Marina. Albright stays out of my way and I stay out of his.”
Trey thought about that a few seconds. Finally he said, “That’s some bounty, Boss. I might start thinkin’ you don’t like the good Reverend Scarritt.”
“Don’t start up thinkin’ again, boy. People get in trouble that way.”
Not Trey. And what Trey thought was that this wasn’t a bet so much as an order. Trey didn’t hesitate to take orders he had several good reasons to carry out.
“An’ if I don’t?”
Boss Tom gave him a stone-cold glance. Definitely an order. Shit. “Tell you what, Dunham. I know you want to buy 1520 Main. I also know you are nowhere near being able to buy it at my price and you never will be.” That was debatable. “So I’m giving you a sporting chance. You have two months. And if you think marrying her’s gonna get the job done, think again.”
Marriage was not in Trey’s plans. “Consider it done.”
0
more please
That’s how you first.
Sounds like Trey has a real challenge. Love the dialect. I listened to all the radio detective shows in the ’40s, very familiar language.
Good show, Mojeaux
No idea what this is about, but based on the cover alone, this is the one I wanted.
/diving in
*unzips*
Sweet!
“he’d seen hundreds of women nude”
On topic!
https://tinyurl.com/4kd9va5v
NSFW.
https://thumb-p9.xhcdn.com/a/tBV5uPmMxFtLl6Arwdy9eA/000/107/235/949_1000.jpg
NSFW.
https://content4.coedcherry.com/femjoy/91400/005.jpg
NSFW.
https://s.smutty.com/media_smutty_2/b/u/e/n/p/buenamonta-1zcx2-f69e81.jpg
NSFW.
https://tinyurl.com/2xxetwzn
NSFW.
I love when you are on topic.
Kansas City.
“Two preachers’ daughters,” Trey mused. “Why’s a Pentecostal lettin’ his girl wear trousers?”
“His idea of a chastity belt.”
I chuckled.
Great start!
I know how it ends! 😁📖
Don’t spoil it for them.
Wouldn’t dream of it! 🙂
Just gloating a little. 😉
{so many jokes, so many faux spoilers}
Oh, that reminds me, Monday I saw a souped up PT Cruiser with a spoiler.
Kansas City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltmwT7AktnA
I do like Kansas City. Wasn’t great art, but I liked it.
The music was wonderful. I agree with you about not being great, but being likable.
Kansas City
Intrigued! This ought to fill the Friday night slot for the next few months 🙂
That is the idea. Just a little lightheartedness to fill an unpopular spot.
Thanks for the story. I enjoyed this intro. Looking forward to following this.
Not sure it really fits this crowd because I write with an emphasis on the heroine and her progression. I don’t know if y’all will care about the maturation of a 16yo girl or a trapped 24yo kid.
Giggity
Seriously, I think the majority of us enjoy a gifted author. Hence, the majority of us will enjoy your story.
I say yeah to this.
I say yeah to this.
+1 “Hey. Hey what? Get laid, get fucked.”
Thank you!
“So Swiss went begging again for content, and though I thought serializing one of my doorstoppers would be de trop, Swiss does not. So here we go.”
MUHUHUHUWAHA!
You’ll get the stories when they’re done. I don’t want to leave the audience hanging due to writer’s block.
Good stuff, Mojeaux.
I enjoy the serials and other literary outpourings of the Glibs.
LOTS of unbelievable talent around here. It’s an amazing concentration.
I don’t believe it.
https://youtu.be/Gs069dndIYk
https://youtu.be/PaYN_Q00AWY
https://youtu.be/fOdEC9zSOkA
How did you know that is probably one of my top 10 favorite songs ever? I’d put that on and dance with my little girl when she was a toddler.
Just luck? Going for a theme tonight, last day and all.
Ah, well. October is pumpkin spice and mulled spider. *gives scented wax the side-eye*
And bestest month evah!
Doubt if I’ll still be awake at midnight to post this.
EXCELLENT CHOICE!
Theme? Would I be catbutted for linking to another show tune?
I know that song from somewhere vaudevillian or cartoony or something. It rings a bell, but a caricature of the song.
You know, I trust, that Jerry “created” the role in the show whence that came and was the first to sing the song?
I did not know that. However, I know the song from somewhere frivolous that I cannot remember. Heh.
Fun fact:
RIP Lenny.
I preferred him in this: https://youtu.be/ZpvNQvU5dsM
Oh wait. You said Lenny. Nevermind.
It’s all a game to me.
If you don’t wanna wait for the 2 years this will take at 1 chapter per week (some longer than others) here is the book.
Ugh, wife has the Sharon Osborne whine fest on. Kill me now.
I thought Sharon got canceled for not being sufficiently woke?
Supporting piers Morgan, apparently. She’s on fox now.
Saw some preview on Tucker – don’t know what to think, other than that is a LOT of plastic surgery.
Ozzy doesn’t look good either.
Yeah but earned his look.
Snorting ants will do that.
🤘
There’s always a solution.
https://youtu.be/XjbxRc6bk7U
Hah! That part of Ozzy’s life is being covered right now.
Maybe that show is worth watching.
Ok, after having watched all four episodes of her show, I’m still of the mind that the view portion was whiny, overly melodramatic, and either she is completely naive or intentionally obtuse about her former cohosts. I did like the rest of her life story but she’s very charitable to herself and shaded how she described events (such as the Randy Rhoades crash).
Interesting development out of Havana:
Cuba Makes Rare Request for U.S. Aid After Devastation From Hurricane Ian
Interesting. I guess Russia is busy at the moment
Mission Kitteh Snip-Snip was a success. He has not worn his cone of shame for more than 2 minutes at a time.
He’s in the guest bedroom by himself with a “huggie kitty” therapy plush toy that has a purr box and heated (microwaveable insert).
He has 3 days of painkillers and really doesn’t even act like he needs them right now.
Po’ Kitteh.
Therapy plush toy? I don’t remember getting anything for my vasectomy.
You used the wrong vet.
LOL
Well a vasectomy is significantly different from a castration. If not, you really ARE using the wrong vet!!
Well I didn’t get castrated and I did get some wonderful “gifts” from a grateful spouse. Speaking of castration, the soldier who shot John Wilkes Booth, Sgt. Boston Corbett, subsequently castrated himself with a pair of scissors. Can’t imagine…
Peak peak
https://www.amazon.com/HuggieKitty-Pets-Know-Soothing-Heartbeat/dp/B09WF976DX/
I got it a couple weeks ago to keep him from trying to nurse on my arms or neck or any exposed flesh. He likes it.
We have a semi-abandoned kitten that adopted us. He went through a phase of nursing on our two Toms. I think/hope it’s over now. Haven’t seen him do it for a while.
I’m going to call This on-topic.
*****SQUEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!***** So CUUUUUUUUTE!!!!! 😻😻😻
That’s Exactly what Bodie looks like! Gray tabby with very white “underchin”.
That boy is now running around like nothing happened. I’ve given up on the Cone of Shame, but he doesn’t seem to be bothering his incision area anyway.
He’s in the guest room and seems to have his appetite back, although food is restricted the first day to prevent nausea after the anesthesia.
I picture Tres using that for all the wrong reasons.
The eagle flies on Friday, and Saturday I go out to play.
Germany’s Catastrophic Gas Problem
in depth analysis of why Germany is fucked.
If Germany needs more gas, can’t they tap into their Strategic Sauerkraut Reserves?
I explained the whole Germany gas problem to my husband so I could read him that line.
🤣👍
This analysis is with a read. It ain’t pretty.
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/09/michael-hudson-on-the-euro-without-germany.html
Jupiter is looking awesome these days.
I love the lack of light pollution out here.
The moon is waxing but it’s still slim enough that the Milky Way is visible from the back yard.
Purrr….
If you have binoculars you can see the moons of Jupiter.
Thanks! They’re here someplace…
I also would like to invest in a hobby telescope for star gazing,
No idea how to choose one though.
Ian Fleming wrote the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was based on.
Nothing to do with Moj writing content for glibs, I just think it’s an interesting fact.
Why do you think Bond’s car kept getting more gadgets?
Dedicated Q-team?
Excellent, Mojeaux. Drew me in immediately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt466jww2kU
Fucking bastards have ruined my favorite songs
IT’S THE AI-APOCALPYSE right before our eyes
I’m not crazy. I’m not crazy. Guys, nobody cared about Camera Obscura week before last. Now it’s hot, supposedly. AND NOW THERE’S THIS FUCKING NONSENSE. I am so confused.
OH go fuck yourselves. Good luck. I hate you all.
It’s weird that I can’t share the weirdness of this discovery with anyone. I have nobody in my life with whom I can
You don’t get how weird it is. You just don’t realize.
What drugs are you on?
Good morning, everybody!
…and back atcha…
Sleep done, coffee down, time to enjoy the weekend. Cranked up the wood furnace this morning so it’s comfortable now
Good morning, Ted’S, 4(20), and Shiny!
Welp, Boston Stoker just lost my business to Panera. It’s a story as old as…online commerce itself. Found myself without my weekend morning beverage of choice this morning. Internet says BS opens at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday. Drove up right before 7:15, pick my poison, drive up to the window to order…
…and no one comes to the window. I then notice the small sign down in one corner: “New Fall & Winter Hours.” They now don’t open until 7:30. Someone finally comes to the window to reiterate this inconvenient truth. I drive away and head just a little further up the road to Panera where an inexplicably perky young male voice over the speaker graciously takes my order for a chai latte. No waiting even! (Bunch o’ suckers next door waiting in line for Starbucks. Ha!)
I would have gone into a Stewart’s, but you don’t have them in your neck of the woods. You even get a discount if you have a reusable mug.
Of course, you also have to get out of your car.
“Of course, you also have to get out of your car.”
Don’t be ridiculous. We’re not animals, you know.
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/10/the-week-in-pictures-cat-5-bidenstorm-edition.php
It looks like another beautiful day coming,
Enjoy it!
Covfefe🌅
Chai latte! ☕