Hello again! I know I'm not supposed to post until tomorrow, but I will post shortly. More on that later...
Ann - you were angry with Clark? Really?
I understand Clark better generally - not sure why, just do. I wouldn't say I'm a 'country girl' at heart - and he isn't truly a 'country boy' at heart either, but I'm certainly not a city girl [heck, three houses down is a hay field and my dream is to have a house that backs up to a national park]. I too had a lot of responsibility at a young age. My mom died when I was 10 and, even though my dad remarried 2 years later, they separated 2 years or so after that and remained apart until a couple months before I moved out at 17. I've been on my own since then. I remember the February my electric bill was $13 and my take home pay wouldn't pay the rent [thank God for tips]. I think I mentioned some of that earlier. Because of all that - I relate to this Clark - and this Lois - but I think Lois has a lot more going on and a lot of this falls on Clark.
Michael - Still looking for that bat - if you just want a regular one for Mayson, that's easier to find
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Sonia - breaking hearts? Why on earth would I plan that?
. Guarding Clark's heart goes back to what Jor-El told Martha and Jonathan [that we haven't read yet in the letters - and no that's not because I haven't written it yet *uses biggest, most innocent eyes*] - there's a good reason for it and she just wants him to be careful. But, as Clark already told us [but not Lois], Kryptonians generally know their soul mates at first sight so... while that doesn't mean she doesn't have real power to hurt him, he also knows that she's the only one for him... does that make sense?
Beth - Why is it that no one likes Mayson?
Even Clark thinks she's a nice girl.
Rona - I can easily see both sides of it. There are certain men I would - and have - had lunch with without DH. His best friend, for instance. he's also a dear friend of mine and we don't see him often. When he's in town, we could easily have lunch together while DH is working. Heck, we were alone at our house for a while on several different occasions while DH was working, but there's a significant degree of trust - between me and DH and DH and his friend [and his friend and his wife too]. DH has a friend from work he has eaten with regularly [though not recently because of very hectic work week schedules for both of them]. I'm always welcome to go with them, though I rarely do [3 kids to take with me or find a sitter for, live much farther from DH's work than I used to be, etc.] She's one of my best friends [now, I didn't know her at all at first] and is getting married this week to another friend. The ONLY time I was ever concerned was after the worst nightmare of my life about a year ago. I was 5 months pregnant or so, completely hormonal, feeling incredibly unattractive, still sick almost daily, exhausted, etc. and I dreamed that they were together. I couldn't sleep the rest of the night. There was absolutely nothing to indicate to me that anything was going on, but pregnant hormonal women aren't always rational. When his alarm went off and he found me still freaked out [3-4 hours after I woke up], he was wonderful and I know that I know that he would never betray me like that [I never would him]. Lois and Clark however... are at a completely different place in their relationship and Clark is still more than a bit naive.
Tank - /me is glad she's seated already. From one of my favorite [retired?] authors, that is high praise indeed. Thank you. As for the misunderstandings... DH and I have been together for nearly 15 years and married for 11 later this month. In the year or so before we married and a couple years after, we were in the same place as Lois and Clark here. Broke, in school, struggling to make ends meet and rarely home at the same time long enough to have a real conversation - one or both of us gone from 6am - 10pm most days. I distinctly remember talking to my MIL one day and asking her to guess who I'd talked to last night - DH. It was so unusual for us to have a REAL conversation of any kind, that it was that significant. Granted, we didn't rush marriage etc., but if we hadn't been committed to each other and our marriage, it could easily have devolved into months or years of misunderstandings. Lois and Clark just aren't there yet.
JD - /me loves the vision of Lois decking Mayson
/me emails image to muse
Elisabeth - I hope Clark's views about Mayson/lunch become more clear as we go on - as well as Lois' role, if any, in it. You've sparked the muse with a couple of your comments and the muse thanks you - with chocolate, if that's acceptable
. As for Paul, it will become clear eventually. As for the picture, I didn't know what he was doing with it until later either.
Interesting theories on how it will end. Which one of you is right? Neither? Both? Ah... only time will tell
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Thanks again everyone. Look for part 13 on a message board near you sometime tonight.
Carol