Title: WAR: Cousins: Not Again, Please! (1/1)
Authors: Shelley and Arletta Asbury
Faction: Cousins
Date: Saturday, November 13, 2004
Time: 8:00pm
After: "Screw our courage (2/2)"
       and  "Geology 101, or How to Organize a Rock Hunt (2/2)"
Before: Punishment Shared is Pain Halved (1/2)
Place: Arletta's Office, CERK
Disclaimers: All participants used with permission.


"Well, the three of us checked most of the rocks in the
exterior walls," Brandi said, nursing a blistered hand. She
was covered in dirt and grime, looking somewhat shell-shocked
from the experience.

"Big enough maybe for an inscription since the walls are
about a meter thick; but we found they were just ordinary
rocks. No inscription visible anywhere." She added.

"Most? What about the rest of the outside walls, the
grounds, and the cellar?" Arletta asked.

"It began snowing just as we were almost done, so outside
on ladders just became too dangerous.  And it was almost
dark. We had the same problem with the grounds basically.
No real visibility after dark and thru falling snow.  The
cellar ... uh ... we did one brief sweep around inside it
with our flashlights ... but then it was time to knock off
for the day."

Arletta gave her a disappointed look.  "You need to check
*all* the rocks...."

"Check all the rocks.  Very unvague," Shelley replied
from her corner of Arletta's office where she had been
told to sit until further instructions were given.

Arletta, realizing the mistake just made, quickly said,
"No, I meant, uh, check the ... uh ... your ... check your ...
socks!  Yeah, check your socks, Shelley.  Over and over.  Keep
checking them until I figure out what to do with you."

Brandi gave Arletta a quizzical look.

"Oh, it's the hypnotism thing. Follows instructions to
the letter, no matter how odd they are."

"She's still hypnotized? ... I TOLD her not to go on that
DP attack!  Don't tell me it's like that lederhosen thing
all over again where she just wouldn't be un-hypnotized? Not
*again*, please," Brandi said, her mind flashing back to the
pink lederhosen and pitchfork incident of a past war.

Suddenly remembering the cure she had used then, Brandi
picked up a heavy book from Arletta's desk and promptly
whacked Shelley over the head with it.

"Wha...?" Shelley said.

"Brandi!" Arletta nearly shrieked.

"Well, it worked the last time."

"Shelley, keep checking those socks," Arletta said,
worried that even *more* damage had been done to the
janitor.

"But, *why* would I do that, Arletta?" Shelley replied,
more lucid than she had been in days.  Suddenly, a
stricken look appeared on her face as she remembered all
that she had done.  "Aaaaaeeeeee," she squeaked out.

"See, I told you it would work," Brandi said, with a smug
look on her face.

"Good job!"  Arletta swiveled her gaze back to the
janitor. "Are you feeling better now, Shelley?"

Shelley barely nodded in confirmation.  "I ... I didn't ...
I couldn't *possibly*...."

Arletta sighed.  She would need to find out just *what*
Shelley remembered doing, other than inviting the UFfer's
into LaCroix's office during a war.

But first came the business of the rocks.  "Now, back to
the monastery search," she began, watching Brandi's smug
look evaporate.  "*All* the rocks in the cellar must be checked,
as well as the exterior walls must be finished.  For outside,
better take warm coats and gloves. You three can head back
tomorrow and continue until the job is done," Arletta finished.

Dismay was written all over Brandi's face at the prospect
of *more* rock hunting. Then, a worse thought popped into
her mind, "But ... but, tomorrow is the NA Carnival."

"Oh all right," Arletta relented, "you can take the
afternoon off as long as you put in a full half-day of
searching."

"Uhhh, Arletta, where's your I.N.S.A.N.E sweatshirt?"
came a familiar voice from the corner.