Grissom was awoken by someone entering his room. It was Sara with towels.
He was immediately embarrassed by her seeing him like this.
"Morning sleepy head. Do you realise how long you've been asleep?. It's about twelve hours if you slept right through" Sara laughed.
"I think my lack of sleep is finally catching up" Grissom laughed nervously.
"Sorry. Did I wake you up?. I was just bringing towels. My mom forgot to put some here last night in all the excitement. She's so over the moon that you and Catherine have come to visit" Sara explained.
"I noticed" Grissom said calming down and replying friendly.
"When your ready for breakfast just come to the kitchen" Sara added.
She smiled and left. This little incident didn't seem to make her flinch at all. She was so much more laid back at her parent's.
Half an hour later Grissom was dressed and went to breakfast. When he got to the kitchen Boby was cooking various breakfast items and Libby was sitting at the table talking away with Catherine, Sara, Daven and some strangers.
"Ah Gil!. Good morning sleepy head!. Come over here and meet our guests. This is Martha and Harold Kimworth. They're on their way to visit their daughter in San Francisco. She's just given birth. Isn't that sweet?. This is Brianny Taylor. She's currently touring cross country across America and she has come to visit Good ole Tamales Bay for two days. She's just finished a geography degree at Yale. And last but not least this is Mr Timley. He's been recently widowed and is now soaking up the bay to help clear his head. We were just discussing Mr Timley's woes and giving his some advice. Maybe you could help, Mr Grissom. But promise me that if we let you into this circle of trust that you won't judge. Promise?" Libby said.
"I'll try" Grissom replied bombarded.
"Try harder!. I'll be very disappointed in you Mr Grissom if you upset our guest. Now you go on Mr Timley and you tell him your dilemma. I trust him and I think you should too" Libby replied.
"Well, I've met a young lady friend back home. She's twenty five. But she's a real sweet girl. But I just don't know if it's too soon to move on" Mr Timley replied.
"How long ago were you widowed?" Grissom asked.
Mr Timley looked like he was about to cry. Libby took his hand.
"We're here for you Mr Timley. Just let it all out. If you need to cry you cry" Libby reassured him.
"Two weeks" Mr Timley replied.
Suddenly Mr Timley begun to run off crying,
"I'm sorry. Please excuse me" Mr Timley exclaimed.
"He can not be serious!" Sara exclaimed when he'd left.
"Sara Sidle!. Do not judge!" Libby demanded.
"Poor guy. Sara and Gil! Stop sniggering!. Don't think I can't hear you!" Libby demanded.
"He's out the circle of trust now" Sara sniggered.
"He was a bit of a freak wasn't he. Ah, and I bet she's only after his money!. He's seventy nine" Libby admitted.
There was one final stranger left unintroduced. The woman held her hand out to shake with Grissom.
"Hi. Libby's obviously forgotten to introduce me so I'll introduce myself. Hi I'm Linda Oakley. I'm Daven's mom" Linda introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you Linda" Grissom gestured as he shook her hand.
"You two must have met already!. Why Linda's always here!. Have you two seriously not met?. Silly me!" Libby said.
"So Sara, what exciting plans have you got for your friends today?" Linda asked.
"Umm, I don't know" Sara replied.
"How about going down the bay?" Libby suggested.
"Oh yes. Can we, Sara?" Catherine exclaimed.
"No I don't think that's a good idea" Sara replied.
"Sara Sidle don't be a pussy. This is our town too" Libby told her off.
"Fine. Grissom, Catherine. Get your coats on. We're going to see the circus" Sara exclaimed getting up.
"Umm, can I have some breakfast first?. I'm starving" Grissom asked.
"No Grissom. If you want to go see the bay, we need to go now" Sara demanded.
"Don't be silly, Sara. Stop acting like a child. This is so unlike you. You go to town all the time. You've been a changed person since your friends have come to stay. You sulk the whole time, you don't speak to your father, you refuse the see to the community who love you because you seem to be ashamed of them and you now you're having a tantrum" Libby said.
"Most of that is untrue. For a start all dad and I used to do is argue - we haven't talked since I was a teenager. So this should be a break for your ears, mother. Secondly, I am not having a tamtrum. Grissom go ahead and eat but we're leaving in an hour" Sara defended.
"Sara, can I have a word?" Boby asked a bit peeved.
"Nope" Sara replied defiantly.
Boby grabbed Sara by the arm and pulled her out the room.
"Boby!" Libby called after him.
Once in another room Boby started having a go at Sara,
"That's it!. I've had enough!. I'm tired of your jibes and comments. You've got to get over this, Sara!. You're acting like a broken record!. You've been acting like a pain ever since Alaney came to stay with you" Boby shouted.
"Get over this!. It's not that easy to get over!. You have no idea do you what a pig you are, do you?" Sara said angrily.
Sara walked off.
"Stop it!" Boby called after her.
Meanwhile in the kitchen Libby was tending to her guests. She got up and got Gil a plate,
"Gil, what would you like to eat?. We have many types of waffle, many types of tea, many types of coffee bean and many types of juice. We have toasts with an assortment of many jams and we have many types of cereal. And if you're really sweet to Boby - he might even cook you a veggie sausage. Anyone for seconds?" Libby offered.
"Your not going to offer us meat at all during our visit are you?" Grissom asked.
"Why would I do that?. Didn't Sara explain?. We can't stand to cook meat" Libby explained.
"So how come Sara ate meat then?" Gil asked amused.
"Pure rebellion. She gets that from her momma - and her dad" Libby laughed.
Sara returned to the kitchen.
"Oh good your back, sweetie. Now once breakfast is over I want you to go down to the shops and buy some dinner for tonight. O.k.?. What would you like Catherine? Grissom?. Daven? Linda? Are you staying tonight?" Libby said.
"Daven is. I can't" Linda replied.
"Oh but you didn't come last night either Linny!. Oh o.k.!. Well, what do the rest of you want tonight?" Libby sulked.
"Yeah anything you can have anything vegetarian that Wal-Mart has to offer" Sara said sarcastically.
"You dare, Sara Sidle!. You dare!. I will not have any of that corporation rubbish in here!" Libby replied angrily.
Sara laughed.
"Libby, she's pushing your buttons. She's joking. Sara stop it" Daven laughed.
Sara drove herself, Catherine, Grissom and Alaney down to the sea front.
"I have an hour then I'm meeting Janey down the beach" Alaney explained.
They started by taking a walk by the seafront.
"It must have been amazing growing up beside the sea" Catherine gestured friendly.
"The bay has its ups and downs" Sara replied bluntly.
"Ignore her. It's wonderful!. You can sun bath any day of the week and the men are tip top tanned and sea breezed!. But I suppose Sara isn't really the sunbathing type. But I hear as a child she loved the beach" Laney commented.
As they were walking along Catherine and Grissom noticed something strange. They could have swore that people were giving them double takes or snide looks. They could have swore that some were even whispering about them. Maybe they weren't used to strangers they thought - but then again - this is a tourist town!.
Sara spotted an ice cream parlour and smiled.
"Let's go get an ice cream" Sara suggested and walk in.
Everyone followed. They walked in and Sara was immediately greeted by the owners. It was obvious by their accent that they were Southern.
"Oh my goodness!. Sara Sidle!. How are you my dear?. I haven't seen you in - oh my! - ages!. How are you pumpkin?" the woman owner said.
"I'm alright. How are you?" Sara asked.
"I'm good. Glad to be back at work after that year off I had because of my heart" Margaret commented.
"I know I've been here four times this year looking for you" Sara replied.
"Last thing I heard you were still in Las Vegas working as a policewoman. You were always so good at science why did you give up on that?" Margaret gestured.
"I haven't, Margaret. I'm a scientist working in the police forensic lab. I'm not a policewoman" Sara replied.
"That's that not what your momma said!. She said you were a policewoman" Margaret replied.
"Ignore my momma" Sara replied.
"Did Sara just call Libby 'momma'?" Catherine whispered to Grissom.
"So pumpkin, whose your friends and what would they like?. Anne darling, take these people's orders and give it them free. I'll do you Miss Sidle - I know exactly what you want and you missy. Alaney Rose! - how are you my sweet?. Another genius!. Your clever people. Your cousins Janey and Michelle were in here a few days ago. They mentioned you guys were coming and said they were real excited. It's made their day. You guys really are close are you?" Margaret said.
Margaret suddenly looked angry and started staring at one of the customers,
"What you staring at?. Just get out. I don't want your racist scum in here!" Margaret shouted.
Catherine had noticed this customer had constantly been giving Sara and her guests dirty looks.
"Thanks Margaret" Sara said embarrassed.
"Ignore them pumpkin. They're just ignorant. Their scared of what they don't understand. Your always welcome here sugar, you know that. Here take some free cookies. Here's thirty - that should cover all the community and your guests" Margaret gestured.
"No don't be silly Margaret. Anyway, my mom's baked enough to make the whole community obese for at least ten years" Sara responded.
Margaret laughed.
"How is your mama?. She left that pig father of yours yours?" Margaret asked.
Sara took her ice cream and laughed.
"I'll see you around Margaret" Sara replied.
Sara went to leave but had a sudden thought.
"Hey Margaret, who's running the food store today?"
"Umm Saturday, Let's see. It's - oh gees! - it's Mr and Mrs Jenson, baby" Margaret replied.
"Great!. It was going to be bad enough" Sara said.
"Hey Sara, we love all of you" Margaret gestured.
"I know thanks Margaret. See you later" Sara replied.
Sara left and the others followed. Grissom and Catherine were left very confused.
A few shops down was a food store. Sara and the others walked in. As soon as they walked in the noise in the store gradually quietened down to near silence. Some of the people gave Sara and her guests looks and some appeared to even be whispering about her. Gradually the noise increased to normal volume again. Sara and the others went round the store picking stuff for dinner and getting other necessities. Grissom and Catherine noticed that some people tried to avoid Sara and Laney or walked away when either of the pair was near them. It was like Sara and Alaney had the plague. Finally they got everything they needed and approached the counter. The cashiers were immediately hostile,
"Well look who it is?. I thought the town had finally got rid of you. One down more to go I say. Your lucky I'm even serving you" Mrs Jenson said.
The Jensons seemed to be in their fifties and both had California born accents.
"Leave her alone, Shirley. She's not like those freaks. She's relatively normal and she's real smart. So's the other one" Mr Jenson commented.
"No, she's weird too. A freak just like the rest of them. Maybe she doesn't realise it yet - but she's got camp cuckoo in her. Just look at the way she dresses" Shirley Jenson commented.
"Stop calling them freaks!. And don't bother Mr Jenson cos your wife's right - I am one of them. Their my family and my community so if your calling them freaks you may as well call me one too!. Don't talk about my community in that way!. You know nothing about us!. You haven't even been up there. All you've heard is stupid nonsense rumours. All of you! - Yeah don't think I don't know your staring and listening. This is our town too and we're entitled to live here. Freedom of choice!" Sara shouted.
"Your polluting this town and your lot are a danger to our kids. Your no better than gypsies!" Shirley Jenson shouted back.
The audience gasped at this word. Sara paused and then retaliated furiously.
"My family can get it's hands on thirty million dollars at the snapped of their fingers. We have roots in mansions and country clubs. You couldn't get your hands on twenty dollars!. And the nearest you have to roots is the vegetables you sell!. My grandparents have more respect and honour in their little finger than your whole family does overall. My parents, myself and Alaney have all gone to or are going to Ivy League schools. No one in your family hasn't even been to college!. Your racist bits of rubbish without two brain cells to rub between any of you. I would rather be a freak than a racist ignorant jealous twit like you and all the small town small minded people are!. Good day Mr and Mrs Jenson and good day to you all - I hope some day you all grow up!" Sara declared.
Sara left money on the counter and stormed out with her groceries. Catherine and Grissom were left gob smacked. Suddenly a lot about Sara Sidle made sense.
Catherine and Grissom glanced over at Sara as they walked along and she sat crying on the beach.
"We can't just leave her there when she's upset" Catherine commented.
"She said she wanted space. We'll go back in a minute" Grissom replied equally worried.
Sara sat sobbing. Not only did she feel embarrassed - no matter how many times she'd heard she still took the comments offesnsively. Suddenly she heard a familiar male voice,
"I always breaks my heart when I see a beautiful woman on the beach not wearing a bikini!. I pray every night that one day I'll catch Sara Sidle in a bikini - it never happens!" the male joked cheekily.
Sara turned and he saw her tears. He was late 20's or early 30's, blond hair and good looking. His clothes suggested he had some connection to camp cuckoo. Though he did sport some modern items. He seemed to have a cheeky streak and was a bit of a comedian. But he also seemed to care alot about Sara. He acted like he had a huge ego but you could tell it was a joke.
"Sunbeam, what's wrong?. Why spoil a beautiful face?" the male asked.
"Seb!" Sara sobbed and fell into his arms crying.
"Well, this isn't the welcome I expected but it's pretty good. I always knew you were a tart, Sara Sidle - you'll fall into the arms of any man who gives you a line. Not that I'm complaining Tell me - what's wrong?. It can't be your mom" Seb replied more sympathetically.
"I just had an argument with the Jensons in front of the whole food store!. My friends were there and they heard all the terrible things they said!" Sara confessed.
"Oh baby!. Just ignore them - you usually do. What did your friends say?" Seb commented.
"They're on my side. They were really nice" Sara responsed.
There was a pause of silence as Sara regained her composure.
"So what you doing here?. Let me guess" Sara joked.
"I'm fishing for scantily clad women, of course" Seb replied cheekily.
Sara gave a small laugh and tried to give a smile but she was feeling too low. Seb tried to tickle her.
"Stop it!" Sara laughed.
"I will make you smile!. I will!" he replied playfully.
Sara couldn't hold it in anymore and she finally gave a smile.
"There we got. That wasn't too hard" Seb gloated.
"So how come you've been here since yesterday and you haven't come to see any of us?" Seb asked.
Sara looked at him guiltily and vulnerably.
"I'll be along tonight, I promise. My friends might come too. They've already met the stereotype, so the real thing can't be that bad" Sara agreed reluctantly.
"Lucky us!. We gonna see any action from those hips?" Seb asked as he played with her hips cheekily.
"What kind of action?!?" Sara replied half shocked and half joking.
"No!!!. Urghh!!. Don't be so disgusting - your like a sister to me!. You know very well I meant dancing!. You get getting snappy though. That was a good one - I'm impressed. So you gonna do any of us the honour of a dance?" Seb exclaimed.
"Probably not" Sara replied coyly.
Alaney, Janey, Catherine and Grissom came back to the pair.
"Sara, just asked me to have sex with her. I am disgusted!" Seb joked to the others.
"I did not!" Sara exclaimed embarrassed and whacked his arm.
"Sidle, you always know if your ever desperate for some nookie - I'm here for!" Seb joked cheekily.
Sara didn't know whether to laugh or die of embarrassment - so she did both at the same time. Finally Sara introduced Seb,
"Grissom, Catherine. Meet Seb. Seb, these are my friends from work" Sara introduced.
Seb held out his hand to shake theirs,
"Hi. Sara and I are like brother and sister unless she wants to sleep with me" Seb said to amuse them.
"Ignore his boldness. Their not used to that, Seb" Sara commented.
"Conservative?" Seb asked.
"Actually Catherine used to be a stripper" Laney added.
"Well wahey!. I don't know whether to say good for you or say that is terrible because I don't believe in the degradation of women!" Seb replied cheekily comedic.
"Oh yeah!. So you didn't just ask me to parade around in a bikini?. And your not here 'fishing for scantily clad women'?" Sara joked.
"She lies!. It's all lies!. My policy on bikinis is 'no no' due to the way it degrades women. I do have hippy roots after all. Therefore I am only here fishing for scantily clad women to cover them up and return them home!. Starting with you Janey!" Seb declared comedically.
Seb grabbed his towel, put it round Janey and pick her up carrying her away.
"Sebastian Stop it!" Janey exclaimed laughing.
"Excuse me I have to take this disgraced lady home!. I don't know Janey, your Uncle Lenny takes you in as his own and you repay him by parading round like a tart!" Seb joked.
"I thought this was meant to be about women's rights?!?" Janey corrected him joking.
"That too!" Seb added.
"Seb, put her down. Your do your back in!" Sara ordered him gentlely.
"I apologise. He is mad" Sara explained to Catherine and Grissom.
Seb put Janey down and became serious.
"Seriously though, Sara's friend. You shouldn't degrade yourself like that. I know I joke about bikinis but that's harmless. You really should have more respect for yourself. Your not an object. Sex should be about the pleasure of equally enjoying an pleasurable activity. I've never stepped into a strip joint. That isn't what sexual pleasure should be about. At least not if your using a woman to get it" Seb said.
"Well I don't know whether to thank you or slap you" Catherine replied.
"Just make sure you don't turn out like Sara's mom" Seb commented.
Sara was gob-smacked he'd said this.
"What's wrong with Sara's mom?" Catherine asked
"Don't Seb" Sara responded angrily.
"Libby used to defend minority rights. Now she's sold out" Seb explained..
"Maybe it's a lot easier than you think, Seb" Laney defended.
"As I was saying. And we as a community aren't going to stand for it much longer" Seb explained.
"No, I think you will Seb. But your heart's in the right place" Sara replied.
She kissed his cheek and he hugged her. Then Seb left on a somber mood.
"What's he talking about?" Grissom asked.
"Nothing" Sara replied.
Later on that day, Boby noticed Alaney sitting in the living room and decided to approach her.
"Hello. How are you? - Laney" Boby asked trying to be nice.
"Err, Fine" Laney replied suspicious.
"I've got an idea. You want to go to a coffee house and get to know each other?" Boby asked out the blue.
"No" Laney replied immediately scared.
"May I ask why?" Boby asked.
"Well, err. Well, frankly you scare me. Your not a very nice man. So, a) I don't like you and b) I don't trust you. Plus I don't know why you would want to when you appear to hate me" Laney replied.
"Understandable. Listen I've decided I want to get to know you. See how it goes and I might start to be nice to you afterwards. Maybe even like you eventually. Let me try and explain. You see Sara is part of my family and your part of Sara's - Umm" Boby explained.
"Family?" Laney suggested
"No! - your not Sara's family!. Your not that unless your related to her and your not. Let me start again. I love Sara and she loves you for some strange reason. So -" Boby reiterated sort of angry.
"So your going to try to love me?" Laney suggested.
"No!. Stop interrupting me!. You've got it all wrong. I love Sara - and Sara's loves you - because your her - her - her play thing!" Boby explained.
"Her play thing?. You make me sound like her doll" Laney replied unimpressed.
"No! - your not her doll either!. But I know!. Your like Sara's pet!. Your the equivalent to Sara's pet dog" Boby explained.
"Are you saying I'm a bitch?" Laney responded.
"Look I don't have a sense of humour - so try it. Your Sara's pet - that means she's not like a mother to you but she looks after you and cares about you. That's the perfect allegory!. So as Sara's parents we have a responsibility to look after you so she doesn't get upset - because she cares about you because you're her pet. Understand?" Boby explained.
"So you do care about me?" Laney asked.
"Kind of" Boby admitted digusted by the idea.
"Boby has feelings!" Laney teased.
"Shut up!" Boby shouted.
Boby gave Laney a cold stare and she stopped.
"This is my only offer to be nice. If you don't take it now I may never offer again. I'm in a good mood. So let me show you that I can be nice. How about you join Libby and I in the kitchen for an afternoon tea?" Boby offered.
"We could do that" Laney agreed reluctantly.
Boby smiled and they went to the kitchen. Laney was quite confused and suspicious (as was Sara later when she heard about this afternoon tea). Libby was partly surprised, partly confused, partly suscipious and partly happy. The tea actually went quite well. Alaney even begun to comprehend why Libby might love Boby. Laney saw a new friendlier side to Boby that she had only seen him direct at some select other people but never at herself until now. She didn't know whether it was real and it wasn't overly sweet but it was more humane than usual. For the first time in her life, Boby was actually nice to Laney.
"Morning sleepy head. Do you realise how long you've been asleep?. It's about twelve hours if you slept right through" Sara laughed.
"I think my lack of sleep is finally catching up" Grissom laughed nervously.
"Sorry. Did I wake you up?. I was just bringing towels. My mom forgot to put some here last night in all the excitement. She's so over the moon that you and Catherine have come to visit" Sara explained.
"I noticed" Grissom said calming down and replying friendly.
"When your ready for breakfast just come to the kitchen" Sara added.
She smiled and left. This little incident didn't seem to make her flinch at all. She was so much more laid back at her parent's.
Half an hour later Grissom was dressed and went to breakfast. When he got to the kitchen Boby was cooking various breakfast items and Libby was sitting at the table talking away with Catherine, Sara, Daven and some strangers.
"Ah Gil!. Good morning sleepy head!. Come over here and meet our guests. This is Martha and Harold Kimworth. They're on their way to visit their daughter in San Francisco. She's just given birth. Isn't that sweet?. This is Brianny Taylor. She's currently touring cross country across America and she has come to visit Good ole Tamales Bay for two days. She's just finished a geography degree at Yale. And last but not least this is Mr Timley. He's been recently widowed and is now soaking up the bay to help clear his head. We were just discussing Mr Timley's woes and giving his some advice. Maybe you could help, Mr Grissom. But promise me that if we let you into this circle of trust that you won't judge. Promise?" Libby said.
"I'll try" Grissom replied bombarded.
"Try harder!. I'll be very disappointed in you Mr Grissom if you upset our guest. Now you go on Mr Timley and you tell him your dilemma. I trust him and I think you should too" Libby replied.
"Well, I've met a young lady friend back home. She's twenty five. But she's a real sweet girl. But I just don't know if it's too soon to move on" Mr Timley replied.
"How long ago were you widowed?" Grissom asked.
Mr Timley looked like he was about to cry. Libby took his hand.
"We're here for you Mr Timley. Just let it all out. If you need to cry you cry" Libby reassured him.
"Two weeks" Mr Timley replied.
Suddenly Mr Timley begun to run off crying,
"I'm sorry. Please excuse me" Mr Timley exclaimed.
"He can not be serious!" Sara exclaimed when he'd left.
"Sara Sidle!. Do not judge!" Libby demanded.
"Poor guy. Sara and Gil! Stop sniggering!. Don't think I can't hear you!" Libby demanded.
"He's out the circle of trust now" Sara sniggered.
"He was a bit of a freak wasn't he. Ah, and I bet she's only after his money!. He's seventy nine" Libby admitted.
There was one final stranger left unintroduced. The woman held her hand out to shake with Grissom.
"Hi. Libby's obviously forgotten to introduce me so I'll introduce myself. Hi I'm Linda Oakley. I'm Daven's mom" Linda introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you Linda" Grissom gestured as he shook her hand.
"You two must have met already!. Why Linda's always here!. Have you two seriously not met?. Silly me!" Libby said.
"So Sara, what exciting plans have you got for your friends today?" Linda asked.
"Umm, I don't know" Sara replied.
"How about going down the bay?" Libby suggested.
"Oh yes. Can we, Sara?" Catherine exclaimed.
"No I don't think that's a good idea" Sara replied.
"Sara Sidle don't be a pussy. This is our town too" Libby told her off.
"Fine. Grissom, Catherine. Get your coats on. We're going to see the circus" Sara exclaimed getting up.
"Umm, can I have some breakfast first?. I'm starving" Grissom asked.
"No Grissom. If you want to go see the bay, we need to go now" Sara demanded.
"Don't be silly, Sara. Stop acting like a child. This is so unlike you. You go to town all the time. You've been a changed person since your friends have come to stay. You sulk the whole time, you don't speak to your father, you refuse the see to the community who love you because you seem to be ashamed of them and you now you're having a tantrum" Libby said.
"Most of that is untrue. For a start all dad and I used to do is argue - we haven't talked since I was a teenager. So this should be a break for your ears, mother. Secondly, I am not having a tamtrum. Grissom go ahead and eat but we're leaving in an hour" Sara defended.
"Sara, can I have a word?" Boby asked a bit peeved.
"Nope" Sara replied defiantly.
Boby grabbed Sara by the arm and pulled her out the room.
"Boby!" Libby called after him.
Once in another room Boby started having a go at Sara,
"That's it!. I've had enough!. I'm tired of your jibes and comments. You've got to get over this, Sara!. You're acting like a broken record!. You've been acting like a pain ever since Alaney came to stay with you" Boby shouted.
"Get over this!. It's not that easy to get over!. You have no idea do you what a pig you are, do you?" Sara said angrily.
Sara walked off.
"Stop it!" Boby called after her.
Meanwhile in the kitchen Libby was tending to her guests. She got up and got Gil a plate,
"Gil, what would you like to eat?. We have many types of waffle, many types of tea, many types of coffee bean and many types of juice. We have toasts with an assortment of many jams and we have many types of cereal. And if you're really sweet to Boby - he might even cook you a veggie sausage. Anyone for seconds?" Libby offered.
"Your not going to offer us meat at all during our visit are you?" Grissom asked.
"Why would I do that?. Didn't Sara explain?. We can't stand to cook meat" Libby explained.
"So how come Sara ate meat then?" Gil asked amused.
"Pure rebellion. She gets that from her momma - and her dad" Libby laughed.
Sara returned to the kitchen.
"Oh good your back, sweetie. Now once breakfast is over I want you to go down to the shops and buy some dinner for tonight. O.k.?. What would you like Catherine? Grissom?. Daven? Linda? Are you staying tonight?" Libby said.
"Daven is. I can't" Linda replied.
"Oh but you didn't come last night either Linny!. Oh o.k.!. Well, what do the rest of you want tonight?" Libby sulked.
"Yeah anything you can have anything vegetarian that Wal-Mart has to offer" Sara said sarcastically.
"You dare, Sara Sidle!. You dare!. I will not have any of that corporation rubbish in here!" Libby replied angrily.
Sara laughed.
"Libby, she's pushing your buttons. She's joking. Sara stop it" Daven laughed.
Sara drove herself, Catherine, Grissom and Alaney down to the sea front.
"I have an hour then I'm meeting Janey down the beach" Alaney explained.
They started by taking a walk by the seafront.
"It must have been amazing growing up beside the sea" Catherine gestured friendly.
"The bay has its ups and downs" Sara replied bluntly.
"Ignore her. It's wonderful!. You can sun bath any day of the week and the men are tip top tanned and sea breezed!. But I suppose Sara isn't really the sunbathing type. But I hear as a child she loved the beach" Laney commented.
As they were walking along Catherine and Grissom noticed something strange. They could have swore that people were giving them double takes or snide looks. They could have swore that some were even whispering about them. Maybe they weren't used to strangers they thought - but then again - this is a tourist town!.
Sara spotted an ice cream parlour and smiled.
"Let's go get an ice cream" Sara suggested and walk in.
Everyone followed. They walked in and Sara was immediately greeted by the owners. It was obvious by their accent that they were Southern.
"Oh my goodness!. Sara Sidle!. How are you my dear?. I haven't seen you in - oh my! - ages!. How are you pumpkin?" the woman owner said.
"I'm alright. How are you?" Sara asked.
"I'm good. Glad to be back at work after that year off I had because of my heart" Margaret commented.
"I know I've been here four times this year looking for you" Sara replied.
"Last thing I heard you were still in Las Vegas working as a policewoman. You were always so good at science why did you give up on that?" Margaret gestured.
"I haven't, Margaret. I'm a scientist working in the police forensic lab. I'm not a policewoman" Sara replied.
"That's that not what your momma said!. She said you were a policewoman" Margaret replied.
"Ignore my momma" Sara replied.
"Did Sara just call Libby 'momma'?" Catherine whispered to Grissom.
"So pumpkin, whose your friends and what would they like?. Anne darling, take these people's orders and give it them free. I'll do you Miss Sidle - I know exactly what you want and you missy. Alaney Rose! - how are you my sweet?. Another genius!. Your clever people. Your cousins Janey and Michelle were in here a few days ago. They mentioned you guys were coming and said they were real excited. It's made their day. You guys really are close are you?" Margaret said.
Margaret suddenly looked angry and started staring at one of the customers,
"What you staring at?. Just get out. I don't want your racist scum in here!" Margaret shouted.
Catherine had noticed this customer had constantly been giving Sara and her guests dirty looks.
"Thanks Margaret" Sara said embarrassed.
"Ignore them pumpkin. They're just ignorant. Their scared of what they don't understand. Your always welcome here sugar, you know that. Here take some free cookies. Here's thirty - that should cover all the community and your guests" Margaret gestured.
"No don't be silly Margaret. Anyway, my mom's baked enough to make the whole community obese for at least ten years" Sara responded.
Margaret laughed.
"How is your mama?. She left that pig father of yours yours?" Margaret asked.
Sara took her ice cream and laughed.
"I'll see you around Margaret" Sara replied.
Sara went to leave but had a sudden thought.
"Hey Margaret, who's running the food store today?"
"Umm Saturday, Let's see. It's - oh gees! - it's Mr and Mrs Jenson, baby" Margaret replied.
"Great!. It was going to be bad enough" Sara said.
"Hey Sara, we love all of you" Margaret gestured.
"I know thanks Margaret. See you later" Sara replied.
Sara left and the others followed. Grissom and Catherine were left very confused.
A few shops down was a food store. Sara and the others walked in. As soon as they walked in the noise in the store gradually quietened down to near silence. Some of the people gave Sara and her guests looks and some appeared to even be whispering about her. Gradually the noise increased to normal volume again. Sara and the others went round the store picking stuff for dinner and getting other necessities. Grissom and Catherine noticed that some people tried to avoid Sara and Laney or walked away when either of the pair was near them. It was like Sara and Alaney had the plague. Finally they got everything they needed and approached the counter. The cashiers were immediately hostile,
"Well look who it is?. I thought the town had finally got rid of you. One down more to go I say. Your lucky I'm even serving you" Mrs Jenson said.
The Jensons seemed to be in their fifties and both had California born accents.
"Leave her alone, Shirley. She's not like those freaks. She's relatively normal and she's real smart. So's the other one" Mr Jenson commented.
"No, she's weird too. A freak just like the rest of them. Maybe she doesn't realise it yet - but she's got camp cuckoo in her. Just look at the way she dresses" Shirley Jenson commented.
"Stop calling them freaks!. And don't bother Mr Jenson cos your wife's right - I am one of them. Their my family and my community so if your calling them freaks you may as well call me one too!. Don't talk about my community in that way!. You know nothing about us!. You haven't even been up there. All you've heard is stupid nonsense rumours. All of you! - Yeah don't think I don't know your staring and listening. This is our town too and we're entitled to live here. Freedom of choice!" Sara shouted.
"Your polluting this town and your lot are a danger to our kids. Your no better than gypsies!" Shirley Jenson shouted back.
The audience gasped at this word. Sara paused and then retaliated furiously.
"My family can get it's hands on thirty million dollars at the snapped of their fingers. We have roots in mansions and country clubs. You couldn't get your hands on twenty dollars!. And the nearest you have to roots is the vegetables you sell!. My grandparents have more respect and honour in their little finger than your whole family does overall. My parents, myself and Alaney have all gone to or are going to Ivy League schools. No one in your family hasn't even been to college!. Your racist bits of rubbish without two brain cells to rub between any of you. I would rather be a freak than a racist ignorant jealous twit like you and all the small town small minded people are!. Good day Mr and Mrs Jenson and good day to you all - I hope some day you all grow up!" Sara declared.
Sara left money on the counter and stormed out with her groceries. Catherine and Grissom were left gob smacked. Suddenly a lot about Sara Sidle made sense.
Catherine and Grissom glanced over at Sara as they walked along and she sat crying on the beach.
"We can't just leave her there when she's upset" Catherine commented.
"She said she wanted space. We'll go back in a minute" Grissom replied equally worried.
Sara sat sobbing. Not only did she feel embarrassed - no matter how many times she'd heard she still took the comments offesnsively. Suddenly she heard a familiar male voice,
"I always breaks my heart when I see a beautiful woman on the beach not wearing a bikini!. I pray every night that one day I'll catch Sara Sidle in a bikini - it never happens!" the male joked cheekily.
Sara turned and he saw her tears. He was late 20's or early 30's, blond hair and good looking. His clothes suggested he had some connection to camp cuckoo. Though he did sport some modern items. He seemed to have a cheeky streak and was a bit of a comedian. But he also seemed to care alot about Sara. He acted like he had a huge ego but you could tell it was a joke.
"Sunbeam, what's wrong?. Why spoil a beautiful face?" the male asked.
"Seb!" Sara sobbed and fell into his arms crying.
"Well, this isn't the welcome I expected but it's pretty good. I always knew you were a tart, Sara Sidle - you'll fall into the arms of any man who gives you a line. Not that I'm complaining Tell me - what's wrong?. It can't be your mom" Seb replied more sympathetically.
"I just had an argument with the Jensons in front of the whole food store!. My friends were there and they heard all the terrible things they said!" Sara confessed.
"Oh baby!. Just ignore them - you usually do. What did your friends say?" Seb commented.
"They're on my side. They were really nice" Sara responsed.
There was a pause of silence as Sara regained her composure.
"So what you doing here?. Let me guess" Sara joked.
"I'm fishing for scantily clad women, of course" Seb replied cheekily.
Sara gave a small laugh and tried to give a smile but she was feeling too low. Seb tried to tickle her.
"Stop it!" Sara laughed.
"I will make you smile!. I will!" he replied playfully.
Sara couldn't hold it in anymore and she finally gave a smile.
"There we got. That wasn't too hard" Seb gloated.
"So how come you've been here since yesterday and you haven't come to see any of us?" Seb asked.
Sara looked at him guiltily and vulnerably.
"I'll be along tonight, I promise. My friends might come too. They've already met the stereotype, so the real thing can't be that bad" Sara agreed reluctantly.
"Lucky us!. We gonna see any action from those hips?" Seb asked as he played with her hips cheekily.
"What kind of action?!?" Sara replied half shocked and half joking.
"No!!!. Urghh!!. Don't be so disgusting - your like a sister to me!. You know very well I meant dancing!. You get getting snappy though. That was a good one - I'm impressed. So you gonna do any of us the honour of a dance?" Seb exclaimed.
"Probably not" Sara replied coyly.
Alaney, Janey, Catherine and Grissom came back to the pair.
"Sara, just asked me to have sex with her. I am disgusted!" Seb joked to the others.
"I did not!" Sara exclaimed embarrassed and whacked his arm.
"Sidle, you always know if your ever desperate for some nookie - I'm here for!" Seb joked cheekily.
Sara didn't know whether to laugh or die of embarrassment - so she did both at the same time. Finally Sara introduced Seb,
"Grissom, Catherine. Meet Seb. Seb, these are my friends from work" Sara introduced.
Seb held out his hand to shake theirs,
"Hi. Sara and I are like brother and sister unless she wants to sleep with me" Seb said to amuse them.
"Ignore his boldness. Their not used to that, Seb" Sara commented.
"Conservative?" Seb asked.
"Actually Catherine used to be a stripper" Laney added.
"Well wahey!. I don't know whether to say good for you or say that is terrible because I don't believe in the degradation of women!" Seb replied cheekily comedic.
"Oh yeah!. So you didn't just ask me to parade around in a bikini?. And your not here 'fishing for scantily clad women'?" Sara joked.
"She lies!. It's all lies!. My policy on bikinis is 'no no' due to the way it degrades women. I do have hippy roots after all. Therefore I am only here fishing for scantily clad women to cover them up and return them home!. Starting with you Janey!" Seb declared comedically.
Seb grabbed his towel, put it round Janey and pick her up carrying her away.
"Sebastian Stop it!" Janey exclaimed laughing.
"Excuse me I have to take this disgraced lady home!. I don't know Janey, your Uncle Lenny takes you in as his own and you repay him by parading round like a tart!" Seb joked.
"I thought this was meant to be about women's rights?!?" Janey corrected him joking.
"That too!" Seb added.
"Seb, put her down. Your do your back in!" Sara ordered him gentlely.
"I apologise. He is mad" Sara explained to Catherine and Grissom.
Seb put Janey down and became serious.
"Seriously though, Sara's friend. You shouldn't degrade yourself like that. I know I joke about bikinis but that's harmless. You really should have more respect for yourself. Your not an object. Sex should be about the pleasure of equally enjoying an pleasurable activity. I've never stepped into a strip joint. That isn't what sexual pleasure should be about. At least not if your using a woman to get it" Seb said.
"Well I don't know whether to thank you or slap you" Catherine replied.
"Just make sure you don't turn out like Sara's mom" Seb commented.
Sara was gob-smacked he'd said this.
"What's wrong with Sara's mom?" Catherine asked
"Don't Seb" Sara responded angrily.
"Libby used to defend minority rights. Now she's sold out" Seb explained..
"Maybe it's a lot easier than you think, Seb" Laney defended.
"As I was saying. And we as a community aren't going to stand for it much longer" Seb explained.
"No, I think you will Seb. But your heart's in the right place" Sara replied.
She kissed his cheek and he hugged her. Then Seb left on a somber mood.
"What's he talking about?" Grissom asked.
"Nothing" Sara replied.
Later on that day, Boby noticed Alaney sitting in the living room and decided to approach her.
"Hello. How are you? - Laney" Boby asked trying to be nice.
"Err, Fine" Laney replied suspicious.
"I've got an idea. You want to go to a coffee house and get to know each other?" Boby asked out the blue.
"No" Laney replied immediately scared.
"May I ask why?" Boby asked.
"Well, err. Well, frankly you scare me. Your not a very nice man. So, a) I don't like you and b) I don't trust you. Plus I don't know why you would want to when you appear to hate me" Laney replied.
"Understandable. Listen I've decided I want to get to know you. See how it goes and I might start to be nice to you afterwards. Maybe even like you eventually. Let me try and explain. You see Sara is part of my family and your part of Sara's - Umm" Boby explained.
"Family?" Laney suggested
"No! - your not Sara's family!. Your not that unless your related to her and your not. Let me start again. I love Sara and she loves you for some strange reason. So -" Boby reiterated sort of angry.
"So your going to try to love me?" Laney suggested.
"No!. Stop interrupting me!. You've got it all wrong. I love Sara - and Sara's loves you - because your her - her - her play thing!" Boby explained.
"Her play thing?. You make me sound like her doll" Laney replied unimpressed.
"No! - your not her doll either!. But I know!. Your like Sara's pet!. Your the equivalent to Sara's pet dog" Boby explained.
"Are you saying I'm a bitch?" Laney responded.
"Look I don't have a sense of humour - so try it. Your Sara's pet - that means she's not like a mother to you but she looks after you and cares about you. That's the perfect allegory!. So as Sara's parents we have a responsibility to look after you so she doesn't get upset - because she cares about you because you're her pet. Understand?" Boby explained.
"So you do care about me?" Laney asked.
"Kind of" Boby admitted digusted by the idea.
"Boby has feelings!" Laney teased.
"Shut up!" Boby shouted.
Boby gave Laney a cold stare and she stopped.
"This is my only offer to be nice. If you don't take it now I may never offer again. I'm in a good mood. So let me show you that I can be nice. How about you join Libby and I in the kitchen for an afternoon tea?" Boby offered.
"We could do that" Laney agreed reluctantly.
Boby smiled and they went to the kitchen. Laney was quite confused and suspicious (as was Sara later when she heard about this afternoon tea). Libby was partly surprised, partly confused, partly suscipious and partly happy. The tea actually went quite well. Alaney even begun to comprehend why Libby might love Boby. Laney saw a new friendlier side to Boby that she had only seen him direct at some select other people but never at herself until now. She didn't know whether it was real and it wasn't overly sweet but it was more humane than usual. For the first time in her life, Boby was actually nice to Laney.