Founder's Day
Sunday
Rick enters Michonne's house and meets organized chaos. Packed boxes and filled bags cover the kitchen counter and table. He drags an ice chest behind him and balances a large bag of ice on his shoulder before placing it in sink. "Gorgeous, I'm ready for my 'Honey Do List'," he laughs. I am ridiculously in love. He wore a simple white one pocket t-shirt, worn jeans, cross trainers and his new favorite Colt cap.
She greets him with a warm embrace and a bites his earlobe. "I bought you something," she steps back and twirls modeling her white cotton boy shorts trimmed in black with a delectable amount of ass cheeks hanging out the back. She squeals in delight as he chases her through the house.
They are tucked in the packed car and he continues to pout. "Why deny a desperate man. It is cruel and unusual punishment. The Constitution has rules or did you skip that class," he quips.
She laughs, "By all means make your case."
"First, let's pretend what you're wearing meets the standard for panties. Second, those cheeks are cold and my hands could warm them. Finally, shorts force me to stare at your thighs. My face expects to be buried between those thighs. None of which can happen unless we stay in the house," he whines with his free hand resting on her inner thigh while he drives.
Michonne chose a white tank trimmed with lace, modest white denim shorts, her Gorgeous cross-fit trainers and a cropped short sleeve black sweater in case of evening chill. At the last minute she added a stack of thin rhinestone bangles that danced brilliantly in the sunlight.
She lifts her right leg over squeezing his hand between her thighs and he groans in appreciation. Michonne unzips his jeans and slips one finger inside stroking his dick. "We will discuss my sentencing tonight," she bites her bottom lip.
Glenn and Maggie decided to spend the day helping at the Greene Veterinary Clinic. They set up the outdoor pens and now they are selecting puppies and dogs to display hoping to find them a home. "I appreciate y'all spending the day here," Herschel greets.
"Our pleasure, Glenn responds, I have a good feeling about today. We are going to find families for these cats and dogs."
"I hope you are right. Look how excited they are?" Maggie gestures to the puppy pen. They wrestle and fall over each other. She continues to organize clipboards at the outdoor table. Herschel sets up a sidewalk sign offering free health screening.
Jolene and Jeffrey Grimes arrive at the reserved picnic table that seats 6. From their table you can see the bandstand, watch the children's bicycle parade from the adjacent patch of grass and the view the closing firework show. "How many trips to the car do I have to make?" Jeffrey pouts.
"Do not start complaining. Do you even remember the last Founder's Day we spent as a family?" she gives him a pointed look. She chose cropped denim jeans and a pink ¾ sleeve gingham button down to compliment her low wedge espadrilles.
He rubs the back of his head pondering her question, "Damn, has it been that long?"
"Exactly, this is the beginning of a new tradition. Grimes 2.0 with our special table, watching our grandchildren in the parade, making their favorite foods," she carries on wistfully.
"Jolene," he warns.
"Boundaries…I'll be fine once I see them. Go get the next load," she instructs diligently unpacking table clothes, napkins and plates when someone calls her name.
"Mrs. Grimes…Mrs. Grimes, let me help you with that," the voice yells with enthusiasm.
Jolene turns and meets a blast from way back-Lori. Oh, high holy hell-not today. Be a fence Lord. Be a fence.
Lori arrived thirty minutes early to search for Mrs. Grimes in the large crowd. She starts to panic as more and more families and people arrive and it became difficult to see and move amongst the crowd, but she found her. Thank God. "It's been awhile, how are you?" she reaches to embrace the woman.
Jolene steps back, "Yes, about a decade or more I would guess," she retorts with a tight smile.
"What would you like me to do?" Lori offers with a bright eyes and a wide smile.
Before she can open her mouth, a voice rings out from behind her. "Not a thing. Ms. Jolene and I have everything under control. Thanks for stopping by," Michonne smiles expectantly waiting for her to exit. No that heffa did not pull this back door stunt out of her ass.
Lori is stunned silent and frozen and Jolene is too excited to care. "You made it," grabbing Michonne in a tight embrace.
"Of course, let's get started on our table," she encourages.
Lori wanders away trying to make sense of what transpired. I was so close.
"Look at the most beautiful women here," Rick flirts carrying a box and bags.
"Nice try…keep unloading… and help you dad," they respond in unison.
He watches them for a moment with joy in his eyes before jogging off to retrieve the remaining items.
Sasha tries to re-dress Daryl for the third time when his patience snaps. "Enough, the only thing that can hide what you did to me in your sex crazed attack is a turtle neck and it is too damn hot for that," he laughs.
"It looks so bad," she eyes the scratches on his shoulder worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
"Here…I'll add the plaid shirt over the black tank," he compromises.
"I really am sorry," she peers up at him.
"I'm not, let's go," he throws her up over his shoulder while she giggles and heads toward the back exit stairs. He prays she doesn't notice his hyper-vigilance about her safety.
At Sophia's direction Carl wore the distressed denim jeans Michonne made him buy, black Air Force One's and a vintage, black 'Justice League' t-shirt. He bends over setting up one of the outdoor tables when members of the 'Thirsty Crew' approach. "Hey Carl…Are you working the whole day? Maybe we could hang out?"
He stands and they deflate. "Never mind…see you around…does she have to put her name on him…I quit," they mumble and retreat in defeat. Carl shrugs and Sophia squeals in laughter watching from inside through the window.
Dwight returns to the rooftop of the abandoned building while the town is occupied. He studies the video he paid Jake to record. He walks to the spot on the left side of the enormous heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit and lies down. He removes the unloaded rifle strapped to his back and practices his shot, "Boom (slide and click)…boom (slide and click)…I'm the smart one now," he imagines Daryl's lifeless body falling to the ground.
Founder's Day roars in the background. The Community Band plays, people sing, children's laughter fills the air, bicycle bells ring out and joyous conversations float on the gentle Georgia breeze. Michonne and Jolene snap pictures together, of each other and the finished table. The full red table cloth, layered with a half yellow table cloth, topped with an apple print runner down the center. A large wide jar filled with every variety of apples sits in the center. A platter of chicken salad sandwiches, a two layer dessert tower adorned with apple tarts drizzled with caramel, two bowls of sweet potato and zucchini chips-a picnic bonanza!
Jeffrey and Rick join them with the last ice chests filled with water, soda, lemonade and popsicles. They laugh and talk endlessly while preparing their plates. Before anyone can lift a fork Rick addresses the table, "May I say something?"
"Sure," Jeffrey is surprised and intrigued.
Rick scratches his left brow with the back of his thumb, "I'm grateful…I'm glad we are here together and, he turns to Michonne, and blessed to have you by my side."
She turns to his parents, "Isn't he wonderful," her voice fills with adoration.
Jolene nods while Jeffrey pulls his emotions together, "Well said Son."
Sasha left Daryl at the beer stand and waits in line for a smoked turkey leg and a roasted ear of white corn. The man behind her attempts to offer polite conversation, "The line is moving quickly."
She turns slightly, "Yeah, that's good. There is so much to see and do."
"Maybe I could get your name…you could show me around. I'm new in town," he flirts.
"Not an option. My Man would not appreciate it and I never disrespect him," she turns forward closing the conversation.
"I apologize."
The cashier hands Sasha her order and she weaves through the crowd and back to Daryl's side never looking back.
Jake steps out of line and follows her for a short distance taking pictures and video with his phone before escaping down an alley.
"Wow, a whole leg of meat. I must have done something good," he teases.
She smirks, "What do you normally do today?"
"Nothing, I usually work foot patrol," he shrugs and chews.
Sasha grabs him by his free hand pulling him down the sidewalk, "I have the best idea," her eyes twinkle devilishly.
Mike visits food trucks, vendors and business owners of brick and mortar establishments. He decided to use Founder's Day as a public relations campaign. He needs to establish a credible persona of selfless public servant in order for his plan to work. He enters Ms. Eva's Café and asks to speak to the owner. "Hey, I'm Tyreese. This is a family business and my mother is out enjoying the day," he offers politely after emerging from the kitchen.
"Of course, I'm the new Public Defender Mike Owen and I wanted to take the opportunity to get to know upstanding citizens such as you," he lays on the charm.
"Thank you, please take a seat at the counter," Tyreese gestures to the first available floor mounted stool.
Carl leans against a tree facing the bandstand waiting for Justice's performance to begin. Parents and grandparents clamor against each other in the front rows with cameras, phones and tablets set to record. Xavier moves to the microphone and belts out a soulful rendition of Quincy Jones Tomorrow.
The miniature ballerinas dressed in a rainbow of pastel colors float across the stage twirling and posing in perfect synchronization. Xavier hits a series of falsetto notes and Justice leaps from the wings soaring through the air effortlessly. Her face is a picture of beautiful bliss.
She lands softly, turns, moves on Pointe through the rows and taps each girl with her wand. Justice is a vision in her white tutu adorned with crystals reflecting all the sun's last rays. They finish the remaining steps together as the crowd cheers wildly.
Moments later Carl stands by the side of the stage at the bottom of the steps. "Uncle Abe, are you crying?" he asks in shock.
"Of course, these rug rats get me every year," he hands out giant ice cream cones from a tray to the exiting dancers.
Justice descends the steps, "Hey Bae, can you carry this for me," she hands him a large laundry basket filled with supplies.
They make their way across the plaza to the dance studio. Once inside he places the basket against a wall. Justice reaches up to remove the tiara crown from around her bun when Carl grabs her hands and slowly brings them down around her back, pulling her into him.
He listens to the pounding of his heart and her short shallow breathes, "Look at me please," he commands quietly. Shepeers up with wide brown eyes, her entire body trembling in anticipation. He leans down and gives her a chaste loving kiss. She gasps and her lips part slightly. She rises up on her Pointe shoes and returns the kiss much deeper. He releases her hands and embraces her waist sealing their mouths together with meaningful longing.
The kiss is broken by the sound of giggling. Justice lowers herself and rests her forehead on his chest. "Hey Ting and Ling," he manages to respond. They skip out of the studio singing k-i-s-s-i-n-g.
"You look like an angel…My Angel," he compliments.
"Thank you…but I need to change," her cheeks warm as she blushes.
"I don't think so," he calls after her.
She is halfway across the room when she looks back over her shoulder and winks, "Nice shirt."
Jesus and Quinn cheer obnoxiously from their seated positions on the grass once Xavier arrives. "A Star is Born," Jesus laughs uncontrollably.
Quinn weeps and wipes her eyes, "The baby was dancing the entire concert."
He grabs a container of food from the picnic basket. "That was the most fun I have had on stage in years," he smiles around a mouthful of Asiago cheese and vegetable risotto.
Folks pass by waving and complimenting the family. A few stop and strike up pleasant conversation. "When are you due? Boy or girl?" No one asks about marital status or orientation.
"Hmm, I guess there is more to Kings' County than I thought," Quinn concludes.
Night descends and everyone looks to the sky at the colorful, dynamic firework display. Their hearts filled with hope and dreams for the future.
AN: I know a lot happened and I hope this was not a painful read. Remember the entire community came together at once. Who am I kidding? I got lost in the fluff. LOL!