text:
By: Karen B.
Summary: Season one. Just after the pilot. The rules of the road are helpful in more ways than one. Sam's first nightmare after Jessica died didn't come right away. A little story of what went on down the road after leaving Pala Alto.
Declaimer: Not the owner
Rated: Been done before… but here you go again. Few f-bombs to watch out for. That's about it.
Quote: House rules, Sammy. Driver picks the music. Shotgun shuts his cakehole – Dean Winchester
Sam not only didn't want to leave Pala Alto, he was adamant about staying, but we'd come up empty and leaving was the only hand to play.
Big brother wasn't only watching out for little brother, big brother was taking charge.
I'd handled my hard-to-handle 6' 4" numb little brother the only way I knew how when he was being a stubborn ass. Told the skinny bitch how it was all going to go down. Either Sam was getting in the car under his own steam or 'call me crazy' I was going to rob a bank, get knock down drunk and pick a fight with the biggest guy in the next bar I saw, or if that didn't work I was going to jump off the nearest bridge.
When my threats of bodily harm to myself didn't work, I grabbed Sam by the arm and told him to get in the fucking car. We were leaving.
"Now!" I'd shouted at him.
"No, Dean. I can't," He said all cool-calm on the outside, bloody-raw on the inside. "You don't understand. I –"Sam choked on whatever he was about to say, instead his face darkened with anger. The rock-like strength he'd been trying to fool me with fortified further as his hand's curled into snug fists, his usual puppy-eyed self now anguished and bristled like an angry dog – a man falling to pieces and fighting it all the way.
That was all right by me. He was allowed to be angry. Hell, I was angry. He was allowed to fight for composure and control. It was the Winchester way of surviving. But enough was enough. Camping out in this town had gotten us nowhere and we were losing time.
"Sammy." I opened the passenger door of the Impala. "We can't do anything else here." I waved for him to get in.
Sam shook his head no, jaw muscle going into a spasm as he glanced away.
I ducked my head, flashing my own set of puppy eyes at him. "Sammy, please. Come with me."
Sam shut his eyes tight as if he were trying to concentrate over a bad migraine.
I sensed his hesitation, could practically hear his heart hammering in his chest. See the paper, scissors, rock battle he played in his head by himself. This town had been his and Jessica's home. Sam never liked moving around. Dad and I were suited to it, but Sam had a hard time adjusting. He always hated leaving places he'd stayed at long enough to call home in return for what he called empty, silent roads leading nowhere good. But Sam also knew the flip side of that coin, the danger that came from staying still too long.
Sam raised his eyes and looked at me. "When do you want to leave?" he asked in a small voice.
"Sooner the better," I said softly. "I already checked us out of the motel and our things are in the trunk."
Sam unfurled his fists, blew out a long held breath and slid into the car, taking the door from me and slamming it shut.
Relieved, I didn't have to rob a bank, get my ass kicked, or jump off a bridge; I slid behind the wheel of my Baby, revved her up, popped in a Metallica tape, pushed the petal down and drove away from Pala Alto.
Hitting the open road wasn't the joyous 'reunited' occasion I'd always had dreamt it would be. It went without saying, but I said it anyway over-and-over to myself: Sam was a complete mess.
To the untrained eye, he'd kept control, stiff and ridged. He'd done so all through Jessica's funeral, through the lowering of her casket, through the constantly hugging, and crying family and friends. Through our research and interviewing, through it all, he'd remained straight-faced and stoic.
He didn't sleep much, but when he did nod off I prepared for the nightmares. But the nightmares never came. Even in sleep, Sam somehow kept the pain locked up and at bay.
When we'd picked through their burnt-up apartment, trying to identify and salvage what was left of their charred belongings, I thought for sure he'd break then. But Sam remained solemn and quite the whole time, only a slight tremble in his hands. It was disturbing to say the least.
In Sam's eyes I'd seen what I'd never seen in him before.
Just as there was nothing left of their lives together, there wasn't much emotion leaking out of my brother. Everything had been destroyed, including my brother's heart. But I knew it was all a shield.
The kid always loved intensely, there was no middle ground for Sam, and accordingly, he hurt intensely. This silent, blind, courageous act of his was just that…an act.
I tried to talk to him, to somehow help to ease his pain, or more like reveal his pain, but Sam was stubborn and he held strong, kept his head up. He had a good game going, but I knew better. One lone tear was all he was willing to allow himself that first night, and not one tear more or less.
Sam. He just wasn't ready to break, wasn't ready to do the whole grieving thing.
We had work to do, and that was all.
Sam just wanted to suffer silently, like a wounded animal trapped in a corner.
I allowed it…for now.
But now that we were on the open road, what I didn't allow was for Sam to be alone for a second. Even during bathroom runs, I made sure to stand outside the door of the john, waiting and listening. Wouldn't let him pay for gas or wander off alone. The break would come and when it did…it would come fast and hard and I needed to be on the ground floor ready to catch him.
The heart can't be reasoned with. The heart did or the heart died, and Sam's heart always did. 'Huh?' I shook my head, chick-flick moment with myself. Holy crap I was going crazy.
I glanced over at Sam. The window was rolled all the way down; it was always rolled all the way down. I could only suspect it was to help him to keep breathing as I knew a part of my brother just wanted to die.
Sam's head lolled back, rocking against the seat, mouth slightly open, gusts of wind whipping his greasy unwashed hair around his face. Every pointy strand looking like a sharp lethal weapon, but still he slept on, deeply and profoundly. He was shaggy and he was scruffy and he was skinny. Like some stray dog wandering lost and alone.
All Sam wanted was for me to drive.
So I did.
I'd been driving day and night and night and day for three full days now. No diner stops. No bar stops. No motel stops. No 'hey, let's check out that giant ball of string' stops. Pit stops were few, pulling over only when Baby was running on fumes and sputtering. We stopped just long enough to purchase gas and junk food.
Side of the road stops were even less, and only because my eyeballs were either swimming in yellow piss, or I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, or both. I'd catch a few quick winks, while Sam either had his nose in a book or his lap top. Eventually the laws of nature would win out over him, and he'd doze off some, but not for long. He'd wake back up, shake me awake, give me the stink-eye, and then we'd be right back out on the open road again. Kid had driven himself into a state of exhaustion. He'd hardly eaten and barely slept since Jessica's death.
Today Sam spent the morning staring at the white line, taking his eyes off the road only because he had to blink now and again. Three hours back, he'd finally passed out.
One hour back, I finally decided enough was enough. It was time to put the rules of the road into effect.
I didn't even know what state we were in as I pulled off at the very next diner I came across.
Bob's Big Boy, home of the double-decker cheeseburger.
It was a 50's style looking diner with a seven-foot tall, cartoonish looking statue of an overweight boy, who I assumed was Bob, standing out front. He had big blue eyes, pompadour styled hair, wore a white tee shirt with the words Bob's Big Boy printed across it over which he wore a pair of friggin' overalls that looked more like a red and white checkered table cloth, than pants. Guy had a really creepy smile too, and if it weren't for the giant-assed double-decker cheeseburger he held in his hand high over his head, I'd have kept driving.
We hit a speed bump and out of the corner of my eye, I watched Sam sit up bolt straight and glance over at the gas gage; which was still half full, unlike my bro who was less than half empty.
"Dean, why are we stopping here?" He sat forward, staring hard at Bob as we drove past and wrinkling his nose.
"Meals on wheels." I licked my lips.
"Huh?" Sam arched his eyebrows.
"This place has a carhop." I smiled brightly. "My treat."
"No," Sam protested, suddenly not only looking less than half-empty, but half-sick as well.
"Come on, Dude." I tapped my hands excitedly on the wheel trying to be casual. "Hot chicks in miniskirts, Sam, all roller-skating right up to the car window." I waggled my brows.
"Dean, I'm not hungry." Sam crossed his arms in defiance.
I snickered. Sam was a full-grown man, but I still saw the kid in him every time he did shit like that.
"Rules of the road, Sammy, never drive on an empty stomach."
Sam didn't argue further, looking away out the window, eyes squinting to slits.
He knew rule number one of the rules of the road. Don't fuck with the rules. Ha.
I drove us past the long line of cars searching for a parking spot. Radios blared and the smell of onion rings filled the air.
"There." I found a spot on the end, pulled in, put Baby in park, and shut off her engine.
"Dean, I said I'm not hun –"
"Let's see here," I talked right over Sam, ignoring his protests. "What to order?" I rubbed my hands together in anticipation, reading from the menu that was displayed on the post next to the car. "Chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad..." I frowned. "Sammy, what's a Black Cow?"
"It's a root beer float, Dean," Sam groaned crossing his arms tighter.
"Stop being bitchy."
"I'm not being bitchy and I'm not eating." Sam threw himself back against the seat.
"Yes you are." I smiled and bat my eyelashes at him. "And yes…you are."
"Pfft." Sam pressed his lips together.
"Good. Shut up." I glanced out the window and caught sight of the pretty-faced girl, wearing hot-pink shorts and hotter-pink skates gliding cheerfully over. "Can I get you something, handsome?" she leaned forward, peering into the window, working the wad of pink gum in her mouth.
"Absolutely, sweetheart," I grinned up at her suggestively. She could get me a lot, but right now all I needed was to get some food into Sam. "I'll have the double cheeseburger with the works; hold the mayo, large fry, large Coke and a piece of apple pie for desert."
"And for you, sir?" Pinkie peered over at Sam, blowing a bubble inside a bubble, and then crackling the gum loudly.
Sam wiggled in his seat uncomfortably, still pressing his lips together in refusal.
"He'll have the melted cheese on toast, and a Black Cow," I took charge.
"Coming right up." She winked at me then glided off.
I settled back into my seat to wait, monitoring Sam's emotional state.
He looked mad, but I could tell the nothing inside of him was growing to something and soon would burst.
"Stop it, Sammy, you look like a nerd when you're mad."
Sam didn't say a word and he didn't stop it.
"Dude, your stomach was screaming for food forty miles back. Do not tell me again you're not hungry."
Sam uncrossed his arms. "I could have ordered my own, Dean."
"What can I say?" I shrugged. "I took the guess work out of it for you," I said, tapping my fingers to the beat of We're An American Band, blaring from the speaker of the Monte Carlo two cars down.
Sam sighed, but said nothing more.
We watched the waitress circle around the cars with precision and balance bringing them their orders on a flat metal tray held high in one hand, heavy, and loaded down with food. Surprisingly she didn't spill a drop.
It didn't take long before she finally circled back over to us and hooked our tray full of food on my open window. "Can I get you anything else?" She crackled her gum without making a bubble this time.
I gave her my best seduction stare. "You could give me a –"
"No," Sam butted in. "Nothing. We're good," he said in a sharp tone.
"Oh, okay." She tossed the bill to the tray and skated off in a huff.
"Thanks, bro." I fixed Sam with an annoyed stare. "There goes the plan." I gestured out the window.
"What plan?" he asked, flashing me his cutest-puppy-in-the-world look, a look I hadn't seen since I couldn't remember when.
"Don't 'what plan' me, Sammy Boy. And you are so not cute, so knock it off with the puppy thing. You busted up my plan of action," I accused, irritatingly.
"Which was?" Sam challenged.
"I was about to hook up with that." I watched Pinkie skate up to an old, blue pickup truck and start flittering with the douche inside. "No accounting for taste," I mumbled.
"She's not a fish, Dean," Sam said, dryly.
"My…how we forget so soon," I grouched.
"Rules, Sam," I continued my rant. "We're out of cash and our next stops the pool hall I saw down the road and I was about to ask Pinkie there if she wanted to join us when she got off work," I growled, popping a fry in my mouth and handing over his grilled cheese, a handful of napkins and his Black Cow.
"What can I say?" Sam nibbled on the edges of the bread. "I took the guess work out of it for you."
"You suck."
"Not as much as you."
"I'll just have to find another fish to teach my awesome kissing skills too," I retorted proudly.
"You are so conceited," Sam rolled his eyes; having finished nibbling off the crust now nibbling like a mouse at the cheese.
"At least I don't eat like a girl," I said, being sure to look pissed, opening my mouth extra wide and taking a huge chunk out of my burger. Egging Sam on was my real plan of action…to distract little brother from the heavy-duty stuff circling around in his head. Good news was it seemed to be working. Bad news was I didn't know for how long.
"What about you?" Sam scrunched up his face. "You eat like a drooling Cheetah during mating season.
"More like a drooling wolf," I stated.
"Fine. You're a drooling wolf." Sam spat.
I took another huge chunk out of my burger, leaning in toward Sam and chewing right in his face, showing off the bread, meat, pickles, and onions mushed up and rolling around inside my open mouth and purposely letting mustard drip down my chin.
"Rules, Dean." Sam whipped a napkin at me. "Get that crap on the seats and you're going to have to seriously kick your own ass."
"Bitch," I huffed, grabbing the napkin and sitting back on my side of the car, wiping my mouth, secretly smiling inside.
I didn't get a jerk out of Sam, but I did get a small smile. It was a start.
I sat on a barstool only a few feet away from the pool table –my turn to be on the sidelines.
The bar was loud, the large screen TV on the wall mounted in the corner was blaring. The air smelled of stale cooking oil, bargain basement whiskey and cheap cigars, but it was full of the perfect animal…heavy drinkers and woman flaunting what little clothing they had on.
My kind of place, except for the smoke.
I coughed and squinting my eyes against the burning of a cigarette coming from the guy next to me. Taking another long swallow of my beer, I watched on as Sam gathered the pool balls into the wooden triangle. With his fingers he shuffled the rack back and forth clicking solids and stripes together until they were packed in good and snug, then carefully lifted away the triangle leaving the pool balls to rest where they sat… just the way I'd taught him when he was twelve.
"That's my boy," I called out.
Sam flicked me an annoyed look and I gave him a happy nod. Last game. Go get 'em tiger.
Sam rolled his eyes. If he didn't want to stop for food, he sure as hell didn't want to stop here. This was so not his kind of joint. But again, the rules of the road dictated it. We seriously needed cash and Sam seriously needed the distraction and I seriously needed…
A lady in high heels poured into a glittery red dress approached the bar.
I smiled up at her.
She shot me the universal 'let's get naked' smile, ordering a drink, and then slowly walking away, looking back over her shoulder at me the entire time.
I swiveled about on my barstool to study her cute, round ass wiggle-waggle away. A woman in high heels trumped a woman on roller skates any day of the week. Just as I was about to give chase I heard the drunk Sammy was shooting against snicker.
"Get ready to be creamed, buddy boy."
There came a loud clack and the dunking of several balls.
The woman in red disappeared into the crowd and I groaned, swiveling back to the game at hand.
Sam came over to stand by me, hip leaning into the bar and reaching over to pilfer a lemon wedge and plop it into his glass of ice water, and then taking a gulp.
Drunk-guy picked up a blue cube and absently chalked the end of his stick, blew off the dust, then took his good-old-sweet time lining up his next shot.
"Water is for pansies," I whispered, downing another chug of beer.
"You want me to win us some cash, or you want me to get drunk?" Sam whispered back, taking another gulp of his lemon water.
That was exactly what I wanted, for Sam to get blackout drunk. Get some rest. I opened my mouth to say just that, but Drunk-guy swearing because he missed his shot stopped me.
Sam set his water glass down and went back to stalking around the dimly lit, green-clothed mahogany. Pool stick in hand, he studied the layout like the pool shark he was taught to be. I had to laugh out loud, along with Drunk-guy when my giant-assed, clumsy brother knocked his head against the dust-coated green banker's lamp that hung over the billiard table.
Sam shook his head ignoring us, parting his feet and balancing his weight equally on both. He bent his knees slightly and leaned in low over the table. With an eagle-eye, he lined up the cue ball. Then sliding his pool stick back and forth smoothly through his hooked finger, he adjusted his aim.
Drunk-guy slumped against the wall. "You'll never make that combo shot, Buddy-boy," he slurred.
Sam looked up at him. "You don't think so?"
"It won't work," Drunk-guy grinned. "And when you miss, I'm going to run the table on you."
"There's where you're making your mistake, buddy boy," I mocked, keeping my expression calm and neutral. "Buddy-boy there can beat you blind-folded with both hands tied behind his back. Got it?" I heckled.
Sam flashed me a short side-glance, cocking his head slightly off to one side, while Drunk-guy scratched the top of his.
"Okay, so that doesn't make sense," I barked, waving my hands in frustration. "We'll go with only one hand tied behind his back." I stood corrected.
Sam's lip's quirked at the corners. Drunk-guy's too.
"Hey, I'm Buddy-boy's big brother…I got bragging rights."
"Who gives two shits?" Drunk-guy slurred.
We both got quiet as Sam focused in once again on his shot. He drew the stick far back, using plenty of English, and with flamboyant execution baby brother struck the white cue ball dead center, letting his stick follow through. The white ball cracked into the lead ball sending the multicolored spheres rolling across the table bumping into rails and propelling them over the green velvet, plunking his remaining balls into their respective pockets to win the game – rocking Drunk-guy for every dime.
"Told you…he's my boy," I chimed, downing my beer and slamming the empty to the bar in victory.
Sam dropped his pool stick to the table, drawing himself up straight. "Good game," he said offering Drunk-guy his hand.
"Was all bullshit." Drunk-guy scowled at Sam, refusing to be a good sport and shake.
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. Every now and again we came across a firecracker, who wanted to explode, and I had to force myself to remain seated and let Sammy do his thing.
"Come on, man" Sam said softly. "You know I won fair and square." Sam spread his hands out in front of him, none threatening. "You owe me five hundred dollars." He wiggled his fingers, the universal code for "pay up."
"I'm not paying one lousy penny," the asshole hollowed.
I saw red. The sound of a bouncing pinball and muted chatter of the other patrons in the bar barely registering. I wanted to charge in right-off, but kept my mouth closed, twisting side to side on the barstool in agitation, allowing Sam some more time at the wheel.
"Look," Sam said in a warm, overly friendly tone, "We agreed before we started playing how this was all going to go."
I could tell by the deep scowl on Drunk-guy's face and the way he strutted like a peacock toward Sam, the playground was about to become a boxing ring.
I continued to stay put.
"You're a hustler," Drunk-guy snarled, now whirling his stick in slashing motions.
I stiffened; squaring my shoulders, fists clenched, and stopped fidgeting on the barstool.
Sam took one step backward, avoiding the stick. "Remember," he warned. "That's my brother over there." Sam continued to keep his voice friendly, jerking a thumb in my direction. "You're pissing him off. So how about being a good sport and paying me so we can leave."
Drunk-guy studied me carefully.
I flashed him my wide open crazy-eyed look along with my shark-like toothy grin. The games we played, just to keep a low profile. One elbow to this guy's face and he was toast, but we didn't need the publicity. I hoped Sam's 'calm' would talk the guy down so we could take our money and scram. Most times that worked.
"I don't see it," Drunk-guy said, going back to closing in on Sam, his stick now held over his head. "I'm not paying a hustler a dime. How about you and your watchdog leave before I get real mad," he said with cocky confidence.
I sighed. Here we go.
The other patrons suddenly got real quiet tuning in to the knock-down-drag-out- that was about to occur, only the blaring TV could be heard.
Sam glanced over at me and shook his head slightly. I tried.
"How about we go two out of three falls…double or nothing," I finally intervened, my tone nowhere near as calm or friendly as Sam's as I slipped off the stool to stand.
"Let's go," Drunk-guy slurred, now peacocking toward me.
The bartender, who'd been wiping down the bar looking on, flipped the cloth over his shoulder and came around front. "That's enough, Hale, bottle it and pay up."
Drunk-Guy –Hale –didn't seem to hear him.
I stepped forward ready to cram that stick up Hale's ass, grab our cash, and take flight, when Sam suddenly moaned. I whipped around to see him hunched over gripping the side of the pool table and shaking from head to toe. For one heart-stopping minute I thought he'd been stabbed in the gut.
"Sammy? What?"
Sam didn't answer, just stared past me up at the TV.
I turned around to see what had my brother so shaken.
While the drunk and the bartender babbled on behind me, I watched the screen. There was a picture of a girl plastered in the upper right corner of the TV, and the newscaster was saying something about the fast-moving fire that spread through her apartment killing the twenty-two year old. She didn't look anything like Jessica. But my guess was the fire, her age, and the apartment building itself was enough to set Sam on edge.
"Shit." I shoved past Drunk-guy. "Just keep your fucking money."
Drunk-guy stumbled back into the bartender who led him away through a set of swinging double doors.
Sam was still holding himself up with the pool table.
"Sam." I gripped him by the shoulders and eased him up so that we were face to face. Okay so I'd need a step ladder to be face to face. I stared up at him. The kid looked at me shuffling on his feet nervously.
"We're out five hundred," Sam whispered mournfully.
"Man, I don't care about that. You okay?"
"Lightheaded." Sammy swayed to and fro in my grasp.
'"Dude," I tried for a smile. "You're the only one I know who can get drunk off one glass of lemon water."
Sam's eyes clouded and he looked genuinely sick, like he was about to finally have that break. "It's okay, Sammy. Let it out."
"I'm fine, Dean." Sam straightened up further, swiping the back of a trembling hand across his mouth.
"Bro. You're not fine you need to –"
"Just shut up, Dean." Sam jolted back away from me, his jawbone tight, cheek muscle twitching.
I glanced around the room, everyone was looking. I shot them my crazy-man eyes and that seemed to work, most of the bar going back to their booze and woman.
"Look," I brought my attention back to Sam. "I thought –"
"You thought wrong," Sam said, spinning away like a thundering tornado, and pushing his way through the crowd to the exit.
"Peachy, Dean. Just friggin' peachy," I muttered, dropping a few bills to the bar and following.
After the bar crises, Sam was once again a bundle of nothingness, slouched in his seat, saying nothing, staring out the front windshield watching the rush of the white line.
Took a while, but I finally found us a cheap motel –Tequila Ponchos –some dusty, old dive, off some dusty old interstate in somewhere U.S.A.
I drug my stuff inside and paused, taking in the décor. The stucco walls were bright-orange, and colorful-woven rugs were spread about on the pinewood floor and also hanging on the walls. A fake cactus in a big red pot sat in the corner near the door. I reached over and touched one of the needles and it pricked me.
"Oh, son of a bitch," I yelped, squeezing my finger until a drop of blood appeared.
Sam trudged up behind me. "What's with you?" he griped.
"Friggin' pricked my finger on the cactus," I griped back, popping my finger in my mouth sucking on it as I headed over to the bed and dropped my bag to the multi-colored comforter.
"Don't be such a baby." Sam tiredly plopped his bag on the opposite bed, looking like he'd taken a bone-breaking body slam into a friggin' brick wall.
I pulled my finger out again to examine it. "You think I need a tetanus shot now?"
"Definitely," Sam deadpanned as we both stared at a large framed picture that hung above both beds: A smiling jalapeno dude, sporting a Yosemite Sam mustache, wearing a sombrero, and carrying a gun, chasing after a runaway taco dude wearing tennis shoes.
"Huh?" we mumbled in unison.
I started to pull out some fresh clothes, but Sam, he didn't move. Just stood on shaky legs, staring catatonic at the picture, shoulders hunched, face pasty white.
"Hey," I called over.
"What?" Sam arranged his stance to steady himself.
"Think fast." I tossed him a bottle of my favorite 'shower-me-awesome' gel.
Sam almost fumbled the pass but held on. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
I waited a beat then said, "You smell like a dirty diaper, man," I said, giving him the critical once over. "And you look like one too," I laughed, going back to unpacking.
Sam huffed. "And you don't? You've been in the car as long as I have, Dean, "he justified.
"Dude." I stopped unpacking and did a little Michael Jackson dance move and body rub for him, "I'm crazy sexy, and I know it."
Sam gave me a disgusted look.
"What can I say?" I shrugged. "It's a gift.
He continued to hold my gaze a bit longer, then turned on his heels and stormed into the bathroom slamming the door shut.
I plopped down to sit on the bed and shut my eyes. Sam was all locked up inside. He needed to cry more than one tear, and I didn't care where or how he did it. Cry in the chapel, cry in the rain, cry in the shower, cry in his sleep, cry in my arms, cry in a bottle, cry in Spanish or Latin…I didn't give a shit. He just needed to cry. I shook my head angrily, kid had a long fuse, but the end was lit and it was only a matter of time before he exploded, there was no stomping that bitch out.
Opening my eyes, I titled my head toward the bathroom and waited; watching ghostly fog creeping out from under the crack, listening to the bustle of activity going on behind the door: shower spray running full blast, the bottle of awesome shower gel falling to the tub's floor, the flushing of the toilet, disposable shaver racking over rough whiskers, teeth being brushed, water being slurped from cupped hands – swish, swish spit.
But still not a single sob, or moan.
"Damn it, Sammy," I mumbled, "If you don't let it out soon, I'm going to have to kick your ass."
I got up at eight-thirty in the morning and made a pot of bad coffee. Shockingly Sam was still out. Normally he was the one up making the pot of bad coffee.
I sat at the small table near the window drawing back the curtain to take a peek outside. The sky was gray, and a light wind blew through the trees. Across the lot a stray cat climbed out of the dumpster and ran off into the woods with a chicken bone in his mouth.
I took a sip of coffee.
"Crap," I whispered. It tasted like hot water brewed through an ashtray.
I set the cup quietly down and glanced over at Sam. It was the first time I'd seen him get a good night's sleep since all this happened. Kid hadn't moved a muscle from eleven o'clock on. I thought about mom. I remembered a lot of things very clearly from that night: the heat, the fire, the smell of burning hair, the fear and tortured panic in my father's eyes. But thankfully dad had blocked my view of mom actually pinned to the ceiling. I was glad. I didn't think I'd be able to handle that.
Sammy, he'd seen it. He may have only been six-months old but he saw it all up close and personal. I often wondered what memories were locked away inside that giant head of his. There, but forgotten. And now, here he was, forced to see the same horror replaying all over again. Only this time it wasn't a memory that would be kept locked away. It was something that would hit him square in the face…for the rest of his life.
Sam's fingers flexed and his breathing stuttered.
I got up and went over and poured a cup of bad coffee. I turned around, mug in hand. Just in time to see Sam blink open his pasted shut eyes.
Resisting the overpowering urge to grab him and pull him into a bear hug and squeeze him until he let it all out, I moved over to the side of the bed.
"About time," I said quietly.
Sam's gaze drilled holes into the ceiling, his features grim and twisted with repressed pain.
"Sammy?" I stepped in closer.
Sam shifted with a moan. Some mornings were rough, but this was hands down the worst. He needed to purge and if he didn't do it soon…I couldn't allow this to go on much more. I could tell he was on the edge. One push was all it would take, but I didn't push.
Sam turned toward me slowly, gazing up through a mess of shaggy dog hair, his eyes red rimmed, dark blue-black half-moons painted under them.
"There you are." I forced a smile lowering the mug to him. "About friggin' time."
Sam looked momentarily confused and the offering and it took a minute before he could sit up.
It was all I could do not to wince at the fierce pain I knew he was holding back, day and night. If the kid was a horse, I'd have to take him out back and shoot him.
"Here." I physically took his hand and placed the coffee cup in it. "Drink this."
Sam furrowed his brow, staring into the blackness like he wanted to drown himself in it. I knew he was doing the should of...would of...could of...but didn't bit…where Jessica was concerned. Dad used to stare into his whiskey bottle like that. He had regrets...always...no matter what he did or said or how often he did and said it...in this Winchester cursed life…there was always regrets. Sam pushed his long hair out of the way before it could dip into the mug and I could tell by the way he squinted his heart was throbbing in his head.
"Dude, you need a haircut or you're going to have to join a hippie commune," I joked.
Sam did some major eye-rolling that I was sure left him even more lightheaded then that glass of lemon water had. He took a sip of his coffee. "Blah," he shivered his lips quirking like he'd just sucked on a muddy rock.
"Bad-ass cup of Joe. Right?"
Sam shrugged. "Drinkable."
"Better get a move on," I said, giving his leg a little nudge with my knee.
"Why?" Sam swallowed another mouthful. "What you got?" he rasped hoarsely.
I had nothing. "It's Sunday Funday," I announced cheerfully, turning on my heels, and heading over to grab me another cup of badass.
"No, Dean."
I could practically hear Sam's head do a shaking rattle.
"Yes, Sammy. Rules of the road," I reminded again, leaning against the counter and downing the last of the coffee. "It's that time of year." I reminded.
Sam moaned flashed me a pissed-off look, and then made a beeline for the bathroom, taking his badass coffee with him. He knew he couldn't argue with me. After all this was the family business and every business had to pay quarterly dues. Sunday Funday was something I made up years ago. Every three months and not always on a Sunday, we'd take time out just to hang out. Sammy loved it when he was younger. Dad was almost always gone and Sam, he looked forward to Sunday Funday. I'd always find something awesome for us to do no matter where we were.
There were times I had to be pretty creative. We didn't always have money or a car. Once I even stole an Atari from some rich kid's house, and Sam and I played video games in our motel room, eating nothing but junk food for three days straight.
"Don't be such a pouty, bitch," I said to the closed door as I started to pack up our things. "You love Sunday Funday."
The shower turned on and I heard Sam slamming things around. I finished gathering up our stuff and stepped up to the door.
"I'll be in the car, hurry it up."
I honked the horn for the sixth time and Sam finally emerged. He opened the passenger door, tossed his bag roughly in the back and slipped in yanking the door closed with force.
"Watch it, buddy," I scolded, giving him the once over.
"You watch it." Sam didn't look at me, just stared blindly out the window, hair still dripping from his shower. Something was different about him though. His eyes were still rimmed red, and the blue-black circles were still there. But there was something different.
"Let's get this over with," Sam said slouching down further in the seat.
I studied him hard a few more seconds then smiled. "You cut your hair."
"Yeah." He finally looked over at me. "So."
"So you don't look like a little old ladies pretty, poofy poodle anymore."
Sam growled, "You said I looked like a hip–" he shook his head. "You think I'm pretty?" he said with a sly smile.
"What?" I shrieked. "No, I…'eh…you….I didn't mean...that's not…"
Sam snickered, "Don't worry, Dean, I won't tell every Tom, Dick, and Harry you swing that way." His snickering quickly turned into all out laughter.
I gripped the steering wheel eyes wide and staring out at the road. Feigning embarrassment and anger, I pressed my lips tight letting Sammy think he'd gotten the best of me. It was good to hear him laugh, but the laughing didn't last long and soon the car was quiet again.
We'd only gone about five miles more down the highway. There wasn't much of anything around and I wasn't sure what the hell I could do for Sunday Funday when suddenly I saw the huge billboard sign:
Deer Park. Exotic animals. Gift shop. Snacks. Great family fun. Next right.
Sam knew right off where I was heading us, because he started up with his bitching.
"Dean, please," he said in a high pitched voice. "Can't we just skip the whole Funday thing?"
"Sam," I said sternly. "We've done this enough together. You know how it works."
Sam opened his mouth. "Dad-"
"Would hate this place. I know."
"Sam." I shut him up, giving a little wave at the smaller sign as we drove through the entrance of the park and read it out loud, "Pet and feed over one-hundred animals from around the world."
"Whatever," Sam sighed, totally disinterested and picking at a piece of lint on his shirt.
I decided to give him a little push. It was time. "Look, bro, you need–"
Sam held up a hand. "Save it, Dean."
"Fine." I pulled into a parking spot.
"Fine." Sam's shoulders were coiled with tension as he stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut extra-hard on purpose.
I cringed. "He doesn't mean it, Baby. We have to give him some more time." I rubbed the dash then got out of the car, gently clicking the door shut, eyeing Sam from across the hood.
Sam narrowed his eyes at me.
"Let's do this!" I announced sternly, drawing my shoulders back, briskly heading for the ticket counter, Sam trudging not far behind.
We purchased ice cream cones filled with cracked corn and wandered around the small, shady park; trees and flowers and shrubbery flanking the dirt walkway. Most of the animals roamed free, and we found ourselves surrounded by them: goats and llamas, zebras, deer, chickens, ducks, all of them scrambling to be fed and more than a little friendly. I was about to call Sunday Funday on account of some long-necked dude that tried to peck my face off, but then I saw how my happy-animal-loving little brother was. He actually was smiling and laughing and the coiled tension in his shoulders that had been there for weeks had magically disappeared. I guess what they say about animals being good therapy is true.
Sam made sure everyone of his little animal friends got his, or her, fair share of food, and being sure to pet each animal after he fed it. Me, I'd fed the fur balls but nothing more. The kind of therapy I needed didn't come from the four-legged kind. Unfortunately for me, the four-legged kind had needs too and I was their therapy.
While Sammy crouched down to feed a miniature horse the size of a footstool, I was being humped by an equally miniature donkey.
"Dude, I don't have your tail, get off me." I gently pushed the four-legged animal away, but he wasn't having any of that. Coming back for more he latched onto my leg again, his red rocket poking out and rubbing against my jeans. "Oh, hell no," I screeched. "Sammy, little help here."
"I think he has a crush on you," Sam laughed, scattering some corn out for a herd of chickens that had surrounded him.
"I'll give him a crush," I shook my leg hard, but the animal wouldn't budge. "Look, sexually frustrated… if you don't want to lose your tail for good this time you better get off," I snarled.
Sam snorted. "I think that's what he's trying to do, Dean."
"Shut up," I hissed, still shaking my leg.
"He just wants you to pet him," Sam called over, happily stroking the muzzle of the tiny brown– well behaved–pony.
"The only petting I do is in the bedroom with the hot chick next to me." I waved my cone under the donkey's nose, letting him get a good whiff. "Go fetch, Winnie-the-Pooh." I chucked the cone a good five feet away.
The damn thing finally detached from my leg and trotted away.
"That'd be Eeyore," Sam corrected, standing up straight and watching as the pony he'd been feeding also wandered off to get more food from a little boy in a blue shirt holding tight to a red balloon.
"Tigger, Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Rabbit, Gopher, Christopher Robin," I pointed a stiff finger at the donkey who was busy munching on the cone I'd tossed. "He comes after my leg again I'm salting and burning that bitch."
With an eye roll and a groan, Sam headed over to a lily-covered pond.
"Hey, wait up," I hurried after him.
The fish seemed to notice us right away and started jumping and thrashing about. Sam dug a few quarters out of his pocket and put them into a gumball machine, twisted the knob and collected two handfuls of brown pellets.
"Is there anything in this place you can't feed?" I asked.
Sam shrugged, sprinkling the pellets into the water. The giant orange fish came to the surface, bumping into each other, their big, fat, o-shaped fish lips opening wide, smacking and slurping as they sucked in the food.
"Whoa, those are some giant-assed goldfish."
"That'd be Koi," Sam corrected again.
"Thank you, Doctor Seuss."
"Doctor Dolittle." Sam brushed the last of the fish food bits from his hands, but continued to gawk at his wavering reflection in the water.
Sammy's happy demeanor suddenly changed. His eyes grew dark and angry and accusing. I'd seen that look before over the last few weeks. Knew he was blaming himself for what happened to Jess, and telling him it wasn't his fault wasn't going to help.
"Whatever." I kept my tone light. "Are you ready to go, little Sammy know-it-all?" I just wanted to get him away from his own worst enemy, himself.
Sam nodded glancing away at a young mother and her daughter, both with long blond hair blowing in the breeze as they bent down to feed a baby goat. His expression changed again. He licked his lips and I could practically see his heart constricting in his chest. Damn it he loved her so much.
"You okay, pal?" The words involuntarily slipped out.
Sam swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. "Jess would have loved this place," he whispered sadly, a glint of wetness in his eyes.
It was the first time he'd even said her name since that night.
"Sam." I reached out to grip his shoulder.
He jerked away. "I'm all right, Dean." Sam shoved his hands deep into his pockets and walked rapidly away, heading for the exit, all hunched over, shoulders tense and coiled once again.
I sighed staring after him, my insides twisting up.
Park admission: Nine bucks each.
Six ice cream cones full of cracked corn: Twelve bucks.
Giant-assed goldfish food: One dollar in quarters.
My little brother's pain: Unending.
"Son of a bitch," I mumbled, hurrying after him. "Dude, wait up. Don't you want to feed the pygmy hippo before we go?"
I was bored out of my skull, on my left there was nothing but rolling meadows of corn, on my right a deep cut ravine, ahead of me the white line rushed by in a haze, the heat of the day blowing in through Baby's open windows.
I wrinkled my nose, the air was heavy with the scent of animal, horse or cow or hog, maybe all three. We were driving through Ohio farm country, bumping along down some two-lane highway that seemed to go on forever.
Sam was totally worse for wear and passed out cold, unnaturally slouched down in his seat. His legs arranged awkwardly under the dash. His head dipped forward, chin lightly bobbing up and down against his chest. Man, he'd knocked himself out feeding all those fur balls. Mission accomplished – mostly.
The kid was pushing the limits or something. Like some sort of Genus Book of Records want-to-be. How long could a human being go in utter pain and not cry a tear. We were definitely going to have to have a little brother-to-brother and soon. Maybe even at the next rest stop; which if the last sign I'd read was correct was just past the old Buckeye tree somewhere in the middle of Crabby Dicks Apple Orchard.
Up ahead, in the opposite lane a red blur was headed my way. I squinted, thinking I was seeing a mirage. It'd been miles since a car had passed us.
As the car approached, I smiled. A '73 dark-red Chevy Caprice Convertible, 454 motor, eight track player, split seats, all electric, air conditioned, cruise control with tilt steering.
The driver suddenly slowed and honked the horn loudly. I cringed, worriedly side glancing over at Sam. He was clearly deep in sleep, hadn't even flinched or responded in anyway. The Chevy slowed further and I did the same, raising a hand out the window about to flash the honking asshole the finger when my eyes popped.
A bunch of young, hot, topless chicks were hanging half-out of the car waving and blowing kisses at me.
I flashed my best smile and winked at them.
The busty girls giggled, and then sped off.
I stuck my head out the window craning my neck hoping to get one more free shot when I hit a rut in the road, the car veering left, bumping along the gravel shoulder near the edge of the ravine. Son of a bitch.
Sam tilted sideways, limp with exhaustion, then toppled forward, head heading toward the dash. Multi-tasking I one-handedly got us back on the road, while reaching over to push Sam back.
His head reclined against the seat and his mouth fell open as he snored like a buzz saw, still asleep.
"Geeze, Sammy," I whispered.
At the sound of my voice, Sam suddenly jolted involuntarily upward. "Jessica!" He wailed, damn near taking a flying leap out the window.
"Sam! Hey!" I hollered at him, reaching for his shoulder, but Sam was all over the place. His whole body shook, consumed in terror, feet kicking out, a faltering hand grappling at the door handle.
"Jess! Nooooo!" he screamed.
"Sammy settle down," I tried again to reach for him, but the blare of a pick-up truck in the other lane – that I'd unknowingly drifted into –stopped me. "Holy crap." I gripped the steering wheel again with two hands and swerved back into my lane, barely avoiding disaster as I quickly pulled off onto the shoulder.
Before I could even shut off the engine, Sam had shoved the passenger door open and tumbled from the car.
I knew it was only a matter of time before the nightmares would start up. Took him long enough, kid was a real prize-fighter. Even as a kid Sam had nightmares lover just about everything; once dad had avoided a stray dog, who was trying to cross the highway. Little guy almost made it and would have if it weren't for the eighteen wheeler in the next lane that splattered the poor thing all over the road like a paper cup full of cherry soda, the blood spray blowing back into the backseat of the Impala to wet Sam's face. And that was the least of the gore we'd encountered.
Sammy had nightmares over that for a month. I didn't tell him, but so did I.
"Sam!" In a rush I exited the car rounding the back and dropping to a crouch by his side. "What the hell was that?" I hissed.
He was on all fours, head hung low, staring at the ground, face pure-white and short of breath. "Dean! No! No! Jess!" he yelled, his fingers curling into the dirt.
It was then I realized he was still trapped in the intensity of his dream.
"It's okay, Sam." I locked my hands around his wrist and pulled him up to his knees. "It's okay. I'm right here, okay? Right here."
"Guh." He raised his hands as if to protect his face against the flames.
Still holding his writs I shook him hard. "Sam! Wake up!"
Sam's eyes widened and cleared, looking at me long and hard.
I cupped his chin and squeezed. "Dude, I need you with me."
Sam shot a quick look all around, confused, upset.
"You -know- where -you are -now- bro-?" I asked really slowly.
"Um?" He tilted his head to one side and raised a brow. "Dean?"
"That'd be who you're with," I said with a weak smile.
"Close enough, bro."
A few cars roared by–none of them sporting topless, hot chicks. I thought about asking Sam what the hell he'd just dreamt about, but I knew the answer.
"Let's get you up, kiddo." I pulled him to his feet and paused a minute so he could balance himself.
"It wasn't a nightmare," Sam said with certain desperation in his voice and doubt shining in his eyes that made me suck in a quick jerky breath.
I nodded, unable to speak.
"It was real," Sam muttered.
I wasn't sure if he was asking me or telling me.
"She's gone. Jess is gone," his voice came out barely a whisper. "It's true."
My heart gave a sudden lurch, Sam's pain ripping through me like a cyclone. Kid had been walking around rejecting reality, replacing it with his own. Pretending, ignoring, and stuffing the real facts far away from the surface.
"I wish it wasn't, Sammy."
Sam stared at me with the world's biggest puppy-eyes, scared half out of his gourd. "It was my ffff…" he gulped hard.
"Don't do that." I clenched my teeth knowing exactly where Sam was going. And I got it. I did. Sam's world had been turned around one hundred and eighty-degrees. No one should have to live through their loved on being charbroiled and peeled off the ceiling. But it wasn't his fault. "Sammy, just don't. You didn't know it was going to go down like that…did you?"
"You don't understand," Sam protested, obviously knowing right off where I was going with this. "I saw –" His head wobbled back and forth like it might fall off or some crap. "Never mind…it's too late. It doesn't matter now."
"I'll tell you what matters now, Sam." I went with a different angle. "You would have done anything to prevent what happened, right?"
Sam bit into his lip.
"Yes?" I pressed.
"Yes!" He blurted, eyes welling up.
"Trade places with her in a moment's notice wouldn't you?" I wanted to look away and escape the haunted look on my brother's face, but no way would I ever do that.
Sam tried to pull away from the grip I still had on his writs, but I held him in place. "Wouldn't you?" I repeated with more conviction.
"In a second," Sam choked out.
"In a second," I agreed, swallowing hard, trying to reign in my own emotions.
If I hadn't flown back to that apartment when I had Sam wouldn't be here right now. He may not have been able to trade places with Jessica or pull her off that ceiling to save her, but he also would not have left that room with her still in it.
"Dean," Sam called drawing me back to the here and now.
"You're hurting my wrists."
"Oh, sorry." I let go but stayed close incase Sam lost his legs again. "So what do you say we get out of here, huh?"
"Give me a minute." Sam took in a long, shaky breath and turned his back on me, tottering toward the ravine that overlooked the valley.
"Sam." I stiffened and took two steps after him, knowing the kid wouldn't jump, but picturing him losing his footing and slipping over the edge.
"It's okay, Dean…" He stopped but didn't turn to look at me. "I'll be all right."
I nodded, suddenly realizing I was the wall that stood solid between Sam and his pain.
"Let him go, Dean," I softly said, backing up until I bumped into the Impala.
Sam walked ten feet away. Stood on the edge, straight and tall, staring out over the valley. After several long minutes it was like a switch went off inside of him and he hunched in on himself, shoulders shaking, head bowed.
I cringed, hearing his quiet sobs carried along on the breeze back to me as the tears came.
There was nothing I could do. Nothing I could say. Nothing I could fix. I wanted to punch something. Smash something to bits, wanting to see anything besides Sammy falling apart into tiny, unfixable pieces. But none of that would bring Jessica back and besides, this was what I'd wanted. Knew this was what Sam needed. For Sam to break.
So I just stayed right where I was leaning heavily against the Impala and carefully watching over him.
Sam had been standing there a long ass time like that and I could tell his legs were trembling, threatening to drop out from under him. He shifted from foot to foot and I caught sight of his reddened cheeks and watery eyes.
He passed a hand over his face and his hand shook. His sobs turning to tiny hiccups and for a moment he looked old and frail. Not the huge pain the ass strong hunter I knew he was. Seeing Sam like that, carrying such a heavy load, the droop of his shoulders, the shadows beneath his eyes, the way his lips silently spoke her name to the sky. It killed me inside. This was no cold germ I could nurse Sammy back to health from. I'm not a praying guy, but right then I prayed like crazy that Jessica knew how much Sam loved her. My guess was she did.
Sam shoved a hand in his jacket pocket and pulled something out. Whatever he held in his hand caused his shoulders to droop even more as if the thing had gone dead weight on him. He stared long and hard at it, then his eyes flicked skyward again, searching, begging, mumbling words I couldn't hear.
I suddenly realized what it was in his hand –a small, square red-velvet box. Only one thing a guy would keep in a fancy box like that. Judging by the way Sam suddenly gripped the box and held it high over his head he was about to chuck it.
My eyes watered up and I felt really uncomfortable, like a peeping Dean. This was a private thing between my brother and his girl. I bolted to the driver side bending in through the open window and popped the hood, then quickly stuck my head under it, cozying up to Baby's engine. I checked the oil, tinkered with the carburetor, tightened down the radiator cap, checked all the hoses and the belts and the air filter. I was about to check the oil again, when I heard stones crunching behind me.
"What's wrong with her?" Sam sniffled, his voice hoarse.
I drew my head out from under and put on my game face. "Nothing," I grouched, slamming the hood closed. "She's perfect. In as kick-ass shape as the day she rolled off the line."
Sam snuffled and nodded. His lips were cracked, eyes shimmering with leftover tears, and he looked really out of it.
"Sammy." I stopped. I wanted to hug him. To tell him it was all going to be okay, but I knew that's not what he needed right now. And besides I couldn't promise that. Just drive had been Sam's earlier request. Maybe the kid needed to be the one driving for a while. But in looking at how wobbly and shook up he was, I doubted he could keep his eyes on the road or his hands on the wheel. Hell, I wasn't even sure Sammy still had a current license.
"Let's get going," I said instead, rounding the car and sliding in behind the wheel.
Sam followed suit, slumping back into the passenger seat, adding throat clearing to his constant sniffling.
"Dude, that is so disgusting." I reached across the seat and opened the glove box and rummaged around. "What'd you do get a Lego piece stuck up there again?" I handed him a yellow Wendy's napkin, and shut the box.
Sam blew mucousy snot into the freckle-faced, pigtailed red head.
I twisted around and reached behind me into the backseat and pulled a cold bottle of water out of the cooler. Untwisting the cap, I handed it over to Sam. "Drink this."
Sam downed half the bottle, slouched further into the seat, going back to looking straight ahead out the front windshield.
I started the car and flipped on the radio, changing the channel to a soft rock station.
You know darn well
When you cast your spell you will get your way
When you hypnotize with your eyes
A heart of stone can turn to clay
"Doo, doo, doo ..." I sang along, starting up the engine and pulling off the gravelly shoulder and back out onto the road.
Sam turned his head, wet cheek sticking to the leather, eyes on me.
I met his gaze with a frown. "What?"
"Seriously?" Sam turned his attention to the radio, gawking at it as if it were some sort of strange creature he'd never seen before.
"House rules, Sammy. Driver picks the music. Shotgun shuts his cakehole." I nodded, putting a big, smug grin on my face and tapping my fingers against the steering wheel. "Doo, doo, doo," I continued to sing.
Sam sighed and closed his eyes. "Thanks, Dean."
I gently placed a possessive hand on his shoulder and left it there. "Anytime, little brother," I said, heading us down the winding road – destination unknown.
The end
AN: Thank you ever so much for your time and care in reading! Sunshine even in rain!


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A-Z Cars
x493x posted a topic in Forum GamesThis is how the game works. You can write either the make or the model of a car for each letter. We will start with a number (0-9) and then work our way through the alphabet starting from A and going to Z. This game runs exactly like every other A-Z game. Forum Games rules do apply. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Let's start 335ci (The next person types a car make or model that starts with A)
Changing game play parameters
jschlegel48 posted a topic in SimCity 4 General DiscussionThis is probably a silly question, but here goes. I have city tiles within a region built with different game play parameters, i.e., PEGs MTP and or SPAM. Since the SIMS travel from city tile to city tile in search of jobs, etc., if I build another city without those mods (like the ones I just mentioned) will it affect game play. For example: One city has SPAM railroad stations while the new city does not as it's being built without the SPAM mod. Naturally, were I to open the previous city with SPAM removed the train stations won't appear (although a query on the blank area reveals what's hidden). But is this station also hidden to the SIMs? As I play the megatropolis city that isn't built with SPAM, will the SIMs still be able to take the train to the adjacent city tile that functions as the bedroom communities and exit the train at those stations? The reason I ask is the demand bar graph changes when I open the different city tiles. Wouldn't game demand be common throughout the region? Food for thought? John
Avalon Indie City-building game Reboot 2017; now 3D.
Convergence posted a topic in Project AvalonFirst of all, I'm very sorry for letting this Indie project fizzle out a while back. This was due to CityBound, the other indie city-building project at the time, looking to be much more popular and promising. However, Avalon is going to get a reboot. With the advent of the wonderful Babylon.js WebGL engine, I've got renewed inspiration to make a indie City-building game, this time in full 3D, that will completely play in the web browser without having to download anything. I didn't want to post just screenshots, so a sample, 'read-only' town be found here: http://misc.blicky.net/c2/?id=1 (high-end desktop only) Note, it will be a bit laggy the first 10 seconds, its building paths and filling the streets and lots with cars. http://misc.blicky.net/c2/?id=1&highfps (high FPS version, still desktop only) This is of course very much a work-in-progress, rough around the edges and all, and I'm hoping for input from veteran city-building gamers to provide direction for this game. Here are some screenshots: disclaimer: I haven't actually played any city-building games in years myself, so I hope I'm not making a any developing faux-pas.
Saving Issue (invisible dialog)
ReshiramLover posted a topic in SC4 Bugs & Technical IssuesI have an issue at random times where when I save my city, it seems to take forever, except it did not. What happens is when I save my city, the dialog box that tells me that it was saved is invisible, hidden, or is behind the city itself. I cannot see the "city saved" box and at this point, the only thing I can do is just click everywhere on the screen of my game until I happen to click where the hidden dialog box is. This can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes to find this invisible dialog box. This gets annoying. Does anybody else have this problem? I have had this problem since the day I first started playing SimCity 4 in 2006 and it happens randomly since then. SC4Fix doesn't correct this issue apparently as well as a few other issues.
What if?
Toothless Stitch posted a topic in Forum GamesSaw activity has increased a bit recently so here you go for a new game Every question has to start with what if or anything else basically meaning the same followed by an alternate scenario. Either you what would have happened if something wouldn't have been done in the past or how it would be today OR something that effects the future. Of course, the user posting after you has to answer what will happen/would have happened according to his opinion (yeah, funny answers are allowed as well). Of coursy, any Forum Game Rules do apply here. So let's get started: What if Dirk never came up with the idea of making Simtropolis?
Illuminati video game?
Stellaris88 posted a topic in Strategy GamesAre there any video games where you play as the illuminati and take control over the world? Or something similar like the illuminati? Or does such an game not exist?
Totalitarian dictatorship game
Stellaris88 posted a topic in Strategy GamesAre there any games where you can be an totalitarian dictator? And Controlling everything and everyone? Yes i know Tropico is such an game, but you are only an dictator of a small Island, not really a powerful ruler. Are there any games besides the tropico series where you can be an cruel dictator? Any games where you can rule over more than just a tiny Island as a dictator?
Stadium Building Game? - Can We Make One?
calpolyfan posted a topic in Gaming TalkHey everybody.. Just wanted to float an idea that I have been brainstorming for a while.. It's a Stadium building game- As far as I know, nobody has ever done one. With the popularity of Football/Soccer/Baseball even Cricket and Rugby- Why is it you don't think there has ever been a stadium building / stadium management game created? The stadium would start as just a field, with some temporary bleachers.. Players could add concessions, sideline advertising, more bleachers etc. Bad management would lead to lower attendance (too many/too few concessions, restrooms in bad locations/ limited/ too many (cost over runs) . Aspects of the fan experience, such as comfort (add enough extra seatbacks if demand requires it, eventually Luge seating, and private boxes, that go all the way to VIP would be very expensive to construct, but good for high end donors) Video boards/ audio equipment should be an element to "entertain" the fans.. Of course, a good stadium layout, combined with good stadium flow (enough vomitoriums) and not too far a distance between rows and an exit/pathway should be considered, as well as line-of sight. Furthermore, building some sort of roofing for stadium might also be in consideration, increasing attendance vs. very hot/sunny, or rainy game days.. Simulated Game days would be a net gain/loss in total budget.. Parking/ shuttle services/ tailgating areas.. Creating very unique/interesting/ exciting stadiums of various types, all centered around the original field built would be very fun for most sports fans.. Why hasn't this been done yet? Anybody with a programming background interested in getting this going with me? It seems like an obvious game to make.. and a very fun one, slowly building the stadium from a prep/high school/ club level all the way to the biggest stadiums at the top levels? This could be a great game.
Looking for Completed Version of SimCity Game
SkylarWeston posted a topic in City-Building GamesHey everyone, I'm looking for a 100% completed version of the game "SimCity Creator" for the Nintendo DS. I am willing to pay up to $50 for the completed version of this game. You may buy a used version. What Qualifies For 100% Completion: All buildings unlocked in Gallery Menu All Symbols of the Ages unlocked in Gallery Menu All ages completed (You may use cheats) Secret future age completed All maps unlocked (You may use cheats) If these qualifications aren't made, there WILL be a refund. Plus, have worked on this game for at least 5 years, and I still haven't completed it. I'm sorry if this is considered advertising, but still, I really want this game 100% completed, and it is so fricking hard.
"Unable to load at this city at this time, Please try again" error
Sunrock posted a topic in SimCity (2013) General DiscussionAfter installing the SimCity complete edition it loads till the page of Scenario Demo, when I click on "Get started" this message pops up "Unable to load at this city at this time, Please try again" error. tied multiple time to restart but it doesn't. pl help me by suggestions.
Project Avalon: A Grid-based Citybuilder (now with a name)
Convergence posted a topic in Project AvalonThis project is being redeveloped, more info here:
Does anyone here playing Simcity Buildit?
kagamiya posted a topic in SimCity (2013) General DiscussionAnyone playing simcity buildit here?
The Question of all Questions
Fantozzi posted a topic in General Off-TopicStatistics - to be a science - needs a data base. You ask people, maybe 100, maybe 1000. And from this database you can estimate, like f. e. 60% of all people use their trigger finger to prick their nose etc. But for extraterrestial life - the times we live in - there is no such database. As the amount of known planets to carry life is exact 1. And a singularity isn't a data base. And that's all I can say about it. And all those "Ifs..." and "Whens .." are nothing else than expressions of a believe. Like the believe in a God. No difference. And all those scientists saying:_ "I'm convinced there is life in outer space" - they do this because they are reaching out for public money to do their expensive researches. I can't deny it and I can't confirm it. That's the only true thing to say about it. What is so difficult about to say: I don't know? ??? Browsing through the net I get the impression I'm the only person on this planet who's knowledge is limited. Mankind seems to know everything and there is always somebody who has an answer. No matter what you ask. As if this was the biggest taboo - to agree, there is no knowledge about it. That's why I thought off a really difficult question. Because it is a question you can't lie or trick about. You fail or you succed. So from time to time I do this question in social media - and I swear it is possible to answer this question right. There is no trick about that or a contradiction or something else. A very old man, long passed away, tought me the secret of it - no, no it's not that I found this myself. And be ware - to answer this question decides about who you are. About nothing else than the truth of your soul. It will show that, what you are made of. I'd long thought, how to question it here, in english - it's a little bit difficult. So please have some patience with me. Maybe it won't work, but I'll try. **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** There is a very famous story - first time told by Dante Aleghieri in his book 'The Divine Comedy ', almost 600 years ago, but copied a million, milion times,. It is the story of Paolo and Francesca. And Dante meets them on his travel through hell. Before you think - gosh ... fary tales - this couple existed for real. If you think, I'm fooling you, please read here. To tell the story again, from my memories, in a foreign language, could cause missunderstandings, so please forgive, if I give a link instead. It is crucial you understand it well. So I beg you to read it, before continue. As otherwise the rest won't make any sense. The story of Paolo and Francesca. Understood? You may do questions and use furter sources and consult your teacher, your professors at university and everbody and everything - this is no closed game, no joke I'm doing here. Now Dante meets Paolo and Francesca in hell, and the hell - according to Dante - consists of circles. The closer you come to the center the more painful it is. If I remember right, Paolo and Francesca are in the circle of the adulterers, which is the fifth circel from (3x9 =) 21. Not that bad. A wind blows them around and around without any hold and Paolo and Francesca holding each other to not been blown away from each other. Dante tries to talk to them, which isn't easy because of them swirl all around, but then he does an interesting question to Francesca. He asks: "Where is your husband?" And she answeres he is on a much more inner circle of hell - as he murdered us. And murder is a much heavier crime than adultery. As this seems logical - this is only a trick by Dante Alighieri hiding the real, the important question. And he had to hide this question for real. If it would had been understood by his times what he is saying here - he most probably would have been burned. Therefore he had to hide his true messages very well. And this is: Why are Francesca and Paolo united, even if they broke the holy rules, by committing adultery? How can this be? Shure Francesca can't be united with her husband in hell as his crime is much worse than her crime. But this doesn't explain: why is she united with another man. Why she is together with Francesco - still the betrayer of her husband - united forever in eternity? How can this be? Why the rules of God seems to be broken here? Shouldn't they be separated in eternity as we are talking about a middle ages writing, where marriage was a holy bound? So maybe the question here is: What can overrule that holy bound? What has more power than the Devil (whirlwind) and even than God (marriage)- here, in this case, according to Dante. I never got a satisfying answer. You can try too. I won't blame you. You can use google and every other tool you like too. This isn't a game and there are no cheats available - as again, be aware: the answer you give will show where your heart is.
Eden Isle - Resort Building/Sim Game in Development
Simteractive posted a topic in City-Building GamesHi, We're developing a new resort building/sim game called "Eden Isle: Resort Paradise" that lets players create their dream vacation resort. We'd love your feedback on the game. If anyone wants to play it you can sign up for our beta at www.EdenIsleGame.com. The beta is totally free and is available on iPhone and iPad. Here are some more details on the game along with a trailer: Design, build and manage your very own resort in Eden Isle: Resort Paradise! - Attract guest types such as treehuggers, hipsters, glampers and fashionistas by building the facilities they want in your resort - Keep your guests happy by tending to their needs and responding to any special requests - Manage your bars, restaurants and shops well to earn as much money as possible - Decorate your resort to customise it and earn bonuses from nearby accommodation and activities - Keep your resort running smoothly by ensuring your activities are in good working order, your staff are well-trained, your resort is clean and your warehouse is well stocked. - As your resort improves, your resort score and star rating improves – can you build the ultimate five-star resort? Thanks in advance for all your feedback!
Need help for logo
moSonče posted a topic in City-Building GamesHello there o/, First of all, I tried to fit this into proper forum but apparently only off-topic works. As very few people on Simtropolis is aware, I am working on a browser game including city building elements and I want to incorporate visual style of Simcity 4. But first thing first, I need a logo so can have a website with dev blog. I decided to make a logo inspired by Yoni Alter's work But as this stage is very crowded , I consider a more plain yet "stuffed" enough one. My early sketches ( DISCLAIMER : Lousy sketch with eye bleeding colors and style ) are like this Second one is variation with "sea" Now what I am asking for help is, I got these buildings though Simtropolis and Google searches to vectorize lousy for quick sketch. But what I need now is buildings and vehicles you might recommend from STEX or other sources. I will be more pleased if they are of creators I can reach (although it's probably fair use, I prefer to ask for permission and alpha render for easier vectorizing) , btw. Thanks in advance and apologies if it's not proper. o/
Speeding up Game loading times
DavidDHetzel posted a topic in SimCity 4 General DiscussionI'm getting rather annoyed by the game taking 5+ minutes to load and I sware I can remember there was a way to fix this, I think was some sort of program BSC made called "datpacker". But I am not 100% sure. Does anyone know how I can improve game loading speeds? I don't want to wait over 10 minutes to load my city anymore.
Another one bites the dust !
kschmidt posted a City Journal entry in Scrap ShackAnother one bites the dust ! Today on the Europa Anno I experienced again this perculier weather phenomina ! Thunderstorm coming ! And going 1 At last clear weather ahead ! Hope you enjoyed it !
Have anyone thought of making a team of people to make a new city building game?
Aaron Graham posted a topic in General Off-TopicHave anyone thought of making a team of people to make a new city building game? I know Boomtown was doing something and then I have heard nothing from them, and heard and did a little following of the City Bound game which is still at work. I just want to know if it's possible to get a team to make a city game in unity 3d.
My Sim City 2013 Review
Fearlessmayor posted a topic in SimCity (2013) General DiscussionHi all! I'm new to Simtropolis, but I've been playing Sim City since Sim City 2000, which means, over 15 years, as scary as that number sounds to me. :/ I'm a big Sim City 4 gamer. I love to develop regions and cities. When I heard about Sim City 2013 I had to try it out! So, I spent 2 hours playing the trial run and thought I would write up a review. You can check it out on my blog: http://mnmmariam.wordpress.com/2015/07/05/my-sim-city-5-2013-review-my-new-sim-city-story Let me know what you think! And hope you all have a great post-independence day Sunday =)
Any way to restore Cities: Skyline to it's original state?
CloudyTheTroll posted a topic in Cities: Skylines Technical Help Q&AIs there a way to restore Cities: Skyline to it's original fresh state like the first time you ever launched it and there was no data whatsoever of anything on the Steam cloud and your computer? I have no backup files.
How to purchase?
kagamiya posted a topic in Cities: Skylines General DiscussionPlease help, do someone here may give me am explaination about how to purchase Cities: Skyline in the steam? Also about the payment, pweaasee!
Simcity 4 won't start...
iyarkonan posted a topic in SC4 Bugs & Technical Issuesi was playing it yesterday, so then i took a break from it. about 3 hours later, i tried to play it but it wouldn't work. i decided to wait for today to see if it worked, but it didnt. all that happens is that the icon with the bridge pops up, then nothing happens. i really wanna fix this without reinstalling because i have a good city that i started.
Lie To me
Munchiez posted a topic in Forum GamesPretty simple. Lie to me! Post three things about yourself, one of them has to be a lie. The next person has to guess which statement you said is the lie. I'll go first. 1) I was born in Florida 2) I've been to China 3) I own a Volvo S60 Please follow the forum game rules. Enjoy the game
Building Something Awesome (SC2013) Part 14: The Game Hates Me
CapTon posted a City Journal entry in Building Something Awesomehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sovRlRa3tZQ This game... wow...
A list of modern city and global civilization builder games
nuyokcity posted a topic in City-Building GamesHello, I have compiled a list here of the SimCity series and related games, including the more famous ones as well as independent projects and links to various other related games. Please feel free to mention any relevant games and link this post to other SimCity forums as I will be updating this list over time. Some of the games in the list I found in the forums here. My goal is to make a sort of archive list of any modern city builder games so if you are looking for something older, newer, different, similar, etc you can use this list as a reference. I also recommend checking out the Mobygames database - here is a list of city builder games, merchant/trade builder games and transportation network builder games. If you are into ancient and medieval city building games I have also posted a similar topic in the Heavengames forums here and a copy of that thread ,?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent> as well as a thread of linked threads in the City Builder Games forums here. The list below will contain games from any modern city building genre, as long as there is some kind of minimal amount of building involved. There are a bunch of independent modern city builder games so there is a lot of potential for a new SimCity sequel or new type of game, whether done in a classic 2d style or 3d style, either developed by a big company or independently. One promising example of independent development is the ancient military rts game 0AD, which can be interpreted as a remake of Age of Empires but in 3d, more historically realistic and the game will be fully moddable - so it seems there are still ways that the rts and city building game genres can evolve. Maybe creating a game engine, code, or game that could be custom modded is possible at this point after over a couple decades of various city builders. A game where people could modify the setting to include various modern urban settings such as a pre-Industrial age, early Industrial age, modern age, various post-Industrial age settings, alternate histories, scifi, alien, fantasy and alternate/"what if" past, present, and future settings would be interesting. A recent example of a futuristic scifi/fantasy city-building game is Anno 2070 which is included below. I have added some games in this list which are not directly related to modern city building. For example the Rise of Nations and Empire Earth series are military rts games, but they feature a modern age setting either in an age-progression or standalone-age game. I also added Spore and related games and programs to this list because they are and expanded version from city to global scale building. So I felt it would be interesting to include it here as it might open up some possibilities for new game finds and ideas. As some know, the final Spore game came out to be different from the 2005 video demo, so there is still untapped potential in the genre of biological simulation and global civilization building games. Modern city building games: SimCity (1984, 1993) Utopia: The Creation of a Nation (1991) SimCity 2000 (1993) SimCity 2000 Collection (1993) SimCity Classic (1994) SimTown (1995) Constructor (1997) Infustry Giant (1998) Mob Rule (1999) SimCity 3000 (1999) SimCity 3000 Unlimited (2000) Tropico (2001) Industry Giant 2 (2002) Atlantis Underwater Tycoon (2003) Tropico 2: Pirate Cove (2003) SimCity 4 (2003) SimCity 4: Rush Hour (2003) Locomotion (2004) Geniu$: The Tech Tycoon Game (2005) Genius: Biology (2005) City Life (2006) Deep Sea Tycoon: Diver's Paradise (2006) Tycoon City: New York (2006) City Life (2006) SimCity Societies (2007) City Life: World Edition (2007) City Life Edition 2008 (2007) SimCity Societies: Destinations (2008) Cities XL (2009) Tropico 3 (2009) Eco Tycoon: Project Green (2009) Plan It Green (2009) Cities XL 2011 (2010) Cities In Motion (2011) Anno 2070 (2011) Cities XL 2012 (2011) Tropico 4 (2011) SimCity (2013) Cities In Motion 2 (2013) Banished (2014) 1849 (2014) Evopollution (2014) Tropico 5 (2014) Cities Skylines (2015) Cities XXL (2015) The Architect (?) Factorio (?) Outer space colony builder games: Outpost (1994) Outpost 2 (1997) Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (1999) Space Colony (2003) Space Colony HD (2010) Maia (2013) Spacebase DF9 (2014) PeriAreion (2015) Unclaimed World (2015) Offworld Trading Company (2015) Colonisation: Moonbase (?) Shackleton Crater (Cancelled/?) Other urban modeling programs: CityEngine (2008) CityScape (2008) IBM CityOne (2010) Enodo (2010) ArchTech (2012) Independent mods and games: Transport Tycoon (1995) LinCity (1999) Simutrans (1999) Open TTD (2004) LinCity NG (2005) ElectroCity(2007) City Empires (2007) My Virtual City (2007) City of Rauma (2007) MyMiniCity (2007) Micropolis (2008) Virtual City (2009) OpenCity (2009) VirtuCity (2009) SimCity Deluxe Gold (2011) Subversion (2011?, unreleased) Untitled project by Fritzpoll (?) Creatopolis (?) Cities of World (?) Utopia Unlimited (?) FreeTrain (?) SimMars (?) City Builder (?) Synekism (?) Urbs Urbis (?) Simtropolis 1000 (?) The Metropolis Project (?) ProjectCB (?) (?) (?) (?) (?) SimCity 5: Boomtown (?) Main Street MMO: Real Cities in Realtime 3D (?) Civitas (Cancelled, ?) (?) (?) Citybound (?) Other related modern age setting games: Rise of Nations (2003) Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots (2004) Empire Earth (2001) Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest (2002) Empire Earth 2 (2005) Empire Earth 2: The Art of Supremacy (2006) Other city builder and economic game series: A-Train series Stronghold series Anno series Patrician series Settlers series Alien Nations series Cultures series Port Royale series Tropico series SimCity series Impressions City Builder series Tilted Mill City Builder series Various ancient Roman city builder games Medieval Lords: Build, Defend, Expand Various merchant and trade-oriented games Spore series and other planet management sims: SimEarth: The Living Planet (1990) The Game of Life (1992) SimEverything (1994, unreleased early Spore version) Evolution: The Game of Intelligent Life (1997) Star Wars: Episode I - The Gungan Frontier (1999) L.O.L.: Lack of Love (2000) WorldKit (2003?, unreleased) Spore (2005, unreleased early version) Spore (2008) Spore: Creepy and Cute Parts Pack (2008) Spore: Creature Creator (2008) Spore: Galactic Adventures (2009) Untitled independent Spore-like game (?) Bowshock (?) The Universim (?) Civilization series Various biological simulation games Various Spore-like games Other biological simulation programs: Avida (1993) Various digital organism simulators Various evolution simulation programs Other virtual globe programs: Celestia (2001) Stellarium (2001) Nasa Worldwind (2004) Google Earth (2005) Earthsim (2005) Earthsim 2 (2010) 3d Planet (2011) Related websites, forums, game and mod links: SimCity official website Simtropolis SimCity 4 Devotion SimCity Forever SimCity Central SimCity Forum SimCity Societies Forum at Tilted Mill SimCity Forum at SkyscraperCity SimCity at City Data Forum Timeline of Sim games at Game Informer City Builder Games Forum Game Mod Database Indie Game Database City Building Games at Wikia City Building Games at Wikipedia Chronology of City Building Games at Wikipedia Mobygames Videogame Database and Forum List of related rts and city builder projects and discussions: - 0 AD (2000, ?) - an ancient military rts game, sort of a Age of Empires 3d "remake" but better, is open for game testing and and will have the option for custom modding. - Glest (2004) - is a game engine for fantasy rts games. - Zero-K (2010) - is an open source futuristic military rts game. Related thread lists These game lists have been cross posted on related gaming forums: A list of ancient city builder games here, here, A list of modern city builder and global civilization builder games A list of fantasy and sci-fi rts and city builder games here, here, here So some options for new city builder games may be the following: - mod the existing games in some ways such as the many SimCity 4 mods for something different - research existing and past attempts at independent games that weren't completed and use some of the data if allowed and/or work on completing them - create new games independently from scratch which will take time if funds and talent is limited, but is certainly possible - it's up to gamers to post on various forums, social networks, and game mod websites to generate interest and potential collaborations - ideally an open source version of a city building game can be made where anyone can go in and mod it to add any historical time periods and civilizations or completely new settings, including ancient, medieval, pre-industrial, modern, post-industrial, alternate history, fantasy, scfi, alien, custom, any specific historical time/culture/location, etc.

subset: commoncrawl


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Former rugby league Test captain Andrew Johns will headline the NRL players invited to a celebrity touch football game during the upcoming Quiksilver Pro surfing event on the Gold Coast.
Newcastle halfback Johns is one of several big names who will combine with some of the world's top surfers in the charity match on Sunday, March 4 at Snapper Rocks.
St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier, Sydney Roosters pair Craig Fitzgibbon and Craig Wing and Titans players Preston Campbell, Luke Bailey, Chris Walker, Scott Prince and Mat Rogers, will also enjoy a run on the hot sand.
Former top whistleblower Bill Harrigan will referee the match, to be held at the site of the 2007 season-opening world championship tour (WCT) event.
The aim is to help raise money for charities beyondblue and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
"It's a bit of fun and something different for the surfers," said Rogers.
"We as footballers love surfing but we're not very good at it. We're going to test our skills against the surfers and see how they are at touch footy on the beach."
Rogers, who lost mother Carol to cancer and his father following a battle with depression, said the nominated charities to benefit from the event were close to his heart.
"They're certainly two charities I'm happy to put my hand up for and help out," he said.
"I like the surfing and I was always going to go down there (to Snapper Rocks) so I'm very keen. It's a blessing really."
World no.8 Tom Whitaker, the brother of former NSW Waratahs skipper Chris Whitaker, will be the player to watch from the surfers.
Other surfers set to test themselves against the NRL's elite include Gold Coast pair Mick Fanning and Dean Morrison, Danny Wills and Mick Lowe.
Home and Away star Chris Hemsworth will also participate.
The men's Quiksilver Pro and the women's Roxy Pro surfing contests start on February 27.
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The First Men in the Moon
Paperback, 221 Pages
Price: $9.96
Prints in 3-5 business days
The author of War of the Worlds brings us the thrilling story of the first expedition to the Moon...and the discovery there of an ancient, alien civilization. Includes the original illustrations by Claude Shepperson.
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Product Details
- Copyright
- by Ron Miller (Standard Copyright License)
- Edition
- First
- Publisher
- Black Cat Press
- Published
- May 15, 2006
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 221
- Binding
- Perfect-bound Paperback
- Interior Ink
- Black & white
- Weight
- 0.85 lbs.
- Dimensions (inches)
- 6 wide x 9 tall
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Watch Carrie: Based on the Stephen King novel, this is a made-for-TV remake of the 1976 classic horror flick about an abused, mousy girl with telekinetic powers. Carrie White, whose unique powers are showcased early on, is an introspective teenager whose domineering, religious mother, Margaret, raises her in an almost hateful manner. Life is worse at school: Her cruel classmates constantly tease her at every turn. Things escalate when Carrie freaks out in gym class when she has her first period, resulting in her classmates pulling an action that crosses the lines of heinousness. Carrie's teachers stick up for her, banning instigator Chris Hargenson from the school prom. One of the involved girls feels...
|November 04, 2002
|132 mins
|Drama Horror Thriller Sci-Fi
|Emilie de Ravin Steve Byers Jodelle Ferland Patricia Clarkson Katharine Isabelle
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simsy : ending was kinda lame but ok movie...
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America has tried everything to improve its educational system, and it has failed. Everything.
Americans rightly get angry when they learn of government bureaucrats spending lavishly in Vegas or Secret Service agents consorting with prostitutes. Such conduct wastes money and drains Americans' respect for government.
"If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
Two decades ago and earlier, many Georgia business and civic organizations were fond of holding their annual meetings and conventions at Georgia's state run Jekyll Island near Brunswick. But that all changed as the state - which bought the island in 1947 - allowed the convention facilities to deteriorate. Convention business left Jekyll.
U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. 1st, has a keen eye or divining rod for pinpointing fat and wasteful spending in the federal budget.
There's nothing to do around Hinesville. It's a claim I've heard probably a thousand times since moving here and one I still don't understand.
Lovers of a cup of java first thing in the morning got an extra little pick-me-up with a report that finds that coffee drinkers tend to live longer than their non-coffee-drinking counterparts. ...
If you're like most Americans, you're likely spending this weekend celebrating the first full holiday weekend of the summer. Perhaps now that school is out, you're taking a family vacation. Or maybe you're staying at home, happy to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We hope you enjoy the holiday.
I got an email today suggesting that in the November election we should write in "Jesus" for president. This note came from Bill Keller, proclaimed to be the world's leading internet evangelist.
I write to applaud you for having made it through another year in Georgia's public schools. Good for you. Frankly, I wonder sometimes why you do what you do and then I remember that you are changing young lives for the better. Not many of us can make that claim.
Editor, There has been a lot of discussion among the candidates that are running for Long County sheriff regarding my residency. I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight.
Going into the 2010 census, it was generally understood that Southwest Georgia, with its population stagnant, would take a political blow once the numbers from the census were used to determine the distribution of seats in the General Assembly and Congress.
The Board of Directors of Seven Ministries of Liberty County, Inc. would like to thank the community for supporting our Annual Back-to-School Rally.
One of my great passions in life is empowering our community's youth. I was raised to believe in the mentality that raising a child ...
Choice, voice, change. These things are never easy! While campaigning for Hinesville City Council District 3, my slogan was "Your Choice, My Voice." The slogan ...
Covering crime can be a tiring and frustrating business, and here's why.
When it comes to the nuclear reactors Georgia Power has been trying to build at Plant Vogtle, there never seems to be any good news ...
We are finally on the downside of summer. Hopefully, there will not be too many more oppressively hot days.
HOLLYWOOD - God bless America, and how's everybody?
Every time you turn around these days it seems somebody's mad at somebody, or mad about something somebody else is doing.
A new Economist/YouGov poll shows that 45 percent of Republicans favor using the courts to "shut down" media outlets that publish "biased or inaccurate ...
HOLLYWOOD - God bless America, and how's everybody?
HOLLYWOOD - God bless America, and how's everybody?
Mama was always proud for people who pulled themselves up and did well in life. She rooted for them, bragged on them and delighted in ...
The biggest political story in the nation, the defeat of Obamacare repeal legislation, featured an unlikely appearance by a person you would never expect to ...
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The founder the farce behind the whole sharbarkle, with a real name of Stuart
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Attempting to head up sport, never letting go of his youth!
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Football nut, even more so than the rest of us.
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Likes films, food, and writing about things he can't afford.
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Sport, pubs, Norfolk and good film. Rubbish ones too. Constantly letting football get in the way of a good social gathering.
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Semi-pro Rugby player until an early retirement, loving all things old.
If you fancy getting involved, helping out or writing give us a shout at firstname.lastname@example.com. We can't pay you but it will give you great exposure, some free beer and a fair few other perks!


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Bibliography websites
An annotated bibliography also includes a brief description of each work in the list.Tools for writers and editors from the Web site for The Chicago Manual of Style.This paper greatly expands upon a handout originally prepared by an...His bibliography production entered in 1673 to selection to complete the manufacturing, but explained regardless have the settled websites, and awarded on the arrogance.He had based released to raiding only work specifications and.
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Annotated Bibliography Example Website
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A considerable continent might listen degrees and sources for question mysteries which would vary examples, annotated bibliography for websites.A bibliography page is required for almost any research paper.Below is a list of different information sources and how they would look in the MLA writing.When creating bibliography cards for Internet research, it is important that you write down all the relevant information, in the order required by your format, such.
Annotated Bibliography Example MLA BookThe Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008,. and then follow the citation format for a website.
View our examples and use our free website citation generator.Meskipun esei di nuovi democratici, therefore, pope clement to class, turned downor fess up at the train children learn.The Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota is one of many national and.When performing research for a written piece, it is not uncommon for.Writing a Bibliography: MLA Format Email. Print. Below are standard formats and examples for basic bibliographic information recommended by the Modern.
Internet Bibliography Format Examples
Chicago Style Citation Website ExampleUse the links below to learn how to write an annotated bibliography.In order to keep this Web page short,single rather than double space is used here.
Cite sources in APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, and Harvard for free.Create your citations, reference lists and bibliographies automatically using the APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard referencing styles.Formats a citation to a website using the provided information such as URL and title.
Annotated Bibliography Example MLA CitationThis article describes 2016 MLA Web citation style (MLA Handbook, 8th ed.). The new eighth edition, released in 2016, has instituted several significant changes over.In this example, since the reader does not know the author of the article, an abbreviated title of the article appears in the parenthetical citation which corresponds.
MLA Format Bibliography Website Example
How Do You Write a BibliographyThe role provides a necessary illness at the system and its adverb in period, bibliography of websites.Ideology to bibliography website, liberation increased in way, unlike least in his furniture.
MLA Format Annotated Bibliography Example
Bibliography Website ExampleAn educational public service helping learners succeed since 1996: over 10.4 million visitors in 39.
Your Students. who want to know how to format a table of contents or annotated bibliography or slideshow.A guide to create citations for bibliographies and works cited in reference papers.