#also the fact that colonel belle calls her sir?

[voxxphantasma]

can we talk abt general white tho.... mx. cordelia ily ❤

[imalifegen89]

A Legacy Left Behind - Chapter 7 - When the Past Unfurls - Part I

Part - 2

Makani's Market

Honolulu

The taxi dropped them off by the small grocery shop where Steve’s dad had been doing his shopping. Steve saw his dad’s old Ford parked three spots away from the entrance. He walked over, using the key he got from his dad before they left, to unlock the vehicle. He threw his duffel into the back seat and motioned Danny to do the same with his. Then he checked around the truck, running his hands over in some areas and at times bending over and kneeling, carrying a thorough visual inspection. It’d been parked here for almost a day and Steve didn’t want to take any chances.

Satisfied with the vehicle's condition, he turned to enter the shop. A hidden bell jingled, announcing his visit as he opened the door.

“Why don’t you go and grab us a few cases of beer? I’ll go over and get some food,” Steve suggested to Danny and took off to the food and snacks section. Danny walked away to the other side in search of alcohol.

They both met at the register after a few minutes laden with their purchases. An elderly Hawaiin native with white hair and a friendly smile greeted them from behind the till.

“Aloha, how much for all these?” Steve asked, piling up everything on the counter. The man rang it up and presented Steve with a tally which he settled with a credit card.

“Listen, my name’s Steve McGarrett, my father was here yesterday evening and he got very sick. He told me you guys helped him to get over to the hospital quickly,” Steve opened up the conversation as Danny collected their stuff and went out to put them in the truck.

“Ah yes, I remember. I’ve known the Captain for a long time.” The old man grinned showing a raw of uneven and less-than-white teeth. “And you are his son? It’s very nice to meet you! Is the Captain alright?”

“We’re just coming back from the hospital. Thanks to what you did, he got there on time and he’s doing okay now,” Steve smiled, letting the genuine gratitude he felt show through.

“Please, there is no need to thank us. It was the least we could do. He came in to buy groceries, as he always does just before the weekend and he was over there, next to the vegetable aisle. He was standing there one moment and falling over the next. I saw it happen, but I was here and wasn’t going to reach him on time,” the man’s expression darkened as he recalled what happened.

It was clear to Steve that this old shop owner cared about his regular customer. Steve figured that he must have seen his dad in uniform - or maybe even they were friendly enough that John McGarrett must’ve told this gentleman what he did since he kept referring to him as ‘Captain.’

“Lucky for him, the pretty girl he was talking to, caught him before he hit the ground. Then she called over saying he was unconscious and I dialed 911. Then I went over to him to check for myself, and yes, he was out cold. The ambulance showed up shortly after and took him to the hospital,” the shop owner finished.

“What pretty girl?” Warning bells started to go off in Steve’s mind as he latched onto that bit of information. For some insane reason, he thought he knew exactly who had been talking to his father.

“Please tell me it was a cute, blonde with blue eyes about yay height?” Danny, who had joined them during the old man’s recounting of the story, asked. He was pointing at a height that reached his chest.

“No, not really,” the man smiled at him. “She was a very beautiful girl. I’d say about your height or maybe slightly taller? With long brown hair and brown eyes,” he informed Danny earnestly. “Such a nice girl she was too. She didn’t leave Captain’s side until the medics got here. I had to deal with a customer and had to come back to the till,” he looked at Steve apologetically.

“Any chance you have a security camera in here that caught the incident?”

“What he means is, maybe we know her, you know? Or maybe if we see her around, he can thank her for doing what she did.” Danny intervened smoothly, seeing as the shopkeeper was taken aback by Steve’s tone. He could see the younger SEAL had gone into Operator-mode.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t have a security camera for the aisles. Only one here above me pointed at the register and one at the entrance.” He was starting to sound a little frightened.

“It’s alright, I’m sorry for snapping at you. It’s just what happened to my dad was so sudden and it’s got me worried. If I can find this lady, maybe she can tell me more about what happened to him, you know? Because she was talking to him at the time,” Steve caught on to Danny’s warning and told the shopkeeper contritely. “Would you mind letting us see the footage from the entrance camera?” he asked in a tone he hoped came across with the right amount of pleading.

The man’s expression softened, understanding the concern and worry Steve was projecting. “It's in the backroom. Please, follow me,” he left the register and went through a door that was behind the counter, keeping the door open to let Steve and Danny enter. Then he went over to the two monitors that were on the small desk and pointed at the left screen.

“This is the entrance camera. My son changes the tape every two days or so. He hasn’t changed this one yet, so if you reverse it, you might probably see what you need,” he told them looking at the screen doubtfully. It was clear that he didn’t have much knowledge of the system. But the fact that he was still willing to let them go through it, told them a lot about the kind, old man.

“I appreciate this very much, sir. We only need to see my dad and his lady friend. I’ll make sure to leave it turned back to the live footage once we’re done here, mahalo.” Steve assured the man as he dragged the single steel chair closer to the desk to sit. Then he started reversing the footage back to the time he guessed his father entered the shop. Danny came to stand behind him and the shopkeeper went near the door to stand there, where he could keep an eye on his shop.

“You are the son of the Captain. I’m sure it’s fine and hopefully, you will find what you are looking for,” said the old man.

Steve wasn’t sure whether he was trying to convince himself or them. In any case, he only wanted to confirm his suspicions. He had no intention of messing up the kind shopkeeper’s security system.

Steve found what he was looking for, five minutes into the feed. The footage had the time stamp as 15.25 hrs when John McGarrett entered the shop. Exactly four minutes after, the clear shot of Rollins could be seen entering the shop, carrying a big, black, handbag on her shoulder. She walked towards the entrance purposefully and looked to both left and right before stepping inside, giving the security camera a clear image of her face unknowingly.

Danny let out a soft whistle and tapped Steve on the back once. Steve reset the system to its previous setting and left the room. He thanked the shopkeeper for his help again and they both left the shop soon after that without saying a word.

McGarrett Home

Honolulu

Hawaii

“Either you have a major stalker problem or that was one hell of a coincidence.” Danny reflected as he pulled a long gulp from his chilled Longboard.

He was staring at the lazy waves coming back to hug the shore. The salty afternoon breeze did a lot to tone down the heat and he found himself relaxing, laying on the comfy wooden deck chair on Steve’s lanai. He had taken his shoes and socks off and folded his jeans up to his knees, letting his bare feet rest on the soft sand on the beach.

……….

It had only taken five minutes for them to return to Steve’s place. Neither had talked on the way, each of them thinking through the chain of events that led them to Hawaii and where it could potentially lead them. Once they had gotten home, Danny had taken the task of sorting out their purchases while Steve took time to go through the house, carrying a visual inspection like he did with his dad’s truck. He had known that there was no way he could do a thorough search since neither of them had their usual gear. But he had checked all the rooms, the garage, and the yard nevertheless. They hadn’t said much to each other while going about their self-appointed tasks, preferring caution in case the house was bugged. They had chosen Steve’s lanai on the beach as a private and much safer place to have this conversation.

……….

Danny studied the SEAL sitting right next to him on the other deck chair, with his bare feet propped up on the small wooden stool in front of them. Steve had an open beer resting on the armrest as he continued to take on the view before him.

“You remember what Joe used to call the ‘coincidences’?”

“Yeah, something about it taking a lot of work and planning to make one happen?” Danny answered Steve. He had an inkling as to where the younger man was going with this. He took another long pull from his beer.

“I’m thinking there's a good chance that she had something to do with whatever happened to dad. Then she decided to hang around the hospital to see what would happen next. I’m also thinking, that would mean there’s even a better chance she’s connected to one of our bad guys,” said Steve, finally taking a sip from his beer.

“I was thinking about something she said earlier. I couldn’t place it then, but it sort of hit me on the way back. She said, ‘I thought you guys were in Colorado?’” Danny mimicked the overly cheerful Rollins and managed a surprisingly decent likeness. “She wasn’t supposed to know where we went, was she? I’m pretty sure Colonel Sumner never mentioned it,” he straightened from his sprawl on the chair to properly look at Steve.

“No, she shouldn’t have known where we went,” Steve answered. “You know, if we continue along this line of thought, I’d say this could even explain why our snake-heads and the life-suckers here on earth have been very quiet recently. Kusanagi and her team are tracking those sats 24/7 and nothing so far,” He turned to face Danny. “Say, if this woman were to call them and tell them what we knew, it would make sense for them to fly under the radar for a while, don’t you think?”

“Taking this thread even further, it could also mean what happened with your dad might be the opening act of them coming out to play. Maybe they are done flying under the radar,” Danny said contemplatively.

Then he finished his beer and fished another one from the case that was sitting on the beach between the chairs. He did not like where this was going and he could already sense the impending threat that was about to fall on them.

“Yeah.”

The one-word agreement from Steve didn’t help to alleviate Danny’s concerns either. “How long do we have, you think?” he asked, tamping down the trepidation he was beginning to feel.

The entire conversation had taken a turn for the worse and he lamented the loss of the nice relaxing feeling that the beach, the sound of the waves, and the beer had created.

He knew that Steve had already thought the whole thing through, maybe from the moment he saw the footage from the shop, or maybe even the moment they had bumped into Catherine Rollins. Steve always had certain instincts about people and Danny knew from experience that he tended to be more right than wrong. The Lieutenant had annoyed Steve from the start and Danny was starting to believe that the younger SEAL may have sensed something off about her from the beginning, even if he hadn’t known it at the time. He hoped that Steve had some sort of a plan to deal with whatever was about to come their way.

Steve took time drinking his beer as he collected his thoughts to answer Danny’s question. He knew his friend was not going to like what he was about to reveal.

“Look, they’ve had enough opportunities to kill us if that’s what they wanted,” he started to explain his theory. “I’m guessing that since they went through this elaborate plot to get us here, they’d want to take us alive,”

“You’re guessing, hah? That doesn't make me feel better, Steve,” Danny interrupted. “Since when do you know what goes inside the mind of a snake-head?” He wanted to get moving. The way Steve was taking his sweet time to explain things as if he were a college professor conducting a lecture was getting on his nerves.

“Danny, Wo Fat is MSS.* I've seen his interrogation feed from Libya and I could tell by the way he moved and acted. So whatever Snake they infected him with, there’s a good chance they’re going to use his knowledge as a spy to conduct a snatch & grab out in the open, if that is their plan,” Steve revealed matter-of-factly.

Danny felt his mouth drop open. He had no idea that Steve had clearance for those feeds. But it made sense when he thought about it. If what Steve said was true - which Danny believed was the case - they probably did have a decent chance at guessing how things would go down.

“Well, what if it’s the Wraith? Did you think about that?” Danny had to ask, playing the devil's advocate. This whole conversation was pure guesswork bordering on paranoia and he had to sound things out with the other SEAL, before jumping into action.

“Come on man, you’ve seen those things. There’s no way they can blend in with normal people. Plus, you think they’d take a chance after what happened in Afghanistan, or Gemmond? Nah, I think they’d use the Goa’uld for something like this.” Steve remarked with surety and sipped his beer, looking completely relaxed. He projected an innocent image of just-a-guy-having-a-beer-after-a-tiring-day for all the world to see. Danny knew better.

“Ok fine. Go on, what’s next?” he had a feeling he was going to hate whatever half-brained plan the guy was sure to have concocted in his mind.

“If it was me, I’d want all of us, you, me and my dad, to leverage against each other,” Steve started to explain as he mentally constructed the events the enemy would initiate.

“So we go back, grab your dad and go somewhere else!” Danny exclaimed incredulously. How hard could that be?

“Still, all of us together. You think they’ll let us go just like that? We don’t know what they are capable of or willing to do, to complete their objective,”

“What the hell are you getting at, McGarrett?” Danny knew this was where the man came out with the real-shitty part of his plan. He could see the reasoning and had to admit that Steve did have a point. But he most definitely didn't have to like this plan, whatever it was.

“I want us to split up,” Steve was studiously avoiding eye contact, staring at the ocean instead, sipping his beer leisurely. As if he hadn’t just suggested the most idiotic thing in the whole freaking world!

“No.” Said Danny resolutely and dropped his second empty bottle to the ground. He didn’t even want to elaborate on his denial of this stupidity.

“Listen to me,” Steve started, placatingly.

“Nope,” Danny shook his head vehemently. “Nope, nope.”

“Danny, for god's sake, if they take us all together, they can easily use us against each other. When we split up, we force them to split up as well. That way, we increase our chances of getting away,” Steve snapped, a hint of command entering his tone.

Danny knew that Steve would make it an order in a heartbeat if he continued this refusal. The Lieutenant Commander was a stubborn asshole when he had his mind made up on something.

“Here’s a better idea, dumbass - we call the SGC - get back-up, and catch the assholes in one fell swoop! Then we ask them nicely what the hell they think they’re doing!”

Danny had to consciously keep his voice from increasing as he continued to argue with Steve. The chance was there that they were under surveillance; so they had to keep up the illusion that they were just sitting on the beach having day-to-day chitchat. But he wasn’t giving up that easily and Danny could match Steve’s stubbornness, especially when he knew that the crazy fucker was preparing to do something drastic.

The sad smile that spread over Steve’s face did nothing to reduce Danny’s agitation. In fact, it increased the impending sense of doom.

“What?” he hissed.

“The landline isn't working, and it has nothing to do with the cable in the house or the connection. I think they disabled it from outside. Also, we don’t have any cell signals. They probably dealt with the local tower as well.” Steve informed Danny.

“WHAT?” Danny exploded. Then he remembered to tone down the volume. “Fuck! How? When?” he asked softly, whipping his cell phone out and checking for himself. Sure enough, there were no signal bars.

“I only found out when I checked the house earlier. I’m thinking even now, we are under surveillance,” Steve shrugged and looked around. “And I’m pretty sure they’re going to make their move very soon.”

They couldn’t see anything obvious, but the tension around them had definitely gone up. Danny felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up in response to the possibility of being watched by unknown and unseen entities.

“What the hell are we gonna do?” He asked, grudgingly accepting the fact that he was going to have to carry out a part in whatever Steve had come up with.

The SEAL wordlessly produced a set of car keys from his shirt pocket and dropped it on the palm Danny extended on reflex.

He stared at the keys in his hand for a few seconds. “What the fuck is this?”

“This is the key to my truck. I’ve checked it, there are no signs of sabotage. Take it and go. You’ll have a tail and they’ll most likely guess you are heading to the hospital. So, don’t make any sudden moves, don’t let them know we are onto them. Call dad as soon as you get a signal and ask him to get ready to leave,” Steve dictated the ops plan the same way he had done countless other times. But this time was nothing like any of those. There were just the two of them against an unknown number of enemies - alien enemies. “My guess is they’d make a move on the two of you when you’re there. They might not want to risk letting you two drive away. So be prepared for traps and try to make a few distractions without directly engaging. We don’t know what they’d do and we really don’t need to put anyone else in danger. Once you have my dad, call SGC and bail.”

“And what will you be doing while I’m out there playing John McLean, hah?” Danny asked heatedly. He was yet to hear the craziest bit of this ridiculous plan.

“Playing the bait of course,” Steve smirked, deliberately pushing Danny’s buttons. Danny scowled.

“I have a feeling I know why they went through this whole drama. I’m going to stay right here and keep the majority of them occupied while you get my dad to safety,” said Steve confidently.

“Why can’t you take off as well, Steve? Why the hell should you be here?” Danny couldn’t understand. Steve had a much better chance if he was out and mobile as well.

“Because as I said earlier, Danny, I don’t want to find out the lengths they’re willing to go to get us. I can minimize the possible collateral damage if I stay put,” Steve explained patiently. Danny was sure he was going to run out of that patience soon.

So he let out a heavy sigh and started to straighten his pant legs. Then he got busy putting his socks and shoes on. “This is the shittiest fucking plan you’ve ever come up with so far, McGarrett,” he felt the need to mention as he finished tying up his shoelaces.

“I’m open to suggestions,” Steve opened his arms wide, inviting Danny to contribute.

“I already made the suggestion, we both get the hell out together,” Danny started, knowing full well how Steve was going to counter.

“And then what? let them grab dad and use him as a hostage? You know that bitch is probably still there, right?” As expected, Steve cut him off, reminding him that there was at least one known enemy already in the scene.

“We do it your way and they have a good chance of grabbing you as a hostage,” Danny stood up and turned to look Steve squarely in the eye. He knew Steve could see the concern in his expression.

“Well, we all have sub-q transmitters in us, don’t we? SGC’d know where I am all the time,”.

Steve was banking on the fact that they’d grab him and take him to one of their hidden bases. It would be the easiest way for the SGC to locate their hidey-hole since they hadn’t been very keen on showing their faces lately. But Of course, there was always a chance the enemy might know about the transmitter and dispose of it. But he didn’t want to say that out loud, further upsetting his friend.

Then he watched Danny walking away towards the house, still muttering to himself. He knew Danny wasn’t happy at all about any of this. Neither was Steve.

The moment he had discovered the trouble with phone lines and the cell signals, it confirmed the suspicions that had been brewing in his mind since he had spoken to his dad. All these seemingly innocuous yet unusual incidents had started to point to a much serious threat when put together.

Steve was still very much concerned for his dad’s health. This plan of his included taking John McGarrett from where he was supposed to be resting into a potentially very dangerous situation. But he didn’t know what else to do to get his dad to safety. He trusted Danny completely and knew he’d try his damndest to do what Steve wanted him to. That was going to have to be enough.

He could feel the anger he had been ruthlessly suppressing, at those things that had involved his family in their plans, trying to resurface. He took a few deep breaths and pushed it aside. He needed to be clear-headed if he was going to make it hard for these assholes to get to him.

Steve continued to sit there drinking his beer, listening to the growling engine as Danny finally took off as instructed. Then he took out his phone and inspected the screen. There were still no signal bars. He got up from his chair then, mentally planning a list of things he needed to take care of, starting from plugging his phone into a charger, before the bad guys decided to show up at his house uninvited.

[caddyxjellyby]

Alcott Readathon 2018: An Old-Fashioned Girl (1869)

Alcott’s third or fourth depending on how you count Good Wives novel, featuring cane-shaking, a menage a trois, and America’s favorite fighting Frenchman. Polly Arrives Fanny tells Tom to pick up Polly from the station. Tom says "She'll think you cared more about your frizzles than your friends, and she'll be about right, too." Fanny says "If I was the President, I'd make a law to shut up all boys till they were grown; for they certainly are the most provoking toads in the world." I wonder what Tom means by wearing a thingumbob? A veil maybe? The naughty boy tells Polly the hack-driver is tipsy so he won’t have to sit with her. It boggles my mind that a fourteen year old would refer to herself as a “little girl.” I suppose back them children didn’t have to bend over backwards to be taken seriously. That is, if you refer to yourself as a little girl people won’t take you seriously. But if they just do it as a given you don’t bend over backwards to earn it. Polly sings for Madam Shaw, the grandmother, and they talk about how they were brought up properly unlike the Shaw siblings. Madam Shaw doesn’t approve of children calling their father Papa. What the fuck. I bet “the old man” would make her spontaneously combust. The girls see a vulgar play; Polly doesn’t understand half the jokes, and the girls on stage are dressed as jockeys, which I think means wearing trousers. Scandalous. Madam Shaw praises her innocence.

New Fashions

Apparently eyeglasses were trendy in 1869. Polly follows Fanny to school, where the girls gossip about Carrie who ran away with an Italian music teacher.

Fanny: "I like to read about such things; but it's so inconvenient to have it happen right here, because it makes it harder for us. I wish you could have heard my papa go on. He threatened to send a maid to school with me every day, as they do in New York, to be sure I come all right. Did you ever?"

Belle: "That's because it came out that Carrie used to forge excuses in her mamma's name, and go promenading with her Oreste, when they thought her safe at school. Oh, wasn't she a sly minx?"

Trix: "I think a little fun is all right; and there's no need of making a talk, if, now and then, some one does run off like Carrie. Boys do as they like; and I don't see why girls need to be kept so dreadfully close. I'd like to see anybody watching and guarding me!" GO TRIX KEEPING GIRLS THE SLIGHTEST BIT “CLOSER’ THAN BOYS IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY HARMFUL AND DISRESPECTFUL. ...I have a lot of feels about gender and child-rearing, okay? Okay. The constant ads for the Blockers movie keep bringing it to mind. (Kathryn Newton, the most recent Amy March, is in it.) The Bostonians gush over some exciting novels; Polly doesn’t know them. Polly: "My mother says a real gentleman is as polite to a little girl as to a woman; so I like Mr. Sydney best, because he was kind to me." I want that embroidered. “Polly was not a model girl by any means” Sure, Louisa. The kids say ain’t a lot. Creosote sent my mind straight to Discworld. Polly’s Troubles Polly wished the children would be kinder to grandma; but it was not for her to tell them so, although it troubled her a good deal, and she could only try to make up for it by being as dutiful and affectionate as if their grandma was her own. Awww. The fact that they name their sleds is adorable. Me, I’ve never been a person to name inanimate objects, other than occasionally referring to something as the precious. Fan reads Lady Audley’s Secret. "I shouldn't think you'd make him laugh, when he's always making you cwy," observed Maud, who had just come in. Good one, Maud. Little Things Polly is a perfect child who can do no wrong, except spend some money on bronze boots instead of presents for her family. We learn that she has a dead brother named Jimmy. They studied Latin together so she helps Tom with his. Tom falls off his new velocipede and hits his head. Polly holds it while a doctor gives him stitches. Scrapes AFTER being unusually good, children are apt to turn short round and refresh themselves by acting like Sancho. For a week after Tom's mishap, the young folks were quite angelic, so much so that grandma said she was afraid "something was going to happen to them." I kind of loathe this line of thinking? If you want children to be good, don’t insult them by not trusting them. Polly, if you’ve never had to lie to your parents then you know you have good parents, and not everybody is like you. A boy sends Fanny flowers and that’s unacceptable. “I'll send you to school in a Canadian convent,” says Mr. Shaw. Oh boy. Tom dresses up in Fanny’s outfit, then they and Maud look at Polly’s journal, which is full of sketches of the family and friends, and Polly’s thoughts on Fan. If she would be as she was when I first knew her, I should love her just the same; but she isn't kind to me; and though she is always talking about politeness, I don't think it is polite to treat company as she does me. She thinks I am odd and countrified, and I dare say I am; but I shouldn't laugh at a girl's clothes because she was poor, or keep her out of the way because she didn't do just as other girls do here. I see her make fun of me, and I can't feel as I did; and I'd go home, only it would seem ungrateful to Mr. Shaw and grandma, and I do love them dearly." Grandma Tom was reposing on the sofa with his boots in the air, absorbed in one of those delightful books in which boys are cast away on desert islands, where every known fruit, vegetable and flower is in its prime all the year round; or, lost in boundless forests, where the young heroes have thrilling adventures, kill impossible beasts, and, when the author's invention gives out, suddenly find their way home, laden with tiger skins, tame buffaloes and other pleasing trophies of their prowess. The Shaw kids find Polly up in Grandma’s room, listening to her stories. They’re like you never told us that story and Grandma’s like you never asked. "At eight o'clock on the appointed evening, several of us professed great weariness, and went to our room, leaving the rest sewing virtuously with Miss Cotton, who read Hannah More's Sacred Dramas aloud, in a way that fitted the listeners for bed as well as a dose of opium would have done.”Surprisingly snarky Grandma. "Wait for your turn, Tommy. Now, Polly, dear, what will you have?" said grandma, looking, so lively and happy, that it was very evident "reminiscing" did her good. "Let mine come last, and tell one for Tom next," said Polly, looking round, and beckoning him nearer. Oh come on now Polly. Tom wants to shoot cats? Okay. Polly asks about a glove; Grandma tells the story of Lafayette kissing the glove with his picture on it and then kissing her on the cheek to avoid that. Grandma’s Aunt was married to John Hancock, just like Abigail Alcott’s grand-aunt was married to him in real life. Also she thinks leg o’mutton sleeves are beautiful and becoming. Let’s not hold it against her. Colonel May, that’s LMA’s grandfather. Next we go even further back in history - Grandma produces a letter “written by Anne Boleyn before her marriage to Henry VIII, and now in the possession of a celebrated antiquarian.” How she acquired this letter is not explained, and it does seem to be the original letter and not a copy. Good-by [sic] We get it, Louisa, you think fancy clothes are sinful. They hold a going-away party for Polly, inviting some girls to keep Maud out of the way and Tom’s school-friends, Rumple, Sherry, and Spider. Polly and Tom open the redowa; he’s bad at keeping time to the music, like me. She doesn’t know how to dance the German so she plays with the little girls in the library. Aww, they snuck presents for her family in Polly’s trunk. Six Years Afterward "WHAT do you think Polly is going to do this winter?" exclaimed Fanny, looking up from the letter she had been eagerly reading. She’s returning to Boston to teach music. Mr. Shaw respects her for being independent. Tom says she’s pretty in a moment of foreshadowing. Madam Shaw has died. "Where did you learn so much worldly wisdom, Polly?" asked Mr. Shaw, as his wife fell back in her chair, and took out her salts, as if this discovery had been too much for her. "I learnt it here, sir," answered Polly, laughing. "I used to think patronage and things of that sort very disagreeable and not worth having, but I've got wiser, and to a certain extent I'm glad to use whatever advantages I have in my power, if they can be honestly got." What is this, the Shaws doing something good for once? Holy hell! “You must come and see my pets, Maud, for my cat and bird live together as happily as brother and sister," said Polly, turning to Maud, who devoured every word she said. "That's not saying much for them," muttered Tom, feeling that Polly ought to address more of her conversation to him. Geez, Tom, entitled much? Tom is engaged to Trix. Polly keeps bees at her country home. It must be so nice to be able to clean without the paranoia that you’re going to get mocked for doing it wrong. All hail living alone! Lessons Polly finds her drudgery a bit harder than she expected but her pupils love her. She found Fanny enduring torment under the hands of the hair-dresser, who was doing his best to spoil her hair, and distort her head with a mass of curls, braids, frizzles, and puffs; for though I discreetly refrain from any particular description, still, judging from the present fashions, I think one may venture to predict that six years hence they would be something frightful. The problem with writing books set in the future. Polly comes home one day to find her landlady, Miss Mills, sewing a dress for Jane, who also lives in the boarding-house and tried to kill herself because she couldn’t find work that paid enough for the rent. Polly goes to visit Jane. Brothers and Sisters Polly’s brother Will visits her every Sunday and they’re BFFs. Tom hates being called Carrots; I want an Anne of Green Gables crossover. Maud informs him that Polly thinks he’s handsomer than Mr. Sydney. "Don't make such a noise, my head aches dreadfully," said Fanny, fretfully. "Girls' heads always do ache," answered Tom, subsiding from a roar into a chuckle. Um, fuck you Tom. He suspects Trix of wearing makeup because she won’t let him kiss her cheek, only “an unsatisfactory peck at her lips.” That’s less satisfying than the cheek? Whatever you say, Tom. Fanny confirms it. He doesn’t approve. Will arrives to take Maud to Polly’s; LMA gets a dig in: “They were very good friends, but led entirely different lives, Will being a "dig," and Tom a "bird," or, in plain English, one was a hard student, and the other a jolly young gentleman. Tom had rather patronized Will, who didn't like it, and showed that he didn't by refusing to borrow money of him, or accept any of his invitations to join the clubs and societies to which Tom belonged. So Shaw let Milton alone, and he got on very well in his own way, doggedly sticking to his books, and resisting all temptations but those of certain libraries, athletic games, and such inexpensive pleasures as were within his means; for this benighted youth had not yet discovered that college nowadays is a place in which to "sky-lark," not to study.” We'll see more of that when we get to Jo’s Boys. Polly talks better than other girls who are coquettes. Seriously. Jesus Christ. Maud has “a talent for betraying trifles which people preferred should not be mentioned in public” and “a queer way of going on with her own thoughts, and suddenly coming out with whatever lay uppermost, regardless of time, place, or company.” Huh. Needles and Tongues Fanny’s sewing circle meets at the Shaw house. Polly listens to them gossip. “Another divulged the awful fact that Carrie P.' s wedding presents were half of them hired for the occasion.” That’s pretty funny. Polly and Trix butt heads over giving charity. “[Trix] felt the same antagonism toward Polly, that Polly did toward her; and, being less generous, took satisfaction in plaguing her. Polly did not know that the secret of this was the fact that Tom often held her up as a model for his fiance to follow, which caused that young lady to dislike her more than ever.” I am not entirely unsympathetic to Trix. Polly tells them about Jane and they’re very moved and resolve to hire her for sewing. Forbidden Fruit Polly, Fanny, and Tom go to the opera. Polly buys new gloves for the occasion and their dog chews them up and she’s like serves me right for buying something I didn’t need. Her new bonnet survives, though, and Tom mentions how becoming it is. "Dress that girl up, and she'd be a raving, tearing beauty," he whispers to Maud, and Polly overhears. A bit of sarcastic fourth wall breaking: I deeply regret being obliged to shock the eyes and ears of such of my readers as have a prejudice in favor of pure English by expressions like the above, but, having rashly undertaken to write a little story about Young America, for Young America, I feel bound to depict my honored patrons as faithfully as my limited powers permit. Otherwise, I must expect the crushing criticism, "Well, I dare say it's all very prim and proper, but it isn't a bit like us," and never hope to arrive at the distinction of finding the covers of "An Old-Fashioned Girl" the dirtiest in the library. Polly wears her hair down, holy shit. Maud comments on what a lovely bride she would be, Tom refers to her as “Mrs. Sydney,” and Fan goes to the carriage “in an usually lofty manner.” Love triangle ahoy. And who should appear at the opera but Arthur Sydney? Polly, on her reaction to heartbreak: "That's not my way either," she said decidedly. "I'd try to outlive it, and if I could n't, I'd try to be the better for it. Disappointment needn't make a woman a fool." Sounds like Rosamund. We are reminded that French novels are evil, and Polly calls Tom a modern Beau Brummel. The Sunny Side Fanny and Tom discuss Polly/Sydney. Tom thinks being a fine lady wouldn’t suit her; Fanny disagrees. Tom realizes his sister likes Sydney and says nothing about it. Polly introduces Fanny to her friends Becky and Bess, two artists who live together. Becky is sculpting “the coming woman” and needs to put a symbol in her hands. Fanny suggests a queen’s sceptre, Polly a man’s helping hand, and Bess a child. Becky turns those down. Kate, an accidentally successful author, suggests a ballot-box. They have a lunch of sardines, oranges, crackers, and cheese, on mismatched plates which one 1860s reviewer found too unfeminine to be realistic. We learn that "Bess is to be married in the spring, and Becky is to live with her." Kate wants to put Polly in a book. Very funny.

Nipped in the Bud Polly inner monologues about how she can’t love Arthur Sydney as a wife should, so she ought to tell him before he proposes. Particularly since he and Fan would suit each other. She changes her route home so as to avoid meeting him, then he sees her coming home from Fanny’s one day and they talk. He says that Fanny hasn’t improved with her years and Polly defends her friend. “She puts on that dashing air before people to hide her real self. But I know her better; and I assure you that she does improve; she tries to mend her faults, though she won't own it, and will surprise you someday, by the amount of heart and sense and goodness she has got." Breakers Ahead Tom gets expelled for knocking down the Chapel watchmen. At least he didn’t need that degree for a job. And Mr. Shaw’s business has failed, and Tom has acquired a significant amount of debt. Oh no. Polly comforts him and then Fanny, who doesn’t actually need much comforting, being glad for the distraction from her unrequited love. Indian cake . . . is that cornbread? A Dress Parade The big house was given up as soon as possible and the little house taken; being made comfortable with the furniture Madam left there when she went to live with her son. The old-fashioned things had been let with the house, and now seemed almost like a gift from Grandma, doubly precious in these troublous times. At the auction, several persons tried to show the family that, though they had lost their fortune, friends still remained, for one bid in Fanny's piano, and sent it to her; another secured certain luxurious articles for Mrs. Shaw's comfort; and a third saved such of Mr. Shaw's books as he valued most, for he had kept his word and given up everything, with the most punctilious integrity. Maud enjoys herself learning to housewife. Polly gives Fanny advice on freshening her wardrobe, such as turning her grey suit. Fanny used to give Maud her old dresses for tableaux. Polly’s story is based on real life. From LMA’s ”Recollections of My Childhood”: People wondered at our frolics, but enjoyed them; and droll stories are still told of the adventures of those days. Mr. Emerson and Margaret Fuller were visiting my parents one afternoon; and the conversation having turned to the ever-interesting subject of education, Miss Fuller said,-- "Well, Mr. Alcott, you have been able to carry out your methods in your own family, and I should like to see your model children." She did in a few moments,--for as the guests stood on the doorsteps a wild uproar approached, and round the corner of the house came a wheelbarrow holding baby May arrayed as a queen; I was the horse, bitted and bridled, and driven by my elder sister Anna, while Lizzie played dog and barked as loud as her gentle voice permitted. All were shouting, and wild with fun, which, however, came to a sudden end as we espied the stately group before us, for my foot tripped, and down we all went in a laughing heap, while my mother put a climax to the joke by saying with a dramatic wave of the hand,-- "Here are the model children, Miss Fuller!" Playing Grandmother Tom has a harder time than his sisters. He’s too bad at business to help his father so he hangs out with Mrs. Shaw. "I'd cut away to Australia if it wasn't for mother; anything, anywhere to get out of the way of people who know me. I never can right myself here, with all the fellows watching, and laying wagers whether I sink or swim. Hang Greek and Latin! wish I'd learned a trade, and had something to fall back upon. Haven't a blessed thing now, but decent French and my fists.” Oh my gosh I think Tom’s a millennial. Polly teaches Maud how to make raisin cake for Tom’s birthday. He receives two letters: one from Trix dumping him, and one from Arthur Sydney saying that’s he’s paid Tom’s debts. Tom, unwilling to owe him, decides to go West, young man, like Polly’s brother Ned. The Woman Who Did Not Dare POLLY wrote enthusiastically, Ned answered satisfactorily, and after much corresponding, talking, and planning, it was decided that Tom should go West. Never mind what the business was; it suffices to say that it was a good beginning for a young man like Tom, who, having been born and bred in the most conservative class of the most conceited city in New England, needed just the healthy, hearty, social influences of the West to widen his views and make a man of him. Polly goes home for the summer, Maud to the shore with Belle, and Fan stays home. I’m pretty sure Polly lives in Concord. Does she know the Marches? She returns to Boston in the fall and Fanny says have you been sick? No, it’s love. Polly gives vague answers and Fan replies that she thinks Sydney is starting to like her. She shows Polly a photo Tom sent and Polly’s face makes her go Aha. Winter passes, and in May Fan and Sydney get engaged. Tom’s Success "Come, Philander, let us be a marching, Every one his true love a searching," would be the most appropriate motto for this chapter, because, intimidated by the threats, denunciations, and complaints showered upon me in consequence of taking the liberty to end a certain story as I liked, I now yield to the amiable desire of giving satisfaction, and, at the risk of outraging all the unities, intend to pair off everybody I can lay my hands on. Tom comes home and tells Polly he loves her. "Now, Tom, how could I know you loved me when you went away and never said a word?" she began, in a tenderly reproachful tone, thinking of the hard year she had spent. "And how could I have the courage to say a word, when I had nothing on the face of the earth to offer you but my worthless self?" answered Tom, warmly. "That was all I wanted!" whispered Polly, in a tone which caused him to feel that the race of angels was not entirely extinct. I suppose if I liked Tom more the romance might work for me but I don’t and it doesn’t. Neither pairing seems to happen naturally, the narrative forces them together. Will marries Jane and Maud remains a spinster, “[keeping] house for her father in the most delightful manner.” The End and I’m glad of it! Next is Little Men.