#fuquay springs

[oldnorthcarolina]

"Children of Dalton MC Leod. Fuquay Springs, North Carolina. Sept. 17, 1935. Three African American sharecropper's children—one playing the harmonica and the other two listening—sitting on porch." Photo by Arthur Rothstein. From The New York Public Library.

[thejunksmashers]

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[aliypop]

A Long Time Coming

Word count: 1,824

Prompt: April 1955 on a tour in Raleigh North Carolina, Cecelia's hometown, the two end up recounting the footsteps of one of music's greatest love affairs

Warning: age difference

Note: This is a story I've wanted to do for a while the backstory on Cecelia's parents.

Taglist:

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@poeandmoonknightgirl

Raleigh, North Carolina, 1955

"Is this seat taken?" Elvis asked as Rosa, Daphane, and Carlotta all looked at the empty seat next to Cecelia, "Only if you want to start a riot..." She laughed as he shook his head playfully. Cecelia and her band had been on tour alongside Elvis and his band. Tonight's stop was Raleigh, a bit nostalgic for a certain someone, and Elvis could tell, "Eh, ain't gonna hurt me none," He shrugged, sitting next to her as there were gasps.

"Still think we should've gone to the ice cream parlor..." Rosa whispered as Elvis laughed,

"Sweet tooth much?"

"Only for Scotty." Carlotta joked, but Cecelia was still quiet as she took it all in at the diner where she practically grew up. "Somethings wrong with Cil..." Elvis commented as Rosa smiled,

"She's a little melancholic." It wasn't that she wasn't proud of her roots. she just missed it. She missed him. She missed them, seeing the picture of her parents' smiling faces when they were young and in love instead of arguing. "Girls, Elvis, I need some fresh air, please," Cecelia said, leaving from the back door. Elvis chased after her,

"I knew this was a bad idea..."

"Can it, Lotta..." Rosa rolled her eyes.

As Cecelia navigated through the bustling crowd of enthusiastic fans, she graciously signed a few autographs. She couldn't help but acknowledge that this was the inevitable companion to her fame. Continuing her path, Cecelia passed over train tracks and soon found herself in the quaint town of Holly Springs. There, she discovered herself seated on the porch swing of a charming single-story white house, the peaceful surroundings providing a welcome contrast to the whirlwind of her public life.

"I've missed ya..." She cooed softly, the spring breeze blowing,

"Elvis! Did you follow me?!" Cecelia glanced at him as he graced her with a sly smile. "I may have. I was worried about you and..." he trailed off, walking towards the porch swing as she made room for him.

"Where are we?"

"My childhood home," She smiled, still feeling the love of her youth radiating off it. "It ain't much, but..."

"This land is all yours?" He grinned.

"Every inch, except for that tree over there leading back."

"What's back there?"

"Why don't I show you." Taking his hand, the two walked further into the woods, branches in her hair as he swatted away bugs.

"So, with all that land, a girl like you must've-"

"Gotten into a lot of stuff. We weren't rich. We weren't exactly broke. We were comfortable and had a horse and some chickens. My mama had a garden that she never could flourish... The two laughed.

"And what about you?"

"I ran amuck around downtown Raleigh and Fuquay, always in the soda shop getting into something," she laughed.

"You?"

"With coveralls and a ribbon."

"Bet you were a cute kid." He playfully pinched her cheeks as she blushed. The two kept treading deep into the woods as they found a patch of land that had a suspicious-looking building on it. Getting closer to it, Elvis could hear the sultry sounds of rhythm and blues music floating in the air like the scent of an apple pie. "Welcome to Reeds Juke n Jive." She said opening the door to the establishment,

"It's a time capsule in here..." Elvis looked around,

"Hasn't changed since 32," Cecelia smiled, sitting at the table by the stage. Meanwhile, above her head was a picture of a couple,

"Denise Valmos and Alfonso Reed 1932..." Elvis read out loud, inspecting it, "So what's the story behind this here?"  

"Well, sit down, and I'll tell you." She grinned, leaning in.

Holly Springs, North Carolina, 1932

"Girl, you worry too much about your mama!" Loretta said, running alongside her sister Nellie. Loretta jogged alongside her sisters Nellie and Natalie, the sound of their footsteps blending with their playful banter. With a hint of exasperation, Loretta turned to her friend and remarked, "Girl, you worry too much about your mama." She continued,

"Well. Excuse me for lying to my mother about a youth revival!"

Loretta playfully teased Denise, "It ain't a sin to party!" Her dress hugged her figure as tightly as her curls, and she added with a mischievous grin, "Besides, that boy you were eyeing during the service will be there..." Nellie chimed in with a wink. It was evident that the northern girl had a soft spot for the charming, guitar-playing singer from the South. "I don't know, girls..." Denise hesitated.

"Hey, wasn't your mama a burlesque dancer?" Natalie teased as Denise rolled her eyes. "She's an acclaimed Gospel singer," Denise retorted. "And I'll follow in her footsteps, we know!" Loretta taunted as Denise frowned. "But for one night, forget about it and cut loose!"

"But first, your suit jacket..."

"What? Why?"

"It screams church."

"Natalie's right." Denise handed over the article of clothing as she walked into the building. The reverberating cadence of Gospel melodies engulfed the atmosphere. Yet, as Denise crossed the threshold, her eyes were met with lascivious, profane movements. Her companions, who were meant to serve as her backup vocalists, had drifted away to engage in flirtatious interactions with the men, leaving Denise isolated in a chaotic environment permeated with smoke, alcohol, and sensuous movements. She found herself encircled by an increasingly dense haze of smoke as the crowd pressed in around her, amplifying her sense of confinement. Frantically seeking an exit, she inadvertently collided with someone in the pulsating crowd.

"Hey, watch it!" Her strong Philadelphian accent cut through the air like a whip, filled with irritation and a hint of vulnerability.

"Hey, yerself, darlin'." He stood leaning against the wall, a white Falcon guitar slung over his shoulder, the faint aroma of cologne wafting from him. A toothpick held between his lips mimicked the swagger of a seasoned cowboy. His accent mirrored the rhythm of a blues song, enchanting and alluring. Her emerald eyes met his hazel gaze in an electrifying moment that seemed to suspend time itself.

"Denise! There you are. We got a table for you!" Natalia's welcoming smile contrasted with Loretta's knowing smirk.

"Someone's lovesick..."

"I don't even know him, Nellie!"

"But you want to~" Natalia teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I-I do not!" Denise protested, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. The enigmatic guitar player's eyes never left her as he continued to strum the strings, the melody wrapping itself around her like a spell. She experienced a whirlwind of emotions, unexpected and thrilling, challenging her preconceived notions of herself as a Christian woman.

"You wanna pitch woo~"

"Retta!" Denise shook her head, trying to quell the fluttering of her heart as she made her way to the bar, acutely aware of the mysterious musician's gaze following her every move. After finishing his set, he sauntered toward her, casually leaning against the wall, admiring every detail of her face.

"You're not from around here, are you?" The stranger's words were thick with a drawl as he sized her up, noting the defiance in her stance and the fire in her eyes. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at his assumption. "What gave it away...?" she retorted. "You look mean and talk funny like you shoot venom," he smirked, enjoying the banter. "Feisty too."

"What do you mean I talk funny? So do you..." she shot back, refusing to be intimidated.

"You ain't no Southern Belle," he observed, a laugh in his voice as her heart skipped a beat. "But I like that." Leaning in, he held her gaze, and she couldn't help but meet his eyes.

"You're not from around here, are you?" The stranger's words were thick with a drawl as he sized her up, noting the defiance in her stance and the fire in her eyes. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at his assumption. "What gave it away...?" she retorted. "You look mean and talk funny like you shoot venom," he smirked, enjoying the banter. "Feisty too."

"Oh yeah? Mr..."

"Alfonso Reed, sweetheart," he introduced himself with a charming smile before kissing her hand. "And I gotta say, you got pipes on you. How old are you...?"

"17," she huffed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "But I'm a good kisser!" The words spilled out before she could stop them.

"Carino, you're blushin'~" he chuckled, his tone warm and teasing. "I'm two years older than you."

"I'll be 18 in two months..." she admitted, feeling the tension between them crackle with newfound awareness.

"That's real cute kid,"

"Denise Paloma Valmos..."  She let out an exasperated sigh as Alfonso leaned in closer and urged her to return to the stage. "Say you wanna sing with me?" he suggested. "I'd love to," Denise replied with a twinkle in her eye. With a confident stride, Denise approached the stage and turned to the musicians. "Do you know 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man'?" she inquired. "But can we pick up the tempo?" The musicians, clearly charmed by Denise, assured her, "Anything for you," with a wink. As she took the microphone, encouraging shouts from the audience filled the air. "Take your time, child!" one lady called out. Denise began to sing, and her captivating performance mesmerized Alfonso, who couldn't help but feel the rhythm as her body swayed along with her dress, her hands gracefully swirling as if absorbed in the melody. When she finished her song, she walked off the stage, attempting to collect her belongings and pretending as if she hadn't just indulged in a night of blissful sin.

"Alright, girls, let's go..." She smiled, putting her suit jacket back on as she adjusted her hair in the mirror. "You should really consider pursuing a career as a jazz singer!" Nellie grinned in agreement.

"I agree," Natalia chimed in with a smile, while Lorretta chuckled.

"She's only got one mission and it's-" Alfonso's urgent voice interrupted with a shout, "Denise! Wait!"

Denise turned to face him, her expression softening as she asked, "Yes?"

"You left without saying goodbye," Denise said, her tone filled with emotion.

"Maybe I don't want to face never seeing you again?" Alfonso confessed, pulling her closer. He kissed her tenderly and then whispered, "Maybe you should run away with me..."

Denise pressed her forehead against his and asked, "When, where?"

"Tonight, Anywhere," he said with a smile.

Holly Springs 1955

"Here's how that picture came to be," Cecelia said, smiling as she sat next to Elvis on the stage. "It's so romantic," she added, blushing. Elvis gently kissed her hand. "There's something about smooth-talking, guitar-playing southern men that drives you Valmos women wild," she chuckled as Elvis leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.

"Can I ask you something?" she said.

"Sure, shoot," Elvis replied.

"Would you run away with me?" she asked, looking into his eyes.

"Faster than a speeding bullet, Cecelia," Elvis said with a confident smile.

[mbta-unofficial]

US people who care about railroads should definitely read the Corridor ID Selections. While it was published a little over a year ago, the program is designed to fund shovel-ready programs and dedicate money to assessing the viability of corridors which would be either new or upgraded, and they just posted a massive update to the map including new HSR viability studies.

A partial list of served cities:

High speed rail candidates

San Francisco, Anaheim, LA, Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, Eugene, Charlotte NC, Atlanta, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Las Vegas, Palmdale

New Conventional rail candidates

Asheville NC, Salisbury NC, Savannah GA, Chattenooga TN, Nashville, Memphis, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Boston, Albany, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, King's Mountain NC, Moline IL, Naperville IL, Wyanet IL, Chicago, Fort Wayne IN, Columbus OH, Pittsburgh PA, Cleveland OH, Cincinnati OH, Dayton OH, Toledo OH, Detroit MI, Coachella CA, Fullerton CA, Indio CA, Riverside CA, Palm Springs CA, Fort Collins CO, Pueblo CO, Denver CO, Boulder CO, Colorado Springs CO, Newport News VA, Charlottesville VA, Roanoke VA, Richmond VA, Dover DE, Wilmington DE, Berlin MD, St Paul-Minneapolis MN, Eau Claire WI, Fayetteville NC, Raleigh NC, Lillington NC, Fuquay-Varina NC, Mobile AL, Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula MS, Houston, San Antonio, Rosenburg TX, Flatonia TX, Seguin TX, Meridian MS, Mineola TX, Longview TX, Marshall TX, Shreveport LA, Ruston LA, Monroe LA, Vicksburg MS, Jackson MS, Jacksonville FL, Miami FL, Orlando Fl, Tampa FL, Indianapolis IN, Louisville KY, Milwaukee, WI; La Crosse, WI; Eau Claire, WI; St. Paul, MN; Fargo, ND; Bismarck, ND; Dickson, ND; Glendive, MT; Billings, MT; Bozeman, MT; Butte, MT; Helena, MT; Missoula, MT; St. Regis, MT; Sandpoint, ID; Spokane, WA; and Pasco, WA, Duluth WA, Peoria IL, Phoenix, Tuscon, Maricopa, Reading PA, Scranton

These are most of the cities with new service

If you are between two of these cities, there is a serious chance you will have a train coming to you soon. Check the Doc for more as well as service upgrades on existing services

[919mortgages]

All About Fuquay Varina

All About Fuquay Varina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOlKUV3nq7M All About Fuquay Varina Tucked away in the rolling landscapes of North Carolina is the quaint town of Fuquay-Varina, a unique blend of rural charm and vibrant community spirit. Originating as two distinct towns, Fuquay Springs and Varina merged in 1963, creating what we now know as Fuquay-Varina. This merger has gifted the town with a rich history and a dynamic cultural tapestry that continues to attract new residents and visitors alike. https://themortgage.app/about-fuquay-varina In the early 20th century, Fuquay Springs was famed for its healing mineral springs, drawing visitors from far and wide to its rejuvenating waters. The legend tells of a French veteran of the Revolutionary War who discovered the spring, and soon after, its reputation as a natural spa attracted people seeking health and relaxation. Today, while the original spring is no longer the main attraction, the echo of its significance remains a beloved part of local lore. Varina, on the other hand, grew around a bustling post office and a diminutive yet vital railroad stop. Named after the wife of a prominent local store owner, Varina rapidly developed a reputation for its role in the tobacco trade, becoming a crucial point for the transportation and commerce of tobacco and other goods in the region. Today, Fuquay-Varina is one of the fast-growing towns in the state, yet it has managed to preserve its distinct small-town charm. Wander through its historic downtown areas, and you will find a delightful mix of old and new. The main streets are lined with quaint shops, locally-owned restaurants, and bustling markets, reflecting both its rich past and vibrant present. The cultural scene in Fuquay-Varina is as distinctive as its history, with numerous festivals and events, such as the Celebrate Fuquay-Varina Festival, inviting the community and visitors to experience local art, music, and crafts. It’s a town that truly knows how to celebrate its heritage while looking forward to its future. Education and community engagement are also at the heart of Fuquay-Varina's values. The town boasts highly-rated schools and a community that invests in lifelong learning and civic activities. The quaint Fuquay-Varina Arts Center acts as a hub for creativity, offering classes, exhibitions, and performances that engage people of all ages. For those inclined towards the outdoors, the town doesn't disappoint. A variety of parks and trails are scattered throughout, providing plenty of opportunities for hiking, picnicking, and enjoying the natural beauty of North Carolina. The South Park, with its splash pad and walking trails, is a particular favorite for families looking to enjoy a sunny afternoon. In summary, Fuquay-Varina is more than just a spot on the map; it's a vibrant community that balances growth with tradition. It's a place where history meets modernity, a town rich in stories yet alive with the promise of tomorrow. Whether you are drawn by its history, its community spirit, or its natural beauty, Fuquay-Varina has something for everyone to discover and cherish. https://www.fuquay-varina.org/ via Beyond TheMortgage App https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCorkoJFwGLolBCXdUTR6_pA October 09, 2024 at 02:03PM

[lboogie1906]

General Clara Adams-Ender (née Leach; born July 11, 1939) is a retired Army officer who served as Chief of the Army Nurse Corps (1987-91). She was the first woman to receive her MS in Military Arts and Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff College. She is the first African American nurse corps officer to graduate from the US Army War College. She retired (1993) she was serving as commanding officer of Fort Belvoir. She published a memoir, My Rise to the Stars: How a Sharecropper’s Daughter Became an Army General.

She was born in Willow Spring, North Carolina. She had nine siblings. Her mother was Caretha Bell (Sapp) Leach. Her father, Otha Leach, was a sharecropper and the family lived in Wake County, North Carolina. She attended high school at Fuquay Springs Consolidated High School and graduated when she was sixteen, second in her class. She attended North Carolina A&T State University. She was a participant in the Greensboro sit-ins.

She joined the Army to pay for her nursing school education. When she graduated, she was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army Nurse Corps.

She started a consulting company. She is the former president of Caring About People With Enthusiasm. She is a Catholic convert. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[redcheckpest]

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[cshumay]

Soon my pretty… soon! #suprastoked #suprasc450 #nc #spring #sunset #wakeskate #wakesurf #harrislake (at Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpd0MdfOLbe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dskimages]

On my road trip last summer I was glad to be able to visit some friends and family I don't usually get to see being on opposite ends of the country. So each place I tried to snap at least a few pics in their area. This is Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. A pleasant little town with a split history of 2 towns that grew together last century. This spot is part of a park where a natural water spring comes up (just behind the camera) that grew fame in yester-year of having healing properties. This was one of those times that I struggled to get some interesting pics mainly because I was rushed to get to my next stop (as usual). In the rush, I tried getting some pics of the spring itself but they really didn't turn out very good. Some times it's hard to see the focus on the little camera screen especially when I'm in a hurry. So many times I get back to the computer and then it's very obvious on the 27inch monitors. I keep trying to pay attention to such things, but alas I'm still working on it. Besides, my real reason for coming to this town was to see some life long friends and I was rushed to go see more long time friends and the time with them all was priceless. . Jul 22 . I show all my pics here, or you can follow JUST my travel pics at @DSKwanders. . Nikon D610, f8, 1/250s, ISO-1250, 70mm, Tamron SP 24-70mm f2.8 Di VS USD G2 with Polorizer filter Adobe Lightroom enhancements . #DSKImagesNW #mydailypic #mydailyphoto #myphotooftheday #mypicoftheday #InstaDaily #InstaPic #myshots #myphotography #PicoftheDay #PhotooftheDay #PhotographyDaily #BestoftheDay #throughmylens #PhotoAddict #JustGoShoot #InstaFocus #Snapshot #MeandMyCamera #Nikon #NikonPhotography #outforawalk #whatISee #AlongthePath https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnuhy4criUj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Best Lawyer at Fuquay Varina 

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[my-triangle-trusted-realty-inc]

10 Answers About the NC "Due Diligence Fee."

10 Answers About the NC “Due Diligence Fee.”

If you are buying or selling a home in the greater Triangle (Raleigh/Durham) market, you will either hate or love this fee! What is a “due diligence” fee, and how is it different from an earnest money deposit? http://www.TriangleTrusted.com When you purchase a home in North Carolina, the Offer to Purchase lists two different fees that are due at the time of contract. The first is a due…

[f4tj4x-blog]

photo manip/artdeco art.. one of my favorite things to do and looks amazing on canvas 😍 #apexnc

[roofstruction]

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[piedmontphoto]

We do love traditional but we're not scared to step out if the box. Contact us for an appointment today! #photography #photographer #portraits #seniorpictures #seniorportraits #familypictures #familyportraits #family #model #models #modeling #mom #moms #mommy #mommylife #woman #spring #girls #design #designer #blog #blogger #blogging #piedmontphoto #fuquay #fuquayvarina (at Piedmont Photo)

[captainsourwolf]

I just want 100k words about small town garden shop owner link neal and frou frou lumberjack bakery owner rhett mclaughlin meeting for the first time in home depot

all of link’s water hoses froze over night because someone forgot to shut them off and put them away the day before so not only are the things frozen but his outdoor patio has a solid layer of ice covering it and inside there’s a mini ice rink by the potting soil so he has to go out and buy new hoses and maybe a space heater to speed things along

rhett has a busted exhaust vent over his best oven because it’s old and it gets the most use because it’s bigger and has more space for big batches of his mama’s best peanut butter cookies so he’s gotta buy a new exhaust vent or at least find a solution that will buy some time till the repair man can come

they meet only because link isn’t paying attention pushing his cart. he’s only in there for the hoses and space heater but he got distracted by a bunch of really neat gardening tools and threw them in and is now perusing the new shipment of fancy copper faucets. and because he’s not paying attention he rams his cart into this giant of a man rushing through the aisle and they collide and link’s temper nearly gets the best of him until he sees the wild hair and the beard and the red plaid paired with some stylish jeans and the apron Rhett forgot to take off under his coat.

rhett isn’t expecting to come in contact with someone so ready to fight and get scrappy over a buggy accident that was the other guy’s fault to being with. but he does and he looms a little bit until the guy backs off and they can properly introduce themselves after an apology. but to be honest after seeing the guy’s eyes and the stubble and the grey in his hair and the impressive build under such tight clothes he finds he doesn’t much care about being run over in the local home depot if it’s by someone so attractive.

rhett introduces himself first and then link and they end up finding out that their businesses are only two buildings away from each other. they leave the store with the promise to come check out the other’s shop. and it becomes this thing.

link visits rhett’s place first. rhett gives him a sample of the peanut butter cookies and link threatens to never leave if everything is as good as those cookies. then the next day rhett comes to the garden shop and link jokes he doesn’t have peanut butter cookies to offer but he does have a hot chocolate station set up in the front with his mama’s recipe. after that they’re both intrigued.

every week they find excuses to come visit each other. they find out they’re both from buies creek and both went to nc state a year apart and somehow have ended up in fuquay at the same time. every excuse to visit gets more and more ridiculous. like rhett pretending he needs tips on how to tell the different types of weeds a part because he has these weeds in his yard that never seem to die and ones that are pretty and he hates to kill. or link pretending he’s just there to check on the flowers on rhett’s tables because he thought they looked a little wilted the last time he was in there and he can’t stand to see a wilted flower.

they catch one pretty quick what the other is doing. finally rhett gets uo the nerve to ask link on a date and they meet up one weekend at the local diner and chat for hours over burgers and fries and dessert. turns out they have a lot more connections than they realized. like the fact rhett came to bc elementary in first grade from georgia or the fact link rode his bike to the very same river all the time. and yet somehow their paths never crossed. in a small town like buies creek it seems like they would’ve found each other eventually, but they never did. until now.

over time it’s like they never lived a life without knowing the other. they’re best friends already and one isn’t the same without the other. sometimes they both think they’d be fine never dating or becoming something more because it already feels like they’re half of something, like they’re an old married couple, like they were meant to find each other in any life. they spend as much time as possible together, their dogs jade and barbara meet and love each other instantly, they know each other’s quirks and the sounds they make and the way their eyes light up about something and the way their breathing changes when something is upsetting or exciting.

but link kisses rhett first when winter turns to spring and his garden shop blooms to life with fresh spring flowers and the butterflies and hummingbirds start to show. it’s over a plate of experimental desserts the bakery is trying out and rhett saves the best for last, a batch of chocolate chipless chocolate chip cookies because he remembers link telling him about them one night weeks ago and that despite the weirdness they’re his favorite kind of cookie. the fact rhett remembered and blushed as he told link about it is what makes link grab him by the apron straps and haul him across the table to kiss him square on the mouth.

the only thing that changes is that now they kiss and they do it all the time. in the back room at the garden shop when link is closing the place down and rhett is coming to pick him up and he can’t stand how cute link is in his clear frames and dirt smudged on his cheek and he has to kiss link, chin in his hand and back to the wall. at the corner table in the bakery when rhett has a break and the pie is fresh and he’s got a dollop of apple filling on his mustache so link just leans over and kisses it off and says he can’t believe how delicious the apple pie is at this one bakery he knows. or in link’s car after a movie when rhett is talking animatedly about the awful plot line and the fact the movie wasn’t even that scary and link grabs his hands and then his cheeks and kisses him sweetly until he calms down. or outside rhett’s front door one morning when link is picking him up because they’ve started carpooling and it’s still spring in north carolina so link is cold of course and he grabbed the wrong sweater so upon seeing the shivering man on his doorstep rhett squeezes his biceps and kisses link until he’s hot all over and doesn’t want to leave.

taking things slow isn’t in their wheelhouse. it’s been months since they met and only a couple of weeks since they started kissing every chance they got. but there’s this constant buzz under their skin for more. every time link turns those blue eyes on him rhett feels the tingling start low in his gut and he suddenly wants to know how dark those eyes can get when there’s a cock in link’s mouth. every time rhett lightly touches his fingertips to the nape of link’s neck and causes a shiver link is acutely aware of the thrumming in his veins and is desperate to know what those fingertips feel like on his inner thighs. and it just happens because rhett got his hands under link’s shirt that saturday afternoon and fitted his fingers perfectly in the divots between link’s ribs and then it was happening. clothes off and hands everywhere and mouths leaving burning hot trails, hands burning even hotter in unexplored but not unwelcome territory.

just like the kissing, they do this as much as possible too. it lights a fire in their souls and every chance they get they’re touching, they’re exploring, they’re fucking just as much as they’re making love. times when their off days line up and rhett gets link naked and bent over the kitchen counter and fucks him with his face pressed into the granite and the other hand on link’s waist. times when link gets rhett spread out on the bed and takes his time with his fingers and his tongue to get rhett worked up before sinking in nice and slow and wet and grinds into him till he’s begging. or the times when it’s a slow, sweet build up because they have all day or all night and nowhere else to be so they make it last with their hands clasped tight and sharing the same air because heaven forbid they separate for even two seconds.

everything feels like fate. like some invisible string that’s been tying them together and the universe finally decided to tighten up the slack. it feels like they never went a day not knowing each other, being with each other, and they know in some other life, some other universe maybe they did meet in first grade and time allowed them to slowly but purposefully come together. but in this life they came together in this way, with a garden shop and a bakery separated by two buildings and a random buggy crash in the local home depot and a lifetime of fate finally deciding they were ready to meet.

[dr-archeville]

INDY Daily: Raleigh's New Police Chief, Durham Candidates Forum, That Back-to-School Feeling of Dread

It’s Thursday, August 19.

Thanks to our sponsor this week, CDS Courses, the continuing ed program at the Center for Documentary Studies. Their innovative and affordable online fall classes in photography, audio, video, writing, and more are open for registration. Receive a 10% discount using the INDYWK code when you sign up!    

Good morning, readers.

The COVID-19 situation remains dire and that means more mask mandates, more hospitalizations, and more parents anxious about sending their children back to in-person classes at the local public schools next week.

At a news conference yesterday, Governor Roy Cooper and N.C. DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen gave an update on the state's pandemic trends. North Carolina’s metrics "continue to show the virus spread increasing," and officials are urging what they call "layered protection:" that is, getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and encouraging everyone you know to do the same. 

Citing a 1,370 percent increase in COVID-19 cases since June, Wake County Board of Commissioners chairman Matt Calabria signed an emergency declaration yesterday afternoon requiring everyone to wear a mask inside public places such as grocery stores and retail shops, effective beginning at  7 a.m. Friday.

The order applies to the unincorporated areas of the county as well as to the towns of Garner, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, and Zebulon and will apply to 83 percent of the county's population. As we've reported, Raleigh and Cary already have mask mandates in place, and Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Wake Forest and Wendell aren't reinstating mask mandates at this time.

Yesterday, I linked to an N&O story about parents in Wake County who are "scared" about sending their kids back to school in person. I got a wrenching email from a reader, the parent of a student in Durham Public Schools, who says she, too, is surrounded by anxious parents, who, on top of their worries about safety, are staring down the realities of the inequities embedded in the public school system and what that could mean for the county's children.

The reader writes:

"In addition to rising COVID numbers and the unrelenting worry of keeping everyone safe in school, one of my biggest heartaches is the 'strong preference' from the Board of Education to have kids eat lunch outside (instead of the cafeteria) but ultimately offering no resources to help make that happen, aside from giving our already over-worked and under-appreciated principals and vice-principals the "choice" to implement such a large scale change in their school.

What this decision-that’s-not-a-decision has fast morphed into, however, is a textbook example of what systemic inequities in public schools look like. Some schools (including my own) have begun raising money to put in place outside structures (tents, tables, etc.) for kids to eat lunch while other schools, more overcrowded and strapped and definitely less resourced, are left behind. All of this is one more awful thing on top of the incredible heartsickness and dread many parents are feeling when it comes to the 'choice' of sending our kids to school this fall."

I feel for everyone who's sending a child into what's truly a labyrinth of the unknown next week. We all understand that most children learn best in the classroom, and that that's the model that we need to get back to, but it's hard to get away from those feelings this reader describes: heartsickness, dread, unrelenting worry.

We don't have the space to socially distance, so that completely went out the window. We don't seem to have the collective will to make sure all the kids will wear masks, a condition experts are clear about that will keep them safe. And we don't even have the resources to follow as basic a recommendation as that all students be able to eat lunch outside.

At what point do we take a step back, recognize we're unprepared, and just wait a few weeks to allow the metrics to improve and get more people vaccinated? I share the feeling of dread. Here we are, knee deep in a crisis, and instead of stepping back it feels like we're careening towards certain disaster.

Thanks for reading, and please let me take a moment to plug our new "Ask a Bookworm" column, where, each week, a member of the Triangle's literary community will respond to readers' questions about anything book-related. To submit questions, please email askabookworm@indyweek.com. This month, Land from downtown Durham's Letters Bookshop will answer your questions.

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The INDY Daily is made possible by the INDY Press Club, which is helping us keep fearless, independent local journalism viable in the Triangle.

[Some happy, festive Maple View cows from the archives Photo by Jeremy Lange.]

Orange County

Journalists, including our very own (but, sadly, not for much longer) Sara Pequeño are frustrated with UNC-Chapel Hill's public records office and its inability to produce public records.

Hillsborough's Maple View Farm and Milk Company, which provide the dairy for Maple View Ice Cream, are closing their doors in September after 25 years. The companies' cows "are all going to a good home and will be missed immensely," according to the Maple View Facebook page.

UNC-Chapel Hill's Good Neighbor Initiative is in its 18th year working to improve town-gown relations.

Durham County

The People's Alliance municipal candidate forum with Durham mayoral and council candidates takes place tonight at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

The 509 Aura apartment building on North Mangum Street will bring 183 market-rate apartment units to downtown Durham. 

[Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson. Photo by Brett Villena.]

Wake County

Estella Patterson, Raleigh's newly sworn-in police chief, has a vision for community-based policing. But community activists are skeptical, and say she needs to address past issues and repair damaged relationships.

Shaw University and Wake County's Register of Deeds Office are collaborating on a project that will bring to light records of enslaved people in the Triangle to help longtime Black residents track the history of their families. 

NC + Elsewhere

The Senate Agriculture, Energy and Environment Committee voted to confirm Elizabeth Biser as the new secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the first woman to lead the department. The full Senate is expected to approve her nomination today.

The Biden administration plans to roll out vaccine boosters next month as hospitalizations due to the Delta variant surge. Plus, there's another COVID variant: Lambda.

Statewide COVID-19 by the numbers: Wednesday, August 18

5,256 New lab-confirmed cases (1,131,243 total; seven-day average trending up)

2,930 Current hospitalizations reported (seven-day average increasing; 13,952 total deaths, +57 over Tuesday)

35,514 Completed tests (15.145 million total; most recent positive rate was 13.2 percent)

10,141,002 Total vaccinations administered; 48 percent of population fully vaccinated; 59 percent of 18 years+ fully vaccinated (State data not updated daily)

Eat. Drink. Do.

Get out and about in the Triangle today. Got an Eat.Drink.Do Idea? Email us at EatDrinkDo@indyweek.com

Eat The Birria Tacos from 13 Tacos & Taps slap according to Raleigh Food Pics.

Drink Gather for drinks and conversation at this Sustainable Spirits event at Raleigh's new Young Hearts Distillery.

Do Check out the People's Alliance PAC's Durham municipal candidates forum.

Today's weather

Hot and dry with highs in the low 90s.  

Song of the day

Unaka Prong –– Fishing Report From the self-proclaimed "genre-bending jazz fusion and progressive rock" quintet's new album Kudzu.

—Jane Porter— Send me an email | Find me on Twitter

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