#home loans preston

[keystonemortgagebrokers]

Planning to Buy Your First Home in 2025? Keystone Mortgage Brokers Are Here to Help!

Start your homeownership journey with confidence in 2025! At Keystone Mortgage Brokers, we specialise in simplifying the process for first-time buyers. Whether you're looking for home loans in Preston or need expert guidance to refinance in Preston, our team is dedicated to securing the best options tailored to your needs. As your trusted mortgage broker in Preston, we ensure a stress-free experience with competitive rates and personalised advice. Let us help you turn your dream home into a reality. Contact Keystone Mortgage Brokers today and take the first step toward owning your home!

[beardedmrbean]

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) revealed Tuesday that FBI agents have seized his cellphone amid a probe into “mistakes” he claims to have made in reporting his campaign finances — including a $320,000 loan of his own money.

The first-term GOP lawmaker posted on X that the FBI “took possession” of his phone last Friday to investigate what he said were likely “mistakes” in his campaign’s “initial financial filings.”

“We have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward,” Ogles said, adding that he would “fully cooperate” with the bureau “as I have with the Federal Election Commission.”

“I am confident all involved will conclude that the reporting discrepancies were based on honest mistakes, and nothing more,” he added.

The Tennessee Republican is at least the third House member in the 118th Congress whose campaign finances have apparently warranted a closer look by federal authorities.

Ogles reported a $320,000 loan to his own campaign in April 2022, according to federal campaign finance filings, but amended that the following year to show a mere $20,000 loan.

House financial disclosure forms reveal he held as much as $1.1 million in assets in 2022 — but potentially $1 million in liabilities for a home mortgage in 2022 and line of credit stretching back to January 2020.

“I’m not a wealthy man who can self-fund the millions of dollars needed to run a congressional campaign,” Ogles told The Tennessean in May. “I am a grassroots representative, and I pledged everything I own to run for the honor of representing Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District.”

“While we ultimately needed to transfer $20,000, unfortunately, the full amount of my pledge was mistakenly included on my campaign’s FEC reports,” he claimed.

Neither Ogles’ attorney, G. Kline Preston IV, nor the FBI immediately responded to a request for comment.

NewsChannel 5 in Nashville first reported on Tuesday that the FBI executed a search warrant on the congressman’s phone.

It comes after a series of similar scandals in the House.

Rep. George Santos (R-NY) faced a federal investigation just one month after his election to the House in November 2022 — and was later indicted and expelled from office.

The now-former representative from New York’s 3rd Congressional District was federally indicted on 23 counts for allegedly having laundered campaign money and defrauded donors.

Santos has pleaded not guilty and is slated for trial next month.

“Squad” Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) also acknowledged that federal prosecutors were investigating her use of campaign funds after reports surfaced about payments flowing to a security guard whom she later married.

On Tuesday, Bush was defeated in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary race by St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell.

A member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, Ogles had just defeated Nashville Metro council member Courtney Johnston in Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District the day before the FBI came knocking at his door.

The Campaign Legal Center first filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics in January over the congressman’s financial records, comparing his campaign ledger with that of Santos.

[coffeebrownn]

tell me about preston!

[SOMETHING ABOUT PRESTON]

Baby girl! Baby girl! Baby girl! (affectionate)

His full name is Preston Nell Johnson. BUT, he forgot that he has a middle name, so it's just Preston Johnson for him.

His height is around 5'10 or 5'11 (around 179 CM). Age 32.

Has a typical Mid-Atlantic Accent. Light brown eyes, dirty blond hair. Naturally doesn't speak or smile a lot, so he's somewhat had gotten the title of "chick magnet". Hates that title.

From New Hampshire! but moved to Vermont because he was adopted to a Vermont family! (HAHAHAA) Which he's no the only one who's adopted in the family.

Agnostic. But raised in a Christian setting, went to an all boy school until Highschool (he was moved to a public one)

Family consist of His father and 4 siblings (him included), he's the oldest. His little sister stayed with his biological family and he'd never gotten any answer why he was chosen to be taken away.

A dog kind of person, Favorite dog breed is the Collie or the Labrador Retriever, but no dogs right now, too broke. But he wish to adopt one,,, he's very weak to strays, really want to take every stray back home.

Can't tie his own tie.

His family kinda forgot that he existed and Preston is okay with that, but deep inside he wished that his family respect him a little bit, but he stop chasing that in his late 20s.

Very natural in music, has a decent singing voice and pretty good at playing a trumpet (even though he smokes), but prefer literature. Now he's picking up Computer and Coding.

Not a lawyer but he understand laws pretty well, read it in his free time. The type of person who read Terms of Services 😐

He teaches college students because he's broke and he need to payback his loan because his college is the one who paid his tuition fees. Surprisingly he likes teaching them and doesn't mind it.

Experiencing an emotional burnout from the last relationship, it was an abusive one (emotionally). Now his low self esteem tripled and suffering from trust issue.

Really like Breaking Bad (Tv series) and his favorite movie is Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), he remembers word to word for the first 30 minutes of the movie.

[player1064]

January 1995!!!

WIP asks but it's just the various sections of my happy (???) beville (/angsty carraville) WIP

baby! gaz! and! becks!!!!!!!! aaaaa!!!!!!!

---

January, 1995.

Gary’s been flying on a high all season. Eleven senior team appearances, and there’s still half a season left to go. As much as his friends tease him about being pushed to right-back, he’s eighteen years old and he’s been playing the full 90 more often than not.

David’s only been played once, and now he’s come down from the Boss’ office with his lips pressed tightly together and tears welling up in his eyes. He shakes his head at Gary’s are you okay? look, just turns his back to the room and silently changes out of his training kit.

The out of town kids stay in digs that are walking distance from the Cliff, but for Gary (who is yet to pass his driving test) it’s two buses to get home. Becks normally walks with him and Phil to the bus stop, stays to chat with them while they wait, but today he’s hanging back while everyone filters out the dressing room. Gary shoos Phil ahead, says he’ll catch up or just see him back at home, and he goes to wordlessly sit himself down in the spot next to Becks.

When they’re finally alone, Gary bumps his shoulder against David’s and asks “What’d he say, Becks?”

“He thinks I’m not ready for the league,” says Becks, voice cracking. “Wants to put me out on loan.”

The Boss loves David, everyone knows that. He’s the golden boy, the one he hand-picked and brought all the way from London. The only reason he’s not been getting picked is because the team’s already got a number seven, and Eric’s too senior to get left out.

Nobody’s going to tell David to change position, to fall back to fill a gap in the first team like they had Gary. Because David’s not like Gary, he’s special. But he’s not Eric Cantona, not yet, and he’s not been getting enough minutes while he waits for his turn.

“Did he say which club?”

Becks nods. “Preston. Tier four.”

Preston is an hour and a half’s drive away, and Gary can’t drive.

“Fuck.”

“Yeah.” Becks drops his head into his hands. “D’you think this is it? Not everyone’s gonna make it, we know that.”

“If I can make it then you’re obviously gonna fuckin’ make it,” Gary says forcefully. “Becks, you know you’re good. You know there’s a place for you here. The Boss thinks you need to get more minutes, go out there and get more minutes. And when you come home, it’ll be me an’ you down that right hand side, yeah?”

Gary’s not very good at all this comforting stuff, but he awkwardly places an arm around David’s shoulders and gives him a squeeze.

David looks up at him with a watery little smile. “Will ya miss me?”

“Obviously.” Gary scoffs, then realises that’s probably too strong a statement, even for his best friend, so he quickly adds: “We all will.”

“I’ll miss you too, Gaz.”

“All of us?”

“Is that what I said?”

*

David’s landlady drives him up to Preston on a Saturday. For the first time in months, Gary’s not in the squad, so he takes the two buses over to go hover awkwardly in Becks’ bedroom while he stuffs the last of his things into an old backpack.

“Christ, Becks, you’ve got a lot of stuff don’t you? You’ve only lived here four years.”

Becks shrugs, looks over his shoulder to flash a grin at Gary. “I like nice things. You know, one good thing about this loan is apparently I’m gonna be gettin’ a match fee. £50, every time.”

Gary cringes internally when he does the mental maths on what he’s made from match fees so far this season. It still doesn’t make sense, feels like there’s been some kind of administrative error somewhere down the line that’s swapped his and David’s situations around.

“Becks…” he says weakly, desperately. He can’t tell him don’t go, knows he’s got no right.

David turns around to face him properly, a soft smile still on his face. “Yeah, Gaz?”

There’s nothing he can say, really, is there?

“Becks,” he repeats, and launches himself at his best friend, reaches out to cup his face in his hands and press their lips together, just for a second. It’s such a light brush, and it’s over so fast that he finds himself wondering if he even went through with it, if the last few moments were anything more than the product of an active imagination.

Except Becks is still there, warm eyes gazing into Gary’s, cheeks squashed under his hands.

He’s ready to jump back, to put his hands in the air and say it was nothing, it was just the heat of the moment, he was just thinking about missing his friend. He’s just his friend.

But then Becks says “Gaz,” like it’s something sacred, like he’s something sacred, and he closes the distance between them again, wraps his arms tight around Gary’s waist while he kisses him, kisses him, kisses him.

It’s only a few months, Gary has to remind himself on the bus ride home. Just a few months, and then he won’t ever have to leave again.

[sparks-illustration]

Go fund me, Please help me buy a home!

Hi, my name is Preston, and I'm fundraising to buy myself a trailer home. I've never lived without my parents before due to financial situations. even with my job taking most of my time I still only make around 11k a year, leaving me with very little way of getting by on my own. none of the apartments in my area get below 900$ nowadays, and the ones that are below 900 are senior homes with an age restriction. me only being 26 with no physical disabilities or children sadly means I can't apply for any special assistance. at least none that I'm aware of.

My parents have decided to sell their home which I have been sharing with them. which is completely fine, they shouldn't have to stay here just because of me. but I'm also not sure what to do now or where to turn. if I don't find a new place to live ill have to become homeless and live out of my little chevy spark.

that being said out of all my searches I believe I can afford to live in a trailer park. there are lots of them around the area and I can definitely pay for lot rent, usually around only 375$ - 400$. some of the parks I'm looking at even include utilities. it sounds perfect! something I can actually afford and get by with what I have.

the only problem now is I don't have enough money saved up to buy the trailer. the cheapest ones I've seen for sale go for around 40,000$ and with all the money I've saved up since college I've only got around 15k left. I'm not sure how many more loans I can handle paying off. so now that leaves me with one last idea, to come here and ask you all for help. Please any amount of aid you can offer would be amazing. ill be aiming for the cheapest home I can get, but anything beyond that, if I am lucky enough to get so much help, will all go toward moving expenses, bills and car repairs. Thank you for taking the time to read this over. I appreciate any kind of help or even just taking the time out of your day to read my story here. https://gofund.me/23034678

[unitedbydevils]

Match review: Manchester United 2-0 Leeds United

Pre-season has kicked off, and with it United ventured over to Oslo to take on the horrible sods from Yorkshire.

It was a weird tale of two halves: the first, with the more senior players, showed a lot more evidence of tactical style and ambition; Mount was a workhorse in midfield flitting between a creative pass gambler ala Bruno and the clean-up ala Casemiro. Amad looked lively on the attack, Hannibal and Mainoo bossed the midfield, and Alvaro Fernandez continued his strong form from last season's Preston loan at LB.

The second half saw a complete overhaul and swap of the on-field 11. The tactics fell away, as is the case with less experienced, youthful players, but the skill was evident for all regardless.

A killer throughball from Isak Hansen-Aaroen put Noam Emeran through for a tidy finish past the Leeds keeper to make it 1-0, and later Emeran took his turn to play assistant and put a beautiful angled ball through the Leeds back line to an unmarked Joe Hugill who slotted home calmly.

Post-game stats would be useful to see, but on the eye test alone it's hard not to get excited. Emeran was wonderful on the ball, reminiscent of Gianfranco Zola with his agile movement. Isak Hansen-Aaroen also put in a big showing with his attacking movement and positioning, keeping the passing flowing.

There were three big revelations: - Mainoo seems first team ready (as backup ofc) - Hannibal's maturity (thanks Birmingham City) - United seem to have become a team that likes to be in possession

Fans have DESPAIRED for months and years at the hiding away of certain players for their lack of willing to be on the ball. Not everyone needs to be a baller, but even those who are less technically proficient should be brave enough and competent enough to do the basics: give and go passing, move into space to show or receive the ball, be aware of where to move the ball on to and who's around you.

Today's game was versus a Championship team, freshly relegated from the Premier League, but Leeds aren't awful and this was a derby. Lyon next Wednesday will be a sterner test but the start has been promising. Roll on Murrayfield.

[aplaceonlyforme]

Atul has made me cry 5 times till now.. intentionally and he doesn't know ...I am making this so that I don't forget and I will tell him when I can't take it anymore.

1. He called me dumb. Dumb when we were talking about the sex ratio .

2. When I refused to say that the whole Muslim population should be annilated . That nice I thought that that was it. That he would he stop talking to me and I slept with tears in my eyes. It was the next that I had to call him but was also very distant and told him that his sister can't come for tests in the phc and he did try to talk a little more. Or was it someday else when he pissed me off the previous night...I am not sure.

3. When I gave the money for Activa and he was offended that a few days ago I had asked him to give the money back when he could. He didn't say that he had taken a loan and had paid it off. Asked me who I was to him and why did he need to tell me all these things.

4. That day in the Preston mall. June 17th Bakrid day. I was late to the movie but still went in a hurry, inside out 2 and I caught the sight of his phone screen. He was texting someone on Bumble. Only a few days prior..I had seen a bumble notification on his phone and I tried to be casual.. If I am not wrong the girl he was texting was Sheetal. I actually cried in the movie hall sitting beside him. He didn't realise it...I didn't watch the movie either. I had been distant to him when we went to KC after the movie. Cried on the way back home. It was also the day when I took Ballu to the hospital.

5. Today.. midnight 22nd October when he was hurt because I had made other plans also on the day I was meeting him. Only 10 days prior he had ditched me...dropped me home in a God knows what ..fit..and then didn't realise that I was worried af after he had dropped me home. And yet he called me selfish. ..self centered...and that I was nobody special .that he had to answer my calls..

Actually one other time I missed.

When he spoke about his ex and masturbated. Described her frame etc.

So makes it 6 times

I haven't cried so much in a long time. So much . I don't have any tears left in me. God save us both.

[jrpneblog]

Hornets stung with second half power show

North End completed a very comprehensive victory against Watford at Deepdale winning 3-0 under the lights at PR1. With five changes to the side after the poor show at Millwall, North End took a good twenty minutes to get set in this encounter but after finishing the first half strongly we put our foot on the pedal after the break and sent the visitors back down the M1 with nothing to show for their efforts. Some good performances all round for North End with Storey, McCann, Osmajic and man of the match Kesler-Hayden being the stand out quartet on a night when North End really did need a win even this early in the season. Two goals from Osmajic and a well taken third from McCann saw North End comfortably home in front of a disappointing 13,602 at Deepdale

Paul Heckingbottom made five changes to the side beaten 1-3 at Millwall on Saturday with Potts, Bowler, Keane, Holmes and Riis making way for Kesler-Hayden, Frokjaer, Thordarson, Brady and Osmajic. The game didnt start well for North End and Watford could have been one up after five minutes with Woodman making an excellent save to deny the visitors the lead. Watford had the better of the early exchanges but North End grew into the game in the second quarter of this encounter. Kesler-Hayden and Whiteman had the best of the chances for North End but the visitors still looked dangerous on the counter attack without troubling the scorers and the teams went in level at 0-0 at half time.

Watford had turned North End round at the kick off and so we started the second half kicking towards the Kop end. No changes for North End but the half time team talk had done the trick and we came out with real purpose for the second forty five minutes. Whiteman cleared well for North End off his own line and the boys took advantage soon after as Storey put Kesler-Hayden through on the right and the very impressive on loan Villa youngster found Osmajic who slotted home to give North End the lead. It was all Preston and in the 65th minute a Storey shot fell right in the path of Osmajic and the Montenegran made no mistake hitting the ball first time into the net. It wasnt all over though and Bayo missed a sitter for Watford when clean through as North End breathed a sigh of relief. Just a couple of minutes later it was all over when McCann met a ball from Whiteman and North End were home and dry much to the relief of the home fans. Late chances at both ends came to nothing and PH can be well pleased with his charges performance on a night of joy for the Deepdale faithful.

The relief after the final whistle was huge and there is no doubting it was a big three points for North End. A good team performance all round and some very good individual performance none more so than Kesler-Hayden who received a big standing ovation when he was substituted late on with cramp. No time to dwell on this victory for North End as we travel to Burnley on Saturday lunchtime for what will undoubtedly be a tough encounter away to Scott Parker`s men. North End still only sit one place above the relegation zone after this victory and there is much hard work to do before we can breath a little easier when looking at the league table. For now we can allow ourselves a small pat on the back for this impressive win but there a some tough days ahead in a very open Championship.

.

PRESTON 3-0 WATFORD

.

WOODMAN 7

KESLER-HAYDEN 8 STOREY 8 LINDSAY 7 HUGHES 7

WHITEMAN 7

McCANN 8 FROKJAER 7 THORDARSON 7 BRADY 7

OSMAJIC 8

.

SUBS

POTTS 6

OKKELS 6

LEDSON 6

HOLMES 6

RIIS 6

.

MOTM: Kaine Kesler-Hayden

Attendance 13,602

Preston Fans 13,053 (95.96%)

[hofinance]

Ho Finance Made Simple

Ho Finance- Finance Made Simple is a financial services firm that specialises in providing small to large businesses and individuals with the financial solutions they need to succeed. We understand that finance can be a complex and daunting process, and we are committed to making it easy and straightforward for our clients.

We take the time to understand your individual needs and goals, and we work with you to find the best possible financial solution. We are known for our excellent customer service and our dedication to providing our clients with the best possible outcome.

We offer a wide range of financial services, including:

Home loans

Commercial loans

Business loans

Mortgage Refinancing

Investment property loans

Equipment Finance

Car loans

We are located in Preston, Melbourne, Australia, and we serve clients across Melbourne. If you are looking for a financial advisor who can help you make sound financial decisions, contact Ho Finance- Finance Made Simple today. https://goo.gl/maps/p2uogNWENubfWty86

[hellcity]

FREE Artist Home Buying Seminar with Preston Saunders Friday May 19th 3:00pm-3:30pm and Saturday May 20th 2:30pm-3:00pm! @prestonthelosaunders

Artists! Your unique businesses require unique approaches! We're so happy to host Preston Saunders, a Loan Originator with NFM Lending, Central Ohio's #1 Mortgage Lender! He's helped so many artists navigate the mortgage process as a self-employed artist and how to prepare for success and achieve homeownership!

Pre-register at ReinventingtheTattoo.com/HellCity for a special savings! Thank You!

@reinventingthetattoo

#hellcity #hellcity2023 #hellcitytattoofest #hell #festival #hellcitytattoofestival #artwork #tattoo #art #convention #liveart #artist #tattooartist #2023 #tattoos #possession #hellcitykillumbus #hellcitycolumbus #columbus #free #seminar #mortgage #business #loan #lending #process #achieve

[rashonnekcurry]

The Preston IlI with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 3,435 soft is probably the MOST requested floor plan by my followers! This move in ready priced at $599,363 in a cup-de-sac lot and has a spectacular backyard with no side neighbors! For inquires contact me, whether you need help with the home buying process, looking for a home loan, or showings. #realestate #newhomes #indiana homes #luxuryhomes #IndianaHomes #Indianarealtor #post #Indiana (at Zionsville, Indiana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CljT51xLxXx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[silent-era-of-cinema]

Reginald Leigh Dugmore (20 November 1891 – 16 June 1967), better known as Reginald Denny, achieved success both as an English stage, film and television actor, and as an aviator and UAV pioneer. He was also once amateur boxing champion of Great Britain.

Born as Reginald Leigh Dugmore on 20 November 1891 in Richmond, Surrey, England, he came from a theatrical family; his father was actor and opera singer W.H. Denny. In 1899, Master Reginald Denny began his stage career in A Royal Family and starred in several London productions from age seven to twelve. At sixteen, he ran away from a boarding school and trained as a pugilist with Sir Harry Preston at the National Sporting Club; he also appeared in several British stage productions touring the music halls of England of The Merry Widow. In 1911, he went to the United States to appear in Henry B. Harris's stage production of The Quaker Girl, then joined the Bandmann Opera Company as a baritone touring India and the Far East India where he performed for Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV.

Although he worked in "flickers" during 1911 and 1912, Reginald officially began his film career in 1915 with the World Film Company and made films both in the United States and Britain until the 1960s. Among the numerous stage productions in which he starred, Reginald appeared in John Barrymore's 1920 Broadway production of Richard III; the two actors became friends and starred in several films together including Sherlock Holmes (1922), Hamlet (1933), Romeo and Juliet (1936), and Paramount's Bulldog Drummond series (1937-1938).

Denny was a well-known actor in silent films, and with the advent of talkies he became a character actor. He played the lead role in a number of his earlier films, generally as a comedic Englishman in such works as Private Lives (1931) and later had reasonably steady work as a supporting actor in dozens of films, including The Little Minister (1934) with Katharine Hepburn, Anna Karenina (1935) with Greta Garbo, Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940) and the Frank Sinatra crime caper film Assault on a Queen (1966). He made frequent appearances in television during the 1950s and 1960s. His last role was in Batman (1966) as Commodore Schmidlapp. In 2020, Kino Lorber released 4K restorations on DVD and Blu-ray of three of Denny's silent comedies: The Reckless Age, Skinner’s Dress Suit, and What Happened to Jones? in The Reginald Denny Collection.

Denny served as an observer/gunner in the First World War in the new wartime Royal Air Force.

In the 1920s he performed as a stunt pilot with the 13 Black Cats and loaned his WWI Sopwith Snipe biplane to Howard Hughes for use in Hell's Angels (1927). In the early 1930s, Denny became interested in free-flight model airplanes. In 1934, he and oil tycoon Max Whittier's son, Paul Whittier, formed Reginald Denny Industries and opened a model plane shop, which became a chain known as the Reginald Denny Hobby Shop, now California Hobby Distributors.

He designed his "Dennyplane" with its signature model engine "Dennymite," developed by engineer Walter Righter, in addition to the "Denny Jr." which child actors would enter in model plane competitions at Mines Field, which later became Los Angeles International Airport. In 1935, Denny began developing his remote controlled "radioplane" for military use. In 1939, he and his partners won the first military United States Army Air Corps contract for their radio-controlled target drone, the Radioplane OQ-2. In July 1940, they formed the Radioplane Company and manufactured nearly fifteen thousand drones for the US Army during the Second World War. The company was purchased by Northrop in 1952.

Denny had a great deal in common with Robert Loraine, an older actor / Airman. They had been in a West End production together in 1902 in London,[5] they were both veterans of the RFC (and its successor, the Royal Air Force) and were both still flying and making films in Hollywood in the 1930s. It is possible that Denny's interest in radio controlled aircraft was influenced by his old RFC colleagues and the British unmanned aircraft developments.

Denny married actress Irene Hilda Haismann on 28 January 1913 in Calcutta, both were with the Bandmann Opera Company. They had one daughter but were divorced in 1928. Denny married actress Isabelle "Betsy Lee" Stiefel in 1928 and they had three children.

Denny died on 16 June 1967 at the age of 75, after suffering a stroke whilst visiting his sister in his home town of Richmond in England. His body was buried at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. His wife Isabelle survived him until 1996, living to age 89.

[timeless-hollywood-classics]

Margaret Brooke Sullavan (May 16, 1909 – January 1, 1960) was an American actress of stage and film.

Sullavan began her career onstage in 1929. In 1933 she caught the attention of movie director John M. Stahl and had her debut on the screen that same year in Only Yesterday.

Sullavan preferred working on the stage and made only 16 movies, four of which were opposite James Stewart in a popular partnership that included The Mortal Storm and The Shop Around the Corner. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Three Comrades (1938). She retired from the screen in the early 1940s, but returned in 1950 to make her last film, No Sad Songs for Me, in which she played a woman who was dying of cancer. For the rest of her career she would appear only on the stage.

Sullavan experienced increasing hearing problems, depression, and mental frailty in the 1950s. She died of an overdose of barbiturates, which was ruled accidental, on January 1, 1960, at the age of 50.

Sullavan was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of a wealthy stockbroker, Cornelius Sullavan, and his wife, Garland Councill Sullavan. She had a younger brother, Cornelius, and a half-sister, Louise Gregory. The first years of her childhood were spent isolated from other children. She suffered from a painful muscular weakness in the legs that prevented her from walking, so that she was unable to socialize with other children until the age of six. After her recovery she emerged as an adventurous and tomboyish child who preferred playing with the children from the poorer neighborhood, much to the disapproval of her class-conscious parents.

She attended boarding school at Chatham Episcopal Institute (now Chatham Hall), where she was president of the student body and delivered the salutatory oration in 1927. She moved to Boston and lived with her half-sister, Weedie, while she studied dance at the Boston Denishawn studio and (against her parents' wishes) drama at the Copley Theatre. When her parents cut her allowance to a minimum, Sullavan defiantly paid her way by working as a clerk in the Harvard Cooperative Bookstore (The Coop), located in Harvard Square, Cambridge.

Sullavan succeeded in getting a chorus part in the Harvard Dramatic Society 1929 spring production Close Up, a musical written by Harvard senior Bernard Hanighen, who was later a composer for Broadway and Hollywood.

The President of the Harvard Dramatic Society, Charles Leatherbee, along with the President of Princeton's Theatre Intime, Bretaigne Windust, who together had established the University Players on Cape Cod the summer before, persuaded Sullavan to join them for their second summer season. Another member of the University Players was Henry Fonda, who had the comic lead in Close Up.

In the summer of 1929 Sullavan appeared opposite Fonda in The Devil in the Cheese, her debut on the professional stage. She returned for most of the University Players' 1930 season. In 1931, she squeezed in one production with the University Players between the closing of the Broadway production of A Modern Virgin in July and its tour in September. She rejoined the University Players for most of their 18-week 1930–31 winter season in Baltimore.

Sullavan's parents did not approve of her choice of career. She played the lead in Strictly Dishonorable (1930) by Preston Sturges, which her parents attended. Confronted with her evident talent, their objections ceased. "To my deep relief", Sullavan later recalled. "I thought I'd have to put up with their yappings on the subject forever."

A Shubert scout saw her in that play as well and eventually she met Lee Shubert himself. At the time, Sullavan was suffering from a bad case of laryngitis and her voice was huskier than usual. Shubert loved it. In subsequent years Sullavan would joke that she cultivated that "laryngitis" into a permanent hoarseness by standing in every available draft.

Sullavan made her debut on Broadway in A Modern Virgin (a comedy by Elmer Harris), on May 20, 1931.

At one point in 1932 she starred in four Broadway flops in a row (If Love Were All, Happy Landing, Chrysalis (with Humphrey Bogart) and Bad Manners), but the critics praised Sullavan for her performances in all of them. In March 1933, Sullavan replaced another actor in Dinner at Eight in New York. Movie director John M. Stahl happened to be watching the play and was intrigued by Sullavan. He decided she would be perfect for a picture he was planning, Only Yesterday.

At that time Sullavan had already turned down offers for five-year contracts from Paramount and Columbia. Sullavan was offered a three-year, two-pictures-a-year contract at $1,200 a week. She accepted it and had a clause put in her contract that allowed her to return to the stage on occasion. Later on in her career, Sullavan would sign only short-term contracts because she did not want to be "owned" by any studio.

Sullavan arrived in Hollywood on May 16, 1933, her 24th birthday. Her film debut came that same year in Only Yesterday. She chose her scripts carefully. She was dissatisfied with her performance in Only Yesterday. When she saw herself in the early rushes, she was so appalled that she tried to buy out her contract for $2,500, but Universal refused.

In his November 10, 1933, review in The New York Herald Tribune, Richard Watts, Jr. wrote that Sullavan "plays the tragic and lovelorn heroine of this shrewdly sentimental orgy with such forthright sympathy, wise reticence and honest feeling that she establishes herself with some definiteness as one of the cinema people to be watched".[11] She followed that role with one in Little Man, What Now? (1934), about a couple struggling to survive in impoverished post–World War I Germany.

Originally, Universal was reluctant to make a movie about unemployment, starvation and homelessness, but Little Man was an important project to Sullavan. After Only Yesterday she wanted to try "the real thing". She later said that it was one of the few things she did in Hollywood that gave her a great measure of satisfaction. The Good Fairy (1935) was a comedy that Sullavan chose to illustrate her versatility. During the production, she married its director, William Wyler.

King Vidor's So Red the Rose (1935) dealt with people in the South in the aftermath of the Civil War. It preceded by one year the publication of Margaret Mitchell's bestselling novel Gone With the Wind, and the novel's film adaptation by four years; the latter became a blockbuster. Sullavan played a childish Southern belle who matures into a responsible woman. The film also dealt with the situation of characters who were freed black slaves.

In Next Time We Love (1936), Sullavan plays opposite the then-unknown James Stewart. She had been campaigning for Stewart to be her leading man and the studio complied for fear that she would stage a threatened strike. The film dealt with a married couple who had grown apart over the years. The plot was unconvincing and simple, but the gentle interplay between Sullavan and Stewart saves the movie from being a soapy and sappy experience. Next Time We Love was the first of four films made by Sullavan and Stewart.

In the comedy The Moon's Our Home (1936), Sullavan played opposite her ex-husband Henry Fonda. The original script was rather pallid, and Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell were brought in to punch up the dialogue, reportedly at Sullavan's insistence. Sullavan and Fonda play a newly married couple, and the movie is a cavalcade of insults and quips. Her seventh film, Three Comrades (1938), is a drama set in post–World War I Germany. Three returning German soldiers meet Sullavan who joins them and eventually marries one of them. She gained an Oscar nomination for her role and was named the year's best actress by the New York Film Critics Circle.

Sullavan reunited with Stewart in The Shopworn Angel (1938). Stewart played a sweet, naive Texan soldier on his way to Europe (World War I) who marries Sullavan on the way. Her ninth film was the rather soapy The Shining Hour (1938), playing the suicidal sister-in-law to Joan Crawford. In The Shop Around the Corner (1940), Sullavan and Stewart worked together again, playing colleagues who do not get along at work, but have both responded to a lonely-hearts ad and are (without knowing it) exchanging letters with each other.

The Mortal Storm (1940) was the last movie Sullavan and Stewart did together. Sullavan played a young German girl engaged in 1933 to a confirmed Nazi (Robert Young). When she realizes the true nature of his political views, she breaks the engagement and turns her attention to anti-Nazi Stewart. Later, trying to flee the Nazi regime, Sullavan and Stewart attempt to ski across the border to safety in Austria. Sullavan is gunned down by the Nazis (under orders from her ex-fiance). Stewart, at her request, picks up the dying Sullavan and takes her by skis into Austria, so she can die in what was still a free country.

Back Street (1941) was lauded as one of the best performances of Sullavan's Hollywood career. She wanted Charles Boyer to play opposite her so much that she agreed to surrender top billing to him. Boyer plays a selfish and married banker and Sullavan his long-suffering mistress. Although he loves Sullavan, he is unwilling to leave his wife and family in favour of her. So Ends Our Night (1941) was another wartime drama. Sullavan (on loan for a one-picture deal from Universal) plays a Jewish girl perpetually on the move with falsified passport and identification papers and always fearing that the officials will discover her. On her way across Europe, she meets up with a young Jewish man (Glenn Ford) and the two fall in love.

A 1940 court decision obligated Sullavan to fulfill her original 1933 agreement with Universal, requiring her to make two more films for them. Back Street (1941) came first. The light comedy, Appointment for Love (1941), was Sullavan's last picture with that company. In the film, Sullavan appeared with Boyer again. Boyer's character marries Sullavan, who tells him that his past affairs mean nothing to her. She insists that each must have an apartment in the same building and that they meet only once a day, at seven o'clock in the morning.

Cry 'Havoc' (1943) is a World War II drama and a rare all-female film. Sullavan played the strong mother figure who keeps a crew of nurses in line in a dugout in Bataan, while they are awaiting the advance of Japanese soldiers who are about to take over. It was the last film Sullavan made with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. After its completion, she was free of all film commitments. She had often referred to MGM and Universal as "jails". When her husband, Leland Hayward, tried to read her the good reviews of Cry 'Havoc', she responded with usual bluntness: "You read them, use them for toilet paper. I had enough hell with that damned picture while making it – I don't want to read about it now!"

Sullavan's co-starring roles with James Stewart are among the highlights of their early careers. In 1935, Sullavan had decided on doing Next Time We Love. She had strong reservations about the story, but had to "work off the damned contract". The script contained a role she thought might be ideal for Stewart, who was best friends with Sullavan's first husband, actor Henry Fonda. Years earlier, during a casual conversation with some fellow actors on Broadway, Sullavan predicted Stewart would become a major Hollywood star.

By 1936, Stewart was a contract player at MGM but getting only small parts in B-movies. At that time Sullavan worked for Universal and when she brought up Stewart's name, they were puzzled. The Universal casting people had never heard of him. At Sullavan's suggestion Universal agreed to test him for her leading man and eventually he was borrowed from a willing MGM to star with Sullavan in Next Time We Love.

Stewart had been nervous and unsure of himself during the early stages of production. At that time he had only had two minor MGM parts which had not given him much camera experience. The director, Edward H. Griffith, began bullying Stewart. "Maggie, he's wet behind the ears," Griffith told Sullavan. "He's going to make a mess of things."

She believed in Stewart and spent evenings coaching him and helping him scale down his awkward mannerisms and hesitant speech that were soon to be famous around the world. "It was Margaret Sullavan who made James Stewart a star," director Griffith later said. "And she did, too," Bill Grady from MGM agreed. "That boy came back from Universal so changed I hardly recognized him." Gossip in Hollywood at that time (1935–36) was that William Wyler, Sullavan's then-husband, was suspicious about his wife's and Stewart's private rehearsing together.

When Sullavan divorced Wyler in 1936 and married Leland Hayward that same year, they moved to a colonial house just a block down from Stewart.[22] Stewart's frequent visits to the Sullavan/Hayward home soon restoked the rumors of his romantic feelings for Sullavan. Sullavan and Stewart's second movie together was The Shopworn Angel (1938). "Why, they're red-hot when they get in front of a camera," Louis B. Mayer said about their onscreen chemistry. "I don't know what the hell it is, but it sure jumps off the screen."

Walter Pidgeon, who was part of the triangle in The Shopworn Angel later recalled: "I really felt like the odd-man-out in that one. It was really all Jimmy and Maggie ... It was so obvious he was in love with her. He came absolutely alive in his scenes with her, playing with a conviction and a sincerity I never knew him to summon away from her." Eventually the duo made four movies together between 1936 and 1940 (Next Time We Love, The Shopworn Angel, The Shop Around the Corner, and The Mortal Storm).

Sullavan took a break from films from 1943-50. Throughout her career, Sullavan seemed to prefer the stage to the movies. She felt that only on the stage could she improve her skills as an actor. "When I really learn to act, I may take what I have learned back to Hollywood and display it on the screen", she said in an interview in October 1936 (when she was doing Stage Door on Broadway between movies). "But as long as the flesh-and-blood theatre will have me, it is to the flesh-and-blood theatre I'll belong. I really am stage-struck. And if that be treason, Hollywood will have to make the most of it".

Another reason for her early retirement from the screen (1943) was that she wanted to spend more time with her children, Brooke, Bridget and Bill (then 6, 4 and 2 years old). She felt that she had been neglecting them and felt guilty about it.[25] Sullavan would still do stage work on occasion. From 1943–44 she played the sexually inexperienced but curious Sally Middleton in The Voice of the Turtle (by John Van Druten) on Broadway and later in London (1947). After her short return to the screen in 1950 with No Sad Songs for Me, she did not return to the stage until 1952.

Her choice then was as the suicidal Hester Collyer, who meets a fellow sufferer, Mr. Miller (played by Herbert Berghof), in Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea. In 1953 she agreed to appear in Sabrina Fair by Samuel Taylor.

She came back to the screen in 1950 to do one last picture, No Sad Songs for Me. She played a suburban housewife and mother who learns that she will die of cancer within a year and who then determines to find a "second" wife for her soon-to-be-widower husband (Wendell Corey). Natalie Wood, then eleven, plays their daughter.

After No Sad Songs for Me and its favorable reviews, Sullavan had a number of offers for other films, but she decided to concentrate on the stage for the rest of her career.

In 1955–56 Sullavan appeared in Janus, a comedy by playwright Carolyn Green. Sullavan played the part of Jessica who writes under the pen name Janus, and Robert Preston played her husband. The play ran for 251 performances from November 1955 to June 1956.

In the late 1950s Sullavan's hearing and depression were getting worse. However, in 1959 she agreed to do Sweet Love Remembered by playwright Ruth Goetz. It was to be Sullavan's first Broadway appearance in four years. Rehearsals began on December 1, 1959. She had mixed emotions about a return to acting and her depression soon became clear to everyone: "I loathe acting", she said on the very day she started rehearsals. "I loathe what it does to my life. It cancels you out. You cannot live while you are working. You are a person surrounded by an unbreachable wall".

On December 18, 1955, Sullavan appeared as the mystery guest on the TV panel show What's My Line?.

Sullavan had a reputation for being both temperamental and straightforward. On one occasion Henry Fonda had decided to take up a collection for a 4th of July fireworks display. After Sullavan refused to make a contribution, Fonda complained loudly to a fellow actor. Then Sullavan rose from her seat and doused Fonda from head to foot with a pitcher of ice water. Fonda made a stately exit, and Sullavan, composed and unconcerned, returned to her table and ate heartily. Another of her blowups almost killed Sam Wood, one of the founders of the Motion Picture Alliance. Wood was a keen anti-Communist. He dropped dead from a heart attack shortly after a raging argument with Sullavan, who had refused to fire a writer on a proposed film on account of his left-wing views. Louis B. Mayer always seemed wary and nervous in her presence. "She was the only player who outbullied Mayer", Eddie Mannix of MGM later said of Sullavan. "She gave him the willies".

Sullavan was married four times. She married actor Henry Fonda on December 25, 1931, while both were performing with the University Players in its 18-week winter season in Baltimore at the Congress Hotel Ballroom on West Franklin Street near North Howard St. Sullavan and Fonda separated after two months and divorced in 1933.

After separating from Fonda, Sullavan began a relationship with Broadway producer Jed Harris. She later began a relationship with William Wyler, the director of her next movie, The Good Fairy (1935). They were married in November 1934, and divorced in March 1936.

Sullavan's third marriage was to agent and producer Leland Hayward. Hayward had been Sullavan's agent since 1931. They married on November 15, 1936. At the time of the marriage, Sullavan was pregnant with the couple's first child. Their daughter, Brooke, was born in 1937 and later became an actress. The couple had two more children, Bridget (1939 – October 17, 1960) and William III "Bill" (1941–2008), who became a film producer and attorney. In 1947, Sullavan filed for divorce after discovering that Hayward was having an affair with socialite Slim Keith. Their divorce became final on April 20, 1948.

In 1950, Sullavan married for a fourth and final time to English investment banker Kenneth Wagg. They remained married until her death in 1960.

Sullavan’s children, in particular Bridget and Bill, often proved rebellious and contrary. As a result of the divorce from Hayward, the family fell apart. Sullavan felt that Hayward was trying to alienate their children from her. When the children went to California to visit their father they were so spoiled with expensive gifts that, when they returned to their mother in Connecticut, they were deeply discontented with what they saw as a staid lifestyle.

By 1955, when Sullavan's two younger children told their mother that they preferred to stay with their father permanently, she suffered a nervous breakdown. Sullavan's eldest daughter, Brooke, later wrote about the breakdown in her 1977 autobiography Haywire: Sullavan had humiliated herself by begging her son to stay with her. He remained adamant and his mother had started to cry. "This time she couldn't stop. Even from my room the sound was so painful I went into my bathroom and put my hands on my ears". In another scene from the book, a friend of the family (Millicent Osborne) had been alarmed by the sound of whimpering from the bedroom: "She walked in and found mother under the bed, huddled in a foetal position. Kenneth was trying to get her out. The more authoritative his tone of voice, the farther under she crawled. Millicent Osborne took him aside and urged him to speak gently, to let her stay there until she came out of her own accord". Eventually Sullavan agreed to spend some time (two and a half months) in a private mental institution. Her two younger children, Bridget and Bill, also spent time in various institutions. Bridget died of a drug overdose in October 1960, while Bill died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2008.

Sullavan suffered from the congenital hearing defect otosclerosis that worsened as she aged, making her more and more hearing impaired. Her voice had developed a throatiness because she could hear low tones better than high ones. From early 1957, Sullavan's hearing declined so much that she was becoming depressed and sleepless and often wandered about all night. She would often go to bed and stay there for days, her only words: "Just let me be, please". Sullavan had kept her hearing problem largely hidden. On January 8, 1960 (one week after Sullavan's death), The New York Post reporter Nancy Seely wrote: "The thunderous applause of a delighted audience—was it only a dim murmur over the years to Margaret Sullavan? Did the poised and confident mien of the beautiful actress mask a sick fear, night after night, that she'd miss an important cue?"

On January 1, 1960, at about 5:30 p.m., Sullavan was found in bed, barely alive and unconscious, in a hotel room in New Haven, Connecticut. Her copy of the script to Sweet Love Remembered, in which she was then starring during its tryout in New Haven, was found open beside her. Sullavan was rushed to Grace New Haven Hospital, but shortly after 6:00 p.m. she was pronounced dead on arrival.[38] She was 50 years old. No note was found to indicate suicide, and no conclusion was reached as to whether her death was the result of a deliberate or an accidental overdose of barbiturates. The county coroner officially ruled Sullavan's death an accidental overdose. After a private memorial service was held in Greenwich, Connecticut, Sullavan was interred at Saint Mary's Whitechapel Episcopal Churchyard in Lancaster, Virginia.

For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Margaret Sullavan has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 1751 Vine Street. She was inducted, posthumously, into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1981.

Sullavan's eldest daughter, actress Brooke Hayward, wrote Haywire, a best-selling memoir about her family, that was adapted into the miniseries Haywire that aired on CBS starring Lee Remick as Margaret Sullavan and Jason Robards as Leland Hayward.

[jj-lynn21]

How A Girl Must Live Ch 5

Ch. 5: Family

  Ch1: A place for singles , Ch 2: Popular  Ch 3:Opening up   Ch 4: Dating  Ch 6 Violence begets Violence  ch 7 Love Birds

taging: @super-pink-a-palouza @luciferreads @glasglowgrin @loomiz @princessloveme123 @hornyhetero @taintedglass @bohemian-brian​ @maryan028 , @scxrsgxrd, lizziejorgie,  @waywardtigersandwich​    @michellarobinsonmoonchou @graceroarkc @yung-dumb-punk-barbie @geourajonedisco​

Warnings: fluff, mild smut,

“We should be at your family home soon Miss Samantha Anne Davenport.” Willard seemed to hum her name as he spoke. “Any topics to stay away from. I didn’t ask what your Father does for a living.”

After she told him her full name at the Soda Shoppe she didn’t realize he would actually use it. It was odder to her that she like it. “My Mother, Ruby Sue, like your Mother does not like anyone in the household to take the Lords name in vain. I do hope you attend church with us Sunday.”

“For you I will.” He takes one hand off the wheel to hold her hand. He brings it up to kiss each knuckle. 

She smiles. “I appreciate that Mr. Willard Abraham Russel.”  

“Tell me about your Father.” Willard prodded again.

“He goes off to work at the savings loan bank every morning.” She said proudly. “He told me once he helps peoples dreams come true.”

“That sounds like a wonderful job.” Willard thought about his best dream of late, just making Sam’s dreams come true. “I’ll have to talk to him about some dreams I have.”

“If anyone can help you, he can.” She points to a two-story brown home with cream trim. “There it is Willard. There is home.”

As soon as Willard turns into the driveway her parents step out to greet them happily. “This is much nicer than where I grew up. I bet you have indoor plummin’ and everything.”

As soon as Willard parks, Samantha opens the door and runs to her parents hugging them both. “I missed home more than you can ever imagine.”

“We missed you to.” They said in unison hugging her back.

Willard grabbed Samantha’s suitcase from the back seat before walking up slowly. He didn’t want to break up the family reunion too quickly. He was nervous about talking to her Father. He was nervous her Father would not want his city girl to be involved with a man from the backwoods hills of Coal Creek, West Virginia.

“Who’s your friend, Samantha?” Her Father looks Willard up and down studying him closely as Willard fidgets.  

She steps back threading her arm threw Willard's that is holding her suitcase. “Father, Mother, this is Mr. Willard Russel.”

Her Father stuck out his hand to check Willard’s grip and get a feel for the man’s character. “Good to meet you Mr. Russel.”

“Good to meet you also, Sir, Mr. Davenport.” He shook the man’s hand firmly.

“I hope you do plan to stay for dinner Mr. Russell.” Her Mother plastered a smile on her face.

“Thank you, Mrs. Ruby Sue.” Willard follows everyone into the house. “I would like that very much. Where should I put Miss Samantha’s suitcase?”

“Come now Samantha, you can help me finish dinner while your Father and Mr. Russel talk in the den.” 

“Yes, Mother.” Samantha scurried off with her Mother.

“I got it Mr. Russel.” Mr. Davenport takes the suitcase in one hand and opens the den door with the other. “Just wait for me in here. Have a drink from the bar if you wish.”  

“Thank you, Sir.” He goes in looking around the large room. It is almost as large as the whole house he grew up in.

There is a large dark cherry wood desk in front of a bay window with some papers stacked neat at the corner. A chair behind the desk and in front of it. And two leather recliners across from where he walked in. A loveseat that matches the recliners between them. The bar is to the right of where Willard walks in the room across from the desk area a few feet.

He decides not to get a drink as he crosses the room to sit on the loveseat to wait for Samantha’s Father. He tries to go over what he wants to say in his head trying to sound respectful and true. Willard stands as Mr. Davenport walks in the room.  

“Don’t get up on my account Mr. Russel.” Mr. Davenport goes to pour a scotch. “Are you sure you don’t want a drink? This is top shelf scotch.”

“No thank you, Sir.” Willard rubs his hands over each other. “I just want to...”

The man puts up his hand. “All I need to know is if you care about my daughter.” He paced as he continued. “She is going to be nineteen this year. I was hoping she would find a proper suitor at that resort. Mr. Jones says you are a good worker that has been with the resort awhile. I trust his instincts. So, are you serious about my daughter, Mr. Russel?”

“Yes, yes Sir.” Willard nodded enthusiastically.  

“Where are you from?” Samantha’s father continued to interrogate Willard.

“Coal Creek, West Virginia.” He answered. “I haven’t been home since the War ended since I was able to get the job at the resort. I would like to go introduce Samantha to my Kin.  Eventually, I’d like a home somewhere between here and there. Find a good job to support my family of course.”

“You have my blessing, Mr. Russel.” Mr. Davenport finished his scotch. “I’ll tell you what, when you decide to marry my daughter, I’ll set you up with a starter home with two-bedrooms, kitchen, living room and lots of land around it in Knockemstiff, Ohio. I think that is between both families. I can even set you up with a job at the local slaughterhouse if you don’t mind working hard for your money.”

“Wow,” Willard was pleasantly surprised. “I would love that. As long as Miss Samantha cares about me as much as I do her, we will be hitched by the end of the month”

“Splendid, my boy.” Mr. Davenport opened the den door. “Let’s go see what the ladies have prepared for us. Samantha and her Mother are both great cooks and Samantha has won first place twice with her cherry pies.”

Willard follows the man out down the hall towards a delicious aroma. When he finds his way into the dining room, he never saw so much food. There was bread on the table, country fried steaks on a huge platter, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. “This looks great. Where should I sit?”

“I have a cherry pie in the oven so save room.” Mrs. Ruby Sue told the men. “It is not quite as good as my daughter’s, but it will do. Sit at the other head of the table young man. I hope you like country fried steak.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mr. Russel sat down.  

“Father, I hope you didn’t grill Mr. Russel to hard.” Samantha sat down close to her man or who she was hoping would want to be.

“I approve of your relationship, sweetheart if that is what you are truly asking.” Her Father smiled. “I talked to Mr. Jones who had nothing but great things to say about Mr. Russel. He is a fine young man for you.”

Samantha blushed. But she was also happy her father approved of Willard. She was starry eyed as she looked at Willard. He smiled at Samantha like a lovesick puppy. Willard followed the family’s lead as they held hands to pray. It felt odd to him. He had not prayed or went to church in years.  

They mostly sit quietly to eat other than politely asking each other to pass food. “I’ll be taking my leave after dinner.” Willard brought up as he ate a piece of cherry pie. “This is very good pie Mrs. Ruby Sue.”

“Well, Thank you Mr. Russel.” She smiled as she and Samantha collected the dishes.

Willard gets up from the table.minutes later. “I will be taking my leave for the night. I would like to call on Samantha tomorrow night if it is alright with you both.”  

“Of course, young man.” Mr. Davenport patted him on the back. “If you need a place to stay, I believe Miss Rose has a room open at her boarding house on the corner south and kingdom street.”

“Thanks Mr. Davenport.” He turned to head out the door.

Samantha’s Mother whispered, “walk him out dear. Go on.” She nudged her daughter.  

Samantha rushed over to Willard’s side. “Can I walk you out, Sir.”  

He turns smiling at her. “I would like that.” He takes her hand and opens the front door. They walk slowly out into the starry evening. “I will get some rest at the boarding house and go wrap things up at the resort tomorrow. I have one more check comin’. Then I will come back here and wisk ya away anywhere you want. So be thinkin’ about that.”

She turns in front of him at the door of his car. “I’ll be thinking about what I want all night.” As she said it, she could not believe her own words, flirtatious demeanor and thoughts leaning towards the lustful desire to kiss him before he prompted it.  

Willard took her hands and smiled. “No one will ever hurt you again Sam.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I will see you tomorrow evening for a proper date.”  He took his hands from hers slowly, got in his car and left.  

Samantha stood dreamily watching him drive away. Her heart pounding. Her mind racing to thoughts of being closer to him, His hands drifting down her body...”

“Honey come on and help your Mother with dishes.” Her Father yelled from the door. “I am sure your boyfriend will be back tomorrow night as he said he would.”

“Coming Father.” She ran inside to help with the dishes and with other chores before bed.  

Willard found the boarding house easily. Miss Rose was happy to give him a room at only a dollar a day for as long as he needed it. He slept for only a few hours before waking up in cold sweat from nightmares. Every battle he fought, and Gunnery Sergeant Miller Jones stripped of his skin hung on a cross covered in bugs plagued his dreams.

But also, a new fear swept over his mind. The thought that others wanted to hurt his girl. He could not save all his fellow soldiers, but he would sure as hell not let anyone hurt his girl ever again. He showered before hoping in his car to go take care of a few things.

He arrived at the resort right after the breakfast hour. He knocked on Mr. Jones’ office door. He was anxious since he never came back with Miss Samantha the day before and had been rough with Mr. Preston.  

“Come.” Mr. Jones stated solemnly.  

Willard entered taking his hat off. “Sir, I’m sorry I never came back with Miss. Samantha yesterday.” He fingered the brim of his hat. “There was another incident with her and one of the boys again. I thought it best to get her home safely.”  

Mr. Jones twisted his mouth in contemplation before speaking. “I heard you roughly grabbed Mr. Preston. I knew there had to be a reason for it, but I also told you one more incident and you would no longer be working here.”

“Yes Sir.” Willard stood up straighter walking up to the edge of Mr. Jones desk. His hands plant on the edge. “I’m sorry I disappointed you Sir. But I would pull Mr. Preston off any girl he was attacking. That kind of behavior is never alright.”

Mr. Jones stood, eyeing Mr. Russel directly. “I agree with you, but you could have yelled for him to stop. Tell him the consequence of his actions. And brought him directly to my office.” His voice was stern. “I will talk to Mr. Preston when he is back on grounds. He has a day pass with a few other boys to hang out in town. Because Mr. Davenport called to thank us for introducing his daughter to such a fine young man, I will give you your full last check. I hope you take care of her Willard. Clean out your room before leaving.” He sat back down and got out his check book to write a check to Willard for $50. He handed it to him.

“I will protect Miss Samantha with my life Mr. Jones.” Willard said ecstatically as he was leaving. “Thank you for letting me work here the last five year.”

“I wish you the best young man.” He shook his head when Willard shut the door. He was going to have to kick out another student this summer. He didn’t know how these boys were being raised to get here and think they could treat young ladies inappropriately.  

Mrs. Sally came in a few minutes' later. Her husband seemed so stressed. She locked the office door before comforting him on her knees. She knew that always helped him feel better. And she loved him calling her his good girl.

[dawnmads]

dawn leaned up against the brick alley near mal’s waiting for her friends to arrive. normally they would pick her up in their hopped up cars but she hadn’t really been in the mood to go for a drive tonight. after sharing a couple words with her foster parents she needed some time to cool down. the city diner was her go to spot to get away from home. good food, generally good company and the price wasn’t too high. it was a spot the local’s hit up frequently when looking to have a good time. the problem for dawn was that it was kind of a ways from home. she hadn’t been too hungry leaving her house but now that she had arrived all she was craving was a milkshake and some nicotine. “ain’t that a bite.” the girl cursed under her breath as she dug through her purse. a pack of cigarettes all ready to be sat on her red lips but no lighter to start them. she must have loaned it to preston or mig the last time the three went to mal’s. although she tried her best to keep to herself when she noticed someone approaching she pushed herself off the wall and started towards them. “ hey— gotta light?” dawn asked wiggling a cigarette in between her middle and index finger. “you’d be doing a girl a real solid.”