Kalico 2: Hypnotized & Naked in Hope Springs

Kalico: Breakfast with Granny Johnson

Kalico: Wednesday morning, Johnson Farm

More than a little disoriented from waking up suddenly from all the dreaming, I realized it was almost exactly a minute before the 5 a.m. alarm was to go off. I found myself laying partway off the bed and still naked from my shower last night.

I reflected for that minute on the strange dreams, and on my plans for the day, until the alarm sounded. After shutting it off, I went to the bathroom for morning ablutions including a quick wake-me-up shower. It seemed like only minutes since I had been in that facility because I fell asleep so quickly last night when I returned to my bedroom.

Finished in the bathroom, I was drying myself with a towel on the way back to my room when I encountered Granny in the darkened hallway. She was wearing a housecoat and house shoes.

"There you are Kalico," she said. "Won't you come on downstairs and have breakfast with me? I was hoping to catch you before you take off for your sports practice."

"Let me get some clothes on first, okay, Granny?"

"Oh, Pish! Don't worry about that. It's just us girls out here at the farm. A fresh air breakfast will do you good. I've already cooked the bacon, so you don't have to worry about getting splattered with hot grease."

Not exactly following Granny's logic, I did as she said and went to the kitchen with her. She'd gotten up earlier than me and had pancakes and bacon already cooked. "How do you like your eggs?" she asked. "You'll need something in your tummy to make energy for all that running you like to do."

"Over easy," I yawned as I sat on my towel and started on a couple of pancakes with syrup, eating breakfast in the fresh-air mode Granny encouraged. "Granny, should you be doing so much cooking for us?"

"Why not? It's my kitchen, isn't it?"

"Yes, but I thought we moved here to lighten your load."

"Is that what someone told you? Which load are you supposed to be lifting? I was cooking only for one person until y'all came back. It's a joy and an honor to cook for more."

"I guess I got the idea from Mom. She said something about the farm being too big for you."

"Oh, that!" Granny smiled. "Yes, the farm is getting a little big for an old lady, and there's a lot of pressure from certain parties for me to sell it. I don't think that would be wise. But I can still manage to run my own kitchen," she smiled.

"Sell the farm? Whatever for? You're not in financial trouble are you?"

"Hardly that. It's just that certain financial interests have noticed an old lady living alone on a farm and they think that I'm an easy target. They want the land at a bargain price – even a fair price at today's rate would be too low. It's not good business for the family to sell the farm."

"I'm glad you don't want to sell, Granny. Otherwise, you might not have been able to take us in during our time of need."

"Your time of need?" Granny asked. "My goodness, Kalico, is there something I'm not aware of? Your mother has been keeping me informed on just about everything, she didn't indicate you're having financial difficulties."

Granny explained that she asked Mom to move back here so we can make a gradual transition in the family business.

"It's a big farm, you know. A younger person, such as yourself or your mom, can generate a fair income from it."

"You mean Mom is telling the truth? We're back here for the family business?"

"I hope she's always telling you the truth. Yes, I want her and you kids to make your home here. I've saved the farm for you."