The Book of Common

Happiness

Yeah, folks happy, ta be alive an well. Least ways well as can be expected. Folks been feelin old of late. Not taday no Sir, just normal fer 75 years. Guess I feel more than used ta far as aches and those pains in back. Get winded a might easier.
Move a damn sight slower, hell folks not complainin just mentionin is all. Yep, Ole Common is happy. Why ya say?

Hey Beth still loves me, I still love her. I gots ta see Liz grow up not away all the time. That folks is a miracle, not out roamin the Lands.

Have this Station in the Tower near the Wasteland.
Nice calm postin ta finish out my life. Norm Junior promised some help. That a be nice, just needs it fer the liftin an such, mendin fences an replacin boards on the stable.

Besides Liz sent word ahead from Himyar she was comin ta visit. First time in months felt like goin fer ride. Got a horse all saddled, think I'll see ifin I can't meet Liz on her way here. Gots my thirty-six loaded and on my hip. Give my horse little kick. An I am off. Folks don't know why I needs a pistol, hell I am near blind more than five paces. Couldn't hit a barn wall over that. Just feels right guess.

Made it about an hour maybe touch more, before the pains set in. Lan sakes, my back an legs are a hurtin some kinda awful. Took a long pull of Corn Licker, like I said way it is spelled. That eased it some, good thin too, Liz was just comin in ta sight.

I stopped, had ta get off that blame horse. Stretch some, my damn knees about dropped from under me. Least had hold my saddle kept me half standin.
I was thinkin damn it now! Just let me have one day with out the pain! I managed one big smile fer her. I said Liz, gots ta help ya ole man ta the tree set a spell. Then we can heads home ta see ya Ma.

My goodness she has grown, near twenty now. Her face why looks like Beth's when I first met her. My an a Top Kick ta beat all. She told me be home more often. She put in fer Officer Corp. Lan sakes that brought a smile an a laugh. Told her I was sorry, just figured she be like her Pa make Master Sargent an stop. Was might proud of her. 

Liz  came ta visit once every two weeks sometimes more ifin she had time. My was me an Beth happy.
Actually felt ta feelin better. Rode out more least once a week. Took edgin further out inta the Wasteland proper, not more than a mile mind ya. 
Never really seen the dunes. That black an red hard-pack seen it I haves.

I gets this feelin every day they is someone comin through that Wasteland that is bringin bad news.
Mind ya I am happy more than I've been in years.
All the blame Army has pulled out. Told Liz ta pass that on. Norm did send some help, he stayed on about a month. Then headed out on patrol.

Can't say why, I am happy yet, I wants ta dance be Common again. Be so blame scared can't spit hands a sweatin back of the neck wet with sweat. Shoutin I am Ranger Common Howard! Stand down drop that weapon! Just myself ridin out ta enforce the Law, these Thirteen Lands.

Finds a House of Pleasantries. Have an ale maybe a whisky. Then partake of a lady. Beth pay no mind, hell, wish I could partake of a lady. Blame thing don't work right. Goes limp before I can enjoy myself. I know Folks didn't want ta hear that.

Ya say Common don't sound happy. Guess once ya gets old, ya feel differently about happiness. I am still kickin an move about, might be hell of a lot slower. Might have ta stop an sit a spell. Ta see the sun rise an watch it move westward in the evenin then set. Why that is happiness. Wake up next ta Beth hear her breathin an still as beautiful as I met her, least in my eyes she is. Folks I am tellin ya, they is somethin brewin. Somethin Evil is here or on the way.

I know Common ya talkin foolish now, say ya happy but, have a forbodin type sensation. Hot damn Liz made it today. Liz didn't stay long she had ta head over ta Post 2 near the border of York.
She is takin over the Post. Lan sakes her trainin flew by. Least ways she as a Post not a circuit rider fer a few Stations. She brought me two bottles of the good whisky barrel aged stuff an of course that pain killin Corn Licker. Way it's spelled Folks.

Folks have ta say, last night had strange thin happen. Felt like my mind fell out of my body.
Now not like fallin out a tree somethin like that.
Like my mind just slipped out the back of my head.

Then I was right back again, course I woke when I re-entered. Don't know is it close ta time, of headin home like that Ohio Ranger few years back, well lot a year's back. I am not ready, feel I need ta head out find that girl.

The one crossin the Wasteland, tellin ya she is doin it, or real close to it. They is evil on the way, an that young one needs help. Plus gotta see the Dunes Folks, before Home calls. Folks might feel better next time, less dread. If not then might just head home. Hope they is a next time.