Just Common

Introduction

Ok, like I said I am Common Howard Ranger, rank Sargent at least now. Station Master here Virginia ways, near place called Appomattox. Just between you an me, Station Master is a might borin job, but it keeps me near Beth my wife. We met what was Pennsylvania, now part a York, well hell it was part a York whens we met. Why? Ya say am I tellin ya this? The blame World, well, it went backwards, twisted it's self, shook darn near froze up!

Most a us, did not survive. They say, some left with others, that lived the other side the Ocean Blue. Parts unknown, they were the Chosen ones. The best the brightest of us all. Ta start a new life else where's. This be fact folks, they is Keepers that know these thins. Why my friend, and mentor Norm Parson, he was Ranger one that was assigned later ta be a Tracker. They well, did the most disrespectful job! They tracked these Keepers, an killed thum! Norm never did kill thum, he warned thum and help preserve our past. Might touch more on that later. Sorry folks have bad tendency ta get off track.

That is fact, my friends plain facts! The Separate but United, Lands! Why they had people killed! Because they knew the past! From what I learned, well that could of made me an Norm a keeper ourselves. That is what I consider the last of the Dark Times.

Now, what is this all about, ya ask? This is part of my life. These thins may have happened years ago, so names of people or towns, maybe hard ta place. I will tell ya ifin I can't remember a name of person or town. I'll give ya the whys an how's of what happened best I can recollect, or pull from my notes of the situation. Now far as writin this down, I am no scholar, so don't think these here stories. Be perfect, with every form of those squiggly marks a punctuation.

These here stories are my thoughts my remembrance nothin more. I'll tell this story, just like I am  tellin ya, as we sit around the camp and relax after days work or ride, nothin more than that. I can get fired up over the past, thins that happened years ago! That I won't apologize fer. Ifin it makes me mad, it should be told that way, makes me happy, why it should be told that way.

First, little abouts myself, I grew up York ways. York City ta be exact, my Pa met my Ma at a dance. Well he was recoverin from wounds and the fever. That sometimes sets in after bein shot. This point I am not certain, ifin he was my Pa? He only came around just a touch, may be once a year ta twice Never really over friendly or lovin, knowin now what a Rangers life is like. Let's say I understand why he was that away. Do know he loved Ma, he would always say, come with me. We can make a life tagether Virginia ways. Ma never would leave, that White fella had grip on my Ma! I won't go inta, why an how he had that grip! It pains me ta talk about it. Ya see Ma was a Servant for the White's Mister White, I hated the man! Now Misses White an the daughter were fine people. They always slipped extra food an thins ta me an Ma. Whether it be clothes or books, fer me ta learn.

I was near eleven when, Pa came an got me. Told me we were off ta train ta be a Ranger. Then he say, I not make it through my trainin, well I was a nobody. I wasn't worth spit so ta speak. My that hurt, young fella bein told he weren't worth spit. So I trained I learned, from the Instructors an Pa. Law, map, compass readin, saber an pistol use. How ta make discretionary rulins, not just what the Law say. Rode with Pa near a year touch longer. My second an final ride, was with my good friend an mentor Norm Parson, we rode tagether near three year. After all my trainin well I was out Rangerin on my own close ta sixteen year old.

I am touch over forty now, been a Ranger a long time. Hence the not rememberin names of people or places. I have a daughter name a Liz, of course  my wife Beth mentioned her befer. She was a Pleasantry worker fer a spell. Not one those street types, nothin wrong with those now. She worked in a House of Pleasantries. Don't much care, what ya do fer a livin. Long as it is legal an all. Where ya live how ya live, even ifin I think it backwards. Is yar business no one elses. 

Some say, I tell half truths, tall tales. What I tell ya, is truth as close as I can remember it, nothin more nothin added or removed. I write these thins down, so other Rangers that come in ta have a meal Beth cooked up or a bed, rations an ammo. Maybe just a good rest have somethin ta pass the time with. So go grab a coffee or an ale, maybe a corn licker. Don't laugh now, that's way it's spelled. Have a sit, an take gander at my life as I remember it.

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Although this isn't the first time Common has appeared, more like the third time. Reading The Book of Common isn't really necessary. To enjoy this one. The introduction tells you enough to enjoy these possibly three stories. I say possibly three, that depends on Common, how many he wants to talk about. The Book of Common was short burst stories, normally only one chapter long. These stories will be multiple chapters. Common likes to poke fun at himself, gets off track on his storytelling, may shout at Beth while writing, or tell her he loves her. Although Common never said what the Thirteen Lands looked like, or what Trinkets were, in the Book of Common. Those were explained in Tale of Sarna. So just a little explanation on Trinkets the map of the Thirteen Lands will appear in the opening chapter.

Trinkets

Copper, Straight Copper, or Straight.
A copper coin about two inches in diameter, with a hole in the center and grooves that separate it into fourths. This can be broke down into fourths. To purchase goods.

Lincoln, penny.
Just as it refers to the United States penny.

Jefferson
Untied States nickel

Washington
United States quarter.

Those are just a few of the coins or Trinkets. When I came up with this idea, I figured coins would survive a major extinction event.
Some people would save history, some technology would work for a given period of time. Then people would loss some knowledge and fall backwards some. Fifty States could of lasted the same a few years maybe twenty, then dysfunction border wars, States would expand grabbing land from other states. Then some normalcy, they would unite in some way, separate but united one, but still not totally united. The Rangers patrolled the Lands, being judge and jury on crime. They weren't tied down to just one Land, they could and did patrol the whole lands.

       This Gentleman is Arthur Hunnicut, when I hear Common or
       see him. I think of this actor, his slow southern draw and
       mannerisms, are what I feel Common as a person is.

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That should be enough explaining, so if this has grabbed your interest, don't stop now! Proceed to the next chapter.
Thanks for taking a look see.