#eric schaefer

"ARRRRRGHHH, I'M GOING TO MAKE HIM PAAAAAAYYYY!" Jordin managed to screech out some intelligible language through her screams.

"Should we hug her or something to calm her down?" Eric panicked.

"Eric we are beyond hugging." Kea let out a tired sigh. "Get the keys."

"You're not serious! You're taking her to see the boy who stood her up?"

"If I don't, she'll go anyway. And at least if I'm there, I can stop her from murdering him. But honestly, I'm hoping this boy has a reasonable explanation cause if not I might just have to murder him myself for causing this."

Keandra knew her daughter was a lot of things. She was spoiled, a brat, and far too much all of the time

But she was still her daughter, so despite all those things, that didn't mean she was OK with some boy backing out of taking her to the formal at the 11th hour. He'd have to explain that to 𝘩𝘦𝘳.

Elsewhere...

It was a quiet evening at the Grove Ranch.

Umber had just finished laying the last bales of hay for the horses and after prepping meals for the upcoming week, Juniper was ready to relax for the evening. The only thing left to decide was how to spend their night.

"I don't like the idea of Wren spending all night in the stable. Maybe I should—"

"Don't, Jun. He said he wanted to. He doesn't even want us hovering nearby."

"But didn't he say he had a party or something he was going to tonight?"

"He said it wasn't important. He's where he wants to be tonight."

"I thought the whole point of sending him to school in the city was so his whole life wouldn't just be the ranch. He should be making friends, having fun."

"And so should you." Umber gave his wife a stern look. "Give yourself a break, Jun, and let yourself relax during these quiet moments."

"Come on now, watch TV with me." Umber gave her a warm smile. "There's a Bonanza marathon on."

"Well…I do love Bonanza." Juniper gave a weak smile in return.

"I know you do." Umber snuggled up next to her, and Juniper snuggled back in return.

He was right, they should enjoy their quiet night.

And enjoying their quiet night was certainly a plan they may have been able to make good on if not for—

* Live at JazzBaltica, 26 june 2016

Personnel:

Eric Schaefer & The Shredz: Abstract Dub

After Jordin blew her top, she felt bereft.

What was this feeling that was bubbling up inside her? Doubt? No, not that.

Insecurity.

She'd always had the confidence to face any and everything, but now…could she really have been stood up. 𝘏𝘦𝘳?

Her bottom lip began to tremble.

Noticing their daughter's increased state of distress quickly spiraling toward water works town, Kea made a call.

"Eric, you can say something now."

"Now?"

"She needs a soft touch right now."

"Oh." His heart pinched at seeing his baby in pain. "Jordie, whatever you want right now, we'll do."

"Anything?" Jordie's vulnerable layers started to surface.

"Yes, anything you want. We can go for ice cream, or go shopping, or, what about that spa day you wanted? It's yours."

All that stuff sounded nice, but it wouldn't make up for this moment

"I…I think I—" and then a buzzing sound broke in.

It was him!

He was calling!

"Everyone shut up!" Jordie shushed them all as she answered the phone.

"Hellooo." She said with a sickeningly sweet lilt to her voice. It was almost scary how quickly she could turn off the morose and flip back on the confidence. "Babe, are you pulling up?"

There was a pause as someone spoke frantically on the other end.

"I see. Well, if we're going to be late already there should be several shops on your way to me for you to buy me gifts to make it up to me. Should I text the list to this number?"

But then a palpable coldness accompanied the next extended pause. Jordie's jaw drew tight.

"Unacceptable—you can't! You—" And then it became clear there was no longer any frantic talking on the other end of the line. Whoever it was, he had hung up.

After that, it wasn't just the line that went cold, the room had grown cold to match.

Jordin had gone eerily still and silent. However, she visibly began to tense up. Her fists began to ball. Her face began to strain.

"Should we… say something?" Eric whispered to Malachi to his right on the couch.

"What we should do is take cover."

"Take cover?"

"She's about to blow."

"Blow?!"

When they left the room, Jordin's parents were waiting for them in the living room to see them off before heading out for their romantic getaway.

"There's our girl!" Eric said as he eyed his daughter. "Your mother thought you'd gotten sucked into primping."

"Daddy, you mustn't make fun of the effort a girl goes through to look nice. This is Cordelia's first date. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't make sure she looked perfect?"

"You look very cute Cordelia, but I have to wonder why you're all done up and my daughter isn't."

"What do you mean?" Jordin tried to act innocent.

"Do not try that with me, little girl. I was a teenager once upon a time. And in my whole lifetime of knowing you I've never seen you dress so casually to go out."

"You and Daddy are so confusing!"

"You hated the outfit I tried on yesterday for 'showing too much skin' And now today you hate my outfit for what? Not showing enough?"

"Hun, maybe Jordie has a point? Does it make sense for us to come down on her for wearing something more appropriate?" Eric was open to her plea.

"Eric, we talked about this. You can't keep letting yourself get railroaded by Jordie. She isn't always as innocent as you think."

"Mo-om! It's not a play. The Fall Festival will have tons of hay and you know my skin is delicate. Thus cute but functional hoodie for coverage."

"Besides it's supposed to get pretty chilly tonight, so I can either wear this hoodie or stay wrapped in DeShawn's arms all night."

"I vote hoodie!" Eric chimed in.

"I guess I'll trust you, with the utmost caution." Kea gave in. "But I will be checking in with Drea. Often."

"So tell DeShawn to keep his hands above your waist and below your bust and don't do anything you don't want Drea reporting back to me." Kea warned.

"Don't worry, Mom. Auntie Dre won't have anything but glowing reviews to give you. Now you and Daddy enjoy your trip."

Jordin had managed to win her parents over, but Cordie still had butterflies in her stomach.

"Believe it or not, I do get it cause my wife is the same way. I always jokingly tell her that if the two of us were sandwiches I'd be a bologna sandwich and she'd be something nicer, like crabcake or something. Then she gives me that look that means I said something dumb."

"Heh, heh, been there." Cam laughed. "I'm sorry I should introduce myself, I'm—"

"The groom for this thing, right?"

"Ha, yeah, that's me. It's Cameron, actually. And you, you live around here?"