Dallas in the 90's

[Ms Southworth]

Great update, Karin

I think that Pam did a good job of explaining the situation to Rebecca. Pam gave Rebecca an explanation that was suited for a seven year old girl, even if it meant telling a little white lie. I'm happy that Rebecca understood her mother's reasoning for cutting Christopher some slack for the time being.

However, I didn't understand why Pam had to "blame" Bobby for the grounding of Rebecca! Pam could have just said that they (Bobby and Pam) had agreed that Rebecca's actions and behavior wasn't appropriate. If they're going to co-parent, then co-parent! . Anyway, it didn't seem like Rebecca even noticed (since she really loves her daddy), so maybe I should just keep quiet!

A few pieces of friendly advice that I hope that you'll consider: (a) Please think about using the verb "whine" somewhat less, since it just has such a negative ring to it. Often the word can easily be replaced by verbs like "complain" or "protest". (b) It's crossed my mind several times while reading this fan fic, but now I'm choosing to speak up about it! Personally, I don't like it when Pam addresses Rebecca like she's 1 or 2 years old! Most parents don't continue saying "... Mommy's going to ...". Instead, you would say "... I'm going to ...". Another example is "... liked sharing a room with mommy". Generally, parents stop saying "mom" or "dad" in these situations when children are around 3 years old and instead say "I" or "me". Please don't take this as criticism but rather as friendly advice!

Please update soon! I can't wait to find out what characters we'll hear about next! Will we go back to Ewing Oil to follow up on JR and Bobby (or Cliff)? Or will we be go back to the main house? :cooler: Don't leave us in suspence for too long!

 

[Karin]

Thank you for the feedback.

Sanda, I'm glad that you still love the story. I think you're in good company when it comes to wanting that happy ending for Bobby and Pam and their kids.

Ms. Southworth, thanks for your advice and no offense but I won't change the way this story is written for you. I've promised my sister before I began posting it not to let any of the feedback change our story. So like it or not, it's written the way it is!
I do see your point that most parents probably don't speak that way to their older children. But well there are also some parents that keep using "baby talk" when they address their kids until they are way older. So I guess it all depends on what type of parent you are and for some reason I see Pam as an over protective mother.

Also it's back to the ranch house for our next update:


At Christopher’s room were John Ross and Christopher playing Super Mario Bros. They knew that they were really supposed to be grounded but neither one of them cared about that.

“So how do you feel about your parents making up?” John Ross suddenly asked.

“I don’t know,” Christopher shrugged his shoulders, “it’s sort of weird.”

“Yeah, I was really surprised when I saw them kissing,” John Ross agreed.

“Me too, I don’t know what kind of hold mom’s got on him,” Chris sighed.

“Maybe she’s good in the sack?”

“Eww!” Chris made a face. “Don’t say that, it’s my parents we’re talking about!”

“Sorry man, it’s just that I haven’t seen Aunt Pam since we were kids and you gotta admit she’s pretty good looking for being a mom!”

“Well she certainly doesn’t look like she’s been burnt to a crisp,” Christopher relented. “In fact she doesn’t look much different than I remember her so I really don’t get why she sent dad that letter saying she was too embarrassed for us to see her like that.”

“What letter?”

“The goodbye letter she sent my dad. I found it when I was looking for some cufflinks he said I could borrow,” Chris explained.

John Ross sighed, “Why do parents insist on keeping their private possessions where you can find them?”

“Beats me, so what did you find?”

“My mother’s diary,” John Ross revealed.

“What did it say?” Chris asked curiously.

“I don’t know,” John Ross shrugged his shoulders.

“You didn’t read it?”

“I gave up reading it after the entry about her second anniversary with Don, like I really needed to read about their love life!” John Ross put his hand towards his mouth and made a sign that meant it was throw up worthy.

“Eww, how gross!” Chris made a face.

“Totally, to make matters worse she kept comparing him to my dad. It was almost like if she wasn’t over my dad,” John Ross said thoughtfully.

“Well maybe she isn’t?” Christopher suggested. “I mean if my parents can get back together I guess anyone can!”

“Maybe, they did have a tendency to go from arguing to kissing just like that when I was little,” John Ross remembered. “I never knew what to expect from them.”

“Parents, they sure are unpredictable!”

“Yeah,” John Ross agreed. “They mess up your life too when they decide to divorce.”

“They sure do,” Chris agreed.

“Then just when you’ve gotten used to them being apart they get back together again.”

“I really don’t get how my dad could just take my mom back just like that. It’s like he doesn’t even remember how much she hurt us when she left,” Chris said angrily. “I mean all those women daddy went out with, it was all mom’s fault. I mean if she hadn’t left he would have stayed at home with me!”

“I know,” John Ross nodded. “Your dad really couldn’t deal with it. He was acting all weird missing dinner all the time!”

“Yeah sometimes I felt like I had lost both my parents since my daddy really wasn’t there for me as much as he used to be,” Chris confessed.

“Still you forgave your dad for that,” John Ross said.

“True,” Chris nodded. “So do you think I should forgive my mom?”

“I forgave mine for shooting my dad!”

“True but yours never left you.”

“No but still she tried to take my dad away from me.”

“So what are you saying?”

“That you’ll feel better if you do forgive your mom.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Christopher said thoughtfully. “But what if I’ll forgive her and she leaves again?”

“I guess that’s a chance you’ll have to take,” John Ross said. “I mean would you rather be on bad terms with her and she stays here anyway?”

“No,” Christopher shook his head. “I guess I have been giving her kind of a hard time.”

“You have but she sort of earned it!”

“She did,” Chris nodded.

“You can say one thing about parents though!”

“What’s that?”

“They always put their own needs first!” John Ross sighed. “Then they just expect us to adapt to whatever they come up with!” John Ross said and Christopher sighed since he knew that was the truth. He also knew that John Ross was right. He’d better forgive his mom, since nothing was going to get any better until he did.

 

[Ms Southworth]

Great update

I really liked the conversation between the two teenage boys! Interesting to hear them discussing back and forth the "good" and "bad" about their parents!

I laughed a few times, because of some of their reflections! For instance, it was funny that John Ross sees Pam as a pretty good looking mom!

I really hope that the heart-to-heart talk between Pam and Christopher is just around the corner! I've got popcorn and a box of tissues all lined up for a long sitdown! :tv: :wink@ And rest ajoured that I don't expect for mother and son to be able to work out everything all at once! But for them to at least begin to communicate is much needed!

Please update soon!

 

[Crazy about SE and JR]

“Maybe, they did have a tendency to go from arguing to kissing just like that when I was little,” John Ross remembered. “I never knew what to expect from them.”

Best part!!! LOL

 

[Ms Southworth]

Best part!!! LOL

That was funny ... and also a great description of JR and Sue Ellen's strange and dysfunctional relationship! I never knew what to expect from John Ross' parents either!

Also, I would love to get a peek into Sue Ellen's diary to find out, how (and if) JR and Don compare!

I forgot to comment on the fact that we now have yet another letter on Dallas that has caused unnessessary heartache! I can't wait to how Christopher's reaction to Pam's explanation!

I can totally see why children think that parents always seem to put their own needs first. It' not until you're close to adulthood or an adult yourself that you're really able to understand how many big sacrifices that parents usually make for their children's sake! Love and marriage just isn't easy!

 

[Alexia]

Also, I would love to get a peek into Sue Ellen's diary to find out, how (and if) JR and Don compare!

Yes!! That would be great & probably hilarious!!!!

 

[Ray&Donna]

LOL, funny update

 

[pd fan]

I like the conversation between John Ross and Christopher great update ,now let,s hope that he will forgive his mother after Pam will have a talk with him Thanks Karin

 

[supermanfan]

:bravo:

 

[Honkytonkangel]

Sweet talk between the two boys, and I'm not surprised they are playing video games despite being grounded. It's cool that they are hanging out and talking about things too.
I like that Chris really DOES want to sort things out with Pam no matter how angry and hurt he still is. But she DOES need to earn it, and I hope she steps up (if she can tear herself away from Bobby and the princess long enough).
It was funny to hear their thoughts about their parents (and maybe the fact that there was a little humour means they ain't screwed them up too badly yet LOL)
It's cool that John Ross was able to forgive and does seem to have a relationship with both his parents despite their MANY issues.
Though it was less extreme JR did try to take Sue Ellen away from John Ross way more than she tried to come between them.
I have to say though as much as I love JR, I love Sue Ellen more and there is a part of me that didn't blame her for putting a bullet in him.
Thinking about that I probably have to take back my comment about wanting Sue Ellen to shoot Don as clearly her aim is WAAAY off LOL.
Can't wait to see what happens next.

 

[Karin]

Thank you everyone so much for all your wonderful feedback.
I'm glad so many of you could see the humour in the scene.

Ms. Southworth, careful what you wish for!
You might get a peak in Sue Ellen's diary some day...
True also about parents making sacrifices for their kids. I appreciate mine more as an adult than I did as a teenager.

Crazy about SE and JR, yeah that part is very telling about JR/SE relationship.

Alexia, you will get insight into how Sue Ellen feel about Don when comparing him to JR later on in this story.

Tommie, I'm glad you thought it was funny.

Silvie, Christopher will take John Ross advice. But Pam will have to take the first step. The ball is really in her court.

Shan, thanks for the applauds.

Honkytonkangel, you are right all things considered John Ross and Christopher are ok. They have more scars from their childhood than most people but have learnt to live with those.
You know when I first watched the show I wanted Sue Ellen to kill JR when she shot him!
I know that would have been horrible! But I was so mad at him then for hurting her. So I was definitely on Sue Ellen's side too in their divorce.

Okay so a short update will follow in the next post...

 

[Karin]

The next morning at Southfork, Ray, Donna, Margaret, Miss Ellie and Clayton were having breakfast outdoors. Ray turned to Margaret and said, “Margaret, how about if I teach you how to ride today?”

“Can I have a rain check?” Margaret asked, before she turned to Donna. “Mommy promised to take me to Dealey Plaza today!”

“Dealey Plaza?” Ray asked. “What do you wanna go into town for?”

“Margaret wants to visit the sixth floor museum,” Donna explained.

Ray frowned, “The what?”

“Daddy don’t you know that president Kennedy was murdered here in Dallas in 1963?”

“Well of course” Ray replied.

“They’ve made a museum in the building that the gun man fired the shot from,” Margaret said excitedly. “Mommy promised to take me there when we’d come to Texas.”

“I know and I will. But you could come with us Ray. If you want to,” Donna offered.

Ray looked from Donna to Margaret’s hopeful face and said, “Sure why not.” Not sounding too thrilled at the day ahead.

Miss Ellie said, “You know Clayton it’s been quite a while since we were to Dealey. Maybe we should join them!”

“Yes that would be nice,” Clayton agreed.

“Oh yes please do ma’am, Sir I would love it,” Margaret smiled happily!

 

[Ms Southworth]

"The next morning ..." ??? It's still the same morning, right? I mean after JR and Bobby took off, Pam and Rebecca went riding, etc. :cooler:

Nice update, even though I feel so bad for Ray! . He wants to bond with Margaret by doing things that he likes (and hopes that she'll come to enjoy too). But his daughter is more interesting in doing "touristy" things!

I'm glad though that Donna invited Ray to come with them to town. And also that Miss Ellie and Clayton will be going as well!

I got a little laugh out of Margaret saying "ma'am" and "sir" at the end! That girl is something else! Incredibly formal language even when it comes to her grandparents!

Please update soon! My popcorn might go stale while waiting for the long awaited mother/son talk!

 

[Mrs Bobby James Ewing]

Cute updates Karin. I feel bad for Ray because Margaret wants to go sightseeing. I am happy that Clayton and Miss Ellie are going with Ray, Donna, and Margaret sightseeing. At least Ray will have Clayton to chat with about ranching if he gets bored sightseeing with his family.

 

[Karin]

Thank you for the feedback.

Ms. Southworth, no it is actually the next morning. You don't get to "see" what else happened that day. Then as for your popcorns, I would make a new batch if I were you as they usually don't keep so good over night!

Then as for Margaret, it's not so much that she wants to do the touristy things, it's that she is really interested in politics and hence she wanna see the historic place where President Kennedy was killed.

Sanda, yeah I figured it made sense for Miss Ellie and Clayton to come along as it will give them a chance to catch up some with Ray and Donna. The four of them usually enjoyed each other's company in the past so.

Okay so it's time for another update and tonight you'll get to meet Afton's boyfriend:


Afton was putting some dishes into the machine in the kitchen of her house, when the door bell suddenly rang. She walked over to the door and opened it. Outside she found a rather short man in his mid 30s with brown hair and blue eyes. When Afton saw him her face lit up in a huge smile, “Mario,” Afton gave him a kiss but when he didn’t respond she looks confused. “Come on in.”

“Thank you,” Mario said and went into the house.

They sat down in the sofa and after an uncomfortable silence Afton said, “So how was your business trip?”

“Fine,” Mario replied in a chilly voice. “So how was everything back here?”

“As usual,” Afton lied.

Mario sighed before looking straight into her eyes, “Really?” He asked. “I thought you had been ill.” Afton looked questioning at him before he let her in on what was really bothering him. “Who is Cliff Barnes?”

“Cliff Barnes?!” Afton face paled and she said in a strained voice. “I don’t know whom you are talking about.”

“Oh you don’t?” Mario spat out accusingly. “Then tell me how that man can be answering your phone and say he has a history with you?!”

Afton didn’t really know what to say when Becky came into the room saying, “Mom haven’t you picked out your outfit yet?”

“What are you talking about?” Afton didn’t get it. “I’m dressed.”

“Not for the funfair,” Becky said but when she saw the confused look on her mother’s face she went on, “Mom you haven’t forgotten that we are gonna spend the day with Daddy have you?”

Mario twitched and Afton blushed, “Oh no!”

“Her father?” Mario repeated. “But I thought he was out of the picture!”

“He was,” Afton reassured Mario before she turned to her daughter. “Becky darling, look…”

“No mom we have to go!” Becky insisted. “You promised and I want to go to the funfair.”

Afton bit her lip and turned to Mario. “Mario I am sorry I had forgotten that I had promised her.”

“Huh nice homecoming I got,” Mario said sarcastically.

“Oh Mario please don’t make a scene. Look I promise I’ll explain everything to you tomorrow at lunch. Okay?”

“Fine,” Mario said angrily and stood up and then he left without saying another word. Looking after him Afton sighed and Becky smiled, since she didn’t like her mother’s boyfriend much and was happy to see him go.

 

[Ms Southworth]

Oh, okay ... it is the next day already! How sad, since I would have loved to listen in on the talk that Bobby would (or should?) have had with Christopher on top of him finding out that his parents had found their way back together! A talk that I would have assumed had taken place when Bobby got home from work yesterday! I would also have loved to hear how Bobby and Pam's "first" evening as a couple went by! Oh well, I'll have to put my own imagination into gear!

I totally understand where Mario is coming from when he showed up on Afton's doorstep! If I was Mario, I'd be upset after discovering that Afton had been holding back relevant information! I just don't understand why Afton felt that she had to lie about Cliff! There must be something else that we have yet to learn for it to make sense (to me at least)! The same goes for why Becky doesn't like Mario! He doesn't sound like he was born with the greatest physical attributes, but he could still be a good catch for Afton, if he has the "right" personality! Anyway, it'll be interesting to hear more about this love triangle!

Please update soon! :cooler:

 

[Karin]

Thank you for the feedback Ms Southworth. I'm glad that you enjoyed your first meeting with Mario. Afton definitely see him as a catch since he's young, handsome, successful and rich. So she's attracted to that. You will understand pretty soon why Becky doesn't like him though.

I can understand why you had hoped to listen in on the talk between Bobby and Chris. But well considering that we heard him talk to John Ross about his parents getting back together again we already know how he feels about it and hence an other talk about it on top of that is really not necessary. So yes unfortunately you'll have to use your imagination for that talk since I am sure such a talk took place.

Okay it's time for another update:


Jenna, Charlie and Lucas had now reached Tennessee. Jenna was sitting behind the wheel as they were out on the highway driving towards Dallas. Charlie looked at her watch and said, “Oh great, we’re not gonna make it to Dallas today, are we?”

“I don’t think so sweetie,” Jenna replied. “We still have to pass by Arkansas first!”

Charlie sighed, “Wonderful!”

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” Charlie said.

Jenna looked at her and said, “Oh come on. I can see that it’s something.”

Charlie sighed again, “Look this whole thing with family vacation, just the three of us driving from Washington to Dallas, has been fun and all but…if we don’t make it to Dallas tonight I won’t see Randy for another week!”

“Well maybe we could make it if we skip sightseeing in Memphis…”

“No way!” Lucas screamed. “I wanna go to Memphis!”

“What on earth for?” Charlie asked.

“I want a Cadillac. A pink one,” Lucas said.

“Oh will you grow up, huh?” Charlie said. “You are too big now to play with cars.”

“I’m not. I’m just eight,” Lucas pointed out. “And I want a pink Cadillac!”

“Then why the hell didn’t you buy one at the car museum yesterday?”

“They didn’t have one. Mommy turn off!” Lucas pointed towards the Memphis sign.

“Lucas is it really necessary?”

“Yes turn off!” Lucas whined.

“No mom, don’t!” Charlie objected.

“But mommy you promised I’d get to see Elvis car!”

“Fine,” Jenna sighed, before turning off the highway. She glanced over towards Charlie and said, “Charlie I’m sorry but we did promise Lucas. Besides I was sort of looking forward to see Graceland!” Jenna smiled apologetic towards her daughter who sighed, crossed her arms and pouted.

 

[Ms Southworth]

The Wade's are still in Tennessee, thank goodness! :cooler: :hats:

I'm happy that Charlie didn't get her wish! The threesome might as well stay in Memphis and take plenty of time for a proper tour of all the sights! By all means, let Lucas have his way as long as it keeps them away from the Ewings and Southfork in general! (I apologize ahead of time to those of you who happen to like the Wade's! :shy6

Please let's have another update real soon, Karin! You know, the latest updates have been rather short, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a lengthy scene with lots of depth! :danc: :thank:

 

[Presea]

I also believe that Pam explained things well to Rebecca. The part with Afton and Mario cracked me up! In a way, I feel sorry for the dude, but mostly it was just funny! I can't wait to see Jack (even though he won't be with Jenna), and thank you for planning for that! Jenna with Don seems appropriate since she is putting me to sleep with her scenes, much like Don did to me on the show.

 

[Ray&Donna]

LOL, it would have been strange to not have them visit Graceland