Date: Sat, 9 Dec 1995 14:36:39 -0800 From: Dianne Therese De Sha Subject: New Challenge: Name That Caddy! OK, folks... One of the apparently sex-linked traits found in the male of the species seems to be an intense fascination with automobiles. Along with that comes (in a truly frightening number of cases) a tendency to name said car, if not to actually talk to the conveyance in question. [And _no_, when I say nice things to my 'Li'l Bouncy Oven' because it makes it run better, that is *not* the same thing! Is not! Is notisnotisnot! ;-] Nick, as has been mentioned any number of times by the more perceptive Knighties on this list, is, in fact, a male. He has a car-- not only a car, but one of the type classically associated with "Y-Linked Car Naming Syndrome." He has, not unexpectedly (the syndrome does not seem to diminish with calendrical age), also shown a tendency to lavish undue amounts of attention and care on this vehicle. You can't seriously expect me to believe that the Caddy does not have a _name_. So here's the challenge: Name that Caddy! Not only that, but there must be a reason, given in some variety of narrative format, for the name you propose. It need not be long. It need not be serious. It just has to have _some_ story behind it. [And yes, Susan, this means you too. You can not name it "That Monstrous Blue-Green Trash Heap" without giving us a story as to why _Nick_ would term it so. ;-] And, as proper, I will offer the first entry... [Beta readers? Where we're goin' we don't need no stinkin' beta readers! ] ****************************************************** Name the Caddy Challenge: "You Picked a Fine Time..." by Dianne la Mercenaire (if you *must* know) moonlight@clever.net Nick's mind froze in utter shock as he read the little slip of paper. "I just can't take it any more. I put the kids to bed and made lunches for school tomorrow. You can stay on as long as you like-- my husband should be back before the corn is ready come September. The keys to the Caddy are on the mantle-- when Jim-Bob comes back you just tell him I said you could keep it. You seem a kind man, and I know you'll take care of my babies for me until I make it big in Hollywood!" -- Love, L. This was ridiculous. This _couldn't_ be happening! Nick had only stopped by for the day. Running off from LaCroix's latest little game, he'd been caught square in the middle of farm country when day broke. He'd stopped at the nearest farm and 'convinced' the woman who opened the door to let him in. 'Convinced' her that he was trustworthy, caring, *safe*-- someone she could trust with the well- being of the four small children that were her only company. He *hadn't* volunteered for long-term baby-sitting duty! The woman had snapped-- she needed a psychiatrist, not an agent. At least the kids were asleep.... "Mamma?" The plaintive voice echoed from the back bedroom just as LaCroix opened the door. " 'Getting back to nature', are we?" he smiled in mocking derision. "Not _now_, LaCroix," Nick groaned. "I've got four _children_ here...." "Oh _lovely_," LaCroix smiled broadly, "*hors d'oeuvers*!" **** Nick shuddered and returned to Toronto 1995 just in time to keep from rear-ending a small blue Honda. He pulled 'Lucille' over to the curb and took a deep breath. Not the happiest of memories (his flashbacks rarely were any more), but one that came to him often while he was driving. Janette had heard him call 'Lucille' by name once while giving 'her' a loving wax job. When he'd grudgingly told her the story she had laughed for almost an hour. Janette swore someone had turned the incident into a Country & Western song. He didn't believe her. How would _Janette_ know Country music? When he'd asked her that question she'd blushed a pale rouge and refused to discuss the topic any further. He didn't believe her. Not really.... ****************************************************** This took me all of 20 minutes to write...does it show? Dianne [just be grateful I didn't enter it in the song challenge!!! ;-] Dianne la Mercenaire... -*- -*-"We must be powerful, beautiful, and without regret."-*-