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Message-ID: <41765asstr$1050023402@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: "MikeC" <MikeC@NoSpam.nspace.net>
Subject: {ASSM} (new) Amanda01a (A JamesWorld Story)
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 21:10:02 -0400
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(C) Copyright 2003. M.C.
All Rights Reserved.
All Reproduction for fee or profit forbidden.

Copies of my stories can be downloaded from:
<http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/MikeC/>

Send all comments and suggestions to MikeC@NSpace.net

   =============

Amanda 01

Part 1

This short story is based on the characters from my series 'James' and runs
parallel to the main story, at approximately the same time frame as chapters
65-70.


"Hi babe!" Said Brenda as she went into R&D's cavernous test tank area,
which, since the Saturday crew left at noon, stood empty except for her
friend's up-ended backside.
   "Hi yourself!" Smiled Amanda as she straightened up and touched hands
with the redhead.
   "Want to go for a break, or a bite?"
   "In a bit, I had a late lunch." Amanda stood back, showing Brenda the 4
foot long model of a hull she had been attaching to an overhead jig using 4
steel rods. Each rod was attached to the model at the ordinal points; the
bow, the stern and the sides.
   "I've been calibrating the load sensors on each point," Amanda explained,
"I had a problem matching the weight with the density of the 8:1 formula."
   Brenda had advanced the technology of using a high-viscosity liquid to
compensate for smaller scale-models. The test channel Amanda was using
contained a corn starch mix for a liquid 8-times thicker than water. The
problem was that the denser liquid also made the model much more buoyant.
   Amanda continued, "That's why we spent the morning getting actual
readings of the real model." They had chosen to test their theories with
'Persephone', Bob's 30-foot speedster with the converted auto engine, since
its dimensions and performance were well analyzed, and it was THERE.
   "Now all I have to do is match the displacement readings of the real item
in here... In 1/8 scale, of course." Amanda went over to the computer read
outs, "It should correspond to the density of the mix." She made a few
adjustments and the jig whirred as it raised or lowered the rods connecting
the model. Finally she nodded in satisfaction, "But it's nice to have the
boat right next door to confirm everything with! Once we start the current
in the tank, the computer will raise and lower the rods to maintain the same
'weight' on each sensor. The changes in attitude will be the actual
performance of the hull. Then, this little sensor at the front measures the
drag of the boat, which tells us the power overhead!"
   "Sounds good, honey... How can I help?"
   "I still have to calibrate the flow-meter. The density could be throwing
the measurements off. Run the impeller controls for me so I can do some
timing." The tank setup was a trough 5 wide by 10 feet long that ended in a
fat pipe that looped around underneath. Electric motors propelled the liquid
in the unit at an adjustable rate.
   Brenda activated the pumps and the 'water' started flowing sluggishly,
more like runny glue than anything. The model's hull rose as the force of
the liquid on the bow push against it, and the rods compensated for the
'lift' by raising the front up a fraction of an inch.
   "Sensors seem to work OK!" Amanda commented as she stood by the
calibration marks with a stopwatch. A slow stream of bubbles was injected
into the current and the time it took for one to travel the 10 feet allowed
an accurate calculation to be made.
   Brenda watched with fascination as the little boat bobbed in the current,
every change in the stream echoed by the servo-motors in the rods, so that
the miniature looked like its real life counterpart slowly making its way
through the water.
   They both turned as the door opened and Anna walked in, "Chuck says
dinner in an hour..." She stopped, fascinated by the model boat bobbing up
and down the channel.
   "Looks like the real thing doesn't it?" Brenda smiled.
   "Just in slow motion." Anna amended.
   "Yeah, Brenda's idea lets us do things eight times smaller - so it means
eight times slower as well."
   "Except it's Mandie's design that's making it possible." Brenda hugged
Amanda and turned to her, "Your boyfriend called, by the way, to thank you
for the idea."
   "What idea?"
   "To sinter-form the models in segments and re-assemble them to get models
larger than 30 by 20. He said that it was something you said that made him
think of it."
   "Oh, that was back when..." Amanda smiled at the memory, "I was wearing a
towel around my waist and nothing else. I would be most insulted if he
wanted to talk engineering then!"
   "You guys don't like to wear clothes, do you?" Anna stated.
   "Well, I DO wear clothing, for warmth and for protection from the
elements, and occasionally to spare squeamish attitudes." Amanda smiled,
"And like yesterday morning - I even wore a bra to test Bob's speedster."
   "Which for some reason made the guys go nuts." Observed Brenda. "But then
again my sweetheart here has a real killer bod!"
   "Yeah right," Amanda sighed, "I just wish I had YOUR body!"
   "I just wish I had *A* body!" Anna lamented.
   "You will, dear!" Brenda smiled, "Some girls grow UP before they grow
OUT! I lived with that for years!"
   "And besides, you've already GOT curves!" Amanda grinned at Anna, "LOVELY
curves!" She added with an evil wink.
   Anna blushed hotly but smiled at the compliment.
   They started cleaning up soon after; switching off the equipment, storing
the liquid in a plastic barrel and flushing the tank into the lake. An ideal
test medium, corn starch was readily bio-degraded and tests have shown that
fish actually thrived on it.
   "We'll finish the calibrations tomorrow, then Monday we can start work on
the project." Brenda blushed slightly. The demo model for the Progressive
Hull design had already been through its first testing iteration and the
staff had named it "Project B" in honor of Brenda. It still made her flinch
to say the name.
   "I would like to take the afternoon off," Amanda said, "So us girls can
do some er, girl-things in town." She looked at Anna, "Any ideas?"
   "Go see Mom?" A wide grin threatened to split her face, "I've spoken to
her on the phone, you know."
   "How is she?"
   "She's fine. And we kept saying 'I love you!'" Anna giggled, then
sobering, "She said she'd like me to meet her husband." She clutched
Brenda's hand, "I'm so scared - what if he doesn't like me?"
   "Oh he will, hon, how can anybody not love you?" Brenda smiled back,
wishing she could be more certain of the outcome. "Why don't we call Deanna
now and tell her we'll meet her at the plant and we can have lunch
afterwards?"
   Happily Anna ran off to the phone. After a short conversation she turned
back, "Mom said to go to her house, do you need directions?"
   Amanda grabbed the phone, "Hi, I'm Amanda..." She listened for a minute
and said, "Yes, fine, we'll find it! See you then!" She hung up and took
Anna's hand. "Sounds easy enough, let's go get washed up for dinner."

= = =

Dinner was prepared by Chuck on the BBQ and served under the swinging tree.
Chuck and Brenda shared a bottle of wine and the other two settled on soda.
   "This is so nice," Murmured Amanda, eyes closed as she leaned on Chuck.
On his other side, Anna, too was nestled closely and was feeding chunks of
flat bread smeared in foie gras to Amanda.
   Brenda, who was seated across from the tableau, raised her glass, "To you
Chuck, and thank you again for giving us this trust and opportunity."
   "I should thank you! You and Amanda here..." He looked helplessly at the
warm body resting on him, "Have given so much to Anna and myself..."
   "There are not a whole lot of people who would trust their business to a
handful of kids."
   "Young you may be, but I know what my head, and my heart tells me. I'm
not entirely senile!" He smiled, "And thanks to you my life is again
full..." He stopped and sighed, shaking his head.
   "Thinking about Mom?" Anna asked.
   "Yes, but there's more... I'm hoping that... that Dee is happy, wherever
she is - but I'm afraid I've driven her away for good." He squeezed Anna,
"And I am very, very sorry for having done that to you..."
   "But you've found me all these new friends!" Anna glowed, "Amanda and
Brenda, and all the others!"
   "That's why I am so thankful for their presence here!" Chuck smiled
warmly.
   "You may not be after you find out how much money I'm gonna spend!'
Brenda grimaced, "We need to enlarge the prototyping and testing areas; more
simulators and storage area for the new jigs. And I want a laser-sintering
system too!"
   "I appreciate your informing me, Brenda, but I meant it when I said you
were in charge!"
   "Well then, can I count on your expertise and experience to let me know
if I'm getting into trouble?"
   "Certainly! Then let me suggest that you include Anna in your decision
process - let HER make the pitch to me and see how much she can pick up."
   "That sounds good. Anna and I'll work out a report for you..."
   "But not tomorrow - I need Brenda to straighten out the computer
programming." Interjected Amanda.
   "And we want the afternoon off as well." Added Anna.
   "Yeah, I promised to visit a friend in town..."
   "Slacking off already?" Chuck laughed. "Hell, it's the bloody weekend!
Take some time off and let an old man relax and enjoy his garden!"
   "But I want to start getting the plans together on Monday. Then there's
the... the Project."
   "Tell you what, do whatever you need to and draft something up for me
tomorrow. I have a good idea of what you want already, so I can think about
it while you're out."
   "I think I can do that." Said Brenda, smiling.
   "And I'd like to have an early night," Yawned Anna, "It looks like a busy
day tomorrow."
   "Good idea." Brenda nodded, "Why don't I get you to bed?"
   "Hmmm, I'd like that." Anna kissed Amanda, "Goodnight, see you tomorrow!"
   Amanda and Chuck brought the dishes in and cleaned up. Then Chuck went
into the sunken living room with a Cognac.
   "Chuck, I have a favor to ask - I need a car to visit my friend." Amanda
had slipped against his side and pulled his arm across her shoulders.
   "Oh, sure, we'll do something about it tomorrow!"
   "Thank you, Chuck." She said soft, kissing his cheek and wrapped her arms
around him, her legs over his knees. "Thank you."
   "Er, Amanda," Chuck said quietly, "You know you're much too young?"
   "Too young for what?" She looked up. "Driving?"
   "No - for this... For what we are doing!"
   "We're not doing anything... Except cuddling! There's no 'too young' or
'too old' for that!"
   "It's not what an old man does with a young girl! People won't
understand!"
   "There's nobody here but us..." Amanda sat up, shock on her face. "Did
you think I was trying to seduce you?"
   "Well, not exactly." Chuck said slowly, not sure of where this was going,
"It's just that I cannot tell what you young people consider right any
more!"
   "So you assumed the worst?" Amanda looked at him, then a bright smile
replaced the frown on her face, "But are you telling me that if I HAD wanted
to seduce you, you wouldn't stop me?"
   "No! Of course I would!" He argued hotly.
   "So, I'm sitting there, having the greatest feeling next to someone I
feel very close to... And you are in no way going to molest me. Or allowing
ME to molest you..." Her grin showed how much she was enjoying herself. "And
so you complain... Where's the logic to that?"
   "Amanda, I'm just trying to tell you that some things, no matter how
pleasant, are simply not right!"
   "Are you saying it's a moral issue?" Amanda asked, "Or is it a social
one? Remember what you said to Todd yesterday about customs, and rules and
regulations? I understand that people, in order to co-exist within a
society, have to adopt its rules and regulations; the mores. But we cannot
permit them to control the person inside!
   "Rules are useful; even needful, but they are dangerous when you start
relying on them. They ARE assuring, like a drug, and like a drug, they're
addictive, and ultimately they take over... Don't think, just OBEY." She
blinked at him, "Chuck, can't you see? There is no right, or wrong about a
situation when all parties are enjoying themselves and are at peace with
their conscience. It just IS."
   "I hear you, Amanda," Chuck said slowly, "But these old bones are not
used to such changes... I need time to get my bearings, to adjust, to
unlearn."
   "Chuck, I don't need you to change... You are a lovely man and I'm
totally at ease with you." She slid again against his side, "I just feel so
warm and safe here..."
   With a happy grunt Amanda tucked her legs under her T-shirt and squirmed
even tighter against him. He looked down at her and tenderly tucked a strand
of honey blond hair back behind her ear before allowing his hand to drop
against her soft warm back, wondering if this sudden feeling of contentment
was what Amanda was talking about.
   "Ahem!" Brenda's voice broke into his reverie and he had to force himself
not to fling Amanda away in panic.
   "Yes?" Chuck looked up slowly and smiled, impressed with the calmness he
was able to assume. "Can we help you?"
   "Would it be possible for me to collect my little sweetie for bed? We
need to be up early."
   "Oh, sure!" Chuck smiled, looking down at Amanda fondly.
   Amanda looked up at him, "You're gonna sit there and let her call you her
little sweetie?"
   Chuck paused, then laughed, "I feel flattered, and honored by that
suggestion!" He touched Amanda's face, "And I'm not even tempted to stamp my
feet and complain loudly about my sullied dignity - so your little speech
must've done some good!"
   Brenda leaned over and kissed him softly, "You aren't so little, but you
ARE my sweetie."
   She took Amanda's hand and tugged her up, "That was very naughty my dear,
and we will have to address that..."
   "Ooooh, would that be with the whip or bare hands?" Amanda whispered
suggestively.
   "Probably both." Brenda sighed and took Chuck's hand, "While I discuss
with my little sweetie here about insolence, Chuck, I know there's another
little sweetie waiting to say good night to you."
   At the top of the stairs the girls turned into their bedroom while Chuck
continued to the end of the corridor and into the small pink room there.
   "Honey, are you asleep?" He whispered.
   "No grandpa." Said a soft voice.
   "I just want to say good night..." He drew close and a small hand found
his in the gloom. He squeezed it and sat on the edge of her bed.
   "Grandpa, it's nice to hear you laugh."
   "And you too... We've been too long without this kind of joy." Chuck said
slowly, "And I am to blame - I've let my misguided principles destroy your
chance at happiness."
   "Don't say that grandpa, we WERE happy. We're just happier now!"
   "I want you to know that I'm beginning to understand a bit more - I've
been given a gift, a gift of living." He said gruffly, to hide the quaver in
his voice, "It's pain, and hurt too, but once I've accepted it, of joy and
laughter..."
   "And it'll only get better from now on... I know it!"
   "I know it too... Sleep well my little one, you have been such a brave
child... such a blessing..." He hovered by the door until her eyes closed, a
little smile still on her face, "Thank you... and thank you, Dee..."


(To be continued...)

   =============

(C) Copyright 2003. M.C.
All Rights Reserved.
All Reproduction for fee or profit forbidden.

Copies of my stories can be downloaded from:
<http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/MikeC/>

Send all comments and suggestions to MikeC@NSpace.net

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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