Lake Krystalvasser - Part One
Well, it took me long enough, but here at last is another story for all of you. Hope you enjoy reading it just as much as I enjoyed writing it.
===========================================================================
The phone on Gary's desk rang, its call erupting through his work-induced stupor like a bird singing in the wee hours of the morning and with a sound that was equally as annoying. Snapping to attention, Gary placed the paper down on his desk, picked up the receiver and slotted it in the gap between his jaw and shoulder in an attempt to multitask. As it was an action he had seen often enough, its manoeuvre was almost performed subconsciously. However the phone slipped out quite easily, very much like an oiled fish, rudely reminding the bull that his head wasn't made for such a manoeuvre. He snorted and picked the phone up once more, this time holding it himself in one hand.
"Hello?"
"Gary? It's me, Michael."
"Oh hello Michael," Gary said, suddenly recognising his youngest brother's voice despite the slight distortion made by the phone. In the background Gary thought he could hear hammering, clunks and loud whirrs. "How are you and the family?"
"We're good thanks. Listen; what are you doing this Easter?"
"Not too much, mostly slobbing around the house and hoping I don't get called in for work. Why?"
"Well, I have some good news for you then. How would you like to spend a weekend at my holiday house in Osterby?"
Gary frowned a little. "What's the catch?"
"Well we would like you to do something for us at some point, but that's not why I'm calling. I've been hearing from Mum about how things have been getting rough for you at work, so Denise and I felt you would probably like a break. You've been to the holiday house before, haven't you?"
"I think I have...it's that cottage by lake Kristalvasser right? The one great Aunty Shelly left you in her will?"
"Yup, that's the one. Anyway, you can stay over there for Easter if you want."
Gary considered the prospect, finding the idea of a nice, relaxing break more inviting than an all you can eat buffet. "Cool, I'd like that. So what do you want from me in return?"
"Would you mind giving Denise and Emily a lift to her parents' place for me next weekend? I'm going to be working over the holidays, so I can't do it myself."
"Sure, no problem. Where do the parents live?"
Michael handed over the address, which turned out to be quite a trek all things considered. The journey would be several hours by Gary's reckoning, towards the coast. The place they were going to was quite a nice area too from what he knew of it. If the sea wasn't your thing then they had forests. If you didn't like forests, the town could be quite lively. If you didn't like towns, then there was Gotkrift Castle. There was something for everyone, really. The only thing lacking was a decent theme park and those drinks served in coconuts with a small novelty umbrella. He should go there himself one day.
Gary slipped the paper into his wallet and made an online memo, using a website that'd send an e-mail and a text to him as a reminder.
"Oookay, got it."
"Great, thanks a lot Gaz, you're a lifesaver." A loud whistle erupted in the background as Michael spoke. It caught Gary off guard, nearly causing him to drop the receiver once more from the shock. "And I'm offski."
"Yeah, I should be getting back to work myself," Gary said, casting an eye at his In-Tray, which still carried the air of a beast in hibernation.
"Right, well I'll talk to you soon then, mate. Good bye."
"Bye."
He waited for a second until he heard a click and the long, monotone durr that meant no one wanted to talk to you anymore, before setting the phone back and getting on with his work.
To be honest, he really did need a break. Ever since the credit-crunch had tightened its grip on the office everyone had been run ragged to ensure that every penny was well spent. Several people had been let go, mostly non-essential staff along with a couple of clerks who hadn't been pulling their weight, and the cafeteria had started serving cheaper food, many of them supermarket brands. Perhaps worst of all could be found in the toilets, for gone was the lovely Dove hand soap and quilted bog-roll; replaced with cheaper, more wretched alternatives. You'd have thought they'd announced a death when the office learned of that.
Gary was rather confident he could hold on to his job, himself, but even so there was always the chance...If things didn't improve then even a straight record may be worthless against the Almighty Hammer of Sudden (And Oft Inconvenient) Unemployment.
The increased pressure was accompanied by the cheery band of longer hours, larger workloads and the higher-ups constantly looming over your shoulder to make sure you weren't wasting valuable office time playing games, sending e-mails to your dear old mum or, most usually, looking at porn*. He was surprised they were even letting them have a holiday at all.
Gary grinned and wriggled his fingers briefly, trying to avoid getting a cramp. His worker's union was good for something after all.
Suddenly a load of papers materialised next to him and landed on his desk with a fwap and a rush of air. It was all Gary could do to stop himself from jumping from his desk.
"An early birthday present, Gary," came the cheery voice of Tit Wank Louise. "Mr Jarlson wants these done by Wednesday."
Gary groaned and thumbed through the sheets as though they were death warrants. "Jesus Christ, all of them? I bet a whole super-collider instruction manual was recycled for this!"
Louise chortled and folded her arms. "Heheh, maybe. I certainly don't envy you, regardless."
Gary made a face and gave the papers before him a look of foreboding, the pile suddenly looking like a gigantic mountain he had to climb. He tried hard not to groan, deciding instead that he'd be better off just getting down to work.
Louise lingered and she had the sort of look on her face that suggested she wanted to say something but wasn't entirely sure how. Gary should know; he'd worn that look plenty of times himself. He could probably register for trademark rights if he felt so inclined. Eventually the rabbit gave a slight cough and rubbed the back of her neck nervously.
"So," Gary said, deciding to help her along as he started thumbing through the papers. "Is that everything?"
"Well..." she said, trailing like a lost hiker straying onto unfamiliar moorland as heavy fog settled. "I was just wondering...um, were you...you know. Were you doing anything this Saturday evening?"
Gary shrugged his shoulders, wondering why everyone was suddenly so interested in his weekly schedule. "I was planning on staying in and watching TV. Why?"
"Well, I sort of won a competition...the grand prize was a pair of tickets to see Le Soleil Et La Lune. I was wondering if...well, if you'd like to come with me?"
Gary paused and considered his answer. From what he knew of Louise, she was generally a decent enough sort: friendly, chatty and with a bubbly attitude you either found endearing or annoying**. As far as he knew she'd been relatively single for the two years she'd been employed here, minor sexual encounters aside. Thus to go watch the play with her may have been agreeable to Gary on numerous levels, and it was pretty certain things like this would be good for him.
But perhaps not right now...the sexual question was still a big unsightly weed in his garden at the moment, and the last thing he wanted to do was dump elephant manure laced with Miracle-Grow on it. And he never liked those fancy French plays anyway.
"I'm sorry, Louise," Gary said. "I'm not much of a theatre bull. I hear Christian is into it though, have you asked him?"
Louise looked disappointed, sighing rather pointedly. But she nodded. "No, I suppose I'll see if he's interested. Have a good weekend, Gary."
Gary nodded. "You too."
Even though images of campishly dressed French clowns, their gibbering language and arty-farty abstract performances that made about as much sense as an acid trip gave Gary ample reason to not want to go, he could not help but feel a twinge of regret as Louise slowly turned and wandered down the aisle, eyes cast downward and ears drooping. It felt like popping a child's balloon. Perhaps he could try to be a little more accommodating next time...
He sighed and continued with the day's workload, suddenly feeling like the world's biggest bastard. He'd probably get the commemorative mug next week.
***
Emily greeted her uncle with her usual cheeriness, running up the drive way in her My Little Pony coat and bag, promptly jumping up to greet with him with a technique Gary swore she picked up from the Alien movies. He spent the next few moments trying to pry the calf off of his person, wishing with all his heart and strength for a crowbar or some baby oil, as Denise walked out of the front door, giving her brother-in-law a brief smirk.
"Hullo Gary," she said cheerfully in a Nottinghamshire accent as broad as a battleship. "And how are you doing, chuck?"
"Decent, and how're you and the squirt?"
"Good, Emily has just gotten over a rather nasty tummy ache."
"Oh? And are you feeling all better then, Em?" Gary said, as he finally managed to slide Emily down his shin and off his hoof.
She grinned up at him and nodded. "Daddy said I had the plague!" she said with manic brightness that would have sent most adults to the clink.
"Well I'd best stay away from you then, hadn't I? You looking forward to seeing your Gran and Grandad?"
"Yes! I'm going to go paddling and ride the donkeys with Mammy, and then we're going to go paddling and see the custle and..."
Gary left the four year old to it, employing the age-old method of males everywhere when dealing with nattering females that largely consisted of keeping quiet and using simple, short acknowledgements like "Is that so?", "Yes dear" and "I'll have cheese on mine". Meanwhile, Gary headed over back over to his car and opened the back door for Emily, helping her clamber inside and strapping her into the booster seat. Once he was certain she was secure, he went off towards the house and helped Denise with the luggage. There wasn't really a lot of it, much to Gary's surprise, just two suitcases, both of which were rather small*.
"Where's all your stuff?" Gary asked, leaning back to peer into the hall, in case she had her cases tucked away to one side.
"Oh, my parents still keep some clothes and things for me in t'eir house," Denise said cheerfully. "Nowt to worry about."
Gary nodded and said no more. He slung the suitcase he was carrying into the boot, before closing it down and returning to the driver's seat. Denise sat down next to him and did her seatbelt.
"Things all right back home?" Denise asked. Despite the casual/cheery air she was putting on, it didn't do much to hide the concern. "Your Mum has been telling us that you seemed rather depressed recently."
"It's nothing," Gary said, turning on the ignition and flattening his hoof down on the specially designed pedals. "Really, it's just work being a pain and everything."
"Ah, I see." Relief was evident and she turned her attention away from Gary and towards the windows, peering out at the scenery as the car trundled through the streets and onto the main road towards the city outskirts. "Well, I'm sure it'll all blow over as soon as this crisis sorts itself out. How's Mrs Henderson, by the way?"
"She's doing well, still insisting on using the stairs."
"Bless."
As soon as they turned onto City Road, Gary fixed his attention more closely onto the road, turning on the radio and tuning it onto a station that Emily might enjoy. The calf in question then entered a discussion with her mother about the activities she'd like to do whilst at her grandparents'.
It had to be said, Gary liked to drive. He really did. The sheer freedom of just being able to jump into a car and go where you pleased, roads and petrol pending, was something he'd enjoyed thoroughly ever since getting his license back in 6th form. There was also something innately relaxing about just driving as well; the rumble of wheels beneath him, the soft rush of air at his window and the hum of the engine as he sped down motorways were to the bull as a whale song was to New Age hippies. It was a feeling that only intensified during the night. Traffic, however, was a part that would have been outlawed in any half-decent universe, as it largely struck Gary as a blatant breach of his Right to Roam.
So it was no small irony that, shortly after getting through the streets and approaching the infamously busy M32, the traffic piled up and stretched out for miles, a long, bleak stream of cars, vans, lorries and caravans. It did not take long for all the occupants in the car to become increasingly hot and bothered, despite Gary turning the AC on full blast.
Briefly, Gary switched stations to try and find a traffic report, Denise keeping Emily occupied by asking her what she'd learned at school. As he pressed the > button in his quest for New Transberg FM, Emily started to sing a nursery rhyme her teacher had sung the day before.
"Five little ducklings, all in a row,
Swimming down the river, off they go,
Faster, faster! they all cried,
But on the banks their mother sighed.
"Ducklings, ducklings their mother said,
Come back now â€" it's time for bed!
One little duckling rushed right back,
Four ducklings left. Quack, quack, quack!"
At the penultimate quack Gary reached NTFM, turning up the volume a bit and leaning back in his car, inching forward whenever the opportunity presented itself. According to the DJ, after a myriad of adverts and the station's jingle, the build up was due to road works (as usual), somewhere up by the M27.
Gary tried hard not to groan; that was ages away! He glanced at the rear view mirror to check up on Emily, who seemed just as fed up as he did, the car suddenly feeling like a greenhouse. This was going to be a long drive...
***
"Thanks for the lift Gary, we really appreciate it."
The clock on the car's radio was blinking 18:47 and Gary's arse ached something awful. As soon as she was released, Emily ran out of the car and, with the same technique used on Gary only hours before, tackled her grandfather as he walked over to help with the luggage. All in all what was usually a two or three hour journey took twice as long thanks to the cock up with the traffic, something that had gotten Denise's parents rather worried.
Gary gripped a suitcase in one hand and hoisted it out of the car boot, bovine muscle making the task far easier than it would have been for most other creatures. He gave his sister-in-law a brief smile and waved the thanks away like a fly irritant.
"No problem, I'm just sorry the traffic was as it was."
"Oh it was none of your doing, duck," Denise insisted, before giving Gary a cuddle and muzzle rubbing slightly. "Anyway, ta very much again, I'll see you soon hopefully. And enjoy yourself at Osterby won't you?"
Gary returned the nuzzle. "I will, I take it you won't be needing me for a lift back?"
"Oh no, Michael should have the car with him. Thanks once more and take care, Gary."
"You too, Denise."
The cow picked up the suitcases before turning towards Emily. "Come on Emily," she said pointedly. "Are you going to say goodbye to your Uncle Gaz?"
The calf removed herself from her grandfather and trotted up to Gary, the bull bending down and scooping her up in his arms, giving her a tight hug. "Goodbye Uncle Gaz," she said, before quickly adding in a manner that seemed only slightly rehearsed, "Thanks for giving me and mummy a lift."
Gary grinned, ruffling her mane as he let her go. "No worries, pipsqueak. You be good for your mummy and grandparents, okay?"
"But I'm always good Uncle Gaz!" the calf insisted, giving him an innocent look that Gary was almost immediately suspicious of.
"Pfft, I'll believe that when I see it," he said with a grin. "Now scram, I've got to set off."
With that he let her go, got into the car and drove off, giving a last wave through the window as he began the drive back home. Even with the radio on, it seemed a lot quieter now that Denise and Emily were no longer in the car, and with the coming twilight the traffic seemed to have lessened. With the peace and calm of the driver's seat settling on him, Gary turned some of his thoughts towards the holiday house and planned what to do there. Probably spend some time out on the lake, it'd been ages since he last had a proper swim, and the area surrounding it was beautiful and perfect for hiking.
It wasn't much fun on your own however, that was the thing. Whenever he went to Kristalvasser in the past it was either with family or friends.
Gary clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth in thought as he came across a junction, indicating he was turning to the right and watching for any in coming cars. Who to take? He hadn't been in contact with many of his old friends for a while and somehow the thought of just dropping in out of the blue and inviting them out struck Gary as a bit...well. He just wasn't comfortable with the idea.
There was always Tony...
Gary bit his lower lip as he considered the white on brown accountant, still not entirely sure what to make of him. Ever since that night at his place, Gary had felt more than a little resentful towards Tony for taking advantage of him like that, although Gary couldn't exactly deny he sort of asked for it. Nor did he put up much of a fight, and he had plenty of opportunities to just walk away and leave it at that. He sighed and fought the urge to rest his head back against the headrest of his seat while he was still driving. It was this bloody sexual identity thing again; after a moment of apparent calm is suddenly decided to surface when he realised that he was still attracted to females after browsing the top shelf of the magazine shelf at the local news agents.
"I'm not even gay, for Hell's sake," he caught himself muttering as he shifted gears. "I'm smack bang in the bloody middle."
He stopped at a pair of temporary traffic lights and rested his head against a fist, his elbow pressed against his door as he waited for the light to turn green. He hated how awkward his body was being with him these past couple of months, especially now he seemed to be in the case where he'd be staring at a girl's chest one minute and a guy's crotch the next. It'd be hilarious if it wasn't so frustrating. The need to talk to someone once again made Tony appear a rather attractive prospect; he was bi himself. He'd be able to help talk him through it.
It wasn't the only reason of course, Gary thought to himself with sullen bemusement. Rather than calming him down over the matter, it seemed that night with him only served to make Gary even more amorous towards the other bull, despite his mind's objections. That and at the end of the day Tony was good company and he might like the place, especially after all the stress being handed out at work. If the recession was putting any pressure on Gary, he could only imagine what it must have been like in the finance department.
The rest of the drive home was much faster, although Gary still ended up waiting for ten or fifteen minutes in the traffic build up. It was night time by the time Gary rejoined the inner city, the bright lights, buzzing energy and constant traffic, giving off a smell of petroleum that hung unpleasantly in the air, striking a sharp contrast with the quiet and dark of the countryside Gary had just left behind. The contrast served to remind the bull why he forsook the latter in the favour of the former, how the country could never compare with the city. Let them whinge about the environment, but let it never be said that the bright lights and sprawling streets of New Transberg are not beautiful in their own ways.
A gleam of pewter immediately made a grab for his attention, Gary's eyes briefly flicking towards the rosaries he had hanging from the rear view mirror, not for any religious sentimentality. They were there for something far dearer to him than that.
"What would you think, hmmm?" Gary said to the small human figure moulded upon a tiny cross. "No doubt you'd be laughing your head off at me."
***
Klunk.
"Oh come on!"
Ker-klundunk.
"Bloody hell!"
With a beat you could rap to, Tony thumped on the coffee machine and repeatedly jabbed a button with his thumb, snorting with frustration as the machine committed blatant daylight robbery. Quite a feat for something that was, for all intents and purposes, as dead as a doornail. Gary lingered by the chairs and sofas that were set up around the coffee machine and waited a little while as Tony ranted at all the coffee he currently wasn't getting.
"At the very least give me my money back!" the bull muttered, so low Gary barely heard it.
It had to be said, Gary had never seen Tony this P.O'd, and certainly it didn't seem to fit in with the sort of character Tony appeared to have; laid back, jolly and quite calm and level-headed. But then work had been stressful lately and when you need coffee...
With a defeated grown and a loud snort, ears flat against his head, Tony turned and seemed to notice Gary for the first time. At once he seemed rather sheepish and startled, apparently torn between the desire to try and explain the situation or flee.
Gary understood the feeling; it was something of an instinct bulls had. It sort of came with being descended from a species that often ended up as someone's lunch.
Eventually Tony gave a slight self-conscious grin. "Heh, you saw all that did you?"
"It'll be on Youtube as soon as I get back to my cubicle," Gary said. "But that's not what I'm here for-"
"Look, if this is about that night we...well. That night," Tony said, raising his palms defensively. "I just want to say that we were both drunk and-"
"SHHHH!" Gary looked around hurriedly to make sure there was nobody else around. As luck would have it, they were alone. "It's not about that, although it's a bridge I'd like to cross with you at some point. Listen...uh..."
Suddenly the act of asking seemed awkward and somewhat intimidating. What once seemed like a pleasant rolling hill suddenly turned into a mountain to rival Everest, and what seemed like good hiking shoes were actually stilts that had seen far better days. It was funny, but now that Gary had come to asking he didn't really know how to.
He steeled himself and rallied; it was a simple enough thing to ask. He was simply making it more complex than it needed to be was all.
As though to help him on, Tony gave Gary a pointed look, before giving him the "wrap it up" sign. They didn't have much time left before the coffee break was over. "Ye-es?"
"Uh...would you... Gah, my brother has given me his holiday home in Osterby for Easter. If you haven't got anything else planed, would you, you know, like to come over as well?" After a pause, Gary decided to add hastily, "As friends of course."
Tony raised his eyebrows and flicked his ears. "Wow, I must have made an impression on you," he said, giving Gary a wink that left the bull's cheeks burning. "Anyway, it sounds like an idea. Anyone else coming?"
"Uh..." was all Gary could manage at that moment. It made Tony's grin widen regardless.
"I see. Well, I don't want you being on your own then in that case. I'll come. Osterby is by Crystal Water isn't it?"
"Krystalvasser," Gary said. "They changed the name back a couple of years ago."
Tony nodded. "Brill. Any dates and times or will you keep me posted on that?"
"I'll have to keep you posted; I don't really know myself."
Tony nodded and silence settled upon the two. It didn't take a genius to realise what was on both their minds, a thought that still thrilled Gary even after all this time. Even now he caught himself eyeing Tony up, examining the bumps and mounds of muscle underneath his shirt, before mentally removing his clothing and exposing that body to his mind's eye, from the white patch of fur on his chest right down to the brand that he had on his thigh.
Gary didn't think they did those anymore, but as it turned out Tony got it whilst on holiday in Egypt. Stung like a bitch for days afterward, apparently.
He tried to keep his gaze from going too far down south, his eyes firmly on the area above Tony's belt. They were like that for a few minutes, nothing around them but the hum of the vending machines and the faulty coffee maker, the dull roar of the office around them with its constant clatter, sporadic telephone rings and the soft hush of the traffic outside. The smell of Tony was strong in the air, confirming to Gary that their minds held similar fascinations. It was hard not to snort in disbelief; this was turning into a bad rom-com.
"Gaz?"
The sound of Tony's voice caught Gary off guard. "Mwhat?"
"That night...I didn't mean for it to fold out like that. Not at first. I should have dropped you off back home after the restaurant instead of taking you to my house; I'm sorry. It was wrong of me."
The apology sounded odd. Not because of any insincerity on Tony's part, he sounded like he meant what he was saying, but because Gary wasn't really expecting it. He didn't know how to receive it either. He settled with a neutral; "We can talk about this at the Jane or something if you like."
"Fair enough." Tony glanced at his watch. "Listen, we should get back to work. I'll see you at the Queen Jane, ‘kay?"
"Sure."
Hands in his pockets, Gary watched Tony turn and head towards the stairs once more. Well. The parts between his calves and lower back anyway. Then he turned on his hooves and walked back to his cubicle, a sudden feeling of relief and elation settling on him with each step.
***
The British, in their time, had accumulated a good deal of worth over the course of history and if the British Empire was good for anything, it was good for the spreading of this worth. For some, this might have been common-law and parliamentary democracy. For others, it may have been industry and good literature. For the rest, it was cricket and driving on the left hand side of the road.
Whenever Gary thought of the British Empire, however, and reflected fondly as all New Mercians did on those years when Britannia ruled the waves, his mind didn't focus on anything as high-brow as democracy, industrial progress or fine art. No, instead he thought of the great institution that was the public house and live football. Next to driving, it was probably his favourite way to relax.
Hence the mellow atmosphere Gary found himself in, a pint of lager in hand and the blare of the latest football match, New Mercia vs. Scotland, adding a layer of atmosphere in the background. It felt good to be in the Jane, just unwinding with a friend after a particularly stressful day at work.
Tony sat next to him, eyes firmly on his cider, and his fingers drumming on the bar. He'd been like that for a while, in a strange reversal of their first and subsequent meetings. Why Gary was so calm in comparison to Tony was anybody's guess, but the smart money was on Gary being on his fourth pint, whereas Tony seemed to be taking time to savour his first.
Eventually Tony leaned back and looked Gary straight in the eye.
"So...there were no hard feelings about...you know," he said, falling into the old irony of being quite transparent despite all attempts at subtlety.
Gary shrugged. "We both had a bit much to drink that night," he said. "I can barely remember most of it now. And of course, I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy myself."
Tony nodded, looking relieved and finished off the last of his cider. "That's good," he said. "You know, I felt kind of slutty the day afterwards. Honestly, I didn't have that intention when I invited you to that dinner."
"I believe you," Gary said, lying through his teeth. Cynicism dies hard.
Tony was more trusting. "Good," he said, with a sigh of relief. "So, clean slate?"
"Yeah, you're a good bloke at the end of the day," Gary said. "And...I guess it did kind of help me come to terms with things...at least for a bit."
"Even better," Tony said, a broad smile coming across his muzzle. "It can't be easy, especially at your age."
"Cheers," Gary muttered, suddenly feeling old. "You're no spring chicken yourself."
Tony just laughed and ordered another cider, before resettling on his stool, folding his arms and leaning on them against the bar. He then asked Gary more about the holiday home in Osterby. "So, have you got any dates in mind?"
"Now that I think about it," Gary said, rubbing his chin. "Michael mentioned giving it out for a weekend, so it'll probably be from Friday to Monday."
"Michael?"
Gary blinked. "Oh yeah; he's the brother I mentioned earlier."
"Ah. So, it'll be a weekend thing then?"
"Seems to be."
Tony nodded. "So, how are we getting there? Will we do it separately or will one of us pick the other up?"
The conversation followed that route, with the two exchanging information and plans on when to pick up, at what time and at what place. After some negotiation they decided on Gary giving Tony a lift over, because he knew the way better than Tony did and also because Tony gave a lift last time, from Tony's house just after lunch. Then the topic drifted after that, wavering towards whatever lead most easily, for example football leading towards a discussion of global politics, leading then towards history, and then towards religion.
After a couple of hours, Tony eventually rose, stretched and decided to call it an evening. "I'll see you tomorrow, mate," he said, giving Gary a rough hug before leaving.
With Tony gone, Gary didn't really have much reason left to hang around; the football had finished, New Mercia loosing once more, and it was quickly approaching tea time. The bull scratched his stomach, eyes fixed on the TV as his thoughts turned to a nice hot dinner; there was that jar of pasta bake that needed using up. Maybe with some microwave vegetables and batter-cups? The thought of them made the bull's mouth water, although in truth he had never been able to pull off a meal like that like his mum used to.
Still, it'd be fun to try.
*It was, after all, why the 'net was born
**Himself, Gary often perscribed to the former, but she had her moments...