Hot, humid, and soon to be bothered

[Beth Ham]

It is official! Church on a hot/humid summer day should be against the law. Beth sat in the pew between her mother and father and all through the service she tried her best not to squirm. The heat in the church was unbearable. Following church she told her parents she would meet them back home.

After giving her mother a quick kiss on the cheek she turned and left the stuffy church. Taking a step outside she realized that she didn't get much relief out there either. Oh well. With that she started to head through the church courtyard towards her home.

[Milton Hughes]

Milton had been outside already, evidently of the same mind. He was looking ever so slightly smarter than usual. "Hey!" he called, scrambling to his feet from where he had been crouching against the wall of the church. "It's over? Good grief, I thought it'd never stop. Anything good? Any knitting circles I should be sure not to miss?" he caught up with her and made his pace match hers. "Why you in such a hurry, anyhow?"

[Beth Ham]

She wasn't aware that anyone was already outside. It wasn't until he called out to her that she realized someone was there. Beth knew exactly who it was and wasn't sure if she wanted to talk to him. "Actually you are in luck. There is a knitting circle next Friday..." She just finished saying that as he caught up to her. "Nowhere in particular. I'm just heading home."

[Milton Hughes]

"Oh, goodie!" Milton almost skipped in mock excitement. "I kept getting my stitches muddled. How about coming for Sunday lunch with me instead? I'm much more fun." He shot a sideways glance at her. "Were you hot pink last time I saw you?"

[Beth Ham]

"Well I'm sure there are many ladies in Bloomsdale who would just love to help you with those stitches." She raised an eyebrow when he asked her if she would accompany him to Sunday lunch. "Gee I would love to Mr. Hughes however mother has a lunch prepared at home." Beth shook her head. "No I was blue actually"

[Milton Hughes]

"I don't actually knit, you know." Milton said, quickly. "Can't get out of lunch, huh. I guess so." Milton managed to look fairly forlorn. "Blue would suit you better, I guess."

[Beth Ham]

"You don't knit? It really is a nice pastime..." Beth rolled her eyes and then looked over her shoulder towards the church. At the rate her parents were going inside she would beat them home. "No I really can't. Mother is stubborn about mealtimes."

She reached a gentle hand and brushed a wrinkle out of the blue skirt she was wearing. "Thanks, however I prefer my normal colour."

[Milton Hughes]

"Me too." Milton assured her. "Oh well, I'll have to find someone else I guess. Anything interesting in there today?" he gestured back towards the church with his head. "I was, uh, late."

[Beth Ham]

Oh no you don't...Beth had to try hard to not blush. "Sorry I am not able to go but you know Mothers and Fathers". She followed his gaze to the church and shook her head. "No. It was the standard service."

[Milton Hughes]

"Maybe it's a good thing, then." Milton grinned at her. "I haven't lived with my parents for years. Good thing too. You've no idea how freeing it is to do what you like, when you like." Milton yawned and stretched. "You know, I bet they wouldn't actually mind your being gone. You look plenty old enough to look after yourself."

[Beth Ham]

"I'll take your word for it." Beth was only 19 years and therefore had plenty of time to move out of her parents house. She probably wouldn't end up moving out until she got married but she didn't really care. "If it was any other day I'd probably be allowed, but not on Sundays. Like I said my Mother is a bit of a stickler for family time on Sundays."

[Milton Hughes]

"Mayor's kid, right?" Milton asked, ploughing on without an answer. "Gotta be tough, trying to be the perfect family the whole time. Do you never just want to get away from all that?"

[Beth Ham]

"No it isn't that hard. We are just like any typical family." Beth truly loved her family...even her brother-most of the time. With his final question she figured that he was trying to trap her into saying something against her family. "No." She glanced down at her watch. "Really I must be going." Her parents were inside 'visiting' and she had said she would go home and get lunch ready.

[Milton Hughes]

"Hey!" Milton spread his arms in front of him defensively. "I'm not probing, I'm just chatting. Don't worry about it."

[Beth Ham]

"Sorry. I am sometimes to protective." If there was one thing Beth hated it was reporters who would fire questions at her when she wasn't prepared. "I guess I tend to be a little on the defensive side when it comes to talking to people who spread news around town. I really didn't mean to imply that you were leading somewhere with your questions."

[Milton Hughes]

"I promise I won't write anything about it." Milton said with a grin, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Unless news gets really, really slow. Which, with the knitting circle in full swing, doesn't sound likely."

[Beth Ham]

"Alright." She couldn't help but smile. "With this small town and our knitting circles, that town paper will certainly never run out of stories." It was nice to actually feel relaxed and she hoped that it stayed that way. "Now as for the time, I really should go because I promised to have dinner ready when my parents get home."

[Milton Hughes]

"Right. Sure." Milton grinned. "Nice to speak to you, Miss Cleaver, I wish you luck with your culinary endeavors." Milton turned in the opposite direction down the street, and started to whistle.

((out))

[Beth Ham]

"Yes it was nice to speak to you as well Mr. Hughes. Have a good day and Thanks." She really didn't need 'luck' with her culinary endeavors as the food was mostly already prepared so all she had to do was lay it out. She raised an eye as he turned and headed down the street. With a smile she turned again and headed in the direction of her home.

(out)