“Unlocking the Enigma: How Shack Man Navigates the Boundaries of Reality”
Added on March 4, 2025 inASTROLOGY CARDS
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Have you ever walked into a family gathering feeling like you’re attending a dog and pony show, complete with a side of drama? Well, buckle up, because that’s the vibe in Chapter Nineteen of “Shack Man” where our protagonist navigates the quirky waters of her fiancé’s family visit. Picture this: she’s prepped for smooth sailing, armed with a charming smile and a resolve to deflect any potential chaos with polite niceties, all while her inner thoughts reveal a tangled web of skepticism and intrigue.
As she rolls into this family affair, she can’t help but conjure memories of her past life as a Frito girl, spinning stories to keep the peace. But don’t be fooled—beneath the surface of her “all good vibes” attitude lies a cavalcade of unanswered questions, emotional baggage, and a hefty dose of ignorance about the family dynamics that could unravel at any moment. Will this trip turn into a heartwarming holiday experience or a chaotic family meltdown? Fasten your seatbelts, because it’s time for “Various Realities” to unfold. To discover more about this intriguing chapter, LEARN MORE.
Catch up here – Shack Man
Chapter Nineteen – Various Realities
I heard every word my sister said, but it didn’t add up. Outside of the visit to the memorial, I thought this trip was nothing more than a dog and pony show for Shack’s family. I saw it this way, due to my personal experience.
I had been a Frito girl. The boss came to town once every few months. You shave your legs, comb your hair, smile wide, tell him how much you love selling Fritos, how you are going sell ’em till the cows come home, and in huge quantities. Huge!
The idea was to send him home happy so he’d stay gone six months next time, instead of four. You wave goodbye, big wave. As soon as you see his taillights hit the road, you go back to your regular happy life.
This is a favor! He doesn’t want to come to the country anyway! Last thing he wants is a problem, and since there is no problem, there’s no harm, there is no foul, and everyone’s happy.
I thought similar about Shack’s family. I was going to do the deed. I didn’t expect to enjoy them based on what I’d heard. So what? I planned to just stay out of trouble.
“Yes, please” and “No, thank you.” If they fought, I’d stay out of it. How hard is that? Piece of cake!
I just didn’t feel vulnerable. Shack and I were very tight and getting married! We’d bought a beautiful home, with a mountain behind it so our kids could built a fort. Our closing was set, less than two weeks away. We’d be in our new home for, Christmas!
We’d also never had a significant conflict. We had his ring and we were on our way to get mine. We had all kinds of plans in progress. Parties, to continue to bring our friends together, and the like. We were solid, in a way I’d never been before, in my life. It’s called, having your shit together!
Also, the brothers had moved to get away from their family. This was not my guess, it was spoken. They went home, once a year, max. So what’s that mean? I go home with them, once a year and say, hi? No problem!
I took none of this, personally. I could imagine family stress, divorced parent feuds, and stuff, but I thought if anything flared up, I would be a help to both brothers. I was not going to say stupid things like, “What’s wrong with your family?” I was not going to make it worse.
If it got thick, I would cheer them up with jokes. Whatever wigging occurred, they’d not be held responsible!
Also, gunning for me? Why? My sister made sense and she also made no sense at all. Why would anyone be gunning for me? I couldn’t think of any reason. I would not be gunning for anyone and if I don’t return fire, how far can it go?
I believed the sister was probably a bitch, and I agreed there was something off with the father, but to me this was just watch and learn. I’m legit, interested in people. I’d get something out of it, one way or the other.
Will the mother be someone who needs to be endured? So what? It’s her house! Also, it was two days, max. My home was happy. This was hers. It just wasn’t that big a deal.
I did not expect to be loved. I was going to give them “what’s not to like” and let it go at that. “Yum. These potatoes are savory. What a beautiful home!” This is just plain good manners. Are you a bitch, and this is your house? Knock yourself out. I’m leaving, soon!
Shack and I had also discussed the ring. If she did not give him the stone, we get a different ring. No one cared!
Shack’s brother was stressed on the plane. I watched him buckle his seat belt and take a deep breath. He looked like he was trying not to look like he was flying into hell. He was bracing himself! Like he was unsure any of us would survive.
Shack Man was happy. He was happy because I was ecstatic. I noted this and set an intention to stay that way. It was the best thing I could do. I was so UP, on the plane, Shack’s brother even found a bit of respite.
I was sitting in the middle. I could feel, Shack’s brother whirring away – probably jonesing for his computer, wishing to check his e-mail. He was an early adopter of the internet and the only one of us, online. None of us had a cell phone.
Shack was whispering stuff in my ear, giving me goose bumps down my leg. I finally had to look at him, like “stop it! Your brother is here!”
Shack quit blowing and was just talking, quietly. We were still on the ground, and his brother had already put on earphones. I told you he was cool.
They also probably planned this. “Use your earphones, so I can talk to her.” I don’t think I mentioned, Shack’s brother was also an engineer. It was very funny and cool, how they worked together…for my benefit, of all things!
Shack said I was beautiful and he’d never forget the moment. He said he had half a mind to get off the plane in Dulles; blow everyone off and go straight to New York. I laughed. We’re not going to do it, but we really are a match. It’s the kind of thing I’d do. No matter what. we’re covered!
I need to tell the reader, concrete information existed, but it was withheld from me. There’s no single reason why. Wishful thinking on Shack’s part, shored up with denial in epic proportion. Hope against all hope. Misplaced trust. Blind love. Embarrassment, and more.
Shack’s brother had some of the same reasons and a few of his own. Loyalty to his brother, being the main thing. This was Shack’s gig. He was there to support him, not to interfere. Even if he had greater awareness than Shack did, and saw what was coming to a larger degree, there was limit to how far he could go to intercede or affect events.
At times, over the last weeks, Shack’s brother looked like he was in charge of a faulty nuclear weapon. Like, he’d be sweating with stress. I didn’t know him all that well but I concluded he had a “nervous disposition”. Things like this don’t bother me. People are individuals and I don’t like it any other way.
In hindsight, I think it got extremely hard on the brother and, Shack, told him to just deal with it – quit bugging him and be a best man! He’d complied and consequently, he was carrying far more weight, than Shack and I realized. However it went down, in the end they had a situation they thought they could manage and here we were on the plane!
On my side of the court, the main thing was ignorance. I was ridiculously and blissfully in the dark regarding the ways of the world. It was a perfect setup in this way. Only I could have been so entirely blindsided the way I would be. Most notably because of my background, my Mowlginess, but his Valium effect played a part as well. I was livin’ on love, not looking under rocks.
Not that it would have done me any good anyway. If a plane is going to swoop by and hit you in the head at 3 PM, you may as well enjoy your lunch! Taking the time to scare up a helmet and put it on your head is not going to help!
We took a cab to the sister’s place in DC. It was a short hop, man they have a lot of big trees there. Mowgli, looking around.
I was a little nervous on the drive, but I was also happy because this is it. The top of the coaster. We have click, clack, climbed to get here, so you know. “Let the games begin!”
To be continued.
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