Moments with the Ralphwits

   Roger steadied Crissy's hands as she looked down the barrel of the rifle. The Wydmark rifle was considerably different from Crissy's shotgun, but it only seemed right that she learn how to use one since her husband was now president of the company that made the rifle. Roger and Crissy stood in the front yard as he tried to help her zero in on a target nailed to a tree across the dirt road that ran by their house. Any vehicle would be heard long before it arrived, so there was no risk of hitting a car. Crissy was enjoying the lesson, as it meant Roger wrapping his arms around her and speaking softly into her ear.

   "Take aim," Roger gently pushed the barrel toward the target, "don't rush. Aim for the bullseye, not the target board. My sergeant explained it to me, if I aimed for a button on a uniform, I'd be sure to hit the body. Now. Squeeze, don't pull." Crissy lined up her shot and squeezed off a round. At Roger's prompting, she fired off a few more shots.

   Roger held up Crissy's target for her to inspect. "For someone who only used a shotgun up to now," he mused, "you've got perfect grouping." Crissy smiled in satisfaction as she saw her shots had all hit so close to center of the target that she would qualify as a marksman in competition. 

   "Do you think it's possible I have a natural aptitude for this sort of thing?"

   "It's entirely possible. I rated marksman on my first try. The Army then made sure I got even better."

   "Maybe this isn't me as much as it is you holding the rifle for me."

   "I only helped set you up. The next three shots were all you. Look at the target again."

   "Could be the gun," Crissy smiled slyly, "I've always heard that Wydmarks were the best rifle in the world. I never thought for a second that I'd be married to the head of the company!"

   "Unfortunately," Roger checked the rifle to make sure it was unloaded before carrying it back inside, "this means I have to make a trip to the plant once a month for board meetings. I expect things will flow smoothly enough, though. They've been running the company without me all this time."

   "Where will we stay when we're in Kentucky?" Crissy asked as she carefully rolled up her target sheet.

   "Well," Roger slung the rifle over his shoulder, "there's a lake house where Pop used to stay. He built it to stay close to the plant when he needed to. I don't expect to use it much, though. Most of these trips will pretty short. Fly in, attend the meeting, fly back. Unless there's something special going on, it should just be a day. Frankly, I think it'd be pretty boring. We may have to arrange a longer trip just to take advantage of the cabin."

   "Who needs to get away from it all when one already lives away from it all?" Crissy scanned the area. "We already have a cabin on the river." Roger stepped closer and put his arm around Crissy as he took in the scenery.

   "You make an excellent point. I don't see how we get such good TV reception out here." Crissy sighed as she snuggled up to Roger. He guided her back into the house. 

   Later that afternoon, Crissy splashed in the lagoon. Roger sat by the shore enjoying a cigarette as he watched her frolic. She playfully swam over to him and smiled. 

   "Why don't you join me?"

   "You know how long it takes me to dry off. The only drawback to being an annie is that most of us males are covered in fur. You girls get a break by not having to worry about getting wet."

   "Suit yourself." Crissy giggled as she pushed away and dove into the water. Roger smiled as he flicked away the remains of his cigarette. Below, Crissy opened her eyes and looked about the crystal clear waters of the lagoon. She considered swimming on into the river, but wanted to stay close by Roger. She broke the surface and took a deep breath before letting herself sink back to the bottom. She opened her eyes again, the water so clear that she could see Roger standing on the shore and looking down at her. Crissy rested her head in her hands and crossed her legs, taking on a relaxed pose as she touched bottom. Roger waved her back up. Crissy poked her head out of the water only inches from where Roger was crouched next to the water.

   "Come on, Esther Williams, I want to take you to dinner in town." Crissy smiled and extended a hand for Roger to help pull her up. Once she was on her feet, she wrapped her arms around her husband and pushed her cheek against his chest.

   "We can stay in if you want." She offered. Roger chuckled.

   "I'd love to, but I already paid for tickets to tonight's movie."

   "What's playing?"

   "Safari picture. About a lion that terrorizes a native village."

   Roger and Crissy sat close to the screen, both of them dressed to the nines. Although this wasn't a monster movie in the traditional sense, it had been filmed as if it were one. As the lion stalked helpless natives, Crissy kept covering her eyes and hugging Roger for protection from imaginary danger. Eventually, the big game hunter shot down the beast and saved the glamorous lady scientist, with platinum blonde hair no less, from getting eaten. Just in time for the co-feature, which found our world soon to be enslaved by invisible Martians which inhabited the bodies of the recent dead. In between was a cartoon starring Minerva Mallen.

   Roger and Crissy eventually found themselves in the same nice restaurant where they'd had their first date. It was such a nice night, lit by a huge full moon and caressed by a gentle warm Summer breeze wafting through the air. The couple ate on the restaurant's patio to enjoy it. As Roger looked at Crissy in her elegant dress, he had to chuckle when he remembered the way she looked when he first saw her in the kitchen that morning. She was so cute as she was dancing to the music coming out of the radio, while dressed only in her undies, socks, and a loose pull-over. She was so carried away with the music, having so much fun, that she didn't even notice Roger standing in the doorway. This happened most mornings. And most mornings she let out a yelp when she finally opened her eyes and caught sight of Roger. This was Roger's wife. Equal parts care-free kid and sophisticated lady. 

   "What do you think about those jungle huts?" Crissy asked.

   "How do you mean?" Roger was a little confused by the query.

   "When I was little, I remember seeing a jungle picture and falling in love with the idea of moving to the jungle and living in a hut. Oh, I wanted a nice hut, but I thought it would be the berries to live in a jungle like that."

   "You feel that way after tonight's movie? After seeing the lion break through the wall of the Chief's hut?"

   "Well, I no longer want to live in the jungle. Although I kinda do already, if you think about it. Maybe not the African jungle, but the area around our house is certainly lush enough to be a jungle."

   "Well, Cris, if you want a hut, we can build you a hut on the property. We can find some spot nestled in some thick trees and build the hut of your dreams."

   "I know you're kidding me, but I do like the sound of it."

   "Actually, it might make an interesting guest house if we did it up real nice. We could make the best hut in the world. You can live out your childhood dream and sleep there every now and then."

   "You'd willing to sleep in a hut from time to time?"

   "We'll make it a really, really nice hut. Our vacation home, that's what it'll be. Then we can take vacations and still be close to home."

   "All kidding aside, Rog, would you really build a hut for me just so I could live out some dream from childhood?" Roger leaned close and touched Crissy's chin.

   "I'd do anything your little heart desires. You're adorable when you're happy, you know." Crissy bit her lip as she hunched down in her chair, both embarrassed and charmed. She was adorable.