The Greens of Jericho

Any chance the next section will be posted soon?

Jericho was a great show but I always felt like it was such an ensemble with so much going on that they could never capture all the deatails on TV. I was reminded of this when I recently binged on the first season so I went looking for fanfic.  This story was mentioned in an another author's note on fanfiction and I am so glad that it was. For the past couple of weeks, every chance I got I was reading this story. And getting to the last updated chapter today just left me wanting more! I really hope you keep this going. The richness of the details is fascinating and has me hooked.

Author's Response:

Aw, thank you Ninlil.  I am always excited to hear from an interested reader -- and it's great for stoking my writer's fire. :-)

I was so excited to see a new chapter!  It makes me realize how much I've missed the characters.  I love seeing Heather and Jake and everyone interacting again, although admittedly I am still worried about April :( I really hope she gets a happy ending here.  (I think I may have asked you about this once before and you were undecided how her story would go but I am still fiercely Team April.)

I liked Heather and Stanley's conversation about Star Wars--they DO both seem like they would be EU fans.

Nice as always to see another chapter, Marzee! Okay, so as we've talked about, I sense the beginnings of something kicking up in this chapter (aided mostly by my knowledge of the other universe), so I thought it was a neat choice to have it start out with these two birthdays, a little microcosm of human dynamics confined to a few indoor spaces, a not exactly calm before a storm hits. Here are some memorable moments I wanted to highlight:

Quote: "Gee, I wonder what I'll be wishing for," he returned before blowing the flame out. There were, of course, hundreds of options if he wanted to be specific in his wishing, but Jake didn't feel the need to be detailed, and settled for simply requesting that 'everything be all right', leaving the interpretation of 'everything' up to God or the universe or some imaginary birthday fairy.

A good wish I think for the circumstances. I like this present day celebration and how it highlights the simplicity of such events in these times of total bleakness, and how little wishes are actually so huge, but so are little moments of happiness and taking stock of what you have, too, I think.

Quote: "Well, I'm pretty sure I'm not pregnant," Michael opined from behind April.

LOL. Obligatory moment of Mikey appreciation. He always makes a time less bleak doesn't he?

Quote: "You're still the world's best hugger, Stanley," April laughed when he finally let her go. She glanced at Mimi, smiling and telling her, "I'm totally jealous of you for that."

He so is! I like how in this at home scene, the friendships are on display and Stanley's best qualities – he's got a great, goofy sense of humour, cares deeply for his friends and sticks by them, and actually brings a level of emotional maturity under all the jokes that people might not expect – are highlighted.

Quote: "You're right, it was," Mimi confirmed, smiling. "Plus, we always did something fun," she added. "And Jake, Stanley, I'm a little bit older than both of you," she admitted, demonstrating 'a little bit' by holding her thumb and index finger about a half an inch apart. "So I hope that makes you feel better. And, Heather Green," she dismissed with a wave, "We're not even gonna talk about what a baby you are."

Is it repetitive if I just say Mimi's the best? Like Stanley, I like how her good qualities – her wry sense of humour and observation skills, her adaptability, and despite her frequent (or sometimes intermittent) complaining I think she has a lot of tenacity and an ability to keep trucking on, which she herself is maybe not always aware of – come to the forefront this chapter.

Quote: "I traded Stephanie like a month's worth of lesson plans," Heather interjected.

Lesson plans as a currency, interesting. It sounds very teacher to be trading the plans (though I've only experienced a plans for plans trade), but this made me wonder what all the erstwhile students are doing, and what the longer term education plan going is, and the paper and printing and all that – like, little moment for outside questions intruding. I like it.

Quote: "You know, Grandpa used to talk me down whenever I started threatin' to ship you off to military school," Johnston recalled, "So I can probably do the same for you and my grandchild."

Aw. He's going to be his Lorelei Gilmore. In seriousness, I like Johnston's reflecting on his changing family role and the generational shift occurring.

Quote: He waited until she was done before he continued. "I like Mimi, too," Jake told her. "She's smart, funny, and, you know, she probably saved my life. Plus, Stanley's madly in love with her –"

Another aw. I like this observation and acknowledgement. This is a nice chapter for interpersonal dynamics in this group.

Quote: "Well, nothing that will get us hospitalized, dead or arrested," she cautioned, pointing a fry at him for emphasis. "And remember, it'll be my birthday next."

Good distinction. I liked the humour in the back and forth scenes between Jake and Heather. As in other moments of the DC story, it's neat to see the things that stay the same between time periods and the changes that stand out when juxtaposed.

Quote: He pulled back a few inches, smirking softly at her indignant expression. "You know, when I was a little kid and my aunt Bridget caught me doin' something wrong, she always made me give her a kiss. Eric too," he added, "But me, more, 'cause I probably got in trouble more," he admitted. "And I always hated it. That was punishment," Jake insisted, once again moving toward her. "And this so isn't," he finished, capturing her mouth with his own.

I like how you manage this feat of introducing characters we've never met and making them seem real, fitting into a web of personal relationships. Aunt Bridget already sounds like an interesting character and I anticipate meeting her.

Quote: "You're always eight," Heather informed him, leaning in to brush her lips over his. "When you tell me stories about you growing up, you're always eight."

"Musta been a big year for me," Jake returned, stroking his thumb over the back of her hand. "I don't know," he continued, clearing his throat, "You like eight year olds, so when I try to figure out how old I was…."

For some reason, this strikes me as really funny and neat, in this story about storytelling, in a way, and the significance of different moments in the past when recalled in these life changing moments in the present. This says something interesting about Jake, I think, about where in the past he locates himself and his childhood adventures.

Quote: "Heather, this is my sister, August," April proclaimed. Though the truth was, August needed no introduction; she was so obviously a version of April – the same delicate frame, the same porcelain skin, the same luxurious, red hair – that no one could have ever mistaken the two Glendenning sisters for unrelated strangers. "August," April continued, "This is Heather."

"The girl who stole Jake from me," August declared dramatically as she jumped to her feet.

"August," April and her mother, Karen Winter, intoned in simultaneous disapproval.

And here's August! I really like this introduction, of again, a character I have only heard about but who I already feel like I know interesting things about. August was a lot of fun in her scene and I'm left again wondering about her fate. I also liked meeting Karen and Paul here. They seem to have a calm presence that I imagine must have influenced April's own often even-keeled demeanour.

Quote: Eric, who had been sitting with Stanley, Bonnie and August on the couch, got up, crossing the room to join his wife. "Okay, if that's what pets are for, we may be doomed, doc," he teased, resting both his hands on her shoulders. "Remember what happened to the goldfish."

April made a face, her nose wrinkling. "Oh, the goldfish," she muttered before declaring, "Well, I hafta believe that we'll be better with a mammal."

LOL. Scary but pretty relatable. I do think mammals are easier too. They provide more incentive for taking care of them or something.

Quote: The laughter turned to guffaws now, though it was still kind. Jake kissed the top of Heather's head before resting his chin there. "Okay, so Ma, you're not nearly the 'city girl' that Heather is," he conceded. "Not that there's anything wrong with that," he added quickly when his fiancée protested this remark, dislodging him as she turned her head to glare at him. "Tell you what, babe – I promise you never have to eat rabbit unless you want to," Jake assured her, "'Kay?"

Aw. As someone who's been around a lot of pet bunnies, I have to go with Heather on this one.

Quote: "You know what that's a sign of," Stanley intoned from his spot halfway down the table. "It's a sign that you're getting old, man. You too, Eric," he snorted. "Twenty eight!" he declared, shaking his head in feigned sympathy. "So, so old."

Eric rolled his eyes. "Stanley, you're fifty five days younger than us. That's not even two months," he reminded.

I kind of love that Eric knows the number of days. He's got his own style, in this repartee, for sure.

Quote: "Fine," he conceded with a sigh. "But I'm sure as heck never gonna run for mayor. You want it, you go get it," he advised.

"Thankfully – for us all – Eric has the temperament to be mayor," Grandpa Green opined from his seat between Stanley and Johnston.

"And Jake does not," Jake assured his family. "All those council meetings and neighbors fighting over whose leaves end up on which lawn and what color so-and-so repainted their house...." He made a face and a strangling noise.

This is funny, but I like how it sort of also is underscored by a bit of tension and awkwardness (at least I think), that way things are in families and siblings and parents. Something I really liked in the show is how they portrayed this family having undeniably strong bonds but also a lot of undercurrents of dysfunction and strangeness – something that makes them seem real and relatable I think. I think you've hit on that with your characterization, and I mean that as a complement. Families are messy aren't they?

Quote: "They were both so cranky, and we were up half the night, walkin' 'em around," he continued. "Finally, at one in the morning, I knew I needed some sleep, even just an hour – I was teachin' school in the morning, and the first bell was at seven forty five. So, even though it was the middle of the oil crisis, and I only had 'bout an eighth of a tank, and I had an even license plate number so I wouldn't be able to get gas until the day after, we bundled them up in their snowsuits and decided to drive 'em around, see if that helped."

"It worked," Gail said, picking up the story, "Though your father ran out of gas over on Green Street – in front of the Berry's house actually, Heather – and we had to hoof it the five blocks home, each with a baby tucked into our coats," she laughed. "Which is funny now, but was absolutely nerve-wracking back then. For the next week I was sure they were both gonna come down with pneumonia."

Jake's and Eric's gazes connected across the table and they offered twin shrugs. "Sorry," they mumbled in unison.

This was a fun and cute story (well, since I knew the babies didn't get pneumonia). It was a nice image of young parents Johnston and Gail, and not yet at each other's throats Jake and Eric (well, as much as Eric says it was Jake's idea). I did find it interesting that Jake isn't interested as much in wishing his twin happy birthday, just because the twins in my family tend to make a huge deal about their birthdays together. But then again, they (both pairs) are very close and so they see it as a celebration of their debut in togetherness, so I get that this pair of twins, who are a little more antagonistic, would not be as into it.

Quote: Bonnie had been watching August – she'd continued to helpfully sign the gist of the conversation to the younger girl even after they had all sat down at the table – when Stanley had made his surprise announcement. August had abruptly stopped translating, leaving Bonnie hanging. "What did you say?" she demanded, tugging on her brother's sleeve. "What did you say?" Bonnie repeated, her voice growing louder.

Grinning, Stanley answered his little sister, enunciating clearly so he was sure she could read his lips. "I said I could never marry Autumn, but I would marry August."

"Yes!" Bonnie crowed, smiling widely as she glanced at August and then back at Stanley. "Yes! Marry Augus', marry Augus'. Please, please, please!" she begged, grinning at August. "Marry Stanley so you can be my sister."

Aw. And Bonnie gets her say! I don't get to go on about her as much usually, but Bonnie is also my favourite so I liked seeing her included here. I think it's a neat picture of her here – she's included but by necessity (she's younger than everyone and most comfortable in another language) she's a little separated from the group, but determined to have her voice acknowledged. I thought her bond with August was sweet too (though I have to say I'm glad she didn't get her wish here).

Quote: "Personally, I prefer that she move home rather than pile a bad marriage on top of motherhood," Karen argued. "And, dinner at the steakhouse?" she questioned, shaking her head. "If you're right, and I'm paying up, that's not really fair to your sister the vegetarian." Karen paused a moment, letting out a deep breath and then pasting on a smile over her frown. "But I really don't think that this is a conversation for Eric's and Jake's birthday party," she declared. "So, Heather, Gail says the wedding plans are coming along nicely?"

I have to say, poor Autumn, so I was glad to hear her mother eventually stand up for her. It's hard to be the talked-about one not there to defend yourself, and though it happens in families, it's also nice to have someone step in.

Quote: "And while my mother-in-law was shocked that her son would want to marry a Catholic girl," Gail told Heather, "Your mother-in-law is not so secretly delighted that you are – and that some of her grandchildren will be Catholic, too. I happen to be looking forward to attending first holy communions and confirmations that look like the ceremonies I went through as a child."

As a Catholic (though probably more of a Gail Catholic than a for-sure recommender of churches), I really liked this. The traditions and community events around milestones are something I feel connected to and enjoy about my background and I hear the same from others, so I think that'll be really nice for Gail to have continued in her life and share with a daughter-in-law and grandkids.

Quote: "You hafta forgive him sometime," Johnston repeated, exasperation coloring his tone. "Or you're gonna lose him," he argued, "We're gonna lose him. And I, at least, don't want that. He's our son."

I felt for Johnston and Gail in this scene, dealing with grief and loss and conflict in different levels. I appreciate the different sides in this dynamic, it seems true to life, and I do think they'll both (all) have to work through this for a while longer (whether by their own volition or by circumstances outside of course). I also liked how you showed, in Johnston and Gail's scene, that they have these different angles they come at the situation with, but then there's the care and support they share with each other and their bond, with so much history, they can fall back on in tough times.

Quote: "Well, feel free to worry about me, turnin' blue in the shower all you want," Jeff instructed, snorting. "'Cause I'm goin' in," he declared, taking a step away from the fire.

"I'm going to bed," Drake added, moving to follow. "I can take a shower in the morning. Always a chance the water will be warmer then," he joked.

Jeff waited for his friend to catch up, throwing an arm around his neck and noogying his head. "Oh sure, the shower will be warmer in the morning," he accused, elbowing the door to the kitchen open.

"Ow! Le' go!" Johnston and Gail heard Drake protest, but he was also laughing and groaning as Jeff dragged him into the other room.

Grinning, Johnston shook his head at their antics. "It's like having Jake and Eric, circa 1989, around again." He offered his hand to his wife.

And a nice appearance from Jeff and Drake here at the end. I like that they provided a bit of levity, while still also echoing the sadder family dynamics of the present by way of a flashback to earlier Jake and Eric, in simpler times. I liked too the ongoing glimpse into this other demographic in town, young, single people trying to contribute and be useful and find some kind of life for themselves and, as Jeff touches on, really, a purpose and meaning to their lives. And poor Jeff! Though of course I'm sure in the long run this will not seem the end of the world.

So now that you've set up where this group exactly is at this moment (well, for the most part, as we haven't seen everyone that I assume will be playing a part here in this segment), I'm interested to see how things will progress (though also of course proceeding with wary, for you know, reasons).