Fill-In-The-Blank Game!

[Sam91]

"Yes," said Samantha. She turned to her bible and paled. Look she said, showing the observant Dr S the page...

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18:21-35&version=NIV

"It seems that this NIV version is different from my 1984 version!"

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

'Probably they have to do that because of copyright,' whispered Doctor Sphinx.

'But it sure does leave some translation anomalies...' Sam91 commented.

'I like the KJV' he continued, looking a little holier-than-thou. 'It's also more poetic,' he added helpfully.

'I actually started on the KJV from the 1984 NIV, after learning about some of the changes' he added.

 

[Sam91]

"Whereas I prefer the ESV, me being half as pretentious..." stopping abruptly, dreading that she had caused another infamous, contentious and fruitless, KJV only-ism debate to start...

 

[DavidFirth]

Isn't there something in there about not performing surgery on captain's unless in a life threatening situation? the humble captain asked.

@LaSorcia will now buy me sixteen galleons and I shall be an admiral! exclaimed the bewildered, aching from tearing his stitches captain.

Furthermore, @Doctor.Sphinx, for swiping me meat, you will now build me a new grill and cook me some more ribs! bellowed Captain Firth, adding, @christine40, put that spy equipment away and fetch me BBQ sauce!

@GreenWizard, stop wrestling rats and little furry creatures and swab the deck!

Everyone thought that maybe @Sam91 had also altered the normally good captain's rather pleasant personality, not to mention his world famous good looks.

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

The Captain's wise and kind words prevented both an infamous, contentious and fruitless debate on why @Sam91 was clearly the good doctor's sidekick, and an interesting interlude on KJV-only-ism and how it's often mistaken for its close but distinctly different relative - KJV-and-ye-dictionary-on-olde-worlde-speech-of-yore-only-ism.

'Why Admiral DavidFirth, do you really think I have a "rather pleasant personality", and "world famous good looks"?' asked Doctor Sphinx, not-so-secretly wanting to hear the compliment again.

'Actually, I was referring to myself, doctor,' explained @DavidFirth, frowning at the suggestion he might describe the doctor as anything near attractive.

'Oh, I just heard you describe the complimented as "captain", so presumed you were referring to me, as your next in line, given that you are Admiral and all now...' the doctor explained cunningly.

DavidFirth was torn between wanting very badly to be an Admiral, but also wanting to be recipient of the compliment under review. Finally, he conceded that as he couldn't have both, he could at least prevent Doctor Sphinx from taking the compliment.

'Oh, ah... whilst you were under suspicion for mutiny, I appointed the gremlin as my next-in-line. So I was actually referring to him,' the Admiral explained.

The entire crew gasped at the Admiral's deception, and his irrational promotion of the leprechaun above the brave, good and wise doctor. It was impossible for anyone - even for @*LILAC as she tripped out on her favourite-colour daisies - to believe the @GreenWizard had anything resembling a personality, let alone looks that wouldn't inspire any hygiene-conscious individual to call the local rat-catcher post-haste.

Sam91 - scribbling copious notes on the events of the situation in her diary, with the left-handed fountain pen so generously provided previously by Doctor Sphinx - took a step back in surprise when the colour of her ink mysteriously changed to gold. Unfortunately, her step back resulted in her losing her footing around an inconveniently located chair. She was about to topple down a nearby stairway, when a Sphinx-like paw caught her right hand and dramatically pulled her to safety and stability. It couldn't have been better choreographed if it had been planned.

'Sam, Sam, Sam,' chided Doctor Sphinx kindly but firmly.

'One day, when you've grown out of all this fumbling and bumbling, maybe you can be a rescuer too, like me. But until that day, I'm happy for you to be my sidekick,' he said.

 

[DavidFirth]

'Well, @LaSorcia told me to go do something ridiculous and really not worth repeating when I asked her to buy me 16 galleons so I'm not going to be an Admiral," said the captain, rather sadly. 'Now it seems I will just have to run some rather scruffy looking dudes off their island and take it over. Then I will be Dictator Extraordinarre. I guess I will just have to settle for that.'

'I have decided to appoint @Sam91 as me first mate, she seems to have a yarmulke for just about everything, very handy sort to have around. If I can get @gennypearl to stop frolicking about on her island, I'll appointment her as me cook. Everybody else can hang around on me island provided they fetch me slippers and keep the ribs coming' said the not-too-portly captain. 'So I have me plan all figured out.'

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

Admiral Sphinx, feather in cap, proudly paraded around,in front of @DavidFirth and his ragtag crew of misfits - namely, @Sam91 and @gennypearl - like a peacock might around a group of moth-eaten, egg-bound chickens. It seems the noble, the delightful, the pleasantly illustrious @LaSorcia had simply wanted a dependable fellow in charge of her 16 galleons - not just some wannabe that one of the world's less reputable naval organisations had merely unplumbed from the lavatory of a vessel they were about to sell to the Australians.

'Let me introduce you to my crew, Captain Firth', stated Doctor Sphinx pompously. He exaggerated the word "captain" as he said it, as if to give more emphasis to his own upgraded rank.

'First, we have the dependable Captain @CtC. A little on the strange side, but what he lacks in normality, he makes up for in brains. Then, we have the softly-spoken but partially-insane Captain @christine40. My advice to you - don't make her laugh.' Captain DavidFirth's mind boggled as the good Admiral introduced him to the other captains in the fleet.

'And finally, we have the little, green leprechaun - @GreenWizard. Obviously, rodents don't get a rank in the navy, but we bring him along for good luck. The smell is terrible, but we find it encourages rainbows, which seems to make Captain @*LILAC happier.'

'Awful lot of female captains you've got in your fleet, Admiral' commented the getting-portlier-by-the-minute Captain Firth, respectfully.

'Yes, well, 16 galleons is quite the number of ships,' explained the doctor/admiral. 'If we didn't relax some of the job requirements, we might have even been forced to start considering employing leprechauns. '

'Unfortunately, this isn't going to leave a lot of serfs for your island', the doctor smirked.

 

[Sam91]

Samantha looked on bemusedly. She scribbled enthusiastically. These petty ongoings will be perfect for her thesis on males trying to be alphas and the posturing involved. She thought it very reminiscent of the animal kingdom.

Eventually she spoke out that she was free in Christ and not a pawn to be picked up, moved about willynillingly and that she would be @LaSorcia's sidekick from now on. @LaSorcia doesn't grapple for power and authority. That @LaSorcia unassumingly, submits to higher authority and serves rather than wish to be served.

The good @Doctor.Sphinx and admirable, captain @DavidFirth...

 

[Sam91]

https://stv.tv/news/features/1427634-untouched-scottish-island-goes-on-sale-for-120-000/

Samantha passed this leaflet to @DavidFirth wondering if it would be of use to him.

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

Doctor Sphinx also had a read. @Sam91 scribbled enthusiastically in her notebook, believing the alpha Doctor Sphinx specimen to be challenging the @DavidFirth one by reading his leaflet. In truth, the doctor was just nosey, but this doesn't make as interesting a story, particularly from an evolutionary standpoint.

'Sam91!' Doctor Sphinx exclaimed.

'Why yes doctor?' asked Sam91.

'Your notes... They seem to have an evolutionary bent. I hope your thesis is going to be accurate?' chided the doctor gently.

'But didn't Charles Darwin himself just make up any old rubbish to sell the evolutionary theory?' questioned Sam91.

'Well, yes Sam91, that is true. But that doesn't make it right.'

'But isn't a good portion of the scientific work today dependent on evolutionary just-so stories, and in some cases, outright lies,' Sam asked, beginning to realise that being a scientist could be a harder job than it looked, if one had morals.

'While that may be true, I'm actually interested in your island. Is it really true that there are goats on the island?' asked Doctor Sphinx, excitedly.

 

[Sam91]

'And ribs... If the admirable-and-not-too-portly-anymore-due-to-Samantha's-fantastic-gastric-elastic-surgery-@DavidFirth purchases it and sets up residence there things will be a lot quieter. He does after all possess a Scottish emough sounding name, meaning 'inlet of the Sea' in Scotland. The Firth of Forth for example. Plus he would automatically be a lord -laird in Scotland. Then he would no longer need to try to assert his dominance by way of hollering.

As for you, if you were to purchase this bountiful island you could finally retire. You could laze about in lush vegetation. You could rule over the insects and wasps, badgers and seals. There may even be Selkies, which are like long-distant cousins to the mermaids.

Quite interesting scenarios really. Both preferable to either you or David running the ship. I think things were better before people vied for top spot.

Btw I forgive you for trying to cause me to stumble. I am glad that you repented of it and prevented me suffering a calamitous fall.'

She smiled half heartedly. Then smirked as she said 'Of course, I would be sorry to lose you as my sidekick @Doctor.Sphinx '

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

Doctor Sphinx scratched his head confusedly. 'Oh, errr, thanks. Yes, I repent, and I don't ever want to make you stumble, although, I must confess, I'm not sure I'm familiar with the particular rule you're referring to...'

His voice trailed off until the thought of the island made him go on.

'And thanks for your description of the island. It certainly seems an interesting place, what with Selkies, goats and ribs. Although the pictures of the Selkies I looked at seemed scarier than mermaids. Perhaps they're more fierce?

I wonder if I could build a small secret lair on the island, and use it to run my operations from...

But you're right. It wouldn't be proper for me to be your sidekick... However, if ever you're bored, there's always a position open for you... You wouldn't even need to be called sidekick - you could be a henchman, or a minion, or...'

 

[Sam91]

She eyed him and sighed. 'You could of course make the wasps your minions. Or you could give up on the quest for power and humbly submit thyself to the Lord. Here, take this my dear brother.'

She passed the Grandly-Inflated-Ego (the ego was now so big that one could argue that it deserved its own name) otherwise known as @Doctor.Sphinx the the yarmulke-of-sackcloth-and-ashes-for-the-pride-ridding-and-penitent, hoping that he would concede before she looked for a heart circumcision tool instead.

 

[DavidFirth]

'Well, considering the Doc is taking the island, I'll just be happy to take his 16 galleons. Er, welcome, Doc.' said the Captain, rather excitedly.

'We will sail throughout the seven seas building churches for island folk. You in, Sam?'
the captain added.

 

[Sam91]

'Building churches? Now that sounds a lot better than sailing around aimlessly. Captain @DavidFirth I am on board with this, if you will promise me that the churches will be Bible based and if there will not be any demanding that deacons feed you.

Also, I'd prefer it if the whole ship came with us, unless they'd rather go home, including @Doctor.Sphinx. He has been my trusty sidekick so long that I think I couldn't do the job half as well without him. I know it is a lot to ask for what with his bumbling quest for scrapes, his monotonous lectures and always pretending to be knowledgeable about everything.

If you could make those concessions consider me ready to sail!'

@DavidFirth sighed looking at the stubborn Sphinx-like lump sat a metre or so away; pretending not to be eavesdropping while wiping his imaginery specs, gearing up for some verbose reply to @DavidFirth's petition.

The smarter-than-he-looked Captain David was prepared for this and said 'Put on your yarmulke Twinkle-toes, you're coming with us, no arguing!'

Dr S scowled at the wasted speech, put on the yarmulke-of-sackcloth-and-ashes-for-the-humbly-penitent and raised the anchor...

Hours later....

 

[mama2one]

Christine was crying buckets of tears as she sadly said goodbye to @Lilac, ever gracious, @LaSorcia, ever interesting, @GreenWizard, lifesaver, and the twins, ever funny.

She gave extra long hugs to the trio of @Sam91, @Doctor.Sphinx, and @DavidFirth, who she had learned so much from this past summer.

Unfortunately, her husband insisted she come home as he had no more vacation and her child needed driving to school.
Christine asked everyone for their autograph, insisting it would remind her of them for all eternity of the greatest adventure ever.

(Secretly, they were signing a release form for the book she planned to write immediately with hopes of a Hollywood movie out in 2020)

As she once again climbed a rope to a new helicopter, someone grew suspicious as she held on extra tight to the water proof, fireproof bag holding their signatures. She waved and simultaneously burst out laughing as she disappeared from view never to be seen by the CF crew again.

ha ha ha ha echoed in their ears......

 

[mama2one]

(sorry, must really leave this game...it's been fun!)

 

[Sam91]

@Sam91 saddened by @christine40 's departure was heartened when she saw that there was room for a great re-entrance with a great plot twist (the signatures) in the distant future.

Meanwhile, the rest began sailing for some island in particular need. Ribs on the grill, everyone content until someone spotted...

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

Doctor Sphinx returning to the deck from his brief nap. But there was something different about him.

He looked melancholy, and Sam91 was surprised to note, that he was still wearing his yarmulke-of-sackcloth-and-ashes-for-the-pride-ridding-and-penitent. His Grandly-Inflated-Ego was still with him, but she noticed it was somehow smaller, and although still exceedingly ugly, less so than yesterday. As he neared, she realised the Grandly-Inflated-Ego had suffered some significant scarring as if it had been hacked at in some great battle. She also noticed that Doctor Sphinx carried - in his left hand - the izmel-of-elimination-for-stubborn-to-remove-protrusions-of-pride.

'Are you sad because @christine40 is leaving us?' asked @Sam91.

'Well,' replied the other, 'I am. But as you say, it does leave room for a great plot twist some time in the - hopefully not-too-distant - future.'

'Then why the long face, the somewhat improved ego, and the sharp implement in your hand,' she asked.

At this, the doctor looked to the floor. 'I wanted to apologise for my pridefulness,' he responded. 'I was reading Acts chapter 7, about the stoning of Steven, and was somehow reminded about the crew on our houseboat.'

'Oh?' Sam91 asked.

'The stiff-necked, conceited Israelites reminded me of...' the doctor paused.

'Yes?' asked Sam91 encouragingly.

'Well, me,' he went on, 'always wanting to be first and not listening to what should plainly be heard'.

'You have been a little supercilious of late,' understated Sam91 forgivingly.

'And the humble, forgiving Steven reminded me of you...' he continued.

'I think maybe you overstate my importance in that comparison,' she smiled modestly.

'And what about our dear Captain DavidFirth,' asked Sam91 curiously.

'Oh.' said the doctor. 'Well, he reminded me of someone in-between. Perhaps the clothes laid at Saul's feet?' he asked.

'Apology accepted, old chap,' DavidFirth's loud voice called out, as he extended his right hand to shake the doctor's.

'And, Sam91?' asked the doctor.

'Yes?' replied the other.

'I will gladly be your sidekick, and am grateful that you still extend your invitation to me to help build churches, despite all my faults.'

'You're welcome, Twinketoes,' laughed the other.

Although...' he hesitated.

'Yes?' questioned Sam again, stifling a yawn. The doctor really did have a way with drawing out conversations.

'Well, I haven't been able to totally get rid of my Grandly-Inflated-Ego yet. I'm working on it, but he may yet play a part in our adventure, and I just want to apologise in advance, in the event he causes trouble again...'

'We'll let you know,' laughed Sam91, as Captain @DavidFirth drop-kicked what remained of the battle-scarred Grandly-Inflated-Ego down the stairs.

'Its just a shame Christine40 won't be able to accompany us,' said the doctor, sadly, as he wiped an imaginary tear from his left check. Although the tear was imaginary, Sam91 could tell this time that the doctor's words were sincere.

'And now if we're done with the pleasantries, go and fetch us some ribs' DavidFirth exclaimed, and this time, Doctor Sphinx gladly complied with the order.

 

[Sam91]

Some time later @*LILAC shrieked. The others rushed over to see the Much-reduced-ego with a pair of scissors in his right hand and @Sam91's collection of yarmulkes on his knees.

@Sam91 called for the much nicer @Doctor.Sphinx. He arrived but wasn't as surprised as the rest and smiled reassuringly.

'Do you not notice the roll of ash-coated sackcloth at his feet?' He pointed to assist the others in seeing past the obvious.

'Although, mildy obnoxious, my ego is also very useful. It can pick up errors in others quite adeptly and because my ego is quite tame and efficient has set to work in improving you @Sam91. You see, if you were less prideful you would not be so wrapped up in the sidekick debate either. Therefore, this even more battle-scarred-but-not-yet-defeated little fellow has been expertly sewing pride-reducing patches into your array of yarmulkes.'

At this the others applauded, thinking a less prideful Samantha would be a wonderful thing...