They

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Rough draft of a book that I'm writing (Bear, over look typo's,spelling, and punctuation .. it is JUST a rough draft! lol!) I'm sure that you have heard of "them" (or "they"), probably (like me) you have heard of them your whole life and just took it that "they" knew what "they" were saying... I remember the first time that I heard of "They", I was sitting quietly at my grandma's house listening to her and her best friend talk. Back then, I think that kids were probably thought to be deaf and a little on the stupid side, because my grandma never censored her conversations just because I was around. And being a very curious 6 year old who took mental notes... this was not in her best interest. I remember my first introduction to "they"... my grandma looked over at her friend and said "they say that XXXX down the road is having an affair while her husband is away on business" her friend replied "well "They" say that her husband doesn't care since he is having an affair with a woman he met over in one of them other countries he visits".. I didn't know what an affair was but by the tone of their voice, it didn't sound good, and whoever "they" were surely knew more than even the news knew. One day, I sat with my grandma, listening to her talk to my grandpa.. and again, they started talking about "they" my grandma said "They" say it's going to be a rainy season" and my grandpa, who obviously knew "they" better than grandma said "They" said that last year but look how well our garden did!" I sure had no idea who "they" were but they sure knew everything! from weather to affairs! and everything in between! I felt privileged to know (or at least hear about) such an informative person such as "they".. "they" were probably more famous than Big Bird, so I started throwing around a few things that I heard grandma and her friend say about "they". One night during dinner. I figured it was high time that my parents knew about "they" and how smart "they" were.. as I sat down and looked at my plate I thought of when might be a good time to start speaking of my knowledge of "They".. shortly after being served my dinner, I opened my mouth and said .."you know... "they" say that XXXX is having an affair with the man at the fruit stand!".."they" say that she doesn't go there just for the melons, ya know!" The look on my parents faces was priceless, they must have been as impressed by my new found knowledge as I was, usually dinner time at our house was noisy, but at that moment, you could hear a pin drop.. my mother said "who told you this?" I looked at her ready to spout my profound knowledge of who "they" were and I said "they" say it's true!, didn't you know?" I kind of figured that my mom had no idea who "they" were either at that point or maybe she just doesn't want me to blow "they's" cover. my dad said "don't ever say that again!" but I didn't say it "they" said it! "they" sure are easy to blame! this is great! needless to say dinner went by too slowly that night with barely a word being said. The next day at my grandma's home, her friend came over to help her with some canning, and I just knew this visit would be good, as they often talked about what they heard "they" say. my grandma carefully put the green beans inside of the jar and asked her friend "how was church?" her friend who was standing over the stove with a large spoon said " well it was pretty good, but "they " say that the preacher is going to leave the church soon to go out to another county to preach".. gosh! was there anywhere or any subject that "they" didn't know about? I was impressed! very impressed! I listened carefully as my grandma said "they" say that he preached at the church down by the river for the longest time until he got into some words with the deacon" her friend said "yeah, I heard that too.. but "they" say that he really quit because another church offered him more money." my mind was just whizzing around as I listened more about "they" and heard everything that "they" had to say. I often wonder why "they" didn't have a name? who would name their baby "they"? I spoke up and asked grandma "where does "they" live?" my grandma looked as though she just realized that I existed. she quickly told me that I should never repeat what I've heard because "they" didn't want to be involved in gossip. well, it seems that "they" are involved already! "they" had more to say than anyone I'd ever known.. to not want to be involved! My search for "they" began that day. I wanted to meet this person. I ask grandma where "they" lived and she said "who?" and I said "they" she again repeated "who?" I said "YOU KNOW "THEY!" she shook her head and said "you are making no sense!" and then showed me the door where I was to go outside and play. probably so they could talk more about what they had heard "They" say. Months went by without a word about "they" and I had not really given much thought about my search for "they" then out of the blue... my aunt comes running in the house and said "They" said that XXXX was killed when her husband came home from being away!" my grandma said "I knew it would finally happen! "they" say he never was right anyway!" my aunt looked around and whispered "they" say that his old girlfriend might have been with him!" to which my aunt said "they" probably killed her!" Oh my gosh! "they" is a murderer too?! I was freaking out but tried to looked calm ... I sure didn't want "they" to know that I knew about them. I made a promise to myself to never talk about "they" or repeat anything that "they" said... "They" said many more things throughout my childhood, but you never heard me talk about what "they" had seen, said, or knew... and to this day I still have to wonder .. who the heck is "They"?