Veronica Snoopsalot Interviews General Brighton

 

The General Brighton Interview

 

Studio Manager:

And…you’re on!

Veronica:

Good afternoon! This is Veronica Snoopsalot and the Snoopsalot Report on your local radio station! Today, we’re joined by General Samuel Brighton, a Marine commanding the President’s Elite Forces Unit. Welcome to the program, Sam. May I call you Sam?

Brighton:

Actually, Ms. Snoopsalot, I prefer to use honorifics. Please call me General Brighton or just General.

Veronica:

My apologies, General. I must say, I expected you to be wearing your uniform, today. You don’t seem the kind of person to wear jeans.

Brighton:

Yes, well, I have a picnic with my daughter to go to in a few hours.

Veronica:

Then let’s get right to it, General. I understand President Whelan has assigned your Elite Forces to monitor the shifter problem of which we’ve recently become aware.

Brighton:

Shifter problem, Ms. Snoopsalot? What problem is that?

Veronica:

Why, having monsters potentially living amongst the normal humans in this nation. Are you not concerned that your neighbors might become deadly animals if you anger them?

Brighton:

Are you referencing an actual event, or trying to manufacture fear in the general populace?

Veronica:

Of course not! We would never try to create panic in the streets.

Brighton:

I see. What events have transpired to worry you?”

Veronica:

Umm. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. So, tell me, how many shifters, percentage-wise, do you figure are in the country?

Brighton:

Enough that you probably know several. What are you going to do now, Ms. Snoopsalot? Start stalking your neighbors and friends to see if you can determine which are shifters? I wouldn’t do that. I know a few shifters, and I can tell you that people snooping around, excuse the pun, will not be appreciated.

Veronica:

So, you admit we, the normal humans, have a reason to fear for our safety?

Brighton:

How many centuries do you think shifters have lived as a part of the general population?

Veronica:

Sir?

Brighton:

How long do you think shifters have lived next to humans? How many times have you heard of people dying by animal attacks? Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, there are some humans that survived because their shifter neighbors stepped in, in bad situations?

Veronica:

Bad situations?

Brighton:

Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes. The shifters I know are very, pardon the expression, humane. They care about their communities, including the humans who might be prejudiced against them if they knew who or what they were.

Veronica:

So, you’re trying to tell me the lunch lady at school, or the grocer stocking the grocery shelves, or even the police officer answering your call for help might be werewolves?

Brighton:

Who told you all shifters are wolves?

Veronica:

I beg your pardon. Are you saying there are other shifter creatures out there?

Brighton:

Wouldn’t it just make sense? Who knows, maybe there are lions, or tigers, or bears. Or even other creatures. You know, vampires or ghosts? Only someone extremely narrow-minded would deny the possibilities.

Veronica:

Oh, my! So, do you know any of these creatures, General? Have you ever met a real vampire? Why are you laughing at me?

Brighton:

It’s time for me to go, Ms. Snoopsalot. But before I leave, I want to impress upon you and your audience that shifters, and other creatures—if that’s what you want to call them—tend to be like anyone else. They have their bad guys, just like humans do, but overall, they’re good citizens. Don’t lump them all together.

Veronica:

But…

Brighton:

Good day, Ms. Snoopsalot.

Veronica:

Well, there you have it, listeners! The general has left the studio. Perhaps, he doesn’t really know the answers to our questions. Then again, perhaps the general is a shifter, himself. Thank you for joining us on the Snoopsalot Report. Join us tomorrow when we interview Senator Drake Zimmerman on his thoughts concerning the Shifter Issue.

Studio Manager:

That’s a wrap. So, Victoria, you don’t really think shifters and other creatures are dangerous to humans, do you?

Veronica:

Why wouldn’t they be? After all, they hide themselves. Anyone that hides who they really are, has reason to hide, right? Are you…are you growling at me?

Studio Manager:

Hmm? Oh, no, sorry, I was just clearing my throat. See you tomorrow, Victoria.

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General Brighton first appears in Wolf's Claim and plays a large role in Wolf's Mission. He is mentioned or shows up throughout the rest of the series, too.

Take care and stay safe,

Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series

Veronica Snoopsalot Interviews Nate Rollins

Veronica Snoopsalot Interview with Nate Rollins, the owner, and manager of the Rollins Ranch.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Good afternoon! This is Veronica Snoopsalot and the Snoopsalot Report on your local radio station! Today, we have an interview with Nate Rollins, a retired Marine, and former San Antonio Police Detective. Welcome, Mr. Rollins. May I call you Nate?

Nate Rollins:

Good afternoon, Ms. Snoopsalot. You can call me Nate if I can call you Veronica.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

That’s fine, Nate. First off, I’m sure my audience would like to know more about you. Please tell us a little about your early life.

Nate Rollins:

I was orphaned at an early age. My dad died when I was eight; my mother passed when I was 10. I lived with my step-dad for a while, then went into the foster care system. Eventually, Major Thomas and his wife Cynthia became my foster parents when I was about 13. I lived with them until I graduated high school.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

That’s interesting. How did you wind up in the foster care system?

Nate Rollins:

My step-dad couldn’t take care of me due to some . . . issues he had to take care of.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

What kind of issues?

Nate Rollins:

The kind I’m not willing to discuss, Veronica. What else did you want to know?

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Well, I’m sure our listeners would love to know more.

Nate Rollins:

No.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Very well. Tell me about your arrest when you were seventeen.

Nate Rollins:

Those records were sealed. How did you find out about that?

Veronica Snoopsalot:

According to Georgetown police records, you and your foster-brother, Eli, were arrested for beating up several other teenagers. I just want to let our listeners know about your past so that they can better judge your present.

Nate Rollins:

Charges were dropped. We were protecting a girl a group attacked. That happened over twenty-five years ago, Veronica. I don’t see the relevance to today.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Interesting. So, you think of yourself as a hero?

Nate Rollins:

No. I think of myself as someone who helps those who can’t help themselves.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Well, let’s continue, shall we? You were active duty in the Marines for twenty-five years. The next fifteen years, you were a detective with the San Antonio Police Department. So, what would make you give up your service career to manage a ranch?

Nate Rollins:

Let’s just say there’s more work to do there than I could get done after hours if I was still with SAPD.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

I see. I heard some strange rumors about what goes on out at your ranch. Some of the neighbors hear gunshots quite often. They also say there are a lot of wild animals roaming your property.

Nate Rollins:

We have a shooting range on the ranch. Sometimes, there are shooting contests among the employees. As far as wild animals go, I haven’t seen any wild animals other than deer, rabbits, skunks, and the ever-present armadillos.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

So, you deny having wild bears and big game cats on the ranch?

Nate Rollins:

I haven’t seen any large wild animals. Maybe they’re hiding from me.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

I don’t appreciate you being facetious.

Nate Rollins:

Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

How about a change in topic? You are the owner and manager of Rollins Ranch, formerly called the Hynson Ranch. Few retired Marines and police detectives make the kind of money to purchase a ranch that size. How did you become the owner?

Nate Rollins:

My wife’s brother, Randall Hynson, left the ranch to her husband in his will. So, I guess you could say I inherited it.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

How does your wife feel about you owning her family ranch? I mean, shouldn’t it have been left to her? Why would her brother leave the ranch to her husband?

Nate Rollins:

Those are questions you’ll have to ask my wife and her deceased brother.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

There’s something fishy going on out there. What’s going on out there? Do you practice witchcraft?

Nate Rollins:

We’re a ranch with employees who work the ranch. We raise cattle, horses, chickens, and occasionally goats. We farm sections of the ranch. It’s a working ranch, Veronica. I don’t personally know any witches. Do you?

Veronica Snoopsalot:

You didn’t mention the oil wells.

Nate Rollins:

We have several pump jacks working. It’s not really part of the ranch work, though.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

And what do you do with all that money you have rolling in, Nate?

Nate Rollins:

I maintain the ranch and support my employees. What do you do with your money, Veronica?

Veronica Snoopsalot:

No need to get snippy, Nate. The public wants to know.

Nate Rollins:

The public can take a flying leap off a tall cliff. I run a business. I protect and provide for my employees and their families. I abide by the law in my business activities. I pay my share of taxes.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Calm down, Nate. No one is accusing you of any wrongdoing. I have just a few more questions. How many people are on the ranch?

Nate Rollins:

That’s rather fluid since employees come and go.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Is the ranch hiring?

Nate Rollins:

No. Not right now. We have a full roster of employees, right now.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Many of your employees live there with their families. Why don’t the children on your ranch attend the public school?

Nate Rollins:

We have a private school on site. As far as we live from the nearest town, the children would be on the bus for a minimum of three hours a day if they attended there. Nine hours for sleeping, eight hours for school, and three hours for the bus. That comes up to twenty hours a day. If the four hours was in a lump, it might be okay, but it’s spread out through the day, ten minutes here, twenty there, another thirty somewhere else. By attending school on the ranch, the children have more time to pursue their interests and to enjoy being with their families.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

What are the educational standards for your private school?

Nate Rollins:

We meet or exceed state requirements. All our teachers are certified to teach by the state of Texas. The ranch provides textbooks and school supplies for each child, as well as classroom supplies for our teachers. Our children receive an excellent education.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

I’ve heard reports that your teenagers are forced to take military training. Why? What are you expecting?

Nate Rollins:

I was in the military for twenty-five years, Veronica. There isn’t a better basis for physical education classes than military training. And it gives them the added benefit of being able to take care of themselves if they ever get into a bad situation.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

But what about sports? Football, etc.? Why doesn’t your school participate in sports with other area schools?

Nate Rollins:

Those teens interested also work on the ranch. You know, for money they can spend on whatever they and their parents or guardians deem appropriate. We have football games, baseball games, and basketball games on the ranch. What we have is a community of people of all ages. They enjoy the normal activities of communities. Potluck meals, ice cream suppers, and even video game contests. We’re not so different than other communities.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

What about the weird stuff that goes on out there? You know, strange blue lights that flash across the sky or loud thunder when there are no clouds in sight.

Nate Rollins:

Weird stuff happens everywhere. Thank you for having me on your program, Veronica. I’m afraid I have another appointment and can’t stay longer.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Wait, Nate! I didn’t get a chance to ask you about . . ..

Nate Rollins:

Good-bye, Veronica.

Veronica Snoopsalot:

Well, that’s it. Mr. Rollins has left the building. Let me know if you have weird stories about the Rollins Ranch. There’s always a nugget of truth in the strangest story, you know! That’s all for today, folks. This is Veronica Snoopsalot and the Snoopsalot Report signing off until next time.

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Thank you for reading Nate's interview with Veronica!

You can learn more about Nate Rollin's adventures in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series!

Too bad Veronica didn't know to ask Nate how he became the king . . ..

Later,