THE BLANKENSCHIPF CURSE

by

Jim Murdock

Synopsis

RUBE WINTERS struggled to find the meaning of life from the time he was five years old with his head trapped between the altar spindles at communion.

Rube had a secret encounter with COUSIN CARESSE LAFAYETTE when he was fifteen.

In high school his disastrous first date with AMY ended with a shotgun blast. Rube was told that he shared a family curse when he visited UNCLE BILLY in Texas. On that fateful flight to Dallas he met MOOCHIE DUNLOP, a big woman with a bigger heart, who would play an important part in his life.

All his mishaps weren’t bad. He met first wife, KRISTY, during a rib tickling ski incident. Hilarity at their wedding was provided by pet parrot, PRETTY BOY, who escaped and dive bombed Moochie. Media coverage led to an appearance on the Tonight Show for Pretty Boy.

The marriage went well with occasional curse related and amusing happenings until Kristy was involved in a serious auto accident. Her life and that of their unborn child was in grave danger. The baby’s birth was closely followed by divorce due to a personality change Kristy sustained from the accident.

Rube and Amy re united when Amy's parents perished in a death/suicide at the hands of her abusive father. Rube was struck by an automobile and put on crutches. Unable to work, he took Amy on vacation to Destin, Florida. Their good time was overshadowed by events such as a runaway wheelchair.

At the end of his rope with the spell cast on his great, great grandmother, Rube sought help from an old professor, DR.WILKINS. His mentor had found The Source, a magical spot in the North Georgia mountains where he received the meaning of life and health from Universal Intelligence.

Dr. Wilkins gave the information to Rube and Amy. Descending the mountain, their way was blocked by NED BLANKENSCHIPF, the enforcer of the curse. He is also tired of the curse and gives them a clue to help find the secret to lift it.

They began reading the information given to them by Dr. Wilkins and discovered why we are here and how to live a healthy and happy life. The reading is interspersed with amusing encounters at a restaurant, an antique store, and an old church.

They discovered the secret at the end of Dr. Wilkins journal and the curse was lifted.

P.S. An entertaining, irreverent rogue narrator provides the reader with the inside scoop.

MOOCHIE'S PLACE

by

Jim Murdock

Synopsis

She likes to eat and he likes to cook. Moochie Dunlop and her husband, Bud Arrington open a home cooking restaurant.

Their many friends help remodel a quaint old building in downtown Athens for Moochie's Place. Bud and UNCLE BILLY rebuild one booth to handle Moochie's girth. They also find a jukebox which belongs to an old woman with a wart in the middle of her forehead who makes a pass at Uncle Billy.

PRETTY BOY, a precocious parrot, who was raised next to the TV of an old movie buff, comes up with hilarious comments at appropriate times, such as "Gawk! Who's your daddy?" When the bird is banned from inside by the Health Department, and forced to stay outside by the door, Moochie and Bud bring a law suit on his behalf. Pretty Boy is kidnapped. There are demonstrations. Clint Eastwood calls offering his support.

Moochie is famous for her hugs. SLAPPER SLOCUM, a neighboring entrepreneur, make a fortune selling T-shirts with Moochie's picture on the front and "I survived a Moochie hug" on the back. It becomes a fad among University of Georgia students.

WILSON LUMKIN, a jealous restauranteur across the street slaps Moochie who returns the favor. He breaks into the restaurant and is the one who hired the kidnapping of Pretty Boy. When he discovers that his grandfather has hidden a fortune in the Moochie's Place building, he breaks in again and later runs Bud off the road putting his life in danger.

Moochie becomes a permanent guest on the "Lay it on Grady Show." She is responsible for it becoming a syndicated radio program. A grassroots "Moochie for President" campaign is started. The attention brings Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes for a rib-tickling interview with she and Bud. Leaders and politicians flock to Moochie's Place for advice and a hug from the new folk hero.

Moochie and Bud buy the building next door, tear a hole in the wall and find the lost fortune. The challenge is to protect the money from Mr. Lumkin.

An arsonist sets the restaurant on fire and Bud's life is in grave danger until he is rescued by Moochie. Mr. Lumkin disappears without a trace.

The ending might surprise you.