More stuff from the Austinverse: excerpts and stories

 “Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates,you got a brand new key. I think that we should get together,and try them out, you see......"

April was singing as Austin came into the kitchen. He held the Jim Beam bottle at an angle,checking it for poison with his electronic eye,and once he was certain there wasn’t any he swigged it in one gulp.

"I don't think I know that song,sis."

"Jo likes to listen to it on her record player. Did you know that she got roller skates for Christmas?” Joanna was April's twin,the youngest of the Austin children.

 

 

Palm tree after palm tree whipped past the car as they passed through the neighborhood of Benedict Canyon. Claudia's arm rested on the edge of the passenger door. Her sunglasses were perched on the edge of her perky nose,and her hair was done in a ponytail. From time to time other drivers honked their horns her way. Austin couldn't help but notice.

"They all seem interested in you,Audie."

"What can I say,Steve? We're a handsome family. Even Leslie got to be pretty after her awkward phase. I won't even begin to mention April and Jo. I swear they'll be two of LA's top beauties by 1976. April's already gonna be on the cover of Teen magazine."

Austin raised an eyebrow at the news as they passed the old Holiday Inn Beverly. "Already?"

"Yeah. She's already done the photoshoot,last Thursday. Assuming things don’t go south she should be on the April 1974 cover. Rather appropriate if you ask me”, Claudia laughed.

————-

Mission Control: We've had acquisition of signal at MILA. Columbia now 8 miles high, 42 miles from the runway, velocity 2,500 feet per second.

Austin:Control,Columbia,we have KSC in sight.

KSC:We copy KSC in sight,Columbia.

Mission Control:That last velocity fix evens out to Mach 2.1,Columbia expected to go subsonic in about another two minutes.

———

I'll say! Jo Austin,getting married?

Yeah,Stacey. I thought April would get married before Jo!

To who,Esther? April's pretty,but she's never been boy-crazy.

Oh,c'mon. She was a huge flirt in high school and I guarantee you she's a huge flirt now.

Yeah,she is. I saw her at a Variety party this spring,she had Ron Howard on her arm.

That dreamboat? How'd she snag him,Marissa?

I haven't a clue,but it was April Austin,as plain as the nose on my face. She bought me some wine and we talked. She’s had some TV roles,didja know?

I’m not surprised. She looks like one of those it girls.

——————

We had a saber arch ceremony too,Steve. Dean Slayton was one of the saber bearers,I think Buzz Aldrin was too.
They,Owen Garriott,Frank Delacorte,Jack Swigert,and Bob Crippen.
A what ceremony,Dad?
You've seen that tradition at a couple other weddings,honey. A group of the couple's friends make an arch of swords for them to pass under.
Only way that's happening to you,Darcy,is if you marry a serviceman.
I don't know if I ever wanna get married. It seems like so much work!
Hey,Darcy,fancy seeing you and your parents here!
Aunt April! What're you here for?
I kind of know Vanessa from some work events.

1. Steve Austin,the Astronaut (1966-1970)

2. Dialectics of a Moon Mission (January 1971-December 1972)

3. The Birth of a Bionic Man (December 1972-June 1973)

4. Wine,Women,and War (September-October 1973)

5. The Solid Gold Caper (November 1973)

6. Taneha (February 1974)

7. One of Our Doctors is Missing (March 1974)

8. The Bionic Woman (March-April 1974)

9. Stranger in Broken Fork (May 1974)

10. The Pioneers (June 1974)

[11. The Peeping Blonde (June-July 1974)

12. The Blue Flash (July-August 1974)

13. Hollywood,Hollywood,A Heckuva Town (August 1974)

14. The Deadly Replay (August-September 1974)]

15. The Last of the Kamikazes (September 1974)

16. The White Lightning War (September-October 1974)

17. The Luna Gambit (October 1974)

18. The Deadly Test (November 1974)

19. The Song and Dance Spy (November-December 1974)

 

 

Burning Bright (March 1980)

 

Raise the Titanic! (April-May 1982)