Sqaure Root

By Jessica Leatherman

An enigmatic and metaphoric continuation of short stories blended in time and location throughout Rose Manleather’s unique and often time, dis-advantaged life. This follow up from “Fore Square” brings forth but also leaves behind many of the same characters while shedding light on some new personalities. The courageous story telling of every entry stands all on its own but is without a doubt connected to the whole collection. This book summarizes many of the questions the reader was left asking but will also have you demanding for more answers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669877868

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 by Jessica Leatherman.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 05/16/2023

Xlibris

844-714-8691

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Contents

---Cowgirl Up!

--- In the Middle

---Dr. Paddington, I Presume?

◦ Double Cola Talk Lessons

---Mr. Worldwide the Big Dreamer

#Nahtan VC 1999

— Cabinet Doors

— Middle Lane

--- Merry America Christmas

——Hearing Aids

---Mr Worldwide on Communication

---Tuna

---Fry Cook Bert

---Mr. Presume

---Periodic Watchmaker

---Where’s Waldorf?

——Striped Black & White Socks

——Squeaky Cessna Shoes

***White Lies

---Tanner

—Jupiter

——-Time Keeping

---She Looks Just Like Her Father

---Biting Fish

---Mr Worldwide the Cheek Swabber

——-Stinky & Blinky

——1st Grade Rubik’s Cube

Up Shut

---Oatwheel

---Wax On Wax Off

---Final Words

---Mr Worldwide the Aromatics Expert

--- Prework

---A Burp is as a Burp does

---Mr Worldwide the Fitness Instructor

---11/25/2022

——Moddle Names

---Webbed Feet

---Hemangioma

---11/24/2022 Thanksgiving —-

---Mr Worldwide on Retirement Savings

—Kim Jon Un

------Momma Small Frame on Georgia WAM

——-Dutch

—Julie on Slimon’s new stay at home part time income

---Linings 11/2012

/ 2 FA’s /

---Sugar Ray

——-International Women’s Day 2017

——Krumar

——Bill La-Tay

----Okinawa Wichita Kansas

--- We don’t talk about Amoco Street Fighter

---Carolynn in the City

----I lost track of how

Flying objects

---Plug it in Plug it in

*****Mrs. Star****

----HeHa & HaHo Chin

---Betta Test

—Dr. MeAgain Grant

——Red Deck Letters

----Sacajawea

---Women aren’t the only ones that fake it

◦ 11/19/2022

---Hellmut

Flipped Pages---

---Kitties Tab

----Cow Bales

----Lady MadGe the Pet Sitter

---Carrie On

---Cappie

---Corrugate

---Box of Sweets

—Uncle Hatter the Baseball Coach-

----Runway Shift

——-140 Characters

----Powder Fresh

---Gauntlet

——RainForest

——Worldwide Vision Instatoot

----Shop Local

—-Amblyopia

——Rose Tinted vs Amber Tinted

—— Goal Weight and Target -1.75

--- The Imaginations of those Teachers

—-Meadow

---Crepe Myrtles

----Dress Up and Down

----That’s Universal Controversial

---Dolly Wood

----11/12/2022 Crocodile Dundee

--- 11/13/2022

—Ribs Shoes

----Mythology

—-5th grade coach, Josh Hell

——Gimbal Machine

——Roxbury

——Mrogan

——Onion Molly Ringwald

—515

—Eraser

—Wichita in the Know

—Hand off

—-Mace and Maddie

—INRI Tweed

—Astronomy and Astrology

—306-xyz-4377.

—Purple Hazing

——-Mr. Horse 3.0

———Tray’s got Plates

---Momma Small Frame on Grandmotherhood

---Lady MadGe the self proclaimed decoder on Day One Stuff

---A little extra time to think it over

---Momma Small Frame at a POW Wow Meeting

---Ad Free Willy

---Give 101%

----I Shut my Mouth

---King’s X

----11/7/2022 Letgo’s

---Professional Shopper Aunt ECola

---Walk it off

---Port Folio

---Old Fart Frik MeDia

---Haysville tornado.

——Haystack

——-13.929 Stone

---That’s how you get ants.

—-Christmas 2016

---Uncle Hatter ticket scalper

----It’s Time

---Tecumus

---They’re great!

——-Brownie Bites

---Pop goes the Weasel

---Hormones

---But the Piece of Paper Says....

----Teardrop Crysis

----Clean Sweep

---Glass Clear

---Lawsis and St. Even wedding.

---Losing Wait

---Well, damn.

----Sub Conjunktiva Heme

---Emerald Mine

---The Ball is in your Court

—-it’s in the Book

——2x4 Farming

---Comfy College 11/1/2022

---Su Casa is not Mi Casa

---Eye for an Eye makes us all Blind

---Cheese Rapper

---Frosty

---Life Guard

——1Bett Kezos Retired his Truck

---Front Yard Games

---10/29/2022 Babylon

——There was lunch, by the way.

---10/28/2022

——Shred! Time Capsule

— March of the Dimes by America - 2016

---10/14/2022 Football Manager

---Fisherman’s Wharf

---10/30/22

---10/29/2022

---9/1/2022

---Charity Drive

---M&M’s

---Tourette’s

——- Man Ray

---Photo Shoot

---That’s not the usual standard of care for hippos

---Mini Vacation

---Far Out Manleather

---Off the Line

---First Swimming Lesson

---7

---Medusa

---Call Center Richard

—-Blue Suede Shoes

—--Summer 2016 party 2

——-Sumo Wrestling

---9/11

---I went to Twitter once.

----Kansas Child Support Advocate, America

---Transparency

---Ph Balance by Lady MadGe

---Winery Tour Guide on Proper Etiquette

---Mr Worldwide Surgery Expert

---Hoof on the Roof

---Bird Watch

---Uncle Hatter the App Inventor

---Morgan Machine

---Totsy and Hotsy

---Grandma got eaten by a Python12/2022

---Airwrecka

-----A true friend...Kevina

—-A Truly Fiend, Kevina

---Pixie Cut Heavy

---We may not be your best but we’ll always be your first.

---A Schedule B Schedule

------Pickle is the safe word

—Asscot Apricot Scarf

◦ Manleather

---Forever on the Lips

---Declined

---Forgetful is as Forgetful Flashmob does

——1/2 Mocha Whole Milk

--Left Handers Mitt

---Restraining Out of Order

—-Don’t let your cowboys grow up to be lawyers

◦ Uncle Hatter on East Coast College hazing, 2014

---Kiderella on Ethics

—-- Duanne’s Couch

——-Duannes husband died

——-Duannky

---Scholoar’s Bowl Pre Party

---Bro Pro didn’t want to go for that Swammy

——Al Dente Pasta 8/2022

---Calvin Died

---I’m guilty of being diabetic

—‘‘Twas the night HRB was born

—-Mlitary

———Highway

——-175.26 cm

——-Morgan Brutal

——-Needles

———Senior before Junior

——Peppermint Good Grief

——FaceTime

——That’s not a Rose

——-Cash Money

---Italy

◦ Brain Level Week

----Wichita Watered Down Sindrome

◦ Unicorn

◦ Kindergarten Cop

◦ Hand Washing HRB

——KoKo & Timon

---RedDress#

---Dinner plans with Betty 10/21/2022

—- 11/19/2019 Bring me a shrubbery

—-Dresser

---Trainky

◦ Anxiety Houston

---Whistle While You Work It

---Circus is as Circus does

---Bert and MS Diva got married 2010

——Rainforest Phone App

---2001 Vision

---Housekeeper Goalkeeper

◦ Yeast Baggies Flash Mob

----What’s Your Point?

------Strawberry Fields

—-International Affairs

◦ Spark Plug

---Air Filter

---Wichita Lineman

---Hatchet Throwing Office Party Lady

--- That’s not Kosher etiquette

--- Bobble head

---Funeral Director Pro Tips

----Time out

—Jimmy the Cat Wrangler

—Lunatic

---Halloween Weave

◦ Jezze

---MeAgain

—Pixie Cut Heavy

—Jimmy the Speaker

----Whispers 2012

–Unable Hatter the Tech Start Up Guy

—Go Chris LeDeutsche Yourself!

—LMNO Pizza Kansas

—Kevin Bacona?

—Family Nudes

----Sarsparilla Gorillas

----KoKo on it’s a dog’s life

—-Hand Crank Law

—-Gandolfini the Great

—-Wheat Medallion

—Fly Girls

—Trash Refuse

—-11/25/2022 The Morning After

—-Mrs. Cheddar

——-Helicopter

—Momma Small Frame Frame

—Propofol LLC

—Apple Picking Season

—Puffer Jacket

—Bicca 2007

—Slimon’s coworker on thinking back on things....

—Feral Cat

—Big Hair Sitcom Applause

—---The Cotton Factory Fingering Finagling Mystery——-

—-There’s an App for that. But there shouldn’t be. It’s unethical.

---Priorities

◦ 2005 AD

——-Joker’s Wild—-

———-Purse Rose—-

——Lab Coat——

——Slimon OnSlime

——-Psychic Encounters

——St. Amen

——Irony Ice Pick

——My Horse 451

—-Peeling an Epi Retinal Membrane—-

—-Elusive Orgasm—-

—Slimon’s neighbor that used to watch her cats....

- - - Negative - Watercolor - Painting - -

-----Ice Cream Shop Manager and the Part Time Employee

----Wichita Art Museum

----Friz bee golf

4/25/2023

——Sink-o De Mayo

----Holy Communion Completion

——Dam Water Department Strikes Again!

—-Plantar Factitious

——-Storage Unit MerryDiane KS

——Brown Noser

——-Dr Bic

——Belly Witness

——Do Di Fi Ed 2017

—--June 8th, 2022

——-Gentle Definance.

——Childrens Artwork

——Mr Worldwide on Colorado Monks

——Pluck the Rose

——$0.13

——Patient Nurse & Dirty Gertie Slimon

——Case Number

——-Laundry Sirvice 5/7/2023

---Cowgirl Up!

Rose, Morgan and HRB walked into the dusty saloon at Cowtown Museum in Wichita KS on a hot summer afternoon looking for refreshments. Rose dug up some quarters out from Purse Rose and slapped the change atop the counter and said to the pretend bartender, 3 SARSaparilla’s please! Cowtown is known for time period reenactors in costume and character to educate people about old western American history. As the trio sat on the bar stools, sipping on SARSaparilla, Rose pointed to the Carrie Nation hatchet and mirror that was hung on the bar wall. From behind, the sound of saloon doors whipping open and a woman’s voice yelled When were you gonna tell us, Rose? The entire bar of families with small children, turned to see a curly mouse haired long legged cowgirl in spurs, a pink shirt and brown tweed posted on Google with her hands on her hips. And then without further explanation, the hairass, played by a loco actress, whistled for her horse into the saloon and hopped up bareback and rode off real fast into the sunset. Rose, Morgan and HRB were intrigued by the sudden unexplained event and went outside to find the actress galloping around a bonfire as other actors dressed as Native Americans chanted and fanned rugs over the flame creating smoke signals.

--- In the Middle

The middle aged customer opened up to Rose, I know it’s stupid. It’s hard for me to talk about. But since you asked, you must be interested enough to listen. I wanted to feel like he surrounded me. But really, I don’t usually tell anybody that and thank you for noticing my ring. It’s aquamarine. My birthstone. I haven’t been married for over a decade and I broke off his and mine engagement, 4 years ago. He was an alcoholic and I didn’t know that when we were falling in love. He hid that part of himself from me for a few years. So I wear this ring because he never actually placed it on my finger when we were engaged. I took out the middle diamond and replaced the stone but it sits in the original setting. I suppose metaphorically, he’s still with me. I know it’s stupid and I feel embarrassed sharing this with you. But I am so glad I was given a chance to talk about it. Because it had been real. Thank you for asking, Rose. And you’re doing a really good job working here. The customers like you.

---Dr. Paddington, I Presume?

Rose wrote a coded note in her phone journal that she was looking for the infamous Dr Livingston who was traveling and presumably lost in Africa. Rose had also wrote that she felt there was always a technical issue preventing her from speaking with him directly. A few weeks later, Lady MadGe took her teenage son to Peru and posted pics on social media that they were looking for Paddington Bear in the mountains and forest. At work, Rose had been left a handwritten note from Lady MadGe telling her to count the inventory in the supply closet and to email her the information so she could make orders while on vacation. After Rose sent the inventory sheets, Lady MadGe sent a text to the office group phone telling Office Manager America to FaceTime her immediately. Lady MadGe yelled over the phone that Rose had incorrectly counted the number of rolls of receipt papers and that there were lots more if she would open her eyes and look and actually knew how to count. Rose went back to the supply closet and there were now huge cases of rolls of receipt papers that had not previously been there.

◦ Double Cola Talk Lessons

I had finished up umping a little league game and was putting away gear in the shed. Rolled up in a Gator cart, was a man named Fizzy. He began volunteering for the Rex center that summer. Fizzy asked if I had read the local paper, yet. I answered yes, as I used to read it every week. In my small hometown, the paper was out loaded on Thursdays. Fizzy asked if I had read the article that he had written about parents needing to be respectful to new umpires. I told him I had read it. He then asked if I realized he had written it about me. I told him no, I didn’t realize that. Fizzy then said, on the surface you can read an article one way but if you look at it a bit differently and think about it later, you might see that it was a totally different article. He said it was like looking at photos that look like a duck but when you tilt the page, it’s a rabbit. Fizzy went on to say that if I would think about things a little bit that I might begin to notice other articles being written for me. Fizzy then sped off in the Gator mobile real fast. I told Cindy from Rex center about my conversation with Fizzy. Cindy told me not to get that started and to ignore the papers. And for a few years, I took her advice.

---Mr. Worldwide the Big Dreamer

Man I’d do anything to spend one night with Sarah Palin. Just one night. She’s so charismatic with her hands. Those hands. Oh my god. Have you seen the way she moves her hands? I watch her talk all the time on TV. I bet surgery is on her resume somewhere out there. I’m her biggest fan.

#Nahtan VC 1999

While we sat next to each other in computer class, Nathan Yarn talked to me about Sublime, No Doubt, his band and soccer. I told him my favorite actress was Rachel Weiss from The Mummy. The next day, his girlfriend Leah Mound, met me at my locker. She told me her friends and family were always praying for me to find my way in life. She handed me a card with a message that read, I’m Nathan’s girlfriend. I know he invited you to his soccer game but you’re not welcome. In Christ, Leah

#Nahtan

— Cabinet Doors

I never close cabinet doors. The Pig stormed into the kitchen and slammed them all shut. I told him that I don’t see the point when you’re going to have to open them again to see the contents. I was already at sting in my own bedroom with my German Shepherd. Then he said his parents were moving in because their trailer floors had rotted and sunken in. I didn’t want to be there but every time I tried moving on, he’d get mad. He got in my face and told me he hated me and that I should never wear shorts or skirts because my legs embarrassed him. As I stood in the hallway, he punched a hole in the Sheetrock next to my head in between studs. As his knuckles bled, he went to the garage and got a chisel file, painters tape and spackle. I stayed still trying to catch my breath from the shock that the hole in the wall could have been me. He shoved me out of the way and began filing the wall and yelled that I was destroying his house. I reminded him I was the one paying all the bills and that the only reason he had the job that he had was because I paid for his technical training.

— Middle Lane

The Pig drove my new truck across a middle lane and wrecked it. He told me he wouldn’t be paying for the damages and that I should have had full coverage insurance and not just liability. I took my truck to a body shop for an evaluation and repair pricing. The owner told me it would cost 3,000 to fix the hood and bumper. I cried because I couldn’t afford it. The man told me that I was so sweet and cute he would help me out. He took my truck into the garage and placed it on a lift. Then he took metal hangers and wrapped them around the truck’s fender and rigged it back into place and said that would get me back on the road safely until I could afford a proper repair. He also took a hammer and smoothed out the dents on the hood as best he could. I told him I couldn’t pay him and he told me he didn’t want anything in return but that he hoped I’d leave the jerk that caused the damage.

--- Merry America Christmas

What’s it gonna be Rose? It’s all or nothing around here. Either you wear Christmas gear like the rest of us or the whole office loses this special privilege and we wear scrubs. You have to match. The festive shirts are only $5 at Wal-Mart. I guess I can donate one or two to you to sort of help you out but you need to let me know now what you’re going to do. Lady MadGe is furious she walked in here this morning and you were different. Also, I got a letter from a collection company that I have to garnish your wages for the hospital in Newton KS because you didn’t pay your surgery bill yet. Here at Worldwide Vision Instatoot, we expect our employees to handle their finances. Lady MadGe is considering charging you an inconvenience fee per her policy handbook for the additional paperwork I have to process now.

——Hearing Aids

2nd grade teacher, Ms. George had finished her lesson on drawing boxes around words to help Rose read better. Ms. George told her that for some reason the moment reminded her of when she was the same age and saw an advertisement for hearing aids. She said that she had a crazy idea that the hearing aid could help her spy on her old sister through the walls. The price was $10 and could be paid with cash on delivery. Ms. George said she saved her allowance and then pretended to be her mother on the phone and ordered her new detective gear. A few weeks later, the mail man delivered the package and when Ms. George opened it, she had actually spent her $10 on a cardboard ear measurer to be fitted for a $200 hearing aid that could be purchased with cash on delivery. Rose had a sudden memory of this childhood event and blurbed it on Instagram after the on the job explosion on 2016.

---Mr Worldwide on Communication

Talking? Is that what they’re calling that, these days? Talking. If I had it my way, I’d do all my eye cases under Propofol. No talking. Get in. Get the work done. And get out. No talking.

---Tuna

Every week, Coal orders tuna fish on wheat with diced onions and a medium bowl of taco soup. Coal usually comes to the Comfy Coffee unshowered wearing last week’s dandruff. His hairstylist sister Pasty orders a medium Dr. Pepper with no ice.

---Fry Cook Bert

Rose got a text from Lollipop saying that 3-year-old Morgan wanted McDonalds for dinner. After work, she went to the location nearest her home in Valley Center Kansas on 53rd street and Meridian. As Rose pulled into the parking lot, Bert in an old Dodge Shadow, waved at Rose and cut her in line at the drive thru. Bert ordered and then pulled to the first window to pay and then sped off really fast. Rose made her order and at the first window was told by the McDonalds employee that the person ahead of her in line had paid for her a Happy Meal and please pull up to the second window to get her food.

---Mr. Presume

Rose took her young sons to their first wrestling practice. In the gym was also junior high basketball practice. A man from across the court walked right across the gym and directly to Rose and said, Hi Rose! Are these your kids? How’ve you been? It startled Rose as she did not recognize the man right in front of her and she was embarrassed. She shyly asked, I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are. The man also grew embarrassed and said, It’s ok. It’s been a long time but I was your 8th grade science teacher. Mr. Presume. A race of thoughts went through Rose’s brain as he grabbed and politely shook her hand. She instantly saw the face of her former teacher and couldn’t believe she didn’t know him as he had barely aged. She excused her and her kids and walked them as fast