100 Questions, Part Three with MK, Clara, and Michael

Updated 12.29.2022 to include Michael Donaghue.

This is part three of 100 Questions I came across at 4 Hats and Frugal. For this next set, I'm going to have a little help from Clara Stowe.

Don't miss reading part one with Brenna Gallagher and part two with Rhona Blackwood.

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?

MK: By a professional? It has been . . . awhile.

Clara: Before I came to Montana.

Michael: Never

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy?

MK: Depends on the musical. I wore out our VHS tape of “White Christmas” growing up, but otherwise, I don’t recall seeing many.

Clara: What is cheesy?

MK: Inferior, cheap—

Clara: What’s a musical?

MK: A play with lots of singing?

Clara: What is VHS?

MK: Something from a forgotten time.

Clara: What is—

MK: You ask a lot of questions.

Michael: Everything Clara said.

53. Is Christmas stressful?

MK: Decorating day is a bit hectic, but the rest is mellow and filled with holiday cheer.

Clara: Christmas is always a joyous time of year in our home.

Michael: Christmas before we came to America was always about family. During the war years, it was difficult to find the joy. Now, with Clara . . . it's perfect.

54. Ever eat a pierogi?

MK: I’ve had dumplings, though I cannot speak to their origins.

Clara: I have never heard of them.

MK: Do you like to cook?

Clara: I’m learning.

MK: But do you enjoy it?

Clara: I’m learning.

MK: Have the new cook at your inn make you dumplings. You’ll like them.

Clara: You sound certain.

MK: Trust me. I’ll share a recipe with her.

Clara: I have a new cook?

MK: You will?

Clara: Really? When?

MK: In your continuing story.

Clara: I get a continuing story?

MK: Of course. Did you really think I was going to leave you hanging like that?

Clara: Well . . .

Michael: It did take you a long time to introduce me to Clara.

MK: In fact, it was only about eight months.

Clara: You mean six years.

MK: Well, in my time sure. In your time, it was about eight months. Better late than never.

55. Favorite type of fruit pie?

MK: Cherry

Clara: Apple

Michael: Apple

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

MK: K-9 cop, doctor, lawyer, professional shopper, designer

Clara: I never planned to have a profession. MK had other plans.

MK: They’re good plans. You have a beautiful inn.

Clara: I didn’t know the first thing about running an inn.

MK: You don’t have to do it alone.

Clara: Thank goodness for that. I am learning quite a lot.

Michael: I think she does a splendid job.

MK: What did you want to be Michael?

Michael: I always wanted to work with my hands, to build something tangible.

MK: You make beautiful furniture.

Michael: I didn't get to spend much time doing that in your book.

MK: Making furniture wasn't the point the story.

Michael: Could have been.

MK: I don't think so. I promise to have you build furniture if you show up in another story.

Michael: Thank you . . . Wait. What you do mean if?

57. Do you believe in ghosts?

MK: I do. I’ve never seen one and don’t believe they haunt us, but I definitely believe they exist.

Clara: I do as well.

Michael: Of course, I'm from Ireland.

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?

MK: Rarely.

Clara: What is deja-vu?

MK: A feeling that you’ve already seen or experienced something.

Clara: Oh, how interesting. Yes, I suppose I have, at least in my dreams.

Michael: Not that I recall.

59. Do you take a vitamin daily?

MK: I take multiple vitamins daily.

Clara: I don’t understand.

MK: You don’t take them, and you don’t need them.

Clara: How do you know? I might want them.

MK: You’re out of luck. Vitamins aren’t around yet.

Clara: You have them.

MK: Let’s talk in 150 years.

Michael: I don't need to anything here.

60. Do you wear slippers?

MK: Yes, I have two pairs. One for bedtime and early morning. The other pair is an indoor/outdoor pair I wear during the cold months.

Clara: Yes, I wear bedroom slippers.

Michael: No. If my feet are cold I wear socks in the bedroom.

61. Do you wear a bath robe?

MK: Yes, after I dress for bed at night and again in the morning. It’s all very Downton, without the lady’s maid. That would be weird.

Clara: I had a lady’s maid.

MK: Really? Yeah, that tracks considering your family.

Clara: You didn’t have her travel with me to Montana.

MK: No, I did drop the ball on that one. Do you want a lady’s maid?

Clara: You did not put me in a place of high fashion, so one is not necessary here.

MK: Don’t you like Crooked Creek?

Clara: I love it . . . but I do miss some of the amenities.

MK: Yeah, can’t help you there.

Michael: I didn't have a lady's maid.

MK: Look, Clara, he said that with a straight face. Do you miss city amenities, Michael?

Michael: My life before Crooked Creek was a lot different from Clara's. Crooked Creek is a dream after the conditions during the war, so right now, I have all I need.

62. What do you wear to bed?

MK: Nightgown

Clara: Nightgown

Michael: Well . . .

MK: Yes?

Michael: You said to keep all responses appropriate.

MK: I did, but I'm sure whatever you have to say will be just fine.

Michael: Most of the time, I wear nothing.

MK: I'm sure Clara appreciates that.

Clara: MK!

MK: Like you weren't thinking it.

Clara: This is hardly appropriate conversation.

MK: If I were you, and he came to bed in—

Clara: Don't finish that.

MK: All right, but I'm still going to picture him—

Clara: MK!

MK: Sorry. Of course, I did put drawers on him in the book, so all-in-all, quite respectable.

Michael: May I enter this conversation?

Clara: No

MK: No

63. What was your first concert?

MK: I don’t remember. I was youngish and discovered quickly that I don’t like concerts.

Clara: I was quite young. My mother believed one should be exposed to as much culture as possible. She often held small concerts in our home for social events. You really don’t like concerts?

MK: I’ve never been to the kind of concert you’re talking about.

Clara: What other kind is there?

Michael: I've never been to one, but I like music. My mother liked to sing.

MK: Can you sing? Michael: It's never come up. You didn't tell me if I could or not.

MK: Huh. Well, then, you can sing.

Clara: What about me? MK: You're tone deaf.

Michael: Actually, she has a lovely voice.

MK: I don't think so.

Michael: You're not as in control of us as you think you are.

MK: That put me in my place.

64. Walmart, Target, or Kmart?

MK: None of the above. I used to go to Target, but it’s been a few years.

Clara: Are those people?

MK: Places

Clara: They sound odd.

MK: So many things do these days.

Clara: You live in an odd time.

MK: Tell me about it.

Clara: I cannot for I do not know anything about your time.

MK: That’s not . . . never mind.

Michael: I don't think I'd like your time.

MK: You'd appreciate central air.

Michael: What's that?

MK: It's like having a cool breeze constantly flowing through your house on a hot day.

Michael: Sounds nice.

MK: Your descendents enjoy it.

65. Nike or Adidas?

MK: Neither.

Clara: Are those people?

MK: Shoes

Clara: You name your shoes?

MK: No, those are the brands.

Clara: Like on a cow?

MK: No, like the people who make them.

Clara: Ah, well, neither.

Michael: I'll stick with cows.

66. Cheetos or Fritos?

MK: Fritos, but only with tuna sandwiches.

Clara: Should I even ask?

MK: They’re a type of food.

Clara: Do they taste good?

MK: Sometimes.

Michael: What's a tuna sandwich?

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?

MK: Peanuts

Clara: Peanuts

MK: Have you ever eaten them?

Clara: I have not.

MK: Then why did you choose peanuts?

Clara: I like the name.

Michael: We ate a lot of peanuts during the war.

MK: Do you eat them now?

Michael: Not since I came to Crooked Creek. I don't think the general store stocks them.

Clara: They do not.

MK: Good to know.

68. Ever hear of the group Tres Bien?

MK: I know the words "tres bien" but did not know there was a group by that name.

Clara: What she said.

MK: You don’t speak French.

Clara: Neither do you.

MK: How do you know?

Clara: Do you think you really know more about us than we do about you?

MK: This is going to a creepy place.

Michael: I don't speak French either. Why is that?

MK: Because I don't speak French.

Michael: You took two years of French.

Clara: How do you know that?

MK: Yeah, how do you know that? Michael: As Clara mentioned, you don't know more about us than we do about you.

MK: Really creepy place.

69. Ever take dance lessons?

MK: Yes, swing and ballroom in junior high. Tap, and I think ballet, when I was younger.

Clara: I had dance instruction before my first season.

Michael: My mother taught me.

70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?

MK: Whatever he wants to do works for me, so long as he’s happy.

Clara: She has not yet seen fit to give me a spouse. I am in no hurry.

MK: You just need to give me a little more time.

Clara: It has been a long time.

MK: In my time or yours?

Clara: Good point.

Michael: What about me?

Clara: You weren't around when I first answered these questions.

MK: Sorry about that. You're together now, though, and that's what matters.

Clara: Of course, now I know your profession.

MK: But we aren't going to talk about that here.

71. Can you curl your tongue?

MK: Not really.

Clara: How would I know?

MK: Look in the mirror and try to curl your tongue.

Clara: Why?

MK: To see if you can.

Clara: To what end?

MK: Moving on . . .

Michael: I refuse to answer this.

72. Have you ever won a spelling bee?

MK: I never competed in one.

Clara: I do know how to spell, but you will have to explain what spelling has to do with bees.

Michael: I can spell better than both of you.

MK: Uh, no.

Michael: Yes

MK: No

Michael: Yes

MK: Okay, ten words right now, winner gets an apple pie.

Michael: I get apple pie whenever I want at the inn.

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

MK: I’m sure I have.

Clara: Oh, yes.

Michael: Yes

74. Own any record albums?

MK: Unfortunately, I do not.

Clara: I—

MK: You don’t.

Clara: All right.

Michael: Will you give us one in the next story?

MK: No

Michael: Why not?

MK: Because you won't like that long.

75. Own a record player?

MK: Since I don’t have record albums that would be no.

Clara: That was not a friendly response.

MK: It was kind of a dumb question. It should have come before the album question.

Clara: You should apologize.

MK: Why?

Clara: What is a record player?

MK: I guess that conversation is over.

Michael:

76. Do you regularly burn incense?

MK: Never. I like candles.

Clara: Yes, I like candles, too.

Michael: Candles are good.

77. Ever been in love?

MK: Yes

Clara: Yes

Narrator: Care to elaborate?

MK: Clara lost her beau. Let’s move on.

Clara: I enjoy speaking of him.

MK: Yes, but it’s sad.

Clara: I like to remember him.

MK: You think about him a lot still, don’t you?

Clara: Every day. Less, though, since Michael.

Michael: You already know my answer.

MK: The readers don't.

Michael: Yes, they do. You introduced me to Clara in Christmas in Crooked Creek. They've probably figured out we'll be together.

MK: Will you please answer the question?

Michael: Yes, I have been in love. I am in love.

MK: See, now they know.

Michael: They already guessed.

Clara: Children . . .