Gabriel's New Spongebob Playlist and an excerpt from The General and the Elephant Clock of Al-Jazari

Gabriel’s New Spongebob Playlist! (And an excerpt from The General and the Elephant Clock of Al-Jazari)

(author’s note: The playlist didn’t make it into the new story because John threw the Spongebob speaker against a wall. But I love this playlist.)

Gabriel was grinning at him. “I’ve got something new, and I downloaded all the new songs to the iPod. Kim gave me this portable speaker that looks like Spongebob so we can have a little private dance time.”

“Spongebob?”

“Spongebob Squarepants.”

“What the hell does that even mean?”

Gabriel studied him, hands on his hips. “Let me go talk to the crew. Get your swimsuit on. When I get back, I think you and I need to test out that beautiful pool. John, this hotel is like where you go for your honeymoon or something. I am not leaving before we get a chance to swim.”

“Yeah, okay. Wait, wait! I need to speak to Sam. Go over the backup plan in case Jen gets snatched tomorrow. Send him in here.”

Gabriel sighed. “Yes, General.”

Sam stuck his head in the door. “Sir?”

“Come on in. Okay, let’s go over the plan if something happens to Jennifer, like she gets arrested or separated from the rest of the group, and you’re on your own.” Sam’s face blanched. “It’s not a crisis as long as you have a plan, Sam. Okay, so what’s your job?”

Sam pointed to himself. “My job?”

“Yes! What is your job with regards to Jennifer Painter?”

“My job is to protect her with my life.”

“Correct. Now, what do we do if she is taken? What will you do if I’m not here?”
Sam thought a moment. “I go to the embassy. I can also get Wylie and Jackson to help.”

“Perfect. No problem, kiddo. You’ve got backup for a snatch and grab, and then you get her to her father’s people in Algeria. This is absolutely not going to happen, but you only ever need a backup plan when you don’t have one.” John studied his shattered face. Sam was more than a little overwhelmed, but John had no doubt he would rise to the occasion if need be. “You’ll be fine. I have every confidence in you.”

He gave John a doubtful look, then closed the door quietly behind him. Gabriel still had his hands on his hips. “You are out of control. I’m about to wrestle you to the ground and stick a tranquilizer dart in your butt.”

John stopped in mid-thought, his mind wheeling like a flock of starlings. What had he just said? Tranquilizer dart in the butt? Gabriel’s eyes were smiling, dark and wild and full of light, like the night sky over New Mexico. Gabriel walked across the room, put his hand flat on John’s belly. “Breathe, General. There we go. We’ve got plenty of time. Everything’s going to work out.” He slid his hand lower. “Just breathe.”


80’s Spongebob Playlist

ZZ Top Tush http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCLXy-...

James Brown Living in America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHqUip...

Bruce Springsteen Dancing in the Dark http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129kuD...

John Cougar Mellencamp Pink Houses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53OV4E...

Bob Seger Like a Rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keIvA2...