Stone Soup International Sundays by Jan Eliot

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Meet the Cast of Stone Soup International Sundays

Val Valerie Stone is a widow in her late 30s. Her husband died when her daughters, Holly and Alix, were quite young. She is a middle-income professional, mature and somewhat serious, who bears much of the financial burden for her extended family. Besides her own two daughters, Val shares her home with her mother and Biscuit, the family's yappy little dog -- creating a household filled with controlled chaos. Val's deceased husband was the love of her life, and between the pressures of a full-time job and raising her daughters she's had little interest in romance or time to pursue it. The times may be changing, however, as a chance encounter with a motorcycle cop has added a little excitement to her life.

Joan Joan is Val's younger sister. She and her young son, Max, moved in with Val after her husband, Leon, went out for milk and never returned. Rumor has it that the convenience store he visited is in the Virgin Islands. With a young son and fewer career options than her sister, Joan struggled to make ends meet working from home as a freelance copywriter. It didn't take long for Joan to become the object of the affections of Wally, the quintessential nice guy next door. After a three year on-again, off-again relationship, they are now married and the proud parents of baby Luci.

Holly and Alix Holly and Alix are Val's darling daughters. They are 13 and 10. Young Alix is still in elementary school, in the midst of a blissfully naive childhood and full of tomboy energy. She is mystified by her sister's middle-school histrionics. Holly, like many girls her age, is full of angst, self-absorbed, and obeys most of the rules most of the time -- if it's convenient. Holly and Alix share a room, fight, shout, compete for attention, and generally make their family's life interesting.

Wally Wally is the epitome of a swell guy. Val's neighbor before becoming Joan's husband, this slightly schlumpy insurance salesman is a calming influence. Not long ago, Wally was a single guy living a simple life, but in relatively short order he has taken in a 15-year-old nephew having trouble at home, married a woman with a toddler and become a father. Wally quietly takes it all in stride.

Max and Luci Max and Luci are the youngest members of the extended Stone family. Toddler Max and his little sister Luci keep their parents on their toes and sometimes up all night.

Gramma Evie Gramma Evie, Val and Joan's mother, lives upstairs at Val's house. She is not the stereotypical warm and fuzzy little old lady, but rather a pragmatic and energetic retiree not content to sit at home knitting. Recently, Gramma decided to see the world (and maybe find love) as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity building homes in Asia.

Andy Andy is Wally's 15-year-old nephew. Wally's sister ran into tough times and asked Wally to help out with her son for the summer. Things worked out so well, Andy asked to stay. He's a good kid, but in the throes of adolescence, with pieced ears and an occasional attitude. Holly finds him irresistible.

Phil Phil Jackson is a motorcycle cop who forgets his gun, lets speeding single mothers off the hook out of pity, and worries that the world is becoming too fast-paced. He was so smitten with Val when he pulled her over on a harried Monday morning that he followed her home and asked her out. He and Val are getting to know each other better.

Biscuit The yippy, yappy “active breed” family dog. As if life weren’t chaotic enough.     

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  published: Sunday, December 01, 2024

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