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Post by papaof2 on Apr 2, 2018 22:48:59 GMT -6
Terrell has had one taste of a 'serious woman' and might be on his best behavior when he's around the others. That could be a positive for him connecting with someone. That might depend on how long he can keep his mouth under control - another 'bitch' to the wrong girl could leave him with a broken bone or two.
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Post by udwe on Apr 3, 2018 5:42:24 GMT -6
Keep those characters talking. Love your story!
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Post by gipsy on Apr 3, 2018 9:06:27 GMT -6
Has that included some "hands on" training of the Mark kind, like throws and chops?
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Post by cutter on Apr 3, 2018 10:44:42 GMT -6
Oh yeah! All of the crew have studied with Mark, Larry, Brian, and most importantly, Morgan. Let’s just say that Jess is more capable than she seems.
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Post by udwe on Apr 3, 2018 19:42:23 GMT -6
Patiently waiting for more!
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Post by cutter on Apr 5, 2018 10:31:21 GMT -6
Here you go, Udwe. The education of Terrell James has begun to commence. Day two of that education has been much less painful and embarrassing. It is a busy day though. Professors Mark and Stacy Marshall (Yeah I know, they aren't married yet.) have been tag team teaching him. With a little luck, he might just have enough going for him when he meets Jess to get her attention. I think that meeting is coming in chapter 16, as well as a possible twist for Terrell. Please enjoy.
Chapter 15
(Sunday, May 2, 2021, Mark and Stacy’s, 6 AM)
“T still asleep?”
“Yeah, he had a hard day yesterday. We can wake him if he’s not up by the crack of nine.”
“Man, this looks good! I’m starved!”
“I’m not surprised; you burned a lot of calories last night.”
“So did you, but I don’t see your mouth watering.”
“Don’t be fooled; I’ve been munching the whole time I was cooking breakfast. I’m still going to eat like a lumberjack or two when we get it on the table.”
“Hey Stace, could you keep it down next time? You’re as bad as Mom.”
“I am not!”
“Well, no you’re not, but I just couldn’t resist teasing you.”
“I heard quite a bit of racket out of your room last night too.”
“Sherry and I got in a tickle fight.”
“She got ahold of your feet, didn’t she?”
“His feet are ticklish!?! Jordan, you are so dead next time! Thanks Stacy!”
“My pleasure. Come on, let’s get Noah to say prayers so we can eat while it’s hot.”
Larry and Erin came by and picked up all the kids for church about eight. T comes wandering down to the kitchen about 8:30.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty. You hungry?”
“I’s slept like I ain’t ever slept befo’. You’s just lyin’ ‘bout that beauty shit though. Yeah, I’s hungry.”
“Well sit down and I’ll fix you a plate. We already ate with the kids, but we’ll sit and have a cup of coffee with you. Do you want a cup?”
“Never had it. Sure.”
“If you don’t like it, don’t drink it; I’ll get you something else.”
“I thought you went to church on Sunday.”
“We stayed home today to be with you. This is so new to you; we don’t want you to be overwhelmed. What do you want to do today?”
“Hell, I don’t know! What you do around here?”
“We could go for a trail ride or do some fishing. It’s Sunday, we can do anything you want to do. The animals will wait until everybody gets back from church.”
“What they waitin’ for?”
“We just have to put feed and water out for them. If the stalls need it, we might have to muck them, but that can wait until tomorrow night.”
“I don’t know how to do none o’ that shit, but I lives here now, so I guess I gotta’.”
“I don’t guess you have to, but we could sure use the help.”
“Then shows me what all shit I gonna’ be doin’.”
“We’ll show you around and see if we can find something you wouldn’t mind doing. There’s plenty to do around a farm without mucking stalls. The boys usually take care of that in all the barns anyway.”
“How many barns you got?”
“Right now, we have four. Depending on how things go this year, we may have to build a fifth one. We have a dozen or so small shelters scattered around the farm too.”
“What they for?”
“They’re just someplace for the livestock to get out of the weather and sun when they’re in pasture. Stacy, I know something he might like to do.”
“What?”
“T, I don’t guess you know how to drive, do you?”
“Never had a car to learn.”
“You’d be driving a tractor, but we get you trained on the equipment and you could be a lot of help to us mowing and baling hay. We have to put up as much hay as we can during the growing season so we can get the herds through winter. If we don’t have enough, we have to buy it.”
“How much they eat?”
“Our black angus herd alone goes through about six thousand pounds of hay a week when the grass stops growing, that’s about six of the round bales. Tell you what, why don’t we saddle up the horses after you eat and we’ll show you around. It’d be a lot easier for you to see everything than for us to try to explain it without you having any frame of reference.”
“Ok, but can I has some mo’ first? This is some good shit!”
“Sure, but why does all food have to be ‘shit’ with you? Next time you have breakfast with us, I’m serving SOS.”
“What that?”
“Shit on a shingle.”
“That sound nasty!”
“Not as bad as it sounds, T. We eat it a lot during the week around here. It’s toast with sausage gravy. Stacy doesn’t burn the toast or overcook the gravy, so hers doesn’t really live down to the name. I’ll warn you though, her gravy tends to be a little spicy. I’m part Cajun and she’s been cooking for me for the last four years.”
“What’sa Cajun?”
“I’m of Creole ancestry through my Mother’s side. We’re a distinct group of human mutts from parts of Louisiana. My heritage is racially mixed. French settlers intermarried with blacks and eventually became a distinct, blended racial group in the area. Over time, some branches of the group have developed darker skin tone as the members of those particular branches tended to marry darker skinned creoles and blacks, while other branches like mine, tended to marry whites. Dad was born and raised here. He met Mom when he was stationed in Louisiana in the Army. Her maiden name was DeLacroix. I can trace my heritage to both Europe and the Caribbean through my Mom’s side and to Europe and the Shawnee tribes of Native Americans on my Dad’s.”
“You mean yous got blacks in yo’ family?”
“Not close living family that I know of, but if I go back far enough, yeah. Is that a problem?”
“I just never thought I’d hear no white boy admit bein’ related to blacks.”
“I’m not a white boy or a black; I’m Cajun. We have our own distinct heritage and even our own language. It’s a mix of English, French, and the Caribbean languages. It was a lot like pig latin when it started, but evolved into a real, recognized language.”
“Can you talk it?”
“I used to be able to understand enough to hold a reasonably intelligent conversation, but I’ve forgotten a lot of it. I left here a little before I turned ten. My brother Jacob and I were the only two people I knew in Germany who spoke it. He didn’t care much for it, so I didn’t get much practice. I tried to teach my friend Anja, but she had enough trouble translating from her native German to English. She said trying to learn Creole gave her a headache. Most people who speak french can manage to get by down in the bayou.”
“What’s that?”
“The bayou? It’s a brackish swamp, not quite fresh water, but not salt water either. Lots of wildlife. Lots of birds, fish, gators, and snakes. The bayous are mostly populated with Cajuns and Native Americans, Seminole mostly. I got to see it a few times, when we went there to visit Mom’s family. It’s a wild, slightly dangerous, beautiful place. The people are a close knit, distrusting group. Once they get to know you and accept you, they’re some of the best people you will ever know. Until they do, you’re an outsider and they keep you at a distance. The food’s good though. They eat lots of seafood, fish, and alligator tail, and every last bit of it’s spicy hot! Hot sauce is its own food group down there.”
“They eats alligators!?!”
“Yeah, the tail and hind legs are all white meat; it’s good. It doesn’t taste like chicken, but it’s closer than anything else I ever ate.”
“You damn rednecks eat anything!”
“Wait till you try raccoon barbeque and possum gravy.”
“OH HELLS NO!”
“I’m kidding about the gravy. I’ve tried possum; it’s greasy and I don’t like it. Raccoon barbeque is good though. Squirrel, rabbit, and deer are pretty good too. We’re going to start a paddling of ducks at our pond this spring and we already have a local flock of geese. They’re both good eating too.”
“Is they anything you crazy people don’t eat?”
“Yeah, snakes and humans. We’re not much on dogs and cats either, too tough.”
“You’s a freak!”
“You have no idea. Let him put you through survival training. He’ll introduce you to food that will make a billy goat puke. Just a tip, earthworms taste like dirt and they squirm all the way down.”
“You peoples be nuts! You’s smilin’; you’s gotta’ be puttin’ me on!”
“No, we’re not; but we won’t do that to you unless you really do want to learn. Believe me, Stacy and I have both eaten a lot of things in training that are just plain gross. You’ll never see them served on our table, but we know what we can eat to stay alive if we ever have to. Either one of us could walk out the door with just what we have on us and survive indefinitely in these woods and fields.”
“Bullshit!”
“Let’s take a trail ride today and we’ll show you some things. If we’re lucky, we’ll find some honeysuckle in bloom and we’ll all be in for a real treat.”
“You people’s gonna’ poison me to death! What the hell.”
After T gets done eating enough for at least three people, Stacy gets him a toothbrush and toothpaste. He goes off to brush his teeth.
“Lover, everything was really good this morning. Thank you for breakfast. I’ll go up and get our rifles while he’s getting ready. Did you grab your pistol?”
“Got it on. You’re welcome. Do you have any idea how happy it makes me to see you eat my cooking? It’s been four years now and you still go on and on about how much you like it. I’m just glad we grow most all of it; we’d go broke trying to feed you if we had to buy it.”
“I can’t help it that it’s good; besides, I’m a growing boy.”
“You are far from a boy, and if you grow much more, I’m going to need a ladder to kiss you!”
“Or I could just pick you up. I kind of like holding you close.”
“I swear! You act just like a sex crazed teenager! Will you just go get our rifles!”
“Umm, Lover? We are teenagers and if that wasn’t you up on the deck with me last night, who was it, because she is one seriously sexy babe!”
“Maybe it was Mary, or Ashley, I heard she grew some boobs.”
“Oh, now you’re just gettin’ nasty! I’ll be back down in a minute.”
When Mark gets back to the kitchen, T is already there. His eyes get huge as he sees Mark walk in with a M1A rifle slung on his shoulder and carrying an AR-15 in his other hand.
“Sheeit! You gonna’ start a war!?!”
“No, but we aim to finish it if somebody brings us one. These are as much for protection from four legged predators as two legged ones. Stacy and I are always armed on the farm. We both carry pistols at least, anytime we’re outside.”
“What’s so bad ‘round here you gots to carry them cannons fo’?”
“One of our herd dogs is still recovering from a fight with a wild dog a couple weeks ago. Between him and our three others, that dog was dying when I found him, but I shot him to put him out of his misery. We have wild dogs, coyotes, coy-dog hybrids, wolves, probably wolf-dog hybrids, and it’s possible that black bears have gotten this far again. There have been sightings in Nashville and Bowling Green. BG is only about twenty miles north of here. Black bears aren’t usually that aggressive, but they’re a thousand pounds or so of ‘I’m going to eat you!’ if you happen to run across one who’s pissed off or hungry. The dogs, wolves, and coyotes eat the smaller game, sometimes including deer, and can take down a calf or even a cow if there’s a pack of them. We hunt the deer and small game around here to supplement our food supplies and the cattle are our livelihood, in addition to our food. We expect a little predation of our crops and herds, and predators eating prey animals is part of the circle of life, but we’re the top predators and we have to eat too. We’ve also had some problems with poachers hunting on our land without permission and we’ve found evidence of somebody killing and eating our cows out in the back pastures.”
“What you do wit somebody you catch doin’ that?”
“We hold them for the Sheriff. Whether they are alive when Pete gets here is entirely up to them.”
“Yous shoots somebody fo’ huntin’ on your’s place or killin’ a cow!?!”
“No, but if they point a gun at us, they are a threat and we will do our best to neutralize the threat. If somebody wants to hunt our place, all they have to do is knock on the door and ask. If somebody’s hungry, all they have to do is ask us for something to eat. If they want a steady source of food and income, we’d be happy to put them to work on the farm or ranch or for Rubycon. We butcher a cow and a pig every month and give the meat to our church to distribute to anybody who needs it. That’s over a thousand pounds of meat every month. We donate some of our harvest from our gardens every week to the church for the same reason. There is absolutely no reason for anybody to steal from us. We donate around four to five thousand dollars worth of food every month. We can afford that because God has smiled on us and made us able. If the poachers, rustlers, and gleaners steal enough; we won’t be able to do it anymore and a lot of good people will go hungry. We can’t allow that if we are able to stop it.”
“You guys serious and shit!”
“Yes we are, and you will be too if you stay around long enough. I guarantee if you start working on this place to grow the food and raise the meat we eat, you will get deadly serious about protecting it. Let’s head down to the barn and saddle up. We can talk while we walk and ride.”
They keep talking as they walk to the barn. Mark handed Stacy’s AR off to her and she has it slung over her shoulder.
“You say you makes some peoples work fo’ they food you gives ‘em. Why you makes ‘em work if they’s hungry?”
“If they’re hungry and able to work, we don’t do them any favors by just giving them a handout. They’d come to expect it and if we ever can’t, it could get violent and ugly. If they’re able to work, they earn what we pay them. That gives them some pride and self respect. They get to be proud of what they do to make their own way, learn some things that will help them, and they are invested in the operation that is their lifeline; they’ll help protect this place and make it productive. It helps us and everybody else too. More hands make this place able to produce more food, which makes us able to feed more people. There’s an upper limit to how much food we can produce on the land we have, but we haven’t hit it yet. To get there, we need more hands in the fields and on the herds. We have our eyes on some more ground that would let us expand our operations here, but even if we buy it, we need more people to make it produce to its fullest. That’s where you come in. You have the potential to be a good hand. There’s a difference with you though. You’re one of us, not a refugee. With them, they make a wage and get to eat. With you, when we profit, you do too.”
Terrell doesn’t know what to say, but he likes the sound of this deal. If he works here, he gets to share in the money and doesn’t have to worry about going to jail or getting killed for it. He won’t have to worry about getting enough to eat either. He still ain’t no farmer though; he’ll have a lot to learn if he wants these people to keep him and not send him back.
He wishes he could bring his two brothers and his sister here with him, but he doesn’t know where they are and CPS won’t let them have any contact. He wonders if these people can help him find them. He can’t ask them for help yet; he has to get used to things around here and learn how to do some of this stuff so he can have something to make a deal with. Nobody never does anything for anybody unless they get something for it.
When they get to the barn, they go into the tack room. Mark just stands staring at T for a minute.
“What’s you lookin’ at, Mark?”
“I’m sizing you up for a saddle. I saddled Dancer up yesterday with one pretty close to mine, but I think it’s too small for you. I think that was part of your problem mounting up and dismounting yesterday. You’re not as broad or heavy as Bobby, but you’re close to the same height, so I’m thinking one closer to his size would be better. Let’s try this one.”
Mark pulls a saddle and sets it on a sawhorse in the middle of the room. He and Stacy pull their personal saddles out of their places. All three saddles have reins and a saddle blanket strapped to them. Mark puts his on another sawhorse as he talks.
“Anastasia, why don’t you go on and saddle up Gwen. I’m going to talk T through the process so he can learn to do it himself. I think we’re going to put him on Honeycomb today.”
“He’ll love riding Honeycomb, so long as we don’t get anywhere near a beehive.”
“What you mean by that?”
“He got his name because he loves munching on honeycombs. Don’t worry, we won’t get anywhere near the bees today. You’ll get to see the beekeeping operation, but Erin will be the one to show it to you; it’s her baby.”
“You has bees too?”
“Yeah, it’s where we get our honey. We use very little sugar around here. Erin keeps bees to supply us with honey to use instead of sugar and for us to sell. We’ll make sure to take you through the maple orchard too.”
“What that for?”
“It’s a stand of sugar maple trees that we tap for the sap. We boil it down to make maple syrup for pancakes and to use as another type of sweetener.”
“Is they anything you buys from the sto’?”
“Toilet paper; we’re not ready to go to corn cobs and reusable rags yet. There are a few other things we still buy from the store, but not if we don’t have to.”
“I ain’t stickin no corn cob up my butt!”
“You don’t...hahaha...You don’t stick it in, just scrub to get the mess off. I’m sorry, but that was too funny not to laugh.”
“I still ain’t doin’ it, and I don’t want to use no rag somebody else done rubbed all over they butt neither!”
“If it ever gets to that, we would use a clean rag, put it in a bucket, wash the used rags, and boil them to sanitize them before we used them again. It beats using leaves; be my luck all that would be in reach would be poison ivy. Let’s go get our horses saddled. Watch me so you know the easy way to carry your saddle.”
Mark grabs the saddle horn and swings the saddle, using the momentum to throw it up on his back while he holds it over his shoulder by the horn. T isn’t quite as smooth with the maneuver, but he gets his saddle where he wants it without too much trouble.
“You’re taking to this horse riding stuff pretty quick. You’ll be a cowboy in no time at all.”
“Ain’t never been no black people be no cowboys!”
“Actually, there were a lot of them back in the 1800’s. For the most part, the frontier territories didn’t have slavery. If an escaped slave could get that far, they were pretty much guaranteed to stay free as long as they stayed there. A lot of them took up being cowboys because the pay was pretty good, their food was provided as part of their pay, and cowboys generally only cared about how good they were at their job. It wasn’t that uncommon to see a black man riding a horse with a revolver on his hip and a rifle in a scabbard, riding through the middle of town. It wasn’t that uncommon to see one or more having a drink in the saloon or playing poker. The ladies of the evening didn’t even care, so long as they had the money to pay for the lady’s ‘services’.”
“What’s a lady of the evenin’?”
“You’d call them whores. There were some of those who were black too.”
“You guys gonna’ saddle up or keep talking about paying to get laid? I wanna’ ride!”
“Man, she bossy! How you put up wit her?”
“It’s one of her endearing qualities. I’ve learned how to keep her happy.”
“She eva’ punk yo’ ass like she done me?”
“Not quite as bad, but yeah, a couple of times.”
“Don’t let him fool you, T; I put him down once in a great while in training. If we ever fought without holding back, he very well might kill me.”
“You mean he better than you!?!”
“A little. He’s the one who taught me how to fight. Come! On! I want to go ride the north fence line.”
The three of them took a ride up along the north fence line, just like Stacy wanted. They saw quite a bit of wildlife. They did find some honeysuckle in bloom and had a terrible time pulling T away from it once he finally tried it. Stacy smiled and rolled her eyes a lot as Mark went into full on Professor Marshall mode. T was like a kid, soaking everything up like a bone dry sponge. He couldn’t believe anybody his age could know so much about so many things. It was kinda’ weird but really cool that he could learn all this stuff and none of it would get him put in jail. By the time they got back to Erin and Larry’s place to start Sunday dinner for everybody, T was in overload. It was kinda’ like getting a drink from a fire hose; when you’re done, you’re really wet but still thirsty. That didn’t stop Stacy from putting him to work in the kitchen.
“T, you know anything about cooking?”
“Ain’t never done it. Da bitches always done da cookin’ in da Crips.”
“Watch your mouth, T. I told you; I don’t appreciate being called names when I don’t deserve it.”
“Not you! Dem bitches in da gangs just there fo’ da monies, da drugs, and da sex. Dey don’t do nuffin’ they ain’t gotta’. They wants to has da babies fo’ da welfare.”
“Nice save. Feel like learning how to feed yourself?”
“Sure. What I do?”
“Mark, show him how to peel potatoes, then you get on brewing some coffee and tea. Before you do that, go get me ten racks of ribs out of Mom’s deep freeze. Here’s my keys.”
“Yes Ma’am! Right away Ma’am!”
“Don’t you sass me in MY kitchen! You keep that up and you’ll pay dearly tonight.”
“Sounds like fun. Let me get T started and then I’ll go get them.”
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Post by papaof2 on Apr 5, 2018 12:33:34 GMT -6
T's having some I-don't--believe moments, with the girl who decked him saying she can't take Mark. He may have found a new "gang leader" to follow ;-)
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Post by cutter on Apr 5, 2018 13:11:05 GMT -6
Here's hoping. He could do a lot worse than Mark. I just have a feeling that while T is going to get to be good friends with Mark and Stacy, his primary loyalty is going to lie elsewhere in the crew. I also think I see him making a friend and ally within the crew who will be as close to him as Kit is to Mark. I didn't have a real complete idea of his character when I started writing him, so I'm sort of learning him as I go too. His first friend in the clan is going to throw him a curve too.
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Post by papaof2 on Apr 5, 2018 16:19:21 GMT -6
Ain't it fun to watch our characters tell us who they are?
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Post by cutter on Apr 5, 2018 18:13:53 GMT -6
Honestly it is the High Point of my writing life
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Post by udwe on Apr 5, 2018 20:54:17 GMT -6
Wow! I'm lovin' this story more & more!
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Post by texican on Apr 7, 2018 14:55:21 GMT -6
Cutter,
Thanks for the chapter....
Now when will T's brother and sister show up? ? ? ?
Texican....
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Post by cutter on Apr 7, 2018 22:22:16 GMT -6
Working on that now. Not sure yet of all the details, but it looks like things are going to get complicated, Brian and Morgan may not be taking in any of T's siblings, and history may repeat itself.
One of my spies in the Government also told me things are about to get unhappy in the clan.
An old bit character is about to pop up briefly again too. I think he's going to be really glad he took a chance and kept his word a few years ago.
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Post by udwe on Apr 8, 2018 19:49:57 GMT -6
You're killing me. NEED MORE!
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Post by cutter on Apr 9, 2018 7:45:01 GMT -6
Please enjoy.
Chapter 16
(Sunday, May 2, 2021, Lamb’s Rest Baptist Church, 9 AM)
“Hey Morgan, Mark and Stacy still celebrating?”
“Off and on. Right now, they’re keeping an eye on Terrell.”
“I’m sorry I ever asked you and Brian to take him in. What’d he do now?”
“Don’t apologize, I think it was the right thing to do. I’m not sure what he did yesterday, but whatever it was, it was enough to convince Stacy not only not to kill him, but to stand up for him.”
“Are we talking about the same Stacy Waters who threatened to stomp him into the backyard at your place Friday?”
“That would be her. I think it’s going to be a long, complicated conversation, but Brian and I need to talk to you about him. I think Mark and Stacy should probably be part of this conversation too.”
“I think I’m already getting a migraine and you haven’t even told me what this is about yet. Morgan, is anything ever simple and easy in this family?”
“Yeah, insanity. If you’re not insane when you join the family, you will be.”
“Pfft, ain’t that the truth! Ok, are we still having Sunday dinner at y’all’s place?”
“Stacy said it was going to be at Larry and Erin’s, but yeah.”
“Makes sense, their place is in the middle of the farm and ranch. Let’s all have a talk then.”
“Sounds good, but Stacy had one suggestion and I think it’s a good one. She doesn’t want T to know about it until it’s done, if we can even pull it off. You might want to invite Val and Steve too.”
“It’s a good thing we’re at church; the more you say, the more I want to cuss.”
“Are you mad?”
“No, just afraid, very afraid. It’s usually in a good way, but it always worries me a little when Mark and Stacy have something up their sleeve.”
“Who said they did?”
“Morgan, please! If those two are involved, they’re up to something.”
“Yup, you’re definitely part of the family now. Welcome to the asylum. Believe me, this one is right up there in the top ten for crazy, but Brian and I think they may be onto something this time.”
“They usually are. Why do I have the feeling I’m going to need a drink before this conversation is done?”
“I’m guessing at least three. I think Todd better drive you home today.”
“Sounds like it. See you guys in church.”
“See you then. I gotta’ catch one more person before Sunday School. Bye.”
After church, the clan heads home. When they arrive, they find Erin’s summer kitchen hopping with activity. Stacy, Mark, and T have done an impressive job of putting together a dinner meal that would make anybody forget their troubles for a while. They’re putting the finishing touches on the spread with Mark making up a salad bar, Stacy pulling rolls and a cake out of the ovens, and T mixing up a two gallon batch of potato salad from directions in an old cookbook on the counter.
“T?”
“Yo, Morgan. You has a good time at church?”
“Craig gave a really good sermon, the music was beautiful, and it’s always great to see everybody. We missed having you there, but that’s ok.”
“How you be missin’ me? I ain’t neva’ been tha’ befo’.”
“New folks are always welcome. Brian joined the church when he was young, but I was new six years ago too; now I’m part of the church family. It happens that way. You don’t have to go, but you’re welcome anytime.”
“I mights go next week.”
“It looks like you’ve been busy; that looks good. I didn’t know you could cook.”
“I cain’t. Crazy girl ova’ tha’ been bossin’ me all day. She say I doin’ good, sos I guess I is.”
“Stop for a second and lean down here.”
T does and Morgan plants a kiss on his cheek as she wraps an arm around him in a hug.
“Thank you for making our day a little brighter. We’re glad you’re here. What can I do to help?”
T is confused. Nobody ever thanked him for doing anything for them before. This little midget white woman actin’ all like she be his Mama, except his Mama didn’t neva’ do nuthin’ like kissin’ on him. None of them otha’ fosta’ homes he done been in been like this. They’s all be like jail; this place not like that. He don’t get they game and it scare him.
“I dunno’; guess you ask crazy girl.”
“I heard that, T! I can show you crazy if you really want to see it. Is that potato salad ready; we need to get everything on the table.”
“I guess so; it look like you say it should.”
“Then get it on the counter with the rest of the stuff and let’s pray and eat! You have to be hungry; you’ve been bustin’ your butt for the last two hours!”
“Yes Ma’am!”
“Stacy, what did you do to him!?!”
“I asked him if he wanted to learn how to feed himself. He said yes, so we started teaching him how to cook. He’s green, but he’s learning. He made the potato salad, made up the veggie trays, and mixed up the watergate salad. He’s been working hard for the last two hours and hasn’t complained one bit. What did Sarah say?”
“She and Greg are coming for dinner, Val might come too. We’ll talk to them after we eat.”
“What are we going to do with T so he doesn’t find out what we’re up to?”
“You’re the crazy boss lady; I was hoping you had something in mind.”
“Are Trent and Betty coming?”
“Yeah, they should be here any minute. Why?”
“Because I’m going to ask them to take the kids to the playground with T so we have some privacy.”
“Isn’t T a little old for the playground?”
“Maybe, but I think Eliza can persuade him to go.”
“Is he really that taken with her?”
“You can’t even imagine. Watch at dinner and you’ll see.”
Sure enough, when everybody sits down to dinner, Eliza comes over to T.
“Up, T!”
“Eliza, T doesn’t want you in his lap while he’s trying to eat; leave him alone.”
“It ok. She a good kid; I’m ok wit it. Comes on up here, Ladybug.”
Eliza climbs up in his lap, smiling from ear to ear. She wraps her little arms around him in a hug.
“T friend!”
“I likes you too, but you gonna’ gets you own food today. Come on; I takes you.”
T holds Eliza’s hand as they walk over to the counters full of food. He hands her a cloth napkin and silverware, then picks up a plate and starts loading it up with the things she says she wants. Kit just shakes her head. Eliza always has been able to wrap people around her little finger, without ever knowing what she did. Still, it looks like T’s enjoying it and that she’s doing him some good. Maybe one day T’s story will include the name of a loving three year old girl who became his friend. Maybe someday, her story will include helping to change a young man’s life for the better. Kit tucks the sight of the two of them together away in her mind. She thinks maybe her precious little Ladybug should have a little extra treat tonight.
After everybody is finished or at least just nibbling, Stacy walks up behind T and puts her arms around him from behind as she whispers in his ear.
“You have a lot to be proud of today. Everything you fixed turned out really good. You’re making my niece a really happy little girl too. Thank you for all you’re doing.”
I likes the kid. I just done what you told me to wit the food.”
“You did, but you paid attention and worked hard to do it right. T, I misjudged you the day you came here. I’m sorry about that and for all the other things I did wrong to you. You’re trying and I’m glad you’re here.”
“I think I’m glad I here too. We goin’ to the playground, you and Mark comin’?”
“We’ll be down later. Brian and Morgan want to talk to us.”
“Sumthin’ I done?”
“I don’t think so. Mark and I’ve been with you ever since lunch yesterday; you haven’t had a chance to do anything wrong, even if you had wanted to.”
“Ok, we sees you when you gets there.”
An impatient Eliza tugs on T’s hand until he gets up and they head to the playground.
“Go swings! Want you push me!”
“Ok, ok; I comin’.”
“Ok guys, he’s gone. What are we gonna’ do?”
“Would one of you please tell the rest of us what you four are up to!?!”
“Stacy, tell everybody what you told me. Tell us what you know.”
“Ok, me and T got to talking yesterday; he opened up to me a little. He told me his father is in prison for murder. He said his mother is in prison for drugs and prostitution; she made the mistake of propositioning a police officer. He also told me she’s addicted to brown sugar.”
“What the hell!?! She’s addicted to sugar? What’s he mean, she’s fat or something?”
“Sarah, it confused me too, so I looked it up on the internet. Brown sugar is one of the street names for heroin. His mother’s a drug addict and a prostitute.”
“Well, they’re both going to be in prison for at least five years; his father still has ten before he’s eligible for parole. Terrell’s fifteen; he’ll be an adult before either one of them gets out. He doesn’t have to worry about either one of them anymore, so what’s the problem?”
“He has two living half brothers and a living half sister. CPS separated them when they took them from their mother; I guess when she went to prison. He hasn’t seen them since and CPS won’t let them talk to each other. We want to bring them together, here.”
“Stacy, Brian and Morgan don’t have room for three more kids and neither do we. Larry and Erin don’t either, even if they’re willing to take any more fosters in. I know you two are getting married soon and have your own place with the room to house them, but you’re way too young. Kentucky law won’t let us place fosters with you or even let you take the required classes to foster.”
“Brian and Morgan can foster them and we’d just be providing a place for them to live on the same property.”
“Mark, that won’t work. I’ve known you since you were born, but I can’t bend the law that far. They have to live under the same roof as their foster parents; they have to be under their foster parents’ direct supervision. Sarah’s right about you and Stacy too. I personally think you’re both up to the job of being foster parents just as much as at least half of the foster parents I place kids with, but I can’t make that happen because you’re just too young.”
“Then how about this; Stacy and I will move here and Brian, Morgan, William, and T can live in our house. Two of the boys will have to double up after the baby’s born, but they can make it work.”
“Mark, we can’t take your house away from you! Look, Morgan talked to me about this and I’d love to help these kids, but I just don’t see any way to make it work.”
“I do, if Greg can bend the law like he did once before for us and Larry and Erin are willing.”
“Bobby?”
“Brian, you and Morgan can build out Kit’s old attic bedroom into two bedrooms like Larry and Erin did with theirs; that gives you bedrooms for one of them and T. Larry and Erin have Stacy’s old room empty, so they can take one. Now here’s where the hard part comes in. Greg, you said yourself that you ignored the law when you let Larry and Erin foster Stacy and the boys, to keep them together. Kit and I are the same ages as they were. We have the room and have proven ourselves as parents with Eliza. Kit and I plan to adopt anyway, but T is one of our own and we can help him and his family too if you can bring yourself to bend the law like you did before and let us foster one of those kids. We’ll gladly take the required classes; we’d have to anyway to adopt.”
“Bobby, are you serious about this?”
“Yes Honey, I’m serious. Look, these kids need to be together. The way I see it, this plan puts them as close to together as anybody is ever going to manage and is a damn sight better than where they are now. You’ve been getting more and more down ever since your birthday about not being able to give me more children and you won’t get it through your thick head that it doesn’t bother me. If you really want to give me more children that bad, give me one of these kids. This plan puts all four of them on the same property and in the same family; they just will sleep under separate roofs. You know as well as I do that in this freaky family, all of the kids think of each other as brothers and sisters. Mark and Stacy are fighting for these kids, are even willing to give up the home they built for themselves for them. If this is that important to them, it’s damn sure that important to me! Kit, this family gave us both a second chance at making a life for ourselves. The same goes for Stacy, the boys, Callie, and Josh. Kit, if Greg, Sarah, and Val can make this happen and Larry, Erin, Brian, and Morgan are willing, I want to do this.
“Then I’m all in. Greg, can you make this happen?”
“I swear you people are trying to get me impeached. Yes, I can make it happen. Stacy, what are the children’s names?”
“T didn’t tell me. Val, can you and Sarah find out? I really think we shouldn’t say anything to T until we’re sure this is a done deal. He’s had so much heartbreak already, I don’t want him to have to go through any more.”
“We can find out who they are and where they are. We’re still short at least one bedroom for this to work.”
“Erin?”
“I’m willing if you are, Love.”
“We’re in. What about you and Brian?”
“Brian, you asked me once if this family could get any crazier. I think we just did. Let’s do this.”
“We’re in too. Val, you and Sarah find the kids and we’ll go from there.”
“You know, Bill and Siddah were never this crazy, but I think they’d be proud of all of you.”
“Greg, I personally think Mom and Dad would have had us all committed years ago, but thanks. Stacy, you said T has living brothers and sisters. What exactly did you mean by that?”
“Uncle Brian, I can’t tell you that. I promised T that I wouldn’t tell his story and I won’t. If this goes down like we want it to, ask him yourself after it’s over. I’m already on thin ice as it is, but his family is more important than my word.”
“Stacy, I told you before that Siddah would have loved you. If you ever had any doubts, you can definitely lay them down now. You really are just like her.”
“Kate, you have no idea what that means to me. I’m just trying to do the right thing here. I know what ripping brothers and sisters apart feels like; the system did it to me and my brothers. I don’t want anybody to ever have to live with that again if I can help it.”
“So how’s that migraine, Sarah?”
“I have two and I need a drink, just like I told you.”
“Bourbon or scotch?”
“Scotch, neat. Make it a double.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Guys, we’re going home. Sarah, we’ll start looking for those kids first thing tomorrow morning. Don’t give yourself a hangover.”
“See you tomorrow, Boss.”
“I think we’ll go too.”
“Greg, Kate thanks for coming. We sure appreciate all the help.”
“It’s my pleasure. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it now; this family has made me able to enjoy my job more than I ever do with any other foster family. We’ll be in touch.”
“Guys, I told T that you wanted to talk to us. If anybody asks, this was a trustees meeting.”
“Got it. Is there any more trouble you want to cause, or are we done here?”
“Uncle Brian, don’t act like you’re upset. You know as well as I do that if you had known, you would have tried to do the same thing I did.”
“That’s probably truer than I’d like to admit.”
“Hey, we’re going to head down to the playground to watch our daughter play; you guys want to come?”
“Yeah, I’m dying to see what she’s got T doing. See all y’all later.”
As they walk toward the playground, Bobby, Kit, Mark, and Stacy talk.
“Bobby, where did you pull that plan out of?”
“Probably the same place you got the idea to give up your house. Were you really serious about that?”
“As a heart attack. I’m proud of our place and I love it, but at the end of the day, it’s just four walls and a roof. Bobby, it’s the family that make a home, not the building.”
“I wonder if T has any idea what he has here.”
“He doesn’t have a clue yet, but he will. Are you seeing what I think I’m seeing?”
“It looks to me like your daughter has T riding her around on his shoulders.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought I saw. She’s just like her Mama; one look and a guy’s wrapped around her little finger. The boys are all going to be in so much trouble when she finally discovers them.”
“I don’t know about all of them. My bet’s she will set her sights on one and it’ll be all over for him. He’s the only one who has to worry.”
“Worry about what? Mark, she’s going to grow up to be just like every other woman in this family. She’ll be loving and devoted to her man, her children, and her family; and a vicious hellcat when it comes to defending them. As much time as she spends with you and Stacy, she can’t help it. I just hope she doesn’t inherit my sister here’s temper, but I think it’s already too late for that.”
“Would you rather she be some little pushover like Mary?”
“I never said that, but do you realize just how much Mark puts up with because he thinks you’re perfect?”
“I never said she’s perfect, just better than me.”
“Stop that, Love; I’m not perfect and neither are you, but we come pretty close when we’re together.”
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Post by papaof2 on Apr 9, 2018 10:16:06 GMT -6
It's confirmed. These people really are crazy! ;-)
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Post by headlesshorseman on Apr 9, 2018 15:51:01 GMT -6
Thank you.
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Post by 2t2crash on Apr 10, 2018 13:26:57 GMT -6
Just realized I missed not one, but three chapters.. Which meant more for me to read!
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Post by cutter on Apr 10, 2018 17:23:14 GMT -6
I live to serve. Glad you're enjoying it.
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Post by udwe on Apr 10, 2018 20:27:39 GMT -6
That pollen is really coming on (even though we still have snow on the ground).
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Post by cutter on Apr 10, 2018 22:13:22 GMT -6
Well, T just met Jessica. All I can say is "WOW!" Actually, that's not near all I could say, but there's already enough cussin' in this chapter. A very little bit of Jessica's story from the last three years comes out and we may have just caught a glimpse of some future trouble. Mark makes one of his rare mistakes in the last half of the chapter and Stacy does what she does best (other than getting mad). And now, without further ado, the next chapter. Please enjoy.
Chapter 17
(Monday, May 3, 2021, Franklin high school, 7 AM)
“T, we got all the paperwork done to sign you up before you came. All the adults on the farm and Betty are listed in your file to pick you up if we need them to. You’re approved to ride with Bobby and Kit too. I brought you in today just to make sure there weren’t any problems; you can ride home with the crew and start riding in with them tomorrow. Here’s some money and a roll of quarters so you can get something out of the vending machines if you want to. Stacy said she packed enough lunch for them and you too. If you want to buy lunch, it’s ok; but none of the guys have a very high opinion of the food they serve here. Have a good day and don’t hesitate to call us if you have any problems.”
“Thanks, Morgan.”
“Ok T, your home room is 103; that’s on the first floor down this hallway. Your teacher for that class is Mrs. Clayton. She’s a nice lady and she loves to teach, but don’t be late. If you pay attention, take notes, and ask questions, she’ll take to you real quick. I hope you don’t mind, but we’ve already talked to all of your teachers. They all know you’re one of us and that we’re here to help you with anything you have trouble with. We didn’t tell them much about you and almost nothing about your past, but they understand you’re probably going to have some culture shock and you’re used to a much different setting for school. You have Mrs. Barnes second period for history. She’s a little different, so don’t be surprised if she’s wearing costumes or talking different than you’d expect. She tries hard to bring the book alive in her class. Mr. Bauer is your third period science teacher. He can be a real hard ass and doesn’t cut the students any slack, but he likes it when students apply themselves, even if they don’t get it right. Kit scored a few brownie points with him for us a few years ago, so he has a soft spot for members of the crew. You’re fourth period teacher is Mr. Markum. He teaches economics and is scary good. What he taught me and Mark last year let us up our profits by about three percent. The lunch room is down that hall. We’ll see you then. Here’s a list of all your classes with the teachers and as much as we could think of about how to get on their good side. There’s directions from class to class and where the bathrooms are. Have a good morning and we’ll see you at lunch.”
“You guys sho’ went to a lot o’ trouble fo’ me.”
“T, we take care of each other in our family and in the crew. Here, at home, and everywhere else, we’ll have your back and you’ll have ours. I meant what I told you; we want you to do well here. T, we want you to have a new and better life than you had. We’ll do anything we can to help you get it. We gotta’ go; have a good morning.”
“Thanks.”
(Franklin High School, lunch)
T walks into the lunchroom and sees the crew right off. Before he gets there, he sees a tall black girl walk up to Stacy. At 5’11”, she’s the same height as T. She’s lean and trim with long, long legs. She has long, thin fingers and a huge smile full of perfect white teeth. Her black hair is shoulder length and her laugh sends chills down T’s spine. He has GOT to get to know this girl because he is in love!
“Hey Baby, why don’t yous has lunch wit me?”
Mark and Stacy are both fighting smiles and Kit actually snorts a laugh. Bobby and the rest of the crew just shake their heads.
“I’m no baby and I’m sure as hell not YOUR baby. I’ve got no time for little boys. Tell you what, you grow up some and maybe we can talk about it later.”
“Damn girl! You ain’t gots to be all bitchy abouts it!”
“Who’s being bitchy? Boy, learn how to talk to a woman with a little respect AND in proper English! Do something with that bird’s nest on your head that you call hair. AND PULL UP YOUR DAMN PANTS! Nobody wants to see your polka dot, boxer short covered ass! You do those things and maybe I’ll reconsider and we can have a conversation. This is probably too much information for you to stuff in that tiny little gangsta’ brain of yours, but my name’s Jessica. If you call me baby, bitch, or ho’, I’m gonna’ kick your everlovin’ ass all the way across the parking lot. Now go sit down and be quiet so the adults here can have a conversation.”
T looks at Mark who just motions with his head to the seat beside him. T wisely takes the hint and lets the conversation go as he sits down.
“I think she likes you.”
“If that how she talk to somebody she like, I hate to see how she be talkin’ to somebody she hate!”
“I told you to stop talking like a hood rat and start speaking proper English! You’re really startin’ to piss me off, Boy! Wait a minute. Let’s start over; what’s your name?”
“They calls me T.”
“What’s that about? Your Mama not like you enough to give you a whole name, just a letter?”
Terrell is mad; that part about his mother hurt and sent him over the edge. He stands up and never takes his eyes off Jess.
“Oh shit, here we go.”
Hey, Bitch! My Mama name me Terrell. She ain’t never gave no shit about me or my bruthas or sista! She be shootin’ her brown suga’ and ho’in and lettin’ hers kids goes hungry! My boyz in da Crips calls me T-bone, but dat gang shit just gonna’ gets me dead! I don’t wants no mo’ o’ dat gang shit! Ladybug couldn’t says my name, sos I’s just tells her ta’ calls me T. Yous don’t likes it, yous just goes and fucks off, bitch!”
T is still standing and breathing heavy as he looks ready to breathe fire and spit nails. Jess and everybody else at the table are wide eyed. Stacy and Mark are both ready to pounce to separate T and Jess when the fight starts. Jess’s reputation is well known in the school and several students are looking on, waiting for her to send this stupid new kid to the hospital...or the morgue.
“Ladybug!?! Our Ladybug!?! Kit does he seriously expect me to believe that OUR LADYBUG ACTUALLY LIKES THIS FREAK!?!”
“Jess, they’re tight. She ate supper Saturday night and Sunday dinner in his lap. He was riding her around on his shoulders at the playground yesterday. Jess, they’re friends, and good ones. He treats her like gold and she just adores him.”
Jess just drops into a chair at the table.
“Oh my God. T, I’m sorry. Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
“What? Nows you be all likin’ me an’ shit?”
“T, Eliza can pick a winner, or a loser, from a mile away. I held that little angel a week after she was born, right after she got to come home from the hospital, and we’ve been close ever since. You still need to pull your damn pants up and do something with that mess on your head so you don’t look like a gansta’ hood rat, but if you’re good enough for Ladybug; you’re plenty good enough for me. Let’s really start over this time. I’m Jessica Malone, but my friends call me Jess.”
“I’m Terrell James, but I goes by T.”
“T, sit down before you have a stroke. You got Jess’s attention, don’t screw it up now.”
“Damn, I thought we were gonna’ get to see a fight.”
“Hey Travis, this is family business; why don’t you mind your own!”
“I don’t want any trouble, Stacy.”
“Then stop asking for it and mind your own business!”
“I’d listen to her, Travis. I know what she can do; I taught her.”
“Oh shit!” Travis picks up his tray and leaves in a hurry.
“You still want to have lunch with me?”
“No! Mark and Stacy treats me good! I’m stayin’ right here!”
“I’m really sorry, T.” Jess stands up and takes her lunch to another table. Kit gives Bobby a look and goes over to sit with her.
“T, I understand why you did it, but you were real hard on Jess.”
“Mark, she started it! All I asked her for was to have lunch with me!”
“See those guys over there? They’re our version of the Crips around here. Every single one of those guys has spent time in jail for doing stupid shit. I don’t know how they found out, but they know about you and where you came from. You’re the only freshman in the crew, so we can’t be with you all the time; watch your back. They’ve all hit on Jess and not one of them has any manners. They didn’t leave her alone until she punched two of them hard enough to knock them down. I taught her too, so she knows how to fight. Like it or not, you still look like you’re in the gangs. Jess is just real touchy about that sort of thing.”
“She didn’t have to get all nasty about it.”
“Give her a break, T. You know, she’s just like the rest of us; she has a story too. If you want to know it, ask her. If you treat her right, she just might tell it to you. Don’t forget, you and Stacy didn’t start out so good either; and look where you two are now.”
“I guess you’re right. What do I do to fix this?”
“We have a campout this weekend. If she hasn’t made the first move by then, why don’t you try again at the campout. You do what you want, but if I were you, I’d let this die down before I tried talking to her again.”
“Why not; I did such a great job today!”
“The way I figure it, you and Jess both went the wrong way today. Give both of you a little time to calm down and things might go better.”
“No, I cain’t do that. Stacy told me not to call her a bitch and I went and done it twice. I need to go tell her I’m sorry; maybe she’ll feel sorry for me.”
“She won’t feel sorry for you, but she might respect you a little. Go on, hard head.”
T walks over to the table where Jess and Kit are sitting.
“Jessica, can I talk to you fo’ a minute?”
“Give us a minute, Kitty.”
Kit lays a hand on Jess’s arm. “Alright.” She puts a hand on T’s arm as she walks past. “Go a little easier on her this time, Little Brother.”
T starts to say something, then remembers that his foster parents are Kit’s parents, and she is older than he is. “I try.”
“That’s all you can do. Good luck.”
“Ok if I sit down?”
“Sure, T. Listen, I really am sorry.”
T sits down. “Why you so bitchy? I just wanted to eat with you.”
“See those guys over there?”
“Yeah, Mark just told me about ‘em. They thinks they a gang or somethin’. Them hillbillies wouldn’t last five minutes in Louisville.”
“Don’t fool yourself; they are some nasty pieces of work. I dated the big one for a while. He was a nice guy until he started hanging around with those guys. He got mean and started getting into trouble. When he tried to get me to get high with him, I left him. He grabbed me by the arm and slapped me. I broke his nose and ran. Pete arrested him for assault; he ended up doing six months of home incarceration. He and one of his buddies tried to ambush me right after they took his ankle bracelet off. I put them both down and they both spent some time behind bars. They’ve left me alone ever since, but I still hate all of them for what they turned Malachi into and what he did to me. I saw you and how you were dressed and all I could see was a gang banger. I didn’t give you a chance and I should have.”
“You could always grow up and be a big girl and give me one now.”
“I guess I deserved that. Where’d you come from?”
“I’m from Louisville. I been in the Crips since I’s nine and kept getting into trouble. Last time I got out of juvy, Mama was in jail and so was my baby daddy. They puts me in a foster home. They’d already took my brothers and sister. I ain’t seed them for almost a year. I’m done with that shit. The YNB’s kilt my other brother and shot me too. I don’t wanna’ get dead.”
“How old are you now?”
“Fifteen. How old are you?”
“I’m seventeen.”
“I ain’t never messed around with no older girl before.”
“You won’t mess around with me either, but if you get a haircut and some pants that fit, I might go on a date with you.”
“What’s your problem with my hair and pants?”
“No offense, but that hair just makes you look stupid, and I’m thinking now that you aren’t stupid. Those droopy pants of yours make you look like a gansta’. You have to hold them up when you walk, they make you walk funny, and it looks like you just took a crap in your pants.”
“Fine, I try to get all respectable lookin’ fo’ you.”
“I hope so. I think you’d look good respectable. You already have two things going for you.”
“What?”
“I’ve dated a couple of white guys and they were nice, but I prefer black men. There aren’t that many our age around here and the ones that are, aren’t much. The other thing you have going for you is the family and the crew. If you really were nothing but trouble, Eliza wouldn’t have anything to do with you and Mark and Stacy would probably have already sealed your fate. We go back a long way; I trust their judgement. There’s something good in you. They see it, so I will eventually too. Thanks for having lunch with me. If you decide to get respectable, ask me out; I might surprise you.”
Jess gets up and walks out of the lunch room, leaving a dumbfounded T behind. Mark walks over.
“You hate to see her go, but love to watch her walk away, don’t you?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t act like you don’t see it; Jess is hot!”
“Thought you’s all hot to marry Stacy.”
“I am, but I still like a nice view. You don’t really think Stacy wrapped you up in a hug yesterday after dinner just to make you feel better do you? She didn’t mean anything by it, but she was flirting as much as she was giving you a compliment.”
“And you ok wit that!?!”
“Sure, I know who she’s going home with. T, we flirt in the crew; you might as well just go on and get used to it. Hell, Jess has kissed me before, right in front of Stacy. She didn’t mean anything by it but a little fun, but it was a real nice kiss. For your own good, I suggest you get way on her good side; I think you might like how Jess kisses.”
“I think you right. Stacy don’t cut hair do she?”
“She cuts mine. I work too hard for my money to pay $20 for a haircut.”
“Think she cut mine?”
“Ask her, later. Right now, we have to get to class. All your afternoon teachers are pretty laid back, so you should have an easier time the rest of the day. We’ll meet you in the front lobby where you came in after school.”
“Ok.”
The rest of the day went pretty good for T. He was a little disappointed he didn’t see Jess again and he noticed the hillbilly wannabes watching him a couple of times, but they didn’t say anything to him so he didn’t worry about it. By the end of the school day, T is tired. These teachers actually expect the students to work. It isn’t like Louisville at all.
“How was your first day, Sweetie?”
“Stacy, I’m tired! All I had to do in Louisville was show up; these teachers make you guys work! I got a bunch of homework to do!”
“Tell you what, we’ll hop off the van at your place and all of us will do our homework in the summer kitchen there. Between the five of us, we should be able to all get our homework done.”
“You do that for me? I don’t understand half this stuff!”
“Sure we will. T, we all work together in the crew on everything. You’re still new to this, but you’ll learn. It’s just the way we work; we work together on everything so we can all pull each other through and get a win.”
“I thought you two want to get home and get freaky.”
“We seem to be doing a lot of that and probably will tonight, but that’s after the important stuff is done. Come on, we can talk in the van. I’ve had enough of this place for one day and want to get back home.”
On the way home, the crew keep up the conversation.
“Why you two want to get married so soon? They’s a lot of guys out there for you and girls for Mark. Why you wanna’ get all tied down now?”
“I won’t speak for Mark, but what does anybody else have that Mark doesn’t already give me? I’ll just be blunt here. The sex is out of this world with him; he loves all of me, just as I am, without any complaints; he does everything he can ever think of to make me happy, and according to Kit here, he puts up with more than any ten men should with my temper. T, I like you, but there’s nothing you have that I want and don’t already get. I don’t expect anybody else would be any different.”
“Is Jess like that too?”
“Don’t know; she never has clicked with anybody to stay with them long enough to find out.”
“How many guys she had?”
“She’s dated a half dozen or so, but as far as I know, none. She had a rough time a few years ago and is like Kit and I are. T, she’s saving herself for the right guy. Who knows, you may be him.”
“I don’t know if I can just be with one girl.”
“You ever been with a girl?”
“Yeah, a few.”
“How many, three, four?”
“Seven, why?”
“Did you have sex with any of them?”
“All of ‘em, why you askin’?”
“T, we give away a part of ourselves when we have sex. If it’s love, the part we give away is replaced with the part of our partner that they give to us. What we give away, we can never get back. If it isn’t love, we lose that piece of ourselves and receive nothing to replace it with. I’ll tell you another secret. Mark and I didn’t make love until the Friday before last when he proposed to me and I said yes, but we’ve been doing just about everything else for the last four years. Mark knows exactly what I like and how I like it. He gives me feelings I didn’t even know could exist before we got together. I think I do the same thing for him.”
“Believe me Lover, you do and then some.”
“Good to know I’m doing my fiance job right. I’ll try to do a little better tonight. T, the point is that when two people concentrate on only each other, they learn each other so well that nobody else can do for them what they can do for each other.”
“It’s true, T. Me and Bobby’s first time, there was a point where it was like we weren’t two people anymore. It was like we were two halves of the same person. We talked about it. For a little while, neither one of us could tell were we ended and the other one of us began. I can honestly say nothing could have prepared me for what Bobby and I have together, in or out of the bedroom. I didn’t dare dream I’d ever have the life I have now, or the husband, or the daughter.”
“You women always talk about it like it’s some kinda’ magic or sumthin’. It cain’t be that good, never!”
“T, you’re right, it is magic and it isn’t that good; it’s better. I hope you find what I have with Anastasia and Bobby has with Kitty. I promise you; you’ll never be the same man if you do, ever again.”
“Funny, four years, two rings, and a marriage proposal later, and it still sounds magical when you say my name. You’d think I’d have gotten used to it by now.”
“I hope you never do.”
“I hope that too. So, what do you have for homework, T?”
(...)
(Mark and Stacy’s, 6:30 PM)
“Lover, supper’s ready. What are you doing?”
“Pouring a drink; you want one?”
“Uh-oh. If you’re having a drink on a school night, I think I’ll need one. Pour me an applejack and ginger ale. Go light on the applejack.”
“You got it. Where are we eating?”
“It’s a nice night; I thought we’d eat on the deck downstairs.”
“Here’s your drink; let’s go, and thank you for supper.”
“You don’t even know what it is yet!”
“Doesn’t matter; you made it for me and I know it’ll be good. Anastasia, I’m just thankful you love me and take such good care of me. You know, but for the Grace of God, I could be Alan right now.”
“Not with me, you won’t! Let’s go eat and you can tell me what’s bothering you enough that you felt like you needed a drink on a Monday night.”
Mark asks Stacy to say the blessing. That’s unusual enough, but when they get halfway through supper and Mark hasn’t said a word, Stacy’s worried.
“Mark, you haven’t said a word all through supper. What’s bothering you?”
“Terrell. Anastasia, our local hoodrats found out who he is somehow. Either they know somebody, or T’s trying to get in with them and is talking a good game to us. So help me Stacy, if he starts hanging with them, he is off this farm!”
“Mark, I don’t think he told them.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Mark, if you let on that you know what I’m about to tell you, T won’t ever trust me again. He only joined a gang to get food for him and his brothers and sister. He was shot and his older brother was murdered on their own front porch in a drive by shooting by a rival gang in Louisville. From the way he told it, it sounded like his brother sacrificed himself for T. I’m not making fun of him, but I don’t think T’s smart enough or a good enough liar to make that up. How did you find out they knew who he is?”
“I overheard them talking. They know his name, that he’s from Louisville, that he’s been in jail and why, and that he was in the Victory Park Crips. If he didn’t tell them, they must have a contact in Louisville. What I can’t figure out is why anybody would bother to let the locals know he’s here.”
“I looked at it, but wasn’t paying enough attention. What did his rap sheet say.”
“One petty theft, one robbery, pled down to theft by unlawful taking, a couple of shoplifting charges, two assaults, both dropped, and five for drug possession, all pled down to misdemeanors. The drug charges sound like he had drugs on him in quantities to sell.”
“Do they know he lives here?”
“They said they don’t, but it won’t take them long to figure it out with him hanging with us. I hope you’re right about him.”
“I’m pretty sure, but if he conned me, he’s mine. There’s nothing we can do about it unless they make something of it. If they do, we’ll take care of it. Right now, relax. How are you feeling?”
“A little light headed. I guess I mixed this stronger than I thought.”
“Stop drinking it. Come on, I’ll help you up to bed so you don’t trip on the stairs, then we’ll get you undressed and I’ll rub your back. That usually helps wind you down.”
“Didn’t know I was that wound up.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen you tipsy. You may have gotten that way with the boys before, but I’ve never seen it. You’re upset. Come on, let me help you.”
“I know better than this; I’m sorry.”
“Love, everybody has their point; you just reached yours tonight. It doesn’t bother me. Come on now.”
“Just dump my ass on the couch like I deserve. I know better than this.”
“I’m not doing that. Love, stop making a big deal out of this; it isn’t. At worst, you made a minor mistake. It isn’t anything a little time and rest won’t fix. You’re at home where it’s safe and I’m here to take care of you. Let’s go to bed.”
“It’s not even eight o’clock yet.”
“Then we can play a little if you feel like it, or cuddle and talk if you don’t. Up you get.”
“I think I can make it. I’m not really dizzy, just a little light headed.”
“I want you to lean on me anyway; it’ll make me feel better. Now come on. I’ve got this side; you hold the handrail and take your time.”
Mark’s not drunk, just buzzed. He still has to concentrate to get up the stairs without stumbling. When they get to their bedroom, Stacy takes his shirt off, then kneels down and takes off his boots and socks.
“I’m going to go get some lotion. I want you to get out of those pants and lie on the bed on your stomach. Under no circumstances are you to stand up. I love you, so we’re doing it my way tonight.”
“Yes Ma’am.”
“You don’t need to call me ma’am; Love or Lover will do just fine. Now, finish getting yourself undressed and lie down; I’ll be back in a minute.”
Mark does as he’s told while Stacy’s gone. When Stacy gets back, he’s lying facedown on the bed, covered up to his waist and has his eyes closed. Stacy calls softly to him.
“You still with me, Love?”
“Yeah, but it’s getting worse; the room’s spinning.”
“Don’t worry; I saw this before with Daddy. You may throw up, but it’ll pass. You’ll be ok.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.”
“Reach up and grab the bedpost with your hand and hold on. That should help with the room spinning.”
“That helps. How did you know that?”
“It was the only thing that would keep Daddy from spewing like a warm can of beer when he got like this. I’m going to rub you down and see if that helps. Just try to relax.”
“I’m sorry, Anastasia.”
“Don’t be. Like I said, you hit your limit today. If I thought you meant to get drunk, I would be upset. I honestly think you just meant to have a drink and thought it’d be fine. I’ve seen you drink one drink before and it didn’t do this to you. It just hit you just right today and you barely touched your supper. If you had eaten, I think you’d have been fine. I’m not upset about it and you shouldn’t be either. It’s no big deal. How’s that feel?”
“It feels good. You’re really not upset?”
“No Love, I’m really not. I’ve done it; I just never told you. I know you won’t make a habit of it, so I’m not worried about it. Just relax and concentrate on what I’m doing; try to enjoy it.”
“I am. I love you.”
“I love you too, now hush.”
It doesn’t take long for Stacy to put Mark to sleep. She covers him the rest of the way up, then gets up and sets up the coffeemaker so it will be ready when they wake up in the morning. She wants to be able to put a cup in front of Mark when he wakes up, in case he has a hangover. She doesn’t think he will, but she wants to be ready. She undresses and crawls into bed. She cuddles up with Mark and gets comfortable. They’re both asleep by 9:30.
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Post by 2t2crash on Apr 10, 2018 22:44:02 GMT -6
Interesting twist with the potential for some scum to get themselves cut loose from their mortal coil if they mess with the family.
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Post by cutter on Apr 10, 2018 22:49:11 GMT -6
I don't particularly like where my brain is going with that particular twist, but I bet I write it as imagined. Let's just say the crew has a bad habit of running toward trouble.
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Post by papaof2 on Apr 10, 2018 22:52:39 GMT -6
And often running over that trouble without stopping or slowing down...
Where does the property need fertilizer this week?
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Post by gipsy on Apr 11, 2018 7:18:41 GMT -6
The pigs always need feeding too
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