Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:50:48 +0000
From: hankster1430@bellsouth.net
Subject: The Crew Chapter 4

The Crew
Chapter Four

As soon as he finished lunch, Randy took off to prepare the contracts.  The
crew lingered a bit longer and then drove home, three to a car.  Ron and
Foster said they wanted to make sure they weren't needed at the store.
They told the others to meet them there at 3:45.  Dan's office was close
by.

The remaining four crew members had nearly two hours before they had to get
to the Fisher's general store.  They didn't waste a minute of it.
Ridiculous as it sounds; they would have felt guilty enjoying each other
without Ron and Foster, so each couple went into their bedrooms and played
only with their own partners.

Once again, the noises coming from Michael and Jerry had Jeff and Jim
giggling like crazy.  They just couldn't get into their own game playing.

"I guess we'll never have sex here until the walls are sound proofed," Jeff
said.  He and Jim settled for fondling and cuddling, and dreaming of Sunday
night when they would be alone.  They also took it upon themselves to make
sure that everyone got to the closing on time.

They got to Dan's office a little before 4:30 and he ushered them right in
to a little conference room where there would be room for all of them.
Knowing that Michael was the lawyer for the group, he handed him all the
documents, which Michael actually read right down to the small print.

"It looks good to me," he announced to the room in general.  Then Dan had
each one of them come up to him one at a time in the order that their name
appeared on the contracts.  He pointed out all the various places they had
to sign.  It took several minutes for each crew member to do their thing,
and when they were through, Dan handed Michael a copy of all the documents.
Then, he took all the certified checks for the balance of the down payment.
The check from Jeff's bank had arrived two days earlier.

"Well," he said as he went around the table shaking hands, "the place is
yours.  I took the liberty of transferring all the utilities into Jeff's
name and office address. I don't want to be presumptuous, but you told me
he was the official accountant for you guys.  The only thing I couldn't
transfer was the telephone, but I'm leaving that to you guys if you even
want a land phone.  I'm sure you all have cells."

Jeff got up and gave Dan a hug.  "That's just fine he said.  "Dan, we can't
thank you enough.  You've gone way above and beyond for us."

Just then there was a knock on the door, and Randy came in armed with a
load of papers.  He dropped the papers on the conference room table and
went over to Dan and engulfed him in a bear hug.  "Hi Uncle Dan" he said.

"Dan's your uncle?" Michael asked.

"Only by injection," Randy joked.  Warren's my blood uncle.

"That's why I gave you more than one contractor's name, Foster, and kept my
relationship with Randy quiet.  I didn't want you to accuse me of
nepotism."  Dan interjected.  "I'll leave you guys now with your
contractor.  I'll be outside if you need me," he added.

As Michael reviewed the contract, Randy and Foster referred to the
blueprints and when Michael and Foster approved the deal, the signing began
again.  Jeff prepared a check for $1,650, the 10% Randy had requested and
gave it to him.

"One thing good about a small town," Randy said.  "Everyone is either
related or at least knows each other.  On the way down here, I stopped at
the County Clerk's office with the blueprints and drew down the permits.
The fees were included in my price so it's all taken care of.  I expect to
start work on Wednesday morning."

The crew gave up one loud cheer, and Dan ran in to see what was happening.
"It's cool, Unc," Randy said.  "I think I have some happy clients here.

"What are you guys doing for dinner tonight?"  Dan asked as Randy started
to gather up his papers.

Ron answered.  "Well we have sort of made Joey's our unofficial dinner
place, but this week I haven't made reservations yet.

"I don't think you'll need them this time of year, but I'll call anyway.  I
need a head count first," Dan said.  Ron called his parents, who declined
this time so it would only be the six of them, Dan and Warren.  Michael
looked at Randy, and asked hopefully, "How about you, Randy?"

"Sorry guys, not this time.  I have a date.  I'll see you next weekend."
He left with all his papers and Michael turned right to Dan.

"Is he or isn't he?" he wanted to know.

"Stay cool, Michael.  Last I heard he was as straight as an arrow," Dan
informed them.

All Michael could say was, "Shit, all the good ones are straight."

They all laughed at the twist of an old joke.  They agreed to meet Dan and
Warren at Joey's at 7 PM.  It was already 6 PM. With all their business
concluded, they went home to refresh themselves and get ready for dinner.

Joey greeted them like old friends, and this time added, "Welcome to the
neighborhood."  He seemed to know everything that was going on in the
neighborhood.  Who needs a newspaper?

"Thanks," they all said at the same time.

They all had a decadent, delicious dinner, and when it came time to pay,
the check had been taken care of by Dan.  The crew put up a sincere stink
and wanted to pay their share, but Dan informed them that he always took
out his clients after a closing.  He was deaf to the argument that they
were six for the earning of only one commission.  There was nothing they
could do but hug Dan and Warren goodnight and head for home.

During dinner, the temperature had really plummeted.  They immediately
turned on the space heater.  The night before, the living room had gotten
comfortably warm in a few minutes.  Tonight, it got warmer, but was still
chilly.  They decided to move the coffee table and set up the sleeping bags
on the living room floor, two to a bag.

When each couple was snuggled in their private cocoons, they talked for a
while and agreed that until the cabin was heated, they would get up early
on Sunday mornings.  They would meet at Denny's for breakfast and drive up
for the day to check on things.  They would try to get home before dark.

Ron said, "That sounds like a plan to me, but I do have a request.  I'm not
a religious fanatic, but I would like to get here by 10 AM so I can make
church.  It's very important to my folks."

"Not a problem," Michael murmured.  That was an important statement coming
from Michael.  He was totally agnostic.

The next morning they could not ignore the fact that they had to shower and
shave as well as perform other morning duties.  Jeff and Jim had kitchen
duty so the others moved the space heater as close to the bathroom as they
could to get the room as warm as possible.  They used the shower two at a
time, but could only shave one at a time.  Eventually everyone was ready
and dressed for church.  They sat at the kitchen table and Jeff served
eggs, toast and coffee.  They all helped to clean up, and off they went to
the Fishers.

Josie Fisher greeted them all with a kiss on the cheek and told them how
handsome they all looked.  That was no lie. The Fishers got in Ron's car
with Ron and Foster.  Jeff and Jim got into Michael's car with Michael and
Jerry, and followed Ron to the church.  The sun had warmed the air a lot
and many congregants were standing in front of the church socializing
before the service.  The crew was happy to see Joey, Rosie, Dan and Warren,
Joe Torrance, and Randy.  Randy was holding on to the cutest little girl of
about five years.

Joe Torrance came over first and grabbed Foster's hand and welcomed him to
`his' church.  It was his way of saying that there were no hard feelings,
and to welcome the crew as neighbors.  Foster was surprised and
exceptionally pleased.

Michael made his way over to Randy.  "I know you are a very private person,
but you've got to tell me who this lovely lady is on your arm.  Was she
your date last night?"

Randy nodded yes.  "Liz," he said, "this here's Michael Costello.  He's got
his eye on you, but don't even think of getting married for another fifteen
years.  You better listen to your father."

"So this is your little girl.  She must take after her mother who I don't
see anywhere," Michael looked around.  Randy's face darkened.  He picked
his daughter up and said, "Come darling, let's go inside."

Michael's big mouth often got him in trouble.  His mother referred to it as
`his big fat lawyer's mouth.' But for the life of him, he couldn't figure
out what he had done this time. Warren was talking to Jeff so he ran over
and interrupted them. He told Warren what had happened and wanted to know
if he had done something wrong so he could apologize.

"Shit," Warren said.  "Nobody ever talks about his wife.  She married Randy
on the rebound after her lover was sentenced to life in prison for murder.
He was a no good son of a bitch, but Elizabeth loved him.  Well, one day
there's a knock on Elizabeth's back door, and when she opens the door,
there stands Lou the low life.  He had escaped from prison and wanted her
to go with him to Los Angeles, where they could get lost in the crowds.  He
had stolen a car and gave her about two minutes to decide.  She threw some
clothes in a bag and went with him, leaving little Liz, who was about six
months old, alone in the house.

"A little way out of town, a state trooper picked up on the stolen car and
started after them.  Lou tried to out run him and ended up piling into a
very old, very sturdy tree.  He was killed outright.  Elizabeth lived for a
few hours, just long enough to let us know what happened."

"My God," Michael was truly sorry for his big mouth right now.  He ran into
the church.  Most of the crowd was still outside so he spotted Randy
easily.  He slid into the seat next to him, and mumbled, "I am truly sorry,
man.  I didn't know."

"It's OK," Randy said.  "You couldn't have known."  Then he did something
really surprising.  He took Michael's hand and squeezed it.  When he
released Michael's hand, Michael patted Randy on his shoulder and left to
join his friends.

As he walked to the rear of the church, he saw his friends coming in. They
took almost the entire rear row.  He joined them, and found himself with
Jerry on one side of him and Ron on the other.  He leaned over to Ron and
asked, "What denomination is this church?  Jeff, Jim and I were born
Catholics and Jerry is Jewish.  Will it be all right?"

"Don't worry, man," Ron answered.  "The church is non-denominational.  Did
you notice that it's simply called, `The Summer Street Church of God?'  I
think you'll all be comfortable here.

A few minutes later, a comely woman started to play the organ and a six
member choir climbed the stairs and stood behind the speaker's lectern.
Then the pastor came to the lectern.  "Good morning everyone," he said.  He
looked around, and smiling at all the new people, he said, "I see lots of
fresh faces here this morning.  Welcome to you all.  I'm Pastor Patterson,
and I hope to say hello to all of you after the service.  There will be
refreshments in the social hall as usual.  Now please turn to page 38 in
your hymnal."

The organ began to play and the congregation began to sing.  The newbies
examined the pastor.  He was about five feet, ten inches tall, and weighed
no more than 150 pounds. He wore no vestments at all, but was dressed in an
ill fitting business suit.  They all looked into his eyes.  They were a
soft hazel color and they were looking over his flock with such love that
anyone coming into the sanctuary would be struck by the vibes of affection
that permeated the church.  Never had Michael, for one, ever been in the
presence of a man like this.  Michael wanted to hug him and beg for his
love and for his compassion.  He could not explain his feeling.

When the sermon began they were all blown away.  The pastor spoke of man's
need to love one another, not just family and friends, but neighbors,
elected officials, people who are different than you are, and most
important, your enemies.  "When you can love your enemies," he challenged
his flock. "they will no longer be enemies.  Hatred and wars will disappear
from the planet."  He continued, "Love is the most potent force in God's
universe.  Never forget that." There was not one word uttered about sin and
sinners and going to hell or homosexuals being damned.  Love, only love.

Michael and Jerry were of different faiths.  They had discussed their
religious differences and realized they had none.  Both had believed that
their religions offered nothing but hypocrisy and had long wandered from
them.  They looked at each other now and they were both crying.

The service ended and Pastor Patterson invited everyone to the social hall.
The newbies were anxious to meet him and tell him how inspiring his service
was.

Out of some primal need, Michael and Jerry reached him first.  They
enveloped him in a bear hug and thanked him profusely for his inspiration
and for his love.  The rest of the crew observed this display of affection
in utter awe.  The pastor returned their hug, and asked that they call him,
Paul.  He chatted with them for a few minutes and they promised him that he
would see them again.  Then he excused himself to greet the rest of his
flock.

Michael could not move.  He just stood there trying to suppress his racking
sobs.  Suddenly he felt something tugging at his pant leg.  He looked down
to see little Liz.  She looked up at him with big blue eyes and said, "I
like you Mr. Costello.  You're a nice man.  My daddy likes you too."

During the social hour, Paul managed to spend a few minutes with everyone
there.  Jeff told him that they would be there every Sunday until their
addition was finished.  After that, the cabin would be heated and they
would come for full weekends and vacations, whenever possible.  Chances
were that even if all of them couldn't come at the same time, two of them
would be there.  Sometimes, his dad and his godfather might come for
fishing and he would be sure to tell them to come meet Pastor Paul, even
though they were Catholics.  As they said goodbye to Paul, each crew member
shook his hand.  Later they compared notes and they all had the same
reaction.  As he took their hands, they each felt a powerful surge of
energy permeate their bodies.  Jerry described it as a powerful laser light
of healing.  No wonder Ron and Foster had requested that they all get there
in time for church.

Jeff was determined that there would be no obstacles to their weekly trips
to `their little piece of heaven.'  The first thing Monday morning, he went
out and traded his Saturn Ion on a Plymouth Grand Voyager which comfortably
seated seven people.  Then he went to the bank with Michael and they opened
the `cabin joint account' with the remaining mortgage money.  Both he and
Michael could sign checks.  The first check they wrote was to reimburse
Jeff for everything he had laid out on behalf of the crew.  They were now
all on an even keel.

To be continued...