Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:22:35 -0800 (PST)
From: E Walk <cane_lane_candy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Tip and Ty Chapter 18

Tip and Ty
By E Walk
(Copyrighted by the author)
Edited by Radio Rancher

Chapter 18 -- Matchmaker, Matchmaker

This is Mark.

As I was driving to the school, I was thinking.  I have been up for nine
hours and I have aged twenty years.  I pulled into the loading zone and
Bobby, Becky and Billy climbed into the van and strapped themselves into
their assigned seats.

Bobby was holding an envelope, "Mr. Harrison gave me a note for you, Nano.
I'll give it to you when we get home."

When we got to the house, Bobby handed me the envelope and I laid it on the
counter and gave the children their snack.  Bobby and Becky did their
homework which was minimal.  I was to find out that they were model
students.

While they were working, I finished fixing the things for dinner.  When
they had finished their work, I took the children to the park to play with
their friends.

The other three mothers who were interested in the playgroup were there and
they were excited that I would be taking the group on Fridays.  We decided
to keep Mondays free.  They were trying to figure out who would take which
day.

We were watching the children playing, when a boy of about 12, who was
playing soccer with his friends, took a bad fall.  I watched as he tried to
get up and he fell back to the ground.  I ran to him and whispered, "Just
lay still, we'll get you some help.  Are either of your parents here?"

I felt the boy's legs and the right one was definitely not as it should
have been. I had him lie back on the ground.  Fortunately the other three
mothers had reached us.

The young boy was starting to sob. "My leg hurts, and no my parents are not
here.  They are both at work."

I looked at the three ladies, "Do any of you have a cell phone?"

Two of the ladies pulled a cell phone out of their pockets.  I asked one of
the ladies to call 911 and tell that we have a young man here with a broken
leg and that we are trying to get in touch with his parents.  I took the
other phone and asked the young boy, "What your name and do you know your
parents work numbers?"

"My name Chris Watson and Dad's work number is 554-2810."

While I was dialing, I asked, "What his name?"

"Mike Watson."

The phone was answered, "May I speak with Mr. Mike Watson?" ^Å Good
afternoon Mr. Watson.  This is Mark Leavitt.  I am here at the park with
your son.  Chris was playing soccer with his friends and he fell.  I think
he might have broken a leg. ^Å Just a minute, sir."

I turned to the young man. "Your Dad wants to know where you sister is?"  I
handed the phone to Chris.

"Dad, she's with her friends and she sent me here to play."

Chris handed the phone to me, "Dad wants to talk to you."

Mr. Leavitt said, "Thank you for taking care of Christopher."

"Mr. Watson, I'm glad I was here.  I hope I was able to keep Chris from
moving his leg and doing any more damage.  Sir, the ambulance has just
arrived. ^Å Let me check sir?"

I turned to the paramedics, "I have the young man's father on the phone.
He wants to know where to go."

I handed the phone to the paramedic.  The paramedic explained where they
would be taking Christopher.

He handed the phone back to me, "Mr. Watson would like to talk to you."

Mr. Watson asked how he could get in touch with me.  "Sir, my name is Mark
Leavitt.  I live with my employers at 626 Terra Drive and the phone number
676-7320."

He hung up and I handed the phone back to the owner, "Thank you very much."

Chris was placed in the ambulance on a gurney and the lead paramedic asked,
"Will anyone be going with him?"

I shook my head, "We all have small children here whom we need to take care
of."

The paramedic turned to me, "I commend you for reacting so quickly
Mr. Leavitt."

After the ambulance departed, I collected my four charges and we walked
back to the condo.  I had them wash their hands, and I asked Bobby to set
the table.

Ty was the first to arrive.  Bobby was excitedly telling his Dad about what
happened at the park.  Ty turned to me, "That settles it.  Mark, I want you
to take your debit card and get a cell phone just for situations like this.
How did the appraisal go?"

I took Mr. Hastings card out of my pocket and handed it to Ty,
"Mr. Hastings would like for you to call him.  He would like to set up an
appointment to go over the appraisal with you and Mrs. Quinn tomorrow
evening."

Ty made the call to Mr. Hastings and they agreed on a time and then he
called Mrs. Quinn, "Okay Mrs. Quinn, we'll see you tomorrow night at 7:30."

Tip finally arrived and we had just started eating when the phone rang.  I
answered, "This is Mark Leavitt, how may I help you? ^Å Oh hi, Kevin, may I
call you back after we finish dinner? ^Å Talk to you shortly."

I had just returned to the table and started eating when the phone rang
again.  Tip got up and answered, "Just a minute sir.  I'll get Mark for
you."

"Mark, it's a Mr. Watson.  He would like to talk to you."  Tip looked
befuddled since he hadn't heard the story about what had happened at the
park.

"Hi, Mr. Watson.  This is Mark.  How is Chris? ^Å Oh, he's the proud owner
of a cast from his ankle to his knee and he wants me to be the first to
autograph it. ^Å Of course sir, we should be finished eating in about a
half hour. ^Å Okay, see you about 7:15."

Tip asked, "What was that about?"

The children excitedly told Tip about had happened at the park.

Tip shook his head, "I guess we will just have to start calling you Doctor
Nano."

We had just finished eating and the phone rang again.  Ty answered this
time, "This is Ty Jefferson ^Å Oh hi Rita ^Å Let me put Mark on."

Ty handed the phone to me, "Rita Cummings would like to speak to you?"

"Hi Mrs. Cummings ^Å. We just finished eating ^Å Okay see you and Ryan in a
little bit."

Tip and Ty were looking at me.  I spoke before they could ask, "I will
explain after the children clear the table and we do the dishes."

Bobby looked at me, "I guess you don't want us to hear, huh?"

"No, it's a very long story and you would get bored.  Now come on we need
to get the dishes done."

The dishes were done and the children had gone to Tip's bedroom to watch a
video and I quickly explained what had happened in Mrs. Cummings
office. After I finished explaining, I picked up the phone, "I need to
return Kevin's call."

"Hi Kelly, this is Mark Leavitt.  Is Kevin available? ^Å Hey Kev, what's
up? ^Å Why don't you get someone to bring you to Doctor Washington's condo?
^Å I'll get you home.  The address is 626 Terra Drive.  Your Grandmother
knows where it is. ^Å Okay, see you shortly."

Ty looked at me, "You have had quite a busy day."

I laughed, "Yeah, it has been 30 hours long and it is not even dark yet.
I'm going to go check on the children."

The children were lying on the floor in Tip and Ty's bedroom watching a
video.  I sat down beside them and Billy crawled on my lap.  When I heard
the door bell, I put Billy on the floor and went to see who had arrived.

When I got downstairs, I saw Mrs. Cummings with a teenager.  "Hi
Mrs. Cummings, I take it this handsome young man is Ryan."

Ryan shook my hand with a firm grip.  Tip and Ty introduced themselves.

We hadn't even had a chance to get seated when the doorbell rang again.  I
opened the door and Chris was standing there with a gentleman and a lady.

"Hi Chris.  Are these your brother and sister?"

"No you nut.  These are my parents, Mike and Vicky Watson." Chris laughed.

"Come in, I'd like for you to meet my bosses and some other people."  I
took them to the living room.

Before I could make any introductions, Chris looked at Ty, "I know who you
are.  You're Tyler Jefferson who played for the Kansas City Chiefs."

Mrs. Watson looked at Tip, "If I am not mistaken, you are the Doctor Tipton
Washington who was featured on the front page of the Kansas City Star
today.  We already know Mrs. Cummings."

We had just gotten seated when the doorbell rang again.  Kevin was standing
there.  He turned to the car, "Thanks Dad."

I took Kevin into the living room, "Everyone, this is Kevin Quinn."  I
introduced him to the people he didn't already know.

We finally got seated and I asked, "So Chris, what did the Doctors say?"

"They said I had a broken bone in my leg, but because of your help, it will
heal very nicely.  I wanted to come and thank you and have you be the first
person to sign my cast.  Mr. Jefferson and Doctor Washington, I would like
for the two of you to sign it also, so I can brag to my friends that I have
met you. Oh yeah, my mother would like to take some pictures of us
together."

"Of course your mother can take a picture of us, but I only did what we
were taught to do in my college courses.  Here, let me sign your cast and
your mother can take a picture."

Mrs. Watson took the picture of me signing Chris' cast.  Mrs. Watson
laughed, "What Chris forgot to tell you was that I work for the Kansas City
Star and would also like to do a feature article on you."

I must have had a funny look on my face.  Everyone was watching me, "Ma'am,
you may write an article, but it is not going to be very interesting.  But
first I need to get the children ready for bed."

Ty interrupted, "Mark, go with Mrs. Watson.  I'll go get my children ready
for bed.

I looked at Mrs. Cummings, "Mrs. Cummings, I'll make sure to get Ryan home.
I am taking Kevin home so it would not be a problem."

Mrs. Cummings left and Mrs. Watson took several more pictures.  Then she
and I went into the dining room where she did the interview.  She asked
some very strange questions which I could not understand the reason for,
but I answered as best as I could.

I was to find out later that Kevin and Ryan had enjoyed the time they had
to visit with Tip and Ty and Chris and his father.

The Watsons left and Tip and Ty excused themselves and went to their room.
That left me with Ryan and Kevin, "Guys, I apologize, I had no idea it was
going to be so hectic here tonight.  Kevin knows a little about me but Ryan
is probably a little confused about why he is here."

"I'm going to tell you a little about myself and then you may ask any
questions you want and I will answer them as best as I can."

I quickly related a synopsis of my life.

Kevin picked up, "Ryan, I have shared this with Mark.  I think I am gay and
have asked Mark to be my mentor to help me understand the implications of
what it means to be gay."

Ryan smacked his head, "Mark, I have been trying to figure out why I was
here.  I'm guessing that my Grandmother has told to you a little about me
and what happened to my uncle.  My parents are having a very difficult time
accepting the fact that I might be gay."

I moved to the sofa where the guys were seated and sat down between them,
"Ryan and Kevin, this worked out better than I had anticipated.  I am not
trying to get you together as a couple.  I was just hoping that you could
get together so you would have someone your own age to talk to."

Ryan and Kevin both looked at me.  Ryan spoke, "Mark, thank you for even
caring."

"Guys, Zack and I are going to be babysitting Mr. Jefferson's children this
weekend while he and Doctor Washington take a trip to Colorado.  Perhaps
the two of you could come to dinner on Saturday night and spend the night.
Ask your parents and if they give you any flak, get your grandmothers to
help.  Now I need to get you home since it is a school night."

I took the two guys home and secured the house when I returned.  I was just
walking out of the shower when Tip and Ty came into the room.

Ty looked at me and made some strange sounds, "Woof, Woof."

I started to laugh, "Knock it off Ty Boy.  Your master will get jealous."
I put on a pair of briefs.

Tip looked at me, "Mark, exactly what is going on with Kevin, Ryan and you?
You must have something on your mind."

I finished telling them about the rest of the day and told them what had
happened after they left when I was alone with Kevin and Ryan.  "I asked
them to dinner on Saturday and to spend the night.  I hope you don't mind
if they sleep in your bed."

Tip threw up his hands, "I guess you are not only a doctor but also a
psychologist.  Oh by the way Zack called.  He is getting concerned because
you are never here when calls.  He said he was beginning to think that you
had other dates.  You'd better go call him before he flunks out of school."

I put on my pajama bottoms and a tee shirt and went down stairs to use the
phone.

Zack answered, "This is sex starved, lonely and blue speaking, so where
were you this time?"

I was laughing as I started to tell him about my day.

He started to laugh, "So, I guess you were bored huh?"

"Bored I'm not; exhausted I am.  But don't worry, I'll be rested by the
time you get home on Friday.  I'll work on getting you so tired over the
weekend that you will probably fall asleep on your way back to school on
Monday.  Love you, but I got to go to bed."

Zack responded, "Love you double, goodnight."

I was about to go to our room when I remembered the note that Bobby had
handed me.  I had been so busy that I hadn't even opened it.

I went to the kitchen and picked it up off of the counter where I had put
it. It was addressed to Mr. Mark Leavitt.  How odd?  I opened it and
started to read.

Mark,

It was a pleasure meeting you today.  I would very much like to get to know
you better outside of the school environment.  Perhaps we could get
together for dinner and a movie if you are interested.
      							Sincerely,
							Tim Harrison

I was stunned.  Why would Tim take the risk of writing me a note like this?
I had only talked to him two or three minutes while I was making
arrangements to volunteer in his classroom.  Do I have the word gay written
on my forehead?  I think I had better show this to Tip and Ty and the
morning and ask for their advice.

Author's Note:

If you would like to read more of this story and other interesting stories,
you might like to visit www.tickiestories.us.

Editor's Notes: I think Mark is a remarkable person. He seems to have it
together pretty well. He understands people and does his best to help
everyone.  Everyone seems to take an instant liking to him. I can hardly
wait to find out what will happen next, but then that is always the case
with Uncle Ed's stories.  He has the ability to bring his stories to
life. We are all ready for more with each new chapter.

Tip and Ty are going to have a wonderful weekend together.  I am sure that
Mark, the kids and Mark's new young friends will have a great time together
too.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher