Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 10:40:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: T Chase McPhee <survivalgame@yahoo.com>
Subject: Nature Walk 22

The following story is a work of fiction set in the
format of reality. Any resemblance to real people is
entirely coincidental in nature, and is not meant to
accurately reflect persons in towns, cities, or
governmental areas, in which the story is staged. If
sexual scenes involving male to male relationships
offends you, then you should not read this story.
Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age, in
most states and countries, you are not allowed to read
this by law. This is fiction. Don't forget, in real
life, to think about 'sexual safety matters'; got
condom?

"Nature Walk" 22 (M/t oral)
wriTten by T. Chase McPhee

%

"I thought Dr. Roberts said a doctor would be meeting
us here right away, Alonzo?"

"That's what I thought too, Jabari."

"Hell, I could be bleeding all over the floor waiting
for him to come."

"Well, if you haven't by now, Jabari, chances are you
didn't do any damage."

"Okay, well you look then."

"Me? I'm not a doctor, Jabari."

"Hey, Alonzo, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to
figure out if I pulled a stitch. Besides, I'd rather
be outside soaking up some sun than in here... who
knows what radiation lurks about?"

"True... true... okay. I'll take a look... but take it
easy, Jabari."

So, to make it more private, Alonzo rolls the
twenty-six year old into the handicapped jon.

"Careful now, Jabari. I'm not qualified to sew anybody
up!"

Jabari giggled at Alonzo's frank humor. Standing, he
placed his hands on Alonzo's shoulders. Alonzo opened
the robe.

"Oh great."

"What? You see red?"

"No, I can't see anything with this stupid hospital
gown over you!"

"Just lift it up, Alonzo."

"I tried that, dah! It's tied down in the back."

"Reach around and untie it, fool!"

Alonzo took the teasing all in stride. So, reaching
around and like hugging Jabari's stomach, he untied
the tiny cord.

"They sure don't make it easy for a person," Alonzo
made mention.

"I'm not complaining," Jabari hoped his unfastener,
got the message.

Finally, after toying with the thin stringy fabric,
Alonzo realeases the gathering in the back. Bringing
it forward, he makes a startling discovery!

"Man, you're hard as a rock!"

"Um, do you go around telling every man that, Alonzo?"

"Hee heee... no... sorry."

Looking up at Jabari, Alonzo sported quite a red face.

"Um, how's the stitches?"

"Oh yeah, let me check! Nope... no damage. You're
still in one... piece."

"Great!"

Before he stood up, Alonzo caught sight of Jabari's
privates and memorized the large stalk, not at full
staff, protruding from the black, curly-haired pocket,
complete with two base balls.

"Oh, I forgot to ask," as Jabari sat down in the
handicapped chair, all put back together again, "is my
cock still big?"

"Well, you don't think I'm going to go through that
again to find out, man!" Alonzo replied.

Alonzo became totally shocked when he felt a hand on
his own rather stout erection.

"Looks like more than me is hard!"

Shooing his hand away, he replied to Jabari, "Okay, so
looks like we're both gay."

"Wow! You mean if ye weren't a science teach, you
wouldn't be able to tell that, Alonzo?"

The two are getting way in over their heads for their
gaysex teasing.

Alonzo, out of the blue and entirely much against what
he would even, in his right mind, but being out of his
right mind, at the time, says, "Want to have some
sex?"

"Leave it to the science teach to be direct!"

"Hey, look, I'm sorry man."

"You're sorry Alonzo? I'm not. I'd love to have some
sex with you."

"Oh shiiiiiiit!"

Alonzo laughs, Jabari accompanying him, as he rolls
him out in the hallway.

%

"Oh, one other thing, gentlemen?"

"Yes, Mike?"

"Where are the boys now?"

Barry replies, "My son and his friend are keeping them
busy, along with Alonzo's son, playing hooky from
school."

"Good. I was about to suggest having you meet them
after school, just in case the boy who shot his mouth
off yesterday remembered doing so, might decide to
cover his tracks."

"Our thoughts precisely."

"However, this is not going to just go away. Do you
think you could arrange to have your boys come down to
the station?"

"Um, I doubt a high school kid is going to have his
picture on an FBI poster, Mike."

"No, but it might be in a school yearbook!"

"Steve?"

"Yeah, Barry?"

"When you first met Mike, did you get the impression
he was this smart?"

After Mike began laughing, the other two continued.

"I'd like to see your boys a.s.a.p., if you can
arrange it."

"How about in an hour?"

"Good enough. I'll meet you at the station."

%

"I've lost my bearings here, Jabari."

"Oh, believe me, I know where we are. The cafe's
thataway."

They dead end with the OR.

"I can't believe I believed you, Jabari."

"Oh yeah. Must've been the other way. Wait up Alonzo."

"What?"

"See that orderly down there?"

"The blonde?"

"Yeah... hee heeee...."

"What about him, Jabari?"

"Would you believe he wanted to give me a blow job?"

"No way? You mean he came right out propositioned
you?"

"Hell no!"

"Oh man! Don't tell me you're one of those badboys!"

"Alonzo, do I look like I'm one of 'those'?"

"I don't know."

"Oh come on, Alonzo."

"Hey, I don't know you all that well, Jabari. For all
I know, you could be one of those wolves in sheep's
clothing!"

"Okay. Fair enough Alonzo. Maybe after we have sex
you'll know me better."

"Hmm..."

"What?"

"I don't know about you Jabari."

"Hi Jabari."

"Oh, hi Estefan."

"Need some help or something?"

"Um, yeah. My friend Alonzo here and I lost our way to
the cafe."

"Hello, my name is Estefan Sanchez," the dark-haired,
youthful orderly took up Alonzo's hand from the side
of the handicap vehicle to shake vigorously.

"Nice to meet you."

"C'mon, I show you the way."

As Alonzo pushed Jabari, he leaned down to his ear and
commented, "Tight little ass that Estefan has!"

"Stop it, Alonzo. You're making me pitch a tent!"

"Mmmmm... almost time to go camping!"

>From within the cafeteria, rings out the voice of
fate.

"It's about time you two got here," It's Steve's
light-hearted voice that calls out.

Jabari lingers to chat with Estefan, saying how sorry
he is that he's leaving the hospital today. Estefan
scratches his telephone number down on a piece of
paper, telling him to make sure he duplicates it for
'his friend'.

"Hey, Jabari?"

"Yeah, Alonzo?"

"Do you have any clothes?"

Jabari sits there grinning, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Kenya's bringing them to me."

"Kenya's not picking you up."

"Whaaaaaat?"

"Steve called her and told he's bringing you home and
that he's stopping for lunch."

"Not like this I'm not."

Alonzo calls out to Steve, "We're not going to lunch!"

"I got a better idea Alonzo."

"What?"

"Why doesn't Steve and Barry drop you and I off at my
place and we'll make some hot dogs.... or something?"

Alonzo thinks it over. Rather his crotch does!

%

"Nice of Alonzo to see Jabari inside and offer to help
him with lunch and all, you know that Steve?"

"Barry, are you 'that' gullible?"

"What do you mean Steve?"

"Never mind."

"Oooooh... do you mean?"

"A-haaaaah."

"Oh man, am I that thick, Steve?"

"Well if ye ain't now, that'sa how I'm intendin' ya ta
be!!!"

"Mmmmm.... keep yer hands to yer self, unless ya wan
tus ta be in da ditch!"

At about twelve forty, Barry and Steve rolled up to
the West Richland High School area. Like everyone
else, they had to find a parking place along the side
of the road, being the yellow tape strung across the
entrance to anyplace within the boundaries of the
school yard.

"Hee heee... think I'll drive right up to Washakie's
toes."

"Yeah and it'll be a short-lived teaching career, I'm
sure Barry."

"Yeah, what a pity that I would have to live my life
never making another morning announcement."

"I thought you liked doing that, Barry?"

"Oh, I do. Brings out my creativity."

"Hmm... I could think of something else."

"My aren't we the horny little bumble bee this
morning, Steve?"

"C'mon let's get this over with!"

Barry giggled to himself. He knew why Steve was in
such a rush to get this over with and on to more
important matters.

"Hey look, Steve."

"I don't believe it."

"Believe what?"

"That West Richland is so 'on the ball' that they have
workers on the building already."

"Hmm..."

"Hee heee... bet you've got your eye on what I'm
eyeing up Barr ol'boy!" Steve says, placing his hand
on Barry's shoulder.

"Well, for one thing, not that I don't mind the view,
but how can a guy work barechested in the northwest at
this time of year?"

"Hey, he's getting no complaints from me!"

"Steve, Barry?"

"On yes, Mr. Washakie. Um, Barry and I made comment
of... um, how quickly things are being put into action
about repairing the damage."

"Yes, well as you know, winter is around the corner.
Um, Barry I was wondering if you could head up our
telephone chain."

"Telephone chain?"

"I know you are new and all, but as I understand it
from the other teachers, well for whatever reason, you
have an 'in' with the students and..."

"Wait.. wait... what is this 'in' you're talking
about, Alex?" Steve inquires.

"I'm surprised you haven't noticed it yourself,
Steve."

"I'm afraid I haven't Alex."

"Well, for one thing is the drama club... um, that
High Society club or whatever dang name you gave it,
Barry."

"I know."

"You know?" Steve asks Barry.

"Yeah, we didn't get the whole gist of the size
because of the suddenness of the fire alarms going
off, but at Alonzo's estimates, it seems that at least
two hundred students showed up yesterday afternoon."

"Two what? Holy shit!"

"Um, Steve?"

"There's no students around."

"Yes, but this is school property and..."

Steve grinned when Barry came out with, "Oh, can it
Washakie. Don't you think we have more important
things to work out."

"Well um, okay... I guess you're right."

Wondering, Steve mulled over the thought that perhaps
Barry stood up to Washakie on his behalf. It would
make for good bedtime chatter.

"Um, thanks for sending your little boys over, men!"
Officer Mike Green spills out of the blue, in a
sarcastic manner of speaking.

Steve breaks the cardinal rule again, "Oh shit!"

Barry, acting more subdued replies, "Oh, Mike, I'm
terribly sorry. Steve and I have had so much on our
minds that we forgot about that. How can we make it up
to you?"

Of course Barry meant making it up in a rational way
of thinking.

"Eh, forget it."

"You don't want to talk to the boys now, Mike? I even
thought them going down to the police station would be
an exciting adventure for them."

"No, I meant forget it for right this moment. Um, of
course it would be a nice experience for them to see
the guts of a police station and we definitely need to
get this all cleared up, for the boys' sakes."

"Let me see if I can get Chad on my cell."

Barry walked away from their gathering. Steve took up
with talking with Officer Green, reapologizing for the
inconvenience. He didn't really seem to mind. Then
their conversation went in other directions, for small
talk.

"So, you and Dr. Roberts have something going, Mike?"

"Gary? Yeah, I guess. You know he's nothing like he is
at the hospital."

"Oh? How so, Mike?"

"Well, you know how he's always running around so
business like, sometimes using his hi-tech education,
well un-uh... not at home."

"Home? You fox, Mike. You've made it into his bed
already?"

Steve made Mike blush over and over.

"Yeah, well... like I said, he has this reluctance on
the job, but in bed he's like a beast!"

"Don't tell me anymore, Mike."

"Why? Gettin' a little hardon there, Steve?"

"Not really. Only one man gives me that!"

"Oh? Would that be the barechested, brown-haired
bombshell on the roof?"

"No, the one over there on the cell.. hee heee, but
the one on the roof ain't too bad either. I had to
peel Barry's eyes off of him!"

"Okay, Mike," Barry rejoins them, "I have it all
settled. Chad told Matty to gather up the guys and
bring them over here, right after the movie's over."

"And when would that be?"

"Twenty minutes?"

"Oh shit!"

"Problem, Mike?"

"Um yeah.. I mean... can I use your cell phone real
quick?"

"Sure. No problem, Mike."

Mike goes over to where Barry stood and makes his
call.

"Seems kind of nervous. What do you think Steve?"

"I have a feeling that Mike had a hot date lined up."

"Hee heee... bet he's getting to know West Richland
Memorial like the back of his hand."

"Yeah, probably spending lots of time on the couch of
Dr. Roberts, getting anal-lised!"

"Really Steve?"

"What?"

"Hmm, in a way I figured it to be the other way
around."

"Now Mike just said something that makes me want to
believe you're right, Barry."

"Oh? Keeping secrets from me, Steve?"

"Damn, Barry he just mentioned it these past few
minutes."

"Hee heeee... I love it when I get your balls tied up
in a knot, Steve!"

"Hmm..."

"Well, spill it, Steve."

"It's not much, actually. Mike said that Dr.
Roberts... Gary, isn't at all the mild mannered guy he
is at the hospital."

"Hmmm... aha! So what kind of fiend does our Dr. Jekyl
turn into on the full moon?"

"Hee heee... you're probably being accurate Barry."

"So?"

"Oops.. here he comes... dummy up!"

"Okay, we're all set," Mike reports.

"So," Barry entertains the thought, "the precinct
clear you for a few minutes more on duty."

"Ah... yeah."

Sounded good enough to Mike, so why not let Steve and
Barry think that's the case, since bringing it up!

"Um, my cell, Mike?"

"Oh yeah. There ya go."

"Hee heee be funny to read about it in the papers."

"Read what Steve?"

Steve holds his hands up, like he's reading something
out of the newspaper, "Officer Green caught redhanded
with citizen's stolen cellphone."

"Got a better one for ya Steve," Barry says, holding
up his imaginary paper, "Citizen Steve caught
redhanded at telling stupid joke!"

Mike cracks up with laughter, giving Barry a 'Bernice'
slap on the back.

"Hey, here comes the boys now."

"Uh oh, Washakie's headed right towards them!"

"Oh boy... time to have a field day with the old
geezer!" the officer calls out, doing double time to
meet up with Alex Washakie, the principal of West
Richland High School.

"Something tells me that Washakie and Mike Green don't
jive with each other."

"You would know better than I, Steve."

"Oh? What's that supposed to mean, Barry?"

"Meaning that I've only been living in town for what?
Five days?"

"Yeah. Doesn't it seem like weeks, months..."

"Seems like a year or more Steve. I didn't think that
I'd be falling in love this quick, if at all."

"Yeah. I'll tell you frank..."

"Geez, Steve you forgotten my name already?"

"Ha-ha, Barry. I was going to lay something heavy on
you, but...."

"Okay, Steve. Sorry. What sweet, tender thing were you
going to tell me?"

"Well... I was going to say that I didn't think that
I'd ever find a man that I would want to spend the
rest of my life with."

Barry stood there. Not awestruck, but definitely
touched by Steve's words.

"Steve, I think I've been searching for those words,
but didn't think they could be true for me, too."

"Really, Barry?"

"Yeah. And as a bonus, look, we've got all these
wonderful kids to go along with the package."

"Yeah. Just look how well they get along."

"And like Alonzo had hoped, look how Diego is opening
up to them."

"The kid was pathetically shy. Looks like Philip is
doing to him what he did to Aidan."

"Aidan? Shy?"

"You didn't notice that, Barry?"

"No."

"That's what I've noticed about Philip, Barry."

"Oh? What's that Steve?"

"Philip, like Chad, has this charisma about himself.
It seems to be like... like osmosis."

"Osmosis Steve?"

"Don't tell me you missed that chapter, Barry? 'An
unconscious process of assimilation?"

"I know what it means, dufous!"

"Hee heee... I think osmosis is working between you
and Chad'n'Matty, too!"

"On the contrary Steve, I think their dufousness is
rubbing off on you!"

"I'm glad I know you're kidding, Barry."

"Am I Steve?"

The two laughed it off. Like behind closed doors, they
didn't think anything of placing arms over shoulders,
appearing to be like any other two buddies.

"Dad, do we gotta go to the police station?" Philip
sighs.

In Barry's mind, he has a flashback to this afternnoon
in class when he asked Glenn to read and his response
came back in his face, 'do I gotta?'

"Yes, Philip. I want to tell you that this is
something very, very important for you and Aidan to
do."

"It is, dad?"

"Yup."

"What about Diego?"

"Was Diego standing with you when Aidan and you heard
what those big boys talked about?"

"Nope."

"Then I think Officer Mike will want to talk with only
you and Aidan."

"Dad?"

"Yes, Philip?"

"Officer Mike is kind of goofy, but I like him."

"That's good to hear, Philip. I mean about the like
part, but I think he's trying to be nice to you too.
Maybe he's not used to little boys like you and Aidan,
so if he acts kind of goofy, just make him think he's
being okay with you guys."

"If you say so dad. He said we don't have to go to the
police station."

"No?"

"Nope. He says that us talking in front of Jade, Chad
and Matty is fine."

"Well, let me talk with him all the same."

Philip and his dad walk over to where Steve, Aidan,
Jade, Chad, Matty and Officer Mike Green huddle
together. Diego stands in front of Chad, with the
teen's arms draped in front of him.

"Hi guys!"

Philip's familiar greeting turns them all towards the
two approaching Barrs.

"My dad said it's okay that we don't have to go to the
slammer."

Aidan replies, "Sounds like we 'get out of jail free',
Philip!"

Those that can relate to the Monopoly quip, chuckle
over Aidan's joke.

"That's pretty good, Aidan. You're getting as funny as
my dad!"

Barry blushes, as they look towards the proud dad,
ruffling the mane of the youngster's scalp.

"So, you're going to do the 'interrogation' right
here?"

"Yes. Inside the van will be sufficient and these
three as witnesses will be fine," Officer Mike
explains to the dads.

"Okay. Well, if you need anything, we'll be over at
the faculty meeting."

%

Ken was getting mighty nervous. He had one more day to
set up, at the least, Sean for his cousin's party. He
looked a wreck, too. Not having had a solid night's
sleep, he paced the floor nervously, lay down, then
jumped back up. Across his face, several afternoons of
five o'clock shadow riddled his pores. Even though he
remained in the same briefs for the past two days,
cumming in them twice, he didn't smell anything
different, with the events on his mind.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" Ken yelled out, after
dialing Sean's cell phone and getting the answering
message for the umpteenth time.

Things got downright serious here. Ken began to freak
out. Thoughts began running through his own head of
what the outcome would be. Instead of Sean at the
mercy of his cousin, he pictured himself hanging by
his arms in the service center, himself getting fucked
long and hard by Hiro and his leather buddies, himself
in line at some slave auction and having his freedom
sold out from under him. After dialing one more time,
Ken threw the lousy recording device at the wall. Then
he got a brilliant idea. Surely Hiro could call the
party off, with ample time. Two days would be plenty
of warning notice.

%

"How's it feel to be in a real shower for a change?"

"Oooooh you don't know until your shower-starved,
Alonzo."

"I wasn't only talking about being 'shower-starved',
Jabari!"

The two, standing under a trickle of water, turned
their attention to each other.

"Whoa! Careful now, Jabari. We don't want to go
ripping that open."

"Then again, your body will be sheltering the stitches
with mine, Alonzo."

"Hmmm... you must be a fantastic teacher, Jabari."

"Oh? And how would that be?"

"Because you're right on the 'ball' with all the
answers!"

Alonzo's hand finds the lower, center of Jabari's
midsection and indulges in carefree tossing of his
balls in between fingers.

"Mmmm... I'd say you're intent on catching up,
Alonzo."

Two lips make up for the vocal intentions of each,
locking for mutual pleasures.

%

"I thought Alonzo said he would have Jabari here on
time, Steve?"

"Barry, forget them two. Like I said..."

"I know Steve."

"So, like I've said Barry.. ahem..." Washakie cuts
back into their conversation, after a momentary lapse.

"Oh yeah, what about this phone chain?"

"To keep the parents informed. It's not much actually
and it'll only be for a few days."

Washakie fills Barry in on the aspects of the phone
chain, with Steve hanging around. Out of the corner of
his eye, he spies the barechested roof worker, off the
roof, walking across the front of the school. He deems
it strange that he approaches the police officer,
chats with him a second and then heads back up on the
roof.

"Steve? Yo Steve?"

"Yeah, Barry?"

"Weren't you paying attention?"

"Um, yeah. So, what's up?"

"Look what I have to do. I've gotta call each name at
the beginning of each letter of the alphabet."

"Yeah, so?"

"So, while I'm calling this half," Barry flips through
the pages, "you're going to be calling the other
half."

"Is that what Washakie told you?"

"No, that's what I'm telling you!"

"Huh?"

"Yeah.. hee hee...."

"What's so funny?"

"It's your punishment for watching the barechested
hunk strutting his stuff!"

"Oh? And how did you know the hunk was strutting his
barechested stuff, Barry?"

"Oops!"

"You're lucky I love you, Barry. Let me see that
list."

The two stood huddled with the other teachers,
listening to the plans set forth by Principal
Washakie, as he dictated them into the bullhorn.

"Um, do you see Kade?"

"No. Not that I've been looking for him."

"He must be here some place."

"Why, Steve?"

"No reason."

"You know that Kade's got me still wondering."

"Me too, Barry. Jade's a good person. I don't want to
see her get hurt."

"What brought that up?"

"Well, I really don't know if she knows anything about
what we suspect, Barry. If you think about it, what
would you think if you found that I was fooling around
with another guy?"

"Okay, who is he, Steve?"

Steve chortled, shaking his head back and forth.

"I can guarantee you, Barry that 'that' will never be
the case."

After about fifteen minutes of listening to Washakie
say the same thing in three different ways, Barry felt
a little hand slip into his.

"All done, son?"

"Yeah, dad. Aidan and I didn't want to have snuck up
on you and dad Steve and scare the wits outta you."

"I appreciate that, Philip. Thanks."

"Me too," Steve says to them both, smiling."

"Dad, do you know where Diego's dad is?"

"Oh yeah, Steve, do you think Alonzo forgot?"

"Um, Barry?" Steve didn't think the comment had been
good, made in front of the kids.

"Um, forgot that we said we would take care of feeding
Diego, that is."

"You mean Diego is going to eat dinner with us, dad?"

"Yes, Aidan."

"Cool, Philip. Now we can play the Spongebob
Squarepants Monopoly!"

"Cool, Aidan!"

"Guys, the meeting should be only a couple of minutes
more."

"That's okay dads," Philip explains, "Chad sent us
over here to tell you that we're going home."

"Oh good. We'll be there as soon as we're done here."

"Dad?"

"Yes, Philip?"

"I love you."

The sweetest scene took place of the two boys hugging
their dads.

%

"So, what would you boys like for dinner?"

"I don't know Jade. Whatcha got?"

"Well, I wanted to leave that up to you boys."

Diego volunteers, "How about Spaghetti-o's?"

"Spaghettioes? I don't recall ever having them,
Diego," Jade peers down upon the nine year old next to
her.

Aidan replies, "Oh, my dad has had them. They're
little round spaghetties in a can with this spaghetti
sauce."

"Oh yeah," Philip jumps on the bandwagon, "the sauce
doesn't really taste like real spaghetti sauce."

Diego says, "I dunno about that, Philip. I've never
tasted any other kind of spaghetti sauce."

Inquisitive to what this child's been living on for
the past nine years, Jade delves into the subject more
intensely.

"Well, what other foods have you had for dinner,
Diego?"

"Jade, aren't we supposed to be talking about..."

"Shusssh a minute Philip. You're interrupting, honey."

"Oops! Sorry Jade," Philip accepts the criticism.

"Diego?"

"My dad doesn't know much about cooking. He says he
likes cooking out of a can."

"Okay," light-heartedly Jade provokes Diego's
thinking, "you have Spaghettio's and what else?"

They all watch Diego look down in his lap, counting on
his little fingers, as if trying to remember the
different 'gourmet' endeavors his father has put
together for an evening meal.

In the front seat, Chad mentions to the driver, "Told
you the kid is deprived!"

"Well, sometimes we have a pizza from a box."

"That's nutritious!" Jade comments.

She begins to get the feeling that Diego thinks that
she's trying to pry something out of him, which is the
truth! She's not the only one who is thinking this.

"Um Jade?"

"Yes, Matty?"

"How about Shepherd's Pie? Do you know how to make
that?"

"Oh yes and with sweet potatoes, it makes it extra
special."

"Sweet potatoes? Hmm... never had it like that," Matty
reports.

Chad says, softly, to Matty, "How do you know you're
invited to dinner?"

"Um, I could let you out anywhere along here,
Chaddywaddy!"

"Chaddywaddy?"

"Now you went and did it Matty Bridges!"

"Haa haa haaaa... Matty just called Chad,
'chaddywaddy'!"

The boys in the back began to have a hootenanny,
yelling out the chaddywaddy phrase and making it stick
like glue to Chad's persona.  Matty found a way to
bring the situation under control.

"Well, Chad, I guess the three Squirts have decided
they 'don't' want to go on the picnic!"

For the next few moments statements rang out through
the SUV, with ten different approaches of apologies!

"Matty, if you don't mind, could we stop at Donovon's
for some groceries?"

Next, a conglomerate of seeing what the
'goodie-of-the-day' at Mr. Donovon's market would be,
in the way of a giveaway, flooded the interiors of the
minivan.

Philip calls out, "Remember our first day here, Aidan
and Mr. Donovon gave us those delishush dixiecups?"

"Yeah, Philip and that was a lot of loot to lose over
all us guys!" Aidan replies.

Jade smiles.

Diego reveals, "One time he gave my dad a whole
package of icescream sandwitches."

"Ooooh man are you a lucky kid, Diego!" Philip calls
out, like the kids been given a pot o'gold!

"Ev'ry time we go there he gives my dad somethin'
special for me."

"Hey, I just thought of somethin', Philip!"

"What's that Aidan?"

"Maybe Diego is like a lucky charm."

"Yeah! I wonder if we're going to get a package of
somethin' with Diego with us?" Philip deduces.

"I don't know if I'm a lucky charm, Philip and Aidan.
My dad says I'm very special to him and he loves me a
lot."

A few seconds of silence follows, before Philip leans
around the seat and says, "That's okay Diego. We don't
have to get somethin' from somebody. Aidan and I like
ya anyways."

"Yeah," Aidan agrees, "Philip's right. We don't need
no lucky charm. We're lucky we got you as a friend!"

Jade smiles and gives Diego a chummy hug.

"Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard,
Mattywatty?"

Of course Chad's comments, out of slight comic
revenge, brought on the barrage of name calling from
the backseat, followed by the 'picnic' bribe, for
makeup purposes, once again.

%

"Well, Ken'ichi, you gave me your word of honor."

"I know Hiro, but I haven't been able to reach the
guy."

"But, Ken'ichi, in our family you do realize what
you've committed yourself to?"

"I know Hiro. I..."

Ken, knowing the honor at stake, mainly his
reputation, if it ever got around the family, would
mean. Bad enough he didn't get along with his old man.
That's all the information his stepdad would need to
haul off and belt him one. He would never be able to
live this down. His emotions towards one guy, Sean,
whom he equated to love, then taking it so personal
when the relationship came to a bitter end, now his
getting beat up over family tradition. For himself,
there weren't many alternatives to getting out of the
predicament he were in.

Hiro had been more like a brother, growing up, than a
cousin. All Ken'ichi could recall is his parents
working day and night at the family restaurant
business, to make a go out of it. Then uprooting the
family, mainly them and himself, moving to West
Richland and now rerouting their lives to begin again,
left Ken with little to go on, as far as family had
been concerned. Now, the really only person whom meant
something; anthing to him, called the shots.

"So, what's it going to be, Ken?"

"If I can't get the guy, I... I guess I'll have to
make the trip alone, Hiro."

"Ken?"

"Yeah, Hiro?"

"I'm happy to see that you are finally becoming a
man."

"How do you see it that way, Hiro?"

"By seeing through something, based on giving of your
word. The giving of yourself."

"Sure. Even though it means I'm going to get my ass
reamed and.. shit, suppose I'll now have to finance
your service station."

"Ken'ichi, I have a confession."

"Oh? What's the Hiro?"

"I don't have any slave contacts. It is all a myth
that I tell you about."

"But the guy that I was going to bring you. You..."

"Would have played with him and sent him home with a
bandaid on his knee!!"

"But I was going to... oh shit."

"Ken'ichi, I think there are some things you do not
tell me, so why don't you come alone and we'll have
some fun like old times."

"But I thought you said that if I didn't bring a guy
with me that I would be 'it'?"

"My own cousin? Never, Ken'ichi. I've got some college
jocks that like to play slaveboy and wouldn't mind
giving up a weekend for some hot, submissive fun.
C'mon, you and I rule the slaveboys, like old times."

Ken, after hanging up the phone, angered himself for
all the downtrodden attitude he hurled on himself. All
of this fingernail-biting for nothing. With a lilt of
glee back in his life, he jumped in the shower to
freshen himself up, shaved and changed into some fresh
clothes.

A couple of things came floating across Ken's brain,
as he thought about Hiro's words of 'becoming a man'.
One aspect had been the argument he had with Sean. Why
should he care about that? He's young and there will
be other guys to meet and fall in love with. His own
thoughts convicted himself, 'Oh, what a little jerk
I've been. Hiro is right. I've got to grow up.' Then
another thought crossed his mind. All these teen years
Ken has been wanting his mom and dad to spend time
with him. 'Why didn't I ever think of spending time
with them?' With the snap of his fingers he planted
his wallet in his back pocket, put on his jacket, took
the car keys from hook on the back of the door of his
room and lit out on the road for 'downtown' West
Richland.

%

"Jade, can we get some of these?"

Philip and Aidan commandeered the shopping basket.
They watched Jade, her hand coupling Diego's, as she
had him pick things from the shelf and hand to the two
livery drivers to place into the metal bin.

"One box, Diego."

"Cool, Jade," Aidan exclaims, "are you going to lets
us have gummi worms now, too?"

"My dad used to buy four or five boxes, Jade."

"Well, to answer both of your questions, I'll allow
you one pouch of gummi bear worms a week. You may pick
the day."

"But my dad lets me have one everyday, Jade."

It's for sure Jade would be having a talk with Alonzo
before the day's out. When it came to the fresh
vegetables and fruits section, Chad and Matty came
into play with having the boys hold open plastic bags
while they helped Jade fill them with green beans,
eggplant, broccoli and other varieties of wholesome
foods.

"Hold that bag open nice and wide for me Diego honey."

"Is this wide enough, Jade?"

"That's good."

"Jade?"

"Yes, Diego?"

"Do you have little guys at home?"

"No, Diego."

"Then how do you know what us guys should eat?"

"Well, Diego," Jade explained, picking through the
green beans for the 'good' ones, "I grew up with four
brothers and three sisters. My mother and father were
not very rich and we lived off the land."

"What does that mean?"

"My father was a farmer, so all of us children worked
in the garden."

"Is that how you know how to pick good beans?"

"Yes, mostly. Here, look at these two beans, Diego."

"Yeah?"

"Which one would be the one you would like to eat?"

"That one's all brown," Diego pointed to the one on
the left.

"Right, so now you've picked out a good bean for us to
eat tonight!"

"Wow! I picked out a bean for us?"

"Yes. Here, let me hold the bag and you try to pick
out some more good ones."

"Okay Jades, but if I pick out a yucky one, you tell
me, okay?"

"Promise."

Jade was loving it, helping Diego 'farming' the green
bean bin at Donovon's market. At the same time she saw
the kick he was getting out of helping and sharing in
the family chores of shopping.

"Now, one more thing, Diego."

"What, Jade?"

"Now that you've helped picked out...matter of fact I
think I only picked out four or five of these beans.
Look! You've picked out the whole bag!"

"Wow! I sure did pick a lot of beans!"

"What I was going to say, Diego is now all you have to
do is help us eat them!"

That one fact Diego wasn't too sure about and chances
are Jade might have a tough time putting that one
across the young lad!

"How did the rest of you make out?"

"Okay Jade."

"Ahem! And what is that in the shopping cart?" Jade
asks, hands on her hips, addressing the two smiling
angels.

Not the little ones, either!

"Ah, c'mon Jade. Dad used to let us make candied
apples when we were kids."

"Forget it Chad and Matty. Candied apples will rot
your teeth out in no time!"

After Jade had her go at the two teens, the three
young 'Jades', began wagging their fingers and
scolding the two. Next time Matty and Chad would wait
until they're on their own to buy something as risky
as the candied apple making kits!

"Geez, Matty, if I'd known we were going to get all
this flack, I wouldn't have had you talk me into
picking up the damned candy apple kits."

"Me? Chad, you're the one that said you knew how to
make them."

The two teens batted the issue back and forth all the
way to the register. Of course eventually they would
kiss and make up!

%

continued.........

       Copyright 2005 T. Chase McPhee  All Rights Reserved.

	 www.assgm.net   www.nifty.org

       Permission is NOT granted to publish
       this story  to any PAY site, nor any site
       that is not listed above, without the
       author's prior consent.