Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2015 18:16:19 -0400
From: Eff Del <nolitimere156@gmail.com>
Subject: Green Grow the Rushes O- chapter 12

*Green Grow the Rushes O- Chapter 12*

*By Eff Dell*

Nolitimere156@gmail.com



*Two absolute essentials for life are having something to love and having
something to hope for.*

*Always attempt to have eyes that see the best, a heart that forgives the
worst, a mind that seeks the truth and a soul that never loses the gift of
hope.*

*When hope is lost, love and joy will very soon depart from you as well.*



"Put it up on the screen Barry." Richard said. "Go make yourself come
coffee guys though I have no idea how you take yours Sean, so you or Eric
need to pour your cup. Your Dad is easy to handle." He grinned wanly as I
nodded and headed over and fixed myself and the boy each a cup.

"Now Sean, since your Dad has brought you up here, I don't want you to be
confused or misunderstand anything we tell you, but I also want you to
realize that in the end there may not be good news. You've got to be able
to handle whatever the outcome is because frankly Tiger, that's the way
life works.

You sit over here so that you can see the screen clearly."

I handed Sean his coffee mug and sat beside him as Barry put an image up on
the big drop-down screen.

"This is a high level image of the ship floating on its side. As you can
see, they'd strayed quite far away from their original intent to just
cruise around the Maritimes. We don't know why so for now, we can only
assume they'd stumbled upon something very interesting.

We know that when the rogue wave knocked the ship over, seven crew members
survived by essentially clinging to her side. We also know that six life
rafts were launched but I've got to tell you that even if they were filled
to capacity, they wouldn't accommodate the unaccounted for remaining crew
of thirty two which of course includes Jack.

We have to assume that a great number of them are dead...drowned below decks.
I also have to tell you that of the surviving sailors, none of them could
confirm they'd seen Jack after the ship's knock-down but that's not very
surprising considering they were trying to survive.

The dismaying thing in this search is that each of the life-rafts were
equipped with GPS location devices and therefore, we should have located
them all by now but...there's no signal from any of them so, the equipment
must be defective. We'll be looking into that when all of this is over and
if I'm right, someone is going to pay.

Right now, we're doing high-level fly-bys and low level surface scans using
the ship as the center of our search grid. We're still hoping to pick up
some kind of signal but you've both got to steel yourselves to the
possibility that since the capacity of these life-rafts is only four, Jack
may very well have been caught below when the wave knocked over the boat."

The pain on his face broke my heart almost as much as his news did.

"Hold on guys! Hold on!" Barry was jumping in his seat. "I've just picked
up three bleeps. If they'll just stay on for a few more seconds I'll zero
in on them."

His fingers were flying as he did his Barry magic.

He grinned as he turned to us and said;

"Well, we just found three of the six. I've just sent the coordinates to
our helicopters. Now we can just sit and hope but I also trust everyone
realizes that whatever the outcome for us personally, we ARE saving lives
out there."

I nodded grimly at him because, in the end, he was totally right.

I rose from my chair and pulled Sean to me.

"Call me when you've reached those three rafts and I'll hope for good news
guys."

Both Richard and Barry looked at me dourly and I knew that they didn't hold
out much hope and were just trying to be kind and gentle.

**************

Arlen was out on the big lawn essentially playing catch with Brian and I
suggested that Sean go out and play with them while I went down to my
study. I had to say goodbye to Ricky and Mandy.

They entered my study and Mandy rushed over and wrapped me in her arms.

"Oh Eric, I'd stay if there was one little thing I could do for you."

I smiled and whispered;

"Thanks sweet girl, but it's going to end the way it's going to end and you
guys have an Academy to run together. Arlen is waiting out front and
Captain Lucas certainly knows how to get you to Houston. I also think you
could get used to my jet couldn't you?" I grinned as I said that and she
kissed me warmly right on the lips.

It turned out that Daniel was operating the limo having chosen to leave
Arlen playing with the boys. I shook my head as I marveled at his
thoughtfulness.

"Keep us informed Boss-man." She whispered as she smiled warmly and they
were out the door.

I fought the urge to go back up to the command center because I didn't want
to be a distraction or in their way. I also didn't want to be a presence
that inhibited their open conversation. I reverted to an old habit and
poured myself a drink, picked up the bottle, and walked down to the music
room.

I sat down and my fingers began to fly over the keys. I didn't know what I
was playing but it flowed out from my fingertips and the room was filled
with wonderful sounds. I am a very accomplished pianist though I don't play
very often anymore.

I must have played mindlessly before the door to the room opened and in
walked Doc, Gary and Tim. They were bearing glasses two bottles and an ice
bucket. Despite my anguish, I smiled to myself and thought; `Well this is
certainly not an intervention.'

I looked over at the Wizard and he smiled sadly and said;

"I've given the three boys the next few days off because they've got other
things on their minds."

"Perhaps that would be a good reason to keep them in the classroom Doc."

"Not when the tutor is so distracted it isn't."

I nodded and I looked at Tim.

"Well, your son and new daughter-in-law will be home in two days. It
certainly would be wonderful if my son was home at the same time." He
nodded his head and stood up and wrapped me in his arms and I totally lost
it. I sobbed and shook and tears welled from my eyes while John's powerful
Dad just held me tightly and rubbed my back.

As I finally calmed down, Gary softly took my arm and whispered;

"Have hope Eric. Have faith."

I looked at him and said;

"Unlike you Gary, I don't have faith, but I do have hope...lots and lots of
hope."

*********

I gathered the boys from Arlen. Bobby had joined their impromptu game of
catch and I told them to head over to the pool. Mr. and Mrs. Costa are
going out to look at the construction on their condo so you three are free
to skinny dip. They looked up at me with forlorn eyes.

"Dad, that don't sound like so much fun when we're all so worried about
Jack."

"Guys, you not having fun isn't going to change a thing about what's
happened to Jack. If you love him, then do what he'd expect you to do...enjoy
yourselves. Jack was all about having fun. You know that."

They all nodded their heads in agreement and shortly, three gorgeous naked
little bodies were diving into the water and very quickly were horsing
around.

"Wow! Swimming naked is so much better outside than inside." Spider
exclaimed.

"Plus, you get a tan all over your body Spider." Sean said. "You'll see.
It's great."

Gary walked out into the pool area and sat down next to me after pouring
himself a drink and spent a few moments enjoying the wonderful sight of
three naked young boys in the pool. Only Spider had a lily-white ass. Sean
and Bobby had spent enough time in the sun naked last year that their skin
was still residually tanned all over.

Gary reached over and gripped my arm.

"Hope, Eric. If you can't have faith then keep focused on hope. Hope is
like an unconscious prayer and it's a very powerful force. You know that I
understand what it's like to lose a beloved son. Whatever happens Eric, you
will survive it and emerge strong and kind. You won't ever sink back into
that pit of darkness you once lived in."

I smiled at him.

"Somehow, I believe you're right Gary but right now, it doesn't feel very
good."

He took my empty tumbler from me and re-filled it.

As we sat watching the boys in silence, Daniel was suddenly at the edge of
the deck.

"I waived him over.

"Daniel, it's not like you haven't seen these boys naked before."

He nodded.

"Eric, they'd like you up in the control room."

"News?"

"So it would seem."

I thought for a moment and then motioned Sean out of the pool.

"Gary, would you keep an eye on Brian for a bit?"

"Of course Eric."

I didn't have to tell Sean what to do. He quickly dried off and got dressed.

"Remember what I told you. Whatever the news, I expect you to act like a
young man and not a baby. We have no control over what has happened so
we've got to handle what we learn with common sense...OK?"

"Yes Dad. Thanks for letting me come up with you." He leaned tightly
against me as we walked.

*******

Richard and Barry were sitting huddled around Barry's multiple screens and
they looked up at me but not with any joy as Sean and I entered the room.

It was Barry who spoke;

"Well, Jack was not in any of the three life rafts we recovered. There were
four people in each of them but they'd never been trained in how to
activate the GPS system and had only figured it out after trial and error.
We're hoping that will happen soon with the other three rafts.

That means the equipment is not defective just that the survivors weren't
properly trained."

Richard quickly added;

"We also have been told by three of the rescued people that they saw Jack
on board one of the life rafts. We consider that a confirmation. If he's on
a raft, even if it's fully populated, they're packed with enough food and
water to last at least a week. We'll find him Eric...I swear to god that
we'll find him."

I suddenly realized that my Chief of Staff was on the verge of crying and I
remembered that Richard had from the beginning a special relationship with
Jack. I remembered the boxing coaching with Walter and I had to suppress a
sob as I reviewed the joy that was shared between the three of them. Walter
was now gone and Jack was lost at sea.

"The water and the wind out there are currently wild and unpredictable so
we're expanding our search perimeters. We're also hoping that like these
first three rafts, someone will figure out how to turn on their GPS
locators.

The good news though is that we now know that Jack wasn't trapped in the
ship and that he's on a life raft. Our current job is to find that raft and
I promise you that we will."

I didn't even try to suppress my sob.

I tried very hard to make dinner a pleasant affair. We were in the big
dining room. Tim and Alice, Gary and Bobby and Doc Swaim joined us and
Martha had made roast beef. I'd opened a couple of bottles of wonderful
Medoc and as it was passed around, I wasn't surprised when Bobby and Spider
accepted a glass but I was again surprised when Sean did as well. I sighed
softly as I realized that my little boy was growing up.

As we walked down to the parlor, he pulled me aside and said quietly;

"Dad I really need you tonight. Can we be together please?"

I realized that I really needed him as well and so, I pulled him into my
side and said:

"You bet love bug but not Brian."

"He knows Dad. Just me."

"Ok then."

*******

He was so beautiful standing in the room wearing only his red boxer briefs
and he turned coyly around to give me a full view. Unfortunately, his smile
was sad and his face was melancholy.

"Are you gonna finish stripping me Dad?"

I hoped that my smile was warmer than I currently felt, but I said;

"You bet little man, you know that's my favorite thing to do."

I put my fingers into his waistband and drew the tight fitting garment
down. He assisted by raising his hips off the mattress and I smiled as his
little cock sprang to attention as his garment freed it as it descended
down his legs and over his feet.

I kissed him deeply and then rose up and undressed.

I wrapped him into my arms and pulled him so close that I was afraid that I
might hurt mime.

"Sean...I just ..."

He put his finger to my lips.

"Noli Timere Dad. Great grandpa's motto for the family. `Don't be afraid'
remember? We gotta be brave and love each other and know we'll be ok...that
Jack will be OK."

He rolled onto his back and silently pulled his knees down to his chest.
Without a word I grabbed the lube and worked it into his wonderful little
hole and then all along my cock.

Gently, I pushed against his tiny gate and it yielded swiftly. As I moved
into him, I presses my lips down onto his and as we kissed passionately, I
moved slowly in him in fluid gentle stokes. He was moaning very quickly and
I knew I was making rhythmic contact with his little boy prostrate. It
wasn't long before he was writhing on the bed beneath me and I grabbed his
waist and pulled him closely into me as I expelled my load.

When we woke in the morning, he was straddling me as per usual and he
smiled down at me and said;

"We ain't played the shower music game in a while Dad. It's your turn to
choose you know."

I nodded and got up to pee and thought about my choice. I really was hoping
to beat this kid.

I moved to the controls and walked into the shower with Sean right behind
me. The music soon filled the shower.










*I was born in a cross-fire hurricane And I howled at my ma in the driving
rain, But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas! But it's all right. Im
jumpin jack flash, Its a gas! gas! gas! I was raised by a toothless,
bearded hag, I was schooled with a strap right across my back, But it's all
right now, in fact, it's a gas! But it's all right, Im jumpin jack flash,
Its a gas! gas! gas! I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead. I
fell down to my feet and I saw they bled. I frowned at the crumbs of a
crust of bread. Yeah, yeah, yeah*

He smiled a very sad smile.

"Dad, that's not a great choice. It's `Jumpin Jack Flash' by the Rolling
Stones...but I think..."

I hugged him to me and whispered;

"Like a very wise young man told me last night, `Noli Timere' we have to
hope and believe. Now get your hair wet so I can shampoo you."

As we all sat around the table eating breakfast I tried very hard to be
upbeat.

"Boys, you've got baseball practice this afternoon. Arlen will take you but
if I can, I'm hoping to be there too. Tim and Alice, what are your plans
for today?"

"Well, we're actually going to do some exploring Eric. If we're going to be
living here, we ought to learn more about what's around here don't you
think?"

I smiled and nodded.

"Absolutely. John and Jenny will be home tomorrow night and then, he'll be
able to help you a bit because he's lived here for a very long time."

Just as I was finishing my coffee, Daniel was at the door.

I approached him and he simply said;

"They've got more news  Eric." His face was non-descript so I simply
excused myself and headed to the command center.

"We've located a fourth raft." Richard told me as I entered the room. "Jack
wasn't on it but they all confirmed that he was on one of the rafts that
launched after the knock-down. Since they were all launched at the same
time, we're now using this as the center for our search circle. We're
getting closer and I swear that we'll find him."

Barry suddenly exclaimed;

"Guys, I've got two blips! Somebody turned on the GPS devises! We've got
them! By god, we've got them."

I felt the blood rush to my head and I was afraid that I'd faint but I sat
down into a chair and recovered quickly.

I smiled weakly and said;

"Go get them and let me know when you've got my boy."

*******

I was on the proverbial pins and needles but I also knew that this rescue
mission would take time so I followed Arlen and the boys out to the
ballfield. I was driving the red cat because I was frankly hoping to be
called back to the estate.

I was so proud as I watched Sean run through his fielding exercises. The
boy was swift and instinctive. Though he'd never played organized ball
before, it just came naturally to him. Not a single hit got buy him.

At batting practice, Arlen moved next to me and I could tell he was tense.

"Arlen, he'll do well I think."

"No, Eric...he should do great."

I watched in awe as ball after ball was thrown to the little boy and he
connected and sent them deep into the outfield. Not one ball got passed
him. He left the plate to a round of hoots and applause from his teammates.

"Now I have to work on teaching him how to position his hits so he can
place them where they need to be but Eric, he learns so fast, we'll get
that done quickly. He's some kid Eric."

"Yeah, I know Arlen."

I watched the rest of the practice and my phone hadn't sounded so I told
Arlen to bring the boys to Deegans and we'd all have lunch.

They truly looked like little angels as they sat in the booth in their
baseball caps and sun burnished faces. It seemed that Brian shared Sean's
propensity to wiggle and I enjoyed that a lot. Watching them today had
alleviated the apprehension I was experiencing  but it was still very real.

I smiled at the three of them and as we walked out, I said;

"I'm going out for a drive so, I'll see you a bit later."

I got into the sleek Jaguar and headed out onto the road.

I was thinking that a great road run would clear my head but if the truth
be told, my mind was still  very much pre-occupied and the  deer that
stepped out onto the road took me completely by surprise.

I swung the wheel instinctively and realized in horror that the car was
headed down over the cliff.

(to be continued)

Thank you for the wonderful feedback I've received after the last chapter.
You are all a treasure.

Some of you have asked about a list of characters for this saga because
there are so many. I've actually got an excel spread sheet  which I'll send
you but then you've got to up-date from this point on.