Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 19:16:44 -0500
From: mt nuda <mtnuda@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Exam chapter 16

Chapter sixteen

Saturday July 27 cont'd


	After Joe and Billy had a more leisurely dinner Joe looked at Billy
and said, "You know Bill we can't be doing anything like that ever again."

	"I dunno" Billy said, "you mad at me now?"

	"Bill I ain't mad at you" Joe tried to keep it nonchalant "you
didn't do anything wrong, but... well.. you know it's just not something we
should be doing."

	"You do hate me" Billy said storming out of the kitchen.

	"I don't hate you" Joe followed after him "if anything I'm not real
happy with myself right now."

	"You hate me cause of what I made you do!"

	"You didn't make me do anything Bill.  I coulda - I shoulda stopped
any of this before it happened."

	"You hate me cause I stayed and watched you in front of the group,
cause I bid against you.  You think I sold you out."

	"Damn no that wasn't your fault.  But I shoulda insisted they kick
you outa there when things got... well you know... a bit raunchy."

	"You mean what happened, well you're okay with it, you just didn't
want me to know about it."

	"Well... kinda."

	"So it's okay for you to do it, but not for me to know about it."

	"Billy, these are things for adults, not kids like you-"

	"Dad I ain't no kid!" and Billy stormed into his room and slammed
the door shut.

	Damn, now he really is cryin, Joe thought, I messed him up today
and now he's all confused.  Or else he just wants me to see him as adult
now, all grown up, a man.  Well maybe I'll treat him grown-up and see if
that helps.  Hell, it can't make it worse.






Sunday July 28

	So the next day over breakfast, Joe and his wife started talking
about the pool.  Again.  This was one of those projects Joe had been
starting to do for the last two summers.  At least.  Cath kept saying Billy
would be gone off to college before he'd ever get it finished.  So when
Billy made it downstairs and was well into his breakfast, Joe started,

	"Well your mom and I been talkin about the pool."

	"Oh great now we're not gonna do it..." and Billy looked glumly at
his cereal.

	"Actually no.  Since we got a month or two before school starts we
should start it now or it'll never get done."

	"Dad?" Billy looked between his dad and mom "for real?  This year
for sure?"

	"This week!"

	"Really?" Billy had heard it before.

	"And to make sure it gets done" Joe looked at his wife and winked
"I think you should take charge of the project-"

	"Yeah right..." Billy looked at his mom, like he was gonna believe
his dad "right?"

	"Right Billy" they both answered.

	"But... but... but I don't know the first thing about pools-"

	"That's why I'll help you find the contractors and all that.  But
it's your job to manage them, make sure they do the job right, make sure
they get paid, not spend too much.  You know, you'll be the boss."

	"Really" Billy could barely contain his grin "you mean it?"

	"I mean it. You get to oversee the whole thing and..." Joe looked
between them "whatever money you get them to save, we put towards your
college fund."

	"What?"

	"Well, if the contract is for let's say three thousand, and you get
them to do the job for two fifty, well..." Joe baited the trap "you get to
have the five hundred for college."

	"Mom is this for real?"

	"Yes Billy, your dad thinks you can handle it.  From what he says
you've been taking on a lot of responsibilities with your doctor job and
all-"

	Billy just about choked on his food again, and then looked at his
dad.  Joe face was as blank as the wall behind him.

	"I think you can handle it, how about it?"

	"All RIGHT" Billy was elated, but as he thought more about it,
having adults answer to him and struggling with money issues and
everything, he started to pale, "but dad you gotta help me with some of
this stuff-"

	"Tomorrow we make some calls.  I know some of the contractors who
come into the store, some of them would be interested."




July 29

	Monday morning Joe made some calls and by eleven he made a deal
with a company for thirty three hundred.  They were having a slow-ish
summer so far so they said they could start Wednesday.

	Billy had a hunch his summer was going to turn even more
"interesting" and he could not wait.  And it would get his mind off last
Saturday and the situation at the doc's.  When the phone rang he heard the
hopes for the pool evaporate.

	"Hello?"

	"Billy it's Doc Renolds... Billy are you there?"

	"Yeah I'm here" Billy sat down "I just... y'know didn't expect to
hear from you so soon after... y'know... Saturday."

	"I understand you are reluctant about any further work here - "

	"Well... I didn't expect - "

	"Are your parents informing you to cancel your summer job after - "

	"Fuck no!" Billy almost laughed "sorry... no that's not it."

	"But you don't want to continue helping here, is that it?"

	"Hell doc, I.. well... I don't mind y'know... the stuff... but..."


	"But your father?"

	"Well, I just think it might be better if I cut back a bit y'know?
not every night or they're gonna start askin more questions, if you get my
meaning."

	"I understand" Billy heard the doc talking in spite of the muffled
phone "could you come in tonight and we'll discuss it?"

	Billy looked down at the floor, shit here's another of those
fateful moments, "fine. What time?"

	"Around five-thirty?"

	"See you then" and he hung up.  Okay, I'll go in to talk but I
gotta cool it with the other stuff, he thought.  Besides, the whole goddamn
town's been done by now!