Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:25:34 -0600
From: Michael king <thewriter1@live.ca>
Subject: Lil Bros Chapter Two

Tommy's eighth birthday was coming soon and he didn't know what to do.
Then it came to him, he could take Tommy to Disney world for a week. Let
Tommy be happy and have a lot of fun before school started again. Michael
also wanted to know if Scott and Richie two of his best friends would like
to go with them also. So with Tommy outside Michael called the Parker
home. "Morning Scott, is your mom up yet?"

"Yeah dude, want her?"

"Please."

"You're sick dude."

"Eat me, I didn't mean that way."

"I know I'm just pulling your chain. Mom its Michael he wants to talk to
you."

"Morning Michael, what can I do for you?"

"Hi Mrs. Parker, Tommy's birthday is coming up and I was thinking of a week
at Disney world, and well I would like to ask if Scott and Richie can come
also?"

"Well I don't think it would be good, you would need an adult to be there
with you all."

"I know that is why I was hoping you could come too."

"I see, you have thought this all out?"

"Not totally yet, it just came to me."

"Very well let me see what I can do to help you."

"Thank you, but can you please not say anything to Scott or Richie."

"Sure, I think it will be fun to see their faces."

"Thanks, I gotta go some one just jumped into the pool in his clothes."

"Oh my I hope he doesn't do that all the time."

"No this is the first time."

"Well sounds like you have your hands full. I'll call you tomorrow and let
you know my answer."

"Thanks Mrs. Parker."

	Hanging up I walked to the patio door. "Tommy don't you think a
swim suit is better to swim in?"

"Uh huh, but I got hot."

"Okay come out and I'll get you a towel and your swim suit you strip down
here."

"Okies."

	No sooner had he changed than he was back in the pool swimming and
having fun. I was sitting on the patio when the Archer brothers showed up,
seeing Tommy in the pool Peter and Billy stripped to their suits and soon
joined him, at three playing tag and chasing each other. Jerry the oldest
brother came over and sat with Michael. With in an hour Scott and Richie
showed up and dove in.  "Damn Michael how many more will be in your pool
before the day is over?" Jerry asked.

"Let's see if I know Scott he called the whole team so maybe another
six. Maybe I should set up the barbecue and get some hot dogs and chips."

"Sounds like fun, want me to call mom and see if she can help?"

" Yeah, I'm not a good cook."

	At noon there were eleven boys splashing around in the pool, each
spending time tossing little Tommy in the air or riding him around on there
back. The Archer's mother had come over with Mrs. Parker and soon had lunch
ready for everyone. Sure it was hot dogs, but with potato salad; and juice
all served on paper plates.

	Early the next morning as Tommy was still sleeping Michael woke and
dressed. Then it was into the kitchen where he started making fresh
waffles, he had made enough for seven boys since his other little brothers
were on there way, he had lots of juice and bacon ready when Tommy came
shuffling into the kitchen. Michael had just given Tommy his hug when the
door bell rang; sitting Tommy at the table Michael opened the door to see
his other brothers there. "Come in guy's breakfast is ready."

	Soon there were six boys bouncing around in the pool splashing and
having fun as Michael sat on the lounger watching.  He was just thinking of
joining them when Mrs. Parker came around the side. "Morning boys, Michael
don't you ever get tired?"

"No ma'am this is the life."

"Well then I won't keep you, I just came to tell you that I have gotten the
time off to come with you to Disney world."

"Great, that means I can get everything set up."

"Let me know what is needed or if you need help."

"I will, I just hope things work out right. I'll call you when I have it
done."

"Thank you. Now I will let you go and have fun with your little friends."

"I will. You can tell Richie and Scott that they can come and swim if they
want."

"I'll tell them."

	So with the boys in the pool Michael went inside and made
reservations for five at the Boardwalk resort. With that done Michael
stripped to his suit and joined the boys in the pool. There were sodas on
the patio table, so if they got thirsty they could grab one.

	The week at Disney world was great Tommy loved it keeping Scott and
Richie going on rides, Michael wasn't left out for when the brothers got
tired Tommy took Michael on more rides, each night the boys slept like the
dead that was how tired they were. Mr. Parker wasn't left out a she tried
to keep up with an eight year old also.

	The last day there was Tommy's birthday, so Michael had the
Parker's take Tommy to the rides as he had to plan for his party. Talking
with the manager Michael was able to get a cake made and a special dinner
of hamburgers and fries something Tommy loved. They had gotten a small
dinning room set aside for the party. Michael had gone out and found some
gifts for Tommy, getting them wrapped and back to the hotel just before the
Parkers showed up. Sending everyone off to shower and change their
clothes. When everyone was together he led them down to the restaurant. The
dinning room was all set and Michael had Tommy sit at the head of the table
with Michael on his right. "What's this bro, this is your seat."

"Not tonight little man, now enjoy tonight."

	With that the Waiter started to bring in four smoothies and a large
ice tea. After they had been served the dinner was brought in double cheese
burgers and fries. All the boys were enjoying the meal with the dinner
plates cleared the manager then came in and behind him was the cook
carrying a cake with eight candles on it as he set it down everyone sang a
sour happy birthday as Tommy blew out the candles.

	After dinner they all headed back up to the suite where Michael had
Tommy's birthday presents. Tommy was ecstatic when he found that he had a
new I pod and movies, Scott and Richie had bought him a chain and pendant
with the world's greatest bro hanging on it. That was something Michael
didn't know about. All to soon we were driving back to Naples and home,
Tommy listening to his I pod, Scott and Richie sitting in the far back
softly talking, Then we were home, Tommy grabbing all his things thanked
Mrs. Parker for a great time.

	We still had five weeks left before school started. Tommy and
Michael had spent a lot of time in the pool, and time practicing the
trumpet and piano, nine weeks after they got home from Disneyland Tommy
asked if they could spend the day at the beach. Michael thought that was a
great idea so packing his trumpet and things for the day the walked down to
the beach. Michael sat on the dock as Tommy ran up and down the sand
enjoying himself; always insight soon Michael looked up and saw Tommy
building a sand castle, with him was an older boy, Michael thought nothing
of it since his brother was having a great time. Tommy called over that he
had to go to the bathroom. "Tommy hang on and I'll go with you?" Michael
called back."

"Awe, I'm a big boy, I can do it myself."

"Okay but don't be to long."

"Okies, I make it fast."

	With that Michael went back to playing his trumpet. He kept
watching for Tommy, when an hour went by and Tommy still wasn't back he
took his trumpet and started walking towards the washrooms. Getting closer
he could see people standing around. Pushing through the crowd he heard
some talking that a little boy was inside. Pushing harder Michael made his
way inside and saw his brother laying there, his clothes tossed beside
him. Kneeling, he slowly lifted Tommy's head. "Oh Tommy. Why didn't you
wait for me?" Michael sobbed.

"Son the police are here, you have to let him go now." A mans voice spoke.

"No I will not leave my brother."

"Let the police do there job."

"I AM NOT LEAVING HIM."

	Michael lifted Tommy's inert little body and slowly carried him
outside, Michael's jacket covering his lower body, the tears falling into
Tommy's dirty hair. The police and the people standing around stepped aside
as Michael made his way out. There were news people around and every so
often a flash would brighten the tears. Laying his brother on a gurney
Michael slowly cover him leaving his face showing. The police spent time
talking to people, including the boy that found him, and even tried to
talked to Michael.

	Michael took back his trumpet as the coroner drove off. Michael
went home and closed the curtains and left the lights off, locking the
doors and unplugging his phone he sat on the couch and didn't move for the
next twenty four hours. Then he got up and plugged the phones back
in. Michael made himself a sandwich and then went back to the front room
where he opened the liquor cabinet and started drinking. Michael didn't
stop till he had passed out on the couch, only to start the next day and
the day after that.

	Both the Archer's and the Parkers had learned of the tragedy, and
they left him alone. Scott and Richie helped their mother make the funeral
arrangements, and still they hadn't heard from Michael. The day of the
funeral everyone was there Scott, Richie, Peter, Billy Jerry and Trey
Richards acted as pall bearers. Everyone was thinking that Michael would
show up, but he didn't and that worried them. At home Michael was once more
drinking himself into a stupor then into a sleep. Six weeks went by and no
one had seen Michael, Scott and Peter were worried, School had started and
he wasn't there, still they waited for another two weeks before they talked
to their mothers. The police had finally admitted to that they didn't have
a lead and that the case had gone cold.

	Michael had started ordering beer through a cab company always
using a deep voice to get the order done, then when they showed up Michael
would say that his dad was in the bathroom or shower, he would pay for the
beers and then once the door was locked again he would start drinking then,
soon his house smelled like a brewery.

	It was Peter that found Michael passed out on his living room
floor, beer cans and bottles all over the place. Leaving the house Peter
went home and called his mom at work, he then called Scott. "Hey bro I need
you to meet me at Michael's, I just saw him he was passed out on the floor
and man that house stinks."

"Okay I'll be there in ten, you want me to bring Richie also?"

" Yeah and I'll bring Billy."

	Soon all four boys were at the house waiting for Mrs. Archer to
show up. The boys had the doors and windows open when she got there. Billy
had taken time out and had gone outside where he called their coach and
asked him to come and help. After hanging up Billy walked back inside and
saw his mother standing there, a few tears in her eyes as she took one
look, calling the boys together and told them that they had to get Michael
some help. Then while Michael was gone they would clean the house up and
get it back to where it was before. Though from the smell of things it
means a lot of work.

"Mom why would Michael do this?" Peter asked."

"We won't know until he is sober again. Now let's get him out of here."

"Guess that means the hospital huh?" Asked Scott.

"For now, then it will have to be a detox center."

	The Coach showed up and with the help of Scott and Peter they got
Michael into the car and off to the hospital. There the doctors took him
and placed him in the psychiatric ward, the coach told the doctor that he
thought the death of his brother had brought this on and that he should be
watched for a while. With the agreement that he would get the best care the
Parkers left. Back at Michael's house Richie and the Archers had started
cleaning up the cans and bottles; soon they had one hundred cases of beer
cans. Not to mention all the bottles. Once that was done they took out the
furniture and called in a floor company to rip out the carpets and replace
it.

	With everything happening at Michael's house, Scott had decided to
see if he could help Michael in other ways. One night he drafted an E-mail
to the show CSI Miami, Michael's favorite show and asked if they could help
a boy over come the death of his brother. He told them everything that he
could and that his friend had been found passed out in his living room. The
letter was three pages long when Scott sent it hoping that something could
be done.