Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:36:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Joe Parker <joejoeparkertex@yahoo.com>
Subject: I think I'm in trouble Part 1 Chapter 14

I THINK I'M IN TROUBLE
Part I
Chapter Fourteen


At some stage in his or her life every
person will experience a burning passion,
a morbid fixation, or terrible itch.

It could be set off by just about anything
or anyone.  What sings sweetly to one
person may be horrible and off key to the
next.

It's a supremely all consuming obsession
and when it is your turn it will try to
convince you that there is no defence.
No way of controlling the incredible urge to
abandon all rational thought and just give
in to your desire to simply HAVE...

It is a weakness of the soul, a condition of
the heart that calls us to operate beyond
the bounds of reason, common sense or
even fairness.

It makes people seek after things which
are not their own, causing otherwise
productive and ordinary individuals to
become extreme, calculating and
dangerous plotters.

They suddenly find that nothing is beyond
doing if it gets them what they want.  Any
kind of action no matter how despicable is
permissible if to their twisted minds the
ends justifies the means.

They become quite prepared to risk
everything they have worked so hard for
even if their prize is only temporary, even
if they only get to touch it, hold it.., have it
just the once.

They will happily forgo all their
responsiblities and even abuse any
privileged position they may hold if it will
assist them in achieving their aims.

It is as much a disease of the successful
as it is of the wretched.  Ironic then that it
has such a short name, but nevertheless
one should be careful in how one speaks
this 'name'.

For it is a thing of great and terrible
power, the people of our day, our age use
this word to describe a state of high
sexual arousal,

But there is a far more ancient meaning
for this word.  'To have what is not
yours'.., to covet..,

To - l u s t


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

(Felix)

Okay.., so I don't handle embarrassment
well.  What's more is that even when I
don't need to be embarrassed I still am.
Even when they tell me NOT to feel
ashamed I still do.

Last night Momma told me that she thinks
I'm 'jez for now' gay and it's 'okay'.  Can
you believe that?  She told me that both
her and Ryan think that Jake and I are
'experimenting' and that's 'okay'.

Yes.., it is 'o k a y' - that is to say, [they]
are 'okay' with it.  Evidently Ryan told
Jake the same thing coz Jake called me
afterwards in a right tether.

Ryan told Jake that he and Momma have
discussed the possibility of us havin
engaged in so called 'experimental
activities' (lol) and they are quite prepared
to let this particular 'river' run it's course.
Well Jake (as you can well imagine), made
it crystal clear just how long and how far
the river was gonna run for.

Ryan jez scoffed and basically said
'Whatever' and told Jake that it is all
'Okay' with him and my Mom.  Now Jake
don't got a single embarrassed bone in
his sexy body and he jez told his father
somin like 'Cool' and 'Whatever' back.

He weren't the one who was mortified
when his parent started talkin bout sex
stuff and bout how even though he can't
get me pregnant we still need to be
careful.  When Ryan assumed that Jake
was the clear 'pitcher' Jake typically
responded that I - Felix Drake Jarrow was
gonna be doin most of the 'Daddy' stuff.

Ryan din't seem too impressed with that
hehehe.

It's been a long enough weekend as it is
and I don't know why they chose to spring
this on us on a Sunday night!  We gotta
go back to school a-morra, this is like
sheeese Mom! - don't you want me to get
any sleep tonight?

I am so embarrassed sitting here at the
breakfast table watchin my Mom rushin
round treatin me like I'm 2 weeks overdue
or somin.  Part of her wants to dote on me,
congratulating me for reelin in a big fish
and the other part has just noticed that my
fish has got a cock and balls and not the
expected vagina...

I sure hope the grandfolks don't know, it
don't look like they know...  Uncle Gary
keeps watchin me with an amused
expression, I think he knows - oh well he
ain't kicked my butt so that's gotta be
good right?
Back to Uncle Ryan and Momma..,  One
thing they both reiterated to us was the
need to keep this on the down low.  I
know why.., I mean what would folks
think?  Not only are we gay but we are gay
kissin cousins, I mean how stereotypical
is that!?!  Talk bout gettin ourselves some
good ole Appalachian lovin!

Regardless we both understand this and
will try our best to keep this out of the
public domain an all.  Although Jake did
not do us any favors with his antics after
basketball the other day...  I wonder if
those boys have said anythang?  I can
imagine what Jake's probably planning on
sayin/doin to them alls.., sigh.

"Baby do yall want some more toast?"
Mom hovers nearby like she has all
morning.
"Momma I can get my own toast, quit
blanketin me"  I whine.
She feels my head for some reason.
"I'm NOT sick Momma.., sweet Moses and
the Israelites!"
"Honey don't talk bout y'alls ancestors
like that!"  Granmaw just chimed in...
"Clara I done told you before, we ain't no
damn Jews!"  That's Paw Jarrow,
politically incorrect to the death.

"We are so according to the New
Testament we is all part of the new
Isreeeael and we is all priests now not jez
the Leeeevites!"  Granmaw retorts hands
on hips.

I swish Momma's temperature takin hands
away and cover my eyes, then I use them
to cover my ears as I squeeze my eyes
tightly shut.

I can still hear Granpaw hollerin bout
Granmaw bein a damn modern liberal
'femernist ziooolinist christian'.
And to think they alls is gonna stay with
us till the home place is ready? -
Arrrrrrrrrrgggghhh get me outta here!
Lil Shaun takes this opportunity to spill
his oatmeal onto the floor and it's just
total bedlam thereafter!  I'm kinda glad for
his running interference coz Momma has
detached herself for to go fix his mess.

Uncle Gary quickly rushes out the door
with a guilty - not so guilty wave to me
and then he's off to work.  It's a late start
for him today, but he won't get into no
trouble now will he?  He were at the Big
Boss mans house last night weren't he?
And that ain't the big boss of the mine
either, it's THE Big Kahuna, the Numero
Uno, the Hick above all hicks!
I follow his lead and make to skidaddle
but don't get very far...

"Momma Kath Felicks is runnin away out
the doors!"  Abby points at me, I roll my
eyes and give her my fakest smile.
"I'll thank you lil Miss to mind y'alls own
beeswax and I weren't runnin out the
door"

"Yes you was"  that was all four of them
sans Lil Shaun who is preoccupied with
tryin to get out of his highchair.
Mom looks stormy,
"What's so important that you can't spend
jez a lil extra mornin time with y'alls
everlovin family huh - don't you love us?"
Oh darn not the 'Don't you love us/You
don't love us' thang again...  I stay away
from that one and change the subject.

"Look I gotta clean my teeth alright?   And
I got this thang called schoool that I gotta
go to, you know - it's where folks go to get
an educaaaation"
They look on blankly, Lil Shaun squeals
and calls out - "Go Gooool!"  he's the
cutest kid ever hehe.

Granpaw ain't no fan of school..,
"Granny Clara an I ain't never went past
ellermentree school and we done jez fine
ain't we love?"
Nope Grandpaw Jarrow ain't helpin any.
Jake takes this opportunity to enter stage
left...  Momma wrings her hands, torn
between the desire to mother and warn
him bout doin the hoochie coochie and
the urge to keeel him for gettin into her
babies levi's...

He sees her look and chooses to ignore it.
 He saunters over and kisses his
Grandfolks good morning before ruffling
an excited Lil Shauns' hair, he's got
oatmeal all over his face so no kiss from
Uncle Jakey this mornin awwwww - he
then changes his mind at the devastated
look on Shauns face and kisses him
anyway.

He's just made Lil Shauns mornin and I'm
sure Lenore will make the lil sweethearts
afternoon.  Jake picks up Abby and
cuddles and kisses her, listening to her
taddle tales bout me bein 'bad at todays
breakfast' - he looks at me disapprovingly.
 Lord forbid that I might actually be
innocent!

Then he scoops Momma up in his arms
twirls her around and gives her a big wet
one on her cheek.  It's hard to keep a from
laughin but the expression on her face is
to die for.  Don't worry Mom, he does it to
me too and with WAY more conviction.

Momma sways a lil drunkenly before
brightly sayin,
"Oh hello darlin! - I'm so glad y'alls is
here.., I have a whole bag of coconut
cookies for y'alls to share with Felix
today"
(Jake will eat twelve and give me two)
She glares at me..,

"Felix, FELIX! - Jake is here darlin, what
are y'alls standin round wastin time for?
Get on with y'alls!"
Oh brother! - it's gonna be jez one of
those days!


***

We are sittin in Mr Sixsmith's class again
listening to him drone on as usual.
Actually if I listen carefully I think I can
hear roar of the ocean in his drone.  I
slowly twist my head around, half turning
in my chair to check on my baby.

Jake is sitting behind me staring at me
with a dreamy expression on his face his
chin resting in his palm.  He is soooo
beautiful.

"Pssst"  it's Clarke,  "What's the answer to
number 12?"

Mr Sixsmiths' monotone increases in
volume all of a sudden.
"The. answer. to. number. twelve. is.
sin.cos.tan. Mr. Grierson."
We're all nonplussed that he answered
the question for us but we'll take it.
Clarke shrugs and writes it down along
with half the class including me.  Jessica
gives a disgusted snort and I can hear
Marks voice appealing to her hopefully..,
"Hey Jessica I never had to write the
answer down!"  Ahhhh young love...
I shake my head chuckling.

"Mr Sixsmith you RAWK!"  Clarke is such
a dufus, he's got such pretty blue eyes
though - baby blues for a big baby.
"I. would. rather. have. you. compromise.
me. the. teacher. than. your. fellow.
students. Mr. Grierson."  intones the
robotic voice.

"Cool so howsabout settin a guy up with
the answers to the final exam next
semester then?"  Clarke loves to raise
stakes, you jez wait till he can go in
casino's an all.

A new voice brings a sudden halt to all
proceedings...
"And howsabout I expel you for
attempting to procure exam notes from a
teacher?"

It's Dr. Lewis, the principal.., I hate how
she can ghost into the class like that!  It's
unnatural and freaky!  She sits her lardy
ass on my desk and continues.

"I have heard disturbing things about the
behavior of this so called 'Senior' class
especially in advanced mathematics"
She looks round the room accusingly and
tosses her frosted blonde hair.  Rumor
has it that she has botox injections in
Charleston every month.  I ain't been here
long enough to be sure but it is true what
Jake says bout Dr. Lewis face...  She has
a continuously surprised/grimace type
expression on her mug and she cannot
smile proper.  Hehe she looks like a
slightly melted mannequin.

"As you were Mr Sixsmith"...
She takes to roamin round the classroom
the rest of the period lookin at our
workbooks and cluckin and peckin her
way through the class.  Clarke (who loves
to gossip and I love to hear it haha), well
Clarke says that Dr. Lewis has been
pressuring all the older teachers to retire
and Mr Sixsmith is like the oldest of them
all.  Clarke's daddy is the head of the PTA
so I guess he knows.

Clarke says that Mr Sixsmith's been
teachin here for 40 years and apparently
Dr. Lewis told so and so that he's been
here 40 years too long...  I guess she's jez
lookin for reasons.  I try not to glance
back at my baby but I can't help it.  I do a
quick backwards glance and as always
he's gazing straight into my eyes, he
winks.

"Ewww I think I'm gonna be sick"  I hear
Mark Fisher murmur off to the side of me.

"You said something about feeling sick Mr
Fisher?"  Ms. Lewis enquires.
"Uhh naw I mean I just said like..,
"Wow, I think I'm gonna pick this up real
quick!"
Mark lamely waves his text book in the air
a little.

"I'm sure you will Mr Fisher, I'm sure you
will, and I really hope you do if it will save
you from selling furniture for a living like
your father right? -- no offense intended
of course young man"

Mark looks straight into her eyes, he
doesn't blush, just a cold, dead, long,
hard blue stare.  Principal Lewis stares
straight back her antagonism evident.
"My daddy just opened his 14th store
across the bluegrass states last weekend
in Lexington Kentucky Mam,"

He raises his perfect blonde eyebrow a
little,
"And just last week here in Forkridge,  I
believe he gave your folks a good
discount trade-in deal..,
You know I think it was that couch you
probably wet and pooped yourself on as a
little baby, no offense intended of course
Mam..."

Eeeeeek it's gettin hot in here!
Jake with his amazing knack for worst
timing and lack of knowing when to keep
his big mouth shut weighs on in
fearlessly...

"A hahaha that's AWESOME bro!"
He slaps his hand down on his desk with
glee.
It's Mr Sixsmith who defuses the whole
debacle...

"Madam, gentlemen. we. have. 10.
minutes. left. and. I. need. to. complete.
this. lesson. and. give. out. homework.
assignments. if. you. don't. mind"

You could have cut the tension with a
knife!
Ms. Lewis abruptly stands up, gives Mark,
Jake and Mr Sixsmith a withering look and
swiftly exits the room but not before firing
off one last salvo.

"You need to be very careful Mr Maxson,
the power of your family is no guarantee
about anything"
Jake - typical Jake, yawns in her face it
was a real one too lol.
But she has already turned and slammed
the door, her high heels click-clackin
murderously away down the hall.

Oh one other thang bout that class that
remains with me was the look on
Jessica's face when Mark stood up to our
'Dear Leader' as Clarke loves to call her...
It was a look of approval.., like WOW!

***

Sitting with Jake at lunch is like bein on a
merry-go-round.  There's all these folks
around us, poppin in, poppin out.  High
fivin and wheedlin for favors, seeking out
the Ruler of the school bout this and that.
Jake is such a study in contrasts.  At
times it seems he really gets off on this
kind of stuff and then at other times he is
obviously fed up with it all.  Some days he
makes it clear that nobody may approach
the 'royal table'... other days it's open
sesame.  I am still learning the signals of
when he is open for business or closed
until further notice.  Clarke and Junior
seem to know though and I am jealous :(
Sitting at this table with Jake, Clarke and
Junior and Elroy and Johnny from the
basketball team is a lot of fun, it's a guys
table, the gals have the table next door to
our left and convo tends to segue in and
out between tables.

One more table over is where most of the
football team sit including Mark and Harry
who are also on the basketball team.
What's interesting is who sits at the table
directly to our right...

It's full of geeks, shrimps and misfits...
And they are all Jake's friends.  If he hears
that someone has been messin or
bullying other kids coz they might be
weaker or smaller or poor or whatever, he
befriends them and invites them to sit by
him at lunch.  Junior told me that Jake has
taught him and Clarke the hard way what
happens to bullies... I believe it
considering I have seen this first hand.

Elroy is the most popular Junior and he is
next batter up after Jake leaves.  Jake has
been 'grooming' Elroy for the 'presidency'
next year.  Elroys' last name is Haydon
but everybody knows he's a Garfield on
his Momma's side and in this school and
in this town, that's like royalty.
I still don't know how the Garfield's figure
in the great scheme of thangs but Jake
says they own somin like 2% of C&E
Maxsonite.  It don't sound like much till
you add up jez how mighty that company
is.

His great great great grandaddy or
whatever he is built a shack here and
made it the first high school, and so in
some ways he has more claim here than
even Jake.

I never knew this but Elroy lives up top in
a little kind of employees community a
quarter of a mile from the mansion.  Jake
says that he often does homework
together with Elroy and they hang out a
lot together.  I thought it was weird how
I've never really seen him round much.
That was until I learned that he works on
the household staff for college money.

Miss Carol it seems refuses to drown her
kinfolk in idle time and easy money, wise
woman that lady.
Jake has gone out of his way to introduce
me to all of his friends.  There's the
Starlight Mountain Dance comin up soon
and Beth, Junior's girl has been tryin to
set me up with this gal called Betsy-Lee
Meredith.  I'm tryin everythang not to get
wrangled but Jake seems rather amused
by it and has been unhelpful when I look
at him imploringly - begging for help.  It's
alright for him, he's goin stag and that's
real convenient and expected since he
just quit with Jessica.  Ahhh it's such a
complicated life ain't it!  See what I mean
by merry-go-round?  Hangin out with Jake
and his friends is like bein in the circus.

 I've been makin friends on my own too
and it's been great!  Jake is very jealous
of how much time I spend away from him
but he does not act too silly bout it.  I have
joined the music appreciation society aka
the school band that ain't the marching
band.  It's cool, we got drum sets and
guitars, bass guitars and keyboards.  and
all the kids in the group are typical
muso's.  Laid back, alternative and in tune
with the rhythm of life.., well mostly in
tune.

As always I get enquiries bout Aunt
Shonta which for them is like awesome
coz Jake has never had anything to share
bout his Momma nor has he wanted to
learn anythang bout her in the past.
Maybe he will change in this regard as
time goes by?
I however am happy to share my own
knowledge of my illustrious Aunt and one
of the gals here called Marie Smith has a
real nice voice and she knows all of Aunt
Shonta's songs.  It's a pity we ain't
allowed to sing any of my Aunts songs at
school concerts an all.  The teacher even
said so.  Such is the reach of a grieving
Ryan Maxson.  Maybe that will change
too.., as time goes by?
The bell rings signalling the end of our
lunch period.

"I'll see you in study hall last period
Feeeely"
Says my honey who for some reason has
taken to Lenore's nickname for me.  He
still don't like HER sayin it though or
anybody else.

"Okay Jakey, see ya then"
I nod and bounce off to class.
You know, this was the same timetable I
had that first day we met...  study hall last
period.  I stop to consider that but
unfortunately Jake who has been
following behind me and ogling my ass (I
just know he has)  walks straight into me.
"Ooops - ooooh soooory dude -- sorry
man!"

We say to one another...
"Yeah watch where your'e goin Jarrow"
"I weren't goin nowhere Maxson, I had
stopped"
"Uh huh well next time I might just have to
keep goin on over the top of you now
won't I"
"But Sir, I bottomed last time!"
(I really don't know where that came from)
Jake's eyes have glazed over and he
assumes the universal 'I'm gettin a woody'
position... you know that half crouch/half
lean kinda thang?

"Feeeeelix did you have to go there!?!"
He chokes out in a ragged sotto voce
exhalation.
"Ooops, honestly I wasn't thinking,"
I cringe...
He gives me a deadpan look still
crouched over...
"Well uh anyway Jake, I uh, I'll see you
later and you know I didn't mean to say all
that bout beeeeeumm nevermind..."

He's startin to rile up hehehe.... I better
scoot.
I quickly start backing away...,
"Aha! - well my work is done here!  Seeya
wouldn't wanna be ya!"
"Hehehe"
I cackle and run off to American History.


***


(Georgia Lewis)

She seethes to herself..,
That arrogant little ingrate Mark Fisher will
pay for his little performance today, and
so will Jake - of course he will.  Young
men like these think they are beyond
indictment, below the radar and above the
law.  Well not anymore.

Georgia swore that she would put an end
to such injustices when she began her
tenure here at her old school.  No longer
would these smart, rich and beautiful
young boys humiliate and degrade the
hard working more deserving elements of
the school.

Look at Jake Maxson, pontificating over
the school as if he was the principal and
not her!  Look at him stringing along the
unpopular ones and no-hopers, deceiving
them into believing he actually cares
about them.

Him and Mark Fisher have more loyalty
from her staff than she does.  Well it won't
do, those corrupt veteran staff members
will be down the road soon, just as soon
as she can figure a way to end the old
Garfield womans unnatural influence and
'patronage' over the school.

Why won't the old bat just hurry up and
die?  If only she could get her on side, or
even better - get rid of her altogether.
Unfortunately she is beyond reach up at
Maxson Eyrie.  Besides the substantial
school funding her family trust provides is
too vital to lose.

No not yet, she won't quite go there yet,
but one day she will, yes indeed she will
one day soon...
Ms. Lewis has thought long and hard
about this and now it's time.  She sees no
other way of achieving her objective.
Ms. Lewis instructs her young secretary,
Miss Robbins to place a call to New York
City.  A call that will touch base with an
old college friend of hers, and ultimately
her lifetime dream will begin to come true.
She went to college with Aimee Khol.
They were freshman roomates and have
remained steadfast friends, sisters even
all the way through.  Aimee headed into
photo-journalism and Georgia  studied
education.

They have been relatively out of touch the
past two years but their bond is still as
strong as ever.  It was amazing how much
the two girls had in common when they
first started talking, first started getting to
know about one another and each others
lives.

Both of them had grown up out of the
spotlight, raised by remote disinterested
parents, ignored at school, deprived of
even a close or best or even casual good
friend.., they grew up distant, watchful,
suspicious and resentful of everything
around them.
Unlike other growing girls they never
really blossomed into anything other than
what they were before and in their souls
they railed against the neglect of not only
other human beings but even nature itself.
And thus they both swore to themselves
that some day, somehow they would be
the stars of the parade, they would have
the power to decide the fate of others and
they would be the epitome of beautiful,
successful and wanted.  They would get
the guy.

And so Aimee and Georgia made a pact, a
solemn promise that they would do
everything in their power to transform
themselves into the image of perfect,
desirable women.  It would have worked,
they would have attracted the attention of
strong hearted, husky young men if not
for one glaring problem.

They were sour.

They resented the very men who could
have helped redefine their lives. Their
contrary attitudes and overly competitive
natures generally repelled decent men,
and they could not see how any of this
was in any way their responsibility.

What makes a person sour? - The desire
to have justice at any cost, to always be
right? - to be vindicated.
Therefore with every pound lost, every
hair dyed, waxed and removed, with every
pilates twist and each new outfit they
sewed the seeds of their own destruction.
It could be no other way.  The question
was, who else would be along for the ride
when Georgia and Aimee crashed and
burned?

West Virginia State was an opportunity for
both of them to reinvent themselves and
see what the world had to offer.  But they
never did seize and embrace the chance
that was offered them.  They were too
suspicious, too disbelieving.

***

In Georgia's case she seeks to resolve her
emotional traumas by inflicting them upon
other people.  Why should she suffer
alone?  After all, misery loves company..,
the need for vengeance is a fully justified
act.  It is almost a holy act.

The men they desired so greatly were also
the ones they hated and blamed with a
passion.  For Aimee it was any man and
every man.  But for Georgia there could be
only one.  Ryan Maxson, the love of her
life.., and the man she loved and hated
with a passion.

It had always been him, there could be no
other.  She tried everything she could to
conquer her acute shyness and put
herself out there before him.  Only twice in
her younger years had he ever spoken to
her.  Once to tell his friend John to quit
teasing her about her frumpy clothes.
And the second time to ask if she needed
a ride home one day when she missed the
bus.

But she never succeeded in crossing that
bridge.  It was his fault of course, he was
too beautiful, far too rich, too clever, too
popular, too nice.., too perfect.  It was
ironic really, they were both untouchable -
both him and her, just in different ways.
At times he gave her what she swore to be
curious glances, the kind of glances boys
give when they are looking at potential
and not current reality.  But she decided it
was only him mocking her, teasing her,
showing her what she could never have.
She faithfully followed his life, his shock
marriage, his surprising change in career
and his retreat into seclusion as the years
passed by.  And as Ryan spent another
year alone, she rejoiced - preparing
herself for the time when she would return
home triumphant, ready to claim him
finally and utterly.

Seeing him again for the first time in many
years sent thrills through her.  Yes he still
had it, that incredible magnetic power to
make her swoon - and every other red
blooded female within a bulls roar.  If
possible he was even more stunning than
before.

The softer vulnerabilities of adolescence
replaced by the sharp confident almost
predatory features of prime, optimum
manhood.  She both loved and hated him
for it.  Old Carole Garfield had hosted a
dinner at the school in her honor as new
principal of Forkridges only high school.
He remembered her! -- he came straight
over to her and hugged her, he even
kissed her as he congratulated her on her
successful posting as Garfield Highs new
principal.  She actually pinched herself to
make sure she wasn't dreaming.  He
stayed close to her most of the night
sweet talking her, gazing suggestively
into her eyes, giving her sultry looks.

She rejoiced and began to return his
gestures as the wine and the lust began
to talk.  She ran her foot up his muscular
thigh but her joy was quickly reduced to
shock and rejection when he became
bewildered and smartly asked her to
desist.

WHAT?!?! - he dares to string her along
and then make a fool of her like this?
Since that night she has waited and
waited for his apology but nothing has
been forthcoming.  She has been quite
ready to forgive him but he has arrogantly
abstained from contacting her.  His last
chance came when his impudent son was
caught fighting just the other morning.
But what does he do instead?
He makes a play for the hillbilly boys
mother, right in front of her!  For a cheap
unsophisticated little bitch who claims to
be a relative of Shonta Jarrow-Maxson.

Can't he see she's only after his money?
"Well Ryan my love, your numbers up and
it's time to put you, your whore girlfriend,
your son and his faggot catamite
boyfriend to the sword"
Ohhh yes she saw Jake Maxson carry that
new boy Felix to his truck last Friday.  She
saw them kiss!  Can't the little faggot see
that Jake is not gay.  He is only toying
with him?  That's what Maxsons' do, they
are your friend for a little while. But they
soon lose interest and throw you away.

Georgia considers her blood red nails as
she awaits that vital call from her dear,
dear old friend Aimee.
The phone rings and she picks up the
receiver.

"Aimee daaaaahling!, yes, yes
everythings just delicious!..,
Yes in fact lets just cut to the chase..,
About that proposal you pitched to me
last year...

Yes, oh yes Aimee I have changed my
mind..,
I'll tell you when you get here, next
Tuesday - GREAT! - I will arrange
everything, don't you worry.

Excellent, lets do it! -- Okay bye, goodbye
now"
Georgia Lewis hangs up the phone and
shivers.  What is about to happen will
destroy Ryan, but she truly believes that
from the ashes he will rise again and
together they can begin anew.

A new life, just her and him.., no Jake, no
hillbilly bitches, nobody else.
Her eyes narrow to slits as she ruminates
over her future plans.


***

(Jake)

I never told her, but I thought I was in love
with Jess, now I'm glad I never said so now
because what I feel in my heart for Felix
is the real mccoy.

I'm sorry for what I did to Jess but it's a
godsend that I never said I loved her,
bittersweet as that is.  The one I love is
watchin me here at wrestling practice
right now.  His marvellous eyes in a
dreamlike daze as he looks on.

It's hard to find good heavyweight
competition to train against.  To be honest
I'm kinda worried that Big Hec Johnstone's
attempt to lose weight is gonna work.

He weighs just on 185 lbs now and if he goes
down another 2-3 lbs I
will be the only heavyweight here.  Don't
listen to what the others tell you, I know
my own weight and I am actually heavier
than I let on - especially to Dad.

Dad is concerned about my growing and we
have been to see several specialists to ease
his mind.  They all agree that I'm just a big
ole Mountain Man in the making, nothing to be
concerned about.  I tease him - saying he's just
jealous coz I'm a bigger, badder, better, smarter,
sexier, and more lovable version of him.  He scoffs
and flexes his own impressive body saying
'In yer dreams junior'

Okay he's pretty hot I got to admit, WAY hotter than
any of the other dad's even those who are like 10-15
years younger.

But he's still a dork.  A dork I happen to love with
every bone in my overgrown body.
So back to talking about ME - yes my favorite subject,
although Felix is fast catching up.
We were discussing my weight -- You know what
they say - muscle weighs more than fat...
plus we have big, thick, heavy bones in our family.
I weigh about 245 lbs at the moment, last
season I was 237 lbs but this year my
body fat is at 7%.  It was 9% last year.  If I
eat better I could probably hit the magical
5% but nah I'm happy where I'm at.
I travel over to State just outside of
Charleston every month to practice with
some of the big guys they got over there.
Lets just put it this way.., they don't enjoy
my visits haha...

As part of my athletic program I get to
spend a whole 90 minute period at school each day
working my body and I love it.  Physical exertion
is my favorite outlet for stress and tension,
I think better about things when I work out too.
At the moment Coach Williams has me on a 30 minute
split of running, weights and callisthenics
(yes callisthenics and I like it too).

Ms. Lewis tried to get rid of my 90 minute athletic
period but Mrs Jordan the Guidance Counsellor
recommended I continue on with it since it appears
to calm me down.  I really like Mrs Jordan eh - and
I have learned quite a lot from my weekly sessions
with her so far.

We have been talking about what makes people tick,
what are the building blocks of successful relationships
and right living?  I have learned four amazing things from her.
No matter where we are at in our lives, we all either
consciously or  sub-consciously need to know 4 things...

1) - Who's the Boss?
2) - What are the rules?
3) - What's in it for us?
4) - What are the consequences of non compliance?
I was so ignited by this concept that I can't wait
for our next session!
I start packing up, Felix is coming home with me
tonight - YAY! - it will be his first night
at my house!  The rents don't seem to mind one bit.
I called Dad to ask during lunch and he said he
would allow it if Momma Felix was okay with it.
Well before Felix could call his Mom she pre-empted
him and sent him a text saying it's okay.
Well I hope they never change!  I wonder if Felix
will run up the hill with me today?
I won't take a shower now, I wanna run the hill today.
Not many people know this but on the way home I like
to get security to drive my truck up the hill so
I can run up.  If I didn't do this I would become
too lazy to run and I hate running as a rule.

There's a small depot/office at the bottom that
is usually unattended and I get changed out of my
school clothes and into my running gear in there.
It has a small apartment in the back and lately
Clarke has been using it to bed Sue and God
knows who else...  I suspect he's getting his freak
on with Lenore but cannot prove it.
Clarke's gonna have a million paternity suits
on his hands before he hits thirty.

I do a 200 set of crunches, press ups and
chin pulls with (usually with Elroy) each
night at the Eyrie gym before showering
and then off to bed.  But with Felix in my
life I have to be extra disciplined or I will
just throw it all away and turn into jelly.
Then he might leave me coz I look like a
blimp :(

I look over at him from the mat and smile,
he gives me an adorably shy smile,
blushes and looks away.  I sigh as I gather my
stuff together - how is it that I can be so
in love like this?  We bump shoulders as we
walk out of the gym together.

I must admit I have been showing off for
him, throwing Big Hec around till he up
and quit on me for the day.  Strutting
around the ring and being generally
annoying until Coach Williams told me to
get a grip or get lost.  I won't be going after
any scholarships, I don't need them but if I
was to do so I would chase a wrestling
sponsorship to a strong wrestling college.
 Maybe Michigan or Oklahoma State.

But there's a new situation for me now,
and all my plans have changed.  It all
depends on my Felix.  That's how much I
love him.  Where he goes, I wanna be and
the rest of my plans be damned.  What
use going off to college when I'm just
gonna pine for my baby?

I asked him the other night about college
and he said he thought he was going
down the mines - like hell he is!
His family has a great deal of money
coming their way soon and he needs to go
to college.  I told him that no matter what
he decides to do I plan on being nearby.

He looked disturbed and expressed that he
cannot allow anything to get in the way of
my college plans, especially if it's himself.

I said "Good, coz not having you with me
would be tantamount to disaster"...  he
smiled and kissed me, although it was
kind of bittersweet...
I am not as ambitious as some might
think, I could quite happily just mope
around home forever.  I don't wanna leave
my dad, I don't wanna leave my
grandparents and Miss Carol.  I guess I
have a milder version of what Dad suffers
from - whatever it is that keeps him from
going out much.  But then again he has
been heading down into town every day
for to see Momma Felix.
He goes to the shops with her, sits in the
diner while she works.  He doesn't want
her to work at all but they will have to
figure that out themselves.  If she decides
to look after his sorry ass and marry him
(or whatever) - he will want her up top.

Uncle Bryce (Dad's oldest brother) has
told Grandpa that he will not be returning
to the Estate when he inherits his rightful
place as head of the family at Grandpa's
death. He prefers to conduct the
presidency of the company completely
from HQ in Pittsburgh.

Uncle Michael wishes to stay in New York
City, he's much closer to Grandmothers
side of the family who are based in NYC
and D.C.  My uncles are great guys and I
really get on well with my cousins who
though they are older than me, have
always shown me a lot of affection.

Uncle Michaels wife Imogen is this kinda
wacky artiste, who likes to get naked and
cover herself in colored clay.  Her exhibits
always include her body somehow, for as
long as she can handle the hardening,
caking result...  I have never been allowed
to go to any of her exhibitions (and do
not wish to lol).
Grandmother does not approve lol -
funnily enough, Miss Carol loves Aunt
Imogen haha and her and Uncle Mike's
oldest son's name is none other than
'Clay'.  If she wasn't a Whitney I don't think
 the olds would have allowed them to
marry.

Uncle Bryce divorced from his wife Aunt Jean
when I was 9.  Yet they still live together and
they seem to get on better than they ever did from
what I hear.  It's interesting that before the divorce
they slept in separate bedrooms but since the divorce
they sleep together... go figure.

Regardless she's a sweetheart even if she's
a little bit Martha Stewart...
The Maxson men sure know how to pick them and
my Daddy sure made himself an outrageous selection
in my Mom.  I listened to some of her music before
falling asleep last night but I can't remember it.

What I do remember is the awesome sleep I ended up having!
Would she have supported what me and Felix have?
Who knows...

So anyway sorry for jumping all over the place but
hey I'm a teenager - get used to it, remember when you
were like this?  I'm sure Grandmother thinks I'm on drugs lol.
SO ANYWAY.., control of the Estate will fall to my
Daddy on Grandpa's death and so will the massive trusts and
endowments which sustain Maxson Eyrie.

As the spiritual home of the dynasty no Maxson can
ever be barred from the Eyrie, they can visit at
any time and most family members maintain apartments
or 'quarters' as we call them here anyway.

Momma Felix could well be the next Mistress of the Eyrie
like WOW! - who woulda thunk it?  And after that, maybe
hopefully -- Felix and I -- like WOAH!?!

I'm glad Daddy told me to explore what I have with
Felix.  I'm not so happy about his mistaken notion
that we are just messin around.  He retorted when
I asked him if he was 'Just messin around with Momma
Felix' haha I really know what buttons to push.
He actually opened up a little and told me he is dead
serious about Momma Felix and he worries that she
thinks he is just looking for another
version of my mother.

It's obviously been on his mind because
tears sprang to his eyes and my heart
went out to him.  We cuddled together on
the couch.  Two Maxson men chasing
after elusive Jarrow dreams, one for the
first time.., one yet again.

***

(Miss Carol)

Her eyes avidly read over the verses just as if
she had never seen them before.  Of course she has
read through this book many thousands of times,
but tonight the words of these verses call out
to her with dire warning..,

  1: Now the serpent was more subtle than any
beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
And he said unto the woman, "Yea, hath God said,
Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"
***
2: And the woman said unto the serpent,
"We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
***
3: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst
of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it,
neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."
4: And the serpent said unto the woman,
"Ye shall surely [NOT] die":
***
(Genesis 3:1-4)

Thus with one word the whole course of history was changed...
A feeling of dread rushes through her aged body
and she peers into the night as the wind moans
in the mountains and howls through the valleys.
She fights back the urge to join the moan and wail
herself.

Her eyes fill with tears and fear.

"Guide me o Thou Great Redeemer!  I fear Lord I am afraid!
One devil right here but two devils soon!
I cannot see but Lord I sure do detect.
Snakes crawlin round our garden and with one word they
be changin de whole stream of our lives won't they Lord.
By de end of this somebody gonna be dead and I
fear greatly for my beloved ones.  I must gather my
chicks while I still may!  That Lord will I do...
She rocks away the hours reading, thinking,
there will be no sleep for Miss Carol tonight.

No peace.


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

(Jessica)

Did you know that the ancient chinese characters
for lust or temptation depict a beautiful woman deciding
which fruit to choose from between two trees?


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

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