Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 12:07:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: c z <cezmail1@yahoo.com>
Subject: Monterey Delights- Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Disclaimer- Standard Nifty and I will just add, if you
don't want to read it or can get busted if caught, don't.
Easy enough done and I am not responsible if you screw up.
The story is mine, and I am going to insist on its
copyright. So hereby Monterey Delights is now copyrighted
( C ) by cezmail, my pseudonym on the net. Ask permission
to post it elsewhere and I will most likely grant it, but
doing so without is a violation of my copyright. Thanks for
understanding.

Dedication- This chapter is for Karla, who I have been
getting to know. I very much enjoy her stories, The Preppy
and the Punk, as well as The Jock and the Artist. Thanks
Karla for all the emails and support, and I will hope you
like this little plug I have given you. :) You can find her
stories at
http://www.dabeagle.com/Preppie_and_the_Punk.html or her
home page at http://gurlpages.com/ivory-lady/thenovel.html.
Give her a look over and email her, as she loves to hear
from new people.

Many thanks to all my other fans. To those who have written
me and even those who have not, I thank you deeply. All the
feedback and suggestions, comments and criticism, it helped
and helped me to become a better writer. Hope that this
chapter strikes you as worthwhile. I like it and I am
staying with the story for my fans and myself.

Thanks as always to Bob in CO, Charlie G, Michael H, Skip,
Draco, and Zustara.

To all others, as before, feel free to email me with any
comments. I gladly answer any and all. You can email me at
cezmail1@yahoo.com

Chapter 12

I stood there in confusion and rage. The bike I had found
at the garage sale, money I had earned mowing lawns and
helping neighbors, just gone. I was sure it had to be Noah
or Chris, but I was not sure I could ever prove it. I
clenched my first and bat it against my leg, and shook my
head to clear the red in my eyes. I turned back to go to
the office, to tell them and call my mom. Maybe someone had
seen something, or the cops might be of help.

I got there and saw the secretary talking to the principle.
"Excuse me, someone stole my bike." They both turned and
looked at me as if I had said a bad word, but then realized
what it was I had muttered and came closer. I told them all
what I knew, that only the cut link was left there, I said
nothing about my suspicions about Chris or Noah, as I doubt
they would listen and just think I was grasping for straws.
The principle went to go get the papers to make a report,
while the secretary called the Monterey Police Department.
It must have been a slow day, as she was told a car would
be coming within 30 minutes. Not like the 5 hours we had to
wait on detectives to bother to show up when the house in
Long Beach had been broken into.

While we waited, I called mom, but she was not home, so
called my Dad to let him know. The dispatcher took the
message, but he was in a meeting. I was still in a daze
about what had happened and did not track what I was all
telling the principle on her report. I tried my mom when we
were done and this time she was home and was on her way
right then to help get me home and to talk with the
principle.

Just as my mom arrived, a police car showed up. To this day
I recall his name and badge number. Officer Manning, badge
number 309. I saw from the start that he could have cared
less about what had happened to me. he was all so polite
and all, but the boredom and the treating this as something
beneath him just got me all the more pissed off. He took
down all that I had already told the principle, and with
some questions from my mom, gave us a report number.
Because I did not have a serial number on the bike, he said
they most likely would never get the bike back, but if it
was somehow recovered, I would be contacted to identify it.


One piece of news that angered my mom and I was that the
school claimed it had no responsibility for the stolen
bike. The principle was apologetic, but rules were rules
and they had no liability. So I was out the bike no matter
what, Damn their black souls. ! I hated them all at that
time.  This all took close to 30 minutes, and then Officer
Manning took off on his next call. I was just as happy to
see the smug asshole leave. Gave a bad name to cops and I
thought him a grade A turd.

My mom offered to take me to get a shake, but I shook my
head no. My sister was at Ashley's for the night, and my
Dad was working late, but I was in no mood to do anything
at that time.  I told Mom why I had been late and about the
detention. She shook her head in a combination of laughing
at what I had said to Omen and disappointed that I had
gotten detention. She had met the teacher and had no
respect for him either, but it was just a few weeks left
till summer and she hoped I would make it through those
without anymore incidents. I silently nodded and looked out
the window as we got home.

I went to my room to drop off my backpack, and to listen to
my radio. I did not feel like talking to anyone or even
watching cartoons. I closed my eyes, dwelling on my stolen
bike and how I might get it back. As I was starting to
think of ways of revenge, I drifted off to sleep.

I did not know how long I was out, but when I finally woke
up from the sudden nap, I saw that it was after 7. I rubbed
my eyes and got out of bed, to see if any food was cooked.
I heard the TV in the living room, and went around the
dining room to see who was there. No one.. just the TV
playing the news. I went to see if Mom or Dad were outside,
and saw the cars missing. I got back to the kitchen and
looking on the fridge door, saw a note. Mom had to run a
quick trip to pick up Christina and Ashley from the mall,
and she would pick up some burgers on her way home. I never
even heard the phone ring.

I went change the channel on the TV to a sitcom  repeat and
pass the time. Mom and Dad both got home at the same time
and we ate the food while watching a movie on Showtime. I
told my dad  all that had happened. He was not pleased I
had cussed the teacher, and was sorry my bike was stolen.
We would try to check on some garage sales tomorrow
together for another used one. I nodded in resignation, not
even willing to try to tell them who I really thought stole
my bike. Damn Chris for being an asshole. Since he went to
hook up with Noah, he had really turned out to be a butt
wipe. Noah was just a shit for brains who I no longer
feared.

The movie ended and I was off back to bed. Not to sleep,
just to try to read and relax. I pulled out the science
fiction book I had gotten from the school library and after
a couple of hours, I was falling asleep with the light on.
Not for the first time either.

I woke up feeling a lot better and seeing the sun shining,
felt it would be good to get out. I got my shower and
changed, and was eating a bowl of cereal, when my Dad came
in. "Hey Charlie, you still game for the garaging?:

I nodded and finished my bite. "Did you get the paper or
should I go get it now?"

"Go ahead and finish off that cereal and grab today's copy.
Then you and I can work out a route with the map and
explore some of the side streets at the same time. Sound
good to you Charlie?"

I nodded, happy to spend time with my Dad. He was working
some late hours, but he tried to make time for my sister
and I, as well as one on one time. He cared and tried to
make time when I was in a school event or had a baseball
game. Plus another cool thing we sometimes did was to get
on a back road and he would allow me to steer the car. I
was not tall enough to reach the pedals just yet, but I had
gotten to be able to steer a car fairly well. The dirt and
gravel roads back in Minnesota really helped to add to this
hobby.

I quickly slurped up my cereal and was across the street to
get the paper. Joe, one of the two owners of Valnizza's,
was behind the counter and flashed me a smile. Of the two
owners,  older Italians, he was by far the nicest. May, his
sister, was ok, but hardly ever smiled was stern as well.
Joy was always there with a grin, a joke, and a warm
personality. He was cool. and that was enough for me.

"Hey Joe."

"Hello Charlie. What do you have planned for the day?"

My grin at seeing him faded. "Gotta go to some garage
sales. I need a new bike."

"What happened to your other one?" He looked concerned.

"Someone stole it from school. Right off the playground. No
one says or seems to have seen a thing. So now I am back to
hoofing it unless I can find a decent one today, My Dad is
taking me, so that is a plus."

Joe shook his head. "Sorry to hear that son. Shame about
that. Hope you can get one you like. Not that I like to
hear this, but if it had happened before last weekend, my
friend's son was selling his old ten speed and I am sure
you could have gotten a deal on it. But he sold it, and I
do not recall anyone selling one now."

I nodded and allowed a small grin to show on my face.
"Thanks Joe, I really appreciate that. Guess stuff happens,
but it's cool that you are concerned. Have a great day and
maybe I can show you what we find later." I waved as I left
with the paper.

Joe smiles and waved back. "Good luck Charlie. Have fun
with your Dad."

I was back across the street and soon my Dad and I were
going over the paper and plotting out a route. There were
several garage sales today. Some right in our neighborhood
and others out in PG, Carmel and Carmel Valley. My Dad and
I decided to work our way to Carmel Valley if the day
stayed nice and take the road all the way back to Highway
101 and work our way back to 68 and home. It would take
several hours, but with a warm day and a Saturday, it would
be fine. My Mom was going to be cleaning house and then she
and Christina would go spend a Mother/Daughter day together
for their own special time.

That day was a real kicker for me. Had a blast just talking
and spending it with my Dad. I saw some bikes that were ok,
but either the people were asking too much or after looking
them over, they were not worth it. In Carmel, near the
Mission, I finally found what I wanted. It was a ten speed
that was in really good shape, as the kid who owned it had
just been given a racing bike and no longer needed it. Got
it for a great price, as it was close to 2 and he wanted to
sell it to use the money for the weekend.

I made an offer and we dickered some and got a compromise.
I had learned to bargain from my mom and I was not ashamed
to do it. Some folks did and that was their loss. Just be
prepared to walk away or pay the full price if the seller
would not budge.  This time it worked and my Dad and I had
it loaded up in his work truck and on our way.

The traffic once we were past Carmel Valley Village  was
very light. The hills still had some of the Spring green on
them and it was really nice to drive past all the ranches,
farms and well to do houses. We stopped at a little store
for some soda's and snacks, and saw a small herd of deer
drinking from a cattle pond in the distance. Just stood
there taking the picture in, and when they trotted away, we
were on our way again. I drove ( well steered ) for quite
some time, though had a scare once when we passed a
sheriff's car. I quickly slid over, but he never seemed to
blink or turn around, so soon I was back against my Dad. We
finally reached Greenfield and while we could have taken
River Road, that parallels 101, it was getting late, so we
got on the freeway and on home. I was feeling pretty good
as we pulled against the curb.

I showed my mom and sister the bike as they came out and
then secured it in the laundry room. Mom told me David had
called, and I promised to give him a buzz as soon as dinner
was over. We enjoyed a nice pot of spaghetti and garlic
bread and then talked about our day. When we were done, I
called David and talked. I told him about what had happened
to my bike, and I dropped that I thought Noah and/or Chris
were behind it. David was sympathetic and thought so as
ell, but agreed, we had no proof.

We decided to get together tomorrow, Sunday, as he was
going to be having his cousin and aunt showing up Monday,
and would also be busy with helping to clean after the mass
checkouts from the holiday weekend. We left the day open
and I was off to watch some movies with the family.

I slept really good that night and I allowed myself some
time, just laying back in bed and reading,listening to
KIDD. Finally, as I finished the book I had been reading, I
got hope to take a wizz and eat. My dad had gotten a bag of
day old doughnuts from the place up on 10th street, and we
all enjoyed these as we watched Charles Karoult and Sunday
Morning.  After the show ended and the credits were
rolling, I was off to give David a call to see if he was
ready.

"Hey David." I said as his dad put him through.

" Hey Charlie. So we still on for today?"

"Yeap. So what do you wanna do today man?"

"How about we go riding over to PG, and then we can catch a
movie. There is that new comedy we talked about the other
day downtown at the State. The first showing is at 12:30.
Maybe take in another movie if we can sneak it. They have a
R action movie upstairs."

"Sounds good to me. You wanna come here or shall I come
over? I got the new bike, so either way is good."

David thought a moment, and then I guess turned to talk to
his Mom. He came back on soon and started up again.
"Charlie, better for me to come over there. Things are
kinda busy here this morning. Mom just gave me some money
for the movie and lunch, so I can be over in 15."

"Cool dude. Pedal your ass on over."

He chucked and hung up, and I went to grab a quick shower
and change. I was finishing up in the bathroom when I heard
someone at the door and knew it was David. Said my goodbyes
to my folks and we were on our way.

We took the long way into Pacific Grove, going up over
David Avenue, and past the DLI ( Defense Language
Institute, where all the militaries send students to learn
languages for translation and cryptology jobs) and the old
Presidio of Monterey, and then on down Forest into downtown
PG. It was cool racing the bikes down the hill, seeing
Monterey Bay at the end of the street in front of us.

We looked over some shops and new studio that had opened.
David was pretty good at drawing and the gallery had some
stuff from an artist that David had gotten to know from a
friend of his Dad. The stuff was ok to my eyes, but David
was really into it. I wandered away to look over some
paintings that had a Western motif about them and one that
I really looked hard at was of a Sioux Warrior looking over
a field with several dead buffalo along side some railroad
tracks. It was titled, "The Lost Hunt". Kinda sad, that the
hunter had nothing to hunt. The white man had killed off
the herd.

We grabbed some burgers and a soda at Carl' Jrs and were at
the theater in time. Had fun that afternoon and watched all
three movies the place had at this time. The comedy and
action movies were decent, but the drama sucked and about
half way through, we nudged one another and left. It was
close to 6 now, and David had to be heading home, so on the
way down Del Monte, we split up, saying we would see each
other on Monday.

Monday morning I had no plans for the day, as John did not
get back till sometime today and David was going to be
busy. It was also pretty foggy today and I was not in the
mood to go out in the cool fog. My parents wanted to just
hang out at home, work on some cleaning and yard work, of
which I got drafted into helping. About 2 the phone rang
and it was for me. John was home now and bored, and wanted
to get together. I asked if I could go, and I was granted a
reprieve from my labors. We arranged for me to come on over
and have supper there.

I arrived and John was there to greet me. "Hey Charlie,
good to see you man." He then saw me with a different bike
and his brow furrowed. "Where did you get that one from?"

My happiness on seeing him faded a little and I quickly got
him up to date on how my Friday had gone and the bike
getting stolen. He shook his head. "That is a shame dude
and just sucks. So you have any ideas on who took it?"

"Yeah, I think it was likely Noah or Chris. But I have no
proof, so just have to suck it up for now. You know I have
had problems with them." He did not know the full extent of
the head and heartaches I had suffered, but knew there was
some bad blood between us. he nodded and then we were
inside and on up to his room.

We were playing some Atari when I felt him rub his leg
against mine. I looked over to see what he wanted, but he
was looking at the screen. I shook it off as incidental and
went back to the game. After a bit more, he did it again,
and this time had a smile on his face. I still did not know
what to make of this, so just looked back to the game. When
the game ended, he looked at me and put down his paddle,
His grin was still there, but there was also something
more. He looked at my eyes and looking deep into them,
said. "I really like you Charlie. Your a cool friend."

I smiled back, but was a little unsure where he was driving
at. "Your cool as well John. I like you and your fun to pal
around with."

John's grin faded as he grew serious. " Charlie, you do not
understand me. I mean I really, REALLY like you. I know
what you and Chris did, and well.... I wanted to know if
you wanted to do some of that with me."

I looked back, wondering on how to answer this.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This ends Chapter 12 folks. More to come when I can write
it.

Keep the emails coming if you like, hate, or have
criticisms to my style. I am open minded and am willing to
listen to your opinions.

Praise me, flame me, or just tell me where I may improve or
screwed up. I am more then willing to reply and we can see
what the future holds. Email me at cezmail1@yahoo.com.

Also, I posted a new story. It is in the gay Science
Fiction and Fantasy section on Nifty, titled " Battered
Barbarian and His boy. If your interested, give it a look
over. Chapter 5 of that tale is posted and I will hope to
have another chapter posted soon. If you do read it, please
let me know what you think. Totally different from Monterey
Delights.

Thanks

Charlie