The Last Phoenix

Juan woke up early the next morning. Everything felt so wonderful.  He felt arms around him and he was warm.  Not just like he had plenty of blankets but all over somehow even inside.  He couldn't ever remember feeling like this before.  It was definitely a good feeling; it was actually a wonderful feeling.  He began to drift off to sleep again when he heard it.  That unmistakable sound of someone puking their guts out.

Now completely awake, he turned to see Glenn staring at him.  The sound repeated and was followed by a moan.  Glenn whispered, "Aaron's sick."

"Oh, no."  Juan climbed out of bed and went to check on Aaron.  He found Aaron on his knees with his arms on the seat and his face over the toilet.  He was very pale.  Juan put his hand on Aaron's back and it was very cold and clammy.  Aaron just moaned.  "I'll go get help."

Without a thought, Juan dashed out of the room and headed for Dr. Turnman's room.  A soft and strangely gentle voice guided him down the stairs, through areas he hadn't been before until he was standing next to the biggest bed he had ever seen.  He grabbed the arm at the edge of the bed and yanked, "Doctor!  Dr. Turnman!  Wake up!"

The whole bed seemed to move as he pulled on the arm.  A head and shoulder appeared that were attached to the arm.  They didn't, however, belong to Dr. Turnman, It was Mr. Richards.  "I'm sorry Mr. Richards, but I need Dr. Turnman, in a hurry."

Dr. Turnman's head raised above Mr. Richard's shoulder, "What's wrong, Son?"

"It's Aaron," was all that he got out and both men were jumping out of bed and scrambling for clothes, a fact that didn't register in Juan's brain until some time later.  Soon, all three were running back through the maze to reach Aaron. 

When they arrived, Glenn was huddled down next to his little buddy and had wrapped the blanket from the bed around him.  Dr. Turnman wasted little time checking Aaron's vital signs and then Glenn's.  Juan stood at the door with a death grip on Tom's hand as he watched.

"Aaron, are you done now?" Dr. Turnman asked. 

Aaron nodded his head yes.

"Okay let's get you back into bed, you too, Glenn."

When Glenn stood, he was a little wobbly.  Juan reached out and steadied him.

"Remember what I said about these drugs you guys need to take.  They will make you sick before you get better.  Aaron, the ones you are taking are stronger and at a much higher dose than Glenn's.  I want you both to rest today, no vigorous activity.  I will check in with you every couple of hours."  He went into the bathroom and returned with the plastic trash can.  He set it beside Aaron's side of the bed.  "So you don't have to run for the bathroom again."

Tom was watching the concern in Juan's eyes.  "Doc, I think we need to find someone who can stay with these guys and run errands and things until they feel better."

Leo looked at Tom then at Juan.  He put on his serious Doctor face, "I quite agree.  I wonder who would be willing to do that?"

"I would, please.  I promise to be good and help them, really.  I am going to need the drugs too, so I want to do this.  Aaron and Glenn are my friends, please..."  Juan had huge tears running down his cheeks. 

"That okay with you guys?" Leo asked the two boys in bed.

They were both crying too and just nodded.  Juan was climbing in bed and hugging both of his friends like all their lives depended on it.  Tom straightened the covers and tucked the three boys in and he and Leo returned to bed and were very satisfied when the alarm went off an hour later telling them it was time to stop and shower and begin Friday.

At breakfast, Jason, with Juan's roommate, Texas, following, approached the adults.  "Mr. Richards, sir, ah, Glenn and Aaron and Juan wouldn't get out'a bed and come down for breakfast."

Tom Smiled, "Thank you for telling us right away.  We should have left you a note.  Glenn and Aaron are pretty sick from their drug treatment and Juan is taking care of them.  They didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

"Oh, are they going to be okay?" Texas asked.

Dr. Turnman answered, "Glenn will probably be feeling better in a few days, Aaron is smaller and has a higher dose so he will take longer to feel better.  He's a real fighter and I'm hoping these drugs will reverse some of the progression and he can do better than he was."

"What about Juan?  He just left me a note last night.  I think he is worried he got AIDS too." Texas said while shifting from foot to foot.

"I should be getting the blood test results back for all you boys in the next couple of days, maybe even today.  I'll let everyone know their results.  "Leo replied loud enough for more of the boys to hear.

"Okay, Juan is a good guy, he needs a break." Texas kind of smiled and went and got his breakfast.

Leo turned to Tom with a tear in his eye, "They're all good guys, bad stuff shouldn't be happening to any of them.  I wish that all the results could come back negative."

*  *  *  After breakfast  *  *  *

Samuel knocked on the door to John and Becky's room.  He entered after hearing the 'come in'.

John was sitting in his wheelchair and Becky was making the bed.  John greeted Samuel, "Hello, so how is the place coming?" 

"That's why I'm here, I want to take the boys over to The Phoenix House this afternoon after school and let them see the place.  My crew has finished the remodeling, except for the final painting in the boys' suites.  All the walls are taped and primed; they just need the paint.  I have arranged with the paint store so that I can email the order tonight and he has a crew to mix the color in the paint so it will be ready to go in the morning."

Becky laughed, "How in the world did you get them to agree to that?"

A huge smile covered Samuel's face, "A little trick I learned from Mr. Richards, Not many small paint stores want to loose a 100 gallon sale of premium grade, and the sales for several other large projects.  All you have to do is start the conversation with, 'I know this is probably more than you can handle...'"

All three laughed.

"Now, if you two are able, I'd like to show you the place and make sure that it passes your inspection before I bring in the boys."

"Leave the damn bed, Becky, I don't want to keep Samuel waiting." John managed to say, with a straight face.

Becky glared at her husband, then in a stage whisper she said to Samuel, "I do believe that in our twenty two years of marriage that is the first time he ever told me to leave the bed."

John laughed and Samuel proved that a black man can blush.  "TMI, Ma'am, TMI."

After the elevator screeched, ground and jerked it's way down to the ground floor, the three managed to get in the Handicapped van with the Phoenix bursting into flame, on the side, that 'Philip' had ordered.  Once John was secured, Samuel got in the driver's seat and Becky in the captain's chair next to John and they were off.  There was a remote for the gate that Samuel pushed and the gate opened smoothly and almost silently.  They approached the second largest private building in the county.  Samuel drove around to the back.  "I haven't built a ramp or elevator on the front of the place.  I figured that most of the traffic will be through the back of the house anyway."  He stopped the van under a covered entranceway that would keep the residents from getting drenched and hopefully cut down on the amount of dirt and mud tracked inside.

Samuel and Becky unbuckled and got John free and activated the door and lift.  Soon they were ready to enter their freshly renovated new home.  The first shock they got was a uniformed staff waiting for them.  These were the former tenants' staff and they were all lined up inside, waiting to greet the new owners.  Becky took one look at the uniform and was glad she hadn't eaten a large breakfast, burgundy and purple with yellow piping and trim.  Dummesel must have been colorblind. 

The Majordomo, seeing her reaction, said, "Yes, the colors on the bus have gratefully been faded by the sun to burgundy and gray.  I am retired Major Hoffstetter, at your service."  He actually clicked his heals and gave a curt bow.

The Chï��telaine bowed and introduced herself, "I am Greta VonGerring, I rule the female staff and vill see to the children.  You may rest assured they vill be seen and not heard.  They vill be no bozzer to you at all.  I promise you." She snapped to attention.

John and Becky exchanged looks and continued down the line.  Most of the rest of the staff were local folks and were much more pleasant.  They left the staff and Samuel began his tour, it took three hours {yes a three hour tour} to cover the interior.  Their apartment was luxurious; it actually had more floor space than the house they had lived in.  The master bedroom was huge with a master bathroom that had its own hot tub and a large handicap shower and rails to assist John.  There was an office space for each of them and then the other bedrooms.  Samuel had designed a mini suite for the twins.  There were two bedrooms, each with a queen size bed, a large bathroom (no hot tub, and a reasonably sized shower for two) and a room with two desks for studying and a huge plasma screen that was hooked to cable and an X-Box 360.  Across the hall was a nice room for their sister, and two guest rooms.  There was a good sized family room with a good sized collection of books and games of all sorts, and of course a large screen Monitor that would be connected to the mainframe computer, and then of course, a more formal living room and dining room.

Becky asked Samuel, "Isn't there a kitchen?"

"Well it is downstairs," He moved across the dining room and opened what had seemed to be a cupboard and there was a dumbwaiter.  "Your meals will be sent up here from the kitchen below.  Of course if you want, I can add a kitchen, but you would loose a guest room."

"I'm sorry, John." Becky said with a mischievous gleam in her eye.  "I'm afraid you won't be able to keep me barefoot and in the kitchen."

"Dear, it's not your feet I want bare and the kitchen isn't the room I want them bare in."

"TMI, again!"

Down the hallway from the master suite were the Squad Suites each one had three large bedrooms and one slightly smaller.  The bathroom was huge and had two urinals and two toilet stalls and two sinks.  Off the main bathroom were the showers, four stalls that were indeed big enough for two, everyone could shower at the same time.

"Wow, what kind of water heater does this place have?" John wondered aloud.

Grinning, Samuel replied, "Each bathroom has it's own on demand instant gas water heating system.  The water is heated as it's needed and then shut off.  It saved a huge amount in piping and it will be much more cost effective to operate."

Back to the Master suite, they took the shiny new elevator down to the basement.  Here there was an Olympic size pool and gym with all the top of the line equipment.  Most was a couple years old, but it looked like it had never been used, which it hadn't.  The main floor was devoted to the kitchen which was huge, the dining hall which Samuel was very pleased with, since he had removed a couple of walls to make a room large enough.  There were partitions pulled closed so the space could seat about 75, with the partitions open, the room could seat close to two hundred.  John and Becky didn't want to think about why Samuel would create such a space.

On the main floor there was a mini theater that sat 60 and several smaller ones and there were game rooms and several lounge rooms.  The wing on the East side had two nice apartments on each floor.  Shorty and Tym were to live in one and Oliver Jones, the Bus Driver was to live in the other one.  The two upstairs apartments were currently occupied by the Major Hoffstetter and Ms Greta VonGerring.  The wing to the West was much larger and Samuel had not done anything there yet.  It was full of guest rooms.  Another scary thought for John and Becky.

As they were leaving the building they heard the Major interrogating another staff member about the amount of window cleaner that had been used.  It was not a pleasant event and ended when the staff member removed his jacket, flung it in Hoffstetter's face and told him to go back to his beloved Gestapo.   When they got outside, the man was standing behind their van in tears. 

"Samuel get him into the van then help us get in." John told Samuel.

The man was startled by Samuel's appearance and they had a very intense discussion before the man with a defeated look came and helped John and Becky into the van, then climbed into the other front seat. 

As they were pulling out, John noticed the building set off behind the garage.  "What is that building?"

The man up front answered, "That was Herr Doktor Dummesel's private labrotory where he did research.  It is always locked.  I have no idea where the keys are."

"I think we need to make sure that is thoroughly checked out before we bring all those curious boys out here.  I'd be surprised if a little thing like locks would keep them out of there for any length of time." John replied.

Becky changed the subject, "I'm sorry but we met so many people today, I don't remember your name."

"Not that it matters anymore, but I'm Stan Beighmie, currently unemployed."  He buried his face in his hands, "What am I to do.  My wife is pregnant and we've got a two year old and now I quit because I couldn't take that pompous ass any more."

John looked at Becky who winked back. "Well Stan, since Becky and I are the head administrator and you didn't give us notice, I'm afraid we simply can't let you quit."

"Huh?"

Samuel had his grin back, "Duh!  You still got your job, or if I know how things work around here, I think you just got promoted."

"Promoted?"

"Yes, Samuel, I believe so," Becky said, "What were your duties before?"

"I was part of the house staff, cleaning mostly."

"And who was it that gave you orders?"

"Hoffstetter!"

Becky put her hand on John's to shut him up.  "Well, I'm looking for someone who can work with boys, from age 4 to sixteen.  The job will entail that a schedule of chores, that are age appropriate for the boys, is posted weekly and then that person will have to monitor them to be sure the chores are done and that rewards are given for jobs well done and some sort of discipline if the chore is not done or done poorly.  Since we have in the neighborhood of fifty or so boys this will be a full time job.  It will of course have full benefits, vacation, Health Care and of course it will start immediately.  Oh and I will consult the Board of directors, but I think that for the level of responsibility it should pay at least sixty thousand a year."

Stan burst into tears.  His problems were solved, dreams were coming true.

The van came to a halt behind Haven.  Since Stan had been crying, he hadn't seen where they had driven.  Samuel handed Stan a clean hand towel to wipe his face.  "Just remember, show no fear, and don't ever stand between the boys and the food.  We have a Marine Master Sergeant that is afraid to do that.  It's almost lunchtime and the horde and most of the school; will be stampeding the dining hall soon.  We'd better get a move on."

Eddie saw his boys off to class and went and found his nephew.  "Tom, I need a favor.  Can I borrow a car?  My rental is still at the lawyer's office."

"No it's not.  I got your keys yesterday and sent them to Fred and he returned it.  Here are the keys to my van.  You can use it as much as you want.  It's big enough for the boys and their friends."

"Thanks, I have to go see Fred and get started on this legal mess.  Looks like I really screwed up."

"Jeez.  You were just sixteen.  You were a minor and if anything, the Marines are in trouble for not figuring that out."

"That's a hoot!  Hmm, that would sure twist their tails, I have a recruiter friend and he is always bitchin' about having to double check the paperwork, I bet someone blew it.  That might be a good point to bring up."

"Ask Fred if our local paper should do a series on the returning family member that the Marines are trying to deny his retirement because THEY made a mistake 32 years ago?"

"Oh my, you are the devious one."

"Nah, just hanging around Uncle 'Philip' too long."

'Harrumph'

Eddie left laughing as Tom and 'Philip' carried on their verbal sparing match.

 

Fred was waiting for Eddie.  "I have here a reconstruction of your service record.  You have had quite an interesting history.  I think the only one you missed was the Medal of Honor. "

"Just about, I was just doing my job.  I did get a bit more careful once the boys came along, though.  They needed their Dad."

"Mrs. Reagan remembers you quite well from your stint as presidential honor guard.  A rare Marine makes it to that assignment."

"I wish you hadn't bothered the First Lady.  She doesn't need to get drawn into this." 

"Too late; she has already written a letter and agreed to come and testify on your behalf, if you need her to.  She said something about you saving The President from a riding accident on the ranch."

"It was just a rattler spooked his horse and I was the closest and got to him before he fell and grabbed him onto my horse.  Pissed off the Secret Service agents to no end.  They didn't like the idea that an off duty Marine did their job for them.  Uncle Ronnie, that is what he insisted I call him after that, thought the whole thing was funny.  Said it was a good thing I was a Republican or he'd have landed on his ass, probably on a cactus."

"Wow, now that's a story that never hit the press."

"I asked them to not report it.  I didn't want my picture all over the news and my parents finding me.  Uncle Ronnie agreed, after I explained it all to him.  He was the only person I ever told."

Okay, well we have a telephone conference in fifteen minutes and there are a few things we need to discuss first.

When the call began, there were the following, Lt. Colonel Anedecric, USMC, representing the Marine Corps, Captain Harris, USN, head of the Board  of Inquiry, and of course, Lt JG. Fred Clemons, USN, representing Eddie.

Capt. Harris began, "Let the record show that this is a telephone interview and will be recorded and transcribed.  A copy of the transcript will be sent to each participant.  Now Colonel, please state your position.  You can leave out the legal bilge water and get right down to the important issue, in plain English for us engineer types, if you can manage that."

Lt. Col.  Anedecric stated, "I protest that legal terms are being prohibited."

Capt. Harris:  "How in the hell did you get this far and not have a concept of putting things in plain English?  I'm sure that Lt. Clemons and Mr. Clemets won't have a bit of a problem understanding that you are stonewalling.  Mr. Richards and myself will just assume you are, until the others verify it.  If you can not abide by my rules I will assign another to take your place."

Lt. Col.  Anedecric:  "That won't be necessary... Sir.   Our position is that Mr. Richards was under an assumed identity while in the Corps and therefore we have no obligation to honor his retirement and furthermore it is a federal offense to falsify identity and we plan to proceed with the federal prosecutor."

Fred Clemets:  "In 1984, when Mr. Richards enlisted, that was not a felony.  It became a felony after 9-11; the seven year statute of limitations had certainly passed by that time.  But proceed and I'll find a first year law student to blow you right out of the water."

Lt. Col.  Anedecric:  "Was that a threat?"

Capt. Harris:  "No, I believe he simply and clearly explained the fact to you.  I'm not a lawyer and I followed that perfectly well."

Lt. Jg Clemons:  "Thank you, Sir.  Mr. Richards is asking to have his record cleared of the ridiculous charges of terrorism and his dishonorable discharge overturned to an honorable discharge.  We believe his service record speaks for itself."

Anedecric laughing:  "He has no service record."

Fred Clemets: "Actually, I have had an investigator working on that, and in fact I have a complete reconstruction of my client's career.  I have his numerous medals, a letter from Mrs. Reagan and pay records for every month for the unit he was attached to.  Someone, for what reason I couldn't guess, went to a great deal of effort to erase the central record of my client, but thankfully, every form in the military is done in triplicate and it has actually been a slow but not too difficult matter of finding the other copies of those records, which only shows that the person responsible for trying to destroy them was not very well prepared.  By the way, the source of the tampering seems to be the Jag office in Kansas."

Anedecric:  "Are you accusing me of something?"

Clemets:  "I am merely sharing the results of my findings.  You were e-mailed the information two days ago.  I believe that is called disclosure, you know, it's where I share the information I have gathered.  Please note that each item in the list is referenced to two different unrelated sources.  If you would like, I would be happy to copy, at fifty cents a page, all of the documentation I have accumulated."

Harris, chuckling:  "I assume that would be a horrendous bill."

'Harrumph, approximately $3,258.42.'

Anedecric:  "Who was that?"

Clemets:  "Just my investigator."

Anedecric:  "Well, basing your argument on the word of the accused and getting a paid accomplice to verify it is hardly solid evidence."

'Harrumph, impertinent whelp!  Not one single reference is from the Sergeant Major, nor has a single penny been spent on any reference.  Every single reference is a United States Government document.  I hardly think 6,516 Federal documents is frivolous evidence.  I do find it interesting that there is no father listed on the Lt. Colonel's birth certificate.'

Anedecric, sputtering: "You have no right to enter my personnel records!"

'The birth records in Natchitoches, Louisiana are, in fact, public record.'

Captain Harris broke out laughing.  "Oh my, that, I believe, covers the position statements from both sides.  The record is complete.  I look forward to seeing this play out.  Good luck Sergeant, and Goodbye."  The phone conference ended and Fred and Eddie looked at each other and burst out laughing.

 

 

Just as Stan had fixed his plate for lunch and sat at the table with John, Becky and Samuel, bedlam broke loose.  Kids began to pour into the dining hall; John couldn't quite believe the mass of mini-people now lined up to go through the line.  Two older boys were standing by the food tables making sure everyone got their plate filled with a good balance of food.  A really pale kid wearing dark glasses went back; it seems he missed the apples.  This wasn't at all like he expected this number of kids to act.  His guess was about three quarters of them were boys and all of them were being polite.  Maybe this job was going to work out.  Two boys who were obviously brothers and very close in age came to their table.

"Mom, Dad!  Way cool to have you guys come down to eat!" one of them said.

"Stan, these are our Twins.  The mouthy one is Danny the quiet one is Donny."

"Mooooooommmmm!" they said in unison.

"Boys, this is Stan.  He will be helping out with the daily chores at the new place." John said.

"Hi, Mr. Stan.  I hope we can get along.  What kind of chores we goina haveta do?"

"Slow down, Danny.  Speak so he can understand you."

"Mooommmm, Jeez."

Donny smacked his brother, "You're starting to sound like Neal."

Stan looked at Becky and John, "Are they always like that?"

John laughed, "No, they're usually worse."

"Daaaaddddd!"

"Well, boys there are a lot of things that need to be done every day and every week.  I think I will make a list of things and let everyone pick three they wouldn't mind doing.  Then I will make up assignments so that you usually get to do something not too bad and only have to clean the toilets occasionally."

"Man we won't have Neal to do that over there."

Stan had a blank look.  Becky giggled, "One of Tom's Boys put Ben Gay on several toilet seats and as a punishment he had to clean all the toilets here in Haven.  Took him a month.  There are a LOT of toilets around here."

Donny offered, "If you go into a bathroom and the door knob feels a little funny, wash your hands very well before doing it or else... Man that stuff burns."

Stan cringed, "I can imagine.  So you guys will be in the big master suite with your parents not in the squads."

John smiled, "Yes, but they go on your list too.  I will not ask these boys to do anything that my boys don't have to do as well.  I think you will be working with Sergeant, I mean Mr. Eddie Richards and between the four of us we should be able to maintain some semblance of order."

"If we can just keep them all straight, maybe." They all laughed and dug into their lunch. [Hmmm sounds like discrimination to me and your name is Str8mayb?]

 

Juan woke up just before lunch and wiggled carefully out from in between the other two sleeping boys.  Aaron had used the Trash can but there wasn't much there.  He rinsed it out and dried it with the shower mat and put it back.  He went back to his room, got some clothes and took a shower dressed and was back just as Glenn was waking up.

"How you feeling, Glenn?"

"Better than last night but still kind of grungy.  I'm kind of hungry, but I'm afraid if I eat it will come right back up."

"I'm hungry and it's almost lunch time, I'll see if they can fix you guys something."

"Yeah, maybe some soup or a soda, I'm real thirsty."

There was a tap on the door and Juan answered it and let Doc Leo in.  He was carrying a tray with two bowls and two chocolate milks.  "Hey guys, I come with food.  Juan I'll stay with these two; why don't you go on down and get some lunch.  Do you know Neal's Brother Jimmy?"

Juan nodded his head.

"Okay then, I want you to find him and then you two take your lunches off to a table by yourselves or you may bring them up here where you two can talk.  He has been where you are and has worked through a lot of it.  He really will understand how you are feeling.  You need someone you can be honest with and that won't think you are bad or anything.  Can you do that?"

"I'll try.  It's scary."

"Of course it is.  That's why you and Jimmy need to talk.  He has a boyfriend that listens but he doesn't have someone that really understands that he can talk to.  This isn't just for you; I think you two can really help each other.  Try to be honest with him.  I talked to him too so he's waiting for you."

"K, I'll be back guys, no tag while I'm gone.  You'd wear the doc out."

Glenn and Aaron smiled and Juan left.  Doc handed each boy the Ensure then offered them a bowl of Martha's home made chicken soup.  Leo had snuck a bowl for himself before coming up.

Jimmy was waiting for Juan outside the doors to the dining hall.  They both said, "Hi," at the same time.  Juan hadn't really met Jimmy before and was kind of surprised he was younger by two or three years.

Juan started the conversation that was giving him all kinds of butterflies in his stomach.  "So the Doc says we should talk.  I'll be honest I'm real nervous."

Jimmy nodded, "The whole butterfly in the stomach thing.  I've only told a few people about all of what happened to me, so I know what you mean.  Let's go get some food and go someplace.  Daddy Doc got me excused from classes this afternoon."

"Kewl, let's go."

It wasn't long and the two were in the Squad 2 study room facing each other at the table with their lunch between them.

"I kind of freaked out last night with all the HIV and AIDS talk.  I'm sure I got it."

"I thought that too.  Doc is pretty sure I'm not infected cause both blood tests, so far, are negative.  So that's six months and we will have another in a couple months to make it a year.  I was really lucky."

"Well the guys doing me did Glenn and he's positive.  So if they gave it to him, they gave it to me."

"Juan, dude, you must have blanked out during Glenn's talk, he got it before he came to Juvy.  His foster that was screwing him gave it to him."

"Really?  But if they got it or already had it when they did me..."

"Look, I sold my ass for more than a year to get food and a ride.  I probably got screwed by 200 men, now if I'm negative after all that, I don't see why you can't be negative too, if you were only done by ten bullies like Neal was.  He's negative too and they did him less than a year ago."

Juan was quiet for a minute then asked quietly, "Ah, did you like some of the stuff?"

Jimmy laughed and Juan got a scared look, "No, no.  God, I loved some of it, still do.  I love sucking giving and getting and I loved the feeling of it in my butt.  I can't get my boyfriend to do that for me.  He's not ready, yet.  But we love each other and the sucking is enough for now."

"I thought I was bad for liking some of it."

"I did too.  Dad helped me see that it's normal to like something that feels so good.  And it's okay to like giving pleasure too.  I'll tell you something I didn't believe till Andy, it is so much better with someone you love.  Before, a dick was a dick, some big some small, but his is so special, like it was made just for me.  I can't wait till I'm eighteen and he can make love to me.  I just know how good that beautiful thing is going to feel in my bottom."

"TMI, Jimmy.  But I know what you mean one of the bullies could really hit that spot and I'd have done him anytime, but the rest were real rough and they didn't care about me at all, I was just a hole for them to stick it in."

"Yeah, a lot of the truckers were like that too.  But some were really kewl and taught me stuff.  And they would make sure I got my jollies too.  I liked them and tried to stay as long as I could with them.  I really hated the gang bangs because they'd leave me naked somewhere and I'd have to find a trucker who would buy me clothes and stuff."

"I never got by less than seven at a time."

"You missed some good stuff.  Maybe you can find somebody and learn to trust and enjoy what your body can do.  Is there anybody you kind of really like?"

"Yeah."

 

Author's Notes:
Nice dramatic pause.  Maybe I can get to a real Cliff Hanger for the next chapter.  My Evil Editor gave me an excellent idea, but we can't let TSL know what it is.  If he knew it had something to do with John, he wouldn't let me rest.  'Who's John?' I hear you cry.  Well you'll find out in two or three or five chapters.  Hehehe.
Let me hear from you.
            Str8mayb

 

Editor's Notes: Oh yeah there is a cool idea that we thought up and there is actually a clue to part of it in this chapter, but I doubt that any of you will notice it. Something was mentioned that will be important to the idea. Oh and by the way, he doesn't mean John, as in John and Becky.

It looks like Jimmy and Juan have a lot in common.  I think they are going to be good friends.

I'm going to shut up now before I give out a spoiler or something.
Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

 

Fort Chief Editor's Notes:

I may be forced to hold several chapters of all of Str8mayb's stories hostage if he hurts 'John'. You have already met 'John' but there is a whole lot more to his story and some of it you aren't going to believe.

Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter edited but things are rather chaotic for me right now.

For the life of me I can't understand why John and Becky wouldn't want to entrust their boys to Greta Von Godzilla. I can remember when kids were brought up that way. We were to be seen and not heard and sometimes preferably not seen at all.

I hope that Eddie gets his legal woes "straightened" out but I wonder what happened to Major Ferret?
TSL