The story below is a work of fiction, set in the format of reality. Any resemblances to real people, alive or in the hereafter, is entirely coincidental in nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon persons, of continents or islands, in countries, counties, cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods, streets, cul-de-sacs, nor governmental or non-governmental areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then why are you here? Seriously, if guy-to-guy sex stuff makes you barf or is going to screw up your mind, you should not read this story. Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age in any state (21yo in Alabama, Mississippi, Wyoming, Nebraska), or in most countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by law. Check with your local laws regarding such.
Following, pages of this story contain adult material', intended for an adult audience'. Bypass this warning at your own risk.
% Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction. In real life, use protection.
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^o^ Concluding remarks ~ reading this story could make you stiff or gooey, so I would suggest not reading it at work... just sayin'! :)
%
FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS 12
WriTten by T. Chase McPhee
^o^
Riley proved to be quite an influence over Michael, which baffled Jared, unless, he thought, the two had some lasting ties, after their official breakup, which became topic to their conversation.
Thus, it's the reason Jared, Jay and Riley were spending the evening at Triton Condo's, instead of the Seagate Ave. address.
"I'm not tired!" Jay exclaims, sitting in front of a big, window-view of the ocean, biggest he's ever set eyes on from inside!
"Sure, you cut a few logs back at the restaurant," Jared mocks-out his brother over his little `nappy' time!
Standing behind Jay, his ass parked in an ez-chair Riley had switched around, just for his benefit, to provide overlook to one of the most beautiful evenings, sun setting across the water, lapping right up to the shoreline. Jared's full attention was not totally given to the visual, serene moment ahead, but at how contented Jay seemed to reflect.
"I know," Jay replies.
Wasn't it always the case, since his accident, Jay conking off whenever he got drowsy.
"It's almost midnight. Anyone ready for bed?" Riley asks, appearing, with his arms cuddling a pillow and sheet.
Turning around, there was a definite sense of disappointment about Jared. Instead of his true feelings, he says, "I am, but what's-his-name is wide awake," he flicks a thumb over his shoulder, "so I guess I won't be having any wet dreams, like, soon!"
"I could change that!" Riley stood there, dropping the bed stuff.
Realizing Riley had changed, into something much more comfortable, just boxer shorts, Jared says, "I bet you could. Um, you wouldn't happen to have an extra pair of boxers?"
"I might, but if not your size, you could always go without!"
Jay, not all ears to the sounds of the waves, nor the sight of the sun, finishing out the day, says, "Why don't you guys stop the bullshit, hop on the sofa and get cookin'. I'm like, not paying attention anyway?"
"Oh really?" Jared suddenly appears above his brother. "Um, I think maybe my little bro here is jealous, because we'll be all stripped down and he's in these day-old clothes?"
It was rib-tickling time, Riley getting the message, stepping over next to Jared and in no time at all, they man-handled Jay, stripping him bare.
Finished, they looked upon Jay as a masterpiece, Riley bending down on both knees, leaning with pecs against Jay's knobby knees, "Mm-m, what is this delectable delight?!"
"Hey, watch the hands, Riley?" Jared made it sound like he was policing his brother's pubes.
"Oh!" Riley unhands Jay's cock. "Sorry. No hands. How about mouth?"
Suddenly Jay says, "Well fuck me, I'd never dreamed you were a cocksucker, Riley!" he laughs.
Like he was reading their life history, Riley replies, looking up and down, to Jared, then Jay, "Two gay brothers? Don't tell me you two have not involved yourselves in a bromance at some time or another in your lives?"
No one has ever made mention of this. Jay was handling it okay.
Jared, on the other hand, was moved into a feeling, which made him blush, falling over his words, putting it back on Jay, "Have we?"
Jay put it this way, directing it at Riley, who, on his knees, measured up to almost Jay's height, face to face, "If Jare tells you he never sucked another man's cock, you know he's lying!"
"Oh really?" Riley says, looking up in time to see Jared roll his eyes. "Tell me, then, while you're giving away all his sexual secrets, what answer would I get if I asked you if another man has ever fucked him?"
Wanting to see how far Riley would go to get answers, Jay says, "That's privileged info. You want it, Ry, you gotta buy it!"
Looking up to Jared, Riley says, "Does he shake you down like this all the time?"
Smiling, Jared replies, "Hey, if you want to dance to the music, you gotta pay to the piper!"
Dropping his eyes, right down Jared's tee shirt, top of Jay's head, Jay's hair shaggy over his forehead, the eyes, nose, mouth, barechest, on down to his floppy shaft, then back up, Riley says, "Okay. What do want? $5? $10? Don't you dare ask for $50!"
A big grin on his face, like he was going to ask for a zillion bucks, Jay says, "I don't want your money. All you have to do, Ry, is make me hard!"
His eyes shooting upwards once more, Riley asks, "Is he for real?"
"Yeah, but Jay doesn't always get what he wishes for." Though, Jared wasn't divulging any information, which would make the offer void and null!
"Sounds a little cruel," Riley says, getting up off his knees.
Playing it cool, Jay says, "Well, Ry, whenever you need answers, you know the person to come to!"
Behind his back, Jay had thought the two had gone off to a bedroom, when really they were formulating a plan to get even, like the impromptu plan of getting Jay naked!
"Okay, you asked for it bro!"
"What-tha-fuck!" Jay yells, as Jake had already clued everyone in to, how his friend could squeal `like a girl!'
Jared reaching over the top of the chair, grabbed his brother under the pits.
Reaching down, like he was going to do a face-plant into Jay's crotch, Riley takes Jay under the knees.
Hauling him up out of the chair, Jay could not fight them off, lifting him right over the back of the ez-chair, "What the hell are you guys going to do to me?" he hoped something wicked!
"Something wicked!" Riley replies.
"Like, oh my god! I was just thinking that Ry!"
"Oh cool," Riley retorts, "I can think of a million wicked things I'd like to do to you!"
As it was, Jay, his head supported by Jared's stomach, he had the ability to face Riley, carrying on the swift conversation, "Like?"
Jared then butt in, "It's a surprise!"
"Yeah," Riley says, the two connecting invisible thoughts, "it's no fun if you know what's coming!"
If it were two strangers, in a dungeon setting, Jay would have been fearing for his life, however he wasn't, carrying a smile on his face, even though he wanted them to believe he was scared shit. Thinking about it, he spoke his thoughts, "Oh man guys, you got me scared shit!"
Riley adds some flavor, "When we get him in the bedroom, Jared, there's a tool box in the bottom of the closet. While I force him to stay on the bed, you grab the duct tape."
"Yikes!" Jay shrieks, confident this isn't going to play out like the scene he and Jake went through, with `Master Bartosz'.
Plopping Jay on the bed, ass down, Jared went to the closet.
Riley stands there, yelling, "Don't forget to get comfortable, Jared," as he thumbs the elastic of his Nouguet boxer briefs.
"Cool!" Jay remarks, "Are you guys going to have sex with me?"
"Get real," Riley says, knowing Jared is listening in, "we ain't no rapists!"
"Oh. That's good, because I've never been fucked. But if you did fuck me, I probably wouldn't feel it," Jay explains it, textbook!
Stringing together some facts, Riley thinks on it, that maybe in truth, Jared has had his `privacy', invaded?
"I found the tool box, but no duct tape?" Jared stands there, not a stitch of clothing on.
Looking upon the beautiful bod, attached to the handsome face and admiring one of the `other' esthetically enhanced areas, Riley says, "They say there's always a first time!"
Holding the toolbox by the handle, the only part of Jared's bod non-fleshy, he says, "First time, for?"
Locked on to each other, Jay butts in, "Hey, you know what?"
"What?" the two break off their fixations.
"I wonder if I'll get hard watching you two guys get it on?"
"Really?" Riley turns his attention back on Jay's pubes. "I thought you were already hard, Jay!"
"Nice try," Jared says, "but you'll learn you can't fuck with Jay over what's real and what's not?"
He turns Jared into a sap, "Yeah. Once Jare tried to tell me he was getting me hard and he lied to me. I mean, it's not like I can't feel with my hand, you know?" Jay proves it, reaching down for his cock, holding the limpid bat in his hand, trying to firm it up, but only having a couple of inches pop out over the clenching of his fingers and thumb.
Still, the length grabbed Riley's attention, "Still, you had something for him to choke on?"
Suddenly, Jay there in bed with them, Riley and Jared were not tired. Talking for a while, the brothers shared facts they did not mention freely with any man, except Jake and Joseph. Those two had already guessed going beyond a fraternal relationship. At times they witnessed Jared and Jay's affection, more than a handshake or a hug.
Doing a sideways pushup from the bed, an awkward feat, Jay asks, "Where are you going?"
"I thought you wanted to see if your brother and me could make you hard?" Riley replies.
Adamantly, Jared says, "We're not doing porn!"
"Not my intentions, but it's getting late and I thought, either we can sleep here, of course with Jay in the bed, in the next room, or we can leave this sex-crazed boy here to play with himself, while we go play with each other, in the other room?" Riley proposes.
Protesting, Jay says, "Oh come on, guys, do some porn for me. I'm so deprived, y'know?"
Jared has to admit, "He is, but..."
"Let me ask you something?" Riley says.
"What's that?" Jared answers.
"Does it get your balls boiling, having another guy watch you get it on with a guy?"
"Cool!" Jay likes the encouragement!
"Hm-m," Jared replies, "I can't say it hasn't crossed my mind. I mean, in college..."
This is where Jay lends his expertise, knowledge on buddy-to-buddy chat, when Jared has landed on the home turf, "You're joking, Ry? Of course he's had multiple sex at college!"
Toning it down, what Jay has expressed, Jared says, "About the multiple sex partners, it was only three or four of us who got it on together. Silly boy, he makes it seem like 15 or 20!"
Not that he hasn't been there, done that, Riley says, "Of course, I'm talking about the `real world'?"
"Well look at this way," Jay makes a last-ditch effort, "I'm going to college, but I won't be able to stay on campus, so can't you help a guy out here?"
With two hot, hairy, handsome guys on both sides of him, how could Jay `not' be feeling something hazardous to more than his blood boiling?
It seemed like Jay had it in the bag, those two hairy bods facing him, his two would-be sexual partners staring each other in the face, pondering the situation at hand, when Jared's cell phone begins playing a no-name tune.
"My cell!" Jared breaks out of the trance.
Rushing for it, Riley tells Jay, "I hope he turns it off, like normal people, when they're having sex?"
Jay wanted to share more than information regarding the question, like how sensitive and caring Jared could be in bed, how he could be soft, get all slurpy, but then roughing it, Jay tearing at his nips with his teeth, Jared loving it so, reacting by making him hard to the max...
"Good news for a change," Jared tears himself away from the phone call, after taking it in the arch of the closet.
"You're still hard over me?" Jay jokes.
Riley plays along, "Oh, I'm like, so jealous!"
"Don't be," Jared tells Riley.
"Fuck you, bro," Jay says.
"Okay, you made me a little hard, bro," Jared says, stroking himself with one hand, a reminder in his other hand, "Uh, that was Tal Karam, an employee at the store. He was looking for extra hours. Right now the store doesn't have them, so I made him a proposition..."
Riley ponders, "Oh, so you already have a boyfriend?"
"He meant a boyfriend for me!" Jay steals the show.
"Neither, nor," Jared states the facts, "Tal will be spending his days playing nursemaid to Jay and most nights at college."
"Oh really?" Jay interjects. "He's quitting the business just for me?"
"Strictly professional," Jared replies, "um, like, we don't know if Tal is gay or straight?"
Riley giggles, butts in, "There's foolproof ways of finding out," he rubs hands together!
"You don't have to find out for me, Ry. I can do it myself!"
In a comedic mood, Riley replies, "Fuck you little bro!"
After a wide yawn, which is like Jay giving them a message, he says, "Hate to put a damper on this sex-invoking conversation, but I gotta go. Who wants to be the lucky man?"
Riley tagged along, at Jared's request, "Better you see the visually way of attending to Jay's needs, in case you're lucky enough to be home, when no one else is!"
The 3 nudists made their way to the mens-room, conveniently located on ground level, as were all the other rooms of the house, except a storage cellar and utility room, below.
"Fucking hot!" Riley make it sound like a joke, Jared's soft trio pressed against ass, while holding Jay's pee-shooter.
Of course, Jared thought Riley meant `his' ass and not his little bro's!
Leaving Jay in the master bedroom, Jared and Riley took the smaller bedroom.
First off, Riley had said he was en route with pillow and sheet in hand, for the `study', another room in the deluxe condo, an office with a comfy sofa.
However, Jared's invitation came in the way of, Riley needing to watch porno on the computer while jacking off, or the want for real sex.
Jay, he lay awake, his hand on his soft shaft, for a time, paying mind to their ministrations, squeaks of the bed, slurpy sounds, unintelligible words and after not feeling it, nor sensing with his hand of getting hard, fell asleep.
Every morning, when he woke, Jay would look up at the clock on the wall, a digital layout, staring back at him and sensing he had to piss, the first digit was always 7', the others between 7:10 and 7:15, at which time his exclamation rang out a name, Jare', Joey', Jake', whomever was on guard for him, but this morning decided to throw a little humor in the works, "Ry-y-y-y-y, I gotta go!"
Waiting, Jay was filled with glee!
"I'd like you to know," Riley appears at the door, "that today is my day off?!"
Hearing a slap, which Jay thinks is his brother's hand, pouncing Riley on the ass, he hears Jared say, "Get used to it. The world doesn't stop for anyone but our little bro!"
A lot must've happened last night, Jay thinks, Jared giving Riley a hug, one arm around the middle, right palm against his hairy stomach, the other over Riley's left shoulder left hand hanging over his pec, a finger toying with his nip.
Turning his head towards Jared, Riley says, "Are you trying to make me hard again?"
Macho reply, Jared informs his brother, "I slammed his ass twice. You think after two rounds, I'd be running on empty?"
Jay lay there, amazed they had gone that far.
Riley comments, "Thanks for sharing, Jare!"
From pissing, Jay went right into the shower. Of course, Jared made fun of the small stool, which Riley said it made for a nice sauna, when the hot water, only, was turned on.
He was going to turn it into a sick joke, Jay beating Jared to it, "Next time I'm up for it, maybe you can bend your ass over it, Ry!"
Not minding at all getting fucked last night, twice, Riley hoped for a trade off next time, but whereas Jay and his disabilities were concerned, Riley says, "If and when you can get it up, little bro, you can fuck us both!"
Being sassy, Jay says, "That's okay, Ry. I know what Jare feels like, up there, but I'd really get hard thinking about how you would feel?"
"I see. Well, then let's switch it around. A challenge... you get it up and," Riley looks at Jared, the three of them sopped by the shower, "if your bro wants to get in on the wager, while you're fucking me, we get a little gangbang going?"
A wet slap on Riley's butt, Jared escapes commitment, "I'll think about it when the time comes. Right now though, in approximately ten minutes I've got to go pick up Tal. I expect to come back, finding you two dressed?"
Riley says, smartly, "How are we supposed to find out if this Tal is gay?"
Jared smirks, "On the other hand, Ry, he might find cubs offensive?"
"I hope he likes smooth guys!" Jay says, smiling.
"Don't get your hopes up bro. You know how you can get yourself all psyched-up for a let down?" Jared says.
Suddenly, the little white bench kicks out, from Jay leaning against the tiled wall, Riley throwing himself at Jay, like he's playing tackle football, "Whoa! I got you!"
The bench goes flying back to the wall, Riley's hand at the back of Jay's head.
Jared stand there, arms across his pecs, "So, you have sex with me, just to get at my little brother?!"
Taking the opportunity, plus to `show Jare', Jay, his whole bod smooshed against Riley, grabs hold of him and plants a kiss on his lips!
Breaking loose, Riley swishes his lips around, "Nothing wrong with the top half!"
"I'm so jealous," Jared remarks.
All three ready, Jared to go out and find Tal, at the trailer home he lived in with his family, Jay and Riley cooking up some breakfast, Jared opens the door to leave, finding a stranger sitting on the stoop, "Tal?"
"I found the bus here," Tal replies.
In the kitchen, upon hearing the conversation, Jay says, "Hurry and get me to the door, Ry!"
Riley couldn't wait to see `the straight guy' either, caving in to allow the monkey to get on his back.
They meet halfway, Jared saying, "Really guys?"
In a nutshell, what the two missed at the door, Tal explaining something which weighed heavily on his mind, the fact he is gay and knowing Jay is, he wanted to convince Jared nothing would go on during their professional relationship and that he was a strong person and could refrain from doing anything which would compromise it.
To this, Jared had said, "I'm not so sure it will work the other way around!"
As the other two, piggy-backed, descended upon the two, Jared was explaining Jay reaching a plateau, ready to dive back into his gay sexuality and for Tal not to be offended by his over-willing behavior.
However, Tal looking upon the two, his thoughts were on how he could `not' feel something, one guy's crotch up against another man's ass?!
"Look, Tal. I can't speak for you, but you have to just take it as it comes and then deal with it!"
Jared didn't leave much to go on, Tal trusting in the future, whatever it held. For sure, he needed a job and taking care of Jay during the daylight hours versus working at the marine store, the pay was better, but the atmosphere would be different as well. Of this he was not too sure. He had never had a job taking care of someone, other than himself.
Feeling stoopid afterwards, Jay blurts out, "Hey, are you Tal?"
Jared mocks his brother out, "No, he's Prince Harry!"
Overriding the humor, the Lebanese says, "I am Tal. Tal Karam. It is good to meet you Jay," he put his hand out to handshake, realizing Jay was hanging on for dear life.
"Well, anyone care to introduce me?" Riley says.
"Oh," Jared does, "this is the bus driver."
"Riley," Riley does the honors himself!
"It's good to meet you too," Tal says, dwelling on where the bus came in?
Turning around, to lead the way, Jay, unable to clench Riley's thighs with his knees, slips. Not the first time, Jay yells out, "Holy cow, here we go again!"
Riley tries grabbing behind himself with his hands, but it doesn't work. The only thing which does, is someone leaping forward from behind, Jared and Tal both going for Jay at once.
Winning out, if it was a race at all, Tal would be deemed the winner. Not at all the case for himself, Jared is pleased Tal has such quick reflexes.
He was self-conscious, even though, the only way to catch Jay was under the arms, grabbing the 21-year old around the front, locking Jay in his arms.
First thing Jay says, smiling, "Your beard tickles me!"
Having just spoken about it, while Jared went to the door, Riley reminds Jay, about the touchy subject of whether Tal is gay, straight, or otherwise, "Um, Jay, remember what we talked about?"
"Oh. Right," Jay replies, repairing his thoughts, of Tal's beard feeling sexy on his cheek, "nice beard, Tal."
Then, Jared, thinking this perfect time for introductions on another level, says, "Nice try, but Tal already knows you're gay, little bro!"
Allowing it to ride right over his head, Jay doesn't dwell on whether Tal is, but his own circumstance, "Like, what else did Jare tell you about me?"
Riley kept his mouth shut, listening, as they walked into the kitchen.
"Coffee, Tal?"
"No thanks. I'm good," Tal responds to Riley.
He went ahead and poured a cup for Jared, as Jay asks, "Then how did you, like know?"
Wondering if they had chance met at a club, or it could have very well been Tal was at the church, Jay's inquiring mind had to find out.
"I wasn't sure it was you, but now I am sure, that is was you and your friend Jake. Two summers ago at the service station. He had bought you a Coke out of the machine and you kissed him. I suppose it was to thank him," Tal explains.
"Wait. How did you know his name is Jake," Jay's detective-side kicks in.
Smiling, Tal says, "Because after you left I approached your friend and asked for directions. I found out his name when I thanked him."
Perfect lead in, Jay asks, "So, you were trying to pick him up?"
Jared, thinking Jay was trying to get to the bottom of it, whether Tal was gay, or not, says, "Good angle, bro. I have to admit I haven't heard that one yet!"
"Jare?"
"What?" Jared answers his brother.
"Wanna shuddup? Like, your ignorance is showing?"
"Oh, is it?" Jared replies, "Like, where?" he looks down his dress shirt.
Riley asks, "Need some help? I'm good at finding things!"
Suddenly Jared realizes the time, having a Monday morning meeting in one store, then afternoon in the other marine shop, "Holy cow! I got to get in motion here!"
Riley had thought, since he had Monday's off, he and Jared could take the day, walk the beach, or do some other meaningful activity. Things he hadn't counted on, rather thought about, are Jay being alone and Jared having a life other than the casual one.
Regardless, a wrench gets thrown in the works, "Hey, Jared, don't forget my doctor's appointment?"
He did forget, tapping fingers on his lips, thinking up a new plan for `this' Monday morning.
"Anything I can help with?" Riley says, walking Jared to the door.
By the time Riley comes back, Jay has already had a big powwow with Tal, "I explained to Tal everything he has to do for me, so you can go do what you normally do on Monday's Ry." To Jared, Jay say, "If you forgot and have something you have to do and can't get out of it, we can postpone?"
Not which he had any doubts, about Tal being able to take care of Jay, because if there was any doubts in Jared's mind, he would not have taken off so quickly. With it coming from Jay, he figures he would do just that, `take off', "Okay, well I'll see you guys later. I'll be back to take you to your appointment."
Jay made sure Riley left his cell number and he was off.
For all of a few minutes things were quiet, Jay doing most of the talking, explaining to Tal this was a temporary living place and he wasn't sure how long he would be here, giving the royal tour of the condominium, by pointing in different directions and in descriptions of the room contents.
"I'm supposed to get a new chair sometime this week and trust me, it'll be like so much easier to get around."
They were about to enter another period of silence, when the doorbell rings.
"I will be right back," Tal says, moving out of his kitchen chair.
Before Jay even found out the identity of the person at the door, running to him was, "Thor!" Jumping up on him, Jay exclaims, "Did-ya miss me, boy?!"
"He missed you all right," it was Louis who came calling.
"You going somewhere," Jay already knew it was the beach, Louis in his swim trunks.
"Maria gave me the day off for good behavior," Louis replies, eyeing up Tal.
"Tal, this is Louis. He's bi. It's the reason he's checking you out, because if he was into girls at the moment, he wouldn't be checking you out!"
Smirking, Louis says, "Y'know, Jay, that's gotta be the most fucked-up explanation of bisexuality I've ever heard, not to mention totally insensitive?!"
"Get used to it. It's the way I am!" Jay excuses himself.
"Someone, a long time ago, should have given your ass a good whoopin'. It's not too late, y'know?" Louis casually walks over to Jay.
Like, Jay knew Louis couldn't be mean, already seeing how much of a clown he could be, yet he was on his guard for `something' to come to pass, adding fake threats, holding up a cereal spoon, "I'm warning you, Louis. I'm an armed man!"
Taking the spoon, Jay's hand along with it, he dips it in the bowl of organic cereal, feeding himself, "Hey, this is not half-bad!"
"Great. Can I have my hand handed back to me now?" Jay says sarcastically.
"Sure," Louis says, stealing the bowl out from under Jay's attention. Before moving to his own seat at the table, he goes right to a draw and takes a spoon out.
Baffled, Jay asks, "How did you know where the spoons are Louis?"
He didn't care to share, "I'm bi, remember? Half the time I like to play around with men?"
Although he hasn't met Riley's half-brother, Jay knew 2 men lived here, one on and off, "Oh, and which man would that be?"
Chomping down a spoonful of crunchy cereal, Louis was polite enough to wipe the residue from his lips with the back of his hand, "You guess. He's got a covering of luscious, auburn hair, from neck to navel and..."
It wasn't a tough hint, Jay having seen those reddish-brown follicles, both dry and damp, "So, how many times did you and Ry get it on?"
All this time, Tal is doing `something' to pass the time, listening in, whether fixing the napkins in a holder, lining up the salt and pepper shakers, sponging up a spilled spot, but mostly stealing glances at Louis. Over the table ledge, Tal eyes upon the only visible places, face, arms, chest, he follows the indentations, spelling out contours of Louis' pecs, two perky nips, a faint covering of chest hair, nip to nip, forming a triangle to his voicebox and then the beginnings of a slight trail, dipping under the table. He wondered if Louis would look good in a full beard, as opposed to the dark moustache...
"Why don't you tell me, Louis?"
"What and make it that easy for you, Jay? You're sitting around like a lazy bum. Go to a library and find out!"
It was all joking and kidding, Tal saying, "I can help you maybe?"
"There," Louis sips someone's coffee, turning his nose up at the cup, "yuck!" Turning away from the cold java, Louis says to Jay, "You got someone to help you. Me? I'm off to the sunshine!"
And he left!
"Nice dog," Tal says, kneeling down on one knee to pet Thor.
"He likes you."
"So, you have had Thor a long time," Tal assumes.
"Not really. Only a few days. Um, like okay, Thor likes you now, but I don't really know how he is with everyone. I don't really know anyone who Thor has ever gone vicious on."
"Oh," Tal says, withdrawing his hand with suddenness.
"But I don't think you have anything to worry about. If he hasn't bitten your hand off by now, he probably won't!"
"Thank you for letting me know that," Tal says.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Jay asks.
Really, Tal was expecting a different course, him asking Jay. From speaking to Jared at the store, Tal found out that Jay's quality time is bankrupt of intelligent things to do, saying, "I have some friends we can go visit?"
Anything would be different and accepting for Jay, "Sure. Sounds cool."
As Jay had known, from family visits to the island community, years and years ago, vehicular traffic was very, very limited. Jared had the truck, which was for major trips through the town, only on days of inclement weather or taking the ferry back to the mainland. They had always been fair about it, walking short distances, wherever Jay's chair could go. Fortunately, places they visited, whether out of necessity or on a whim, were within walking distance. His main doctor, they had to make the trip to the Big Apple, but for a dentist or slight cold, he could see one of the medical advisors in town.
"Where to?" Jay says, holding onto Tal's back.
"First things first," Tal says, setting Jay down on the stoop. "This once belonged to my uncle. I think it will fit you okay?"
"Oh cool!" Jay says. Of course, even though he can't feel much in the lower extremities, thinking about his crotch banging ass is kind of cool, but mobility via a wheelchair is much less tiring, for both.
"Are you comfortable?" Tal asks.
It was a concern of his, Jay saying, "I hope I don't run over Thor's feet!"
"Why don't I take the leash? He can walk behind with me. I think it will keep him from an accident."
"Sounds cool," Jay replies.
As they walked, they talked.
Inquisitive, Jay asks, "So, did you ever land a date with Jake?"
"Twice, but it did not work out for us."
"Why not?" Jay could pretty much guess, Jake the flighty type.
"I don't know what values you have, when it come to dating, but I am not one to rush into things..."
"That's Jake!" Jay already can guess where this was going to go.
"You and Jake, you have dated?"
"Jake and me have been friends since kindergarten. Even though we didn't know it was called, `gay', we were doing gay stuff," Jay left it as is, not going into Jake's first time he licked ass, first time Jay felt a tongue slurp from his asshole, down over his balls, pursuant of his first blowjob!
"Same here, but I am waiting for a special man to give myself too," Tal says working around calling it `fucked'.
This is where Jay drew the line. Doing stuff with Jake was one thing, but with his brother, Jay feels because he didn't do it with Jake, but did it with Jared and it was his brother, not a non-sibling, it didn't count, "Yeah, I think that's the way it should be." Though, after saying it, Jay wasn't sure if it were lying or not!
Good thing he saw something familiar, to get them off the subject, "Westside Market."
"That is where we are headed," Tal says. "My friend from college works there."
"What's his name? Maybe I know him?"
"Possibly. He works there only in the summer, Jose Tomas. Do you know that name?" Tal asks.
"Hm-mm," Jay's brain wrestles with the name, trying to put a face to it, "nope. Don't know him."
However, when he sees a few of the men who do work there, picking out two who are not the regulars, Jay does say, "I know the dude over by the tomatoes?"
"That's Jose."
"Really?" Jay questions, his jaw dropping open.
Tal already knows why, saying, "Have you seen him dance at Hoodwink'd?"
Appreciating Tal filling him in, instead of having to say it himself, Jay does say, "He looks very good in a g-string!"
They both were on the same wavelength, however, meeting Jose, they both put those thoughts on the back burner, "Jose, this is Jay. I will be taking care of him for the summer."
Expecting this tough thug, Jose's attitude was on the contrary, "Hey, it's really nice to meet you, Jay," he bent over, took Jay's hand...
In Jay's opinion, formulated in all of a few seconds, he thought Jose a really nice, cordial guy.
"Have a tomato?" Jose says, laughing. "No, c'mon over here. I'll get us some apples."
One thing which fascinated Jay, it could have been possible he has seen Jose around, only he looked much different with clothes on. At HOODWINK'd, where he and Jake snuck in one night, because they weren't 18, he remembers a far different picture of Jose, decked out in only a gold-toned g-string, dollar bills tucked into the little gold strings. Main recollection was what was packed into that small gold pouch!
Jose didn't give him one apple, but placed a brown paper sack of them in Jay's lap.
"Thanks!" he said.
Tal then says, "I brought Jay here to look at your cactus collection."
"Cool," Jose replies, "right this way."
Jay wondered who the dude is, Jose calling over, to watch the shop, "He looks like he could be your brother?"
"Yeah, if he lost a few pounds," Jose laughs. "I'll introduce you to Nelson later."
He was thinking highly of Jose, but it threw a downer into his thoughts. For Jay, it didn't phase him whether a guy had to be muscular, nor super good-looking, rounded out super model or capable of driving a sports car. Even a beefy guy, like Nelson Tomas could give a guy like Jay some good vibes. Though, whether Jose, or his brother, were gay, it was immaterial. There were a number of straight guys Jay thought were hot. Just Jose putting down his brother for having a few pounds more on the skeleton, didn't phase Jay as being a reason to mock him. Then Jay realizes to himself, Jose is gay, or why else would he be a go-go boy at a gay nightclub!
Well, when Jay entered the greenhouse, he was so amazed by plants he knew and those he didn't. Especially fascinating, was a plant Jose fed a bit of hamburger to, a plant which normally caught it's own sustenance and kept down the fly population of the greenhouse!
"It's amazing!" Jay says, forgetting about all things gay.
"Here, take one with you," Jose generously pawned off one of the burger-eaters.
"Cool, but it won't try to take a bite out of me, will it?" Jay asks.
"Not unless you don't feed it!" Jose joked.
Almost every plant table they visited, Jose pawned a plant off into the box Jay held on his lap.
He gave the job to Tal, a table to carry dozens of plants from table to table or to the plant department at Westside Marketplace, adapting it for Jay's use. Tal kept a close eye on Jay and plants, which overflowed from the box.
When the tour was over, Jay was surrounded by so many cactus, he was afraid of leaning too far, for fear of getting pricked, asking, "How am I going to get all this home?"
They had to laugh, Thor suddenly barking. He wasn't barking to answer the question, but rather to deliver an important message.
"No problem. I'll have Nelson take him out," Jose says.
Leaving, Jay says, "Don't get me wrong, I think Jose is a nice guy, but sounds like he's a big boss towards his brother. Do they like, get along?"
Tal held out his hand, flat, moving it like a plane trying to fight bad weather, "Sometimes they do, sometimes not."
Apparently this was not one of the times the Tomas brothers were getting along, Jose barking the orders, "Take the dog out behind the store, Nelson and don't forget to clean up his shit!"
"I won't forget," Nelson replies, which Jay thought a down-to-earth response.
Jose ridicules him, "Don't you go sassing me, Nelson. You know I don't go for that shit!"
They hear Nelson utter a lowly, "Sorry, Jose."
By now, Jay's opinion towards Jose had partially changed for the worst. Sure, he was a smart guy, going for a college degree in plant pathology, but as far as his tough-guy, bullying attitude, well it just irked him enough to say something, "I didn't think your brother was sassing you!"
Apparently, it was not something Jose intended on hearing, "What was that?"
Tal stood on his guard, since Jose took two steps towards the wheelchair.
"Um," Jay gulped, thinking too late to back down, "I think you're brother seems like a nice person."
He knew he got Jose to thinking, him standing there, analyzing the fallout.
With things turning sour, the atmosphere cloudy, tension in the air, Jay says, "I think we better go. Even though I just got out of bed 2 hours ago, with my condition I tend to feel fatigued."
It worked, Jose believing him and as soon as Nelson appeared with Thor and a brown bag, they left the greenhouse.
Because they could not carry all of the offered plants, Jose was a little nicer telling Nelson to help them.
Still, Jay carried a flat box on his lap, which became a little more than a chore for Tal, Thor's leash in hand.
"Let me take the dog," Nelson says.
So it went, Nelson pushing the florist's cart, Thor's leash tied to the front handle.
Occasionally, Jay would try turning to look, Tal doing it for him, turning back to Jay, "He's right behind us."
Wondering whether Tal meant Thor, or Nelson, either way, probably it was all good!
Arriving back at Riley's place, they were faced with the dilemma of where to put the multitude of plants acquired.
The cart, along with Jay, rolled right inside the house, Tal discovering, "I think we should have left you and the plants at the door."
Right away, Jay's sultry side kicks in, thinking Tal wanted Nelson all to himself!
In reality, Tal goes to the kitchen, leaving Nelson with him, returning with a roll of paper towels, "Look at the mess we did to the floor?!"
Next thing Jay decides, is he's got to stop going psycho on himself, like Jared had mentioned, there could be a sexual life after the wheelchair, it just would be different for him, as opposed to someone who could walk and `feel', "I wish I could help."
Away from the marketplace, Nelson was a totally different guy it seemed, trying to get Jay involved, "I'll need some help finding places for all of these plants?"
First, before he did that, Jay watches Nelson release Thor from his leash, which he had to laugh, Tal, on his hands and knees, cleaning the table and chair tracks, gets a big smooch from German Shepherd!
Turning around, sitting, Jay watches as Tal returns the affection, which he sees a part of Tal, how loving he can be. However, Nelson isn't much different, which prompts Jay, "Hey, Thor...."
Tal and Nelson look in Jay's direction...
"What do I need to do... become a dog to get some affection?"
Really different, Nelson puckers up and blows Jay a kiss, Tal taking hint and doing the same.
Carrying on with the duties of floor cleaning and hunting for spots to place the plants, Thor wanders over to Jay.
"So, you can't get any more affection from them, so you come to me?" Jay asks Thor.
Thor places both paws on the arm of Jay's chair.
Suspicious, in a crazy way, Jay whispers in the German shepherd's ear, "Who do you think is cuter, Tal or Nelson?"
First Thor barks once, then twice.
"Yeah, I think they're both cute, too!"
It was discovered, most of the plants, being some sort of cactus or succulent, could very well take the strong rays of the sun, positioned on the wide railing of the back deck. They helped themselves to moving little trinkets, set on top of a glass table, to make way for plants which would do better indoors. Moving the two-tiered table over by the window, they had to juggle some other pieces of furniture around.
Sitting, because in reality Tal and Nelson did most of the hauling, Jay arranging plants on the table, they chilled out, Jay offering to fetch something cold.
Tal wasn't sure about this, picturing Jay returning with glasses of lemonade or other beverage, sandwiched into the only place Jay could hold them, near the crotch and then pushing the wheels which would provide the cycling momentum, spelling instant disaster. Regardless, Jay said he could handle it.
While Nelson and Tal talked plants, Tal had his sixth sense trained on the kitchen.
All that worry was for nothing, Jay returning with 3 bottles of water, yelling, "Heads up!"
Tossing one bottle, Nelson caught it, but when Tal caught his bottle, it was a bit out of reach, falling over onto Nelson.
Jay jokes, "I hope you had a soft landing!"
A side of Tal he didn't see yet, "Yes, he does!"
Nelson didn't seem to mind, Jay witnessing Tal pinch his small, paunchy stomach!
Much to their puzzlement, Nelson says, "So, what else are you guys going to do today?"
In long, drawn out words, Jay replies, "I have a doctor's appointment, but don't you have to go back to work?"
There was more bold, straightforwardness to Nelson than either of the other two knew, him saying, "Jose doesn't know it yet, but this was the last delivery I'm doing for the marketplace."
Tal gets the idea, "You quit?"
"Without notice?" Jay is just as surprised.
"Right. I'm tired of taking Jose's shit. I've saved myself up some money. I'm going to find a place to rent, get a job and live my life the way I want to. At least it is what my psychiatrist has been telling me I could do, so I decided today was going to be the day."
It was a lot to comprehend, but making the connection, Jay asks, "Uh, like your mental doc, his name wouldn't happen to be Paul?"
Acknowledging, Nelson says, "You know him, too?"
Even though Jay at one time was seeing Paul twice a week, for starters, before once a week, progress making a session once every two weeks, eventually once a month, "Yeah. He's a cool doctor. Helped me out a lot," even though Jay was grudging him for dumping Jared!
"Too bad he moved," Nelson says. "He was helping me too."
Knowing what a foxy stud his shrink could be, Jay wondered what kind of help Nelson received, though he was convinced Paul was more into guys with big guns and not big bellies, changes the subject on purpose, "So, you're moving into a new place?"
"Maybe tomorrow," Nelson replies. "I need to find a place first and it can't be too much rent."
Knowing the price tag on real estate for this area, Jay says, "You're probably going to need a fraction of the rental fee as collateral, paying 15 or 25 for the season. Usually rentals are for the season, which rent will take you through the summer. A lot of people don't stick it out during the winter. But if you can shell out that kind of money for a summer rental, then you can afford sitting the winter out someplace else. Just sayin'."
Probably Tal was wondering just as much as Nelson, but the one with the rental money, says, "I can afford 15 or 25 dollars for the summer. Doesn't sound like much. What is it, a room or is a mens room included?"
Jay's jaw dropped, exclaiming, "Oh! I thought you knew I meant `thousand'. 15 or 25-thousand for a seasonal rental," he could see the drop in expression, petering out, "well, I guess you didn't get what I meant?"
"How come so much?" Nelson didn't get it.
Whether Nelson was getting it or not, Tal says, "You can take the ferry back to the mainland and stay with my family and me in our trailer, if you would like?"
Thinking on it, especially for Tal, it would put a terrible imposition on him, having to be at the house early in the morning and leaving at whatever time someone came to watch him at night. Though, Jay was sure, once he got settled in his own place, he could fend for himself. Right now, in his own thinking, on his mind to offer Tal the free bedroom, himself sleeping on the sofa, without even thinking about running this by Jared, "Nonsense, you guys. Nelson can stay here until Jare finds us a place to live, then we can work it out from there."
As if end of story, the door to the deck opens, "Hey, looks like we're in for a storm!"
Towel over his shoulder, holding onto it by a tad, Louis stands there, Jay saying, "Why don't you come in, Louis?"
His sandy feet already on the parquet floor, Louis sheepishly replies, "Um, like, I already am?"
Stunned into a state of staring, Jay, Tal and Nelson just gawked, looking at the luscious man. Patterned into a triangle, his chest hair formed a perfect triangle, pointy nips and the foliage right up to the base of his neck. A faint, narrow swath led down to a small, circular swirl around his bellyhole, giving way to suggestion, some pubic moss. Of course, it could not escape their eyes, the pouch of Louis' g-string, holding something significant!
"That you are," Jay replies, lost for words, or not wanting to express himself out loud.
"Hey, would you happen to have a cup of coffee?" Louis asks, dropping his towel to the floor and wiping his feet.
Right away Tal went for the dustpan and sweeper he had spotted earlier under the sink.
Walking up to Louis, Jay was surprised once again by the cub's informal manners, "Your towel is under your feet. Got a tee shirt of something to put on?"
Running his hands up and down his own arms, Louis gasps, "Ooh-yeah, it is a little nippy in here!"
Soon as Louis finished feeling chills, they all train their ears on the sound of a key in the front door, followed by their eyes searching for a clue, a person entering.
Two shouts of welcome, "Adam?" call attention to the guy who has let himself in.
After recognizing them, "Louis?" eyes down, "Jay?" what are you doing here?"
Under the impression `Louis' like one of the fixtures around here, the light hanging over the dining room table, table with the plants on it, sofa or the fake Dali print on the wall, Louis blends in, whereas Adam leans his hands on the chair arms, "Nice to see you again."
"You too," and pushing his luck, Jay says, "no kiss for your long, lost friend?"
Smiling, Adam backs away, Jay's `failed' attempt, his Sea'n'Surf friend turning to Louis, "Who are these hot men?"
He hadn't known Adam very long, only met him that one time, on the beach, during the surfing comp, didn't know he could be so campy.
Fortunately, already being it known, Nelson and Tal were gay, Louis, takes the long way around introducing them, "Aren't they now?" Finally letting it be known, "I've got first dibs on the cub!"
That left Tal, who set the record straight, "I'm here to keep my eyes on Jay, not `romancing the stone'!"
Jay laughed his ass off, first time seeing Tal step out of the serious facade, even though his attempt at explaining his purpose for being at the beach condo was for his own benefit and not sitting there, waiting for a hot man to come along and escort him into the bedroom.
"Well!" Adam shrugs it off at first, confessing, "After a night of volunteer work at the Sea & Rescue squad I'll just have a light snack and head off for a nap."
"Speaking of nap, you happen to have an extra, empty bed?" Louis asks, sitting on the arm of the sofa, his arm around Nelson.
Adamantly, even though it wasn't his house, but it wasn't neither Louis', nor Nelson's mancave, "No. If you two want to engage in whoring activities, go find some other quiet place to moan!"
Purposefully, Jay wanted to see Tal's response, looking at him from across the railing, which separated the living room from the kitchen. Their eyes connected, seeing a look on Tal's face, which Jay could tell Louis' arrangement did not weigh to the good.
It would come to pass, Louis' `sometimes' wife, out on the job, him taking Nelson to his place. As fate has it, Nelson ruling the bed, driving Louis crazy with a feast for his mouth, Nelson drilling his ass more than once, it was enough to convince Louis he would not be at all a compassionate man, kicking poor Nelson onto the streets!
Meanwhile, Adam had grabbed a bite to eat, hitting the sack.
Tal, whom Jay realized hours ago, was a nitpicker when it came to cleanliness, heard him sort of complain, "I don't understand why people don't clean up after themselves."
"Uh-oh," Jay complains about himself, "I guess that puts me under the gun!"
"How so?"
Jay could tell Tal didn't know what he meant and not to drive his 22-year old companion away, "Lots of times I can be a real slob, but sometimes it's not my fault. I drop something on the floor and I can't pick it up."
"You don't have to worry. That is why I am here. To help you," Tal replies.
He figured, anyone else, Tal would be on them, not to be a slob. Unsure, maybe if Adam stayed around a little longer, Tal might have said something about the cereal bowl, flakes eaten out of the half-full bowl of milk, set in the sink.
Given slack, Jay says, "Thanks. I hope you know I appreciate it."
Strangely, as he play with Thor a bit, while Tal finished tidying up, he didn't crave Tal, like he's lusted over other men. It was good he thought, waiting for Thor to bring back the red rubber ball he tossed, reflecting back on Tal's concern about the very same subject. If even a friendly, fraternal relationship developed between them, it would be okay. Second thoughts, thinking on how he and Jared progressed through a `bromance', he wondered how it would have an implication between employer and employee!
"Oh no!"
Tal turns around to two crash-bam-bangs, followed by another!
"For land's sake, Jay!" Tal calls out, seeing Jay lying on the floor, flat out on his stomach.
As a result of this, the wheelchair had scooted out from under him, in reverse and had broadsided the Tv, sitting on a low table.
But Tal saw a side of Jay he hasn't witnessed, more caring, "Thor, you all right, boy?" he petted the dog.
Of course, Jay wasn't the only one who could have injured himself, Thor going to find the rubber ball as it bounced near the china closet.
Next, Jay, realizing the damage he did, indirectly, the fault of the wheelchair and Thor, buries his head in his arms, saying, "Riley is gonna kill us!"
"What's all the commotion?"
Tal's sight was already on Adam, holding a pillow over his pubes.
Still hiding from the world, Adam kneels down, the pillow becoming a resting place for his balls and cock, jarring Jay's arm with hand, "Hey, are you okay?"
"Whoever's Tv this is, I broke it."
Adam softly say, "Things are not more important then people, you know?"
Lifting his head, Jay knew the china closet, a facade of glass and wood, was damaged, but not sure about the Tv, "Tal, is it?"
"Broken, I think."
"Like I said," Jay wasn't trying to be facetious, "Riley's going to kill me." Then realizing it, if Riley got wind it was Thor who caused the cracks in the cabinet doors, the dog might be sent to Never-neverland, "Please convince him it was me and not Thor who did it?"
"Jay," Adam's voice was so cool and calm, it made Jay sober up, come out of his shell, "first of all, except for the bed in the master bedroom, all of the furnishings in the house belong to me..."
"Oh shit, Adam, I'm so so sorry I broke your," Jay looks to the china, then the Tv stand, "stuff!"
"Well, mind you, I've had that china closet for many, many years," he builds up his story purposely. "It belonged to my mother and her mother before that, including all of the crystal and you know what?"
"You can't wait to kick me and my dog out?"
He had a sense of humor, Adam saying, "You go... the dog stays!"
Finding a bit of a pick up with Adam's attempt at humor, Jay says, "At least I'll have Tal!"
Loosening up, Tal felt it cool saying, "Oh no. Someone has to stay and take care of Thor," getting his friendly digs in on both of the men, "and you saw how much of a slob Adam can be!"
They both got a treat, Adam jumping up to defend himself, forgetting his pillow, "What did I do to deserve that?"
Up until now, Adam hadn't even thought about it, whether Tal was gay or not, finding out, as Tal deviates off topic, "You look nice when you get mad, Adam!"
Head partially sitting on Jay's left arm, he looks up, "Tal's right. Either you have the hots for me or him, or you take great pleasure in getting mad at people, Adam!"
"Well, don't think of me as being unkind, but it wasn't you, Jay," Adam sticks his tongue out at the bod on the floor.
"Adam?"
"Hm?" Adam answers Jay.
"Go fuck yourself!"
"That would be cool. Can you do without Tal for a few hours?"
"He's here to take care of me, not you! Now, get those balls to the floor and help me get up!" Jay orders!
Suddenly Adam wasn't tired anymore. Putting on something more appropriate to walk around the house, with guests' there, he told them he was waiting for an excuse to toss that old relic, the china closet, into the trash, "I think Van den Broeck's will still take it, even though your' dog broke it!"
"Get over it Mary, it was me who threw the ball, so don't go blaming `my' dog!" Jay gets even with the tongue business!
"You two are no better than little children," Tal says.
However, Adam wished he could turn back the hands of time by about 7 or 8 years, to be their age again!
After watching Adam get out the vacuum and suck up any glass filings by the china closet, Tal was convinced he was not a total slob, "Looks good," he gave Adam his vote of approval.
Turning his head away from his work, Adam smiles, "Thanks!"
It would have been strange to his thinking, had Jay been thinking about it, strolling himself over to the table which held some of the plants Jose had given him today, picking up one after the other and admiring the leafy structure, wondering why some had flowers and others never flowered, according to Jose.
It made him think back to the first time, after his accident and release from the hospital. Jared had taken the drawings he did and had them framed, just to make him feel more important, like having some worth in the world, instead of moping around the house all day without any sense of direction or how to pick up life, from where he left off.
Thinking of it, the framed drawings he did in high school art class, carrying over to drawing at home, going on to do some sculpting on those themes, Jay wondered, if all possible, if he put his mind to it, could he draw what he saw on this table. At least one of the plants would suffice, but Jay saw a much broader vision, "Hey guys!"
He turned the chair around, doing a wheelie, just in time to see Tal and Adam share a quick kiss!
Tal must've felt guilty, Jay laughing, because his Lebanese caretaker was `wiping the guilt' off his face!
To let them down easy, Jay says in a whimsical voice, "Oh, excuse me. I didn't know I was paying attention! Oops!"
Getting all clammy, Tal says, "I'm sorry. That will not happen again."
Adam had excused himself, saying he had to take a leak.
"Why not?" Jay was sure it would tickle Tal the wrong way.
"Why? Because I'm supposed to be here taking care of you, not making love to some man?"
"It's okay. Why should you be bored watching me, when I'm occupied doing my own thing?"
"Because Jared is paying me to do so, besides, what if you need me?"
"Um," Jay doesn't think long on it, "I'll call you, Tal?"
"I don't think that is how Jared would want it," Tal refuted.
"You're not taking care of Jare, you're taking care of me. So," Jay was out to make a point, "waltz right in there and have some fun with Adam!"
"Fun?"
"Yeah. If he's still peeing in the toilet, walk right up behind him, scare the living daylights out of him by putting your hands up his shirt and grabbing his pecs!" If Jay could feel it, he might have a hardon right now, cooking up this little scheme!
"No. I can't do that to Adam."
"Do what?" Adam stood there.
Blunt about it, sure it would happen again, if not with Adam, some other guy, Jay says, "I was telling Tal, if his loins begin to override his head, then he should go with it."
Same as Tal had thought on quite the opposite, Adam says, "I might live here some of the time and the times I do, I should not be taking Tal away from whatever you need him to do for you."
A dead issue, 2 against 1, Jay turns to something else, "You wouldn't happen to have some drawing paper and set of pencils?"
Adam says, "I'm not sure what you mean by the pencils, but I do have plenty of printer paper, if that will do?"
At this point Jay would take a ball point pen and the shirt off Adam's back. Then again, his mind might get off the subject of art and affixed to the 29-year old's hot, muscular pecs, the light covering of ginger-red hair, the faint happy trail and... And then he would not be happy again, talking himself into not being able to shoot his load..."I'll take it!"
Things didn't turn out the way Jay envisioned, Tal taking to cleaning while having his own quiet time of sketching one plant after another, heralding himself at being pretty good.
Adam put on some sneakers and said Monday was food shopping day and he would be back. Tal was about to take Thor out, but Adam told him he already had his shoes on and loved dogs!
He couldn't believe an hour passed so fast, Tal bringing him a tall glass of lemonade, telling him it was almost noon and, "What would you like for lunch?"
"Did Jared say you're supposed to make me lunch?" Jay asks, since nothing shared between him and his brother regarding Tal's responsibilities, other than being there.
"He said to do whatever I can to make you comfortable and to call him if we run into any problems," Tal replies.
"You make good lemonade," Jay skips over the formalities, letting the flow, go!
"You're drawings look good. What is your goal?"
"Goal?" Jay questions Tal's motives, if he had any.
"Yes. My suggestion would be to look for 8, 10 or more plants and segregate them. Then, make it your business, by a certain time of day, when you want to quit drawing, to have those plants down on paper. Goals are important when you want to develop ideas."
"Wow! Smart guy like you, how could Jare afford to let you out of the store!" Jay exclaims.
"Maybe because your brother thought he needed someone smart and patient to take care of his brother?"
"Am I that much trouble?" Jay asks, not totally with seriousness.
"Sometimes. When I get more used to being with you, I will be able to help you. It is one of the things Jared gave me the freedom to do so," Tal says. "Now, what about lunch?"
As they say it, the front door opens, Adam coming in, followed by a little red wagon, handle in his hand.
"Oh, that's like, so cute, Adam!" Jay welcomes him.
Said in a cutesy manner, Adam picks up on it, "Let me know when you want to come over to my house and play with me, Jay!"
"Um, this is your house, Adam?" Jay reminds him.
He was about say more, Tal cutting in, "So, Jay does not have far to go to play with you!"
Faux cough, Adam says, "You can come along too, Tal!"
Skipping over the playfulness, Tal asks, "What did you bring home for lunch?"
"Me?" Adam smiles, forgetting, "And Thor?"
It was the funniest thing, breaking up the monotony of spun off ideas going round in circles, Thor with his front paws up on the back of the wagon, like he was pushing it, instead of what the boys could not see, Thor nuzzling his nose into a bag.
"What a sly dog you are!" Adam says, reaching into a bag and pulling out a box of organic dog biscuits.
"Organic?" Jay sees on the box.
Adam replies, "Hey, if organic is better for us, it's got to be better for him!"
Tal liked the idea, `organic', clean eating. At home they could not always afford eating everything organic, eating what they could. His mom was a fanatic about eating whole foods, probably where Tal got his own eating lifestyle from.
As for Jay, he was thinking, `Goodbye potato chips!'
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Copyright 2013 T. Chase McPhee
`FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS', and developing segments of this story, may not be sold, nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the author.