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, in towns, cities, countries, nor governmental areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then you should not read this story. Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age, in most state and countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by law. Check with your local laws regarding such. % Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction. In real life, use protection.
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"For Sale By Owner" 11 wriTten by T. Chase McPhee
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"I can't believe it!"
"What?"
"I've lived to actually stand inside a Braddock's!"
"Really, Alex? I come here once a week for something."
"You're a lucky guy. What can I say?"
"C'mon. Let's check out the men's department," Kyle says.
"Oooh will you look at this!"
"Ya know, those are real diamonds on the top of the shoes, Alex?"
"No wonder they are in a guarded case. I wonder how much they are?"
Before Alex could think, Kyle had secured the help of a salesclerk.
"Guess how much they're going to rip you off for?" Kyle asked, ready for Alex's expression.
"Rip off? This is Braddock's!" Alex claimed, knowing they had to be expensive.
"Okay, you pay five grand for the shoes."
"Five grand? Like five thousand dollars?"
Alex didn't think high enough.
"Yeah," Kyle replied.
"What a rip off!" Alex said, in earnest.
The two began laughing their asses off.
"Hey, look over there."
"Where?" Alex asked.
"To your right, near the dress shirts," Kyle pointed out.
"What am I looking for?"
"See the guy with the black, leathery dress jacket?"
"I see him. Somebody I should know?"
Putting on a mischevious smile, Kyle grabbed Alex by the hand. "C'mon," then under his breath, "You're about to!"
"Wait! Where are we going?" Alex wailed.
"You'll see."
As if going through a maze, Kyle walked down the moving escalator, serpentined through the aisles, quickening their pace towards the man in the leather jacket.
"Nice shirts," Alex said, being dragged right passed them.
They reached the object of being led to.
"Stephen?"
"Kyle. How are you, son?"
"I'm feeling fine. I'd like you to meet my friend, Alex Norguet."
"Hello Alex," said, in a dreamy voice, after laying eyes on the eighteen year old.
"Alex, meet Stephen Braddock."
Alex stood there with his jaw hanging open. "You're St-stephen Braddock, owner of Braddock's?"
"I hope I still am!" Braddock smiled a toothy grin, then laughed at his own joke, Kyle and Alex catching on slowly.
"Stephen is one of my father's clients."
"Sorry I don't have time to chat," Braddock filled them in, "but nice to see you again," Kyle and, taking Alex's right hand in his two, the thirty-four year old entrepeneur directs to Alex, "and I hope I'll be seeing you again!"
Alex smiled, saying, "Sure, that would be great. Um, could I have my hand back?"
Braddock laughed, offering a `sorry', for holding it too long.
"Are you going to be in town long, Stephen?" Kyle inquires.
"Maybe tonight. It depends."
"Why don't you stop by Eden. Your favorite dancer is dancing for the last time."
"Knapp?"
"Yep. He's becoming assitant manager for the summer."
"Hmm.... Then I'll make it my business to be there. Got any of them little passes?"
Kyle slips two passes to Stephen Braddock, who has enough money in the bank to pay for cover charges for himself and half the population of Asbury Park!
"Eddie give my friends here complimentary shopping passes."
"Yes, sir," the sales-clerk replies.
Braddock had to get off to somewhere, but the boys were well taken care of by Eddie.
"One for you and one for your friend, with Stephen Braddock's compliments."
Alex couldn't believe his eyes, when he opened one of the little gift-wrapped box.
"A thousand bucks?"
"Store dollars," Kyle filled him in, "very smart of Stephen to reinvest in his empire."
"Empire?"
"He's never satisfied, always looking for a new angle on business."
"Wow! I think I'll get my brothers and sisters some stuff... and my mom."
"I knew you were `the one', Alex."
"The `one'?"
"For me. You didn't mention getting yourself anything."
"Right. I think I'll start by buying out the toy department!"
"Wait til you see the prices on toys. Want a robot?"
"No way!"
Downstairs they went. Passing through the jewelry department, Alex spotted something unique.
"Oooh will you look at those... mom would love those earrings!"
"Good. Let's get them."
"But they're $800. That would leave only two hundred bucks for my siblings."
"Not if we add my certificate to yours."
"No. That's for you to spend."
"And if my mom were here, I would love for her to have the same. Let me do this, for us?"
"That's the sweetest thing, Kyle."
Alex took Kyle in his arms and hugged him, kissing him on the side of the neck.
"Thanks so much."
"No problem. I've get the earrings and meet you in the toy department."
"Fine. Don't be too long."
"I miss you too."
Alex was overwhelmed by what he saw. All the latest technology, but in forms he's never seen before. Right away, his eyes keyed into the Beetle car, holding the I-pod. He did the quick math... $150, times 6 kids and found it affordable. Cool!' he said to himself. Then he looked around for something for his bro in the service, in Iraq. He spotted a digital photo frame. Perfect for Joey'!
"Find something?"
"Yeah, these Beetle cars with an I-pod port. And for my brother Joey, in the service, a digital picture frame."
"Oh, here's the earrings."
"Cool! Thanks, Kyle. This will be something extra special for her."
Kyle held onto it for awhile. What Alex didn't know, for now, is Kyle's plans to return to Lake Quinn with Alex and his friends and present the gifts to her and the kids.
"C'mon. we have to get going back to Eden."
With the back of the jeep filled with presents, except Alex holding onto the parcel of jewelry, they made their way back down Cookman Ave., to Asbury Ave. and to the doorsteps of Eden.
"Where have you been little brother and what's all this? For me?"
"In your dreams, Knapp. Here, help out."
"Me? Lift a finger?"
Being it was Kyle, Knapp helped out by summoning two guys who worked there, to help out. Kyle and Alex didn't mind, on account of the summoned help were dressed in only their jeans!
"Thanks guys," Kyle said, when they finished taking the gifts to his room. "How about a quick swim before showtime?"
"Sure," Alex agreed.
Before the two dove in, Kyle had to fetch a coupla leaves out of the pool.
"Is this what we'll be doing all summer?" Alex questioned.
"And check the pH levels. Plus, odd jobs around the pool."
"Sounds cool. Tell me something?"
"Shoot."
"Will I be doing any dancing?"
"Do you want to?"
"It might be fun."
"I dunno. I kind of doubt Knapp will let us."
"Oh that's right. I forgot who's the boss in the night-time," Alex says.
"Besides, usually it's the older guys on account of some of the guys can get fresh," Kyle reports.
"Do they really try to play with a guy's cock and balls?"
"The customer will try to get away with anything they can. The bartenders have to be real careful with customers trying to walk away without paying. That's why they have ringers."
"Ringers?"
"Guys in the crowd that look like ordinary `Joe', but really work for Eden."
"Smart."
"Tell Knapp. He's the one who thought it up."
"Cool."
"C'mon, let's swim before we have to get into our waiter outfits."
Alex wanted to ask what they were, but from their afternoon out, he needed to get the sweat off.
"Hey, you're good!" Kyle commented, as Alex dove perfectly into the deep end, surfacing.
"Thanks. I was on the high school swim team for two years."
"High school? Not many high schools have swimming facilities."
"Yeah, Lake Quinn was unique in a lot of ways. We got to share the pool at the local community college."
"Hot!" Then Kyle toned down his response to, "Cool!"
"Yeah, `hot' was right. You don't know how many of those frat boys Greg and I wished were gay!"
Kyle found it funny, but also serious.
"Really now?"
"Yeah. But it didn't matter to any of them when it came to selling my briefs."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Greg would get rid of a whole shoebox full of $75 G-strings in one afternoon. He's fantastic at marketing."
"What was his sales pitch like?"
"Hee hee... Greg would tie one to a stick and wave it around, for guys to feast their eyes on."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Then we'd stick around and watch their coach bust their chops for reporting to the pool in lewd swimming apparel!"
"Oh man. Those poor guys."
"And the coach made Greg promise not to tell the team, that he purchased matching briefs for him and his wife!"
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Copyright 2007 T. Chase McPhee This story may not be sold, nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the author.
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