Tommy's eighth birthday was coming soon and he didn't know what to do. Then it came to him, he could take Tommy to Disney world for a week. Let Tommy be happy and have a lot of fun before school started again. Michael also wanted to know if Scott and Richie two of his best friends would like to go with them also. So with Tommy outside Michael called the Parker home. "Morning Scott, is your mom up yet?"
"Yeah dude, want her?"
"Please."
"You're sick dude."
"Eat me, I didn't mean that way."
"I know I'm just pulling your chain. Mom its Michael he wants to talk to you."
"Morning Michael, what can I do for you?"
"Hi Mrs. Parker, Tommy's birthday is coming up and I was thinking of a week at Disney world, and well I would like to ask if Scott and Richie can come also?"
"Well I don't think it would be good, you would need an adult to be there with you all."
"I know that is why I was hoping you could come too."
"I see, you have thought this all out?"
"Not totally yet, it just came to me."
"Very well let me see what I can do to help you."
"Thank you, but can you please not say anything to Scott or Richie."
"Sure, I think it will be fun to see their faces."
"Thanks, I gotta go some one just jumped into the pool in his clothes."
"Oh my I hope he doesn't do that all the time."
"No this is the first time."
"Well sounds like you have your hands full. I'll call you tomorrow and let you know my answer."
"Thanks Mrs. Parker."
Hanging up I walked to the patio door. "Tommy don't you think a swim suit is better to swim in?"
"Uh huh, but I got hot."
"Okay come out and I'll get you a towel and your swim suit you strip down here."
"Okies."
No sooner had he changed than he was back in the pool swimming and having fun. I was sitting on the patio when the Archer brothers showed up, seeing Tommy in the pool Peter and Billy stripped to their suits and soon joined him, at three playing tag and chasing each other. Jerry the oldest brother came over and sat with Michael. With in an hour Scott and Richie showed up and dove in. "Damn Michael how many more will be in your pool before the day is over?" Jerry asked.
"Let's see if I know Scott he called the whole team so maybe another six. Maybe I should set up the barbecue and get some hot dogs and chips."
"Sounds like fun, want me to call mom and see if she can help?"
" Yeah, I'm not a good cook."
At noon there were eleven boys splashing around in the pool, each spending time tossing little Tommy in the air or riding him around on there back. The Archer's mother had come over with Mrs. Parker and soon had lunch ready for everyone. Sure it was hot dogs, but with potato salad; and juice all served on paper plates.
Early the next morning as Tommy was still sleeping Michael woke and dressed. Then it was into the kitchen where he started making fresh waffles, he had made enough for seven boys since his other little brothers were on there way, he had lots of juice and bacon ready when Tommy came shuffling into the kitchen. Michael had just given Tommy his hug when the door bell rang; sitting Tommy at the table Michael opened the door to see his other brothers there. "Come in guy's breakfast is ready."
Soon there were six boys bouncing around in the pool splashing and having fun as Michael sat on the lounger watching. He was just thinking of joining them when Mrs. Parker came around the side. "Morning boys, Michael don't you ever get tired?"
"No ma'am this is the life."
"Well then I won't keep you, I just came to tell you that I have gotten the time off to come with you to Disney world."
"Great, that means I can get everything set up."
"Let me know what is needed or if you need help."
"I will, I just hope things work out right. I'll call you when I have it done."
"Thank you. Now I will let you go and have fun with your little friends."
"I will. You can tell Richie and Scott that they can come and swim if they want."
"I'll tell them."
So with the boys in the pool Michael went inside and made reservations for five at the Boardwalk resort. With that done Michael stripped to his suit and joined the boys in the pool. There were sodas on the patio table, so if they got thirsty they could grab one.
The week at Disney world was great Tommy loved it keeping Scott and Richie going on rides, Michael wasn't left out for when the brothers got tired Tommy took Michael on more rides, each night the boys slept like the dead that was how tired they were. Mr. Parker wasn't left out a she tried to keep up with an eight year old also.
The last day there was Tommy's birthday, so Michael had the Parker's take Tommy to the rides as he had to plan for his party. Talking with the manager Michael was able to get a cake made and a special dinner of hamburgers and fries something Tommy loved. They had gotten a small dinning room set aside for the party. Michael had gone out and found some gifts for Tommy, getting them wrapped and back to the hotel just before the Parkers showed up. Sending everyone off to shower and change their clothes. When everyone was together he led them down to the restaurant. The dinning room was all set and Michael had Tommy sit at the head of the table with Michael on his right. "What's this bro, this is your seat."
"Not tonight little man, now enjoy tonight."
With that the Waiter started to bring in four smoothies and a large ice tea. After they had been served the dinner was brought in double cheese burgers and fries. All the boys were enjoying the meal with the dinner plates cleared the manager then came in and behind him was the cook carrying a cake with eight candles on it as he set it down everyone sang a sour happy birthday as Tommy blew out the candles.
After dinner they all headed back up to the suite where Michael had Tommy's birthday presents. Tommy was ecstatic when he found that he had a new I pod and movies, Scott and Richie had bought him a chain and pendant with the world's greatest bro hanging on it. That was something Michael didn't know about. All to soon we were driving back to Naples and home, Tommy listening to his I pod, Scott and Richie sitting in the far back softly talking, Then we were home, Tommy grabbing all his things thanked Mrs. Parker for a great time.
We still had five weeks left before school started. Tommy and Michael had spent a lot of time in the pool, and time practicing the trumpet and piano, nine weeks after they got home from Disneyland Tommy asked if they could spend the day at the beach. Michael thought that was a great idea so packing his trumpet and things for the day the walked down to the beach. Michael sat on the dock as Tommy ran up and down the sand enjoying himself; always insight soon Michael looked up and saw Tommy building a sand castle, with him was an older boy, Michael thought nothing of it since his brother was having a great time. Tommy called over that he had to go to the bathroom. "Tommy hang on and I'll go with you?" Michael called back."
"Awe, I'm a big boy, I can do it myself."
"Okay but don't be to long."
"Okies, I make it fast."
With that Michael went back to playing his trumpet. He kept watching for Tommy, when an hour went by and Tommy still wasn't back he took his trumpet and started walking towards the washrooms. Getting closer he could see people standing around. Pushing through the crowd he heard some talking that a little boy was inside. Pushing harder Michael made his way inside and saw his brother laying there, his clothes tossed beside him. Kneeling, he slowly lifted Tommy's head. "Oh Tommy. Why didn't you wait for me?" Michael sobbed.
"Son the police are here, you have to let him go now." A mans voice spoke.
"No I will not leave my brother."
"Let the police do there job."
"I AM NOT LEAVING HIM."
Michael lifted Tommy's inert little body and slowly carried him outside, Michael's jacket covering his lower body, the tears falling into Tommy's dirty hair. The police and the people standing around stepped aside as Michael made his way out. There were news people around and every so often a flash would brighten the tears. Laying his brother on a gurney Michael slowly cover him leaving his face showing. The police spent time talking to people, including the boy that found him, and even tried to talked to Michael.
Michael took back his trumpet as the coroner drove off. Michael went home and closed the curtains and left the lights off, locking the doors and unplugging his phone he sat on the couch and didn't move for the next twenty four hours. Then he got up and plugged the phones back in. Michael made himself a sandwich and then went back to the front room where he opened the liquor cabinet and started drinking. Michael didn't stop till he had passed out on the couch, only to start the next day and the day after that.
Both the Archer's and the Parkers had learned of the tragedy, and they left him alone. Scott and Richie helped their mother make the funeral arrangements, and still they hadn't heard from Michael. The day of the funeral everyone was there Scott, Richie, Peter, Billy Jerry and Trey Richards acted as pall bearers. Everyone was thinking that Michael would show up, but he didn't and that worried them. At home Michael was once more drinking himself into a stupor then into a sleep. Six weeks went by and no one had seen Michael, Scott and Peter were worried, School had started and he wasn't there, still they waited for another two weeks before they talked to their mothers. The police had finally admitted to that they didn't have a lead and that the case had gone cold.
Michael had started ordering beer through a cab company always using a deep voice to get the order done, then when they showed up Michael would say that his dad was in the bathroom or shower, he would pay for the beers and then once the door was locked again he would start drinking then, soon his house smelled like a brewery.
It was Peter that found Michael passed out on his living room floor, beer cans and bottles all over the place. Leaving the house Peter went home and called his mom at work, he then called Scott. "Hey bro I need you to meet me at Michael's, I just saw him he was passed out on the floor and man that house stinks."
"Okay I'll be there in ten, you want me to bring Richie also?"
" Yeah and I'll bring Billy."
Soon all four boys were at the house waiting for Mrs. Archer to show up. The boys had the doors and windows open when she got there. Billy had taken time out and had gone outside where he called their coach and asked him to come and help. After hanging up Billy walked back inside and saw his mother standing there, a few tears in her eyes as she took one look, calling the boys together and told them that they had to get Michael some help. Then while Michael was gone they would clean the house up and get it back to where it was before. Though from the smell of things it means a lot of work.
"Mom why would Michael do this?" Peter asked."
"We won't know until he is sober again. Now let's get him out of here."
"Guess that means the hospital huh?" Asked Scott.
"For now, then it will have to be a detox center."
The Coach showed up and with the help of Scott and Peter they got Michael into the car and off to the hospital. There the doctors took him and placed him in the psychiatric ward, the coach told the doctor that he thought the death of his brother had brought this on and that he should be watched for a while. With the agreement that he would get the best care the Parkers left. Back at Michael's house Richie and the Archers had started cleaning up the cans and bottles; soon they had one hundred cases of beer cans. Not to mention all the bottles. Once that was done they took out the furniture and called in a floor company to rip out the carpets and replace it.
With everything happening at Michael's house, Scott had decided to see if he could help Michael in other ways. One night he drafted an E-mail to the show CSI Miami, Michael's favorite show and asked if they could help a boy over come the death of his brother. He told them everything that he could and that his friend had been found passed out in his living room. The letter was three pages long when Scott sent it hoping that something could be done.