March Stephenson Chapter 54 Maxieplus The afternoon was boring so I sat back at the cafe and had words with my niece who was now awake. Mase talked to May about play school and March poked his head out of the garage door now and then. He did say that next week they will be busy, just servicing six cars from a private owner. I had better keep Mase occupied because thats a lot of cars in, he might confuse his oils. Home time couldn't come soon enough for me. I decided I would take my 'kids' home, and once again there was nothing to do there because Rose still cleaned, and the place, apart from toys was spotless but I like laying on the sofa with Mase. "I'm heading off March, see you at home." "Hang on I'll come with you." He started washing his hands and I belted bubs into the car. I threw the stroller in the back and will hitch a ride with him. At home Mason headed for his bedroom then he wanted some biscuits and milk. I gladly did that for him then March stripped off and headed for the tub. "See you in a minute Nicky." "No problem." I waited for Mase and Sunny to finish the sweet treats then took his nappy off and placed him on the floor, he ran out to see his dad and I dropped my shorts. "Stay there," he whispered, so I posed for him and gave him the grand tour then he said. "Now come here." I deliberately gave him a close-up as I slipped into the water. The jets were going and Mason was sticking his hand over one of them playing. Sunny had stretched out on the verandah and he will have a ten-minute nap while he waited for his mate. March's arm went around my shoulder and I laid my head back. "We can't do anything without the whole town knowing about it." "Like what?" "The trip to the city." "How do they know?" "There was an announcement about Cory's tournament, and someone commented that certain people were going to the Rick Conners showroom to watch the show." "And that would be Rose?" "It was an anonymous poster." I took my phone from the stool that sits beside the tub and looked. Yes the whole town is coming, some have already booked some are going to book. I hope May rings Dr, Mike otherwise we won't get a table. "They are more than welcome to come March." "We are still sitting on our own." He huffed. "Yes we will March, it will be a good night." "Good." I know bloody well that March's plans won't come to fruition, he will want to sit with May and mum and dad, but I will explore my options later on. "You can start now." "Thank you." I started kissing and he started moaning as Mason sat in his tub chair and played with his ducks. The takeaway meals from mum were devoured and then it was bath time for our bubs. More ducks and plenty of suds tonight, Sunny will be bathed on the weekend. I settled him in and turned his night light on then we chilled in front of the TV for a while. He got a message around ten and then sent his alerts out. The siren went and he told me there was a fire out of town in a barn. It wasn't the Wagner farm but one a few miles on. He left without a complaint and I thought I might sit up and wait for him. It was daylight when he came home, I had fallen asleep on the sofa. He wasn't right as he pulled out his folder and started making notes. "Was it bad baby?" "Yes Nicky, I don't want to talk about it." I know when he is in this kind of mood something has happened, apart from the fire. Coffee was made and I sat while he wrote up his initial report. My phone was in my hand and I started looking through the local posts. Two horses and a barn full of hay and feed were lost, and thanks to the fire brigade the homestead was saved from destruction. It would be the horses that have upset him. I placed my hand on his and said. "I'm sorry March, it must have been terrible." "We couldn't get near it, and although the owners tried so hard to save them, the fire had taken fast. The harder thing was seeing the faces of the kids their beloved pets were no longer with them. Nicky, I don't think I can do this anymore." "You will and you will bounce back, it's in your nature. You save a lot of people and animals not to mention wildlife in your job. Don't let one bad incident get to you." "There shouldn't even be one Nicky." "That is life March, I won't say it was meant to be, but it happened. Thank God it wasn't the kids that were involved." He looked at me and tears were forming. "Can you hold me for a minute?" "When do you have to go back?" "In an hour or two." "Come on, let's rest a bit." I stood him up and headed for the bedroom, hopefully, he would sleep for a few hours. I held onto him while he dropped off then I watched. I could hear Mason and Sunny playing in his room so I got up after an hour, looked in on them, and then I organized his toast and a drink. Sunny came out and sat at the doorway, he wanted his morning wee so I let him out. I was standing there watching him when I felt someone's arms go around my legs. I picked him up and kissed him good morning. "Daddy?" He pointed to the bedroom. "Yes, Daddy is home and sleeping." "Me?" "No baby let him sleep." He then pointed to the TV and I switched it on. He struggled down Sunny came back and they both sat on the sofa. The news was on and I saw the barn fire, it was dark but I could see the men with their hoses pointing into the burning building. The next scene was when the dawn was breaking and the barn was no more just a burnt-out shell. This kind of destruction we only see, there aren't that many suburban fires that are so intense. I will talk to March maybe a fundraiser will help the farmer out, it's tough on the land. I sat and sipped my coffee and looked through the local page, it was full of sadness, mainly for the horses that were lost. Once again our little town was filled with sadness and concern. Someone must have gone to the farm and taken photos, and they had posted them online. One stood out among the smoke and chaos. A solitary photo of March standing there surrounded by smoke, the fire lit his face up and he had his phone in his hand, I could see the fear in his eyes. I read the comments and they were all full of concerns. I have no idea if the posters saw what I saw, but if they did it wasn't mentioned. He came out with his shorts on and kissed me. "Any news?" "Yes, the local site March, and it is on the news if you want to surf the channels, coffee?" "Yes please." He went over to the sofa and sat cuddling Mason then he switched the channels around. He watched the news then he grabbed his phone. "I have to go back Nicky, there's no telling how long I will be." "It's okay March, do your thing, we will go to work." "I had better ring dad." "I will tell him if you like, or you can ring." I smiled. He rang dad and worded him up, it was the next week he was worried about there was no telling how long the investigation would go on. He was looking through the phone and I made some toast. It took him some time but he finally said. "It was the moment I realized the horses were trapped." "What was?" "That photo it was taken when I gave up hope, they usually run from the fire they must have been locked in." "It's a moving photo March, one for the archives." "I know you would have seen it, I just wanted to explain that's all." "It moved me March, very much so I could see the fear in your eyes." "That was not fear Nicky, it was hopelessness." "Well, you can either dwell on it or pick yourself up and move forward." "I will move on Nicky, but once seen never forgotten." I know where this is going and I have to distract him so I dropped my shorts and stood over him. "Don't forget this husband." He sort of smiled. "I could never forget you, Nicky." We didn't make love, he showered and dressed to go back to the farm. "You will be all right baby, just do your job and come back home to us." "I will." His lingering kiss was awesome then so was his ass as he walked towards his truck. I loaded up my car and drove to work today, Mason will be going to play school so he happily sat in the back and I put his kiddy songs on so he could sing along. Naturally, I sang along because I knew all the words and it seemed appropriate to try and lift my spirits. May was sitting out the front, no sign of little Rosie but I believe she is with her daddy sleeping. "Good morning." "Good morning Nicky did you get any sleep?" "Not a lot May, you?" "Not much, I sat up and watched the news." "Me too," She took Mason and started talking about his play school, he was getting excited to do some more masterpieces. "How is March?" "Down." "I saw the photo, and I reckon it's the most powerful photo I have seen of anyone in a very long time. It was so moving." "You felt him didn't you?" "That's why I couldn't sleep." "It's the horses, he couldn't save them." "I guessed that, he was always close to his horses, I would watch him talking to them in the barn. I guess there was no one else at the time." "There is now May, and he told me that photo was taken when he realized there was no hope for them." "He looked riveted to the spot, I know he was feeling something powerful." "My god, how is March?" Mum came out with our coffees. "He will pick himself up mum, at the moment he's back there talking to the investigators, and then he will finish his report. Has anyone heard if the farmer had insurance?" "No mention of it Nicky, I suppose Brenda will know in due time." "Well it's not important at the moment, what is important is that the family are all safe." "I just heard from Ron, they are wrapping it up," Rose said as she came out and took Mason. "That quick?" "He said it was an electrical fault that sparked it, old wiring, old barn makes for a certain disaster." "I think March will be glad it's over, let's pray there aren't any more fires this year," I whispered. "He's okay now Nicky, the glum has left him." "Thank you, May." I guess she's not feeling him. My phone went off and I answered it. "Yes, March?" "Yes, I will be walking him to play school." "Yes dad has just opened up, everything is okay here." "When?" "Ok, you do what you got to do, I will be here." I hung up and looked at May. "He's not all right, he is going to the Wagner farm, I should go and meet him there?" "I don't know Nicky, but I do know my brother, he will be spending some time with the horses." "I see, he didn't say why he was going there." "He wouldn't, let him go and cuddle a few that will pick him up." It was after lunch when his car pulled into the garage, I figured Faith would have fed him. It was time to pick Mason up so I kissed my husband and we both went to get him. Another painting and he seemed to have more toys than he arrived with in his bag today. March placed him on his shoulders and we walked back to the cafe. "Did Faith feed you?" "Yes Nicky, I went for a ride." "On a horse?" "No Hank was available I mounted him, what do you think of course a horse." "Memories March, as long as you thoroughly enjoyed it." "I did Nicky, it brought back some good memories." "We should go riding together." I offered. "I wouldn't get to sit on the horse, you would interfere with me." "I don't interfere March, not while riding that is." "You wouldn't cope with it, your eyes will be on me." "Probably, maybe I will just meet you at the finish line then." He burst out laughing and my heart once again melted. That evening we went to mums for fish and chips, she mothered March and set Mase up with his toys. There wasn't a feeding frenzy but close to one. I cooled some chips for Mase and Sunny who were hovering under the table. March talked about the cars coming in with dad and then he apologized for not being at work a lot lately. "The snake you couldn't help son, and the fire is your other job, no complaints are coming from me. What has happened to this town these past months is unusual but not unexpected. March don't get down about it all, shit happens and I am always good to go." He smiled. I looked at my phone again and yes he wasn't the only one that had joined the dots. The conversations were all about misfortune and worry, the town has reacted in a very big way. It was Mum who started changing the subject, I might add. But I didn't know at the time, she did a terrible thing. "I came across these the other day and thought March might like to see them." Bloody family photo albums. He grabbed them and I lunged forward, there was no way he was letting go. I struggled for a bit but had to let go he was stronger than me. "Now let us see what we have in here." He opened one. "My oh my, what a nice ass." He found the rude ones and went on and on until I said. "So you don't mind showing everyone my naked ass mum?" "No son, everyone has at least one of this kind of baby photos somewhere." She grinned. "Well, it's a sad day when your parents hand around intimate photos of their son." "As I recall you didn't have much choice, and don't look at me that way son, it was your father that took them." "How are you going Mase, need a hand?" Dad leaped off his seat and went over to talk to my son. March had his digs and looked twice at every photo. I pulled the plug when he started taking some copies on his phone. "Right, that is it, Mason time to go honey." After a lot of moaning and protesting from my husband, I collected our stuff and almost threw them into the car. To top it all off mum bagged the two albums up and passed them to March. Back at home he set himself up at the table and started looking through them again, I could hear him laughing as I readied Mase for bed. Unfortunately for him, I decided on an early night myself and was fast asleep when he finally came in with me. There was nothing out of the ordinary in the morning, he was back to kissing me and I accommodated his perfect lips, then I went to see how Mason was. Sunny was hanging out for the toilet and Mason needed a nappy change. I wiped him down and he talked about going to play school and what he would be doing. I dressed him in his favorite jumpsuit and then grabbed the birdcage and went to find some coffee. Mason walked into the bedroom and started yelling at March about play school, I heard a lot of 'hurry ups'. Sunny, who was back, ran in to see what was up. I could hear them both laughing and I also noticed the photo albums had been placed on the bookshelf that held more car magazines than family memories. He finally appeared when I started breakfast, the kisses were most welcomed and so was the lingering grope. "Did you enjoy yourself last night?" "Yes Nicky, you were an awesome little kid I could see your smile in most of them, it hasn't changed much." "There will be some of me at school and as a teenager too March, I think mum is hanging onto them." "I had better ask her then." I sat and ate, Mason was in his chair and he was dropping food for Sunny, as was March. I fed him what he wanted to eat and then I opened the local page to see what the gossip was for today, in other words, if the mood had lifted in town. I nearly choked when I saw it, two photos had been posted, one of my baby ass and one of my adult ass side by side, the caption said. "Guess who is the owner of this awesome butt?" Of course, just about everyone said my name, and why wouldn't they, he didn't hide his name, so the answer was obvious. "I see you have had a bit of little fun on the local page March." He laughed again, almost sniggering into his eggs. "It was funny Nicky, did anyone guess?" "Everyone did March Stephenson, now I have to apologize for my husband's rude post." "It was funny Nicky." "I see so you don't mind sharing a photo of my ass with everyone in town?" "They are our friends Nicky they will laugh too, and you have your shorts on." By the looks of the page, everyone was joining in. I saw many photos much the same, some very nice asses and some not so nice, the ladies were posting baby photos of their men, and a lot of the posters were doing it right they were anonymous. I read my many messages and tried to write back but I thought I might as well do a general announcement. I found a beautiful photo of March's ass and uploaded it, that will throw them all into a spin because I not only found one photo I found five more and they were all awesome. I could hear March's phone dinging away madly as I cleared the table. "That's not fair Nicky, it was just a joke." "Look at me March Stephenson, it is so hilarious I can't stop laughing." "Not fair, can you take them off the site?' "No, I think I will embarrass you today, like you did to me." He rang Brenda and pleaded with her to take them off the site, I think she was having too much fun to even contemplate that. "But you have to, I don't like that sort of thing." He hung up all red-faced and seemingly mad as hell. "I don't see why you are getting so mad March, mine are still on there." "But you like that kind of thing, I don't." "I see." I went to shower and to ready myself for work. He didn't say anything else and he didn't shower with me, so unfortunately we both missed out again this morning. Mason packed his carry bag, just a few favorite toys today nothing huge. I drove into work and thought I had better ring Brenda to take them all down, but the comments were so funny. "So you had some fun last night March?" Mum smiled. "I did, it was funny but Nicky shouldn't have posted any of me, that's just being awful mum." "Oh, I don't know I found them quite entertaining actually." "He thought he would get away with it, he doesn't know how much fun I can be when I retaliate." "Nicky, for the last time, can you take them down?" "Have you taken mine off yet?" "No, I like them on there." "I like yours on there too." I went to get coffee and some egg and bacon rolls, mum played with Mason and was asking him what he was going to do today. He answered with a tirade of words I didn't even know he knew. "Good one Stephenson you bloody loser." Jack came up the street. "What?" "Now my ass is on the local page for everyone to see, you had better hope Nudge, Joel and Ron don't catch up with you, they are so pissed off." I grabbed my phone and started looking, sure enough, apart from March, Nudge's ass was awesome. I started saving the photos to my albums just in case Brenda called a halt to it all, then I couldn't stop laughing. Nudge was the first to come across the road followed by Ron Joel George and a few others from the gym, I did notice Jason's awesome ass had made an appearance, after May came out grinning with bub in arms, oh and Tom and Hanks, wow. "Stephenson we want a talk with you," Joel yelled, March was up and running instantly, they didn't follow him they all sat at the table and Mason was passed around, then the bubs. They couldn't stop laughing at March's attempt to embarrass me, it had backfired badly or should I say in a good way. I also realized that March wouldn't do that without a valid reason, maybe he's up to something. "I see the ladies are now into it." I wiggled my phone. The boys all took their phones out to have a good look, that would entertain them all day. I must say the ladies were a little more conservative and kept their jeans sweats and shorts on. However, the men were reverting to their childhoods by giggling and having a go at the ladies. "Dad?" I screamed. "Your mother took it, son." Dad laughed. His ass is like my little bubble butt, but slightly bigger. I could see March looking around the garage doorway. I waved him over and told the guys not to damage him too much. He walked across the road and the guy's moods had changed, they started thanking him for all the lady pics his post generated. He finished his rolls and then it was time for us to take Mase to play school. I couldn't count the wolf whistles we got on the way there, although they were all for March, so I took his hand and his beetroot face to see Louise who was more than ready to check out his bum. Mason kissed her then he ran off to play. "You certainly have the knack of pulling this area together March Stephenson, everyone in town is getting into it, even Cory posted a photo but thankfully he kept his jeans on." I was to learn later that the likes and loves were the most the page has ever handled. "He's going to take mine down very soon Louise." March had another attempt to appeal to my good nature. "Don't you dare Nicholas Stephenson, I have it on a good authority you will be banned from the site if you do." Brenda was standing behind us. "But he's being awful to me Brenda." March moaned. "Leave them all there, the site is trending like never before, even the school kids are all getting involved. I have been told that they are going to do class photos sometime today. No rude stuff just a lot of fun. The mood is lifting in town which is badly needed here at the moment, after the fires and especially the snake attack my town has been a little flat." "My god March, what have you started?" I looked at him, he was smiling and maybe feeling a little happier inside, he has started a great trend and now I know why. There were so many smiling faces today and so many funny comments on all the photos. March was swamped with inbox mail and I laughed my way through them as I sat in the gym, nothing was being done in here today they all had their phones out. March and dad didn't do much except serve gas, the cars were rolling up in droves all day. I did notice March wiggling his ass a few times at some female customers, I guess they were the ones that spent up big. It took March Stephenson five minutes to bring our town back from the gloomy mood experienced in the past months. I had heard laughing in the streets and read so many funny posts my heart lifted and after he dragged me into the shed he admitted to me it was all a deliberate ploy by him. He likes happy people around him and the town needed a good shake-up. The way to shake it up was handed to him by mum in the guise of a few innocent baby pictures. Later on we once again walked up our main street hand in hand to go get our much-loved son, May was behind with her stroller, and many a town folk were stopping us on the way, maybe I was a little proud of my husband today and his constant laughing drew me more and more into his life. He's not just the local mechanic, he is the town. Brenda may crow all she wants but he's so much better at community services than her, he knows this town, he knows his town. Mason was happy to see us and his constant talking told us he had had a good morning. May wanted to piggyback him home but March had a better idea. I hopped on his back and Mase was placed on his shoulders, he carried both of us halfway up the street, and then I had to jump off it was too uncomfortable for me. Lunch was ordered and he thanked mum, she didn't realize she had started all this, the guys came back and were now showing March their wives posts and even the rude messages they had been sending back and forth to each other. The town will be full of grunts and groans tonight and a lot of satisfied folk will be happy again. Rose of course got into the act, she had mum take a photo of her ass, and in turn mum's was on show to all and sundry. "Please don't linger on Jason's too much Nicky, it's even better when he's naked." May giggled, so I snapped my fingers and said. "Send it over May." She did and he was the cream on top of the cake, awesome tight buns. Back at home, we talked about the day while Sunny and Mase played in his room, he was telling his animals about his day and showing them the mess that was his masterpiece he painted, another one for the fridge door. "That was fun Nicky, we should do it again next year." "Yes, March I had better start taking more photos of your ass." "You have enough, and anyway next year it may be sagging." "I doubt it March not with me around." "Cool thank you." He grinned. I leaned in and the kissing started. "Mase, tub time." He yelled. A little kid and his dog raced out screaming, his clothes were dropped all over the place before I even lifted my t-shirt. His dad lifted him into the tub and then slid in after him. I threw my leg over the side and sat next to March while Mase splashed around, and Sunny barked. The laughter and giggles didn't stop until the house was quiet and I was wrapped in March's arms once again. "Are you still going fishing?" "Yes Nicky, then we wait for more cars to come in." "It will be good to see Faith." "I will be at the farmhouse by lunchtime." "Can you come now?" "Just working it out Nicky." He grunted. On Wednesday, I dressed Mase smartly and got him and Sunny into the car. March and dad had left at daylight and Ethan will meet them at the river. I will have to hold onto Sunny we don't want him spooking the animals, it will be his first meeting with the majestic animals. I drove down the road past the veggie barn then into Faith's front yard, March's truck was parked in the yard and I snuggled in next to it. Mason was getting very excited and was yelling 'Hurry daddy' so I nearly fell out of the driver's seat to shut him up. Red and Rusty the farm dogs were the first to greet us and surprisingly Sunny didn't bark he ran out of the car to play with them. Mase got a pat in and I picked him up because he may get scratched in all the confusion. Hank was hard on their heels and gave them orders to sit and behave themselves, which they sort of did. I hugged him and looked around. "He's at work, but he coming home for lunch." "Good, it will be nice to see him again." "I think he's happy Nicky." "I know he's very happy Hank, and look at you I don't think I have ever seen you happier." "I am believe me, my life has changed so much since Tom arrived." "You were a big hit at the restaurant, well done." "It was Tom that pushed me, if it wasn't for him I would have never done it." Mason was screaming at Hank so he picked him up and said. "Come on bubs, they are waiting to see you." I picked Sunny up and Red and Rusty followed. Mason screamed as usual and his mates raised their heads to greet him, he gently patted their noses and then he dove in for a big hug, Hank opened the stall and placed him on the back of one. He fell forward and started laughing, hugging, and kissing him. This went on for ages because when I went to grab him he grabbed two handfuls of mane, no, he's not ready to let go. "Nooo." Here we go again. Hank started making chook noises and Mase mimicked him, it was a distraction. "Come on bubs, we had better get on with it, the chooks are waiting to see you." He took Mase (no objections) and placed him on the ground then he ran out the back of the barn to see the chooks, sheep, and cows, after a few minutes of sitting on his haunches talking to one lamb he decided it was time to collect the eggs. "NOOO." He yelled once again at Hank then ran off to the farmhouse calling Faith's name. He will only collect eggs with her today because she knows where the eggs are hidden. I think my kid is finding his independence today. She kissed me and took him into the cage, four eggs today and Mason was eager to try them. Sunny was occupying himself with the other dogs, I again picked him up and we followed her back to the kitchen. Mason was the first to sit at the table. "Fried, hard-boiled, scrambled, or poached?" Faith asked him. "Soldiers." She put one egg in a pot to boil it. "Will he eat two toasts with it Nicky?" "Yes Faith, Sunny will help." I laughed. My phone rang and Brenda was on the other end. "Yes, I'm free tomorrow what's this all about?" "Okay, don't shock me because I don't like it." "Okay see you then." I hung up, and she didn't enlighten me on what was going on. "Brenda she wants to see me tomorrow." "Probably wants to start another bum contest," Hank said. "It was exactly what the town needed Hank, March did a good job starting that one." "Yes he did, there's been too many long faces hanging around town lately." "How is the clearing?" He asked. "It's coming back, slowly but surely. Next year it will be different. March was saying he may not go there as much, he likes the tub." "He's a good boy Nicky, more intelligent than he gets credit for." Faith sat with us. "He is." "So Hank everything is okay in your world?" "As I said before, I couldn't be any happier Nicky, my life has changed so much since Tom arrived." Faith winked at me. I guess that was one question she wanted to ask, and now answered. My eager son was attacking his egg with his soldiers dropping some bits for Sunny. He thought it was good and he sat back and rubbed his tummy, I have no idea where he got that move from, umm. "So Nicky, Tom's going to sell his cleaning business to a city firm, he has had a great offer from them. He says it's getting out of hand and he can't cope with all the paperwork. He thinks he might just talk to Ethan and Faith about placing a large transportable up the back somewhere. He will be looking for a part-time job probably with Rose, he also wants us to grow our own vegetables rather than take the Veggie barn's stock, so I have to talk to Faith and Ethan about buying or leasing some land at the back of said new home." I could see him smiling slightly at Faith. "I don't know why you just don't ask Hank or Tom directly what is going on with their lives Faith." I said. "It's more fun this way and I get to see you and March more." She giggled into her tea towel. "So what do you think?" "I think that's a great idea Hank, the barn setup is nice but the new house will be better." "That's what Tom says. He wants our house to be forever." "That's Tom, and it's exactly what he needs, some stability." "Well it's a yes from me, but you better run it past Ethan." "Can you ask him?" "No Hank you and Tom must ask him." "You know he's going to give us trouble mum, why do you always make it so difficult for me?" "I like to have some fun son." She laughed.
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