Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 06:35:20 -0800 (PST) From: Zane Green Subject: Jaded 8 JADED By: Zane Hunter Green Chapter Eight: Found The copyright of this story belongs to the author. This is a piece of fiction not based on any real person. This story is for a mature audience as it has adult material. Let me know what you think of it. Please send E-mails to ZaneG7@Excite.com Ty: I knew now where Jaden had been, but I didn't know where he was going when he left this spot on Hollywood Blvd. I thought about calling Anton with the good news, but was it really good news? I mean what if I headed the wrong way and never found the kid. What if someone had taken him somewhere in a car? I could only hope that if I didn't find him, someone else was looking out for him. I noticed a small grocery store a few buildings down and wondered if they would post my business card, and ask the employees there to keep an eye out for him. I could write a note on it for Jaden to call us. The grocer was less than friendly. "If I posted notes for every one looking for a runaway, my store would be wall to wall scraps of yellowed- paper. Even if you find these brats, they run away again usually in less than a month. I used to feel for them, but they come in here and shoplift. I was nice guy until a few of them jumped me. Now I have no sympathy for the lot of them. If I could sell this store and move out of this area I would in a heartbeat. I hope you find your kid, but if you do your troubles are only beginning." I got out of there as fast as I could, "The ass-hole", but he really wasn't much different than me. I wasn't that enthusiastic about finding this boy. Then I knew that I was a self-centered bastard. I had to find this kid. I remembered when I was really young I got lost once. It was horrifying. I thought I knew the way to a playground, and instead walked for what seemed to be miles. I was ready to panic, but instead I put my-self in autopilot and with deep conviction I said, "I am going to find my way home." Less than an hour later I was on my block, sucking on my glove, and grimy from trying to hold back tears...but it had worked, I was home. I decided I was going to do the same thing now. I said out loud, that I was going to walk, and it was going to take me to Jaden. I felt that I was walking aimlessly, but I went on pure instinct. I guess deep down we still have the ability that dogs use to cross the nation and find their way back to their families. I walked to an older apartment building, a few streets away and then to the back where I stood outside one of the units. "This is really silly," I said to myself. "What am I going to say when I knock on this door. I can't pretend to be selling anything, and I don't have a bible. Well maybe I can say that I'm looking for a lost boy. I can say the truth. I thought I heard a voice giving orders inside, and then a man answered the door. I decided to pretend I was looking for someone at the apartment complex. Like maybe I went to the wrong door. "Hi, I said brightly I'm looking for..." "Who are you looking for." This older man asked politely. Well why not, I thought, I could use Jaden's name. I could pretend I had the wrong number, or building. He wouldn't know that Jaden was too young to have an apartment unless by the slimmest of changes he knew who Jaden was. "I'm looking for Jaden Pierce" The man backed away and then looked at me suspiciously. "Who did you say?" "Jaden, ahh Jaden Pie... "Why are you looking for him?" "For his Uncle, he has custody of the boy." "So you are looking for a boy. How did you know to come here." "Is he HERE?" "First, why did you come here?" "Well, I really don't know, but if you know anything about this boy I need to know. His Uncle is frantic." "I need proof." "Right" I took out his picture. The man called out, "Jaden, I guess I still have some influence with the man upstairs cause your family just found you." And then I saw Jaden in the flesh for the first time. He was even lovelier than his picture. I made a phone call to Anton and he explained to Jackson and then Jaden who he was, and who I was. A short time later I was driving home with this boy beside me. He was very quiet. And hell if I really knew what to say to him. "You like fishing Jaden?" Boy was that ever dumb. I decided to start over. "Look, we went crazy trying to find you. We may be the oddest parents in the world, but you're part of our family and you're not running away in a month." "I didn't runaway." "No, well you could have fooled me. Your Uncle really really loves you, and he's not in the best of health so I'll be honest, if you even think of leaving while he's still around I'll make you miserable for the rest of your life." "How will you do that?" "Lets see, I'll make you eat fish three meals a day." "I like fish." "Then I'll make you eat Michael's chicken pot pie." "That sounds good." "You are too agreeable, I guess I will just have to tickle you to death." "I would rather be fondled." That shut me up. I will admit from that comment on I was very afraid of this boy. I swear he started to flirt with me. "Were you doing things with Jackson" I foolishly asked him. "What type of things?" "Well you know sex." "He taught me what love is." "Good God," "Love, not sex. We didn't have a physical relationship if that's what you want to know." "Oh'" "Well, is that all you can say?" "So what kind of music do you listen to..." "You want to change the subject, Ty?" "You're as bad as your Uncle!" I drove a little faster. After we got home I kept my distance from that boy. Thoughts of him kept creeping in and the more I resisted the more I thought about him, I saw his silky skin, his tiny boy parts, I imaged what they looked like, what it would be like to really fondle him and so I deliberately kept a distance. I knew something would have to give. Anton seemed to be enjoying it. He and Jaden bonded quickly, but everyone loved Anton. It was me that was having problems dealing with this boy in our house.