Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:55:25 -0700 (PDT) From: Joe Parker Subject: I Think I'm In Trouble - Chapter 21 I THINK I'M IN TROUBLE Chapter XXI JAKE When I got home from visiting Clarke at the hospital last night I was surprised to find Felix waiting for me up in my quarters. It was real nice. He came and slid himself around me and we held onto each other effortlessly recapturing the electrifying sensation that always accompanies our two bodies touching. When he curls himself up in me I feel alive. I feel like I'm the luckiest damn guy in the world, I feel like I'm the only damn guy in the world. When he looks at me I know that I am all that matters. There doesn't have to be words, there doesn't have to be looks or sounds even. There doesn't have to be anything but touch. The looks come later and the sounds and the smells... I open my eyes to the golden strands of his beautiful sweet strawberry smelling hair. He got in trouble with his Mom yesterday for dashing into her bathroom and stealing her favorite Strawberry shampoo and conditioner from her shower, my little thief! His own Pert had run out. I cracked up watching my father yesterday morning. He had come down as he often does now to breakfast with Momma Felix and as Felix passed him in the hall... the sweet smell of strawberries made Dad have to look twice at Felix haha! I'm sure my dad was about to grab Felix and ravish him, mistaking him for his mother! And now here he is, right where he belongs -- in my arms. I wrap him up and flex my biceps enjoying the resulting purr that escapes his soft pink lips. I lower my head and we kiss tenderly, engaging in a little love therapy.. He raises his arms indicating that he wants to be picked up, something he has begun to do recently and I love it. I lift him gently into an even closer embrace and his mewling purr vibrates straight through to my dick causing it to stir, a glowing ember about to ignite into a bright flame and then a blazing inferno. I let him slide down my body just a little and he wraps his long, lithe legs around me at the appropriate point. My stomach receives the evidence of his own heated energy. My hands slide under his exquisite ass and then do what comes naturally. They grasp, squeeze and trace. I begin to growl. He has one arm under my left arm snaking round my back and the other is over my shoulder and around my neck. Without losing connection with his lips I track backwards and then fall back onto my bed taking him with me of course. We have started doing this real cool tongue sucking thing where I slowly poke my tongue out and feed it to him. Not just normal frenching, this is like so totally erotic! It's tongue worship. Languidly and slowly dipping and ducking, soft slippery tongue, hard firm tongue. My breathing begins to falter maaan it's easier doing a full cardio workout than tongue dueling with Felix!... little minx. He shows me mercy, leaving my tongue to recover a little and starts kissing all over my face, his sweet little mouth trailing hot kisses over my lips, my eyes, nose everywhere. WOAH what brought this on? I had planned on being mad at him when next I saw him. I had a steely resolve born of injury and self righteousness but so much for that. He snuck into my room and straight back into my heart. I told you he's a little minx right? "I sorry for bein notty today peeese" he's speaking in his baby talk voice haha. "Oooooh the widdle baby is sorry is he?" I chuckle "Unnnh huh" he hides his face by burying it under my chin. "So that's what all the lovey dovey is about huh?" "Unnhhh huh - I mean nuh uhh!" he quickly corrects himself. "Oh? Which is it? Make up your mind widdle baby" "Heeeeeeeemmmhhh" he squeals He shudders and I squeeze him into my body enjoying the the closeness. "I'm just learnin so much from Miss Aimee and she is such a good teacher, I really like her" Well there goes me telling him what happened at the hospital today. I will have to be tactful and let that dog lie. You know, a few weeks ago I wouldn't have given a damn about tactfulness. Now look at me walking on eggshells. That's the story of love right? - Give a little, take a little... But hold that thought why don't ya, he is unzipping me and pulling my cock out of my briefs. Hells Bells! "Baby whatchya doing" I rasp out... "Playin with my favorite toy" He smiles winsomely while pulling my underwear down a little before licking the crown of my quickly hardening penis. He really has a fascination for licking and stroking the underside of the head. It is supersensitive and totally drives me wild. My hips instinctively raise up off the bed, even with his body draped over me. He strokes my balls through the silky nylon of my briefs, the sensation is a tickley and incredible turn on. I bend my knees and raise my hips so he can get my khakis further down my legs. His tongue darts around the fissure in my penis like a sweet little hummingbird buzzing and flitting around my dripping reddened throbbing cock head. I try to pull my briefs all the way down but he puts his hands on mine stopping my action. "Naw baby I kinda like the way you look right now" he blushes... Hmmm my baby is beginning to develop cute little fetishes. "You don't want me to take my undies off baby?" "Naw leave em kinda off and kinda on" he looks me directly in the eye, daring me to make fun of him or disagree with him. I laugh and lay back on my elbows instead, spreading my legs.., exposing myself before him. His eyes glaze over with lust and something else. Love. He doesn't just love my body, he loves that it's me! My cock sticks out of my sky blue bikini briefs like an ICBM missile, like the San Jacinto monument. My balls strain against the thin slightly transparent fabric that barely contains them. I raise my brow, daring him to launch the missile. To scale the monument and unwrap the two egg shaped gifts I have still waiting for his eyes to rake, for his fingers to tantalize. For his mouth to worship. His eyes blaze with an intense lilac blue fire that becomes momentarily lost to me as he goes down on me, obscured by his feathery fringe. His tongue aggressively flicks itself over the underside of my head as the warm cavern of his mouth takes possession of the working symbol of my manhood. I hiss and lie down as he deep throats me, gagging only slightly, hot damn but am I impressed with this boy or what? I lick my fingers and begin to gently stroke my nipples, just barely managing to contain the electric charges pulsating through my body. Only just able to override the static impulses begging me to ejaculate immediately. Somehow Felix has managed to release his own cock from his pants without me even noticing and with one hand he is stroking his beautiful golden rod while he continues to devour my big angry red one. We have been having sex nearly every day or at least every two days. At LEAST. I can't believe how adept we have both become at doing one another. I have also noticed that we are less squeamish about what state we might find ourselves in. At first we wouldn't go near each other with a ten foot pole and gloves on unless precautionary showering was somehow involved but now we kinda get off on the natural scents that can accumulate over the course of a day. Note that I said 'kinda'. He continues to play with my balls through the filmy material of my underwear. The silky fabric serves only to heighten the almost unbearable sensations of incredible pleasure and anticipation. I feel my balls are beginning to contract before 'blast off occurs' Felix is busy trying to get his sweet little tongue into the slit of my penis. I'm so glad to be a male! I love the way this feels and I love the fact that it's Felix. I'm in two minds as to whether I should just take over proceedings or just let him finish the job. My natural inclination is to get in on the act now and show him just what he's doing to me! But I sense that he wants it his way right now and I don't have a problem with that at all. His turn will come! He's now extended his sinful fingers below my balls and he is stroking my hole through the material of my briefs. Oh hell this is too much! I let him slide his finger under my briefs and into my hole spreading my legs wide like a 2 cent whore and moaning with delirious abandon as my pucker responds like a quivering jellyfish. I stroke my tits and run my tongue over my lips. A most vivid thought enters my mind as my butt, my balls and my cock head into overdrive. Felix Jarrow is a mental and physical orgasm. I explode and my cum goes flying all over his face and into his hair. This sight startles me and actually sends me directly into another series of orgasmic tremors. My hips pumping my fuel out in a secondary release, this time more of a flowing response. The first one was like the main burners on a military jet plane. I grab the instigator of all this mischief and draw him up to my mouth. We kiss and I hungrily steal my shake from his mouth, squabbling with him over it. I lick it off his face and we french kiss the residue away between us. His slick penis is now rubbing on mine. I am considerably bigger than him down there, well everywhere to be honest and it just makes me so much more protective of him. He may be nearly 6'2, he says that he is but that must be on tippy toes. In my opinion he'd be just a tad over 6'1 and all of it is cute, twinky delight. Yeah that's what Felix is. He is a twink! My little twinky baby. He lifts himself up on to his hands and begins to up the pace of his rubbing motion. Little Jake is extremely interested in this new development and begins to rise again. His cute little yelps as he gyrates his slender hips over my groin serve to excite me to full hardness in seconds. He leans down a little and nips at my tits. I take the opportunity to stick a cum moistened finger behind him, swiftly corking it into his beautiful little hole. He squeals, loses control and lands flat on top of me. I chuckle and kiss the top of his blond locks. Instinctively my legs come up and wrap around him trapping him against me. We merge into a rocking motion and his yelps become screams of wanton ecstasy as I add another digit and push in to hit that little button that could destroy the world. We are kissing as my third and his second orgasm begins. I thought I had run out of fuel on the last passover but evidently I was wrong. We have just soaked each other all over again. We are momentarily too exhausted to do much more than kiss and nuzzle right now. My breathing is all out of whack and Felix seems to be gasping for air himself. "Felix you just destroyed me there sweetheart." I murmur into his moist damp hair, kissing it tenderly. "Hey, you called me sweetheart?..." He stirs and looks deeply into my eyes, searching. "Yeah so what? What are you gonna do about it buddy? Huh, huh?" I goose him a little and he jumps like an electric eel, trying to overpower my arms. I let him have his way settling happily for another sweet kiss. "Am I really y alls sweetheart Jakey?" His earnest look melts me to Tuesday. "Yeah baby, you are my sweetheart, my only sweetheart." The resultant look on his face is a promise to myself. I got to do all I can to make sure I see that look as often as possible. All the time, for the rest of my life. "Felix, sweetheart. I hope you brought a change of clothes baby." "What if I didn't huh? What if I plan on jez walkin out there all nekkid an all in front of y alls whole family an all huh?" "Geeze baby are you sure you've said enough 'alls n all yet?" I chuckle and kiss him. Licking up a stray pearl of cooling semen. "Oh quit it" He murmurs into my chest. "Never" "Hey Jake whassatime!" His startled question and eyes alert me to the realization that we only have about twenty five minutes before dinnertime! "Oh damn baby we gotta roll!" I tumble out of bed turn back and draw my boy out after me. We rush for the shower. *** Well my 'sweetheart' came prepared, we only had six minutes left before dinnertime. He had `thoughtfully' brought himself a change of clothes and we both managed to shower without attacking one another, well okay I did make a coupla forays into Jarrow `territory' but oh well... watchoo gonna do about it huh? We get ourselves showered, scented and dressed in near record time and by the time dinner is served we have been sitting at the table for about two whole minutes! Boo Ya! Dinner tonight is an abbreviated affair of hot vegetable soup, freshly baked bread and then deep fried crab sticks with sweet chili sauce. We are eating light because there will be a full buffet and refreshments service tonight after the evening service for Miss Carol is completed. A lot of people are gonna be here tonight. Conversation is pretty muted but there are still smiles and laughter can still be heard from time to time. I note that nobody has dared sit in Miss Carols seat. It remains empty, its dinnerware untouched. At dinner are my grandparents, Miss Dee Dee, her son (Uncle Marshall) and three of his children, Derek, Bodie and Joy. Dad is seated directly across from me and next to him are my two uncles their wives and several of my own cousins. Momma Felix is not here, she went home and will be returning with Uncle Gary the Elder Jarrows and the kids in about an hour. Miss Carol is not here. I just can't shake the feeling of despair that keeps trying to sneak up on me from behind because she is NOT here. Dad watches me, Grandmother watches me, I do the `crick in my neck thing' that I do when I am nervous or being scrutinized by the olds. I can't own the olds so all I can do is crick my neck. Felix is the only one right now who truly can make me feel happy and relaxed enough not to go off my rocker. I look over at him and notice he too is `cricking his neck'. He freezes mid-crick realizing that he has my undivided attention. I begin to chuckle, sweet Lord he's so cute. "Problem Jake son?" -- Uncle Bryce "Uh no, there's no problem Sir, I was just smiling about something" "Care to share?" Dad joins in... "Ummmm no, no it's nothing really -- just silly thoughts" "Oh ho! You know what Ole Carol- would say about silly thoughts boys!" My Grandfathers bass voice rumbles around the room. Will I sound like him some day? Uncle Michael picks up on Grandads comment... "She'd say that idle talk leads to silly thoughts! And silly thoughts lead to devil acts ha ha!" "Miscreant by day" -- Uncle Marshall "And abominable by night!" Crows Uncle Bryce with a whoop! The whole table explodes with laughter, well at least all the guys do "Gentleman really!" my Grandmother retorts, but I can see she has her tongue firmly in her cheek. "Heh heh heh, you boys do make me laugh" says Miss Dee Dee. "Sure do sound like a whole lot of abominable deeds been committed under this roof ho ho ho!" "Yes and Miss Carol made sure to gate crash several of these extra curricular festivities.., drunken teenage parties in the boiler room, girls in the garden and who knows what other outrages!" Grandmother laughs. Hmmm I never heard any of this before and so much for conversation being muted! "Yeah and what about the time she threatened to tie Ry's hands together!" cried Uncle Michael, tears in his eyes. "Dad is right now a brilliant shade of fire engine red" "Ummmm Unca Ryan, why would she wanna tie y alls hands together?" asks Felix "Ahem, oooohhhm uhhhm" Dad is clearly having trouble speaking. Felix, clueless as he is has just gone and poured gasoline on to the fire. I think Dad is gonna choke. Nervous laughter and coughing travels around the table. "Why else would she threaten to tie his hands up sweetie?" says Miss Dee Dee. "Ceptin that she wanna make him quit suckin his thumbs haw haw!" "Ohhhhhh ummmm okay! -- Right! I knew that! Like DUH! -- hahaha!" I think Felix has finally cottoned on, he and dad resemble twin traffic lights stuck on red. Dad shakes his head ruefully and clips Uncle Mike upside his head.. "Well then, I think I'll just take this opportunity to return to the chapel shall I? May I be excused Mam?" Says Dad. "Of course darling" Says Grandmother. Just as Dad goes through the door Uncle Bryce calls out. "Watch those naughty little fingers Ry!" "Hey whatever Bryce, don't hate me coz I can do what you guys couldn't suckers!" Dad cackles with uncharacteristic abandon and races off down the hall, startling a passing staff member. "Well I never!" says Grandmother. "Do what?" says Felix, once again confused. Everybody else is trying very hard not to completely lose control of themselves at the dinner table. Hmmm there's only one thing Dad could be talking about. Does the word auto-fellatio mean anything to you? Ha ha! I would think the dinner table is the perfect place for such a discussion actually. After all this is an appropriate place for people to feed themselves isn't it? My Dad, who would have guessed? He walks around like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth when all the time there's something else that's been in his mouth. Well then, I can now chalk that up to yet another capability I have inherited from my father. I should have known! Imagine being caught by Miss Carol when you're in the middle of an act like that! That's just too crazy to conceive of! "Well it's good to see the boy is in better spirits tonight!" says Grandfather. "Yep he sure needs to be considering he gonna be getting a bit of bad news bout the eulogy shortly." Uncle Marshall replies with can only be called a 'chortle'. Eulogy? What's Dad got to do with the eulogy? I think to ask but the adults have already moved onto something else and an animated discussion has begun as to how bad Winter will be this year. I look over at my baby who has ripped through his second bowl of soup and a second helping of crab sticks in record time. That's the most I've ever seen him eat! Gee I sure can't imagine what he could have been doing to give him such an appetite. I am considering a fourth plate of crab sticks when he gives me 'the look'. I have come to learn a whole series of 'looks' Felix gives, each one catering to a different need. He has the most guileless expressive face but I don't think he actually realizes this. It is this quality that gives him the appearance of shining innocence. My least favorite look is his hurt/sad look which I have caused way too often. But my favorite look is his glazed over look coz that usually means he's after sex and who am to deny him if he wants to jump my bones, or bone.., as the case may be? And then there is his most special look. I call it a 'certain look'. It tells me that he loves me, it tells me that he cares for me more than anyone on this green Earth. It makes me realize what a precious gift I have been given in him. Ole Miss Carol often used to say, "To whom much is given, much is required." Loving Felix is a huge responsibility. But I'm up to the task. I nod at him, signaling that I have deciphered his 'look'. "Grandmother, may Felix and I be excused please?" She inspects our plates like always, glancing to see if they are empty before nodding her ascent. "Go directly to the chapel please darling. Some people will have begun arriving already and I want as many of us to be out there as possible to greet them." "OK, we'll meet you all there. Our compliments to the chef." I nod to Grandfather and Grandmother as we both take our leave trying hard not to run. It's not as if we have any reason to run. We are just at that age when you just do. Know what I mean? We head over to the ground floor bathroom over by the garden conservatory and brush our teeth. And then we make our way across the main level towards the chapel. I have taught Felix a game I like to play, kinda like hide and seek. You have to avoid being seen by everybody on the way to your destination. If you are seen you are a rotten egg. So we slink and jink and and slide our way along corridors and back hallways trying to make it to the chapel without being discovered. Felix thinks my little games are silly but here he is joining right on in and sneaking around like the pink panther. We get into a spot of bother when we hear someone coming down the hallway in front of us, but a door has opened and we can hear voices coming from behind us as well. Only one thing to do, duck into one of the side doors and I know just where to go. With just moments to spare I take Felix by the hand and lead him into a little alcove that goes directly into the ground floor telephone room. "Did your hear someone James?" says a disembodied voice. "No, I didn't hear a thing." says 'James'. We exhale as they move off further down the hall. Felix gives me a relieved and excited look. I kiss him quickly and drag him further into the alcove, through to another little room. This room is so cool coz it is like a luxury telephone booth that was used in the early 1920's The interior is quite dark and the glass swing door is made from a very dark smoked glass. The little cubicle room has plush green lacquered leather bench seats on three sides that are affixed to the wall. And a pretty little Tiffany reading lamp -- the kind with the green glass light shade that covers the area above an antique black telephone, giving it a soft emerald glow. Nobody really uses this room anymore but the phone still has a dial tone As a kid I played in here, I think we all did. I used to pretend it was the back of a London taxicab or the back of Grandfathers Rolls Royce that he sometimes gets taken places in. "Hey wow baby what's this place!" "The old telephone booth from way back" "Cool it's so cute and what are we doin in here? "We are kissing in here" And with that I lean in and take his face into my hands. I gently trace the outline of his chin and his cute ears. He sighs and leans into me. I love this. He is wearing a navy blue wool knit sweater with a snowy white polo underneath and dark gray dress slacks. We gently kiss, my mouth stealing oxygen from beyond his minty red lips. His arms go around my neck and he runs his fingers through my hair. I'm getting harder by the second. Our tongues meet in a tangle of tingly slippery caresses as he pushes me back up against the seat climbing up on top of me.., grinding his cock into mine. I think this is a big mistake we're making here haha -- but it's gonna be one of the best mistakes I ever made. 'RING RING, RING RING, RING RING!' "Sh-t!!!" I exclaim as Felix and I leap off one another in fright and land on the polished pine floor in a heap of arms and legs. 'RING RING, RING RING, RING RING!' "Jake the phone is ringing!!!" "Yeah I can see that Felix." "But how can it be? Who knows we are in here? Does this phone ring if a call goes through to another phone as well?" "Err you got it in one babe. Uh - this phone is linked to the older phones in the main office and library I think, so when they ring so does this phone." I'm lying through my teeth. 'RING RING, RING RING, RING RING!' "Well ummm shouldn't we answer it then?" "Err yeah, sure..." "Hello?" - A buzzing sound then silence "Hello?!?" - A buzzing sound then singing? - then silence I hang it up. "Who was it?" Felix teeth are chattering and he is clinging to me. I make a decision... "Nobody babe, it was nobody, there was no one on the line." I frown. "How can that be? I'm scared Jake! I want to go where there's lots of people" I hug him to me and kiss his head and mouth. "Hey I thought you liked scary stuff! I thought I was meant to be the scaredycat not you ha ha!" "It's just a lots been goin on lately and your house can be freaky too and it's so huge, like some damn hospital from Transylvania or somin!" "Babe you been watchin too many horror movies. Come on lets go then, forget our game." I glance back at the phone as we leave the room. I don't think I'll ever tell Felix what I really heard because I don't know what to make of it. In the buzzing sound I really thought I heard a voice that was not really a voice. I don't know what it was saying but one thing I know for sure. It does not belong here, it's not good and I don't like it. Another thing I know for certain, I do not fear it, I've got to protect Felix. No time to be scared anymore. Miss Carol is gone now, I have to step up to the plate. I felt like the voice was being impeded from actually talking to me by the singing. This sounds crazy but I could have sworn I heard children singing on the line. I just don't know what to think! The singing really did sound like it was the kids. I don't know what to call the buzzing sound. Something deep inside me decides to call it 'The Voice'. I am not happy at the thought. If only Miss Carol were still alive. They moved Miss Carol from the ballroom into the chapel so that the maintenance crew could set up the hall for tomorrow. The chapel is no small affair, it can probably seat around three hundred people if they do it carefully. Tonight it is packed with mostly locals and family. For the past few days people have been coming up here in their droves to pay their respects to Carol. It's been a very different funeral to most. I have only been to maybe two or three but I can tell from what others are saying, this funeral has been way different. Word was sent out around the county about the different protocols that were being employed for the funeral. Firstly they have speeches and host speakers available from sun up till sundown. Speakers like Grandfather, Uncle Marshall, Henry Taylor etc etc. As people rolled in through the day they were greeted by these `speakers'. They were welcomed to Maxson Eyrie and a little time was spent by the speakers reflecting on the life of Miss Carol and not only the grief, but also the pride the Garfield and Maxson families had in her. They then offered the visitors the same opportunity to say a few words of their own. After each speech was given they would sing hymns or even just songs they liked or thought were appropriate. Country songs and old standards were popular and some groups even came prepared with musical instruments. Some people used the grand piano and others sang to recorded music. Grandmother said that a string quartet came through the other day from the university and played for over an hour. The Garfields are big supporters of WV State which has a major program for black students in place. Long before it became the 'popular' thing to do. They also support the music department too. The whole thing actually worked quite beautifully but that was no surprise, it was Miss Carols idea. I haven't been present for all of the proceedings but what I've seen has been pretty awesome! I want my funeral to be like this. There have been visits by kindergarten, elementary and high school kids, community groups, church and veterans groups, families and just plain old individuals. Miss Carol made it clear that she wanted her funeral to be more of a celebration than a study in mourning. We have had some good times over the past two days I have to say. I wondered how the kids would be with an open coffin but nobody seemed to be too freaked out and I believe the schools gave parents the option if they wanted their kids to visit. Both our families worked round the clock to make sure that Miss Carol was attended night and day. At no point was she ever left alone. This also was according to her final wishes. Tonight will be no exception. At the conclusion of each little ceremony visitors were taken through to the conservatory garden by members of the family for a buffet meal. I've rarely seen the Eyrie so busy, if it wasn't for the occasion I would actually quite like it. But here we are tonight in the chapel and this will be the final evening service for Miss Carol before the main service begins tomorrow. They are closing the coffin early in the morning. I will get up for that. I want to get one last look at my childhood nanny before she is closed away from us forever. All my cousins are here bar none. Most of them are quite a bit older than me but we all get on really well and it is always good to see other Maxsons. We don't get to see them often, especially not altogether. "Unca Jakes there are!" My ears prick up as I turn to see Abigail skipping towards me. She looks real cute in a little red riding hood cape blue velvet skirt and white stockings with black buckle shoes. I would love to have a little daughter like her one day! "Hello Princess how are you? -- You look real cute and pretty this evening" I scoop her up into my arms and give her a peck on the cheek. "I am real goodgoods yep but Unca Jakey how are y alls?" She looks directly into my eyes and nails me. The lilac coloring of her eyes takes me back to when Felix did much the same thing to me a few weeks ago. The tractor beam effect. "Uh I'm pretty good Abigail, thanks for asking." "Yreah but don't worry Unca Jake, we gonna look after y alls" "Uh Abby what do you mean? What's this about?" Her guileless eyes suddenly darken in color almost causing me to drop her. "We sang Unca Jakey, me and Lil Shaun. We sang and kept the bad mans away from you" "WHAT! - But, but how can you do that?" I am nonplussed. "Y alls blood and our blood sings to each others, din't y alls know thats?" "What!?! What did you say Abigail???" She appears to get very stroppy, her patience is fed up "Mr Jake. Why are all you boys so deaf for? Don't y all understand plain english?" "Huh.?" "Alrights, heres the story, the bad mans is tryin to catch y alls and me and Shaun heard hims. We sang to stop hims from sayin notty thangs to y alls" I can only stare at her. It is she who gives me a peck on the cheek this time. "Hee hee, y alls is so cute and pretty Unca Jakes. Miss Lenore always says so. You can let me down now." I nod dumbly and release her. This kid is one scary creature! She smiles sweetly, pulls her little hood over her head and skips away down the aisle singing and humming the same freaky little tune I heard on the phone before. Her perfect little singing voice is clearly heard above the din of the gathering. 'All aboard the boiler boat All aboard the boiler boat Quickly now, quickly now Safe aboard the boiler boat' A shiver tingles down my spine, that's an old nursery rhyme Miss Carol used to sing to me! I notice that Uncle Bryce and Uncle Michael have also quit mid sentence through their own respective conversations and are staring intently at Abigail. They have incredulous looks on their faces. They look like they too are having flashbacks. I have never heard that song sung anywhere else except by Miss Carol and to be honest I never did like it coz it was always kinda creepy. Kinda reminds me of that 'One two buckle my shoe' song. She only ever sung it when there were bad lightning or thunder storms in the area. WTF! - I can't believe this, what? -- is everybody around here psychic or something these days? Have we now gone from a 104 year old to a 4 year old and her two year old brother? I ask you! I turn back to the entrance to look for Felix and spot him almost immediately. Once again I am taken by how beautiful he is. But my attention is quickly drawn away by the little boy he is carrying. He has one plump little arm wrapped around Felix' neck and the other is pointing straight at me. Ironically he is dressed in a little white and navy sailor suit and if it wasn't for that damn creepy song I would be really digging his cute little maritime theme. He directs Felix towards me with a mixture of broken words, grunts and gesticulations. "Unca Jay Unca Jay!" He coos and without a moments hesitation he veritably leaps out of Felix' arms and straight into mine. I am impressed with the little mans fearlessness. "My little man how are you!" He snuggles into my arms and I kiss him giving Felix a wink. "Nooooo not litta mans, big mans!" Shoot this is obviously some sort of carry over from the hospital visit with Mikey earlier today. "OK sure Big Maaaaan! Hows that? Do you like it?" "Yreah" he coos. "Unca Jay, no bad mans OK? Hims gone. No here OK? Gooooone." Felix looks at me, I look at him... "What bad man Shaun?" asks Felix Oh brother here we go... "Bad mans on phone! He bad mans!" If I was a ship, my name would be the Titanic. The look in Felix eyes says it all. "Felix I don't even understand how or what these kids are really talking about!" I'm defensive as hell. "Baby you said you never heard nothin?" His voice is soft and he called me baby. Phew! I'm relieved, images of this mornings disaster at school flash through my mind. "Felix, I don't know how they're doing it but dude these freaking kids!..." He reaches out and covers my mouth. I feel an impulse to lick or kiss his hand. "Baby don't cuss in front of the kids." His eyes are soft and my eyes respond in kind. "Ummmm sure hon, uh Lil Shaun Uncle Jake is sorry okay?" "Uh huh" He murmurs before wriggling, signaling that he wants to be let down to the ground. I laugh and release him. He has spotted his sister and begins to wander toward her singing as he goes. `Alla vord a voiler voat...' I shiver yet again,. "Felix, do you recognize that song coz dude it really freaks me out!" "Naw I ain't ever heard of it in my life but Jake I think I need to know bout that phone call please." "Yeah OK but can we talk about it later coz the service is about to begin." "Yep, could you take me home tonight? Would you be able to stay?" "Sure sweetheart I can take you home but I can't stay unfortunately. Dad wants me to stay home tonight." The crestfallen look on his face cuts me. I just want to wrap him in my arms right here in front of everybody and kiss him better. Instead, I give him a half hug but I rest the side of my head up against the side of his for just a moment. He understands. The chapel is now almost completely full. I can see all my friends and family have shown up for the last night. I get waves and nods from Junior, Jessica and Mark, a very drawn looking Beth and even old Lenore smiles at me -- and this time it's a normal person smile, not a psycho girl smile. I love the way Miss Carols family start proceedings around here they just start singing and slowly but surely as more voices take up the call, the din recedes and things get rolling. Felix and I take our seats somewhere in the middle but nearer the back, by our buddies. Dad looks for me but I don't want to go down the front. I nod to him and nod at my friends before sitting down.. He frowns but takes no further action. I sit down and kinda impose myself on my baby. Leaning into him gently. Letting him know by touch how much he means to me. The service was beautiful and was surprisingly short. Finished in half an hour. Most people slowly began to filter into the blue reception room for the after service meal. The amount of food that's been available has been incredible and I have had to watch myself a bit in case I put on too much weight for my own good. Nah I'll tell the truth, I've been eating everything in sight and I thank my super fast metabolism and extra fitness work for helping to `cushion the blow'. I can't wait till tomorrow because they will be serving Miss Carols thirty most famous dishes including her favorite desserts and drinks. Can't wait! Felix nudges me and points to the two kids who are following some other kids through the doors headed to the food. "If I don't get after those two there will be a disaster in there before you can say Jack Robinson." "Jack Robinson?" I'm confused. "It's jez a sayin Grandaddy Jarrow brought back from Korea and I don't really know what it means hee hee. I jez like sayin it." "Haha baby you are so cute. Do you know that you mean the whole world to me?" We look deeply into one another's eyes. And then we are rudely interrupted. "Awwww how touching... and yes I do know that I mean all the world to you." "Hello Lenore..." I grit my teeth and face her. "Hi there Jakey darlin lookin absolutely delicious as usual." "I'm talking to Felix Lenore so what the hell do you want?" "Oh touchy touchy now! - and unless you have telepathic powers I don't think your boyfriend can quite hear you handsome." I turn to find Felix has abandoned me. I see him slinking out the door leaving me to deal with Lenore. He flashes me an apologetic look as he rushes out into the hall, following after his nephew and niece. Out of the corner of my eye I observe that Mark was also about to come over and chat to me but has changed course upon seeing Lenore, veering sharply in the opposite direction. Coward! I've been left to the jackals! The 'Jackal' has of course noticed. (she notices everything, just like Jess does.., just like all women do). I have to say she is smokin hot tonight. There is this old 60's show I've started watching on syndicated TV. It can get pretty creepy but the actors are superb. It's this British show called 'The Avengers'. I guess everybody's heard of it. Anyway there is this chick on it called 'Mrs Peel' and wow but was she gorgeous! Sophisticated, intelligent, knowing and deadly. If I was to be objective I'd have to say that Lenore is kinda like her. But I ain't no damn Mr. Steed that's for sure! "Jake, Jake hello honey, the lights are on but nobody s home?" She breaks me out of my reverie. "Seriously Jake I really need to talk to you about this afternoon at the hospital" "Oh, go on." I arch my eyebrow and she arches hers. "You Maxsons can be so imperious hee hee." "I thought you wanted to talk to me about this afternoon?" "Fine have it your way then." she pouts. "I told Dad what I think about those two crazy old bitches today and while he never dismissed it, I could tell he didn't believe it." She flicks a few strands of her rich dark hair out of her face. "Jake, I've got a bad feeling. I'm no Miss Carol or Little Mikey or even the two kids but I know something really bad is going down." That last comment about Abby and Shaun raises my eyebrows. "Hey, I spend several hours most every day with them. I KNOW what they are OK? "Ooookay, so what can I do about it Lenore?" "Well how much do you care about Clarke Jake? And while we're at it, how about Felix." "OK she has a point. She now has my undivided attention." "OK so tell me what you want me to do?" "Ahhh well taking me out back and giving me a private show would be a fantastic start. What are you wearing under those pants sexy? Some hot little number I bet!" "Oh haha Lenore." I deadpan. I'm wearing a black Versace evening suit with a pale pink shirt and a blue silk tie. And underneath I'm wearing a black string bikini that Felix chose for me actually. In the past I would have had no problem telling her. But for some reason I really don't have the inclination. This is between Felix and I. It's none of her business. "Just when I think we are actually getting somewhere you turn it into a cheap soft core porn flick again. Anyway you know you couldn't afford me heh. Now do you want my help or not?" "Ohhhhhh it must be something tight coz you are all wound up hee hee." I turn to walk away... "Wait!, OK lets talk business." The change in her voice stops me from leaving. "Jake it's gonna come down to us." "Who is us Lenore?" "Right now, just you and me for certain. But there are some others I've been thinking about." "Well if it's Felix the answer is a categorical NO!" I can feel my face reddening. "I totally agree, in fact I think he is someone we need to protect. But all you boys need to stay close and together." "Just us boys? Which boys in particular? And what about you girls?" "They don't care about us girls.., or maybe they do care about us girls." "Say what?" "Jake they HATE - and I want you to understand this, they HATE guys!" She grabs me arm but this time there's no sexual innuendo in it. What I see is genuine fear and it stops me cold. Lenore is the most fearless girl I know, bar none. Taught how to shoot and how to grapple by her father the Sheriff , she has always been more than able to take care of herself. I for one know that had she been serious the other night at Fast Eddies, There would have been carnage in the ladies room long before any of us would have had the chance to intervene. "I'm concerned for all you 'popular' guys and I believe I know which guys they are targeting." "OK so who are they after? And I say bring it!" "They want you, but I think they will fail. You are too dangerous for them and they know it. But they seem to be hellbent on a path that will lead to Armageddon anyway. They are desperate to strike and that makes them even more dangerous." "Well who else, and what's to stop them from going on a shooting rampage or something like that?" I frown. "They both are at the school and one thing I'm not is bullet proof. Say does your Pop have a bullet proof vest that could fit me?" "Jake that's not their style." Look what they did to Clarkey... They want to capture, maim and torture. They want to emasculate and kill." Her voice catches and sudden tears spring into her eyes. From out of nowhere her brother appears. His eyes suspicious and hard. Now as you know I don't fear Junior or any of the other guys round here but right now I'm backing off with palms raised outward. "Is there a problem here Jake? What'd you say to my sister?" "Cool jets dude we was just talking about Clarke. Geeze!" "That true Sis?" Lenore, who has been wiping her eyes with a Kleenex (they always have Kleenex don't they) nods in the affirmative. "Ye-yes, I just got a bit emotional that's all Matthew, Jake didn't do anything.., this time." She smiles shakily at her younger brother. And I'm wondering what the hell does she mean by 'this time'? "Oh OK." He's still looks rather dubious. "So is this about what you were telling me earlier Sis?" His eyes are very green tonight, so are hers. "Yes Matthew, Jake, Matthew knows too and it took all I had to stop him from just going after those two psychopaths." I can understand that. As close as I am to Clarke, it is Junior who is his best friend. Junior has been through hell over all this. Lenore is still speaking... "Answering your other question, I fear for you, Matthew, Mark, Elroy and Felix most of all. You guys are pretty much the 'It guys' of the school and it is you who are most in danger." "Yeah but why?" "I don't know for sure but like in all those bad 'Carrie' type movies, I think there is a deep grudge involved. Somebody done somebody wrong somewhere and now they are on a death mission." Her eyes spark up. "Hey isn't that an old song? The 'Somebody done somebody wrong' song?" Well it looks like Lenore has fully recovered. "Yeah anyway you were saying Lenore?" "Hmmm? Oh yeah! Well you guys have to be on the alert, and I need for you to tell Mark, Elroy and Felix." "I don't want to involve Felix, just let me protect him." "That's your call to make but can you guarantee 24 Hour protection for Felix? The only one who can keep an eye on him all the time is himself." "Damn OK you have a point there." I'm worried though because whenever I have tried to raise my concerns about Aimee Felix has gone off the deep end. He'd probably be alright to hear about the principal though so maybe I'll start with her. "Jake, you and Junior need to get the boys together ASAP and fill them in." "Yeah I agree and I will do so but I do have one question Lenore." "OK go ahead." "What if we are wrong?" She begins to frown. "I'm serious Lenore we could get into some deep sh-t if we are wrong about this." She stands there staring at me. Clearly this scenario has never entered her head before. Surprisingly it's Junior who responds. "Jake, what if we're right and we do nothing?" Both Lenore and I turn and stare at him incredulously. Junior is not known for his sparkling repartee and he rarely offers much in the way of thought provoking conversation even at the best of times. "What's the matter with you two? Anyone would think you haven't heard of imperative logic before?" Our mouths are hanging open. "Well OK, while you two are picking your brains out of your asses I'm gonna go round up the guys." He shakes his head and wanders off. At least he still walks like Junior. "Who the hell was that Lenore!" "I don't know who that creature is but he can stay hee hee!" We both break out into uproarious laughter and have to double over when we spot him flipping us the bird as he ducks out the door. We must have chatted for another 20 minutes by which time my stomach was in outrage with the knowledge that food was only a bout forty yards away. We spoke about Mikey and Clarke (I am worried about his security up at the hospital now). We also touched on the kids again. Lenore thinks they have somehow been selected by Miss Carol for future kooky super stardom. I'm gonna have to agree. There was one other person she touched on before we finally made it out to the food. "Jake I think you need to tell Jessica." "WHAT! Why me? We don't really talk anymore." "Well you can hardly expect me to talk to her, you know what her royal highness thinks of lil ole me." "Why don't I tell Mark and he can tell her. He seems to be all cozy with her these days." "I never took you for a coward Jacob Maxson! I'm rather disappointed." "Oh shut up! Why does she need to know anyway?" "Because she is Jessica." "Yeah and your point is?" "I think she has been doing some investigating of her own and we need her Jake. We just need her." Yeah I guess she could be right about Jess being aware that something is very wrong about Georgia and Aimee. It wouldn't surprise me at all to be honest. Nothing ever escapes Jessica's eagle eyes.. "OK I will do it but don't think you don't owe me for this. Your ass is hung up!" "I thought you were too hot and heavy with your lovely Felix to be calling in booty debts from the likes of me Jakey. After all that's all I have to offer." Her eyes glisten. "Hey now! What's all this Lennie?" I haven't called her by her childhood name for years. I wrap her up in my arms and give her a good old friendly squeeze. "I.. I'm sorry Jake I don't know what came over me... I just feel so aimless right now. I mean I know that there has got to be more for me in life than what I am currently doing. Town whore doesn't look good on my resume." Her voice is muffled as she snuffles and hiccups into my chest. "The only thing I enjoy doing is looking after the kids but that can't be all there is for me. I mean I love looking after the kids but they are gonna grow up and not need me soon and I want to be someone!" "Then go out there and do it! There's a world out there, I am real excited about finding out what's over those mountains and far away!" "Yeah but it's easier for you darlin, after all how many billions of dollars do you stand to inherit when you turn twenty five or whatever again?" "Yeah OK I get it but Lenore I still have dreams too. Dreams for me and Felix." "Wow I'll never understand why you switched sides Jakey but I love it." " Heh I'll never understand why either but I'm not gonna question it and awwww that was so nice of you to say Lennie!" "I love Felix, he's a total sweetheart and not bad to look at either hehehe." She's obviously recovered... "Yeah OK but seriously Lenore, what is it you want to do with yourself?" She pulls away and looks up at me carefully. I'm still holding onto her arms. "You promise you won't laugh?" I give her my sideways look "Uh - yeah OK sure..." "Promise or I'll toss you into Dead Mans Creek!" We both freeze on that comment and she takes it back. "I guess that's an old saying we need to do away with..." she rectifies. "Yeah but I know what you mean. So go on?" "I wanna be the future Sheriff of Forkridge and surrounding areas!" she announces, daring me to laugh in her face. But I don't. For some reason this doesn't seem preposterous to me at all. "OK then lets get started on that huh? Would be awesome to see you take over from your poppa when he's done." "Yeah he is looking at hanging it up in a another couple of years. I doubt I'll be ready by then but I plan to be not far away." "Wow our first woman Sheriff!" "Yeah and don't you forget it Maxson!" "Just as long as you don't ping me for speeding..." "I'll bust your sexy ass hee hee! "Then I'll have a reason to use my handcuffs!" "Oh ho! - so now it's all coming out!" "Oh quit it!" she's actually embarrassed. I laugh and give her another hug and she melts into me drinking up my heat. I have always generated huge amounts of heat. I don't know why but all my close buddies and family have always commented on this. It never causes me to perspire much at all and it takes an awful lot for me to start feeling the cold. Shrug -- I don't know. My tummy rumbles and we both laugh again. "It never takes you long does it boy hee hee!" "No Mam." "I guess we better head on out to the food then huh?" "Yes Mam. We definitely need to head to the food." It's at that point that I notice Felix standing in the doorway. Oh brother this is all I need. How long has he been standing there? But do you know why I love him so much? Well there are millions of reasons but right now it's because of his beautiful heart. The beauty of his smile causes my chest to tighten. He nods at Lenore wanting to know if she's OK. I signal that she is and he smiles one of those wonderful smiles again, blows me a kiss and heads back to the reception room. "Come on Lennie lets go eat otherwise I am gonna start cannibalizing." "Ohhhhhh you wanna eat me all up do you honey?" she purrs. "Who said it would be you now huh?" I laugh. Together we head on out to the reception. I'm about ready to eat the house down. Something catches my eye as I exit the room. Miss Carols carved rocking chair has been brought in and placed in the corner not far from her coffin. And it is gently rocking. My eyes almost pop out. I look to other only other person left in the room. Old Miss Dee Dee and she is 15 feet away on the other side of the coffin. There is just no way she could have been sitting there. I stare at her and she just chuckles and smiles serenely. Maybe there is just no escaping Miss Carol. I am strangely calmed by the thought. Who woulda thunk it? Hand in hand Lenore and I walk through to the hot welcoming dinner. I'm looking forward to it, I'm even looking forward to seeing those strange little kids again, and my old buddy Junior who clearly isn't his usual self and of course my baby Felix. Nothing is strange about him at all. Well almost nothing but I ain't telling you what it is haha. Damn am I hungry or what! Later that night, two drunken women finalize their plans to kill. And in Charleston, a little boy dreams of meeting an old black lady by the side of a creek. She talks of slaying a dragon. He listens intently and in his mind, he begins sharpening his sword. Meanwhile back in Forkridge, two children sleep soundly, their dreams protected by the mesmeric pattern effect of a simple and obscure nursery rhyme that cannot be broken. 'All aboard the boiler boat All aboard the boiler boat Quickly now, quickly now Safe aboard the boiler boat' Copyright 2008, 2009 Joe Parker. All Rights Reserved.