I know a lot of you have asked me to write another Transitions. I have and its titled Transtions All Grown Up. It will NEVER appear on Nifty. if thats wht you are waiting for. It will not happen. You may find it here. EricMurphey | Archive of Our Own

WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This story in some points has very hateful racialy insensitive words. If you dont liek them then thats spectacular because you have a brain. However, if it offends oyu so much you cant even see the word then you shouldnt continue. Its not used often. However, it is used to prove the point of how STUPID racism is. If you can accept that then continue scrolling. I hope you enjoy the story.

Eric

Mr Jones Second Chances

Part 2

From the Delusional Mind of

Eric Murphey

I wake up and think that Sunday got here much MUCH too fast. Its really the only day I put in a full day anymore. I just go in and work 3 or 4 hours getting things ready and then I go home. We are doing a great business and I can afford to do it. We have been hiring people to replace owners as we go along. Dee was the first to "retire" from Mr Jones Place. Nikki was asked if she wanted to be second and declined. She said she just loves being a waitress. Being able to talk to all the people and the children of course. I think shes wanting a baby. I told Juan this and he told me to bite my tongue. I thought every couple wanted children. Its kind of like a showing of their love for each other in a person. But I got my Tremay and I sure love him with all my heart. Hes such a good boy that's for sure. Jamal stayed the night last night. I will say I woke up tired. You know why. Mornings like this when I open my eyes I think. I'm not a spring chicken anymore. But to make love to those wonderful boys is so worth being a little tired today. They are both laying against me and I'm thinking about getting up to go pee. I finally do and slip out from under them. I'm sure they will wake up. They always wake up. I'm not bitter about it. I just want them to get more sleep is all. I go and pee and head downstairs. I grab a cigarette as I see my package sitting on the coffee table. I go and make some coffee and think about what to make for breakfast today. I thinking egg bake thing. I hear the front door open and close. I hear little shoes dropping. I cant even see yet who it is. But I know.

"When did you get back Kenny?"
"Like around 10."he answers as he walks in the room and slips up on my lap and gives me a hug.

When I first moved here there was no way in the world I would let him sit on my lap when I'm naked. Now he thinks its a game to see if he can make my cock hard fiddling with it. Of course he does I'm not dead and he is a very cute boy. Hes 8 now. So beautiful he is. I still haven't played with his big boy cock. I don't know if I ever will. But the desire is there from both of us. I know he talks to my boys about what we do and I know he wants to be included. I told him maybe when he is nine and his mom says its OK. But he has to ask her. I'm not going there.

"So what you making for breakfast?"he asks as he takes my cock in his hand and starts to manipulate it.

Its crazy he does it in front of Dee and she doesn't bat an eye at it. She can see I never ask him he just does. I guess she figures if he wants to do it. It isn't hurting him any. He hasn't gotten me off yet. Though he has tried and came close a few times. OK kind of I got off from his hand. He was stroking me and I was trying to pull his hand off because I was close and Tremay sucked the head of my cock into his mouth and did that thing he does with his tongue and with Kenny stroking me and Tremay doing that thing. Well again I'm not dead.

"I was thinking egg bake thing."
"frita-ta-ta-ta-ta." He says giggling.

I cant help but laugh at him. Hes funny. I kiss the top of his head.

"I was thinking that you should make pancakes and sausage."
"You think so huh?"
"Yep it sticks to ya better." He says rubbing his tummy with his free hand.

"Alright I best get on it then." I tell him and slide him off my lap. My hard cock sliding along his ass as I do and it flips back and smacks me in the tummy. He always giggles at that. I have seen him do it with his and he giggles then too. He thinks its hilarious I suppose.

I start slicing the sausage from a roll of Jimmy Dean. Because if your gonna eat sausage eat good sausage. I lay it in a skillet to start cooking. I wash my hands and start the batter and as I am I get the skillet hot and as I am ready so is it. I scoop out two pancakes and flip the sausage. I get out a frozen orange juice can I hold it up to Kenny who gets up and grabs it. He starts making the juice with hot water. As it gets melted he adds the rest in cold. Hes smart. OK he learned it from me. I don't recall who taught me that trick. But ti works pretty good. That and letting it sit in a sink off hot water a few minutes works pretty good as well. If you are smart. I'm not. But if you are you put it in the fridge the night before.

As I'm pulling out the first sausages I see two naked boys appear in front of me and need hugs before I continue. I give them both hugs and a quick kiss.

"Grab me a coffee." I ask any of them.

Tremay actually wins the race to get it for me. He sets it in front of me and adds two spoons of sugar.

"Here's your cawfee dad."
They all started making fun of me in the restaurant because I say cawfee. I lived in New York my whole life. Its how you say it. Right?

"Thank you son.' I tell him and give him a quick kiss on to of the head as I am laying in more sausages.

What I find truly funny about it is they have made fun of me so much that half of them say cawfee now too Yep what did you bring to Ohio Mr Jones? My accent of course, and pizza cut the right way. OK not on the deep dish or the loaded ones. Don't need a huge mess. I pull the pancakes that are done and add some more. I got two skillets going a I don't want to be making pancakes until the cows come home. I don't even know what that means. I hear it here sometimes. I guess it means a long fucking time. I get breakfast all ready and the boys all get out syrup and butter. pour themselves some juice and start to eating. doesn't take long until we are done and the are washing up the dishes. I saved some pancakes and sausage for Dee and Jenny. I expected them already. I guess they were wiped out. Because Kenny said they were both still sleeping. He was hungry and lonely so he figured come here. I grab another cigarette and cawfee, and sit in my chair and flip on the morning news. I love these idiots. They make me laugh. Jamal is on my lap nearly as soon as I set down.

"So we didn't really get to talk last night. How are things at your house?"
"Still Kind of crazy. Mom now doesn't do drugs but is so focused on cleaning the house she gets mad if I set a drink down without a coaster."
"Don't I?"
"Yeah but you always cared. Before she didn't care if I left a pizza box on the floor. Its just different is all. Nice different. But, different for sure."
"She working yet?"
"Just the little bit for you."
"What about KFC?"
"No they wont hire her. I guess she got pissed one day when she was high and threw a chair threw a window. So she ain't even allowed in the store."
"I wonder if Mitchell and Quentin need someone to sit in the office and answer phones and collect payments?"
"Nope. She done talked to them."
"Maybe I can talk to Grant, you remember the delivery driver. Maybe they need some folks at the warehouse or something."
"Wouldn't hurt to ask him. Think his Jason can come over again and play?" he asks with a smile on his face when he says play.

"I'm sure he would love to. I will talk to Grant about it tomorrow."
"Cool." he says and reaches up and kisses me on the lips.

When I get done with my cigarette and coffee I head upstairs to get dressed followed by the boys. We all get ready to head to the restaurant and get things going. We walk back down and I ask Kenny if he is going with us. He says sure and I text Dee to let her know where he is. I know she wont care. Probably happy I got him out of the house so she can sleep longer. After that drive I'm sure she can use a few extra hours of sleep.

We get to the restaurant and Shay and Sharne are already there. I see that Mitchell and Quinton are as well. I walk through the doors and am expecting to hear my little friend scream my name and start racing for me. I look around and don't see him. The boys are wondering what I'm looking for. I finally walk over to the ladies.

"Wheres Winston?" I ask with concern in my voice.

"Its his tonsils again."
"Oh boy. You know when I was little they would just take them out at the first sign of trouble. I don't know why they don't do that anymore."
"We gonna talk to the doctor tomorrow. Hes sick half the time cuz of em."
"So he at your moms?"
"Yeah."
"Ill have to get a little present or something and take it over to him."
"He got enough stuff." she tells me.

"Maybe." I tell her ignoring what she is saying knowing my little friend will have a new paw patrol something. He loves that silly show. I go to the kitchen and pour a coffee and get to work. I get the rolls and things prepped for this afternoon. I have them covered so they will rise and then around 10 just put them in the oven and they are beautiful and delicious. I start marinating the chicken that we will fry up later. I see William walk in and start getting my mess cleaned up with the dishwasher. Its not a lot. But its enough that if he didn't get here soon I would have gotten them going. I get the chicken all soaking in its flavor bath and I put it in the cooler. man having a walk in cooler is the best. We got so lucky that place burned down. Even though it was a little suspicious all the good stuff got moved out a week before the "electrical" fire. What do I care? I got a nice walk in cooler and freezer out of the deal. We also recently got a donut maker. Now let me tell you that's a fun little thing to work with. We only make donuts on the weekends and shit do we sell a lot of the things. We have thought about going weekdays too. But I think that if we sold them every day the novelty would wear off. But shit now we go through so many I'm have to keep ordering and making tons more every week. We only make four kinds but they sell like fuck. We make regular yeast, a chocolate yeast, then we have a blueberry cake donut and an apple cider donut. I cant believe people around here hadn't heard of cider donuts before. But let me tell you once they try them they are hooked. It is Tremays new favorite. He looks at a yeast donut and is like yeah they are good. But this is great. We sell as many of them as two of the other kinds. So they are for sure our best seller. I will have to save a few for Grant for tomorrow. You know seeing as how I'm going to ask him a favor. Still trying to figure out a good way to ask. You remember Jamal's mom the crack whore? Yeah shes clean now and needs a job. Oh and here are some donuts for you and your son. By the way my son wants him to come over so they can fuck around again too. That and I think he sucks a mighty fine cock too. Grant wasn't lying when he said he thought he wanted an older man in his life. He does visit us about once a month now. I think he would like more but he is a busy boy with lots of activities. Hes a scout and is active in the church youth group as well. So that takes up a lot of weekends. I'm working away and its around 8 or so now and Tremay comes in the back.

"Dad some guys are out there asking for you."
"Who is it?"
"Don't know its white guys though."
I give him a look that tells him there are better ways to describe someone other than using their color. He just shrugs at me. I'm wondering who it is. Because usually if white guys come in its from some church that feels bad for being so sucky and ignoring the problem of the poor in Dayton and want to help and not be sucky anymore. We got enough volunteers on the weekends now that the place looks like its in the suburbs with all the white faces. But they are all great and the children all love them. I know this coming Christmas is going to be a lot better for all the children this year. This little old lady that is 72 is just in love with Jenae and the feelings are mutual. She calls her grandma and actually stays with her at her house a few times a month. Jenae says she loves going there because its so peaceful. She said that white peoples houses smell funny. I had to laugh when I heard her say that. Shes like not yours Mr Jones. I go out and I see the boy from court and I'm guessing his father because it looks like an older and tougher version of the boy. You can tell the man has worked hard his entire life. I shake his hand and feel the hands are rough. This man knows what its like to earn a living for sure.

"What can I do for you?" I ask as I'm shaking his hand. Quinton and Mitchell know exactly who it is and are eyeing them, and not in a way I would want to be looked at by some hardcore gangsters. OK they are getting better and more legal in their enterprises. But I don't see them ever stopping the illegal things altogether. They make a ton of money with it. I see Brad has a couple black eyes.

"I wanted to bring my son here so he can truly apologize to you." the man looks down. "I have never been ashamed of my son before. I didn't raise him to be that way. His mother God rest her soul would have flipped out if she knew. Her mom and dad marched in Washington and held civil rights dear to their hearts."
"I'm sure that the messages got through sir. I think he just picked a bad friend."

"I sure hope so. I just cant bear to think of my son being a hate filled racist. But we wanted to bring you the money for the repairs and the damage he caused." I can see the sadness in his eyes then the anger flash while he looks at his son.

"I sure appreciate it. Its not like we are broke or anything. But it was an expense we weren't expecting. Can I get you a couple donuts and a coffee sir?"
"Sure." he smiles and I motion to two empty seats at the bar.

They take them and I pour out a coffee for him and get him a cider donut and a yeast one. I'm thinking get a new customer. I can tell I like this man and he is truly upset by his sons actions. He adds some sugar to his coffee and takes a sip. He tries a donut.

"Damn these are good."
"Its an apple cider donut. People seem to enjoy them." I tell him and set a milk and a couple donuts in front of Brad. He smiles but he still hasn't said a word. I get a coffee for me and stand in front of them as we talk.

We chat a good half an hour and I am stopped a few times by some children wanting a hug. Well, I'm not going to deny a child a little love. Two were Mike and Dave, Michelle's boys when she came in. She is truly working out great. she comes in around 9 and works until around 6 or so. Until most of the supper rush is over anyway.

But I chat with Chad who is Brads dad. I like him. Hes a smart man and funny as shit. Brad surprised me he saw Nikki walking with a heavy tub of dishes and grabbed it and took it back for her. If Nikki knew who he was she would black his eyes further. She isn't as forgiving as me. But you know Dayton has given me a second chance at having a happy life and I just cant help but try to be as loving as my community. I mean I'm a pervert and people accept me. He fucked up and I know he knows it too. I don't think he really meant it. I truly believe what I said to his dad that he just picked a shitty friend. Even though he hasn't said a word since he walked in. I'm sure he was threatened he would be killed if he spoke out of line. I know my friends would drag him out and beat the shit out of him just at me asking. Or even suggesting it. Fuck who am I kidding the only reason the kid is walking right now is because of me.

"Yes officer he fell in front of that truck. It was terrible."

Yeah not happening on my watch. His little friend though needs a good fucking beating though. I'm sure he will get it at the jail. He will say nigger to someone and that will be that.

Brad walks back out and sits down. My sister gives me a look like what the fuck Gary? I just smile at her.

"Come on son we have wasted enough of this mans time. Give him the money." Chad tells him.

Brad pulls out an envelope from his breast pocket and he hands it to me.

I open it and see there is way more than what the judge ordered him to pay me.

"Its like $1500 here. That's way more than is right." I say handing the envelope back.

"No sir." Brad answers and looks down at the ground. "I feel so bad for what I did and coming in here and seeing all the people and how nice they are. How they all treat you really good and stuff it makes me feel so much worse. But My dad and I talked about it and I wanted to give more because I know you help feed the hungry kids and stuff. I figure that can help some. I want to get a job so I can help more if that's OK?"

I look at his dad.

"It really was his idea. I cant say I didn't say it was a good one nor did I try to talk him out of it. But I know he is truly sorry for what he did. i know that if he could change it he would."

"I sure would Mr Jones." he says looking up quickly and agreeing.

"I believe you. I could feel it in you when we were in the courtroom. Your friend doesn't care one bit what he did and how it could hurt people. But you seemed to really be upset by your actions. I will accept this and say thank you for it. As for you getting a job and helping as well with that. I wont hold you to it. But I know a lot of children will be appreciative of the extra they can get. As we started getting donations we were kind of confused because we had it figured out how to pay for the meals. So we didn't know what to do with the money. So now when they get out of school they come by and get a little treat every day. We try to mix it up and keep it healthy enough its not bad for them. But tasty enough so they will actually eat it. Give them raw veggies and they get thrown away. Give them popcorn they eat it away. But we make sandwiches and things like that some days too. We mix it up and that's what your money will be doing is feeding after school hungries."
He smiles when I finish.

"I'm glad I can help. I just wish it would have started better."
I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Me too buddy. But we all fuck up. Its how we handle things after that matters."
"My dad says pretty much the same thing."
"He seems like a smart man you should listen to him."
"I do usually. He was sure right about that fucker though. Sorry dad." He says after he cusses.

'Oh no you nailed that on the head hes a little fucker that's for sure." his dad says smiling.

"Mr Jones you think I might can work here some after school and stuff? I would like to help."
"William could use some help washing dishes for a few hours a day I imagine."
He reaches out his hand and is grinning. I take his hand and he is shaking my hand to beat hell.

"Cool. Ill do a real good job for you Mr Jones. I work hard. You can ask my dad. I will work real hard for you and I will make it up to you."
"Brad you are already forgiven by me. It sounds like you are having a hard time forgiving yourself. Sometimes that's the hardest thing to do."
"I will still do a good job for you."
"I'm sure you will."
We talk a few minutes and we figure out he can be here by 4 if he takes the buses. He said he will save and get a car so he can be here earlier. I told him its fine. But a car is a handy thing to have.

His dad gets a dozen apple cider donuts to go. Cha ching. I knew people would love them.

I go back into the kitchen and complete what I need to get one and pop the rolls in the oven for the chicken. These are those big fat rolls like you used to get in school that were so tasty. People love them. seems like everything we start selling people love it. I guess I have a touch or something. We haven't had to stop serving anything because it doesn't sell yet. If anything we have to keep making more. Meatloaf night is a real production let me tell you. We make a million of them I think. They wanted to start having instant mashed potatoes but I put my foot down. I'm like there is no way I'm serving hard working people something that's mediocre because its easier. Ill not have it. They all agree. Reluctantly but they agree. It is a lot of work to get them ready. But they are so good it worth it. No one argues they are really good. They just don't like all the prep time.

I get everything done and grab a cigarette from off my desk and head outside. I want to go outside its a little warm in the kitchen and I just want to go out. I walk out the door and light the cancer stick I screwed between my lips.

"Whats bothering you Mr Jones?" Mitchell asks me as he walks out behind me with Quinton.

"Nothing. Why would you think it is?"

"Because you only come out to smoke when something is bothering you. Here anyway."
I take a long drag off of my cigarette and look at him. I inhale deeply.

"When you look at me what do you see?"
"I see Mr Jones." he tells me as he shrugs.

"If you didn't know me. What would you see?"
"Just a white guy I guess."
"Exactly. When people look at me they just see a white guy. When they look at you they see a black guy. If the police look at you in this neighborhood or really any other they see a threat. Why are you here? What is your business here? Has anything really changed since the 1950s and 60s. Is anything really different?"
I flip my cigarette turn and walk to my truck and get in. I drive home and sit on the porch for a while. I smoke cigarette after cigarette asking myself. Has anything changed. Other than the fact that racism is not promoted as the norm from media anymore. Is life really that different. Black people still live in certain parts of town. Sure they can go to other parts now, and its legal. But what would half of the people think, the white people, that volunteer on Sundays at my restaurant think if Mitchell or Quinton moved next door to them? Would they be upset and move. I recall hearing about white flight. Its still going on now. In other ways its different. White people like me move into a neighborhood and we take it over Its called gentrification. You hear people openly complaining about Mexicans all the time coming here illegally. They bitch and cry about it not even knowing or caring a lot of them are from other countries like El Salvador, and Guatemala. I don't understand how in 2023 people can still be like this. Be so stupid. Be so racist and filled with hatred. It isn't what makes us different that should push us apart. It is what should bring us together. Its what we should embrace. What would America be like if it wasn't for the Italians coming here. They weren't treated nice at all. But if we would have listened to the idiot bigots we wouldn't have many of our favorite foods. Same with so many other foods and things in our culture that we take for granted. I take the last cigarette from my package and light it from the previous one crumple the pack and snuff out the butt, and take a long draw from the new one. I see Juan pull into my drive. God hes a big fucker. He walks up and sits down.

He doesn't say anything. After about five minutes he gets up heads into my house and comes back with two Cokes for us.

"Change takes time Gary. Remember when my mom met Nikki. She nearly flipped. Now she loves her and wonders what my dumb ass did to deserve such a great woman."
I kind of grumble in my throat.

"Gary I know nothing I say will make a difference. But things are changing. It is getting better for people."
"Is it?" I ask him quickly and maybe a bit loud. OK A lot loud. "Is Tremay safe? Is he. When he goes to college will he be safe. Not only is he black hes gay. Will he be safe from this bullshit?"
He nods at me.

"Now I see the problem you are having. Gary is anyone safe? I mean really think about it. Are any of us safe. Maybe you go visit some of Dee's friends and family in Cleveland strolling through the neighborhood to go get a new pack of cigarettes and some guy sees you and shoots you."
"That's my point Juan." I answer softly. "That is exactly my point. People in certain places would kill me for being white. Others will kill you because you aren't. What the fuck is wrong with people? Why does this disease or whatever it is continue to pass from generation to generation? What does it take to eradicate it and to make people band together and help each other and do what is right regardless of race or for any other reason?"
"What we are doing. We are slowly changing. It wasn't 60 years ago that a black and white couldn't get married. It wasn't 10 years ago a gay person could be fired just for being gay and it was legal. It wasn't 20 years ago when same sex marriage wasn't allowed. We have made a lot of progress Gary. But its change. People don't like change. They think somehow they lose something in this change But if someone else has equal rights the same as you how does that take away from you?"
"Shut up." I tell him.

"That's what you told me when I told you about my mom."
"I'm scared Juan. Not for me. I'm scared for Tremay, and Jamal and Cam and William and all the great kids in my life. I don't want to see any of them get hurt Juan. I don't think I could take it. I think I would rather I had died when I was shot the to see anything like that happen. What would have happened if someone else would have caught them painting the side of the building and it wasn't the cops. What if Jamal had come up on them. You know he isn't going to let them just do something like that. Hes going to raise hell and you know it. What would they have done to him? Or what if Mitchell or Quinton saw it?"
"If that happened we would have never known."
I exhale harshly and the blue plume of smoke flies from my lungs.

"Exactly."
"What the fuck you gonna do? Buy a farm in Montana and you and Tremay live there and never leave?"
"I wish I could afford it."
"What kind of life would that be for Tremay?"

"A safe one."
He just looks at me.

"come on you big dumb ass lets go start supper. Call my idiot sister and tell her to come over too."
"What are we having?"
"Lasagna?"
He grins and I pull out three pans. I know what it will be like. I get out some hamburger and get it to frying up. I get some Italian sausage going too. I get water started to boil for noodles. I read the back of a package once said no boiling needed just bake the noodles in the lasagna. I tried it. It was fucking gross. Never do that. I get the meat drained and mixed together. I get sauce out and get the lasagnas together with Juan helping. I put them in the oven we have been preheating. I get out several boxes of garlic bread from the deep freeze and lay them on cookie sheets. I can fit 2 at a time in the oven. I send out texts to everyone I love tons that I'm making lasagna and it will be ready in an hour. Come when you like. I want my "family" close to me today. I guess after talking to Brad and his dad it really upset me. Brad truly seems like a decent kid. Easily led astray by an evil minded person.