Mr Jones Second Chances

Part 3

From the man people question how he remembers to breath

Eric Murphey

Its been a few weeks and I tell you what I'm extremely disappointing in how everyone has been treating Brad. Hes showing up and they pretty much just ignore him. But he keeps showing up with a smile on his face and eager to work. He works hard too. I even told everyone that when I paid him he just handed me the envelope back. Told me he wasn't doing it for the money. But just to help like he should of to begin with. He only comes in through the week though. He got a job on weekends in the evenings and helps his dad with his construction company on Saturday. Hes doing pretty good saving for a car. One thing that surprised me is I figured his Dad blacked his eyes. It was his mom. I met her shes maybe 5 feet 2 inches. Little petite thing who apparently packs a Hell of a punch.

I'm pretty happy that the children are almost out of school. Just a few more days and then its summer for them. I'm thinking of taking Tremay on a vacation somewhere. I haven't been on one in my adulthood and he hasn't ever. I haven't told him we are going somewhere. But I don't know where I want to go. I want to go see the museum in Deerborn Michigan about Ford. But I also want him to enjoy it too. I think he would find that very dull. Not a great vacation for a boy. I thought about Kings Island. But that's a day. I want to take him somewhere that's fun and stay a week or so. But cant think of where I would want to take him. I thought Disney World. But no way in Hell am I going to Florida and adding a nickel to their state coffers so they can discriminate with my money. Fuck that thought. Then Disneyland I thought. But I don't really think he or I would have that much fun there for an entire week. I will think of something that I believe will appeal to us both.

I'm in my office smoking like I'm not supposed to do. I figure fuck the state. I'm collecting their money. I'm smoking in my office and they can kiss my ass. Grant walks in.

"I have been wanting to talk to you. But we seem to keep missing each other." I tell him as he grabs a cigarette from my pack.

"Its been crazy as all get out lately." he tells me.

"Lately? Its always that way for me."
I say smiling.

"Man I tell you we need some people with some sense at the warehouse. They keep hiring idiots that seem to think that the schedule is a suggestion."
"I guess I'm lucky in that sense. So they are looking for people?"
"And how.'
"Jamal's mom is looking. Do you think they might hire her?"

"If she was still on drugs they would hire her."
"That desperate huh?"

He just nods as hes taking a hit.

"Write down the address. Is it on a bus line. Her car is fucked. I was going to pay to have it fixed. But its not worth it. They want four grand to fix it and its worth half that. If that much."
"I got an old Toyota I have been trying to sell."
"What is it?"
"Its a 99 Corolla. Its in OK shape. I'm not saying its great by any means. But it will get a person from a to b without issues."
"How much?"
"For you, for her?" he asks.

"Of course."
"I was asking 1500 but I will let you have it for a grand."

"Hows the insurance? I don't want to gt her something then the insurance is crazy high."
"Cheap as shit."
"Cool. Tremay wanted me to ask if Jason could come over sometime soon."
"He asked me on the way in. I told him I would talk to you about it."
"You know hes always welcomed at our house. Hes a good boy. Those two are getting to be pretty good friends."
"I know its nice when you let him out of your sight long enough to stay the night with us on that super rare occasion." he says to me.

"What the fuck ever. Hes at your house like once a month just like Jason at ours."

He just smiles.

"You go on vacations with the family right?"
"Sure."
"I have been trying to think of somewhere I can take Tremay and we will both have fun. What do you guys do?"
"I got a little cabin not far from here. Its on a little lake and we go there. We have a blast. We fish and hike. Its just so peaceful. You would love it."
"I would but would Tremay is the question."
"When are you planning on going?"

"I hadn't really given that part any thought. Its the figuring out where is the question.
"I tell you what. I know Jason is busy most of the summer with one thing or another. But I also know the first two weeks of vacation he has nothing going on. Why don't you take him and Tremay up to the cabin and spend a week or even two. I know those two together could have a good time at an insurance convention. That way we know they will have fun being with their buddy."

"Does it have electricity?"
"It has all the modern conveniences."
"Its not a bad idea."
"Maybe take Jamal too."
"I would love to. But that wont happen. He is keeping a close eye on his mom because hes afraid she will relapse."
"That boy sure cares about his mom."
"Yeah and she hasn't given him much reason to the past several years."

"No I don't guess she has."
"She is trying though. I will give her that. You going to be home tonight?"
"Sure."
"I think I want to come and look at that car say around 6 or so after supper."
"Ill do you better than that. Why don't you and May come over for supper and then look at the car?"
"Your wife has always been really nice to me. You trying to get her to hate me?"
"No she will be fine with it. If I call her now and let her know. Besides she would still like you. Its me that has to worry." he says chuckling.

"You better call her now. I imagine you. have gotten attached to your balls."

He chuckles and pulls out his phone.

"Hey honey. Is it alright if Gary and his son come for supper tonight. He wants to see the old car."

He has a ten minute conversation about God knows what. It was all over the place. I just work on the paperwork. When he gets done he slips his phone back in his pocket.

"All set, we will look for you. guys around 5."
"Sounds good to me."

He takes his leave and I complete the paperwork. I walk out of the office and see they are a little busy but everything seems under control. I see Tremay sitting at the counter having some pie.

"We need to leave here around four. Grant has invited us for supper."
"Cool. Did you. ask if Jason can stay this weekend?"
"I did."
"So can he?"
"I'm not sure."
"Dad how can you not be sure?"
"We got sidetracked talking about other things. But we can find out tonight."
He nods and goes back to his pie.
Brad walks in he sides his book bag under the counter and goes straight to work. I pat him on the back as he walks by and he gives me a quick smile.

I watch Tremay and he glares at him. I decide to leave that for now.

I grab myself a slice of peach pie. Yummy for my tummy think as I sit next to my son and enjoy it.

When I finish I get up and grab both our plates.

"I'm going to go home and shower before we leave. You want to go with me or walk back?"
"I'm waiting on Jamal."
"Alright. See you in a bit. But be home on time."
I give him a quick hug and he hugs me back.

I go hop in the truck and head home. I take a quick shower and see I have an hour or so until we need to get ready to go. I head downstairs to work on some programs. I have been working a lot with it because I don't want the debt hanging over my head. I worry that something can go wrong and I somehow lose my house. I cant have that. I've got all of it in the bank to pay it off less about five grand. So I am plugging away at it. A while later I hear the front door open and close.

"Dad I'm home.'

"In the kitchen working." I reply.

He appears next to me and sits on my lap.

"Love you Dad."
"I love you. too. Hows Jamal?"
"Hes good. Said his mom still ain't found a job yet other than for you."
"I talked to Grant today and he told me they are desperate for people at his warehouse. That's part of the reason we are going over tonight."
"Whats the other part?"
"Its a few really. I was telling Grant that I wanted to take you. on a vacation somewhere. But I was racking my brain trying to figure out where. You know sure as you are breathing I wont go to Florida or any other state the governor has said or may say woke. Especially when the dotards don't even know what it means."
Dad your using words i don't understand."
I smile because I do that on purpose to improve his vocabulary.

"Dotard is an old person who is usually in a mental decline. But I use it kind of as a general term because people get mad when I say retarded."
"Because its a bad word."
"It didn't used to be. It was the normal term for people with learning disabilities. I'm not even sure what the right thing to say is anymore. So I just don't."

"Did you think of somewhere?"
"Maybe I don't know how you would feel about it. Shit I'm not sure how I feel about it. But Grant has a cabin near here on a lake. He said that we can use it when summer starts for a couple of weeks. But I am kind of stupid when it comes to stuff like that. I grew up in the city. I don't know how to be in the woods and from what I understand its in the middle of some. What if the animals attacks us or something. I mean bears can be mean."
"I don't think we got bears Dad."
"I don't know. We did in New York in areas. I never saw one but I'm very OK with that."
"It would be scary."
"Yeah it would. I imagine I should ask Grant about stuff like that. I bet he laughs at me."
"Nah hes nice. But he might still laugh." he tells me grinning.

"Oh yeah." I say and start tickling his ribs.
"Stop. Stop. Stop." he tells me and slips off my lap and a moment later I hear him letting go of his bladder in the toilet.

"May I'm going to get dressed."I say after him.

"Good I don't think you should show up naked." he giggles.

I just smile and go get dressed. I dress nicely. A pair of slacks a dress shirt and some loafers. I think I look fairly nice. I figure they invite us over we should dress nicely. Although I know them and if I showed up in cutoffs and a t shirt with flip flops I don't think they would bat an eye. I of course would never wear cutoffs or flip flops but that not the point.

I head back downstairs and grab a cigarette from my pack. I fire it up and sit on the couch and wait for Tremay to get ready. He comes down dressed much the same way I am. He knows how I am and what I feel is the proper way to dress fora dinner invite with friends.

"You look very handsome young man."
He grins at my compliment.

"I want to stop and get a couple pies on the way. I'm thinking apple because that seems to be Grants favorite, and cocnut cream ecause that seems to be his wifes favorite."
"No she likes the lemon meringue better." he informs me.

"Really?"
"Yeah I heard her talking about it one day. She said she wishes she could make one that good."
"Its not hard. You've seen me do it. I bet you could do it. Maybe I will walk you through it and the next time you stay over you can teach her."
"I think she would like that."
"I'm sure she would. Lets get to going."
We go to the truck and I go grab two pies from the restaurant. I also grab a thousand dollars from the safe. I keep a few thousand in cash now since I learned sometimes you need lots and quickly. When we get there Jason is in the front yard playing. I guess he didn't know we were coming because he got a look of surprise on his face and then a huge grin. Hes such a cute boy. I have to say having him in my bed is a real joy. I love him a lot. But not like I love Tremay and Jamal. I miss Jamal being around all the time. Not because of the sex. But just having him close all the time.

Naturally he give us hugs. Which are always appreciated by me. I wonder if the children enjoy them as much as I do. For me hugs and food show love.

We walk through the door.

"Mom did you know Mr Jones and Tremay were coming?" He shouts from the living room walking to the kitchen. They have a cute little ranch style home.

"Yes I did, and stop screaming through the house. We aren't heathens.
"Dad says I am."
"Because he wants you to change." she says smiling at him.

"It smells amazing in here." I tell her.

"I made a lasagna and garlic bread."
"Yum." Is Tremays response. He said it I thought it.

"Grants in the garage vacuuming out the old car."
"Thanks." I tell her and walk out the door that's connected to the kitchen to there.

"It doesn't look bad." I tell him.

"Its not. Its just old. I wanted something newer is the only reason I'm not still driving it. I figured its getting old things might start breaking on it and when that starts it seems to be neverending."
"I can imagine."
He walks me around the car.

"Its got a pretty new battery I got I guess six months or so ago. Tires are fine for now. But should probably get replaced in a few months. But this is it."
I look the car over like I know what I'm looking at. I don't but I try to look like I know what I'm doing. I look at the engine and decide that yes it indeed looks like an engine. Its clean so I figure that's good. I know Grant would never take advantage of me. Hes not the type. But I also don't want to get her a car that will break down in a few weeks or months.

"You think it will last another year?"
"I have no doubt."

His wife opens the door.

"Guys its time to eat."
"Looks like Tremay and I showed up just in time." I answer smiling.

We go in and sit down.

We get to eating.

"This is delicious." I tell her.

"Its not bad. Grants mother taught me her recipe. So he likes it."
He just smiles as he chews.

"Grant I'm going to get that car for Jamal's mother. I think she will appreciate it and take care of it."
"All she will have to do is keep gas in it." he tells me.

"You aren't charging him $1500 are you/" his wife speaks up.

"Goodness no. I told him a thousand."
She nods her approval.

Since he is already cutting me a good deal I don't try to talk him down more. Because the deal he offered is better than what I would have tried to talk him down to.

"Grant I was talking to Tremay about your cabin. We both have questions. You know I've never been in a situation in the woods like that before. DO we need to watch out for any animals or anything."
"Yeah Dad said they got bears in New York I told him we ain't got none here."
"No bears here. Only thing you need to do is just keep clear of the animals. Mostly they will do that for you. You just have to remember they are wild animals not pets. So you cant go stroll up to a deer and pet him and think things are going to be great If you could even get close to one." Grant informs us.

"I wouldn't think that would be a good plan anyway. Is there a grocery near it or should we pack things?"
"There is a grocery. Little mom and pop place. Its a bit expensive but we always shop there because it just seems right to go there. They have been there for I think 40 years she told me once. Real nice folks." His wife tells me.

"They got great little deli." Grant adds.

"They make candies there too." Jason puts in.

"We will certainly have to go there then." I tell them.

'You wont regret it." I'm told.

We finish supper and sit around talking, while Tremay and Jason go play outside.
When its starting to get dark Tremay and I head home and grant follows me with the car. He parks it in my garage and pulls his plates and his wife picks him up a few minutes later.

"Dad I wish Jason could go with us on vacation. It would be more funner."
"So I'm just boring then? I see how it is."
"No Dad I didn't mean it like that."
"No? How did you. mean it. You said it would be fun with Jason. So I suppose with me it will be so boring you will wish that we never went?"

"No Dad it will be fun. Its just that I really like Jason a lot."
"I see. So you. don't like me."
"Daaaaaad. Stop messing with me."
I just laugh at him.

"Jason is going I think. Grant has to talk to his mom first though. Also to make sure he doesn't have anything planned he doesn't know about first."

"Cool. You know you're mean sometimes Dad." he says giggling.

"Yes I am. I beat, and starve you."
He just rolls his eyes at me and goes upstairs for some reason.

I text Juan.

Hey I need your help with something.

I turn on the TV and a few minutes later I hear my phone ping.

What do you need Gary?

I send back.

I'm trying to take a vacation with Tremay so he can have some fun memories as a boy. But I cant just leave and no one take care of the books while I'm gone. Can you help a brother out? Just don't tell Nikki or that horrible bitch will invite herself to go too.

Tremay comes back downstairs and sits next to me on the couch. My phone pings.

I'm a horrible bitch huh?

I get from Nikki's phone.

Obviously a snoopy one too.

I reply.

So where are we going?

She texts back.

Alright you can come. We are going to Rio. We will meet you there.

I send her.

WTF ever. So where are you taking my nephew?

Grant is loaning us his cabin in the woods. He says its on a lake. Jason will be going if he hasn't any plans. But I suppose if you want to come up for a few days it will be alright. I promise I wont drown you in the lake.

I tell her.

Ha it wont be me drowning sucker.

I get tired of texting and just call her.

"What made you think of a vacation?" she asks me.

"We had one vacation in our childhood and look at the amazing impact it has had on me, you and the neighborhood. I had so much fun I wanted to move here and I did. I doubt that it will have such a dramatic impact on Tremay. However, one never knows what will impact someone. I want to show him things he doesn't know. I thought about Disney. But uh no."
"Yeah Gary I sure don't see you going to Florida anytime soon."
"Nikki when did the world go crazy? Or has it always been this way and I just didn't notice?"
"I think its always been this way. I think its brought more to the forefront now."
I think you may be right because of all the bullshit politics. Just the stupidity of it all. People saying they are Christian and fight for a babies life before its born. Yet all these governors are refusing food stamps for children to eat through the summer. It cant be you just care about a child before its born. Then when its born just say fuck it. No its a continued effort I believe. If you truly care about that child you will want to see them grow up into a successful person. To be able to get a good education. To have healthy food to eat. To be able to have access to healthcare. That they can go to school or walk down the street without the fear of being shot. I cry every time I see a child is killed senseless because some cocksucker is getting a kickback from the NRA. Don't get me wrong Nikki. I think people should be able to have guns. But fuck why is it such an issue to have a background check? Why is it an issue to have people not to have weapons that can decimate a human body? What really breaks my heart is the black lives matter movement. I think that all lives matter. Not just black lives. I know cops can be pricks. I know racial profiling is a fact. But so is gang violence in our communities. Why don't black people stand up and say enough is enough. I don't want my children killed in gang violence anymore. I want my children to have a chance to succeed and have a good education. I want the government to have real solutions not just throw pennies at the problem. It seems as though both parties hate black people. It feels like the republicans just hate them. The democrats set them up to fail at the same time saying they want to help. Yet continue to count on their votes to continue a legacy that's just not worth keeping.

I don't understand how in this day and age that racism still is around. Not only is it around its embraced by many. I hate this world Nikki. I was asked if I wanted to take Tremay to Montana or somewhere and buy a ranch and never leave. I hate to say I want to just to keep him safe from the hatred and everything else."
"Fuck Gary I just asked why you wanted to take a vacation. Not for your entire political commentary. But I agree with most of what you say."
"Sorry. I've just been very upset since what happened. I guess i had blinders on. I felt like things were starting to get better. I mean fuck Nikki how many houses have the guys sold and created homeowners. How many of the boys and girls are out helping the older folks in the neighborhood either helping them clean or mow their lawns. I felt like we were really starting to make a dent in the problems in our neighborhood. I guess I was wrong. I guess im just a fucking idiot thinking things could ever get better."

"Hey dumb ass."
"Yeah?"
"Who is on your lap? Is his life better? Is your life better? Is Jamal and his moms life better? have the guys changed a lot of their ways and are helping the community more than poisoning it? Is Michelle and her boys safer now? So are things getting better? Sure they are Gary. This ain't Bewitched where you can wiggle your fucking nose and shit is just different. This is the real world brother of mine. These things take time and patience."
I'm tired of this talk.

"So will he do my books or at least the payroll at a minimum?"
"HM the king of subject changing. I thought Tremay was good at it. I guess hes the Prince. But yes he will do it. When will you leave?"
"Dy after school lets out. So what three days."
"Alright. I will have Juan in your office to go over your books and see how you do it. Because I'm sure its not the right way an accountant does it. So you show him your system and I'm sure he will fix it."
"Whatever. I just want to make sure people get paid."
"They will."
"Thank him for me. Ill be there at around 7 tomorrow I have to make pies. So I will be ready I suppose around 10 or so. Talk to you later."
She sighs.

"You know i love you Gary."
"Of course I do. How could you not love me. I'm GRRREEEEAAAATTTTT!!!"
"Your an idiot is what you are. But a great idiot."
I laugh and end the call.

"Aunt Nikki giving you a hard time?"

"When does she not?" I ask him and he giggles.

"Never."

"Exactly. I feel like eating some nachos. You up to some?"
"Dad its late. You know if you. do you will be up half the night with heartburn."
"When did you get so smart?"
He just grins.

"How about some popcorn/'
"That's better."
"I think we need some White Castles again to celebrate the end of school."
"Aunt Nikki made you. mad huh? Making Uncle Juan fart all night."
"No but it is a fun after effect." I say laughing.

"Lets get some popcorn and watch a show or two then off to bed for you Mr man. You got school a couple more days."

That's what we did.