If you would like tosee allof my new stories you can find them here. EricMurphey | Archive of Our Own As I said in the last chapter I am working on a new one. It is from ideas from two friends. One friend was telling me a trailer was for sale near him. I said you should get it. Hes like no way bunch of meth heads live next door. Another, Curtis said why doesnt someone write a story where the guy is living a regular life. Not all wealthy but a guy struggling to get by. I think I am doing both with a story titled Trailer Trash. I will be posting it on my page. I want to get it mostly complete before I start posting it. I have 2 parts completed on what will be a five or six part series. This series I am sure will revisited as Mr Jones has been. I am not sure if there will be another Mr. Jones or not. I am trying to come up with a new scenario for Almost Heaven. People seem to like that one. If you have any interesting ideas for it drop me a line. ericmurphey1971@gmail.com.
I have been reading three stories on Nifty that are really very interesting to me. One is a surprise because its not a boylove story. Its titled Harvard Comes To Montana. Nifty Archive: harvard-comes-to-montana Its a great story. I know you will like it as much as I do. Make sure you send Griz an email telling him you liked it. Also the Courage to Care. Nifty Archive: adult-youth/the-courage-to-care Its a good story I have been enjoying a lot. Dave and I have been talking about a new story he has planned I cant wait to read it too. Also Axel From the Ashes. Nifty Archive: adult-youth/axel-from-the-ashes I have told you all about his stories in the past and some of you didn't care for it. But give it another try. Its so well written and interesting. It is out of my usual reading areas. But its so good I dont care. Have a great day and I will be writing for you.

Eric

Mr Jones Second Chances

Part 8

I wake up and look at the time. Its 5:30 am. I had a rough time getting to sleep last night. Poor Tremay was trying to help me find sleep by trying to get me off. I think I tried to wear his cute little ass out. I made love to him three times in three hours. I think I finally found sleep around 3. I roll out of bed because this is the day of the fair. Carnival, whatever you want to call it. I call it a time for the entire neighborhood to get together and have a great time. Hopefully, at the same time raise enough to complete the park.
I cant believe what Brad had done. It took him nearly three full days just cleaning out trash before he could even think about taking a weed eater to it and then mow. I cant lay blame on any single group of people. Is it the cities fault? Yes, it is. Is it the communities fault for allowing it to fall into that state? Yes it is. Is it my fault for not caring enough to take on the monumental task that it was? Yes, it is. If the entire neighborhood would have done it as a group. It would have been done in hours not many days.

I head downstairs and start coffee and then go pee. Coffee is my priority at this moment. I would have pissed in the sink to get it faster if I had to. Maybe I will try one of those energy drinks today. I see people drinking them all the time. If I am not mistaken there are now eight million of them to choose from.

I go back into the kitchen and stare at the pot until I see enough for a cup is in the carafe. I add some milk to it so I can drink it faster. I light a cigarette and sit down and wait for more coffee. I hear my front door open and close. I hear the sound of little feet heading my way.

"I seen your light on Mr Jones," Jenny tells me.

"Why in the world are you up this early?"
"I am too excited. I know I am gonna win that prize for guessing how many gumballs are in that container."
"It costs a dollar per entry. Are you ready to risk losing your hard earned money?"
"I am willing to risk five dollars of it," she says smiling and sitting on my lap.

"Before you get too comfortable. Grab me another cup of coffee would you?"
She slips from my lap and gets the coffee. I kiss the top of her head

"I love you Jenny."
She turns her face up to me and kisses the bottom of my chin.

"I love you too."

We sit a minute while she fiddles with my ring.

"Is all the food gonna be free?"
"Yes, ma'am it is."
"They said Clive is gonna be there with his smoker. Man, Mr Jones that is some good eating."
"Who you telling. I done told him I need the first five pounds of brisquit for me."
"You cant eat no five pounds."
"I can try."
She giggles.

"You know you should actually put clothes on when you go outside. I don't think your mom would think too highly of you going outside in your nightgown."

"Its a shirt Mr Jones. Was yours remember?"
"I do, But still. I worry about you."
She smiles and takes a sip of my coffee. She makes a bitter face.

"Nope, still don't like it."
"Do you think that is going to change?"
She shrugs.

"Never know."
"I do. I'm going to just have cereal this morning. You want some?"
"What kind?"
"What kind do we always have?"

"Captain Crunch because its Tremays favorite and Frosted Flakes because they are your favorite. Why come you never get honey nut Cheerios?"
"Because you don't live here. If you did we would have your favorite too," I tell her.

"Nah, its cuz you don't love me no more."
I know she is pulling my leg because shes giggling. we have had this conversation a multitude of times.
"What kind would you like?"

"Frosted flakes today, please."
"You want toast?"
"Am I black?"

I slip her from my lap and she takes my seat. I drop some bread in the toaster for us and get the bowls out. I pour some in each of ours and add milk I put hers in front of her and sit mine next to it. The toast pops up and I add some butter to it. I sit in a seat that's not mine. We eat and she is taking our bowls and rinsing them out.

"I wish I could sit here with you all day pumpkin, but I need to get dressed and go to the park," I tell her.

"Can I go with you?"
"You want to wake up your mother to find out?"

She covers her butt with her hands.

"No, its not important."
I kiss her cheek and head upstairs. I hear the door shut as I am walking up the stairs. She came over for a little attention and breakfast. I get dressed in shorts which I rarely wear and a polo so I look kind of nice. I think about leaving a note for Tremay, but he will know where I am and head down there when he wakes up. Around noonish is my bet. He is getting older and sleeps more it seems. That and I did have him up half the night. Or, did he have me up half the night?

I get tot eh park and I see Quinton sitting on a picnic tale smoking a cigarette. I walk over and sit next to him. I think you know a cigarette seems like a fine idea. So, I screw one between my lips and light it up.

"You know when I was a kid, this park was as bad as it was before that white boy started cleaning it up. It feels like this hood is changing for the good. Not just some little government project to appease the niggas. But a real feel of community and looking out for each other."
"That's the way it should be. Shouldn't it?"
"You would think. But people get all up in themselves. You know. Worried about their bills. Worried about their kids. Worried about everything. They ain't got time to worry about their neighbors, or other kids in the hood. But now things are different. People are worrying less. Course they still ain't got no money."
"People with money isolate themselves. Go to a rich neighborhood and half of them don't know who lives next door to them. Ask anyone in the hood where someone lives I bet you get an answer if you ask three people. We got what about three thousand people in this neighborhood right? Everyone knows everyone. Its like a small town inside of a city. That's the way it feels to me anymore."
"Yeah, were Mayberry, and your the Sheriff.
"Fuck you, I don't want to be the Sheriff," I tell him.

"You got to be. You the only white one," he says laughing.

"Get the fuck outta here," I tell him laughing.

"I'm leaving now. Going to get some coffee. You want one?"
"You bet I do."

He takes off and I go start looking over the things that got set up yesterday. People have booths set up. Businesses sent out people to tell about their company and try to find some new employees. Seems like everyone is working we just don't have enough people to fill the jobs. It is nice they are coming to our community trying to get folks to work for them. Some of them are pretty good paying jobs. Some of them starting at $18 an hour and more. So that's not too bad around here. We have a dunking booth they tried to convince me to get into. I refused. I will do a lot of things but I wont do that.
I see Brad, and his dad Chad pull up and get out. They start unloading something. I figure I'm here so I go help.

"Its prizes for the games," Brad tells me smiling.

"I tell you, this boy is a real joy anymore," Chad says smiling and patting him on the back."The children are going to be so happy to have this day, and the park the rest of the time too. You realize you changed this community for the better?"
"I guess," he says shrugging.

"I don't."
We carry the boxes over to their booth. He made it easy so more could win. He isn't trying to make anything off of it I don't think. If so hes a crappy businessman. Quinton shows up a few minutes later as we are sitting around chatting about things we have planned for today. We see Clive pull up with his smoker. Things is massive. Its as long as his truck. But man does it cook up some very fine tasting meat.

"I'm going to go down and have the ladies make a big pot of coffee and bring it down. I think we are going to need it. Also, I need to get the ice for the sodas."
Quinton decides to ride with me.

"Wheres Mitchell? Hardly see you two apart?"
"He was up late studying?"
"What?" I ask shocked.

"Yeah, don't tell him I told you. But he is finishing his degree online."
"That's cool as shit man."

"I know, I been thinking about doing it myself."
"Whats stopping you? You now the kids in this place look up to you'se guys. They follow in what you do because they think you made it. If you both got degrees imagine the role models you would be then."
"You always make way too much sense about shit."
Hes smiling at me.

"Hey, I try."

We pull up and the ladies have several ice chests packed. We have been packing ice into the freezer for a few days now. I got ice bags from somewhere. Don't ask me where because I sure don't remember. Children and adults that were in the place starting helping us carry out multiple cases of soda. I have to be honest. I played Coke and Pepsi against each other on this. I called Coke first. They were happy to donate ten cases of soda. Which is nothing. We needed a lot more than that. I called Pepsi and said.

"I am having a block party to raise money to rebuild our park. I just talked to Coke and they said they would donate 20 cases of sodas. But sadly we need a lot more than that."
"Twenty that's it. Cheap bastards. We will kick in say 30," they say.

So a couple days later my Coke rep comes in the restaurant.

"Yeah, we are having a block party thing at the park. I talked you your guy he said he would give me ten cases of soda. Which will be appreciated. But I talked to Pepsi and they are giving us thirty."
"Fuck, Pepsi. I will talk to my guy."
I got a call later and Coke upped it to fifty cases. I figure that's enough. But I bet if I called back Pepsi they would have upped it. They both did ask nicely if I would display a sign for them. I told then we would love to do just that.

Mr Lee though has been amazing. Of course his sales have gone up dramatically since I moved here. Not to mention the children don't steal from him anymore. He talked to his Bimbo rep and told him he wanted to order like fifty trays of buns. The guy was like. You don't order buns. Why do you want buns? Well, next thing you know Mr. Lee was getting fifty racks of buns for free for us. So he started in in chips. Next thing you know Lays is donating a ton of chips. Between Kroger's and Walmart we got all of the meat for free. I talked to every store owner in the county I think trying to get prizes for the children and some for adults as well. Our community church has been raising money for equipment as well as a few others that help with feeding the seniors and children.

We have a stage that the parks department lent us. Its a mobile stage. Its interesting how it works. Its a trailer and the front comes down and creates a stage. We have a rap competition scheduled. Music from a DJ. Man, we are going to have some fun today. We have a couple bounce houses that I got donated for the day. You know if you tell people what you are doing they are very quick to help. I even did an interview with the goofy guy on the morning show. He's a super nice guy. I figured he would be and he is goofier than a box of frogs in real life too. Fun guy though. He told me he was going to come by today with his wife and son. We even made a few dollars through the station from people just sending in money. I didn't intend for that to happen. It just did. But we wont say no to it either. So far we have collected more than I hoped for total. We need about thirty grand to make it a good park. We have ten so far. Which is what I figured we might get total. I was thinking that was high to be honest. We have already surpassed my expectations. Anything after is amazing. So long as no one gets hurt today I'm thrilled. We get back to the park and others are arriving and they help us unload the truck into our soda booth. It was great we got a case of cups from McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and White Castles. I asked for smalls because I figured that is about a can of soda maybe a bit less. I figured it would help the sodas last longer that way. My crew and I made a ton of cakes, and pies. I got Sam's Club to donate a half ton of potato salad. We had an amazing haul that's for sure. I'm sure there are other things I forgot that I may remember later and let you know. But everything was free except our time and the little bit I used to make desserts. I thought it would be better if Walmart or Kroger's did that. But theirs aren't that great and meat is more important I think. Certainly the most expensive.

I get my stand set up and go around and help others that are still getting things ready. We are supposed to start at 8 but its 7 and I see children already in the bounces houses laughing and having fun. That's what this is all about.

I know those laughs so I walk over.

"I should have known it was you five getting a jump start."

Kenny, Jenny, Tremay, Jamal. and Jenae all laugh at me and go back to playing. It looks like fun. But I need to save my energy for the day. They can go nap. I cant.
"MR. JOOOOONNNNNEEEESSSSS!!!!!" I hear.

I turn around just in time to catch Winston who has lunged himself at me. I spin him around a few times so he can feel like hes flying. He is laughing the entire time. I see the ladies and their men walking up all cool like. I smile at them because I know they are doing it on purpose to make me laugh. I get a hug from each of them. Not some bullshit half hug men tend to do.

"I don't know why, but I am nervous as shit," I tell them.

Winston wiggles out of my arms and heads to the bounce house to play with the other children. He is of the age that he doesn't care who you are if your a little boy or girl you are his friend. I wish everyone could be like that. The world would sure be better off for it.

"I imagine you are. You have a lot of time invested in this thing."

"I wish I could say it was my idea to start with."
They smile knowing what I'm saying.

They go get Winston and I head to my booth.

We discussed it may times about the sodas. Everything today is free, except sodas. I put my foot down and told them the children would drink ten sodas if they were free. I don't want them drinking that much soda. Water is free, soda cost fifty cents. Which is still a good deal because Mr. Lee is the cheapest and with tax he charges a dollar for a can of soda. A;tough everything is free. Except sodas. We do have boxes set up for donations. They aren't required but are certainly appreciated. It is a fundraiser after all. I am hoping we get about five dollars for everyone that walks into the park today. I am hoping for a thousand people. So, five grand putting us at half of what we wanted. It will do a lot that's for sure. I know our goal was pretty lofty. But reach for the stars and sometimes you catch one. I sure did when I moved here.

My son steps up to the booth.

"Dad, I need something to drink," he says wiping his forehead.

I sit a bottle of water on the table.

"I was thinking a Mountain Dew," he says to me.

"You were thinking wrong. Drink the water."

He grins at me and takes the water. I soon have the other four in front of me getting water if they wanted it or not.

"Thank you, Mr. Jones," They all say.

Of course they all needed hugs from me. I imagine I will give a thousand or two hugs today, and love every one of them.

They race off to do something else and Mitchell sits next to me and lights a blunt. He takes a hit and passes it to me. I take a hit and hold it as I pass back. I know what you are thinking. You are smoking weed in a public park around children. Shame on you. But you don't get it. This is the hood. This is not unacceptable behavior even if its illegal here for now.

We sit and smoke passing it back and forth until we are both pretty pie eyed. He grabs a Coke and puts a dollar in the box. I grab one and do the same. We sit a while and I sell half a dozen sodas. Funny thing is most of them don't want their change back. The park is getting pretty full and they start some music. Its loud but not overly so. They are playing old Motown songs. I love old Motown songs. I see my mean ass sister and her big ass husband walking up to me. They are both smiling.

"Morning Gary, guess who is going to be a Dad?"
"Not me, I am pretty sure about that. Mitchell you having another one?"
"No, not yet. Least not that I know of anyway."
"You two are stupid. Juan, Juan is going to be a Dad,"

I stand up and shake his hand.

"Congratulations. Whose the mom?"

He laughs and she hits me.

I look at Mitchell.

"Can you feel the love?"

He laughs at me.

I go around and hug my sister.

"I am so happy for you. I know you have been trying for a while now. Not that its a bother I wouldn't guess since you married King Dong," Juan turns red and she laughs. I'm just glad he didn't hit me like she did. I would have woken up in time for the birth. Maybe.

"You know who is going to be more thrilled than me?" I ask her.

She smiles.

"Uncle Tremay," she says.

"And all the others too. Winston will be thrilled he isn't the baby of the bunch anymore. Jenae is a good babysitter William and Shelitha tell me."

I see Mike and Dave walking up.

"Hey guys where is your mom?"
"She is still cleaning the kitchen. But she said she will be here shortly."
"She keeps that kitchen cleaner than I do," I tell them and they beam with pride in their mom.

Its weird thought. Its the first day we aren't open since we opened the doors Everyone knows about the party. If they don't they aren't from here. We do have signs in case they forgot or something. The boys give me a dollar and I give them two sodas. They wanted ice so they get a cup. No ice no cup. We have trash cans everywhere. Not that I think anyone would litter. But with them everywhere it makes it easy not to. They get hugs and off they go to play.

Randy and Jason show up at my tale and hands me a five and I hand him two sodas and start to get change.

"I will break your fingers. thanks for the microwave at the cabin by the way."

"I'm getting a window ac unit next time," I tell him smiling.

"I wouldn't stop you. Its hot to sleep sometimes."
"That it is,"

They take off and Mitchell lights another blunt seeing as how a bit of time has passed. From the aroma in the air we aren't the only ones.

I don't know why but I am horny as fuck right now. I shouldn't be. I should still be worn out from last night. Maybe its all the hugs with the children? I don't know but dam I want to cum bad.

I sit here another hour high as shit laughing and joking with everyone coming up. Getting lots of hugs. I see Kenny walking by.

"Kenny come here," I say to him. He comes over and sits on my lap. I whisper in his ear.

"You want to go to my house and play a little while?"

He is off my lap and tugging at my hand trying to get me to stand up.

"You got this for a little while?" I ask Mitchell.

"Sure."

"Want anything while I'm gone?"
"Some wraps," he informs me.

I stop on the way to the house before I forget them. I have a strong feeling I wont be thinking much after I cum. We go up to my room and He is naked and on the bed. Not hard when all he was wearing was flip flips a wife beater and shorts. He is already hard. I slip off my clothes and I take his lovely four inches into my mouth. He lets out a moan of appreciation and puts his hand on the back of my head and is gently rubbing my hair. I think of a few weeks ago when Mike the older one came over and Kenny showed him his dick. Mike said.

"Yeah mine was that small when I was a baby," and pulled out his trouser snake.

Like a moth to a light Kenny had his hand on it and it grew. He was impressed to say the least. I am thinking of him sucking that massive black staff that will one day be his size. I laughed when he was done sucking him dry if he wanted to try that one up his ass. He assured me that he did not want to try that. I still haven't made love to Kenny. He has been wanting me too, I know I have been wanting to since I met him. I decide that I want to do that now. Well, not this second but before we are done. I know he can take me after watching Cam slam into him for half an hour the other day. That was hot. I came and got hard again all in Kenny's mouth while he was getting hammered. I think Cam came three times. He sometimes cums and just starts right back up. Kenny sure isn't complaining.

I reach down and slip a finger in his ass.

"Mr. Jones you gonna fuck me?" he whimpers.

I nod and he cums instantly.

Hie entire body tightened his hips thrust up and I felt his big boy cock twitching in my mouth. He lets loose of my head and as he drops down I pull up and his cock slips from my mouth. We have this down and its kind of our thing together. He is panting and looks at me and lifts his legs.

"Put it in me Mr. Jones."

I see his brown hole staring at me. I get off the bed because I want the best possible vision of this. I pull him to me by his ankle and he giggles. He lifts his legs and I see those lovely black cheeks and I rub my cock against them. I get some lube from the nightstand and lube up my cock and slip some in him as well. I wipe off my fingers and I run my cock up and down his cheeks a few more times. I have wanted to do that forever. I line up to his hole and press and am in easily. I'm not saying its not tight as can e because it is. Its just he knows how to accept a cock. I take my time entering him. I am a little longer and have a bit ore girth than Cameron. I think of him entering Kenny. That is so amazing to watch every time. Tremay loves when Cam lays on top of him and just pounds him. Cam is lucky I think seeing as how he can just hammer into someone for a long time before he cums. Me I do that I'm cumming in three minutes. But I wish I could go like him. Once I am all the way in I look at him.

"You OK, Buddy?"
"Yeah, just give me a minute."
I notice his cock wasn't but half hard now. After a minute he reaches down and starts slowly stroking it.

"OK," he tells me.

I go at the same slow pleasurable pace as he is stroking his cock. A nice slow rhythm. I have his feet resting on my stomach. I like watching his stomach muscles tighten. He has a little six pack like most of the boys around here. They are strong and active boys. I feel his tight ring around my cock as I push in and out of him. I couldn't imagine a better first time for us together. I will remember this until the day I die. I am watching my white cock slip in and out between his lovely black cheeks, and into his hole. He has such a lovely strong ass.

"I love you, Kenny," I tell him.

"I love you too, Mr. Jones," he says in the sweetest voice ever, then it turns gruff. "Now fuck me Mr. Jones."
I watch as he speeds up on his cock so I match his pace and he is panting. I lean back a little and I hit his prostate better and he quickens the pace and starts moaning as he does.

"Yeah, Mr. Jones, I been wanting this a long time."

I push his knees to his shoulders lean in and start hammering into him.

I feel his ass tense around my cock and its so tight I feel like I can hardly move my cock. But I still continue slamming in him. He is moving every thrust and I am chasing him on the bed. I grab his shoulders and hold him to me and continue thrusting into him as he is finishing his climax I start mine. He opens his eyes and I see the glassiness to them and I start shooting deep inside my little friend.
"Oh, fuck I knew it would be good, But not this good," I pant out as i finish unloading into him.

I come to a stop and I gently slip from him because I have to lay down. I'm dizzy Im shaky. I don't want to fall on him. I roll to the side of him and he moves onto my chest.

"Wow," he says.

"Yeah," I agree.

He grins and so do I.

We regain our strength as we lay feeling each other next to us. Him on top of me and me feeling his maybe sixty pounds on top of me. He is such a small boy I am surprised he likes anal. But in my life I never seem to run out of surprises. Usually good ones too.

He slips off my chest quickly and races to the restroom. I liked seeing his cut little butt racing like that. Yummy. A lay there and think about my life and how amazing it is now. I have an entire community that loves me and I love them. We are having a massive party for the children so they can have a playground that actually has something on it other than dirt and glass. Maybe we are Mayberry, but I am not the sheriff. He is back and on my chest in a minute it seems.

"Can we do that again?"
"Not right now. We have to get back to the party."
He gives a fake frown.

"You were having fun weren't you?"
"Sure, I was. But this is more fun."
"Yes, but the fair may only happen once. This can and will happen often."
He smiles and scoots off of me. He slips off the bed and is dressed nearly before I am off the bed. Maybe I should wear basketball shorts and a wife beater. No. I slip my clothes back on and I carry him down the stairs and we hop in the truck and head back to the park. I carry him from the truck to my soda booth. I see there are a lot of dollars in the box. I st down and hand Kenny a soda and drop a dollar in the box. He races off giggling happy like a boy should be.

"You know he is walking like Tremay on a Saturday morning." Mitchel says to me laughing.

I turn red and laugh with him. No reason hiding shit around here.

I am starving. I cant imagine why. I'm high as Hell. I just made love to Kenny for the first time and came so hard I saw stars. Cant figure it out.

"Hey, Jenae. Come here."
She skips over grinning.

"Here take this and go get Mitchell and me a plate,"
She gives me a kiss and takes off.

"You know this morning I saw Quinton and not you. All afternoon its you and not him. You guys break up or something?"

"Get the fuck outta here," he says laughing. "He went to see about some things."

I leave it at that. Probably all I want to know.

A few minutes later Jenae comes back with one of her little friends helping. I give them both a soda for their good deed and drop a dollar in the box. Shit I think I have bought twenty sodas myself at this point.

Dee walks up while we are eating.

"Wheres mine?" she asks.

Mitchell points with is fork towards the cart.

'Bunch of good for nothings," she says as she is turning around.

We both laugh.

"We didn't even go get this," Mitchell says laughing.

"She may be smart. But she doesn't realize if you are lazy the children will get it. Or, like Mitchell and myself. Really super high. The music is playing the people are laughing and having a great time. I look around and think. Life is beautiful at times. This is why we deal with all the bullshit and the hassles of day to day life. For simple moments like this. I see some folks are dancing. Which just makes it all the more fun.

I get done eating and I see Jamal.

"Hey, Jamal come here."
"Go get Mitchell you and me a piece of lemon meringue pie," I tell him handing him a ten. He is back quickly.

"Man, you make some good pies," Mitchell says as he forks another bite into his mouth.

"Mphm," was Jamal's response.

"Oh, I see how it is. Using the children to run around for you," Dee says to me.

"Sure, just needs a little bribe is all," I say with a smile.

She sits down on one of the chairs I have back here.

"Give me a Coke, " she says handing me a dollar.

I just quit giving change back after a while. If they ask for it sure. But almost everyone figured they would pay a dollar at Lee's why not here for the children. I cant argue logic. Trust me I have tried.

Nikki comes walking up.

"You better not be too high to do the raffles, and if he is I'm holding you responsible," She says pointing at Mitchell.

He looks at me and grins.

"You alright, ain't cha?"
I bust a gut. He is so funny. I swear I wish more people got to know him like I do. I think that only a few people get to see the true Mitchell. I think that's pretty sad because hes a great guy.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Lets get it started then."
I stand up and we let the DJ know its that time. After the song he announces its time for the raffle. I have twelve volunteers to sell tickets.

They get their rolls and I get up there.

"Everybody I hope you are having a good time?"
I get a loud response.

"Great, I feel a lot of community today. Alright, now down to business we have a lot of things to raffle off. We are starting with this waffle iron from Ronco. It will make waffles, curl your hair and babysit your kids. All for only nine payments of $39.99."
I get some laughs. OK, maybe I'm a little too high for this. But I am having fun and it appears everyone else is.

"Alright our first prize is a family pass for Kings Island good for three visits for a family of up to six. Now this is a pretty good prize guys. SO start to getting some lucky money out. I see my ticket takers working the crowd. They zip through in no time. They put the tickets in the barrel and give it a spin. I grab a random child from the crowd to come up and draw a ticket.

"Oh, Lord its us," a lady screams holding up the ticket.

"Congratulations. Head over to the table and claim your prize."
We do a few other items. A big one was a grill. It was a really nice one with a side burner and everything. Thank you Menards.

I do a few more for the grown ups.

"Alright, now lets do a couple prizes for the children. Now all of you'se gather up here and get a ticket. Everyone gets one ticket and best part is they are free."
I get a lot of applause on that. I figured it was only right. The parents don't have much money means the children have none. The volunteers make sure everyone has a ticket. I get one of everyone's favorite seniors Miss Mable to come up and get the winners.

"Alright, what we are going to do is give the winner the choice of what they want. Say, a little girl wanted a GI Joe and got a Barbie she would be pissed."

The children giggle at me. The adults groan. Alright Miss Mable the first winner please."
She reaches in and pulls out a ticket.

"Woo hoo its me," a sweet little girl I know and can think of her name. I know she has two brothers that are older, and I cant think of their names either. But super sweet I remember that. She comes up and picks out a set of matchbox cars. I bend down.

"Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Yeah, Mr Jones its my brothers birthday tomorrow and I wanted to get him these cuz he will love them."
"You are a sweetheart," I tell her and kiss her cheek.

The next winner is Jason. He gets a nice little rod and reel set. He is grinning and happy as can be. Thanks Bass Pro Shop. The next is Mike from the mike and Dave crew across the street from me. He gets a cool RC car. I know hes a good boy and will share with is brother. We give away a few more toys and then get back to making some cash for the park.

"Alright, everyone next we are going to have a fifty fifty drawing. The one rule is the winner has to take the money, and not feel bad about it either. Because if I won I sure wont feel bad," I say laughing.

"Gary, you cant win in this," Nikki says in a very loud stage whisper.

"What? Really? Aw, man alright I guess you'se guys have a chance then. See Mabel and I had it all planned out. I got her special glasses and she can see the numbers perfectly. Leave it to a sister to ruin stuff for you,"
Everyone that has sister is laughing.

They get all the tickets sold and the tally up to me.

"Holy crap guys, we got a lot of money on the line. Nikki you sure I cant win?" I look over to her and she shakes her head at me.

"Alright, but we got one thousand and eighty seven dollars on the line here."
A few gasps at the amount.

"Pretty good hit if you ask me. Whats the pick three pay like five hundred?"

"Gary, shut up and get the ticket drawn," Nikki yells at me.

"What, you mean now? Hey, can you win?"
I say acting like I'm stalling. People seem to be enjoying it.

"No Gary I cant win."

I see Tremay in the audience.

"Hey, Tremay, Come here and go get a ticket real quick," I say handing him five dollars.

"He cant win either Gary."

"You ruin everything. Mable lets see who the lucky winner is today,"
Mable reaches in and pulls out a ticket. I give the numbers. We hear a gasp.

"Oh Momma, its us," a little girl says.

I don't know this woman, or her family very well yet. She wont hardly talk to me. Or any man for that matter. From what Dee has found out her father was extremely abusive. She was married at sixteen to an even more abusive man. Who it seemed took great joy in beating her and their three children aged 12 down to 8. She moved her from Chicago because she has zero ties to here and she doesn't think he can find her here. She has had help of groups so she can change things like her social security number so she isn't found as easily. They are scraping by and come into the restaurant for lunch everyday. We don't mind at all. That's what we live to do. I think that god if here is one up there that they picked this perfect time to act and help the person here that needed it most.

She comes up on stage and is half smiling. I walk over to meet her and hand her the money.

"Thank you Lord,"she shouts out.

"Amen," so they crowd says.

She takes the money and slips it in her purse.

"Thank you" she says to me.

"No, I think you had it right the first time."
She smiles at me for the first time. I hope this is a breakthrough for her. I know shes having it hard right now. But she is alive and still trying. There is something to be said about that. A lot of people would play the victim nd just lay down. Not this lady. She has spunk, and her children are great.

I take a break for a while to let people calm down from not winning anything so they will dig again. I stop for half an hour or so.

I walk over to the soda station. I don't know what to call it. But I need a cigarette and a soda. I light one up and sit down.

Tremay comes over to me.

"Dad, can I have two dollars?"
"Sure, what for?" I ask as I am digging.

"Well, I spent all my money already and Jenny really wants to win that TV and we asked around the TV tickets are two dollars. SO I wanted to get her a ticket."
"Sounds like a good plan. Hers a five they are three for five too," I tell him.

"Thanks, Dad," he says running off to find his half sister kind of. Cousin? Yep for sure a cousin. Family but not immediate.

"Hey Nikki can Jenny win that TV? Or is she not allowed."
"No, any child but Tremay can win. We thought if any child you are close with then we would have to bus in kids to win prizes."
"Alright, I don't want anything to do with this next raffle for the TV because Jenny is trying to win it. I don't want anyone saying anything about anything."
"Gary, they would with about anyone. Not sure about you."
"I am just saying."

"I feel you, I will get Juan to do the next drawing. that way no one thinks anything bad if she wins."
"I doubt she does. But you never know."
Jenae steps in front of me.

"Mr. Jones can I have two dollars?"
"How many did she put up to this?" I ask reaching for two dollars.

"Huh?" is her reply.

"Thank you," she says kissing my cheek.

"I thought the same thing you did. I wouldn't put it past her though. The sneaky little thing," Dee says laughing.

I see Jamal heading my way. I pull out two dollars and he smiles at me and kisses my cheek and takes off.

"I pull out a twenty and get change. I have a feeling this is going to continue.

Dee is laughing. Mitchell is laughing. I cant help it I start laughing.

"I just hope she wins it," I say.

"Me too. That girl has been after me for months to get a big old TV like Mr. Jones," she says imitating her daughter making us all laugh again.

Sure enough here comes Kenny. Here's two dollars.

He grins and walks away.

"It may have been cheaper for me to buy her one."
"It seems so,""Mitchell says chuckling. He knows I cant tell these guys no unless its something i cant do or they shouldn't do. Mr. Jones can I get a cigarette? No. Mr. Jones can I get three dollars for a toy? Let me see if I have three dollars. See I say no when its important. I am hit up about eight more times. Dee buys ten dollars worth too. I cant so I don't.

"You know she didn't ask me for two dollars," i tell Dee.

"She probably figured out you were the source and didn't want the tap to run dry, sucker."

I snort I am laughing so hard. Mitchel is rolling.

"Yeah, well. I hope he gets this thing started so I don't have to give out two dollars fifteen more times."

"You know you would," Mitchell says.

"I know, that's why I want him to get started."

As soon as I said it Juan is on stage and telling folks I am out of this drawing because one of my little friend really, REALLY wants the TV and I felt it wouldn't be right if I was a part of it. Just in case she wins. Everyone was nodding their approval at my thoughts.

My worries were unfounded because a little old lady won the big ole TV. EH got up on state and she was a riot.

"Gosh, now maybe I can see it."

"Oh, what are your favorite programs?" Juan asks.

"Well, I got my stories in the afternoon. But I love a good fight. Two hunky men sweating. Oh my."

Jenny walks up looking sad.

"I am glad she won it. But I wanted it so bad,"
"Save your money. When you get half I will pay the other half," I tell her.

"How much I got to save?"
"For one like mine about $750. For one like that I would say about $500."
"That's a lot," she says her mouth hanging open after.

"Yeah, now you see why your mom doesn't just go get you one."
"Yeah, I know. Can I have a soda?"
"No, you can have a water."
She smiles at me and grabs a bottle of water from the now ice water. Its cold for sure.

"Dad, this man is looking for you," Tremay says walking up with a man in a suit.

Oh shit, men in suits rarely mean good news.

"Mr. Jones?"
"That's me," I say with a bit of dread in my voice.

"My name is Malcolm Quince. I am with the Masonic Blue Lodge and we at the state level have talked to several of our halls. We have a check I think you will be very pleased to see," He says handing me an envelope.

"Thank you, sir," I tell him as I take the envelope.

I open it and I have to look twice.

"T-t-this is very generous," I stammer out. I look again because I cant believe it.

I cant help it I am overcome with emotions and hug the man. Who is about six four and two hundred fifty pounds and not a lick of fat. As I am I am telling him.

"You don't know how much the children are going to appreciate this. I cant believe it. Thank you,"
I pull back and he is grinning.

"Please tell all of them we are so appreciative of their generosity. No, wait. Better yet please get me addresses I think I will have the children write them thank you letters."
Tremay is just watching as is everyone else around. Confused y what is happening and me carrying on like a teen girl about anything.

"I have to tell everyone. Please come with me," I say not giving him a chance to argue. I am tugging him like the little ones do me to get me to go somewhere.

We get on stage and I tell him to cut the music. People are dancing and having a good time. I grab the mic because now everyone is staring at me wondering what the fuck is going on.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce my new best friend and yours, Mr. Malcolm Quince. Now, he is from the Blue Lodge and they talked to folks all over the state. Let me tell him about it. No, wait sorry I am too excited. Mr. Quince, please tell them what is in my hand," I hand him the mic and he looks at me like what am I supposed to do, and why are you doing this to me?

He takes the mic from me.

"Good Afternoon, everyone. My name as Mr. Jones said is Malcolm Quince. I grew up in a neighborhood just like this one in Cleveland. Our park was like this one was. We had nothing to do but get into trouble. Our church opened a after school club and I knew if I got in trouble I better hope the cops took me to jail instead of my mom," he gets a lot of laughs and several head nods with knowing smiles.

"I joined Demolay, its like junior Masons. I had a lot of fun with it and with that I met a lot of great men that helped me become a lawyer today. I live in Cincinnati now. But my auntie lives here and keeps me informed on Mr. Jones and the neighborhood. How its all turned out so much nicer since a man moved in and showed a lot of love and compassion for others.…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever get to the point," I say pointing at the check.

He smiles and continues on.

"When my auntie told me about that boy, Brad had done all of this and wouldn't let anyone help him I was happily surprised. I was so taken by it that I was talking about it at the next meeting which was three days later. I had already found out that you were having a fund drive and we talked about it. Our group said we can come up with fifteen hundred dollars."
This is met with cheers.

"I got to thinking about my old lodge in Cleveland. I called them and talked to them. They said they could and would match our amount."
More cheers. He is holding up his hand to silence them.

"In total we got twenty lodges to pledge the same amount. I have given Mr. Jones the check for thirty thousand dollars."

The people go insane cheering.

I take the mic back from him.

"Everyone, we all need to give Brad a round of applause. Because it was his hard work and effort that got this going. Because who among us even thought about tackling such a massive project that this was?

I see Brad trying to hide behind his father. Who is holding him in place because he deserves the accolades he is getting. They were a lot and loud.

When they calm down I tell them.

"Everyone here knew or knew of Mr Green, right?"
I get a lot of nods.

"It seems he was always helping someone with something. A few dollars for some groceries. Watching kids for free for years after he retired so he could help out the moms. I would like to name this park in his honor. The Mr. Green Memorial Park."
Cheers are loud again. How do performers stand it day in and day out. But its fun for today.

"Lets get this party back to going!!!" I scream into the mic.

The DJ who thinks he is a comedian starts the Counting Crows Mr Jones.

The crowd was electric and was singing along. I figured fuck it I start dancing on the stage. Just having fun and acting like the children I admire and love so much.

The song ends and I am winded. I walk back down to my stand and sit down. I feel kind of bad for Mr Quince now though. Because every single person here child and adult are thanking him.

Dee looks at me.

"You know this is all because of you?"
I shake my head at her and take a drink of a fresh Coke.

"No, Dee. Its because of you and your children. When I met you I was honest with you about my past. It was your first trust in me that created this."

I see a tear escape her eye.