The Premonition

School Daze Chapter 10

From the Very Odd Mind of

Eric Murphey

I wake up and I'm feeling goofy this morning. I don't know why I just want to mess with someone. I go to the kitchen after the bathroom and start making some pancakes. I'm just humming along and thinking whoever comes out first is in trouble.

A few minutes later Jim comes out rubbing the sandman from his eyes.

"Morning Jimmy." I say overly cheerful.

He looks at me funny.

"Morning dad.?."
"You feel like pancakes this morning?"
"Sure."
I grab his arm.

"No you don't silly, you feel like a boy."

"Dad are you high?"

I cant help but laugh.

"No."

"Grab some Tang buddy."
He just looks at me a few seconds puzzled and does. He sits at the table and takes a drink still eyeballing me

I just grin at him as big as I can.

"I'm going back to bed if you are going to be like this." He says making me laugh again.

I start the pancakes on the griddle and Eddie walks out.

"Morning Eddie? You feel like pancakes today?" I ask overly cheerful as I did to Jim.

"Don't answer that." Jim warns him.

Eddie gives him a weird look.

"Sure dad I always feel like pancakes."
So I have to do it. I just have too.

I reach out and grab his arm.

"No you feel like a boy." Jim says rolling his eyes.

"Really dad?" Eddie smiles when he says it.

He grabs some Tang from the fridge and sits down.

I cant see but I guess Jack is walking down the hall.

"Whatever dad asks ignore him." Jim warns him.

"For reals." Eddie adds.

Jack walks into the kitchen.

"Morning daddy you being bad?"
"Of course not Jack. Your brothers are just grumps in the morning. You feel like pancakes this morning?"

"No." He says to me.

"No? What do you feel like?"
He grabs his arm.

"Daddy I feel like a little boy."

Jim and Eddie roll with laughter because I got had.

"Oh really. You think you are clever do you?" I say with a maniacal grin on my face.

"Yes sir I am." He says with a straight face.

I snatch up his naked self and toss him over my shoulder and race to the couch and flop him on it and start tickling him. He is wracking with laughter.

"Please daddy stop." He cries out through his laughter.

"If you tell me how old you are if you were born 12 years ago I will stop."

He quickly answers.

"Twelve stop."

I stop tickling him, and look at him funny.

"You are rally good at word tricks.

"Yeah mom used to play them on me all the time."
"Oh I didn't know that. I wish I had I love riddles like that I think they are fun. Oh better flip the pancakes I bet." I rush over and sure enough it was time. I flip them.

"So dad why you in such a good mood today? I mean you are usually in a good mood. But today is um a bit crazy." Eddie asks me.

"Oh I don't know. I guess my life is really perfect. I got you three boys to love and take care of. Which is the best thing in the world to me. I love helping run the school. Its just so exciting watching all of you children learn and grow as people. Its really rewarding. Then I got a new friend with Mathew. Its pretty nice you know having someone like me that we an talk about stuff."
"But Earl and Grandpa Mike are like you too." Jim says.

"Kind of guys. But they like women too. I don't see I just find myself attracted to boys around your guys age. From what Mathew and I talked about I think hes like that too. It will be nice to have someone to talk to about feelings that will understand what I'm talking about."

"I get that. Like me and Jerry both loved football. Dad do you think we can have a football team?" Eddie asks.

"As much as I would love to say yes. I cant because in football there are injuries and we don't have any medical facilities. So we couldn't really treat anyone that got injured. But I wish we could."
I tell him sadly.

"Yeah I kinda figured that. But I had to ask."

"Maybe we could do flag football? I know its not the same. But it could still be fun."

"That might could work." He replies grinning.

"We might have to change some things around since we wont really have enough for any real games. Like maybe have 6 guys and girls to a team. Make the field smaller maybe. You know what. Why don't you and Jerry discuss it and figure it out. I bet Mike and Earl would love to help too. Because as you boys know I don't know shit about football."

"Yeah Mike could be a coach and Earl could be the other one." Jim puts his idea forth.

"That's not a bad idea Jim. Why don't you approach them about it in class today."
Eddie is grinning and not just because I put the finished pancakes on the table.

"Hey is Charlie going to school today?"
"I doubt it buddy. I'm sure they are still getting things sorted out."
"Yeah he got it sorted out yesterday. Eddie says. "Man I cant believe I missed tacos."
"Should have thought with your heart instead of your dick and you would have had tacos." I tell him.

"Yeah but it was fun." he smiles as he says it.

"I'm sure it was." I agree.

We finish and get everything taken care of. Then we get dressed and head to school. We all file in once we get there. The boys to their classes and me to my office. I sit down and look at the pile of paperwork on my desk.

"There just has to be a better way." I say as I glare at it.

I sigh and take the first thing off the top. I'm busy working away and hear a knock at the door.

"Come in." I say and look up to see who is interrupting me so I can love them even more. Mr Clay walks in. I'm thinking do I even know his first name. Hes older and deserves the respect anyway I think.

"What can I do for you Mr Clay?"
"Got a truck for Mathew. Its pretty much brand new. I figure he will like it."
"I imagine so. Got any others for me?" I ask with a goofy look on my face. He smiles.

"No just the one. It was my neighbors. I figure he isn't using it anymore and Mathew has those 4 boys out there. He needs a vehicle."
"I agree completely. When did you want to take it out to him?"
"Now if you got time."

I glance at the paperwork and back up.

"I got time."
We go out and I see it. Its a F150 4x4. Its a sweet looking truck for sure. Being out in the middle of nowhere I would be stuck. Him maybe not depending on how much snow we get. But we don't really have to go anywhere if we cant. So its really not a problem.

I let out a long whistle.

"Boy howdy that is a fine looking truck."
"You ain't lying.You know his payments were around $950 a month."
"For a truck? You got to be kidding me."
"No for 6 years even."
"No wonder everything went crazy."

"Why don't you drive it out and I will follow in mine."
"You sure? I don't mind driving my truck."
"I got this book on tape I'm listening to."
I laugh and tell him.

"Got ya. See ya there."

I hop in the truck and man this thing is nice. Now I like my truck real fine. Don't get me wrong. Its a good truck and we have been through a lot together. But man this thing is so nice. It rides like a Cadillac. I turn on the radio to see if there was a CD or something in it. Nope even better its stored in the radio. How cool is that. I find some old Bill Monroe songs. I like bluegrass just fine and I don't know for some reason it seems fitting at this time. I got it blasting and then Roy Acuff starts singing Wabash Cannonball. Well my foot got a little heavy I am singing along and I get up to their farm pretty quick. I was doing around 80. But with this truck I didn't notice until I looked down. I was surprised. I pull in and I see Charlie outside messing with something. He looks up at the vehicle and looks scared. I wave and he sees me and smiles and waves back.

I climb out of the truck.

"Hey Charlie how you doing today?"
"I'm doing real good. It was kind of weird sleeping in a regular bed again. But it was really nice too."
"I bet it was."
"Guess what else. We got about 200 rolls of toilet paper. I never been so happy to see it in all my life." He says grinning. "Plus I got to use a real toilet too. Man this place is great."
I smile at him.

"So where is your da....um Mathew?"

"Oh hes over talking to Mario about chickens. He says he don't know dick about chickens and he needs to learn so we can eat healthier than we have been."

"Excellent I knew he would be a guy that's on top of things."
Charlie giggles.

"Sometimes I am on top of things."

I laugh at him.

"Don't I know it you sexy boy you."
Aw that's cute I made him blush. I think its funny that he tried to embarrass me and I got him.

"I will go run and tell Mathew you are here." He says as he races off to Mario's. Its actually kind of close. I guess the people that originally built the houses liked each other or they were family. Not sure but the houses are pretty close. A few minutes later I see Mathew walking over carrying Charlie over his shoulder. I can hear him laughing from here. I see Mr Clay pulling in now. He parks behind the new truck and walks up as Mathew does. Mathew is admiring the truck as he walks up.

"Nice truck." He says.

"Man is it ever. Thing drives like a dream. I was zipping here didn't even notice how fast I was going."
"I kind of miss driving."

OK I'm still in a mood to fuck with someone still.

"You want to drive me back to the school?"
"Sure. I guess I can wait until you get done to come back."
"You could I suppose."
"I'm not walking that far if I don't have too. I like the truck but I imagine I will get another chance to drive her."
Mr Clay is just smiling.

"Yeah I suppose I will too."
"Huh?" Mathew asks obviously confused.

"Mr Clay says this was his neighbors truck and its nearly new. He figures you got the boys out here and needed a good reliable vehicle so he figured this one ought to do the trick."
"Your kidding me right?"
"No. Why would I do that?"
"Well why aren't you keeping it? Its way newer than your truck."
"It is. But my trucks a good truck. I've had it ten years and never had to do anything to it. You know other than a battery and things like that. Besides hes right you do need a vehicle and a farm needs a truck."
"I suppose so. Its just all so unreal. I mean I worked my whole life to try to get a house and a truck half this nice and never got close. Its just unreal. Its like I hit the lotto or something."
"I don't know. It just was sitting there. Seems like it ought to get some good use." Mr Clay says.

"Oh we will put her to good use. I'm sure of that. I was thinking Rick. You know how yesterday I said I wished I had a beer?"
My cock stirs at the thought.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I was thinking I could grow some hops and barley. Problem is where would I get hops?"
"Actually there were some hippies.…"
"Hippies? What are you like 90 or something?" I ask laughing. "Sorry I couldn't help it. Hippies?" I am still chuckling.

"As I was saying before chuckles started." I start giggling like Jack does. "There were these people that lived down from me a good piece. But they wanted to start a micro brewery. I bet all their stuff is still there. I think they were even talking about growing hops. If so its still there because hops is good for like 30 years or more."
"Hops is good for 30 years?" I ask.

"No the plant grows for 30 years or more. It grows up and then dies, Then grows back up the next season. Its my understanding they need a good amount of sunlight and you don't want them in and standing water for long. They don't like that. So plant in higher ground for certain."
"You sound like you know a lot about it." I say.

"Not really. I just would talk to them about it. They were good kids seemed to have good heads on their shoulders. Just liked to smoke that stuff you like Rick."

"I would love to see their setup. I did some brewing at home nothing huge mind you. But I would make a few cases a month. It was a fun hobby."
"I can show you after school. Why don't you drive Rick back to the school so you know where it is. Then we can go after."
"Sounds good to me." Mathew says shaking Mr Clay's hand.

"I just get some of the first beer you make." He grins.

"For sure. The first Matty daddy's are yours."
"Oh you are funny." Mr Clay says laughing.

"Where are the boys Charlie?"
"They said they was gonna look around."
"Call them." He tells him.

Charlie lets out a shrill sound that sounded like a very VERY loud cricket chirping. Within five minutes we are on the way back to the school.

The rest of the day was uneventful unless you want to count a paper cut. I think that's not really too much. The boys and I get home and I start supper. We are having fried chicken because a couple of ours stopped laying. I got a few more that are ready. But I don't like to slaughter them before we really need too. I also need to go this weekend and get a few good layers out for Mathew and his boys. Because we have way more than enough. We cant eat 3 dozen eggs a day. But we do take them to the school. I know the school distributes them to other people that are too infirm to raise chickens on their own. I think we really need to look into Mikes idea of a retirement home of sorts. We need to take care of our few elderly residents. We have about 17 that might want to go into a place that's more secure for them. I need to get the ball rolling on that. I should have Mike do it. I am still unsure how I became a county leader. Why they chose me to run a school seeing as how I myself only have a 2 year degree. But I guess someone had to do it. Maybe I'm the sucker that took the job?

The boys are outside playing seeing as how its a mild day. Its only about 40 so that's a good temperature to be outside playing in a jacket.

Eddie comes in.

"Dad! Mathew just pulled up in a super cool truck!"
"Are the boys with him?"
"Yeah."
I nod. I know all I want now other than why he is here and he will be in shortly I'm sure. I imagine my boys all want to see his truck and how cool it is. I'm sure of it because Eddie went back out as soon as he answered my question. But frying chicken waits for no man. I turn the chicken in the skillet and go to the fridge and pull out more. I start breading it as Mathew walks in.

"I hope its OK the boys said just walk in."

"I knew you were coming in is why they said that. Otherwise we kinda prefer knocking. Never know what may be going on." I say and wiggle my eyebrows.

He laughs.

"So what brings you to my neck of the woods?"
"Oh man. Mr Clay is awesome. We found like fifteen thousand hops seeds. I don't know how many barley seeds. We got the whole set up there. Mr Clay said he would help move some of it. But not the heavy things. He had a hernia before and doesn't want to risk another."
"I get that. We have a nurse practitioner here but no doctor. I'm sure she could perform surgery if she had to. But no reason to force the issue."
"Not at all."
"So when are we moving everything?"

"I was thinking......we?"

"Sure. Me and the boys will certainly help."
"But you said you don't like beer."
"I don't. Doesn't mean I wont help you get it going though. It seems like it might be kinda neat to do. I don't want to do it. But I want to watch you."
"Its an interesting process that's for sure. I think I will have lots of customers. Not sure how we will work that. I guess trade stuff. But I wont charge a lot. Maybe like an egg a bottle or something. Or something that's nice but is kind of plentiful around here."
"Chicken feed would be good."
"Yeah good idea for sure."
"So when are we going to move it all?"
"Was thinking Saturday would be good."
"I'm sure Earl and Mike will help too. I think they like to partake some. I don't know for sure. But I would guess so. Most guys like a beer here and there."
"Do you think they would?"
"Lets ask them."
I pull out the chicken and put new in. I walk over and grab the radio.

"Breaker one nine this is Heineken calling all you sud lovers you got your ears on?"
A minute or so later I hear Mike.

"What are you talking about?" He asks.

"Yeah buddy whats up?" Earl asks after.

"It seems our new friend here likes to brew beers. It turns out he has found a micro brewery he wants to move to his place. He needs some volunteers. You guys feel like helping?"

"Do I get beer?" They both ask at the same time.

Mathew nods.

"It seems to be an affirmative.

"Hey don't leave us women out." I hear Lupe break in.

I look at Mathew.
"Can you use the help of three girls and a woman?"
"Sure. The more the merrier."
"Lupe we are going Saturday." I tell her.

"Count me in. I love me some cervasa. Mario likes a few too. Makes him frisky."

"Tell them that we actually have some beer in the truck. The hippies ..."He chuckles."they stored a lot in like a root cellar. Mr Clay and I had one and it was pretty good. I found their recipe and think that fresh it would be great. But this isn't bad at all."
"Um guys he says he has beer in the truck."
"In the back tell them its ice cold."
"He says its ice cold."
"Ill be right there." I hear from Earl and Mike.

"Why don't you boys come over to my farm and we will have a little party." Lupe asks.

"I haven't been to a party in years." Mike says. "Count me and Sarah in. You want us to bring anything?"
"I think Tina is already in the car." Earl says while laughing.

"I can make some boiled eggs." Sarah says getting into the conversation.

"I can make some of Ricks famous brownies." Tina puts forth.

"You know what guys. I'm not trying to be a party pooper. But its already kind of late. By the time everyone gets there it will be around 8 or 9 and we all have work tomorrow. Why don't we schedule it for after we get the beer stuff moved. That way we can all just hang out and have a good time longer and not have to worry about responsibilities the next day."I suggest.

"You know Rick that does make more sense. We can plan it a bit better." Sarah agrees.

"Yeah then we can be together all afternoon and into the evening." Tina puts in.

Mike gets on.

"I got about 4 layers that ain't laying I can add to the mix."
"I can do two myself." I add.

"I can make some rice and we can have chicken and rice." Lupe suggests.

"Oh spicy like you do?" Earl asks.

"For you Earl yes. For the little ones. Not so much." She replies.

"Tell them if they don't want to wait for some beers I can drop some off." Mathew tells me to tell them.

I relay the message. He has takers on all fronts.
"He is going to be a while. We are fixing to have dinner."
I look at him.

"Oh you want to stay for dinner. Fried chicken and mashed potatoes and Lima beans."
"Sounds great to me. I'm sure the boys will agree."
"We will be waiting." They all tell us.

I turn the chicken and go to the door open it and shout out.

"Boys its almost ready. Come set the table."
"Man I tell you. I am so glad you found us. This is like paradise. I can be open with my boys in front of people. We got plenty to eat and the ability to make more. Not to mention the beer. Oh I so wanted a beer for ever. Now I got gallons and the ability to make more soon."
"I'm honestly surprised someone didn't think to do it sooner."

"Me too. I think people will really enjoy it. But I don't want to make alcoholics. I will make sure people aren't buying too much too often."
"I hadn't even thought about that. Good thinking sir."
Since there are 9 of us and only six spots at the table we are a little short here. But Jack, Charlie and Jim agreed to sit in the living room and use the coffee table.

We all sit around and have a good time laughing and telling stories about whatever that's funny. Even Den and Ben told a joke. We had to listen real closely because they don't speak loud. But they were funny. Found out Alvin is really good at doing different voices. He had some funny little jokes he did as well.

We had a blast and the boys cleaned up the mess. Mathew went off in his new truck to make deliverers like Santa Claus.

______________________________________________

ericmurphey1971@gmail.com

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