When they get home, Alejandro lets Buddy out; the dog is very pleased to see them. He is hopping up and down as Alejandro pets him.
"I bet you gotta go to the bathroom, huh Buddy?" he asks as he pets the overly hyper dog.
"Let’s go, boy!!!" he shouts and they both tear out of the garage.
Joey, Tran, and Eric walk into the house and Eric's tummy immediately rumbles.
"You got a tiger in your tummy, dad?" Joey asks as he pats Eric's tummy.
"I'm not used to not eating. I will make it, though. It’s a lot different knowing that I am going to eat when I break the fast, than when you guys just didn't know when you were going to break it. So I am hungry but I'm not stressed about it. I don't know how to make myself worry as well."
They all walk into the living room and sit on the couches.
"Ba, how about you try it again later, like this. We will just announce you can't eat until we say so. We won't tell you how long it will be, so you can have some worry about it, too," Tran offers.
"That may work."
"Dad, it’s easy. Remember on the island how hungry we were all the time at first until we figured stuff out?"
"I do recall that, yes."
"This will be worse because everyone around you is eating and you can't."
"This is going to be harder than I thought. The not eating part I think I can handle. I just can't get the real feel of it. I think Tran’s idea may work though. Maybe we can do it for a week or something. Say I eat, then you guys tell me when I can eat again. It may be a few hours or a couple days; I just won't know."
"I think that's a great idea, Ba."
"Of course you do, Tran, it was your idea," Joey says snidely.
"Joey," Eric says in his dad voice.
"I'm just saying it was his idea. It was a good one. but it was his."
"Don't worry about it, Joey. So Ba, what is this big secret favor you’re doing for Joy?"
"It’s hardly a secret. I just haven't been able to tell you boys yet. I think we should wait until Alejandro gets in so I don't have to repeat myself."
"I guess," Joey says, feeling a bit disgruntled.
"Joey, it’s only fair. You wouldn't want Ba telling us stuff without you here, would you?"
"No, but this is different."
"How? Because it’s not you on the outside?" Tran puts him on the spot.
'Well, yeah....I um, guess so," he concedes dejectedly.
Tran has a way of putting Joey in his place without making him feel too bad about it.
"We can wait a few minutes; we have waited this long."
"Tran, why are you always right? I mean just once can't you be wrong?"
"I'm wrong all the time."
"When?"
"At school, I get stuff wrong all the time."
"Yeah, but you still get all A's."
"Because I try real hard is why. If you tried you could as well. It’s why Ba is on your case all the time. He knows you can do better; you’re just being lazy. You think Ba became a millionaire because he is lazy?"
"Ha, you’re so wrong. I finally got one," Joey says grinning.
"How am I wrong?"
"Dad isn't a millionaire, 'member?"
Tran sighs.
"I love you, Joey." Tran tells him. "Now play me your new song."
"Dad, you want to hear it too?"
Eric grins.
"I always want to hear you play."
"Even at 3 in the morning?"
"OK, maybe not then. But let’s go listen."
They walk to the foyer where the piano lives. Joey sits in the seat and starts to play. Just as he starts, Alejandro and Buddy come racing in. Alejandro hears the song, slows down, and goes and sits on Eric's lap.
Joey plays the song beautifully. They all sit in silence for a good twenty seconds when Tran starts singing.
Oh my god. That’s my song
I listened to the radio all night long.…"
"What?" Eric asks, half-shocked.
"It’s a country song, Ba. I just thought it fit to sing now."
"You listen to country, Tran?"
"Sometimes; I like it."
"I just never thought you would."
"What, Chinese guys can't listen to country, Ba? You racist now?"
Eric laughs at him because he knows Tran is trying to pull his leg.
"I don't know, dad, we did have a black maid."
Eric starts laughing harder.
"Shut up you two," he chuckles.
It takes them a minute to regain their composure.
"So Ba, we are all here. Tell us what’s going on."
"Alright guys, here’s the deal. Last week Joy asked me to do a favor for her. I at first said straight-up no to her. Then I started thinking about it. I thought, well, it won't really affect us at all, so I don't see why I can’t say yes. But it may affect us slightly, possibly more; I don't know. But the point is I don't think it will. It’s why I didn't consult with you guys about it, because it won't affect you more than slightly."
"OK sure. So what is it, dad?"
"I think its tomorrow or the next day, I'm not sure which, but Joy will be....…"
The doorbell rings.
"I better get that," Eric tells them as he stands up with Alejandro in his arms, a sight no visitor to the home is unused to seeing. Or anyone that knows them for that matter. They love to be that close all the time. Eric opens the door and the president of the Noon Optimists is standing there with his wife and a couple other people.
"Mr Murphey, so sorry to bother you at home. But, I didn't give a check I promised to a certain young man. I was talking to a few friends and neighbors and they wanted to help out too. So I said just hop in the van and let’s go over there. I know they won't mind."
"Well all of you please come in," Eric invites them, stepping away from the door and opening the other one so they can enter more easily.
"We are just sitting around and Joey is playing some songs for us. Would you all care to join us?"
"That would be very nice, Mr Murphey." the president’s wife answers.
"Tran, why don't you see if our guests would like some refreshments and maybe something to nibble on."
"Oh, none of us can eat. But a Coke would be great," the president says.
Tran goes around and asks what they would like and Eric hears him a few times going over what they want. Surprisingly, two want ginger ale. Blech. Eric thinks. Or maybe he should keep getting it, people other than him seem to like it. Obviously the soda companies make a ton of it.
They all sit around the piano. In the room there are three couches and two chairs, which works out perfectly because each of the eleven people have a seat. Once Tran gets back and everyone is settled, Eric looks at Joey.
"Play my favorite for them."
"Sure, dad." he says with a wide grin. He knows what Eric’s favorite is and plays Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven to pull Eric’s leg. He looks at Eric when he starts and Eric smiles. Joey giggles and finishes the song. The people visiting clap when he completes it.
"OK, wise acre, now play my favorite song," Eric requests, grinning. Joey grins back and Eric wonders what he will play this time.
Joey puts his fingers to the keys and lightly starts playing Clair de Lune. Eric smiles, leans his head back, and closes his eyes to get lost in the beauty of the song. He lightly taps Alejandro's leg as he is listening. Because where is his son? On his lap of course. Buddy is in front of Eric's feet, this time not laying on them. But he isn't happy with all the guests; he isn't sleeping, just laying there looking around. The music seems to calm the little guy some, though. When Joey completes the song he smiles at the applause from the guests.
"Anyone care to hear anything?" he asks.
"Can you play that Spring one I like?" Alejandro asks.
"Sure. Anything for my brother.
He starts playing Mariage d'Amour by Paul de Senneville. This piece is sometimes erroneously referred to as Spring Waltz by Chopin, which confusion was due to mis-titled online videos.
As Joey’s fingers float across the keys, the visitors are enthralled by his playing. Tran speaks up.
"Would you play Nuvole Bianche?"
"Sure, Tran. Is that your favorite? I hear you listening to it all the time."
"I think so. There are so many songs to choose from for a favorite. But yeah, I think for now it is. It’s a good song for sure."
He plays it and the visitors clap again as he finishes.
"I was listening to some of Dad’s old CDs the other day. I heard this song and I wanted to try it. The vocals sound fun to sing. It’s kind of a sad song, but I liked it."
He starts playing Goodbye my Lover by James Blunt. When he finishes it, he goes right into You're Beautiful, also by Blunt.
He looks up when he finishes, and the visitors, Eric, and his brothers clap. Joey loves the attention he gets from playing now, but it also makes him kind of hate it, too. He feels like to get other people’s attention he has to perform for them. With Alejandro, just his presence in the room makes people happy. Tran is so smart everyone loves him. But Joey feels like he isn't as good as his brothers; he has to try harder for dad’s attention. He has to perform for them; he has no choice. He has to make dad happy, right? He knows dad loves hearing him play. He wants him to love him as much as he does Tran and Alejandro. He tries so hard but he thinks he is always fouling it up. Seems like he is always in trouble, and with dad that's not an easy thing to do.
"You want a soda or something?" Tran asks him.
"Sprite would be awesome."
"Be right back," Tran says racing off to get it.
"I have to say I am amazed at your son’s talent," the president’s wife says. "I knew he sang pop music, and I knew he did it well. But this is amazing."
"He is a very talented boy that's for sure." Eric says to her. "I think one day he may give up public performances. I don't think he really likes it that much."
"It’s not bad, dad."
"I know, but you don't like the grind of it."
"No, that kinda sucks for sure. But I love to play."
Eric smiles at him, in Joey’s head affirming his belief that Eric is only happy with him when he is performing.
"Now that this amazing concert is over, the reason we all came over is to give your boy checks for the food bank for him to deliver. We thought he would enjoy doing that."
"Sure I will. I like helping when I can,"Alejandro hops off Eric’s lap and heads over to the others.
They all pull checks from their pockets and hand them to Alejandro.
"Wow, this is a lot!!!"
"And, young man, after hearing your story that is what I am giving every month."
"Gee thanks. I know it will help loads of people. You don't know how much it means to them and to me," Alejandro says handing the checks to Eric.
"Poppi, you hold onto these since it’s a lot. I don't want to lose them."
Eric glances and it is a lot, maybe not by his standards but by most average ones. In his hand he is holding checks for around twenty-five grand, which coincidentally is what he gives monthly to the food bank.
"Wow, this is impressive. I know they will put it to good use," Eric tells his guests. He stands up, ready to take the checks to his office.
On his way out of the room he says, "Boys, why don't you take our guests on a tour of the house. People seem to like that."
"I have wanted to see inside this house since I was a boy," the president says.
While the boys guided them all around the house, Eric puts the checks in the wall safe. “For safekeeping,” he chuckles to himself about the pun. He walks back into the foyer and sits and waits for everyone to return, which they do a few minutes later, all chatting among themselves.
"Cheese and rice, now I see how the other half live," the president says.
"It’s a beautiful house, that's for sure. We are grateful to live here," Eric smiles at them.
"Thanks everybody for the money. I know I told you once, but it’s really a lot and will help lots of people get the tiger out of their tummies," Alejandro assures them with a huge smile.
"That’s cute, a tiger in their tummy. I will have to remember that one," the president says.
The guests all say their goodbyes after they all gush over Joey and his talents. He is blushing at all the attention, as much as he loves it. The attention still embarrasses him.
Eric and the boys head back into the living room and sit down.
"What’s say we watch a movie, guys. I’ll make you guys some popcorn and we can chill out and relax."
"Ba, really what did you promise Joy? I'm about to go crazy—every time you start to tell, us something interrupts us." He no sooner gets this sentence out than Eric's phone rings. He grins at Tran, who he can tell is about to go out of his mind.
"Hey Joy. Yes I was just about to tell them just now when you called."
He waits a second.
"Yeah, I think that's better if you don't mind."
He listens to her.
"Sounds perfect! Twenty minutes or so?"
Pause.
"Alright, see you then."
He ends the call.
"Dad, are we getting a new brother again?"
"No. But I am going to wait and let Joy show you."
"Damn it!!!" Tran lets slip out.
"Tran, be patient. You don't have to know everything," Eric cautions him.
"Ba?!?! Really?"
"So I guess the movie is off, then. You boys have school tomorrow and I have work. So after Joy leaves its time for showers and bed. Or if you are so inclined you can shower now while we wait for Joy."
"Dad, is Lucas coming?"
"I don't think so. But maybe."
No one thinks that showers right then are a great idea, so they wait with Eric while he watches the news. Alejandro is on his lap as usual, with Joey on one side Tran on the other.
"Ba?" Tran asks as a commercial starts.
"Yes?"
"I have been pondering
something and I can't decide."
"I say MIT."
"What?"
"I think that you should go to MIT."
"OK, but that’s not what I want to talk about."
"I'm sorry Tran, what is it? I was just getting your goat."
"Poppi, we don't have a goat."
Eric can see that whatever it is, is important to Tran and he is starting to get upset.
"I'm sorry Tran, is this something we need to discuss in private?"
"No, because it kind of involves all of you."
"Go ahead. I promise I won't interrupt again."
"Well, Tyler and I are boyfriends now."
"Yes."
"So if you know we all mess around is that cheating?"
Eric thinks for a minute.
"That’s a really good question," he replies.
"So is it?"
"Technically, yes, I think so. But the thing is, do you still want to mess around with us?"
"Yes. A lot. I love it when me and the boys play around and Ba I love when you make love to me."
"I have a suggestion. If the boys don't mind, explain to Tyler that they were both sexually abused before they moved in with us, that they like messing around, and you are helping them out as well as them helping you out. I think, though, that since you are in a commited relationship that I shouldn't do things with you. I think that's the right thing to do in this situation."
"But Ba, I love it when you do."
"I know you do. But I also don't want to ever come between you and a boyfriend that you may become serious about. I have s strong feeling that you will become very serious with him, and very soon."
"I don't mind if you tell him about me, bubby," Alejandro assures Tran.
"Me neither. I wouldn't mind messing around with Tyler, he’s pretty cute," Joey adds.
"So that may be your solution. You three boys sit down with him and explain the situation. Of course it goes without saying…"
"Not to mention you in this, Ba."
"Exactly. I would hate to lose you boys over it, or over anything for that matter."
"Joy wouldn't do that to us, would she, Poppi?"
"She might; I don't know. It’s not an answer I want to find out. Because if she suspects abuse, she must report it."
"But dad, you don't abuse us. We always start it."
"I know, but the law doesn't see it that way. They think you can't make up your own minds about things. I have never nor will I ever force any of you to do anything like that. I love you way too much for that."
"We know, Poppi."
"So Tran, what do you think. Is it OK if your boyfriend sleeps with your brothers too?"
Tran thinks a good minute.
"Yes, I think that would be alright," he concludes with an enormous grin.
Eric sees the bulge in Tran’s pants.
"It seems like you more than like the idea."
"It would be so hot. Him pounding into me and me sucking one of the boys while he sucks the other."
"OK, that's more than I really want to know about this," Eric protests, adjusting his now hard cock that is poking Alejandro in the butt.
Buddy lifts his head and barks once.
"I would bet that's Joy and the surprise," Eric says, grinning.
The boys race to the front door and Tran rips it open to reveal Joy and the surprise. Or is it surprises?
"Um hi, Joy." Tran says.
The rest of the family is standing behind him.
"Let them in, son."
Joy walks in with two boys that look about 14. One is blonde and one is black-headed. The blond has blue eyes and the black-haired boy has green eyes.
"Guys I want you to meet Johnny and Donny. They are about to turn eighteen and are going to age out of foster care. They both are going to attend Ball State in the fall and are going to be staying in the maid’s house." Eric tells them.
"We are sure pleased to meet you, Mr Murphey." the blond boy puts out his hand.
Eric shakes it as the other boy holds out his hand. Both giving a nice firm handshake.
"So Joy told me your names but which is which?" Eric asks.
The black-haired boy speaks up this time.
"I'm Johnny, and this is my older brother Donny."
"Joy said you are twins."
"He is eleven minutes older," Johnny says sarcastically.
"Well, lets go see the little house and you boys can decide what you need."
They all walk over to the maid’s house. It’s really a nice little house, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It’s around 900 square feet in total with the attached garage Eric put on for Julia after she got her car. They look around the house and the boys seem to really like it.
"Mr Murphey, we can't afford it, but we do thank you for your time," Donny says.
"We haven't discussed rent. How do you know you can't afford it?"
"We been looking around and this is about a thousand a month plus utilities. We will just get something close to campus that's cheap."
"Eric, what were you thinking for rent?" Joy asks.
"Actually I was thinking like $200 a month and they do the lawn work."
"Holy shit, Donny! We can afford $400 a month plus utilities. And it’s GREAT!!!"
"I meant $200 total, and the utilities are on the same bill as mine, so they’re included. Honestly, I am just thrilled to have someone in it. I worry with winter coming it could get damaged from frozen pipes or something. I figure this gives you boys a nice place to live while going to school and I don't have to pay a gardener anymore. Seems like a win- win to me."
"How much of the furniture stays?"
"Any of it or all of it, your choice."
"Seeing as how we got nothing, all of it will work really well," Johnny pipes up.
"So there you go. Let’s go to my office and we will sign all the paperwork and since you are yet to turn eighteen, Joy will have to countersign as your guardian.”
"Cool," the boys/young men say in unison.
When they get to the office it seems everyone followed. Eric sits in his chair and Alejandro is on his lap of course. Joey is at his side his hand on Eric's arm. Tran sat on one of the wing back chairs and Joy took the other. So Johnny and Donny sat on the couch which was about the only viable option.
"Now I need to be perfectly honest with you guys. I wasn't joking about the yard work. I expect you to be on it and that you’ll keep it looking good."
"We know, sir. We will do a great job for you, won't we Donn?."
"We sure will. Shoot, you are practically letting us live here free."
"Let’s just say we are doing each other a favor. We will be gone most of next month. Will you young men be OK? I will want you to keep an eye on the main house and check on it, and water the plants and stuff. I won't charge you rent or I can pay you, that would be your choice."
They look at each other and look back to Eric and smile and say in unison.
"No rent."
"OK fine then. Now we do have 1,500 acres here. The house sits on about 10 that we do maintain. I don't want or expect you to do more then maintain the areas already done. Now if you walk down the hill over here," Eric says pointing out the big window in his office, “that is where we will store the equipment. We have a shed down there that I think will work just fine."
"It sounds like you don't have any equipment."
"We don't. I have been paying a guy to do it."
"Oh sir we can't do that then. We can't take someones job. That wouldn't be right. No sir it wouldn't. As much as I like the house I just couldn't do it. Could you Donny?"
"Shoot no. You know I couldn't. That would be wrong and we got to do what’s right. So no sir, Mr Murphey, we sure do appreciate it. But we just can't."
"The thing is, guys, you’re not taking his job. He decided this winter to retire. He is an older man. You may know him, Mr Jackson. Joy, what is his first name?"
"Got me Eric. We called him Mr Jackson since we were kids together."
Eric chuckles.
"OK, so the point is he has been doing me a favor keeping it up for me until I find someone new. I have made a few calls but haven't chosen anyone. So really I need you guys to take it. You think your getting a good deal, but I am too. I pay about $150 every time they come out. If they have to mow say four times a month that's $600 I'm saving. Plus you are keeping an eye on the maid’s house and making sure it’s all good."
They look at each other and give each other a grin and a nod.
"If it’s like that, sure we will. We just didn't want to take the food off anyone's table is all."
"I promise you won't be doing that," Eric assures them.
"Jesus Christ, it’s like watching the fucking Disney channel in here with you guys," Joy says, laughing.
Eric gives her a shitty look but all the others laugh.
"Joy, they had a legitimate concern and I appreciate the fact that they wouldn't take someones livelihood away from them."
"I told you they were good boys," she says to him.
"You tell me a lot of shit. I believe maybe 10% of it."
"Whatever. You....You’re so full of shit."
"Ha, made you stammer; you owe me five bucks," Eric declares with a laugh.
"Kiss my ass."
"Joy, just mark anywhere; you are all ass," he retorts.
"Ba and Joy have been friends since they were in elementary school," Tran tells the other boys.
"Yeah like a miiiilllllion years ago," Alejandro spouts out.
"A million, huh?" Joy asks. "Who was it that wanted a favor from me the other day and I did it? Could a million-year-old woman do that?" she asks Alejandro with a smile.
Joey joins in the fun.
"What they didn't tell you was that Joy is super smart and skipped like a lot of grades," he tells the older guys.
"What are you, on Joy’s payroll now?" Eric looks at him.
"No dad, just doing like you say. Don't make people mad that handle your food or are any government worker, because they can mess with you in so many ways."
"You are a smart boy, aren't you?" Eric rubs the top of his head.
"You bet your boots," Joey grins.
Donny looks at Joey a second.
"You know you look just like that boy singer, what’s his name. Johnny?"
"Duh, cuz it is him. Sorry guys, sometimes my brother is so stupid."
"That’s a mean word. We don't use mean words against each other in this house," Alejandro tells him.
"I didn't mean it; he knows I'm joking, right bro?"
"I don't know Johnny, sometimes you say things and it hurts. I know you don't mean it but it does anyway."
Johnny looks at his brother.
"I’m really sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you. Why didn't you say anything?"
"Well, you know."
"Because I would have called you a fag or a pussy?"
"We definitely don't say that word here," Eric says quickly.
"Why, I'm the one that's gay, not him," Johnny says.
Eric leans back and looks at the young man who just told him he is gay.
"Here it comes,"Joey says. Everyone but the twins knew exactly what was getting ready to happen.
"Johnny, you’re gay, right?"
"Yes sir. I hope that's not a problem. I mean..…" He hangs his head.
"Hey hey hey. It’s not something to be ashamed of. Look at me," Eric tells him. Johnny looks up a tear forming in his eye.
"Johnny, it’s been proven time and again that it’s your genetics and not a choice. If I judged you for being gay it would be like judging someone for their skin color. Or the job they have. I would never do that to you. But you seemed to use the word fag pretty easily. When your friends and you are hanging out do you call yourself a fag?"
"Sure why not? I mean I am."
"So you work hard?"
"Sure. What’s that got to do with it?"
"Are you acting as a servant to an older boy at school?"
"Noooo," he answers slowly, not knowing where this is going.
"Do you have a certain end to light?"
"What?" he asks, so confused. The boys are just trying not to smile. Joy is smiling.
"Now if you don't believe me, you look it up when you get home. The definition of fag is to work hard. It’s also used or maybe it used to be used in England when a younger boy would act as a servant to an older boy. He was his fag. Not a bad thing in that sentence. It was his job in a way. Also in England they call cigarettes fags. It’s slang but a lot of people use it. So fag is not an acceptable word in this house because in America it is a derogatory term like nigger, spic, chink and cracker. Those words are not allowed in this house other than to explain something as I did just now or if it’s in a book. The boys almost had a stroke when I was reading them a Mark Twain book. So what I am saying is be proud of yourself. Don't put yourself down using that word to describe yourself. So what if other people don't think its right how you are. Be true to yourself and love yourself. You are gay or homosexual, never ever a fag."
"So you don't care I'm gay?"
"Why would he? I'm his son and I'm gay, and he loves me like there is no tomorrow," Tran explains.
Eric looks over at Tran and smiles.
"I'm so proud of you, Tran."
"Why, because they are the first people I told outside the family and well Tyler of course?"
"No because you are just you. It’s all you have to do to make me proud."
Joeys shoulders drop a bit at Eric giving Tran praise. He thinks, “See, he loves Tran more than me, too. What can I do to make dad love me?”
They all stay for a while after moving to the living room and talk about their lives, share with each other, and get to know each other. All in all, everyone had a good evening. Joy and the twins left and the boys and Eric showered and went to bed. The boys still have two days of school and Eric has work in the morning. He falls asleep thinking of working. For most it would be a bad dream but for Eric it’s heavenly.
__________________________________________________________
ericmurphey1971@gmail.com
Well, guys I have 2 more chapters after this that I have written then its time to pass the torch off.
I got a few emails asking why? Its pretty easy really. I love to write and create new things. While I love this story it is time for me to focus on new stories or I never will. Because I love this story and the characters so much I could see me writing it for 20 years. Which wouldnt be a problem but I wouldnt be able to get anything else out. I have nearly completed Mr Jones Place. I st have one part left and when its completed I will start posting it. Im guessing this time next week. Maybe sooner maybe later.
I appreciate emails when I get them. It just lets me know your thoughts and you are reading
As Always I wish you all
Peace Love and Good Happiness
Eric