Transitions Daily Life

Chapter 14

From the Odd Mind of

Eric Murphey

Eric woke the next morning excited about going to work. He thought he has always loved going to work. It may not have been that way if he worked elsewhere. Not to mention its temporary at best. Granted he could move anywhere almost in the country and take over one of his stores. But, that is not the goal. He just wants to help out his employee and friend Chris. He takes a quick bathroom run through. Trims his beard. Make his hair look like he isn't a mad scientist from a 1950s film. He gets dressed in his manager shirt he had made and walks downstairs to the kitchen. He gets there and has a bowl of Grape Nuts flakes. He likes them and the boys don't hate them. They will eat literally any other cereal before it. But Eric enjoys it. That's what matters to him right now. He finishes and writes a quick note to the boys.

Guys:
I will be home before you. But for breakfast there is some fruit in the fridge and cereal. Have a great day.

Love Dad.

He walks out to the garage and gets in the car and heads to his store. When he arrives he sees the employees are already in and he feels like a jerk for being late. Granted its only a few minutes. But lead by example Mr Brown always told him. If its important for them to be on time he better be. He hurries in the door using his key and heads to the office greeting everyone as he does. He greets the manager that's opening and heads out to the line to make sure everything is going well. He sees the work isn't where it should be so he asks the guy working the line getting breakfast ready. He doesn't know him and he obviously doesn't know who Eric is.

"I see your behind. Is there a reason?"
"Fucking night crew fucking only did half the shit they are supposed to. No one cleaned the fucking round egg machine so I fucking had to do that. Then the lazy fuckers didn't clean for shit. So I have had to clean shit before I even fucking started."
"Did you inform the manager on duty of this?"

"What fucking good would that do. I would still have to do all the fucking work before I got anything fucking started. Why do you even fucking care. Your just some big shot from corporate. You guys don't give two fucks about us workers." The guy says working away at a quick pace. Eric is working along side him getting things ready for open.

"But I will admit you are working right next to me. You got my respect. Most big wigs just fucking look and don't do dick. That's the problem when you work for big corporations like this. You get lost in the shuffle. But I like it. They pay us really well. Plus we got healthcare and that's a nice bonus for sure."
"Do you participate in the retirement plan?"
"I'm fucking 20. I don't need to worry about that yet."
Eric is helping the guy do his work and they get it all set up with a couple minutes to spare.

"Now is the exact time you need to start thinking about it. I mean you don't want to work until your 67 do you?"
"Fuck no. Who wants that?"
"If you start now saving and taking advantage of the companies matching program up to 5% of your gross you could have a really nice amount saved in a few years. Also you could use that for a down payment on a house and I don't think you would lose anything if you did. I would have to ask my tax guy to be sure. But think about it you save 5% you wont even miss and the company matches it so its like you are putting 10% of your wages back and its vested in 5 years. So if you just did that in 5 years you would have around 15 thousand saved in your retirement only half of it yours."
"That's an interesting idea. You smoke?"
"Not in years."
"That's cool I want to rush out before we get started. You want to join me?"

Eric shrugs and follows him out. He likes this guy. He talks rough but Eric can tell the guy is smart as a whip.

Once they get outside Eric starts talking again.

"You in college?"
"Yeah I go to Ball State. Its cool if I get good grades the company pays for it. I figure get while the getting is good."
"You are right about that. I never went to college and I regret it."
"How did you get to be a big wig if you didn't go to college I thought they required that shit?"

"They usually do. I got kind of a loophole."
"Whats that? Maybe I can use it."
"I own it." Eric says not bragging just matter of fact.

"No shit. I forgot they said you were working here while Chris was on vacay."
"Yep. I been working here for most all my life. Started legally at 14 but I worked here before that doing little things."

"You really do love this shit don't you?"

"I really do."
"Want a cigarette?" The worker offers Eric a pack of Kool.

"I shouldn't but it does look tempting." Eric says as he reaches for the pack and takes one out. He takes the lighter and lights the cigarette and takes a light drag. Its true he used to smoke ages ago but Mr Brown would give him Hell every time he saw him smoking so he just finally quit after a couple years.

"This tastes great." He says looking at it in his hand.

"Yeah they do. But if you go back to it all the time don't blame me."
"I wouldn't do either. But it is pretty nice." Eric says taking another drag. Once they get done they head back inside and the shit hits the fan fast. Customers are lined around the building in drive through and Eric and they worker are knocking out orders. Eric takes the lead and he is slamming sandwiches together like he never left.

"Round down please!" He shouts. The worker starts making some eggs.

"Griddle tray empty."
The guy starts putting griddles on the tray as the eggs are cooking and gets those in.

"Bacon tray empty."
Its quickly replaced with a new one and they guy pulls the eggs and drops bacon on the grill.

"Hot cakes gone."
This goes on for a good two hours just them getting hammered. Car after car after car and front counter order one after another. At 8 it slows down a bit and they get short breaks between cars. Eric grabs a towel and starts cleaning as he waits for orders. The worker has already been doing it. Eric sees dried onions under the sandwich board. He groans.

"Do you find onions here often?" He asks.

"Every fucking day."
"HM." Eric says miffed.

Eric puts his ass against the sandwich table and since its on wheels he pushes it back. He pulls out one of the grills and sees a mess.

Grease build up on the stainless behind. Trash underneath from who knows when. He pushes the grill back and then he pulls the other one. More of the same. He pulls the sandwich table back in place makes a couple orders real quick and then looks under the fryers.

"HM." He pulls them and sees build up on the sides.

Now to the untrained eye who just looks at the face the store looks great. But when you really look its filthy and Eric is not remotely happy about it.

"MAAAAARKKKK!!!!!" Eric bellows. To get the manager in charge to him. It doesn't take long when the owner of the company hollers for you to appear.

"Do you see this?" Eric says pointing at the build up.

"Yes sir."
"Why is this here? Can you tell me why in one of my stores we have grease build up?"
"Well sir...…"
"I tell you what we aren't having this shit in MY stores. I don't care what other owners do. But in my store I want to be able to drop something pick it up and eat it. THAT is how clean my stores are supposed to be. Who closed last night?!?!"
"I will check."
"You do that. I wont have this shit in my stores." Eric says after him.

"Marco sir."
"Is he the usual closer?"
"Yes sir."
"Let me see the managers schedule?" Eric says taking it from Mark.

He looks at it and hands it back.

Eric takes pictures and fires them off to his District manager.

This better be the only store like this. I am going to be checking because this shit will NOT be tolerated. People eat here for crying out loud. We want to feed them not KILL them.

Eric puts everything back in place and he and the worker whose name he learned is Floyd.

"Damn Mr Murphey I thought you were going to explode on him."
"Trust me I wanted to. I try not to lose my temper but when I pay people a fair wage I expect a fair amount of work for that wage. I don't expect to find my stores filthy."
"You really do care about shit don't you?"

"One time Dave Thomas the founder of Wendy's was asked why his hamburgers were square. He answered we don't cut corners. I thought that was a great answer. Did you know Ray Kroc the man that made McDonald's the huge empire it is today when he had his store someone came in at 5am and he was cleaning a mop bucket. Literally scrubbing it and he told them the reason is you cant get a clean floor with a dirty mop bucket. The trick in life is to pay attention to the small details. People may not see them or even appreciate them. But that's what makes things great. What makes things grow. If when I got this store I just did the bare minimum I would still have just one store. A lot of people think its hard work that drives success. Granted it does take hard work too. But if you make sure everything is good then you will be too."
"So no dried onions on the table."
"Exactly."

"You know I liked the way you told me what you needed on the board. It helped a lot. Chris just puts the trays aside and I have to just pay attention. But with you I could be doing other stuff until you hollered.
"Chris gets focused on the board. You have to make him talk. When he was my assistant I would drive him nuts. Ask him about it. He will laugh. I would constantly be hollering you need anything Chris. Of course I worked fronts but I wouldn't hear him for a while and knew he was in his world. You got to drag him out."

"Wont he be mad?"

"No not Chris he is a good guy. He will laugh and start doing it. You just have to remind him of it. Seriously every day."

"Damn you work that board like magic though man. It was amazing watching you. You just fly man."
"I should been doing it my whole life it seems."
"I took a video of it I hope you aren't mad."
"I don't care. Put it on the tick tak or whatever its called. Maybe you can make a few bucks from it."

"Cool I was just going to show my business professor and the class because I just think that it would show you really care, and you will do what needs to get done."

"Isn't that how its supposed to be?"
"You would think."

"You got lunch stuff prepped and ready to roll at 10:30?"
"Yes sir I do."
"Awesome. Go have a smoke I got this." Eric tells him.

"Cool." He nods and races outside.

Eric smiles. Man is Marco going to be surprised tonight. His phone has vibrated several times. But he is working so he ignores it. Floyd pops back in and they are working away getting breakfast finished and a couple others have joined the kitchen crew. Mornings are easy you really just need two in the kitchen if you do it right. They get lunch started without a hitch and right around 1 the district manager walks in.

"I've been texting you." He tells Eric.

"I'm busy working. Were busy drop some reg meat while your standing there doing nothing." Eric tells him as he preps a Big Mac to slide to the next person.

"I'm a district manager. I don't do that."

Eric stops what he is doing.

"Floyd can you take over for me please."
"Gotcha boss."

Floyd hops on and is prepping the sandwiches as Eric had been doing. Eric pats him on the back.

"I wont be long. Just need a quick conversation here."
"Cool. Take your time."
Eric glares at the DM and walks to the office. When the DM walks in Eric slams the door hard. He points his finger at the DM.

"Let me tell you something mister. You think your too fucking good to make a hamburger? Because your a district manager? I own I believe 577 franchises and I can make a fucking hamburger!!!! Do you think your better than me?!?!?! Are you better than Floyd out there that is going to college studying business?!?!?!"
"Sir…"
"Shut up when I'm talking to you." Eric is furious by now. He is starting to scream at the guy. "Let me tell you another thing." Now the boys all know when Eric starts saying "let me tell you." The shit has hit the fan and a lot of it.

"I cant believe how shitty this store looks."
"Chris is the manager...…"
"I pay you a huge fucking salary to make sure my managers are doing their jobs. You come in here acting all high and mighty telling me you were texting me. Let me fucking tell you something you don't tell me anything you have done because I sure don't fucking see it in this fucking store." Eric is turning red in his face now as he continues to scream at this man.

"We have a responsibility to MY customers to have clean stores they can eat at and not get sick. I am not sure its completely possible in this store to be perfectly honest. Do you know my boys and I eat here often? No you know what we are going to do?" IF Eric says this to the boys telling them "what they are going to do" they know they sure as Hell aren't going to like it.

The man just shrugs afraid to say anything to him. He has known Eric a long time and never seen him angry. He isn't sure he has even heard him swear. So he is shocked but not totally. He knows Eric takes his stores very seriously. He knows what he expects and he knows he hasn't been doing it. He didn't want to tell Eric but his wife has breast cancer. Its pretty well moved along and they aren't sure if she will make it or not. He knows he should have taken time off. Eric would have paid him. But he just didn't want everyone to know his and his wife's business.

"I'm pretty sure that Floyd can handle that line and I know Mark is a good manager. I'm going to go make sure they wont hurt if I leave. Then we are going to go visit every one of your 8 stores, That for some reason I felt it was a good idea to put you over and see the condition of those."
"Yes sir."

Eric walks back out and the crew is staring at him. He smiles and walks to the front to talk to Mark.

"Mr Eric is everything OK? I heard you screaming at Mr Jones."

"Everything will be just fine in a few days. I was wondering would it hurt you if I left? I don't want you to say no if it will. I want honesty here. If you need me I will stay no problem and not be upset."

"To be honest sir no I don't need you. Floyd is kicking ass. I saw he is doing things like you do them instead of how he did do them. He is moving pretty damn quick."
"Alright let me go ask the kitchen crew if they mind. I don't want to leave them out of the mix seeing as how it affects them the most."
"OK."
Eric walks back into the kitchen and sees two empty trays of meat next to the grill. He grabs a stack from the freezer and smacks them on the grill to break them loose. He starts flipping the patties on the grill.

"Do you guys think you will be alright if I leave for a few hours possibly the rest of the day?"
Eric does the same thing and loads up four of the grills quickly. As the last grill head drops he is removing the first patties after the McShake. (Its a salt and pepper mix. I really don't know what its called I always call it that. If you really want to know I will find out.)

"No I think we are good. Are you good Mr Murphey?" Floyd asks.

"I'm good why do you ask?"
"We kinda heard you screaming sir." Floyd answers.

"Sorry about that guys. I kind of lost my cool. I get upset when my stores are dirty. Its not your guys fault. Its my management team. Apparently they have forgotten the rule of cleanliness. But you guys are doing great. I appreciate each and everyone of you." Eric says pulling the last of the patties off the grill and puts them in a tray and pops them in the unit hitting the timer buttons for each. The crew is smiling from the compliments. Eric grabs a Big Mac bun and pops it in the toaster and he grabs a box. He zips down the line and makes a Big Mac. The crew looks at him like what the Hell boss.

"I'm hungry and a Big Mac looked good today."

They smile and he takes off. The DM on his heals.

"Were going to Vicki's store first because I KNOW her store is fine. I will meet you there."
Nine minutes later Eric is pulling up at her store and walks through the doors and into the kitchen. The crew is looking at him like who the fuck are you. Because he rarely comes to this store. He pulls a fryer out and a big guy walks up to him.

"What are you doing man?"
Eric glares at him and the guy backs down quickly.

"Um Vicki you might want to come here." He shouts over his shoulder. But stands in his place. Eric pulls out the fryer and looks and its perfect. Just like it was the day it arrived.

"Perfect." Eric says.

He just sails by the big guy and walks into the sandwich area and pulls a grill out. He looks at the floor and the grill area behind it. As he is doing this Vicki shows up.

"Eric what are you doing?" She asks curious. As she asks the DM walks in the back.

"Well, I have found a few things I don't care for at Chris' store and wanted to make sure it wasn't a company wide thing."

Vicki knowing Eric as long as she has looks at him.

"Grease build up?"

He nods. The crew is looking at them wondering what is going on.

"Now crew when I tell you I need this cleaned properly this is exactly why. You probably don't know who this is but its Mr Murphey the Owner of our store. Mr Murphey is a real stickler for cleanliness. Probably because Mr Brown taught him. Mr Murphey takes it very seriously. So you know I am not bullshitting you when I tell you about him. He can be a pain in the ass or the nicest guy in the world. If you do what your supposed to you will love him. If not you will still love him. But not as much."
"Hey Mr Jones." He hears one of the crew members say to the DM.
"Hi Marcus. You doing OK?"

"Yeah the test came back negative this time."
He can see the DM grin.

"That's great. I'm so happy to hear it." He tells him and puts his arm over his shoulder.

"Thanks for telling me about the program the company has for people that are sick. The insurance we have for it is good. But it doesn't cover everything. But the extra sure helped sir."
"Glad I could help." Eric is listening to them and Vicki telling the crew a story about one time Eric was about 16 and she has a picture of him scrubbing the bottom of a table.

"So I ask him. Why are you scrubbing the bottom seems silly to me. So he says to me sit down and slide over. So I do and he says what did you do? I said I slid over. He looks at me and says how? I think a second and cant for the life of me think what he is talking about. He says watch. So he sits down and slides over. I said you grabbed the table and pulled yourself over. He says yeah and what good is it to wash your hands before you eat if you touch the same thing that a million other people touched? That is the kind of man Eric Murphey is."

Eric holds up his hands and smiles.

"Well, its true."
"So that's why you have us wipe the edges of the bottom of the tables then?" A young girl of 16 asks.

"That's exactly right. Because he made me see I was thinking of everything. That's why hes got more money than Texas. Because he thinks about everything."

"I do not. Vicki I want to see you in your office for a second."

"Sure boss." She says grinning.

The DM follows behind. Once they get there another manager is in the office doing something and starts to leave.

"Your fine this is only going to take a second." Eric tells her.

She sits back down.

"Vicki you are doing a great job here. Apparently so is your management team and crew. I want you to use the cash we bring in today to do this. I will let the office know I told you to. But I want you to give every crew member a hundred dollars cash and tell them I want to thank them very much for their hard work and dedication to the store and keeping it so nice."
"They are gonna flip Eric."
"I think hard work deserves an extra pat on the back once in a while."

"Thanks Eric I will let them know exactly what you said. Management the same?"
"Yes."

"OK."She answers.

Eric looks at the DM and tells him the next stop. When they get there Eric pulls in and beats the DM again. However Eric is still upset and not exactly doing the posted speed limit. He is doing the speed limit just not for the roads he is on. He does the same thing as before. However he figures they got a heads up because no one confronts him. They are acting like some crazy guy strolls in every day and starts pulling equipment out. The manager appears as if by magic.

"Hello Mr Murphey what can we do for you?" She asks in pleasant voice.

"I'm just inspecting as I'm sure you know."

" I had heard something through the grapevine about it."she says as the DM walks in the store.

"There's our grapevine now. Where is your maintenance person?"
"Its Bob hes over here. He just started a couple weeks ago. I have been having a hard time finding a good one."
"Always a problem it seems." Eric agrees.

They walk over to Bob.

"Hi Bob I'm Eric Murphey I own this store. How you doing today?" Eric says holding out his hand. Bob shakes it.

"Pretty good I guess."
"Well, Bob you got your work cut out for you that's for sure. Being a maintenance guy for one of my stores is a lot of work. I expect a lot out of my people. But its also not something I wouldn't do myself." He says and glares at the DM.

"Now Bob. I want you to go get a ladder I want to show you something."
Bob races off and is back in a moment with a ladder.

"Now Bob I know you have only been here a short time. But these ceilings are filthy. I'm going to show you a quick and easy way to clean them. Eric takes the ladder and pulls a tile. He walks back to the sink area and grabs a bottle of degresaser and a green scrubby he tears off some of. He liberally sprays the degreaser on the tile and starts scrubbing it with the scrubby. See all this yellow crap?"
"Yeah."
"That's grease buildup. I do not like grease build up anywhere even on the ceilings. I think its gross and don't want it in my stores." Eric wipes the yellow foam off the tile and the tile looks brand new.

"See like magic. Now Bob I know that you just started and this isn't your fault. But I want this cleaned. I think a month would be enough time to get it done. When Bob gets that done and it looks great I want you to give him a $200 cash bonus." He tells the manager.

She nods.

"You mean you are going to give me a bonus for doing my job?" Bob asks.

"Yes because its a lot of work added to you. After this I will expect you to keep on top of it without thinking of anything extra. Because as you said it is your job. But I also like to be fair. Because it shouldn't be like this and I know after today it wont be anymore. Am I right?"
"Yes sir you are." Bob says grinning.

"Thanks Bob I really do appreciate how hard you work." Eric tells him and puts his hand on his shoulder as he does.

"Your welcome sir." Bob is on cloud nine. The extra $200 will pay his overdue light bill he has been stressing. He will get this done quick he thinks. Gosh $15 an hour and boss that gives a shit, is what Bob keeps thinking.

Eric the manager and DM go to the office and he sets up the same bonus for her store. Off to the next and next they go.

Most of the stores were up to par. A couple were not. No bonuses for them. But word will get out and people will start thinking about it and do more. Eric looks at his watch and sees its time to go home after the last store.

"I want to see you tomorrow at my store at 9:30." He tells the DM and goes home to his loves.

When he gets home he lets Buddy out who is thrilled to see him. He walks from the garage around front and Buddy is racing from bush to bush trying to find the "perfect" spot to pee or take care of whatever business he has. Eric sits in one of the lounge chairs on the porch. Buddy brings him the ball. Eric tosses it and Buddy chases it for a good 20 minutes and his arm grows tired. He is still irritated by the shape HIS store was in. He is going to have a serious talk with Chris when he gets back. He sure isn't going to let it stand. He goes inside and Buddy follows him to the living room to his antique stereo as the boys call it. Its not he got it in 2000 its a Pioneer and was top of the line then. The only complaint Eric ever had about it was from the neighbors. He bends down and opens the glass case and pulls out get this a record. Like on vinyl. The boys the first time they saw them were confused.

"You mean music is on that thing poppi?" Was Alejandro's response.

He looks at the record as he pulls it out and blows a bit of dust off. He puts it on the turntable and starts the record. He sits down and lets the music overtake him and his soul. He closes his eyes and thinks how is best to handle this situation. He is upset with himself that he let himself lose his temper and literally scream at someone. But its important to him that every single store is clean. He doesn't want anyone to get sick from something he sold them. He knows he isn't going to fire anyone. But they will know he isn't happy even remotely. He hears in the kitchen.

"Ba had a bad day."
"Yeah that's Ella he is listening to." Joey replies.

"Wonder if we can help?" Is Alejandro's response.

He hears whispers and then nothing because he allows the music to take over his mind again. A few minutes or hours Eric is so lost he feels someone sit next to him. He keeps his eyes closed and puts his arm over Joey. He kisses the top of his head. Then he feels someone take the other side. He puts his arm around Alejandro.

He kisses the top of his head. He feels a hand on his cock. He opens his eyes and looks down and sees its Trans.

"Tran you have a boyfriend. We discussed this." Eric says softly.

"I know Ba but I want to."

"I want a Ferrari but I cant get one." Eric replies.

"Yeah you can dad."
"OK. Bad example. I just don't feel like doing anything guys. Sorry."
"What happened poppi?"
"It was nothing you need to concern yourself with. Its owners worries."
"But poppi aren't we kind of owners too in a way?"
"One day you certainly all will be. Or if no one wants the business I guess I will have you guys sell it off when I die."
"I want to run it poppi."
"But your going to be a doctor I thought."
"I can do both."
"It takes a lot of work." Eric tells him.

"Ba you hardly work."

"I do work a lot you guys just don't see it so much because your at school. I have to oversee a lot of things and approve lots of things."
The record ends and the arm lifts and goes back to its resting spot.

"Joey go and flip the record please."
Joey smiles at being trusted to touch one of Eric's favorite records. He gets up and he lifts the lid like Eric showed him. He grabs the edges of the record with his finger tips. As he does Buddy barks and startles him and Joey jumps and loses his balance in the process. As he falls the record slips from his hands and sails about 5 feet into the corner of a table and snaps in two. Joeys eyes get big as saucers and he doesn't even wait for a reaction from Eric. He starts racing on all fours and works his way to his feet and is gone in a flash.

"Joey. JOEY!!!" Eric shouts after him. Joey isn't coming back and Eric knows it. He races after him. Joey is already at the top of the steps and turning to his room. Eric is after him quickly.

"JOEY STOP!!!" He shouts.

Joey isn't stopping. He keeps racing and Eric hears his bedroom door slam. Eric grabs the nob and turns it and walks in to see an empty room. He walks to the bathroom and no Joey. He knows he is in here without a doubt. He looks under the bed and everywhere. He hears a whimper from the closet. Eric walks over to it and opens the door. He sees little feet poking out from behind clothes. Eric walks into the closet and shuts the door behind him to slow Joey down if he bolts again.

Eric hears Joey sniff and try to not make any noise.

Eric sits down on the floor and leans against the door.

"Come here Joey." He says calmly.

"No way your gonna hit me."
"I'm going to do no such thing."

"You say that now."
"Have I ever hit you?"
"No but there's always a first time."
"I wont. I promise."

Joey still hasn't moved.

"Its why you love Tran and Alejandro more because I'm always doing stupid stuff."
This statement of course upsets Eric to no end. How can he think this? Is his first thought. Eric is up on his knees in a second after Joey says this and is pushing through the hanging clothes he is hiding behind. He wraps his arms around the crying boy and hugs him tight.

"Oh Joey where did you ever get such an idea. I love you all so much it cant possibly be measured."
"But Alejandro sleeps with you all the time. I don't."
"He comes in my room and asks. Have I ever told you no you cant sleep with me?"
"Well, no. But, you take him everywhere."
"I take him because he asks. Don't I take you when you ask as well?"

"Well, yeah."

"Joey because of your past I let you decide how close you want to be with me. I wish you would go with me more. I wish that you would come sleep with me more. But you don't. Its your choice to keep a little distance from me. I figured it was because of your past and you were scared to get too close. You know I love you right?"
"Sure. But your only happy with me when I'm playing music."

"Joey that's not true at all and you know it. Now don't you? I'm always proud of you. Sometimes yes I'm not happy with you. But that's usually because you have done something I don't approve of. Just like with your brothers."
"You are never unhappy with Tran."

Eric is still holding Joey and Joey is leaning up against Eric. Not hugging and trying to find reasons why he isn't loved as much as his brothers.

"But I saw how proud you looked at Alejandro when he won that award."
"Of course I was. I give the same look to you all the time. Many times when you aren't playing music. Don't you recall last report card you got and you made honor roll. How proud of you was I then?"

"Pretty proud I guess."
"You guess really?"
"OK you were real proud."
"Yeah I was. Because I know that you were trying your best. Do I make a big fuss over the other boys report cards like that?"
"No but they get better grades then I get. I mean like always better. No matter how hard I try I cant do better then them in school."
"Joey I don't want competition. I want your best. Always your best. You are a smart boy and it upsets me when you don't do your best. The reason I get upset is because I love you so much. Not because I love the others better. Picture this. You go on your concert tour right." Eric pauses.

"Yeah."
"But you don't practice. You don't work with the people and the choreographer. What do you think would happen?"
"It would be a mess."
"Its the same thing with your homework. Its preparing for the future. I want you to have the best possible future you can have. I'm harder on you because I have to be."
"Its cuz I'm lazy."
"I wont say your lazy. Because your not. You would just do anything else than homework. Trust me I get it. I wasn't a great student either. But Mr Brown and my dad made me a deal. If I didn't have honor roll every grading period I couldn't work. That motivated me to work harder. I keep trying to find what will motivate you other than nagging like I'm a wife or something."
With that Joey chuckles a little and sniffs.

"But aren't you mad I broke your record?"
"No I'm not mad. Its a record I can get another record. I cant get another Joey."
"I'm sure Joy could find a good replacement."

Eric still hasn't let go of Joey yet. He is still holding him tight. Joey puts his arms around Eric neck.

"I don't want a new Joey. I love this one very much thank you very much." He says giving him a tighter embrace.

"But aren't you even a little mad about it? You had that record like a million years."
"I didn't have it exactly that long. I'm upset sure. Not at you it was an accident. I'm upset at the situation. I mean who would know that Buddy would bark then and you would lose your balance. But I'm sure I can eventually find another copy of that record. I don't think with the internet it will be too hard."

"No probably not. Maybe a few minutes. But I want to pay for it dad out of my allowance."

"No Joey if you did it on purpose that would be one thing. But it was a genuine accident."
"Dad please it would make me feel better."

Eric gently rubs his sons back.

"If it makes you feel better sure."

Eric leans back letting go of Joey for the first time in a good five minutes they have been talking.

He sits on the heels of his feet.

"Let me show you how much I love you."
Eric presses his thumb and index finger together as tight as he can.

"That much."
"Dad that's nothing at all. Your even pressing real hard." Joey says with big eyes.

"You don't see it?"
Joey looks confused.

Eric points at his thumb nail.

"You see the love starts right here. Then it goes all the way around the world and hits here." He says pointing at his index finger.

Joey smiles.

"That's a lot."
"Yeah it is. Just think I got it three times just like that." Eric says raising his eyebrows showing Joey how serious he is.

Joeys hands are still on Eric's neck.

"Joey I tell you what. I am going to start asking you things to do with me. So that way you don't feel like I don't love you as much. As a matter of fact I was going to do something tonight. But I will put it off until tomorrow and you can come with me and help."
"What is it dad."

Eric explains to him in detail what he is going to do.

"Dad."

"Yeah buddy."
"I think the other boys would like to go too."
"But its your choice if they do. We can do this alone if you want."
"No but its real nice that you gave me the choice."

"I really mean it. If you just want you and me we can do that."
"Dad do you think we could do a project this summer. Maybe you and me and my brothers?"
"What did you have in mind?"

Eric leans back and sits Indian style. (Legs crossed and feet tucked up to him) Joey takes the lap that was just created.

"Well, you know your and Alejandro's secret spot?"
"I thought it was all of ours now?"
"No Tran and I talked about it and we wanted it to be more special for Alejandro. So we want it to be his and your spot not ours. Too many people ruin a good thing sometimes."
"You have a point I suppose."

"Well, I was thinking that old tree isn't doing so good. It looks like it will break in two any day now."
"Yeah I noticed that. Its been like that for probably 30 years or more I guess."
"What if we built a little club house for Alejandro to go to. Have it like go across the little ditch and maybe have like a wood sidewalk on both sides going to it? That way he would have a special house in a special spot. Made from all of us who love him."

"I think that sounds like a fine idea."
"Tran said he would pay for part of it with his allowance and so will I."
Eric smiles.

"I think its going to be a little expensive so I will get it. But you will certainly get the credit for it. You and Tran talk about anything else I should know about?"

"No the rest is brothers secrets."
"I love you so much Joey." Eric says hugging him tight to him and kisses the top of his head.

"I love you too dad."Joey says hugging him back.

"Um dad?"
"Yeah?"

"Um can you help me?"

"Of course I will help you. Are we robbing a bank?"
Joey laughs.

"No silly." He takes Eric's hand and puts it on his throbbing little boner.

"Oh that kind of help." Joey nods and smiles. He lifts Joey up and stands him in front of him and slips down his jeans and pulls them off. Joey lifting his feet as he needed to to help. He lays Joey down on the floor of the closet.

"Dad the carpet is super soft in here."
"We don't walk in here much."
Joey nods as Eric takes a hold of his bouncing penis between is thumb and index finger and starts to slowly rub up and down.

"Trans feels weird with the skin on it."
"It feels different yes."

"Tastes different too."

Eric smiles.

"Yes it does." He bends down taking the hint and engulfs Joeys cock in his waiting mouth. Joey hisses as Eric does.

"Oh dad that's so good."

Eric starts to bob up and down and is playing gingerly with Joeys balls.

Joey lets out a long moan of approval at this. Joey lifts his legs up his feet on the floor and spreads them wide. Eric knows what Joey wants and he starts playing with is stars little star. He lightly brushes his finger over it as Joey moans with approval.

"Put it in." Joey pants.

Eric keeps bobbing and his saliva has pooled down over Joeys tight little boy hole he rubs his finger around in it for a moment and then slips in up to the first knuckle the slowly pushes in to find his boy button.

"Oh dad right there yes."
Eric starts toying with his boy button and Joey starts pushing up into his mouth.

"Oh dad its so good."

Eric slips in a second finger and Joey starts to really moan.

"Oh dad you always know how to make me feel so gooood oh oh oh." He pants out.

Eric feels Joey reaching his peak and he doesn't want that. He wants him to really enjoy it for a while. He backs off his cock and starts sucking his little tight hairless sack. Its like silk in his mouth its so smooth. Eric licks and sucks on his balls slowly pushing his fingers in and out of his tight little boy hole.

"Oh dad stop teasing me."
"You ready to cum?"

"No I want you to put it in me." Eric thought it sounded like an order from his son. Eric thinks well I wont be put out by making love to my son that's for sure. He reaches down with his free hand and frees his hard member through the zipper of his pants. He wants to be naked and feel Joey against his flesh as well. But there just isn't time for such things.

"Let me get it ready dad."
Eric waddles up to Joey on his knees and keeps his fingers in his hairless pucker working them in and out. Joey takes Eric's cock in his mouth and sucks him and slobbers all over it.

"That should do it." Joey pronounces.

Eric is glad at a time like this he isn't some guy with a massive 10 inch cock because this would never work without lube. What he has is a normal sized cock of about six inches maybe a little thin. But seemingly perfect for boy butts. Eric works down to between Joeys legs and pulls his fingers from his tight hole and pushes his cock up to the little star and pushes in. The head pops in without any issues and he slowly slides the rest in to the hilt.

Joey and Eric both moan as he fills him up with is hard member.

"Oh daaad." Joey says and it sounds so loving and so beautiful Eric's eyes well up as he slowly starts to pump in and out of him. Joey is moaning with each thrust and is pushing his ass up to Eric. Eric reaches down and hooks Joeys legs in the crook of his arms had pushes his knees to his chest.

"Oh yeah do it hard and fast dad." Joey says sounding more excited than he was before. If that's possible.

Eric starts to hammer into his boy and Joey is loving every thrust into him again and again.

"Oh Joey you feel so good."
"Dad oh yes right there dad right there. Oh yes yes yes. Oh dad hit it yes. Oh dad fuck me hard."
"Who loves you more than anyone?"
"You do dad. You love me more than anyone. Oh yes dad you love me."
"Yes I do." Eric pants and he moves up and is hovering over Joeys ten year old body and his slamming his cock in and out of him as fast and hard as he can.

"Oh dad I'm so close." He feels Joeys hand work between them and feels his son stroking his cock fast as can be. He feels Joeys ass tighten for the first constriction of his cum. Eric starts to unload as he feels that.

"Oh yesssssssssssss." Eric hisses as he unloads rope after rope of cum into his cumming boy. It turns Eric on even more feeling Joeys hand still beating his meat between them.

"Yeah Joey cum hard for daddy."
"Oh daddy I'm cumming oh yes oh its so goooooood."
Eric sees Joeys toes are curled up like little fists. It sends Eric orgasm into overdrive knowing he is giving him that much pleasure. Eric finishes and he slows down his pumping to a slower pace and is just casually pushing in and out of Joeys now stretched hole.

"Oh dad that feels so nice. Just slow in and out."
Eric keeps it up a minute or two and then slowly comes to a stop. They are both panting and in their after glow. Eric slides his cock out and it makes a popping noise making them both giggle like little boys at a fart. Eric lays next to Joey who stretches back out.

Joey lays his head on Eric's chest.

"Joey sex isn't love."
"I know that dad you tell us that all the time. Its a way to make someone you love feel really good. But its not love. But it is making love because you want your partner to feel so good."
"Exactly. I love you not because of sex. Certainly not because of your talent because I loved you before I knew you had that. I love you because your you. And you are my son. That makes you very special in my heart."

"I love you to dad. Not because of all the stuff. But because I know you love me no matter what. I don't know why I think things like I do. Maybe I'm stupid?"
"Hey. You are most certainly not stupid. You sometimes worry about things you don't. have to worry about anymore. Your brothers have the same problem. You know this."
"I know but its hard."
"I know. But you now what? We will get through it together. Side by side hand in hand if you want. But we will get you to believing that no matter what I do love you and will forever."
"I always know that. But sometimes....well you know."
"I do know."

They lay like that and just talked for a good half an hour to forty five minutes. Just them talking about nothing but it was really everything. It truly meant the world to both of them to just have this little bit of time together. They both know the other boys wont bother them because they know Joey was having an issue and Eric likes to handle that without a crowd. Its a special time to him and to them. Its a time to bond and love each other more and more. Its a time to let your guard down and let the other person in. As much as Eric hates the boys having issues its what has truly brought them as close as they are. Maybe that's why like what Alejandro said the other day that other families aren't as close. Maybe they don't have the issues they have. Maybe that's why they aren't so close. So maybe having dysfunctional family is better. He might ask Joy about this at some point. Its an interesting idea. He smiles to himself about writing a book. How to have the perfect dysfunctional family by Eric Murphey King of dysfunction. Or governor of the state of confusion as Alejandro told him he was. Eric and Joey lay together in silence for a while just enjoying being with one another.

"As great as this is and I don't want it to end. We need to get you guys fed."
"And you. You can eat now."
Eric smiles.

"Its a good thing too. Other wise I was going to have to suck you until you shot some jizz in my mouth to feed me."
"Daaad. I wont do that for a while yet."
Eric smiles.

He tucks himself back in his pants and Joey gets up and gets dressed. They walk back downstairs surprisingly Eric carrying Joey. They walk back in the living room and the other two are watching a program. As soon as they see them walk in Tran pauses the show.

"You OK bro?" Tran asks.

"Yeah. Dad didn't beat me too hard."

Alejandro and Tran laugh at the thought of Eric hitting one of them. Grounded until they are 50 they would believe. A beating never.

"So Ba were starving you know."

"I figured you would be. How about Waffle House for supper? We haven't been there in ages." Eric suggests.

"Shoot yeah I can get that hash brown messy thing." Joey says pumping his fist into the air like he is Che or something.

"Think we should invite Joy? I bet she got abandoned and is feeling all alone."

"Prolly." Alejandro answers with a serious look.

Eric sits down and digs out his phone. Joey on his lap. He hits the button to call Joy.

"Hello miss Joy we were wondering if you would like to join us for a fine dining experience on the wonderful cuisine of Waffle House?" Eric asks.

"Fine cuisine. Whatever."
"So you want to go. We figured you got abandoned."
"Actually no I didn't. Marco is here as well as Lucas and Laura B."
"It just seems so natural to call her Laura B doesn't it?"
"Yeah its weird isn't it?"
"It is. Do you like her?"

"I do. You know what I think she is actually the one."
"No really?" Eric asks half shocked.

"Yes really. You should see him dote on her. I have never seen him act like this with anyone he ever dated before."
"How does she react?"
"The same. Its like pure saccharine. Its disgusting."
"Oh yeah like you and Marco don't fawn over each other?"
"That's different hes my cuddle bear."
"Oh Jesus. So what are you having for dinner?"
"Beef tenderloin with steamed asparagus and new potatoes."
"That sounds lovely we will be right over."
"Eric don't you dare there isn't enough."
"We don't eat much."
"I have seen how you and your boys eat. You could strip a moose clean in a week."
"A moose? I've never even seen a moose."
"Well they're big. I think. I don't know I never saw a moose either. But they look really big."

Eric laughs.

"You should invite us over for dinner one night. You cook OK."
"Sure how about tomorrow?"
"Sorry busy."
"Saturday?"
"Busy again. Have a meeting with Joeys people."
"Sunday?"
"You know we are helping at the Stew Pot."
"THAT is why I never invite you over. Bye dick head."
"Love you."
"Yeah yeah yeah."And she ends the call.

"OK Ba you got to tell us. What was so funny about a moose?"
"She said we could eat one in a week."
"Aren't they pretty big dad?"
"Yeah I think so."
"Lets find out."Tran says always curious about everything.

"Lets learn in the car I'm starving maaaan." Joey says to Tran.

Eric chuckles. I'm starving maaaan. Is stuck in his head.

"Alright get your shoes on guys lets get going." Eric slips his shoes on and the boy race to go get theirs. They all meet back in the garage and hop in the car after Alejandro put Buddy in his pen.

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ericmurphey1971@gmail.com

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