"Sure I will, Miss Joy. What’s his name again?" Joey asks.
"Timmy."
"Cool. How old is he?"
"Eight, almost nine."
"Do you know what hospital he’s in?"
"Yes, he’s in Children’s Hospital of Rockport. Why?"
"I just thought we could send him a big old package of stuff too."
"I know he would love that, Joey."
"Sure thing, Miss Joy. I will talk to dad later about it."
"I tried to call him first, you know."
"Dad won’t answer his phone while he’s at work."
"Who you telling, little man?" she fires back, laughing and making him laugh.
"I will have him call you when he gets here. Bye, Miss Joy."
"Cya, Joey."
Joey hangs up his phone. Tran and Alejandro are looking at him as if to ask, “What’s up?”
Finally Tran asks him, "What’s up? Why is Joy calling you?"
"There is this little boy, he’s eight and he is in the hospital in daily sis, I think she said."
"It’s dialysis. It’s what they do when your kidneys don't work right and you got to be hooked up to it for like hours," Tran explains.
"That sucks," Joey answers.
"So what did she want, Joey?" Alejandro asks.
"She wants me to call him to make him feel better about stuff."
"So when are you going to call him?"
"As soon as you two shut up."
"Poppi says not to use that word. It’s not nice."
"Yeah Joey, be nice," Tran advises him.
"I just said ‘shut up.’ It’s not like I told him to fuck off or something."
"Joey, you need to stop cussing. One day it’s going to slip in front of Ba and he isn't going to like it," Tran warns him.
"Yeah Joey, I don't want to see my brother get in trouble."
"Dad won't say anything."
"Want to bet on it?" Tran asks.
Joeys confidence that he wouldn't get in trouble wavers considerably when confronted with the possible repercussions.
"Yeah, I dare you at supper to say the 'F' word. Poppi will take your phone I bet."
Joey subconsciously touches his phone in his pocket.
"Probably no video games for a week, too," Tran adds.
"So what do I get if I win?" His bravado was coming back a smidgen.
"I will suck you," Alejandro tells him.
"We do that all the time. I want something good."
"So me sucking you isn't good?" Alejandro asks with hurt in his eyes.
"No, it’s good. It’s just I want something that is different, you know."
"Tran, he thinks it’s not good." Alejandro looks ready to cry.
Joey moves in and puts his arm around him.
"No, really I like it a lot. You do a real good job."
Alejandro turns his face to him.
"Suckaaaaa!!" he screams and starts laughing.
Tran is rolling with laughter and Joey is looking stunned. After a minute they calm down.
"You got me good, bro," Joey admits.
Alejandro kisses him on the cheek.
"I love you, Joey."
"Same. But I do want something BIG if I win."
"Like what?"
"Jorge," he says knowing Alejandro won't bet Jorge and he will be let off the hook.
Alejandro's head is already shaking no.
"Nope. Not a chance in the world," he says after a second.
"Not so sure of yourself now, are you?" Joey says, knowing he’s gotten his way.
"Oh I'm sure of it. But Poppi says never to bet anything that would hurt to lose. I will bet you my allowance though."
"Me too." Tran answers back.
"I don't know, $20 is a lot of money," Joey replies.
"Yeah, but $60 is more," Alejandro grins.
"Where is dad? He should be home already," Joey remarks, trying to change to topic of conversation.
"He’s on his way. He texted me a few minutes ago," Tran tells him.
"Where’s Buddy at? BUUDDDYYY!!!! VEN AQUIIIIII!!!" Alejandro screams.
"Your dog understands Spanish? "Tran asks as Buddy comes racing into the room.
"Apparently fucking so," Joey replies, just as Eric walks into the room.
Eric's eyebrows shoot up so fast it is a blur.
"Excuse me?"
"Um, I was um uh…"
"You were just about to go to your room, I think you were trying to say."
Joey nods as he starts walking to his room.
"Not so fast mister, your phone."
"Aw da…" he quickly stops when he sees Eric's look.
"I also want the controllers to your game console. You can have them back in a week."
"Um, Ba? I know Joey is in trouble and.…"
Eric gives him a penetrating look, and Tran quickly stops speaking mid-sentence, not liking the look because he knows he is next if he doesn’t shut up.
"Poppi, it’s important."
Eric looks at him because Alejandro doesn't say something is important very often, so it must be. But Eric is not happy, that's for sure.
"Does Joey need to be here for this?" Eric asks and glances over at him and frowns.
"Yeah, it’s kinda about him. See, Miss Joy called him. You tell him Joey."
Eric is curious now. He saw she had called him a couple times and had planned on calling her back right about now, actually.
"Let’s sit down first," Eric says.
"You want a Diet Coke, dad?" Joey asks in an attempt to earn some points.
"No. Sit down."
Eric sits on the couch and Alejandro sits beside him. Joey is in the chair farthest from Eric that is still in this section of the living room. Tran is in the seat next to Eric.
"See, her friend called from college. I don't remember her name."
"I think it’s Sarah. I met her a few times when she was visiting Joy. Go ahead."
"See, there's this little boy named Timmy. He’s eight and he’s in the hospital on what was it, Tran?"
"Dialysis."
"Oh, that's no fun, especially when you’re eight."
"Tran says you got to get hooked up to some machine for hours," Joey says.
"That's true. So what did Joy want from you?"
"Timmy I guess is a real big fan and she thinks it would make him feel better if he talked to me a little."
"You are still in trouble, you know that, right?" Eric asks him.
"Yeah."
"You know I love you, right?"
"Yes."
"You understand why you are in trouble, right?"
"Kinda."
"How ‘kinda?’" Eric presses him.
"Well, cuz, like, Joy and you cuss. So, you know."
"I don't swear that often. Joy, however, well sailors look at her and say ‘Dang, lady.’ But we are also adults and can make stupid mistakes on our own. You, however, are not an adult yet. When you are you can say anything you desire but until then, it’s my rules. I can't and won't have my ten-year-old son parading around town with a foul mouth on him. You are smarter than all of that."
"I know, dad."
"I know you want to feel grown up, so swearing is part of that. But it’s not anymore, is it?"
"No, sir," Joey answers, looking properly chastised.
"You can keep your game, but I still get your phone. It’s not that bad of an issue, but I don't like it. If it happens again, I will take both. You can have your phone back in three days."
"OK dad, I understand. And dad…"
"Yes?"
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For caring."
"I do, you know."
"I know. Things like this prove it, cuz before, no one cared about anything I said. Now you care about everything I say."
"Alright, do we have the phone number to call him?" Eric asks.
"Yes, we do. She texted it over to you. There’s a room number, too. I guess he doesn’t have a cell phone."
Eric looks at his phone and sure enough the text is right there, just the phone number with no explanation.
Eric touches the number and it appears on his dialer app. He hits “call”, hears it ring a couple times, and then a lady answers.
“Children’s, how my I direct your call?”
“Please connect me to room 410.”
“One moment.” The phone rings a couple of times and a timid little voice answers.
"Hello?"
"Yes hi, is this Timmy?"
"Yeah?"
"Hi Timmy. I have someone here who would love to talk to you. Do you have a few minutes?"
"I guess so," Timmy says tentatively, curious about who is calling him.
"Alright, here you go."
Eric hands the phone to Joey, who has done this a number of times. He doesn't understand it because he is Just Joey. But if it helps other people or makes them happy for a little while, he is all about it.
"Hi Timmy," Joey asks.
"Yeah?"
"It’s Joey Murphey. I heard you like my music."
"This isn't Joey Murphey. He wouldn't call me, he’s too busy."
"No I'm not too busy. I'm about to be in trouble in a little while."
"If you’re Joey Murphey then tell me your brothers’ names."
"Tran and Alejandro. They are sitting right here looking at me. Want to talk to them too?"
"Yeah right. I don't believe you," Timmy says, certain that he knows when he is getting tricked.
"OK, I'm going to put you on speaker then. Say Hi to Timmy, guys."
"Hi Timmy. It’s Alejandro."
"And Tran."
"I guess I better say I'm here too It’s Eric Murphey."
Timmy is starting to believe its really them.
"Is it really you?"
"Sure it is. I just called because your case worker is friends with my dad’s best friend. She said you were sick and liked my music and I said ‘cool’. Not that you’re sick; that's never cool. Except like when you can get out of a test or something, then it’s not as bad. But I was like, cool, he likes my music. So I asked for your phone number and here I am talking to ya."
Buddy barks.
"You got a dog?" Timmy asks, excited.
"Yeah we just got him. He’s supposed to be for all of us, but he really likes Alejandro the best. I think it’s really his dog. But it’s OK, he still plays with us, too."
"I like dogs and puppies. Puppies are so funny and soft."
"Maybe dad will get me a puppy," Joey wonders, looking up at Eric.
"I think one dog is enough for now. Besides, we have your tour soon. Don't want to take a puppy along on that mess."
"No, not a good idea," Joey agrees.
"Miss Sarah said she was going to try to get me into a house with a puppy."
"That would be cool," Joey tells him.
"Is it true you got a bowling alley in your house?" Timmy asks.
"Yeah. It was in the house when dad bought it. Otherwise we wouldn't have it."
"Why not? Your dad’s like super rich, he owns like all the McDonald's in the world."
Eric laughs at this.
"Dad doesn't waste money. He says all the time we are to be...What is it dad?"
"Apparently I need to say it more often. We are to be stewards with our money not consumers. Meaning we take care of our money so it grows into more so we can help people who deserve it."
"See that's why."
"Joey, why don't you play him that song?" Alejandro suggests.
"Yeah buddy. Let’s hear it."
"Timmy, you want to hear a new song I wrote?"
"Shoot yeah."
You can hear the glee in his voice when he answers.
"OK, we got to go where the piano is," he says. He grabs his phone as everyone follows him.
"Now this has never been recorded and I don't have all the words yet. So I'm just going to play the song."
"This is so cool," Timmy responds.
Joey plays the song and everyone relaxes as they listen to it. When he is done, he can hear Timmy clapping.
"Thank you. Thank you very much," Joey says in a pretty good Elvis imitation that makes Timmy giggle.
"Dad, can I go to my room and talk to Timmy for a while on my own?" Joey asks, knowing as soon as it ends he lost his phone for a while.
"That would be fine."
"Thanks, dad," he grins, and races up the stairs.
About half an hour later Joey comes down holding his phone.
"Dad, if I give you my controllers until we get back can I keep my phone?"
Eric cocks his head and looks at him. "Tell me why and I will consider it."
"Well, Timmy is in the hospital all alone and well, I just want to make him not feel so alone. You know we can talk and text and stuff."
"OK, how about this. I was going to keep your phone for three days. How about I just keep your controllers for three days."
"Shoot yeah, that's a deal."
"Joey," Eric says calmly, "Come here." He pats his lap.
Joey climbs up and asks, "What’s up, dad?"
"I know you make a lot of these calls, and I know you like it, but you usually just leave it at one call. What gives?"
"I don't know, dad. I just really like him. He told me some stuff and I guess his life was a little like Alejandro's, just not as bad or as long. I feel bad for him and he needs a friend. I want to be that friend. He’s just a really nice boy, dad."
"OK, I was just wondering."
"Dad?"
"Yeah, buddy?"
"I want to send him some stuff."
"Of course."
"Not like the regular stuff, you know. Well that too, cuz people like that stuff. But he said he has to sit in the thing they do for six hours and it’s boring. His friend Andrew sits with him, but Andrew is going to have to go back to school. I was thinking I can send him my iPad and he can have it and listen to lots of music, and watch videos and stuff. I can even message him."
"Can't he do that on his phone?"
"Dad, he’s only eight and doesn’t have a phone. He doesn’t even have a family."
"Alright, if that's what you want to do."
"I really do dad. He deserves some nice stuff and I got tons. He hasn't got nothing right now."
"Alright buddy, I will go get a box ready and we will ship it out tonight so he can have it tomorrow."
Joey grins.
"You’re such a good boy, you know," Eric says, tickling his sides and making him laugh.
Joey takes off and Eric gives chase up the stairs. Joey gets to his door and races in. Eric races past him.
"Getting a box for you, sucka," Eric proclaims.
"That's twice today. Twice they got me,” Joey laments but lightheartedly.
Joey shakes his head and calls Timmy back.
“I'm sending you a present. You will have it tomorrow. My dad said so.”
________________________________________________________________
ericmurphey1971@gmail.com
OK so I told you about this chapter on Shcool Daze. I hope you liked it. I was jsut so touched that Andrew used my characters I had to do something to acknowledge it. So here is what I came up with.
Also if you havent read his stories you should. I think you will like them. They have intrigue and love and a bit of sex mixed in as well. Nifty Archive: adult-youth/andrews-misplaced-trust Here is the link to make it super easy. Read it and let him know how much you loved it. He deserves the recognition.
Another story I know I am pushing this one. But it is one of the best stories I think I have read on Nifty. That is counting. Nifty Archive: young-friends/counting
Amazing story and I look literally every day to see if a new chapter has posted.
As ALWAYS I thank Zero for his hard work on our projects. He does a truly amazing job. You can sertainly see how much when you read School Daze and I get redundant with the he says. He also uses all them there fancy words too that makes me look smart and stuff. He is truly a great editor. Im glad I have him. He used to send me these amazing emails detailing what he liked about the chapter. That really got me to thinking and I asked him and lucky for you he said yes.
As always our sponsor needs some cash so dig down into your pocket pull out a card and click right here. Nifty Archive Alliance Donation Remeber Alejandro Murphey. Just saying. One day I am going to look and see like 10 donations in the name of Aljejandro Murphey and I will laugh so hard. Because its amusing to me.
As Always I wish you all
Peace Love and Good Happiness
Eric