Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2016 17:05:00 -0500 From: Eff Del Subject: The Oak and the Ash-Chapter 5 *The Oak and the Ash- Chapter 5* *By Eff Del* Nolitimere156@gmail.com *Worry does not spare tomorrow from its potential unhappiness.* *It robs today from its current joy.* *We need to grasp onto happiness and reject sadness as much as we are capable of doing.* *Life is too frail to obsess upon the bad things that possibly could happen.* *Life is too precious and too short even when lived joyfully.* Jack and Brian were out at the new archery range practicing. Sean had returned from flying with Will and was now comfortably toe-to-toe with me as we lay on one of the leather couches in the library reading. Sean had recently gotten interested in science fiction and I'd suggested that he might enjoy `Ender's Game' and he was currently immersed in it. We quietly wiggled our toes against each other's as we read and he giggled sometimes as he turned a page. It was loving and comfortable and his little toes certainly enhanced my pleasure as I read my book. Of course, the big event in the family was going to take place after dinner; because tonight was the night, the boys were going to open their first bottles of `home brew' beer. I'd laughed a week ago when I'd gone down to the basement room just to check on the progress and noticed that over the door to the room was a very ornate wooden sign that read; "Tucker Brothers Brewing Company" I wasn't surprised to learn the sign was the handiwork of Brian. This evening, the boys and I along with Doc Swaim, Gary and Bobby, John and his Dad Tim as well as Richard, Chris, Uncle Phil and Daniel were going to open bottles of the first `Joyous Gaurde brewed' pale ale. Barry, Wolfman and Arlen had night –duty and wouldn't be part of the group and Will, had other obligations...I suspected those `obligations' were female and probably quite attractive. The kids were jumping with excitement and we adults were certainly interested. Martha's exquisite veal parmigiana was consumed with gusto and the boys were anxiously pulling us down to the library. "I'm the oldest so I get to do the honors," Jack said with a smile as he pulled bottles out of the fridge. "Everybody remember that this is our first try at this so if it sucks...well we're going to try it again. `Tucker Brothers Brewing'...right Sean and Bri?" The little boys grinned at him and exclaimed their agreement. We each accepted a bottle and took our first sip in unison. "My God that's impressive." Doc Swaim said with a smile. "Boys I'd have served this in my bar back east and charged a pretty penny for it! Of course you'd have needed a proper and legal label on each bottle" Tim exclaimed. Everybody (especially the boys) smiled. "I'll get to work on a label right away John's father!" I smiled because they just couldn't quite getting around to calling him `Tim'...I think they were still so in awe that someone so important to their lives as John, had a father and mother and Tim was as dynamic as his son. "Do you think you could spend some time telling me what it needs to say and some ideas what it should look like?" Tim smiled at the brown-haired boy. "Brian, I'd be delighted to help you but be warned; I'm no artist so the actual design is all about you. "Well, we got about forty bottles left from this batch." Sean lifted his bottle. "We still gotta bring three bottles to Barrett to talk about it an then, we've gotta decide what we do next but right now...cheers everybody! I think we did really good." The grin that spread across his little face was almost enough to stop my heart from beating but I couldn't fight back the feeling that my three boys were thinking that they were on the way to establishing a microbrewery. ************************** I was hunkered over my computer monitor when Richard silently entered the room. "Eric, I don't mean to disturb you but I've got some papers you need to sign authorizing some personnel changes." I accepted the documents and while I was about to affix my signature, he obviously noticed what was on my monitor. "Why are you looking at paintball guns Eric?" "Well the other day when I took the boys to the paintball field to play, we rented our equipment I felt we were outgunned by many players on the field who owned their own guns and I want to upgrade our equipment before we play next time." "Hah!...and you're going on the internet? Eric, how could you not consider the sophistication of SKUGGOR? We've got the most state of the art `taggers' on the planet. We use them for training exercises and I promise you that there are none better in this world." "Taggers?" "That's the proper term for a paintball gun Eric. Come with me upstairs. I'll show you I've got one in my office." Once again, I was shocked at how little I knew about my family business and I was glad that Sean had time to assimilate it in a manner gentler and more completely than I. I truly wondered how much of it my father actually knew. Richard opened a case and offered me one of the sleekest things I'd ever seen in my life. It was grey but not shiny...it was dull and subdued. It was"Skuggor Grey" I realized. He lifted it so easily that it was obvious it was extremely light. "These have adjustable velocity although if you're playing on public paint ball fields, you can't let your fire exceed 300 FPS...that's `feet per second' or 90 meters per second. In SKUGGOR training, we play a little rougher, as Jack will find out in a couple of years. The ones I get for you will be locked at 300 FPS. Now, we've made a significant advance upon the `accepted' laws of nature. Even the best commercially available taggers have a maximum accuracy range of 120 feet. Ours are perfectly accurate to about 200 feet and with a lucky shot, will reach 300 feet and still burst a paint ball. It will operate with an air tank worn like a backpack or a smaller tank that can be attached to the tagger and used like a rifle stock (which is probably how you played last time). It uses a top mounted hundred shot ammo `cartridge' which is called a `hopper' that is quick disconnect and just as easily replaced by another that can be carried (fastened by Velcro) on a bandolier so the quick potential fire-power is astonishing. The trigger is electronically controlled by a `mouse click' button that allows the tagger to go from single shot, to four shot bursts to semi-automatic. In that final setting, you can empty a hundred shot hopper in less than a minute so we use that setting sparingly. They have a relatively light and non-obtrusive `red dot' sighting devise that gives the shooter a great advantage especially with our tagger's superior range and in the four burst per shot mode. I won't bore you with any more details Eric, but you already own the most superior paint ball taggers in the world. We also have a wonderful face helmet that allows full visibility while providing much greater protection than the standard mask and goggles. Because of our venting design, they don't fog up." I held the weapon in my hand and gazed in wonder as Richard pointed out its superior features. "OK Richard, you've convinced me. I need one for me, each of the boys and Chris but, I also need another five in case I bring guests to play. I'll need a large quantity of hoppers and ten of those cartridge bandoliers. I also assume that I've got my own source for paintballs themselves and I can have cases of them as I desire I further assume that you've got all of your own equipment because I want you out there playing with us the next time we go." He grinned. "I was hoping that I'd be asked, and, yes, I've already got all my own stuff. I'm going to supply each of the taggers with the smaller air tanks but I'll also get you five backpack sized just in case." We'd moved back to my study. "Now, I came in here for you to sign these two documents. Would you finish doing that please?" I smiled and motioned him into one of the seats by my desk and got up and made us two single malts. He accepted it and took a sip as did I and I smiled at him. "You know Richard, I never did any research on you. Walter chose you and recommended you for the job and I always trusted his judgement. After he was killed, I did do some research on you...in fact, pretty extensive research. Here's a summary of some of what I've found." I thrust a manila folder across the desk at him. He opened it and his face grew pail as he scanned the documents inside. "E-Eric...Walter knew all of this stuff and he actually told me that was why he chose me. I never lied to you...I always assumed you knew. Do you want me to leave?" I smiled and took his glass from him and refilled his drink "Oh hell no Richard, I was curious about you and I'm very impressed. You're a SKUGGA and you know that we don't always play by the law and you're so smart and so skillful and such a magnificent administrator that there's no wonder Walter chose you to be his successor. "All this stuff;" (I tapped the folder) "is what amounts to a resume as far as I'm concerned." I never imagined that you'd be thrust into command nearly as soon as you were and I know that neither did you. You've risen to the responsibility with amazing competence and good judgement and I'm grateful to you and grateful to Walter for having found you and trained you. I hope over time that you'll do the same for Jack. I'm impressed with your credentials Richard, but you got this position because Walter trusted you so much. I don't usually check resumes even though yours; had it crossed my desk, would have been very impressive." His eyes were moist with almost shed tears and he smiled in a very melancholy way as he stared into his glass. "I still miss him a lot Eric. My own father died when I was ten. I was a pretty wild young man as that folder of yours will indicate. I don't know what would have become of me if I hadn't needed to watch out for my kid brother. After he died, I pretty much lost it. By the grace of what-ever gods that may be, Walter found me. He was like a father...well more like a favorite uncle to me. I swear that if I'd have been up on the hill with you guys that night instead of at the north end by the fence breach, I think he'd still be alive today." "Bullshit Richard. You sound like me after my family died in the accident...only you're handling it more maturely. What happened, happened and who knows how much worse that night might have gone if you hadn't conducted the defense of the north fence and wiped those guys out." He swallowed his drink in one pull. "Thanks Boss." There was a small sob in his voice. "Since none of you are left handed, I'll have all the paintball equipment including the extras here tomorrow." "What does left handed have to do with it Richard?" "The angle of the ammo-cartridge in relation to line of sight Eric." I sighted the tagger and realized he was right. "I'd never have thought of that Richard. So, add to my order two taggers designed for left-handed shooters with all the other equipment just in case I invite someone in their `right mind' to play with us." He smiled. "I'd like to have your name as well as the boys' and Chris' engraved on the plate just above the trigger so that your taggers will be special. Is that OK?" "Absolutely Richard, I think the boys would love that." "OK then, I'll get that going. Thanks Eric." "No...thank you Richard." He smiled and left the room. ********************************* We walked through the doors of `Hops Heroes' with Jack carrying the small Styrofoam cooler containing the three bottles of their beer. The boys were excited about bringing their beer to Barrett Fuller for evaluation and consultation. After tasting the first glass of their beer he smiled and said; "You boys did really well. What do you think you'd like to do beyond this?" "What do you suggest Barrett?" Jack asked. "Well, frankly Jack, before you get too adventurous, I'd suggest that you brew at least two more batches of this pale ale to assure you've maintained consistency and then we'll talk about that IPA you were originally interested in or perhaps a dark ale and then, if you're interested we can try a wheat beer or a fruited ale." "No lager Barret?" I asked. "Lager is more difficult Eric because it has to be cold fermented. Though you certainly could afford the equipment, in my personal opinion, lagers are uninteresting and there are so many quality ones available commercially, why spend the money or the effort? If the boys are interested in brewing their own quality beer, for now at least, I strongly suggest that they concentrate on the ale. As they progress and remain interested, I'll make it exciting for them." "All right then. Boys do you all go along with what Barrett has suggested?" The three of them nodded their heads enthusiastically. "Well then Barrett, hook us up with what we need for batch two." He smiled. "Well, you don't need a second carboy and attachments until you progress to brewing more than one batch of beer at the same time, just make certain that you've sterilized all of the equipment...if in doubt, sterilize a second time. I'm going to set you up with the same ingredients this time though, I may change the hops next time to see if you notice the difference." "We'll need another fifty bottles and more caps Barret. This second batch may be done before we've drunk all of batch one and besides, bottles break and get lost." "Good point and boys, remember that before you reuse your bottles, you don't just wash them, you sterilize them." As we carried everything out to the van, Barrett said to the boys; "Same rule guys, bring me three bottles of this next batch and perhaps we'll tweak the recipe a bit for the third one. See you all in a few weeks." "See you Barrett!" the boys called out enthusiastically as they jumped into the van. "Let's get home and make some beer boys!" Sean hooted as we pulled out of the parking lot. "Sean Michael Tucker! Have you suddenly become some Hill-Billy moonshiner?" He gave me a silly look and smiled a `Sean smile'; "Nope Dad, we're the `Tucker Brothers' we can do anything but right now, we're `brew meisters' and there's `Pale Tucker Ale' needin' to be brewed!" "That's perfect Sean!" Brian exclaimed. "I've been trying to figure out a name for the label I'm designing and `Pale Tucker Ale' is wonderful. Daniel says that when it's finished, he'll show me an easy way to print them and then we'll put them on the bottles. You guys get to approve it of course." "You're the artist Bri, whatever you draw up is going to be fine with us." Sean replied. ********************** I decided to let the boys do the entire process by themselves this time and they were down there for about four hours. When they joined me in the library, they were giggling and laughing. "Dad, these two are useless moving and agitating the carboy! It almost fell over and Brian was laughing while I had to man-handle it up onto the table. I almost got a hernia." He giggled and added; "Of course, the whole five gallons almost fell onto his nuts and crushed them. That would have been a waste of well-made wort." The three of them burst out into fits of laughter and I took great pleasure in watching their shared love for each other. ***************************** The apple of my eye quietly slipped into my bedroom and silently shed his clothes as he approached my bed. "Just cuddlin' Dad, I promise." He slid into my bed and drew himself against me. "Sean, cuddling you is one of life's greatest pleasures but perhaps I can remind you of our first night together?" I began to slowly kiss my way down his young body very much as I had that very first night we'd been in this bed. Eventually, I took his iron hard little dick into my mouth. I thought to myself that it wasn't as little as it had been that first time; my boy was growing up. It didn't take long for him to cum. I thought that at some time, I'd need to begin teaching him to hold back on his orgasms to enhance his enjoyment, but for right now, he was young and should just experience his pleasure. "Dad...!" I hugged him to me and gave him a huge kiss. He wrapped an arm and a leg over me and pulled his head close onto my shoulder and almost at once, he fell asleep. I lay back and wondered what I'd done to deserve this little angel to save my life. I enjoyed the feel of my flesh against his as he slept soundly and I thought about how much I loved him. ********************** It was `Shower Music' time and it was my turn. I searched the extensive library and selected a song That I thought Sean just possibly might never have heard. Once again, I was wrong. His face was lit with a `Sean smile'. He danced typically into the shower and hugged me as we walked under the rain shower and just before the other jets came into effect. "Perfect choice for after yesterday afternoon's project Dad! This is Tom T. Hall and the song is; `I like beer'." He posed under the shower and began singing along with the bouncy old Country song; "In some of my songs I have casually mentioned The fact that I like to drink beer This little song is more to the point Roll out the barrel and lend me your ears I like beer it makes me a jolly good fellow I like beer it helps me unwind And sometimes it makes me feel mellow (Makes him feel mellow) Whiskey's too rough, champagne costs too much Vodka puts my mouth in gear This little refrain should help me explain As a matter of fact I like beer..." I was laughing as I watched and listened to his perfect performance. "Sean, how do you know some of these songs?" "Dad, in this case the NEST is in Houston and I listened to the radio. I pretty much remember every song I ever here. I don't know how, I just do." "Well, that's a wonderful talent little man and it's certainly a pleasure when you play your guitar." I was running my hands down his water slick butt cheeks as I held him close against me. He was almost purring as I held him close. "Dad, I love my life so much that I can't even try to explain it. I can't imagine what I'd be like if you hadn't brought me home and made me your son. I'd just be somethin'..." he was crying and I pulled him close to me and stroked his back as he buried his face against my chest. I allowed him to sob for a few minutes before I murmured into his ear; "Sean, you ARE my son and thanks to you, we have a wonderful family and you have two brothers and it's all because we began this family...you and I...what could be better than that?" He sniffled against my chest. "Nothin Dad, I never thought I'd have nothing like this. I always thought I'd grow up in the NEST and move on like most of the other boys. I never thought that you'd come into my life. I'm so happy an' I feel so loved. I love you so much an' I feel so grateful that I don't know how to tell you." I pulled his still wet little body against me and held him tight. I nuzzled my cheek against his still damp hair. "Sean, if you hadn't come into my life, I'd probably be dead by now. You and your love saved me and there's no doubt about that. You are my pride and joy. My love for you has no limits." I led him out of the shower and wrapped him in a large bath sheet and slowly dried him off. Typical of Sean, he wiggled as I worked the towel around his young body. "OK wiggle worm, go get dressed it's time for breakfast." We were all sitting around the table as Martha laid out plates of pancakes, scrambled eggs as well as bowls of fruit and plates of toast. "So I'm thinking that no school today. We should drive up to the hills and hike. We can get up to the lake and swim even though the water will be very cold. What do you think?" "Sounds great Dad!" Sean exclaimed and the other two boys agreed. I informed Richard about our plans and he agreed upon it. We pulled out of the drive and headed for the hills with two grey SKUGGOR HUVS right behind us. We'd be ok except, we didn't notice the blue roadster that was hanging on just behind us. ********************* Thanks for the input. I've suffered a personal tragedy so I haven't answered very many emails. That will get better.