Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 11:51:55 EDT From: Jetjt@aol.com Subject: Super Jeff, Chapter 22 The following story is a work of gay fiction. If the subject matter is offensive to you or you are too young please exit now. This story is the property of the author and may not be reproduced without permission. John Tucker JETjt@aol.com SUPER JEFF Chapter Twenty-two JEFF'S POV The trip to the airport was uneventful. There were 6 of us plus two security people. Jon, Ben, Chris and I rode in one of the Aztec-Security cars along with one security man who drove. Amanda and Rick were in the other. Our luggage filled both trunks. A third security man would remain at the house with Frank who was being cared for by his partner Paul in their `apartment'. The men would remain in California after we boarded the plane, their places being taken over by security people from Las Vegas, when we arrived. The day after Tyler left had been uneventful. There was no news in the search for our parents and Tyler assured us by phone that the investigation was going full force, not only in L.A. but in England as well as Syria. The few leads we had were being followed up on but there was still no real tangible progress. At Tyler's insistence we returned to our routines, except that for now at least, Ben and Jon joined us in our morning runs, our exercises and even squeezed in a game of early morning golf. It was comical to watch the two tough youngsters try to hit the little white ball. Golf, a game that I'm sure they had scorned as a game for wimps had caused them such frustration that, except that both Chris and I could do it, would have caused them to quit almost immediately. Mandy had spent the early part of the day with Rick showing him the sights of Southern California near home. I'm sure it drove their security guard crazy, but he managed to at least keep them in sight. The time to leave finally came and as promised the plane with a large RET on its tail stood waiting to take us to Las Vegas. Once our cars arrived at the curb, waiting stewards quickly emptied the trunks onto waiting dollies to deliver to the plane's cargo hold. Saying goodbye to our security guys, we entered the terminal building and crossed through the security screen. On the other side the plane's steward who was young and cute, introduced himself as Dave and ushered us out onto the tarmac. The sight of the plane was impressive, to say the least. It was a Grumman GV and stood sleek and polished, high on its landing gear. The hatch was open and the retractable stairway was extended down to the pavement. We followed the steward up the stairs, then he turned just inside the plane and gestured that we were to turn right, instructing us to take any seat available. Once we were aboard, he pressed a button causing the stairway to retract under the floor of the cabin. When the small motors had stopped, signaling that the stair was properly stowed, he swung shut the hatch and turning a large recessed lever, locked it securely. As the engines began their wind-up I looked around at the sumptuous interior. Rich leathers covering the chairs, sculpted carpeting, and real wood grained trim all blended in to create a plush, warm interior that was dazzling. Soft music was playing over hidden speakers throughout the cabin at a level that it was comfortable to speak yet hear the music adequately. Then the music suddenly stopped. "Welcome aboard. This is Captain Thane. Please fasten your seatbelts as we will be in the air shortly. Our flight time to Las Vegas will be 50 minutes. The weather there is a warm 98 degrees, but it's only a short walk to the terminal. David our steward will be serving snacks and drinks after takeoff. Please inform him of any other desires you might have. We hope you will enjoy your flight." The plane rolled down the taxiway toward the end of the runway as David appeared. The attractive steward then recited a somewhat rote speech about the aircraft and emergency procedures. By the time we stopped behind another plane waiting to take off he was done. "Please excuse the canned speech," he apologized with a smile, "but it's something we do anytime passengers not familiar with the plane are aboard. Once in flight, I'll return to the main cabin and explain the entertainment features of the aircraft and offer you refreshments. Now if you're all buckled up, I'll do the same." He retreated to a small crew cabin behind the cockpit and closed the door. The engines began to increase in speed as the plane lined up on the runway and stopped. They continued to run at a medium speed while the brakes kept the plane from moving. After a moment the brakes were released and the engines began to whine as the plane began its takeoff roll. We felt the plane quickly accelerate, then the nose lifted and the plane shot into the afternoon sky. As soon as we leveled off into a gentle climb, Dave reappeared. "Could I get you anything to drink?" he asked as he delivered three trays of snacks. The younger guys' eyes about popped out of their heads when they saw the trays. One was heaped with boiled shrimp, lobster bits and rolled up sliced meats of various descriptions. The second was decorated with colorful small sandwiches of numerous breads and fillings, while the third was piled with veggies, cheese, and dip. Mandy, Chris, Rick and I ordered our drinks while the boys piled small plastic plates high with goodies. Once they had done so, they also ordered drinks and returned to their chairs. At that stage the other four of us descended on the trays and tried to be a bit more circumspect, though we too returned to our seats with loaded plates. In moments Dave was back with the drinks which he distributed. "I'm sorry the flight is so short," he apologized. "We have all kinds of movies, but there really isn't time to see them. We do have a good assortment of video games and of course TV and a large library of music. For those who like to read, we have magazines, newspapers and a modest book selection of best sellers and classics." He handed out some printed sheets and we reviewed the offerings. Ben and Jon opted for video games, while Mandy and Rick chose magazines. Chris and I decided to watch TV which was available either on a large wide-screen located on the forward bulkhead or on small flip out screens at our seats. We chose the small ones, and plugged in earphones so that we could hear our programs without disturbing anyone else. David showed us how to operate the TV controls and the Tivo device that would record the continuing program if we needed to take a break, then play it back when we were ready. Chris selected a program on the History Channel, and I decided to catch up on the news on CNN. I was just in time to watch the world news. The anchor man began with an announcement that immediately caught my attention: "In a strange twist of news, there is an unconfirmed report that Osama Bin Laden was sighted in France yesterday." I pressed the `record' button as the narration continued. "It is rumored that Bin Laden visited a hospital while in Marseilles, leading to speculation that he is ill. While we are following up on the report, employees at the hospital have been tight-lipped, only responding to speculation with `no comment.' The Bush Administration has pledged to find out the truth in their search for the world's most wanted man. Secretary of State Rice is reported to have requested the aid of the French government. CNN will report on this story further as it develops." I immediately pressed the call button for David, not daring to handle further the selection buttons on the Tivo for fear of erasing what had been recorded. He appeared quickly, stepping to the area where I was seated with Chris. "How may I be of service?" he asked smiling. "I'm watching CNN and a story came on that I recorded. Can you play it over on the big screen?" I asked handing him the controls. He took the controls and after pressing a few buttons, asked if I was ready to see it again. I stood up, nudging Chris to remove his earphones and called to Amanda and Rick. "Hey guys," I said in a raised voice. Rick and Amanda looked up as Chris removed his earphones. "You have to see this! Watch the big screen TV." I nodded to David. The announcement came on missing only the lead-in sentence. Everyone watched, captivated by the story. When it was over Chris and I clicked off our small TV screens and joined Rick and Amanda in rear facing seats opposite them. "What do you think?" I asked Amanda. "I'm kinda confused," she replied. "If Dad is treating Bin Laden and he and mom are in Syria, why is Bin Laden in France?" "Tests!" Rick immediately theorized. "The Middle East is notorious for its lack of medical expertise, especially in highly technical procedures. You read all the time of government leaders from many of the third world countries who visit the US or Western Europe when they are seriously ill. It's not likely that Bin Laden could stay safely in Europe for long without being discovered though. That leaves only tests, which could easily only occur there in Europe or in America." "That makes sense," Chris added. "If Doctor Pop was treating him, he'd want to have the most sophisticated diagnostics done. It's unlikely that they have that kind of equipment in Syria." "David, can we make a copy of that announcement?" I asked the handsome steward who had remained nearby. "Sure," he replied. "I'll copy it onto a DVD and have it for you in a few minutes." Disappearing into a small office niche located in the front of the cabin, he was gone only minutes until he returned with the DVD in a small green `jewel box.' "Thanks David," I said, accepting the small plastic square. "You're welcome Mr. Richards," he replied. "It's Jeff, David," I corrected. "This is Chris, and over there is Amanda, my sister, and Rick, her boyfriend. The other two boys are Jon and Ben. We really appreciate your help." "You're welcome, Jeff," David said smiling, then checking his watch. "We should be landing in about 15 minutes," he announced. "Is there anything further that I can help you with?" "No, but you've been very helpful," I responded. "Thank you Sir." "^Ċit's Jeff." "Yes Sir, it is," David said smiling as he stepped away and disappeared into the crew's quarters. "We are approaching McCarran Airport in Las Vegas," the pilot announced over the PA system. "Please fasten your seatbelts." Rather than move back to our previous seats, Chris and I fastened the belts in the chairs that we now occupied. "We need to show this to Tyler as soon as possible," I stated, waving the jewel box. "My guess could be entirely wrong," Rick warned. "Possibly, but you could be totally right just as easily," I countered. "We'll give this to Tyler, give him your idea, and then it's up to him." "Sounds like a plan," Chris concluded. "Now let's talk about what we want to do in Las Vegas." "Run every morning, do our weight training and play golf," I more than suggested. "Oh, yeah, and I have piano practice and an essay to write." "One thing about Jeff," Mandy said, "He's consistent." * * * Once the plane landed we quickly filed out. The plane was parked in the RET hangar and a man-door at the end of the building opened as soon as the plane stopped completely and a man stepped through. In a moment, even as the engines were winding down, the plane's hatch opened and the stairway began to extend. As its ends touched the ground, David stepped away from the opening, allowing Rick to lead the passengers down to the concrete hangar floor. Before he could make the final step, Tyler walked up and extended his hand to shake. Rick took Tyler's hand. "Welcome to Las Vegas," Tyler said for the benefit of us all. "Good to see you again Tyler," Rick said as he shook Tyler's hand, then stepped aside so that Mandy could finish descending the stairway which his body was blocking. Tyler repeated his welcome to each of us, even remembering Ben and Jon's names, though he'd spent little time with them in California. Once we were all on the ground, he led us out of the hangar which contained not only the GV but two smaller jets. "What about our luggage?" I asked as we headed toward a large white Cadillac Escalade out in the parking lot. "Sterling, my man, will take care of it," Tyler promised. "We brought two cars since there is not enough room in the Escalade for all of us and your luggage too." "Did Dan come with you?" Amanda asked. "No, he decided that we'd all be more comfortable with one body less," Tyler answered. "Hop in," he invited as he unlocked all the doors. I took the front passenger seat, Jon and Ben took the third row seats, while Chris, Mandy and Rick took the center seat. Once Tyler had started the car I pulled out the DVD. "Did you happen to see the latest news on CNN?" I asked. "No, what's new?" Tyler replied. "CNN is reporting that Osama Bin Laden was seen yesterday at a medical facility in Marseilles, France. Rick seems to think that he might be there for medical tests that he can't get in Syria. We made a copy of the report on the plane." I added. "That's an interesting hypothesis Rick," Tyler complimented. "It's a definite possibility. Excuse me a moment, I have a couple of calls to make." Pulling out his cellular phone, Tyler hit `speed dial' and began speaking to someone in his office, telling them of the news. After saying goodbye and disconnecting, he again hit a speed dial number. "Hey Brother," he said with a smile. "I've got the Richards party with me and we're on our way home from the airport. We should be there in 20 minutes or less. I know you hadn't planned on it but could you run over? Jeff here has some news and we need to have a little pow-wow." Apparently Ron agreed because Tyler smiled and said goodbye before flipping his phone closed and returning it to its holder. As the white Cadillac SUV headed west we could all see the colorful tall buildings of the strip in the light of late afternoon. Our necks were all twisted looking at the sights behind us and to the right. "Pretty huh?" Tyler commented. "You'll see it later at night from home. Las Vegas is lit up like no other city." "Do you have any gaming interests?" I asked. "No, we're into other things," Tyler responded. "Our father had vast real estate holdings here though, and that business earned him his first million. By the time I came along Ron had inherited the businesses and they had grown to about 300 million or so. Now they're worth a good bit more." "Are the family businesses owned entirely by Ron?" I inquired. "No it's more complicated than that. Ron and I are really half brothers. Our father was married to Ron's mother, but had a long-term love affair with mine. I was the result of that liaison. I never knew who my real father was. My mother never told me, but I found out later that our father had supported both my mother and me as long as he and she lived. I grew up and got a degree in Criminal Justice in California and shortly afterward my mother died with her secret still untold. In the meantime our father also died and Ron inherited our dad's companies. Sometime after I went to work for a private investigation company called Aztec Security, in Los Angeles. After I'd been there for a few years, we had a job to guard a wealthy man in Las Vegas whose life had been threatened. That man was Ron. I was sent on special assignment to lead our team but we arrived too late to prevent him from being shot. We captured his assailant and turned him over to the police, which in Las Vegas is called Metro. Since there was a possibility that the assailant had help, we continued to guard Ron in the hospital." "Wasn't your name a dead give-away?" I asked. "No, my name then was not Turner," he replied. "We had taken my mother's maiden name as our family name. Almost by accident, Ron recognized a family resemblance and we soon discovered that we were brothers, confirmed by DNA testing. Ron took me into his family and gave me my share of our inheritance. We also bought Aztec which then became Aztec-Turner Security and I was named its President. Shortly afterward we went to Court and changed my last name to Turner. I then moved the Aztec-Turner headquarters from LA to Las Vegas." "Were you married to Dan at that time?" I queried. "No, Ron and Matt were partners, but I hadn't even met Dan yet. Ron had purchased a company in New York called Construction Leasing. It owned a rather large building in New York so we decided to move some of our other company operations into it too. Dan was an Executive Assistant to the President of Construction Leasing. That was how we met. We fell in love and within months, Dan moved to Las Vegas, and we've lived happy ever after," he concluded with a grin. "How did you guys get all the kids?" "It would take all night to tell you," Tyler laughed. "Each has his own story. You might ask them individually as you get to know them better. They are great young guys. And they're not the only ones either. We have a facility for abandoned gay boys supported by one of our family trusts. Right now we have around 60 guys there." "Wow!" that's amazing. I'd like to see it," Chris, who was listening to our conversation remarked. "I'm sure we'll have time to visit it," Tyler said. "You'll be here for at least a week, unless something unusual happens in your parents' case." The SUV left the 215 loop freeway and began to climb up into the western foothills of Mount Charleston which limited the western expansion of Las Vegas. Tyler finally turned parallel to the mountain and a tall iron fence appeared which was supported by stuccoed block piers every twenty feet or so. The fence seemed to run on forever but soon we came upon a depression in the fencing which approached a gate building and two pair of iron gates. Tyler turned toward the gates and pressed a button on his visor. The inward swinging gates in front of us began to move and were open by the time we came near. Once inside, the road split and Tyler turned off of the main road taking an equally impressive road that ran parallel to the iron fence. "What's that up there?" I asked Tyler, as I pointed when the view opened onto what appeared to be a very modern resort." "That's Ron and Matt's home," he replied. "It was designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright group in Arizona along the pattern of a building he designed in the 30's called "Falling Waters." "Oh yeah," Chris joined in. "I've seen pictures of that. It said in the book that it's the most famous house in America. It's somewhere in Pennsylvania, isn't it?" "That's right Chris. It's not too far from Pittsburgh" Tyler replied. "Ron's home is similar but far from an exact copy. Dan's and my home was also designed by the same group but it's of a different design. It's patterned after Frank Lloyd Wright's desert retreat in Arizona called Taliesin West. "I've seen pictures of it too," Chris said with enthusiasm. "It's gorgeous and has large rock walls and sloping roofs." "Dan's and my house is much larger than the Wright camp," Tyler said. It's comprised of five separate buildings. The first we call the main house because it has all the formal living, dining, and entertainment space. The second we call the Owner's wing, which houses the family bedroom suites. The third building is the exercise/entertainment building and has an indoor pool, exercise room, home theater room and those kinds of things. The fourth building is the Guest Building. It has six guest suites and its own smaller living room. The last building is the garage building. It's hidden from the other buildings behind a hill and is accessed via a tunnel. It also houses two apartments, one for the property manager and one for the chauffeur who takes care of the cars and equipment" "Sounds impressive," I said. "I think it is, but you can see for yourself," Tyler said pointing. Ahead a series of low stone walls topped by low sloping metal roofs appeared to be nestled into the rock. A huge reflecting pool separated a gently rising monumental staircase from the parking area. It was most impressive. "Man!" Chris exclaimed. "It's huge and yet it really seems to fit the terrain." "We like it,' Tyler remarked as the vehicle pulled to a stop next to the reflecting pool. "I usually just go into the garage, but this is the most impressive view of the house. I thought you'd like to see it." As we looked up the slope toward the house, we saw Dan, Jerry, and Zack standing at the top of the stairway. "Come on, let's go," Chris said enthusiastically. "I wanna see it all!" We all climbed out of the SUV and after going around the reflecting pool began to climb the rust-colored concrete stairs. As we neared the top the boys ran down the steps to join us. They seemed taken mostly by Ben and Jon who were nearer their age than either Chris or me. Dan came down to welcome us too. We stopped when they reached us and exchanged hugs. It was good to see them all again even after a separation as short as a few days. We spent the next 25 minutes being shown around the house by the boys. By the time we returned, Ron had arrived. We joined him and Tyler in the main building's `family room.' Ron arose from his chair to welcome us, exchanging handshakes with us all. "Tyler told me about the CNN newscast," Ron began as we all took seats. "I think it's exciting and hopefully the lead we've all been praying for. It seems to indicate that Osama may be our target." "Yeah," I said sadly, "us and the whole U.S. government, not to mention a large part of the rest of the world." "If he's out of his hidey-hole, it may be a break for us all. If it turns out to be his people who kidnapped your parents and we're successful in saving them and capturing him, any expense is worth it. You needn't worry about it costing more than you were quoted. I personally will cover any expense over and above your quote." "That's mighty generous Ron," Amanda said. "He's the scourge of the earth and the epitome of evil. No cost is too great to rid the planet of his presence." "I agree," Tyler said. "We'll use all our resources to pursue this case. Understand though, we have a primary responsibility to find and rescue your parents. I'm sure the Feds have a different objective, even if it's reached at the expense of your parents' lives." "I guess that means that you have to reach them first," I deduced. "Exactly. We'll work closely with Homeland Security, Interpol and all the associated agencies, but when push comes to shove, we want to be there to protect your parents." "You don't know how much that means to us," I said thankfully. "Sometimes we've not been as close to our parents as we'd like, but we love them unconditionally and want many more years in their presence." "We'll do our best to see that it happens that way," Tyler promised. "After your trip you must want to freshen up. Your luggage should be in your rooms by now and put away. I'll have Sterling show you to your rooms. Since you've had `the tour' you know where everything is. Feel free to make our home yours. If you need to reach us at any time there is a small phone directory on the handle of all the phones scattered throughout the house. Just find the appropriate number and dial it, or dial Sterling and he will find us for you. There are also computers in your rooms for your use. There is a complete menu which appears when you turn them on that will show you how to access all the services here as well as the internet. If you need anything at all or have any questions, just call Sterling and he will help you. Dinner will be at 7:30 by the outdoor pool. We're just going to have an informal barbeque tonight so any clothing you have on at the time is appropriate. Ron, Matt and their boys will be joining us." "Is Ron gonna tell another joke?" Chris asked. "Probably," Tyler laughed. Ron just grinned. "On that note, I'm going home," Ron announced. "We'll be back by 7, although I wouldn't be surprised if the boys come over before then for a swim." "It's quite a ways to your house," Chris observed. "How do you get back and forth?" "We have a small fleet of golf carts that we use for running around the property. There are several jogging paths around the land here that we use not only for jogging but for getting around. Feel free to wander." "Is it all secure?" Amana asked. "Yes, we have 2 security guards in place at all times who can monitor the entire property with hidden cameras. The perimeter is also equipped with motion detectors that are mostly set off by birds and small animals," Ron laughed. "It keeps the security boys on their toes. We also have guard dogs that can be set loose if necessary. If by some chance you are out when the dogs are and they attack you, just point at the ground and yell "Turner". They are trained to not attack anyone yelling that." "That's good to know," I said. "I'll make sure Ben and Jon are informed." "If they're with any of our boys they'll be safe, unless of course they're in a fight with our kids. The dogs love the boys and are very protective," Tyler warned. "Two guards and four dogs can provide quite a deterrent to intruders." "Well, I'm off," Ron said smiling. "We'll see you all later." Everyone said their goodbyes as Ron left the room. I'm not sure how it happened, but as soon as Ron left Sterling appeared. We were introduced to him as the Estate Manager and Tyler asked him to show us to our rooms. Then saying goodbye to our hosts we followed Sterling to the Guest Building. "Wow! This place is fabulous!" Chris said when we were alone in our suite. "So are you," I countered as I took him in my arms and kissed him. "What time is dinner?" Chris joked. "There's plenty of time for what I have in mind," I grinned as I felt my body respond to his closeness. "I just hope we're not interrupted," Chris mused with a chuckle. "They can just wait," I declared. "I think we should try out the bed and make sure it's comfortable." "I know you," Chris laughed. "You don't care if it's comfortable, just if it's flat!" "That too," I said as I took his hand and led him toward the large king-sized surface. A string of shoes and clothing marked the trail from our kiss to the bed. As we neared our destination, I said. "Pull back the covers. I'll get a couple of towels. I'd hate to leave a lot of evidence of our enthusiasm for the maid." "I'm sure she or he sees plenty of that in this house," Chris conjectured. "True, true," I replied as I rushed to the huge bathroom and snagged a couple of towels, "but I do have an aversion to climbing into a bed later that's stiff with dried cum." Chris just laughed as he helped me spread the towels over the center of the bed. BEN'S POV I gotta admit, I'm just knocked on my ass! First I was jes' blown away by Jeff's house over in Palos Verdes. Now we're here in Vegas and that damned Tyler has a house like I never seen before. I mean it's kinda modern and rustic at the same time. It's big too. Man, if the boys in my `hood ever seen this place they'd have it cleaned out in no time. I mean there's art work, ya know, pictures and statues and stuff like that what makes my eyeballs jes' about pop outta my head. Even that damned furniture had to be picked out special for this place. It's so purty it makes me nervous as hell. I'm sure I'm gonna break something and spend the rest o' my life paying to replace it. That boat that Mr. Tyler has is jes' as impressive, but in a different way. It's like bein' in this beautiful machine that's all polished in such a perfect way that I was sure I'd fuck up something. I know they said I was their guest and all, but I felt like I should grab a brush and start cleaning the toilet or something. Oh yeah, they said it wasn't a toilet. It's called a `head' on a boat. Then there's that airplane. I could jus' live on that thing. I mean there's so much t' do that I didn't want to get off. They coulda jus' flown me around for a couple of days and I'd been happier than a pig in slop. I guess the thing that blows me away is all the people around that are jus' there t' keep you happy. At Jeff's it was kinda neat, `cause it was mostly Frank who was really friendly. There was a cleaning lady too and some guys that mowed the yard and stuff, but that was just the beginning. On that damned boat there was more people than you could shake a stick at. You couldn't fart without some guy rushing over with a damned fan t' blow the stink away. I betcha there was 10 or 11 guys that were there jus' t' make the boat run and take care of us. Damn, I'd like t' have a job like that. Nobody had t' kill themselves workin' either. I saw Mandy's boyfriend light up a smoke on the back deck and `fore he could hardly get the butt in ta the ashtray, some steward guy rushed over and took the ashtray away and put down a clean one. Holy Shit! Rick shoulda just pitched the butt over the side and saved the guy some work. I guess that's what he got paid for though. They must be paid good for being handsome too. I mean there wasn't an ugly guy on that whole boat. `Cept for the Captain, they all ran around in shorts and shirts that showed off their legs, arms and bodies. I `bout sprung wood ever' time I seen one o' those guys which was all the damned time. I hope nobody seen how fluffed up my crotch was all the time. Good thing that ole Jon was around. I mean, we both got a workout that night in bed. What really fucks my mind up is that all these guys are queer like me! `Cept for all their money and the nice stuff that gets, you'd never know they was different. Course, Rick and Mandy ain't queer and neither was Jeff's dad and mommy, but jus' `bout everybody else I've met is. I mean, son of a bitch! I'm not too sure about all those steward guys on the boat neither, but I sure got a feelin' that some were. I'd sure like t' try some of that white meat. A bunch of `em was packin' full loads in their shorts too. You could tell! Woo Wee! I finally had to go find a bathroom and stuff some toilet paper in my jockeys. My damn dick was leakin' like a faucet. I sure hope nobody noticed. They didn't seem to. I'd sure like t' try it on with some o' these boys here too. Damn they're gorgeous! I guess some of `em are partners like me and Jon, but they don't hang all over each other all the time. They jus' wanna have a fun time and are really nice. I mean who'd a thought some nigger kid like me would get treated like some damned king? I'm practically afraid to open my mouth for fear of putting my foot in it. Then there's that Tyler and his brother and their partners. I mean, you can tell those guys have their act together. Handsome? They could be models! Even though they all have great lookin' faces and nice bodies, that Tyler takes the cake. That guy is built! I wouldn't like t' tangle with that bastard! I bet he could take on four o' the meanest guys in the `hood and spit `em out like seeds. He's jus' as nice as can be too, but you shoulda seen him when them bad guys tried to take Jeff and Mandy. I was layin' on the ground havin' accident'ly knocked Manda into Jeff, but when I looked up that bad guy was toast! Like I said I wouldn't wanna mix it up with that fucker Tyler! All this shit makes me nervous as hell. I know that Jon feels the same way. It's not that these guys are all white neither. I mean you'd think they couldn't see that I was black. Me and Jon, who's got Mexico in his blood, are treated jus' the same as ever'body else. I'm not sure what he thinks, but as for me, I feel like somebody slipped and squirted some dark chocolate on the white wedding cake. I'm just waiting for somebody to notice and all hell t' break loose. I feel like a damned duck in the middle of the desert without a drop of water in sight. I jus' don't belong. All this stuff with Dr. Mel and Dr. Jeff sucks. I know that ole Tyler has got all the wheels turnin' to find `em but what's the chance when they got snatched half-way `round the world? We gonna need help from the Lord a'mighty to get `em back. Well me and Jon are headed to that inside pool buildin' where they have a cool game room where we're s'posed t' meet the Turner boys. I'm sure they been practicin' and are gonna beat our asses, but we'll try to pretend like it don't matter, and jus' be polite. Damn, I'd like to get outta here and jus' go steal some hubcaps. At least I'd be, like they say, `in my element.' I could sure show these boys what the real world is like. * * * * *