Chapter 11-2
Show Time
Part 3
After a brief explanation about what had happened, Jared frowned. "So once again we missed all the excitement, and once again we are being held, prisoner."
I nodded and said. "At least it's a nice prison, and the warden isn't a psycho-killing monster named Gloria." Jared gave a heavy sigh as Mom came into the room with Mrs. Vincent who launched herself at us squeezing us to death. I groaned.
"You're hurting me Jezzy," causing her to squeeze us even harder than kissing every inch of our heads, telling us she was so worried about us once she found Gloria passed out on the floor, with a gun in her hands. The fact that she and Mom were still fully dressed surprised me. Then again, with everything going on, I should have expected some normalcy.
Once she released us, she got off the bed and said. "I talked your mother into feeding you first before we bathed you. That way, we could all eat together and let you boys out of your cage for a while. Besides, according to your nurses and Coach Brady, he has taken the liberty of prescribing some exercises he wants you boys to do at least three times a day minimum. To help you, boys get back onto your feet."
Mom pulled around our wheelchairs as Jezzy brought us each a pair of clean swim trunks and another pair of scrubs including the top as well as a pair of socks which confused Jared and me. All she said was. "Just something to keep you boys warm and while you eating and exercising; and while Mr. Brady is here and nurse Betty. Who we have hired to be your boy's physical therapists while you're here and on the mend?" I nodded, letting her and Mom dress me and Jared then helped us to our wheelchairs.
Mom said. "I almost forgot," handing me a new pair of glasses.
Once they wheeled us to the table, we could hear the workman at the pool with Coach Brady setting up a small gym for us. While Mom and Jezzy finished dinner as my two younger brothers Jared and Jason worked on their homework. With Ryan and Duke as well as Billy who was also fully dressed. I didn't have any to work on other than to put myself further ahead. They smiled at us, and we smiled back, as we waited and watched everything around us.
It was moments later when Dad and Mr. Vincent entered the home with Jake and Adam. They were all wearing security guard uniforms. I watched Jake quickly run down the hall to check on his mother. Hearing a dog bark and I knew it had to be Jake's dog because Sparky was lying near me, well until the cat had escaped the room and Jake's dog running down the hall. Their annoying parrot was in the corner of the living room sitting on his bird stand.
Billy quickly got up from the table to go rescue his cat from Sparky, who was more interested in their cat than Jake's dog. Jake quickly apologized and picked up his dog. Mrs. Vincent said it was no big deal, and told him Sparky and his dog had as much right to roam the house as anyone else. Jake put his dog back down and took the cat and put it back inside his Mom and Dad's room.
Having Jason held on to Sparky to prevent him from chasing after the cat who looked quite angry for being unable to run free, as he does at home. Yet it was for his own good not knowing if he would be safe running free when they weren't home with all the butchering of animals that had taken place in our neighborhood over the last few weeks and months.
Jake's home was still being painted and cleaned as they slowly moved into it. I was told they would be in it by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. Even though Adam had moved back in, his parents felt he was safer here with me, regardless of the extra police presence in the neighborhood. Mom and Dad, as well as the Vincent's, already considered Adam just another son, and the same went for Jake and Billy.
I overheard Dad talking to Mom regarding Shawn and Arthur. They had found the phone they had been using inside Shawn's backpack, but hadn't found the line as of yet. That Mr. Vincent was just as confused as we were. Most people would think a wireless connection is like a cell phone. But phones like that haven't hit the market yet. At the time, I wondered how the cameras worked. Other than the fact they were being monitored somewhere on the property, most likely near the front gate.
I overheard Dad say that he had made arrangements with the group home he worked at for Shawn and Arthur. Mom nodded and said. "Better there than at home the way things are at the moment." I watched them kiss and put on a happy face as Dad approached Jared and me at the table as Mom returned to the kitchen to help Jezzy.
Dad took a seat after kissing us both on the head and feeling our cheeks and forehead. He said. "Mom says you boys are still running a slight fever?"
I nodded and said. "Mom making me, and Jared stay home for the rest of the week, because of it. I told her we would be fine Dad, it's just a small one."
Dad chuckled. "I see, still trying to get Mom, and I too believe that you're fine when you're not."
I gave a heavy sigh, nodding. "You can't blame a boy like me from trying."
Dad messed up my hair and kissed me on the cheek and said. "Mom, right, and you boys know it. Besides, it's not going to kill you to stay home from school. Or to stay here with the Vincent's as their part-time babysitter.
"Even though I heard you tell them that you rather not get paid for it under these conditions. I have to agree because if we paid you for spending your time in bed, sleeping. It would be silly when we have already paid you for personal injury for everything Gloria has done to you as well as a bonus for passing the tests with flying colors. So, we have decided that you would be their guests and not their babysitter unless you are helping with their homework, and help with the bathing and other things when the boys are home from school.
"Three or four hours each day and only get paid for that. They wouldn't need to pay you for spending the night until you are back on your feet, and we can increase the hours. Once you are no longer their guests, but their babysitter."
I nodded. "I could live with that. But only if they pay me half my wages, and give the rest to Dotty and Jody for filling in, or the deals off, I won't accept any pay at all for doing absolutely nothing I wouldn't do, anyway. When I am already taking care of my brothers, either here or at home."
Dad rubbed his chin and nodded and put out his hand and we shook on the deal. Dad said. "You drive a hard bargain son, but I find those terms more than fair."
I smiled and said. "I would like to add one more condition?"
Dad asked, rolling his eyes. I said. "I would like Mr. Vincent to use my bonus money to help pay for mine and Jared's nurses for their time and their help with physical therapy."
Dad grinned. "It's your money. Are you sure about that?"
I nodded. "Absolutely, that way I know I am getting my money's worth."
Dad laughed and messed my hair again said. "Anything else?"
I said. "I would like to pay for mine and Jared's new clothing, as well as the paint and wallpaper for the tub room as well as my room here since it is my room when I am staying here."
Dad said. "It's your money if you want to spend it. Heaven forbid me from stopping you. Is there anything else?"
I shook my head no. He was about to leave when I grabbed his hand said. "Wait, how much did my new glasses cost?"
Dad said. "None of your business son, because you got to let me pay for something son, or it would look like we aren't your parents anymore?"
I said. "Dad, I was thinking that since I was getting my eyes checked on Wednesday, that might be a good idea to get another pair of glasses because my old ones give me such a headache, and I really have a hard time seeing out of them. That a second pair with a new prescription wouldn't go amiss. My Grandmother always kept a second pair just in case my parents broke them."
Dad said. "I see, but you are not going to pay for them."
I said, "How about the eye exam?"
Dad rolled his eyes and said. "No. but you can buy us lunch afterward and some nice flowers for the ladies of the house."
Dad kissed me on the head and left me to my silence watching. Mom and Jezzy laughed when Dad told them what I tried to get away with. Mom brought each of us one of her special energy shakes. She kissed each of our cheeks, giving extra ones to me and Jared. It bothered me that I couldn't do anything but sit there while everyone was working around me. I didn't even have a book to read because of Gloria. I questioned who was going to pay for that since it was a library book.
Mr. Vincent and Coach Brady were just finishing up setting up the small gym when Mom told them to wash up for dinner. Having Jake and Adam set the table, Mrs. Vincent went down to check on Jake's mother and his Dad. Hearing them down, the arguing about if she should stay in bed or not.
Dotty said. "Ethan, darling, I am fine now. Stop fussing over me." When she saw me and Jared, she hurried and rushed to our side and smothered us with kisses. She said. "I thought for sure I was a goner if wasn't for your friend Jeff saving me from that psycho woman and her friends." Then she started to kiss us both all over again before she released us.
Mom giggled as she took a washcloth and wiped the lipstick off us. Only to add more personally by her and wiping it off. She whispered in my ear that she couldn't wait to rip my clothes off and lick every inch of me and Jared. I wanted to say get in line, seeing Jezzy and Dotty as well as each of their husbands smiling at me and Jared as if we were a meal to be had. Mom took her spot right next to me and Jared, having Dad sit on the other side of me.
Coach smiled at me and Jared and said. "Mr. Vincent and I have been busy while you boys were sleeping the day away, setting up a little gymnasium for you boys, after failing miserably in gym class."
He knew I hated that word failing, but he got the reaction he wanted when I growled. "I wasn't sleeping. I was tranquilized by my own sister."
Coach laughed and said. "Oh, is that so, well looked like you boys were sleeping to me. So to make up for those little nap boys I told Mr. and Mrs. Vincent to make sure you boys work extra hard. So, when you go to bed tonight you fall right to sleep the moment, they put you to bed."
He smiles at me, waiting for me to come back with some remark. But I couldn't think of any. So I said. "Thanks, for the advice coach. Jared and I will make you proud."
He shrugged his shoulders and took a seat at the table, says. "You can pay me back by coming to class without falling down or passing out in class like you did today. You don't need to make me proud when I couldn't be prouder than I am already of you boys, for not giving in to what that bitch wanted you to do, no matter what she did to you. Most boys wouldn't have done that."
I nodded. "I am not like other boys," Causing everyone to laugh even though I was being serious because I was getting tired of people accusing me of being like other boys.
Dad chuckled. "That's for sure son and I wouldn't have it any other way," causing everyone to laugh in agreement. I gave a heavy sigh, letting them poke fun at me, and sat quietly eating my dinner.