Can You Catch My Heart

Book One

Buckets Of Blessings
 

Chapter Ten

By

Retta Michaels

Disclaimer:

If your laws do not allow you to read this story, then don't. All the rest of you people who read it, if you think it's true, boy, have I investment opportunities for you!

Notes From Retta:

The chapter is going to have a lot of emotional and psychological issues in it.

There are subject matters in the upcoming chapters (10, 11, & 12) which are rather graphic. The sexual abusive situations Lance experienced are real. Even though they might seem fictional because of the cruelty involved, they actually happened. I'll tell you now so you don't think I'm an author with a demented mind. For me to work through what happened to me, I had to put them on paper.

And no, the violent incidents in this story are fictional even though I wish some were true. You'll see which I'm referring, so please read and enjoy.

Chapter 10:

Joan patted my hand and said, “Hon, why don't you take us to Steak N Shake with you. I hate to think what our hill is going to be like, so if it's ok with Mark and the boys, we'll stay at the funeral home.”

Mark said, “Hon, I'm fine with it, what about you boys?”

Jake said, “I don't care. I'm supposed to get a phone call in the morning, but I've got my cell phone with me, so I'm fine wherever I am.”

Mark said, “I'm fine. Where we going to sleep?”

Downstairs in the basement, we've got three full size roll away beds. My office has one the sofa in my office is another, the sofa in the apartment makes out and then, Gregg and Heather have the bed. We'll have enough.

“You plan on having a bunking party?” Ty laughed

“Did I mention the government auction?” I laughed

Joan laughed and said, “Mark, did he tell you the deals he got there?”

“Yes dear, we need to get the site addresses so we can go.”

“Ok, just email me for the address and I'll get you the link.”

As we drove through town, not a creature seemed to be stirring, not even a cop car. When we pulled up at Steak N Shake, I said, “Drive through or Walk In?”

“Let's go in” Gregg said. “They'll be happy to see a customer the way it looks.”

We all piled out and the snow was piled up against the door. No one had been in to eat in a while it looked, but it was open. What was interesting, was there wasn't any one at the counter.”

Joan said, “Anyone here?”

“There has to be, maybe they're taking a break. We'll figure out what we want and then I'll give a whistle.”

Ty stood in front of me and leaned against me. He said, “You want to share fries?”

“If we get two bunches, I'm starving.”

“You ate four times today!”

“Yeah, I must be preggers.”

He laughed and Heather started laughing. She said, “Ty, you'll learn he could eat a horse and still go out for a cheeseburger. He must have a hollow leg.”

“Nope, I checked.” he said.

“Which one?”Gregg asked

Ty started laughing and said, “All of them...ok?”

We started laughing and I said, “I'm going to have that biggest burger there with cheese and the cheese fries and top it off with that chili. Other than that, I'm having a shake.”

Ty said, “I'm having cheese fries, chili, and a regular burger.”

Everyone came up with what they wanted and I said, “Ok, get ready of the whistle.”

I let loose with a whistle and still no one was coming. “Well guys, ready to cook? I'll cook, and we'll leave the money on the counter. They're supposed to be open 24 hours.”

I went around the counter and went towards the back I saw an office and two people making out. I knocked on the door and they both jumped. “Hey, when you got some time, wash your hands and come wait on customers.”

“What are you doing back here?”

“I could ask the same thing, because you're getting paid to work..”

“Well if you want to have a problem, you can leave”

“If I leave, I'll be sitting in the parking lot calling the owner and insist on him getting in here to cook my food. I bet he will because he'll be told my next phone call is to the health department for his employees not wanting to wash their hands. So, get up and get an order.”

“Dude, I can't?”

“Why the hell not?”

“The person who's in here doesn't want you to know who it is?”

“IF I know them, they'll have an ass chewing coming just the same. Now, what's the issue?”

“I'll wait on you and then cook the food.”

“Ok, wash your hands first.”

“Ok”

He began washing his hands. I stood by him and said, “Listen, it's not my concern what you do. Hell, I would have probably done the same thing. Who thought you'd have customers in the middle of a blizzard, but that's when we got hungry. I'll over look it if you will.”

He smiled and said, “No problem.”

“Why's your partner got an issue?”

He looked at me and said, “If you must know, it's a guy.”

“Well, then what the hell's the problem? I don't care what you do as long as you wash your hands. Get him on out here. Three of us are gay out front.”

“How many's out there?”

“Nine”

“Just a minute”

“Jeremy, get on out here and wash your hands, there's a bunch of them.”

Jeremy came out and looked embarrassed. I didn't recognize him.

“As far as those people are concerned up there, you two were taking a nap. All I'm thankful for was you two weren't laying back here dead. That wouldn't have been good.”

I walked back up and said, “Guys, we'll have food in a minute.”

“What were they doing?”

“Taking a nap. I don't blame them really.”

Ty gave me a look and then Jeremy came forward wiping his hands. He gave a nervous smile and his focus rested on Ty and then stayed on little Mark. I could tell Jeremy was in lust.

I thought to myself, “Start giving the order, or we'll be here all night” So, that's what I did.

Jeremy began taking the order and then, everyone else gave theirs. I threw out the plastic and paid. I said, “We'll be back here sitting. Give us a yell when it's done.”

We went back and sat. Ty said, “You just got one off, but I didn't believe it.”

“That's the story and I'm sticking to it.”

“He wasn't rubbing sleep out of his eyes.”

“Must be a light sleeper.”

“Must be something.....”

Little Mark sat across from us and said, “That's Jeremy Patterson and the other guy is Chance Brewer. They were on my baseball team.”

Ty said, “Did they get many home runs?”

Little Mark looked at him and smiled. “Why?”

Ty looked at me and said, “...They must've been .....asleep back there...or something.”

Little Mark started laughing and said, “They looked too nervous to sleep.”

I chuckled and said, “Guys, they washed their hands. That's all I asked.”

Ty said, “Good thing.”

Little Mark said, “So, you think?”

I interrupted before Ty could say a thing. “Yeah, the cheese fries are good.”

Ty said, “Ok,”

Little Mark said, “ Really?”

I gave him a look like drop it and he said, “Well......” In a preacher lady imitation.

“We'll talk later.”

Ty chuckled and said, “I bet they don't. They'll probably go back there and finish their....nap.”

Little Mark started laughing again. He leaned closer and said, “When I go up there, Jeremy is getting my phone number. If I had known that......man.”

“You like him?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Well, ask for a Takhoma sak. “

“I would, but they might be together.”

“Or, they might be just taking a nap” said Ty.

“Ty, drop it.”

He looked at me and said, “I would, but.....”

“But what?

“Ok...”

Little Mark said, “Tell him.”

“Tell me what?”

“Nothing.”

“Tyson, bathroom.”

He looked at me and I said, “Come on, let's go.”

He gave me a look and I said, “Come on”

We went to the bathroom and I said, “Ok, what's going on.”

“Chance was my first, but it wasn't by choice.”

“What do you mean?”

“He found out about me and he told me if I didn't do things with him, he'd spread it all over school.”

“What?”

“Yeah, Mark knows what happened, so I made it a point of trying to tell him there might be something more going on back there than voluntary sex.”

“Oh man. Are you ok?”

“I'm fine. I hate the guy and he knows it. After I did what I did with him, I went to Mark and told him. Then, together we went to Chance and told him that if he spread anything, we'd put the word out that Chance wanted it. So, Chance agreed to back off.”

“So, do you think Jeremy was voluntarily doing it?”

“I don't know.”

“Well, I don't know what to do. A huge part of me wants to beat the hell out of him and another part of me wants to ask Jeremy if it was voluntary and if it wasn't, then go back and beat the hell out of him. Either way, you get the point of what I want to do to the guy.”

“Yeah, so, let's let little Mark give Jeremy the phone number and hope he calls.”

“Well, I know Jeremy likes little Mark, that look he got from him was way too long.”

“Good, because I know Mark likes him.”

“Good, maybe they'll strike something up.”

When we went in there, I walked past Jeremy and said, “Hey, do you have any fresh coffee?”

“No, but I can make some up.”

“If you do, I'll buy a cup.”

“Ok”

I took a look at the price and laid the amount in cash down on the counter. I figured if I laid out the trap, he'd come over to the table.

When I got over to the tables, I said, “Does anyone else want any coffee?”

Mitch said he'd take some and Joan said she'd have some. I went back up to the counter and said, “I'll need two more over there, you might bring some cream and sugar too.”

He nodded and I went back over to the table. When I sat down, I said, “The trap is set, so if you want that boy to have your number, you better get prepared.”

Mark looked at me and smiled. “I shouldn't.”

“Why not, does someone have your ownership papers?”

“No.”

“Then, what's holding you back except gravity. He's coming over here. Here's my business card, put it on the back of that and hand it to the guy. Now, when he comes over here, you ask to speak to him privately and see if he's single or if he's with someone. If he's single, then give him that card. If he says he's with someone, then let me know. Ok?”

“What are you going to do?”

“If he's with someone, then so be it. If he's not, then old Chance and I are going to have a talk.”

He nodded and Ty said, “Don't do anything.”

“Ty, if he's continuing what he did with you, then he needs to be taught a lesson so it doesn't take his butt to prison. He might think flipping burgers is fun, but he won't when that's the only job he can get when he gets out.”

We sat there and soon enough, Jeremy brought out the three cups of coffee. He handed me mine and said, “Where do the others go?”

“That man there in the gray suit and the woman in the yellow dress suit.”

Jeremy smiled at me and somehow, I think he new I was gay by referring to Joan's outfit as a dress suit.

When he was done, I said, “Jeremy, I need some sugar twin here, do you have some?”

“Sure, I'll be right back.”

I gave Mark a look and said, “You gonna do it?”

“He didn't stick around long enough.”

“Ok, how about if I ask him to park it next to you?”

“That might get him in trouble with Chance if they're together.”

“Hold up, you mean to tell me he can't sit next to someone because a customer asked him too? What sort of relationships are you involving yourself?”

Mark looked at me shocked and I said, “In my job Mark, I see men and women naked, the second Ty tells me I can't, is the day I tell Ty he needs to grow the fuck up. Now, if that's what you're in, then grow up and lose the “you can't” stuff with a man. The second you give up your independence is the moment you should have had your head examined. Don't ever let a man tell you what to do.”

Ty said, “Why, you just did.”

“And, if he listened, he'll use the advice.”

Joan came over and said, “Lance, regarding tomorrow, do you think it's going to snow too much?”

“I don't know, your guess is as good as mine.”

She looked at me and said, “Would you come outside with me?”

“Sure”

We went outside and she said, “I heard what you said and I don't know how to say thank you more. I tried to tell him the same thing and he thought I was being intrusive. Do you know that boy he was seeing wanted him to stay there with him and not come home to be with family when they needed him?”

“No, I wasn't aware of it, that's stupid.”

“Yeah, the guy doesn't have the balls enough to come get to know us but thought he was man enough to tell Mark he couldn't come home. I told Mark if he wasn't on that plane, the next one landing would be mine to come get him so he better be on it.”

“Why does he think he has to be subservient to a man?”

“I don't know. He sure didn't learn that at home. We share the responsibilities and we communicate. He knows that, but someplace he's come up with that thought.”

“Well, what we're doing in there is Mark likes the kid working behind the counter. To be honest, I went back there and caught them making out. Then, I found out the cook made Ty do things for him in school by threatening him. Ty's virginity was given up by sexual abuse.”

“Oh my.”

“Yeah, I want to go back there so bad and snap that kid's neck you don't even begin to know how bad.”

“I understand. Why didn't Ty say something?”

“He did. He told Mark and he and Mark went and told the guy that if the guy spread rumors around school, then they'd spread the rumor it was him that was forcing kids to do things.”

“So, Mark knew?”

“Yeah, the guy did it to Ty and then told Ty if he didn't do it again, he'd tell everyone Ty was gay. So, Ty asked Mark what he should do and Mark helped him out.”

“That's rape?”

“Yeah, but in our state, there's a fine line when force and coercion are different. So, it's sexual abuse. Stupid law huh.”

“Yeah, no wonder you're upset.”

“Yeah, so now we're trying to find out if that kid Jeremy is being forced to do things.”

“Oh.....what are you going to do if he is?”

“I'll tell you. I'll go back there and give that kid a lesson he won't forget. He'll find out what it feels like.”

“No, that will possibly cost you your license. What we'll do is we'll tell Jeremy to get his coat and that he's coming with us. Then, we'll report him to management.”

“That doesn't do anything but get Chance fired. He needs to know he's got the law to answer to.....hold up a moment, let me see if Ben's available”

“He might be, but I'll tell you there's no way he'll come out in weather like this.”

“We didn't tell him what kind of steak, or when it would be. We're at Steak N Shake, so if he wants it, he better get here.”

“Ooh you're sly” she giggled. “Give him a call and tell him the laughter in the background is mine. Now, let's get back in there.”

“Ok”

We went back in and Mark had Jeremy sitting at the table. The three were talking animatedly. When I got over there, I sat down and said thanks for the sugar twin. Jeremy was laughing away and I said, “Ty, what's the answer to that question I asked a moment ago?”

He looked at me and said, “I think it's what I knew in high school.”

“Ok, then one moment, I'll make a phone call.”

“Who are you calling?”

“Ben”

“huh?”

“Ben”

“Ben who?”

“remember the phone call in the Escalade and his position?”

Ty looked at me and then I saw a light turn on. But, when it did, he looked at me like he was wondering what I was thinking.

“Remember how I told him I owed him a steak dinner?”

“Yeah”

“Where are we at?”

“Steak n.....Oh! You Dog! That's good.”

“So, I didn't tell him when I'd give him that steak dinner nor did I say where it'd be. So, if he wants a steak dinner, I'll buy.”

“That's terrible.”

“Well, you know I'll have Ben do some convincing while he's here “

“Yeah, he'd probably do some good.”

“well, it's either that, or Ben will be used for his other position. I really don't care.”

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Ben's number. It rang three times and he answered. “This better be good.”

'Oh it is. How the hell are you?”

“Who the hell is this?”

“Lance.”

“Lance, are you drunk? Do you know what time it is?”

“Yeah, it's time for that steak dinner I owe you.”

At one am in the morning!”

“Yeah, I didn't say when it'd be, nor where it would be held. So, Joan and I will buy if you'll come.”

“Where the hell you at? There's no steak places open this time of night?”

“Oh yeah there is. It's open 24 hours.”

“Bullshit. The closest truck stops a half hour's drive”

“No, this is in town. I believe it's called Steak n Shake. I guess you can get a shake there too.”

He started laughing and said, “I'll get a shake alright. It's called my left hand meeting my right hand around your neck. Now let an old man get some sleep.”

“Oh bull, you're not old and besides I need a favor.”

“Can't it wait?”

“Not really. That's why I'm calling. You're the only person that can do this the way it needs done.”

“What the hell?”

“I can't tell you but did they give you a book of charges you could file on someone?”

“Yeah.”

“Bring that too.”

“What!”

“I'll tell you when the vic isn't sitting directly across from me.”

“Oh. I'll be there.”

“Thanks”

“You better buy me a three quarter pound with cheese fries and shake. Have it ready and I'll be there.”

“Ok Joan said to tell you the giggling in the background is her. She thinks this is the best steak she's ever bought someone.”

“Tell her you're buying because I know she can afford the real thing. Come to think of it, you can too. Now.”

“Well, old habits die hard. Are you getting dressed or are you gracing us with the bunny pajamas.”

“What!”

Joan started laughing and said, “Tell him I've voted for the pajamas.”

Joan says she's voted for the pajamas.”

“Like hell. You tell that woman she's too young to see the pajamas I wear.”

“Oh, ok, I didn't know they made birthday suits in that size.”

He started laughing and said, “Kid, I'm on my way there now. You better start making snow balls because the war will be on.”

I rang off and she turned looking at me and said, “No pajamas huh?”

“No, he said we're too young to see the pajamas he wears. Nearest I can figure he's got one of the first edition birthday suits.”

“Oh no! The kind that the elastic went out around the waist?”

“Yeah, But I thought they recalled those for defects!”

“He's got those alright!”

We laughed and she said, “Oh man, He'll never forgive us.”

“Well, with the hours we keep, how else were we going to get him that steak!”

“You know we'll never hear the end of this. From now on, he'll offer us a steak dinner and then be sure to tell everyone how cheap we are.”

We laughed and she said, “He's on his way?”

“Yeah, He's happy to do it for us.”

“Good”

Gregg came over and said, “Are we ready to leave yet?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

“Ok, so we're to sit here all night?”

“Gregg, All I can say is we're waiting on someone to get here.”

“Who? In case you haven't noticed, it's a blizzard outside.”

“Ty, excuse us for a moment. Gregg, follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

“We're going to the bathroom because when you hear why we're staying, you're going to shit.”

“Ok, but I might be asleep.”

“I'd be willing to bet you come awake for this one.”

When we stepped into the bathroom, he said, “What's up?”

“Did you recognize the guys working here?”

“I don't know they're names but Ty used to hang around the one in the kitchen.”

“Do you know why Ty stopped hanging around him?”

“No”

“If I told you he found out Ty was gay and blackmailed him to do things for him sexually, would that keep you awake?”

“WHAT!”

“Yeah, the guy got Ty's virginity by making Ty give him head. He told Ty he'd tell it around that he's gay if he didn't do it.”

“Oh that son of a bitch!”

“Yeah, so, guess what? When we got here tonight, the kid Jeremy that I've been keeping out front was being made to give the guy head in the office back there. So, we're staying here until I can get help here because if I go back there, they guy's neck is gonna get snapped.”

“It might if you don't go back there because I'll do it.”

“No, we're letting someone that will turn his head to some things come in and speak with him.”

“Who's that?”

“Remember me talking with Joan about the guy that's investigating things for me?”

“Yeah, but you didn't say who he was.”

“Well, he's got a badge and he's like the only guy in our county that can arrest the Sheriff. He can arrest people without being the police. So, he's coming in.”

“Oh, now I get it”

“Yeah, put the fear of God in him and then that guy is learning a lesson. Arrest him or get him fired and he's not learned a thing except he's pissed off and that's likely not going to get him to stop doing this to people.”

“So, we're waiting on this guy to get here and have a talk with him. Then, what are we going to do with his co-worker.”

“Well, what I think is that kid in there is going to suddenly find himself with a better job.”

“So, he rides out of here with us?”

“Yeah. Otherwise, the other has to leave. My thought is it's better to explain it away that he got a better job than the other got arrested.”

“Ok, so I'll tell Heather sex is off tonight.”

“Like you've missed out ten times today.”

“We have!”

“Try getting some and then getting interrupted four times by the phone ringing to go get a dead person. Then, when you've got time, and want to get laid, Heather comes down all bright and cheerful because she's got some and we're ready to blow balls.”

“Ooh...bad timing huh.”

“Timing! Shit, it's been that way for us most of the time! The other day, guess who shows up when I'm chasing him around the house naked!”

“Oh man, sorry.”

“That one was ok, but every time since then, someone or something has interrupted. I'm about to lock us in someplace and not answer doors telephones or nothing until I get some. Then, I come in here and even the Steak N Shake guy is getting some.”

“Why don't you call him in here and I'll keep bus outside. That'd be kinky.”

“Just about the time I did, then Ben would be here and then I'd be blue again. Just promise me we'll get a chance to get us some time before the week's end. Or, I'll start keeping everyone else awake and none will be getting some until I do.”

“Oh man...we'll get you laid.”

“No, it's your brother's turn.”

“Oh man, I so didn't want to hear that.”

“Don't you take turns?”

“Dude, I'm a guy. It's always the same!”

“Oh man, you don't know what you're missing. You gotta let her have a go at it.”

“You gotta be shitting me!”

“Yeah I am, but the look on your face was priceless.”

“Asshole!”

We went outside and he went up to Heather and said, “Lance says we're supposed to take turns having sex with each other.”

“What?”

“Yeah, he says it was his turn last and the next time is Ty's. So, he asked me when it was my time and yours. I tried to tell him it was always the same, but he said you should get a turn.”

She said, “LANCE!”

“Yes dear.”

“How am I supposed to take my turn?”

“I thought you knew!”

“Knew what!”

“Oh man, I can't teach a girl how to have sex. I'm gay! Ask someone else.”

Joan and Mark said, “We're not getting in this one.”

Mitch said, “No, not me, I told Gregg the bird and the bees, but I never told him nothing like that. I've never taken a turn in my life.”

She was cracking up and said, “Gregg, over here on the table now.”

He said, “Not here!”

“Well then you don't get your turn.” She through her hand on her hip and sat down. “Lance, anytime you tell him something like that again, you're going to have to demonstrate it with me. SO there!”

“Ok sis. I thought you two played librarian the other night and he checked out naughty and nasty. Didn't he read them!”

Everyone really got to laughing and even Jeremy was laughing.

“I told him to read me a bedtime story but we never made it past the porridge.”

“Oh man, I don't want to hear this.”

Just then, Ben came in and I told Jeremy. “Quick get that man a ¾ lb cheeseburger with cheese fries and whatever shake he wants. I'm paying.”

Ben came over and plopped down on the seat next to Mark showering everyone with snow. “The next time I get woke up at one am to go get a steak dinner, it better be a real steak in a real restaurant and it better not be snowing.”

“Ok Ben. It was all Joan's idea.”

“Mine!”

“Yeah, you know how she gets. If she doesn't get her milkshake by 2 am, we're all in trouble. So, blizzard or not, we get drug out.”

Joan got up and came over. I'll have you know I had coffee. You had the shake.”

“Oh....well that was because I was starving. Let me go talk to Ben while he's waiting on his sandwich.”

Ben and I went across the restaurant and I said, “The reason we're here is because we decided to go out and eat. Then, when we get here I catch the cook catching head from the counter guy. Ty and Mark over there went to school with them and Ty used to be friends with the cook until the guy found out Ty was gay and started making Ty do things for fear of the guy running around school telling everyone Ty's gay. So, fast forward, I catch them doing it in here and the guy up front said the cook's coercing him to do sexual favors for him.”

“Oh, so you called me and woke me up”

“Yeah, you have a badge and you can arrest people, but you can also kind of give someone a warning ticket to shape up or you'll send the ticket on to the prosecutor to press charges. Right?”

“Yeah, but the way I feel is they guy needs to go ahead and be arrested. If he's done it before and he's done it again, I'm sure there's a whole line of guys in between he's done this to.”

“Yeah, and the only way I could think to stop him was to pull the same shit on him, but that'd cost my my license.”

“Yeah, I understand. I'd love to slap the little punk around myself. So, what I'll do is I'll wait until he cooks my steak and then I'll let you pay for it and then, I'll pull him over and talk with him. What do you want me to do after that?”

“Tell him his boy toy isn't going to stay and he needs to find an excusable reason for the guy to leave and go home. Then, tell him each and every time he sees anyone he has forced to have sex, he better not be thinking about anything with them until he returns the favors to everyone.”

Ben looked at me and said, “That could be rough for me to say.”

“I'll say it, but his eyes will be bugging out of his head when I do it because he'll be getting shaken baby syndrome.”

“Ok, that wouldn't be good.”

“I'll sit over here and I'll talk. I've got a few things I need to say to him in regards to Ty. I'll let him know what he's done to Ty psychologically, and let him think about what he'll have done to him psychologically in prison.”

“I think you're hiring the wrong one for the funeral home if you want my opinion. What you're doing is drawing in the one that's been abused but leaving the abuser out there and hoping he'll give his word and change. To be honest, that's not going to happen. He'll say what you want him to say while you're here, then when you're gone, he'll be on the next vic. My advice is to hire him and leave the other be while you work on him.”

“That's not going to do me any good because Ty was a victim. I'll tell you now that if I ever come in and Ty's swinging on his dick, I'll kill him and there won't be a thought about it.”

“No, that wouldn't be good either. But we really need him watched closer.”

“One second.” I paused, “Mitch, could you come here for a moment?.”

“Sure. What's going on?”

“Mitch, I'd like for you to meet Ben. Ben's the county Coroner.”

Mitch gave a start and said, “What's going on?”

“Nothing to concern yourself with, but I need to ask you a blind favor. When we're a safe distance away, I'll give you the particulars, but I don't want to do it here.”

“Ok, what do you need?”

“Well, first of all, what's the lowest paying job you have with the distributorship?”

“I don't know. They all pay pretty decent. I'd say we probably have one for ten an hour, but I doubt if there's one that low.”

“Oh. Well, could you create one that's like a little over nine an hour and then have a graduating pay scale?”

“Sure, but that's not a usual request.”

“Well, what I've got is someone that I don't want making a lot of money to start and I don't want him eating beans either. What I want is for him to think it looks inviting enough to jump ship and come over, but I want him to be close enough to watch regularly.”

“That would be in the office. What we have there are the secretarial and the various management positions.”

“No, that won't do. All I can see is trouble being borrowed there. What about an assistant to the shop foreman out there. That guy looked pretty decent.”

“Yeah, We know he'll be here, but I don't know if he'll need help.”

“Well, you're the boss. Tell him he needs an assistant that he can dog out and keep an eye on.”

“So, you want me to hire someone so he can be dogged out?”

“Well, I don''t want his job being fun. The whole goal is he can work somewhere so he can have an eye kept on him.”

“Ok, care to elaborate.”

“Well, we have someone that if you heard the circumstances you'd be screaming for the person to be sent to prison. Ben here is usually level headed and he doesn't even want to speak with the person. He wants to arrest him and throw his sorry ass in jail. In some circumstances, jail doesn't help someone. All it does is makes that person more careful not to get caught. This person has multiple victims, and his last was at his employment. What we need is him kept an eye on, to learn a lesson and for him to still have a life.”

“What did he do?”

“Mitch, this is a super gray area.”

Ben looked over and said, “Just tell him. You're asking the man to employ him and he needs to know what he's buying.”

“Ok, in the law, there's rape and there's sexual assault, and sexual abuse. What the difference is is the amount of force and the type of force. I could come over throw you down on the ground and it'd be rape. Or, I could come over and said, “Mitch, I know you want me. I'm going out and tell everyone you're gay and then your business will be ruined and your life will really suck if you don't get together with me. The moment that you and I do something sexually, that's sexual abuse. The force is different. It's not direct physical, but mental and emotional. Then, there's sexual assault where I come over and I grab your dick, or fondle you, or caress you in a way that is sexual without sex. One of these is what the person did and he's done it several times. What he needs is an eye kept on him so he doesn't get it off and he needs someone that can come by regularly and say, “Things still going good?” But to listen if they're not.”

“Ok, I'm getting you now.”

“Yeah, and I'm going to tell you now you're not going to like who one of his victims is, but I can't have you being judge, jury, and executioner on this.”

“Oh....kay.... so why do you want this person around me?”

“There's no place else to put him.”

“Oh my God....what did he do to Ty?”

“Mitch.......If I can stay sane and attempt to help him, then you can too. Gregg wanted to snap the dude's neck, so that's why I can't have him in the office. He'd be seen regularly there, but the moment you asked Gregg if they guy was doing ok, Gregg wouldn't give a biased answer. I need you to know that a biased answer will send this guy to prison because your chance is his last option.”

“Ok, I'm trusting you here, but Ty's not going to like it.”

“Ty's not at the beer distributorship daily and isn't out in the back. Even if he's out there, he won't be seeing the guy all the time.”

“Ok, so you want him where he's around all guys and learns appropriate behavior in the workplace?”

“Yeah.”

“Ok, Now, since this just came up, I'd say its one of the two guys working here. Is it the one over there sitting at the table?”

“No, that's the latest victim. When I went back there, the cook was involved in sexual activity with that kid. The kid says it was a situation similar to Ty's where blackmail was used.”

“So you're telling me the guy extorted sex by blackmailing Ty.”

“Yeah, it happened and when the guy attempted to try it again, Ty went to Mark Jr and got him to go with him to tell the guy the blackmail wouldn't work. It ended Ty's friendship with the guy.”

“I sure hear that, but how does Ty feel about this plan?”

“I haven't asked him. He knows I'm up to something but he also knows I want to snap the guy's neck. If I dared go back there and do what the guy does to other people, then I'd lose my license and it'd cure the guy. BUT, I imagine mine would be rape because I'd lay my hands on him.”

“And I'm to trust you in all this?”

“Trust me, or we fuck the kid's world up. Now, we can do that, and all we're going to have in about three years is someone coming out of prison pissed off at us and this family. How much damage can one person do that's pissed off out there where you work? Because I can tell you how much damage he can do to my business with just his mouth and telling it around what's true between he and Ty.”

“Oh”

“Yeah, truth has a double edged sword quality. He's not lying because Ty did it. But, he's not telling the whole truth. Now, just imagine if he starts going out and telling people who are saying good things about the funeral home that Ty sucked his dick. No, I won't like it and the guy will probably be speaking through wires, but he's telling the truth. So, do we put him in jail and piss him off? Or, do we put him under our eye and let him know we know and there's not going to be another victim? One, his payment to society is over in three years, and the other, his payment to society and us is for as long as he works there.”

“Ooh, now I see what you're getting at. He's making more money there, so he thinks it's a step up when it's really a step into the trap. He's not making as much money as he would in a normal position, so when he gets a promotion, it's not costing me a dime but is giving him what I would have given him had he came in off the streets. Then, daily or so I go out and just remind him he needs to be decent by asking him a question and if I get any bad reports, his option B kicks in. That's smart.”

“Yeah, so will you do it?”

“Yeah, but you're going to explain to the the boys what I just did. They're not going to like it one bit.”

“I know, but I think they'll understand.”

“So, what are you doing about the victim? It seems like the other kid is getting the best end of this?”

“No, because that kid over there is going to come to work for Ty and I. Ty and he can identify with the same things and the kid can be more accessible to the family because something just tells me, that's your nephews new lover. Both like each other and the way they look at each other tells me they really would be good together.”

“Oh good. Joanie will be happy.”

“Yeah, now, would you do me another really huge favor?”

“Yeah, Would you tell Ty to drive you all back to the funeral home and bring me a blanket and pillow. It's going to be a long night.”

“What are you doing?”

“That kid and the other one need to be talked with and then, I'm not letting them out of my site until their shift is over. Both can then give notice and quit, but neither one is going to get a chance to do anything again here.”

“Ok”

“Ben, would you stick around for a bit and see how I do this?”

“Sure, I'm watching how you do this. It's amazing because what you do is like those demolition contractors do that do those big implosions. You go around and put everyone in their place doing their jobs and when you get the go ahead, you detonate and it looks like you did something miraculous. All you did was let people work.”

“Yeah, and that's the secret. Give people reasons to do things and they'll do them. I can't explain it because I don't hide anything I do, but the way it goes is I tell everyone their parts and they do them and when the end result happens, even they are impressed. What I'm doing is I'm going to talk to that kid over there first and tell him my reasons for not wanting him to work here any longer and offer him a job at the funeral home. He'll make more money and he'll be happy because he'll have little Mark as a lover. Little Mark will be happy because he's got a real fucked up idea of what a relationship consists of and he'll have someone that won't play into that.”

“What's little Mark's idea of a relationship.”

“The rough cut of it is emotional slavery. I can't love you unless I'm your servant and you dictate to me how to run my life sort of shit.”

“Oh man, and that just leads to abuse.”

“Yeah, So putting them together will put two that aren't type A's. They'll give each other room and build it the way it should.”

“Do you think it will work?”

“Yeah, I do, but if it doesn't, it was a better chance than what they had apart.”

He nodded and said, “You do this continually, don't you?”

“It seems that way. The players change, but almost every funeral has things that need to be done and people that need help. It's amazing how many people there are out there that don't know how to get a scope on their lives. I help those that want help and those that don't see the others getting better and then they want help themselves. The ones that don't need any help in the first place don't tend to stick around. Mark and Joan over there don't need one moment of help. Jake there didn't need anyone to gently guide and nurture him. All it took was about forty five minutes of conversation. Little Mark, his help isn't direct. It's from afar. Gregg, he needed a strong role model and someone who would wake him up. Ty. Ty's someone that loves me and needs to be loved. For him, I swam in an ocean of shit and we're all still wading into shore. Tomorrow is the day it all comes home.”

“You love it.”

“That a question or the answer because yeah, I do. I'll bitch about it, but it's amazing work. What's neat is Ty's learning what it takes beside me and he's now doing it himself. I'm excited for him because he realizes it's not all fun clean work dressed in suits. The other night, out there at that semi, I'll tell you that scared the shit out of him, but you know what? After a shower, he was back out to the hospital getting that pickup with me, so it didn't scare him off.”

“That was a mess over there. I still smell blood.”

“Peroxide. Take it and sniff it up your nose. It will get it out of your sinuses, plus it will keep you from getting a sinus infection and stop one if it's there.”

“Just snort it?”

“Yeah. I use it for that and my ears and swish it around in my mouth. In my shower, it's right next to the liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Ty saw me doing it after that wreck and asked me what I was doing. Just as soon as he heard all the reasons I do it, he was too. He was amazed at how much gunk came out.. I bet you will be too.”

“I'll have to try it. That's something I never knew all these years and Lord knows how long I've felt like my eyes have been feeling like they're going to bulge out from all the pressure behind them.”

“Yeah, now, my advice is to keep a paper towel near you at your desk because when you first start, you're going to have a lot of release. Once that's gone, you're going t be amazed how much your sense of smell has improved. You know older people say they lose the sense of smell and taste, but most of it is the sense of smell due to clogged sinuses.”

“How do you know this?”

“A lady I once delivered newspapers to in a nursing home was a person that I would stop and visit as sort of a break on that paper route. She was an old nurse and she'd tell me what various manufacturers would do with the things we look at today as general staples were new. Peroxide used in the manner for what I told you is what it was intended to be. It cleansed wounds and it was meant to be a preventative instead of just cleansing wounds as it is now. If you use it as the preventative, it will clean your morgue table and all your utensils and help you in your body too.”

“I knew some of it, but I didn't know other parts.”

“Well, what I do is I clean down with a foaming bottle of peroxide and then follow up with rubbing alcohol that has Glade air freshener in it. Then, my embalming room doesn't smell like a hospital, but is as clean as one.”

“You've got a nice set up over there.. When I saw it, I knew you were serious about your job. Some of these places, I'm afraid to go in because they have wooden cabinets in their room. It looks like someone's kitchen, and you just know those cabinets have never been sprayed down and cleaned.. Then there's that place over there on the avenue that when I saw what that guy had, if I was an inspector, I would have shut him down.” .

“Yeah, but you know he would be grandfathered in even if it wasn't his own equipment. That home was here in the civil war and who can stop him from using equipment that old?”

“Well it should be against the law.”

“You know the laws don't tell us how old the equipment we use can be. So, if working with an enamel bucket with a hose sticking out of it keeps that man happy, then I can't knock him. What bugged me was how dusty, dirty, and unorganized the place was. He came over here and saw mine and nicknamed me the doctor because of all my medical cabinetry. He even got told it came from military surplus. I thought he was making fun of how everything looked like a military hospital until I went over there. Did you realize the man had a phone book laying on top of the body!”

“Yeah, the guy's a little out there, but where it counts, he's got the people's business. He's an institution in this town, so the ones that swear by him all look at you and think “how dare you” when you came into compete against him.”

“I'm not competing against him, I'm competing against everyone. The way I look at it, I came in offering but one thing different and that was the size of the chapel. Since then, I've found people are blown away by my attentiveness. I figured everyone would give that, but I guess they don't.”

“Not by a long shot. The “bucket man” as I call him, basicly takes tells them, there's the casket and here's the service. They get their choice of gunmetal or white and that's it. His funeral card has a picture of his funeral home on it and the type is always the same inside. The way I see it, it's a bucket funeral. All you can throw in for seventy nine ninety nine.”

“I guess it's less confusing for him to do it that way, but I do know I'm getting customers from him because I'm offering them options. The one that I took from him last week came over because she wanted the handles on her casket in ornate and he told her it wasn't happening with him. Four dollars in his order book is what cost him her business and now she's out there telling everyone who will listen how beautiful the home is.”

“It is that. Man, when I walked in and saw that chandelier, I knew it was going to be a treat. I still don't know how you got the walls curved in there.”

“When we do the new one up in Quincy, I'll show you. It's not real hard.”

“You say that, but I'd beg to differ.”

“No, seriously. A sixteen penny nail in the middle and a garden hose with a hole in the middle and at each end. Heather marked at one end while I marked at the other end. The way we got it to be oval is we moved the nail ten feet and mark again. Then, I went in with a tube of lipstick and marked on the floor with it matching the lines and then pressed the plywood down on it so it would be cut. That made the form for the top and the bottom and all that's in between is sixteen foot two by's. What we did was we left out two bys where the insets are and put the dry wall up. If you look close in the middle, you can see where the seam is on the drywall, but it's decent.”

“You tell it like it's easy, but how long did it take you?”

“An afternoon of work. Heather helped, but if you must know, not a lot. She gets dust on her and it's over for her. Well, let me go get this guy and tell them it's ok to go. Did you bring your cuffs?”

“Yeah, then do you want to do the honors or me?”

“I will. It's false restraint if you do it.”

“Ok”

“I went over to the table and told everyone it would be ok to go. I told Ty to bring me a blanket and a pillow back as I was staying there. He said, “Where you are, I will be.”

“Your mom's funeral is tomorrow and I need you to man the phones. Sometime this afternoon, you've got to go over to those people's house and make an appearance. If you don't, they won't think you've helped them a bit.”

“Ok, but we're getting the kid's this afternoon.”

“Yeah, and with no school, we can get them sooner, but there's no time. So, what we'll do is we'll keep it scheduled for when we have it.”

“Ok, I'll go get that, but I'm bringing two back.”

“Ok, but you'll need more sleep than me.”

“I don't know how you do it.”

“I eat and I take vitamins when I need it. When I sleep, I sleep and allow the system to shut down and then pull it back up. It gets rested and it gets what it needs until the next time it needs to be down longer. Fortunately, I got a lot of rest the other night, so I can go like this.”

“When, because it sure hasn't been since we've been together.”

“Friday night.”

“Five days ago isn't the other night. You need to shut it down.”

“Ok, how about tonight?”

“Ok, but that's still twenty hours away.”

“I'll take naps and so will you. Now go so everyone else can get some rest.”

They left and Jeremy looked at me like he was feeling really helpless. I said, “Did Ty talk with you?”

“Yeah, but I know this isn't going to go good for me.”

“It will, you go back into the office while we do this.”

“Ok”

“Chance, could you come out here for a moment bud?”

“Yeah, what do you need?”

“This guy over here would like to speak with you.”

“Who's he?”

Ben stood up and flashed his badge, “Chance Brewer, you're under arrest.”

“What for?”

“For sexual abuse in the third degree and sexual abuse in the second degree and as we investigate, we'll see how many other counts we can get.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You have the right to remain silent.....”

I went back to speak with Jeremy. When I went into the office, I said, “Jeremy, do you know how to cook here? No, but it's not hard. I know where everything is. Why? You want something else?”

“No, if he doesn't cooperate out there he will go to jail and he will face the charges. Now, what I want you to think about is coming to work for me and Ty. As you know, we're gay and we run the funeral home. What we need is someone that can work detailing the cars help keeping the place maintained. Ty will need an assistant, and he can show you what needs done. I'll tell you right now, Ty's not a part of the bargain. But, I'll also tell you little Mark likes you and I think you'd be good for him. Either way, what it pays is ten bucks an hour to start and you'll have a vehicle to drive and benefits. Is that ok?”

“yeah”

“We'll also need to get you measured for suits. I'll pay for them and I'll have them cleaned, but if you quit working, they're yours. The London fog jacket though, I keep. I can use that for other people that greet.”

“Wow, is it hard work?”

“Do I look like I work hard?”

“No”

“Then you'll be doing everything I do but embalming. Whatever you don't feel comfortable with, is what you'll do.”

“Kewl. I won't see a lot of gross stuff will I?”

“I doubt it. That's not going to be a part of your job.”

“Ok”

“Here's my card. I will need you to come and fill out some papers, but you've already got the job. Now, I've got to go out here and deal with Chance.”

I went back up front and Ben had Chance sat with handcuffs behind him. He said, “That police car coming?”

“They said it would be a while....the weather and all. The other guy's ok, he told me some more.”

I turned to look at Chance and said, “So, I hear you get off on blackmailing people. I hear you get off on getting your dick sucked when you have something over on someone. I hear you did the to Ty and you did the same to Jeremy. How many other people have there been?”

“I ain't talkin' to you.”

“Ooh bad answer. You can talk to me or I'll talk to a lot of other people. There's your boss. There's your parents. There's your team mates. There's your school. And, there's the press. Since you've been arrested for two, I can go on television and tell everyone else that might've been assaulted by you what your name is and what you did and then have them all come forward. What I'll tell you now Chance is one more person comes forward and that's three separate incidents. When that happens, that's going to change a whole lot of things. First of all, all those charges instantly move up to first degree. That carries a life in prison penalty. Then, each additional charge adds twenty years onto that life. You're what? Nineteen? Let me tell you life in our state right now is fifty years. Of that, you'll have to serve thirty seven. So, you'll be fifty six when you get out. For each person, that gets you twenty added on, that's another twelve for each twenty you'll have to do. One is sixty eight. Two is eighty. Now, take a look at that and tell me how long it's going to take in there before you who likes getting his dick sucked is sucking dick and getting fucked up the ass because I'll tell you now, with you being young and good looking, some old dude is going to tag that ass regularly.”

“I can get a lawyer.”

“Then, by all means do. Are you aware how much they cost? For this, he's going to charge you ten grand just to speak to you. When it goes up to the third charge and these all go first degree, he's going to bump that to thirty grand. For each count, he's going to rip you a new one of fifteen. And, guess what? He'll expect that up front and each new count stops his progress until you pay up for the next. So, you got sixty grand laying around? Or, do you feel lucky with a public defender? If you ask me, that was expensive fucking head.”

“My mom and dad will pay.”

“Your mom and dad are going to look at you and say, “You want me to put my house up so you can get some head? Fuck you kid.” If they're smart, they'll cut their losses and deny they even know your ass.. So save me some time and tell me how many victims you really have.”

He looked at me and I could tell what I was saying was really working into his skull.

“Hold that thought, “I'm going to go call and see what the fuck's taking them so long and see how emotionally damaged this one in here is.”

I went into the back and said, “Jeremy, what I want you to do is go out there and tell him what you feel with as much anger as you feel. He's handcuffed and I want him to know what it felt like to be used like that. How many times did this happen and how many other people do you know he did this to?”

“For me, it happened so many times I can't even tell you. At least once or twice a day for the last two years. I do know he did it with four other guys during this time. He'd tell me their names and compare me giving him head to what they did.”

“I'll need their names because if he doesn't start talking, he'll wish he did. Now, what I need to tell you is I'm trying to work this out for the best for you and for him. What he needs is a job where someone can watch him all day long and him not pull any shit. This isn't the place for it. Mitch Truman out there has the beer distributorship and he's got an opening that is under his shop foreman that the guy will tell him even when he can piss and how long it will take him to piss. The guy's decent, but he won't take any shit. What we're doing is we're building an investigation so that if Chance doesn't take that deal, he goes to prison and with that many victims, he's most likely going to be an old old man before he gets out. So, let's go in here and scare the hell out of him.”

“Ok”

I went in leading Jeremy and said,. “Jeremy says he wants to say some things to you. He's afraid the language he wants to use won't be allowed in court. What Ben and I are going to do is go outside so we're not witness to if he wants to slap your sorry ass off that chair.”

“I'm handcuffed to it.”

“Oh damn, so I guess if you start to fall it will snap your wrists. Well, accidents happen. Try staying up on the chair. Come on Ben.”

We went outside and he said, “Jesus. You got the bad cop routine down, don't you.”

“The problem is if he keeps it up, he's fucked himself. He's got four more victims that Jeremy knows about.”

“Let me arrest this piece of shit and get him put away.”

“No, because this just turned it up a notch. It's bad because now the kid will have to spend the rest of his life in prison over bullshit.”

“It's not your place to care. Let them prosecute and get the scourge away from humanity.”

“Ben, let me try this and if I turn to you and say I'm done, then I am done. But until then, ride with me on this. Ok?”

“IF another customer comes in, I'm going to have to take him to jail.”

“OK, but I'll have enough advanced notice here to get him to the back.”

“Don't do anything illegal.”

“I'm not. Right now, I'm trying to save that idiot from himself.”

“I know, but he's sure not acting like he wants to go the route he should.”

“He's getting there. I can see it's working on him. Now, he's hearing from Jeremy what really has been on Jeremy's mind. When Ty gets back, he's going to hear from Ty. I have to be in there when Ty says something because I taught Ty death blows.”

“What the hell man!”

“He said he needed them for self defense. Little did I know this jackass was the one that had him insecure.”

“Well tell Ty he has to stay ten feet back because I sure don't want to arrest a victim here for murder.”

“You won't. I'll broadside him and have him shoved away before he reaches that kid. Well, the yelling's died down, let's go back in.”

When we went in, Jeremy was sitting and crying. I went over and hugged him and said, “It's going to be better now. Thanks for helping me help you. With four more victims, that makes six. He's away for the rest of his life now. Come in here and wipe your eyes.”

Jeremy went to the bathroom and I said, “Four more victims. That's life in prison. That's a hundred and five thousand to a lawyer before he'll represent you. That's a hell of a lot for your parents to pay without a refund when you get sent up. Is their house worth that because if it isn't, a bondsman won't touch you if it's been put up for a lawyer. So, you wanna talk?”

“Ain't nothing to say.”

“Well, think about it some more because I'm going to think about this. Ben here wants me to see if you're willing to cut a deal, but I don't know. He says you going to prison isn't the best fucking option. I'll tell you now, those people in there will fucking go insane on your ass when they find out you were stupid enough to be put away for the rest of your life over something that would have cost you twenty five bucks at a truck stop. You're the shit legends are made of and you know how the police are going to look at me knowing I got someone put away for life and I'm not even a cop!”

“You're not?”

“No, I'm a funeral director, but he's the Coroner and he can indeed arrest you and he can indeed have you prosecuted without doing the investigation first. It's interesting because if I had called a cop, he would have said, “Oh, let me investigate it and get back with you on that.” Then, someplace in the investigation, you would have been notified and had a chance to run to fucking Mexico or Canada. With this way, he can arrest you and hold you until we get the investigation done. A whole lot better because we get your sorry ass off the streets.”

Ben said, “Son. This job isn't for you. I've got a friend that will hire you and it will probably give you a raise if you take that job. It's day shift work, so you won't be alone in a restaurant all night and getting yourself into trouble. Your supervisor will ride your ass, but he won't suck your dick. If I can talk to this guy over there and tell him to back off, will you do it?”

“He won't. He knows I'm guilty.”

“Hell right you're guilty because Ty doesn't lie! And do you know what else you dumb fuck! I'm Ty's lover and he trusted you. Since then, I've had to work with him in order for him to trust me. I've had to teach him self defense so he will even feel secure around people. You think about that because it's his father that's being kind enough to offer the job. That man believes in you without knowing your case. He stepped in because Ty's brother wants to kill you. Yeah, Gregg, and I think you know he could do it.”

“Lance, calm down. Let me talk to him and see if he'll take the job. Let me work with him on some conditions for employment. Because even I'm not going to agree for this guy to be let go and not have anyone to answer to. If we don't, then he'll be back out and getting head from someone else. I don't think it's that. To be honest, I think he's gay and he thinks he has to have control over someone in order to do that. Then, he can walk away and blame it on the other person being gay and being a pussy. But to me, whether you're pitching or you're catching, it's all baseball. So, I don't buy that shit if he thinks he's not gay. Having sexual relations with six men and comparing them to each other says he did feel something and it's more than a mouth.”

Ben stopped and then turned to Chance. “Chance, if I can do this, it means you're not going to jail for life, but it does mean you've got to do some things to assure me you're not going to keep doing this. Are you will to agree to this?”

“I don't know man, him not being a fucking cop. How am I supposed to believe you're not pulling my chain.”

“Son, are you willing to gamble your freedom because I'll tell you now I am what I say I am. See this badge. That badge there says I can run an investigation without the police being involved. I can pronounce you dead and I can have your ass buried without your family even knowing you're gone. The police won't know and I'll be fully within my job title to do so. They give me that badge because years ago, someone decided the Sheriff needed to have someone run an investigation ran on him and to kill him if necessary. So, they appointed the Coroner. Since then, the law states I have the power of the Sheriff without the pay and without the deputies. I can deputize someone and run an investigation with him. In this book are our state laws. See that statute there? That's the one you violated. See the penalty? They don't give that book to everyone. That's the Coroner's copy. See that law right there? It says I can arrest you. See that one there? I can arrest the Sheriff and if so needed in pursuant to apprehension shoot to kill, maim, or defacilitate that individual. Back in the old days, that meant death when someone was defacilitated. It mean your intestines were cut out. Not a pleasant way to go, but someone had to do it and that's not why I do this job. So son, when you think I'm not real, I am and don't gamble your future that I won't arrest your ass. Believe me, I want you behind bars so badly I can't stand it. To me, there's no hope for you. But, that one over there wants you to have a future.”

“Why's he care?”

“I care because I didn't come into this restaurant tonight to fuck up someone's life. But, when Ty tells me he gave his virginity to you because you blackmailed him, I'm not going to stand back and say, “Nice hon” and not want to fuck up your day. Then, you sit there and throw fucking attitude when his dad is trying to help you and they've got a funeral to bury Ty's mom and his wife, I want to just take you out.”

“Ok, What's the deal?”

“The deal is I'm going to go home and Lance is going to stay here and see that neither of you kill the other until you get off your shift. Then, you are going to leave your items here that are theirs because you go home and you quit your job.”

“I stepped in. On Saturday, you are going to go out there and you're going to put in your application. You will already have the job, but it's a formality. You'll see a bunch of guys there and they'll all be putting in applications too. All of you are hired. We're firing the old bunch and installing the guys you are included with in.”

“Now, they'll be applying for all sorts of jobs and you area all getting them. YOU are only to apply for the job as shop foreman's assistant. Mitch created that job for you, and no one else. It pays nine bucks an hour, you get benefits, and you'll have a new Dodge truck that is going to be assigned to you as your vehicle to drive to and from work and to use how you see fit. They're brand new and they're completely loaded. I'm not sure what was decided about sunrooves, but I think they did it.”

Ben said, “Can I come to work there?”

“You could and I know he'd hire you but you'd end up running the place.”

“I'm not that bad.”