^{With This Ring}

By

Retta Michaels

Preface

Dear Reader,

In a lot of my writing, I've never felt the need to write a preface. With this story, I want you to know what to expect. For me, the story is a mixture of a whole lot of truth and a whole lot of fiction.

For me to explain it, I must sit and tell you what my conceptual plans were for the novel

IN LIFE, we are not given a set list of directions and plans how to complete it. Some people don't like the unknown, so they don't take any foreign steps into different territories. With others, they know no structure. With my life, I've danced all over the place.

Rather than having a nameless character out there who could sue the fuck out of me for even inferring they're a member of the mafia, I chose to go personal and use my own name. It's a lot less messy and a lot more friendly for my lawyer.

I am not a member of the mafia. I will not say I do not know a lot of the family members from several cities, but I am not a member myself.

I will state at one time I was with a man named Gino who headed a crime family. He's since passed and this story has been released with permission and editing done by his son who is still a dear friend of mine. (Thanks Dave.)

The names I've used in the story besides my own are ficticious. The names have been changed to protect everyone. Where names weren't important, I have not used them.

I have given enough references to who the person is so if you can read between the lines, you can see who they are. With that said, I will not say more about the characters.

The story is made up. It is totally ficticious. None of the incidents happened, and nothing of the sort ever occurred. If you choose to believe it did happen, and if you choose to believe it's true, then that's on you. I will state now if I receive an email asking me if such and such part is true, I'll be polite and refer you to the Preface and leave it at that.

The reason I'm writing this preface is because I want people to know when I write, I write fiction with an air of the style of writing used by the National Enquirer or the Sun. There's an air of truth in there someplace, but it's actually fiction. If you choose to believe it's truth, then do so...I've got about twenty acres of swamp land I'll sell you and someplace on that land is a complimentary Iphone. If you can find it, it's yours.

With that said, I'll now state the characters of this story will probably be used time and time again. I think I've found a niche in this style of writing. I'll tell you now, it's done in the style of Mack Bolan “The Executioner”, James Bond, or Scarface.

“With This Ring” is the first book of the saga. It shows how someone can go from leading a normal life wanting to lead a normal life to being thrown into a complex cast of characters which require him to be more and more of what he doesn't want to be.

I hope you enjoy the story.

Chapter 3:

^{When we got to the hotel, Steve said, “I'll call the police department here and speak to someone I know. Then we'll go down and make the statement so I can get it typed up. I'll fax it to everyone and be sure to have everyone name on it who received it.”}

^{“Ok, you know I'm not bothered by this. It's just disgusting it had to happen.”}

^{“Yes, and hopefully their cooperation with the next person whose chosen to leave their town rather than be in fear.”}

^{“Hon, when this is over, I'm not going to be wild about going back there still. We might've caught one, but we've not caught the others. The one I want is the one that had those things on the toes of his boots. I can still see his foot stomping me and that toe coming at my face.”}

^{He said, “I can't believe someone would be so cruel. If we catch one, I believe we'll catch the others by association. It sounds like Matt has some good background on the guy.”}

^{“His investigators are top notch. That's who I contacted to get the investigation on the guy Kevin was screwing around with.”}

^{“Hon, I need to speak with you and I need to do so with a complete airing of my feelings.”}

^“Ok”

^{“Before we start all this, I want to know that you won't back off no matter who we find is responsible for this.”}

^“Ok”

^{“No, I want to hear you say it because I'm meaning even if we catch Kevin in this, I want you to say you'll prosecute everyone evenly and fairly. There's not going to be anyone that's better than anyone else in this.”}

^{“No...I can't do that.”}

^{“Then we don't proceed.” he said firmly.}

^{“No, you're not getting what I'm saying, so listen to me. IF Kevin is a part of this, I want him prosecuted more. I doubt if he is, but just the same, I want him to know this wasn't something he could run from. BUT, if he wasn't, then I want him completely exonerated and I want you to trust him.”}

^{“Ok, that's fair, but what I'm saying is I'm not going in to hold punches. Because if I find out it's your family, or David, or whomever, I'm going in gunning at everyone. Once this begins, I'm not going to be told to back off.”}

^{“Ok, but just the same, I want a say in it.”}

^{“That's fair.”}

^{He came over and said, “You know, maybe it took you getting away from there and feeling secure to have this come to you. You mentioned about doing some self hypnosis. Why don't you go do that and I won't mention it came through that way? It won't be credible and it will come back to bite you later in court. I'll mention in the report it came through a sudden realization. Ok?”}

^{“Sure. I'll go in here and get my laptop, but don't laugh how I do it, ok?”}

^{“That's fine. If it's something I can use in the future, I think it'll be cool.”}

^{I went in and got my laptop and then went to the site which has hypnosis gifs. And then I spoke into my voice recorder all the affirmations I wanted to be heard.}

^{Once that was done, I played the gif and played the recording back. Soon, I was under and I led myself back to the night when the assault happened. My breathing became strangled and panicked.}

^{Steve came over and said, “You're calm and you're a viewer in the event. You're not feeling pain and you're only there to see and hear what they're saying. Tell me what they're saying?”}

^{“They're saying they want to get me out of the car. One of them said, “Get him out and make him pay. We need to teach him a lesson. He needs to know he can't fuck with anyone of the Kings and get by with it.”}

^{“Is this the Latin Kings?”}

^{“I don't know. I've never seen them before except for the fat guy. I've seen him stealing my hub cap. His name is Angel Hernandez. He's over there carrying the chain. He's hitting me and he's kicking my legs and my nuts. He's the one that drug me from the car after they pried the door open.”}

^{“Was the door locked?”}

^{“No, when they hit the windshield, it bent the pillar and it caused the door to not open.”}

^{“Ok, let's go back to the beginning and tell me what happened first.”}

^{“I got in my car and I'd just put the key in the ignition when the windshield exploded.”}

^{“What were you doing? Did you see them coming up to the car?”}

^{“No, I was looking for a station on the radio.”}

^{“Ok, so the windshield exploded, what did you do then?”}

^{“I looked at it and then looked at the guy who was causing it?”}

^{:”What was he wearing?”}

^{“It's Jerry. He's wearing a black jacket and black jeans. His shirt is that one which says 2QT2BSTR8”}

^{“He was the one with the ball bat?”}

^“Yes”

^{“Describe the ball bat to me”}

^{“It's metal. It's got blue lettering on it and a black grip. It's a little league bat.”}

^{“Ok, did you see anyone else?”}

^{“Yes, there are four of them Angel, Jerry, and that one guy....Joe Denkler and over by the truck is Kyle Murphy.”}

^{“Did you know any of them at the time?”}

^{“Angel. I know him from the day he stole my hubcap.”}

^{“None of the others?”}

^{“No, I know Jerry from him fucking Kevin.”}

^{“How do you know Joe Denkler?”}

^{“From the bar where Kevin and I went to meet Jerry for drinks. Joe came up and said, “I don't believe we've met before, I'm Joe Denkler.”}

^{“And you didn't recognize him then?”}

^{“No, but a chill ran up my spine and I told Kevin I didn't like the guy. Kevin told me he was cool.”}

^{“Ok, Kyle Murphy. How did you become acquainted with him?”}

^{“That same night. Joe went over and got on his cell phone. When he came back, he told Jerry Kyle was coming to meet up with us. Later, he came and we met them. When Kyle came, I got a migraine and told Kevin I had to go home.”}

^{“Did you meet them anymore after that?”}

^{“Yeah, Kyle came to work for us at the sign shop.”}

^{“Does he still work there?”}

^{“No, he fell off a ladder and sued us. Workman's comp paid for his care.”}

^{“Ok, so I need to ask you a question but please remain calm. Who was the person wearing the boots with the tips on them?”}

^{“Jerry. Jerry had them on. They were black and had a firebird emblem sewn into them. He had the legs of his pants tucked inside them and the tips were silver metal. He also has some metal things on the ends of them.”}

^“Spurs?”

^{“No, the things spurs go in, but there are no spurs. He stepped on the side of my head with them and that's what gashed my ear and caused me to pass out. By then, I was seeing red from the blood being in my eyes. It burned.”}

^{“Ok, now, what I want to ask you is to back up for a moment and give me any describing information of Joe Denkler. What was he wearing?”}

^{“Blue Jeans and a red flannel shirt. Instead of black, it was white.”}

^{“Did he have a hat on?”}

^{“No, the only other thing I see is him slinging his hand because he had blood on his watch.”}

^{“Can you see his shoes?”}

^{“No, by the time he's that far back....hold on, there's a Nike emblem. He's cussing and saying he's got fag blood on him. He's saying he thinks he will get AIDS now and walks back by the truck.”}

^{“Can you see the license plate?”}

^{“Yes RTG C94.”}

^{“Good, is there anything else you can see which you can describe about the truck?”}

^{“It's got a Tommy Lift on the back .The license plate is up on the upper left corner of the Tommy Lift. On the lower right of the Tommy Lift it says Drink Coca Cola.”}

^{“It's a Coca Cola truck?”}

^{“I don't know. I imagine as it's got the Coca Cola in script like they use. It's in red lettering.”}

^{“Ok now, I'll need you to go back and describe what Kyle was wearing.”}

^{“Kyle was wearing Blue Jeans that were like painter's pants. They're really faded. They've got a hole in the left back pocket. He's got a knife in his pocket.”}

^{“Did he use the knife on you?”}

^{“No, Joe told him they weren't there to kill me. They're only supposed to beat me up.”}

^{“Did he say anything else?”}

^{“No, he said that and he was screaming at Kyle. That's when I was on the ground and they were hitting my ribs with the ball bat”}

^{“What did they say to each other.”}

^{“That's it. They'd take turns stepping in and hitting me and then would step back.”}

^{“How long do you imagine this took place?”}

^{“I don't know. It seems like it was forever, but they only came in three times each. By then, I'd fallen over and that's when Jerry came in and kicked me in the face repeatedly.”}

^{“Did he say anything?”}

^{“No, he was grunting like he was really putting effort into every kick.”}

^{“Ok, I'm going to regress you back out. As I count from ten to one, I want you to not feel any pain and feel refreshed. I would like for you to remember everything as clear as if it happened earlier today, but I don't want you to have any nightmares. It's in the past. Ten...Nine...Eight...Seven...You're feeling more invigorated now....Six, five, four....You're starting to awaken now.....Three Two One....”}

^{“Did I do ok?”}

^{“Yes, you remember everything now, don't you?”}

^{“Jerry. That motherfucker.”}

^{“Yes, and the others?”}

^{“Joe and Kyle and Angel Hernandez. Joe and Kyle, I knew I didn't like them.”}

^{“Ok, I've got to go make a phone call.”}

^{“Ok, I'm going to call David.”}

^{“Tell him I'll send a fax to him.”}

^“Ok”

^{I called David and he answered on the first ring.”Hi, how's it going?”}

^{“Miguel Angel Hernandez. Joe Denkler, Kyle Murphy, and Jerry. Jerry's already in jail. Find them and get all their clothing and check it all for evidence. The truck is a Coca Cola bottling truck with the license plate number of RTG C94. Joe Denkler's watch will have my blood upon it. Jerry is the one that kicked my face. See that he's dead.”}

^{“Gotcha hon. Gotta go.”}

^{Steve came back into the room and said, “You ready to go down there?”}

^“Sure”

^{I out and said, “Steve, when we come back, I want to go out to eat and buy some clothes.”}

^{“Ok hon.”}

^{“Yeah, we've got to put in there they were paid to do this and I want to know whom paid them.”}

^{“I'm sure I can't be in on the questioning, but I hope whomever it is presses them for that information. What was the date of the assault.”}

^{“March sixth”}

^{“What was Kevin doing on March sixth?”}

^{“I don't know. My appointment ledger would tell me if he was out on a truck or where he was exactly. You thinking he paid them?”}

^{“I'm not sure. You weren't having problems until then?”}

^“No,”

^{“If he comes up as the person, and if he's questioned and denies it, I'll push the limits of the law and say the hit was with intentional design to hurt, maim, and injure you to such an extent it would incapacitate you. What that does is it will put the attempted murder charge up to a capital hate crime which is a federal offense.”}

^{“Ok, put that on them all though. Each one of them had to gotten paid and each one of them took part when they could have walked away.”}

^{“True. I'll do that. Now, let me use your phone and get me the governor on the line. I want these guys brought in just as soon as possible. I'd love to say I trust you hon, but if it were me and I knew I had someone out there who could possibly kill these guys. I'd probably order the hit back on each one.”}

^{“Nope. They're to be brought in. Jerry...now in regards to him, I'm not going to say a thing.”}

^{He looked at me and said, “I didn't hear a thing. I do want that evidence.”}

^{“It's probably in the evidence they took from his house. I'm not sure. I do know his house was gone through by FBI and DEA.”}

^{“Ok, good. They most likely took everything to do a trace scan on them. I'm surprised they didn't find your dna on his boots.”}

^{“I couldn't tell you. Talk to Matt and you can get them to check.”}

^{I dialed the phone and handed it to Steve. It was answered. “Hi, this is Steve again. You need to bring in Kyle Murphy, Joe Denkler, and Miguel Angel Hernandez. The fella by the name of Jerry is already in custody. Jerry's the one that kicked Rhett in the face. His boots should have dna on them. They're black with a firebird sewn on them. They've got silver tips and metal pieces on the back which are supposed to have spurs in them. Both the tips and the ends were used. See the guys get taken into custody because I fear for their safety. We'll need to impound a Coca Cola bottling pickup with the license plate of RTG C94 as a license plate. Check the bed for traces of blood as well as the interior. Once again, the dna should match Rhette's. Joe Denkler's watch should have dna on it.”}

^{He listened for a moment and said, “No, Jerry did the ball bat and started it and then, kicked Rhette. Kyle Murphy had a knife and wanted to use it but got told they weren't paid to do anything but hurt him. Yes, but he didn't hear anything further. I want them all interrogated until they give us that name and I really don't care how you get it.”}

^{He listened and said, “Ok, if we come up with anything further, I'll let you know.”}

^{He got off the phone and said, “You mentioned a pipe, who had it?”}

^{“A pipe? I don't remember a pipe ..”}

^{“You sure?”}

^{“No, but I don't recall getting hit with a pipe. I don't recall anyone having one.”}

^{“Good, I was testing you.”}

^{“Don't fuck with my head. You'll put something in there that could be used against me if we go to trial.”}

^{“No, that's not possible. You're only supposed to remember what happened and nothing more.”}

^{“Good lets get down there and then go get something to eat. My stomach thinks my throat's been cut.”}

^{“Rhette, I'm so sorry hon.”}

^{“You're not responsible and you didn't even know me.”}

^{“No, but it still doesn't stop me from feeling injustice has been done.”}

^{“Yeah, but we'll get them all. They can run, but they can't hide. Besides, they think they got away with it.”}

^{“Yeah, but whatever you do. Don't tell Kevin. I want those guys investigated fairly and I want whomever's name that paid them to come out. If it's his, then I want him taken by surprise. If it's not, then I want him cleared without him knowing so he doesn't run or do anything stupid.”}

^{“Ok, that's fair. I really hope it wasn't.”}

^{“Me too.”}

^{We went down and drove to the police station. When we got there, Steve took me in and introduced me to an investigator who witnessed the report Steve filed. When it was ready to fax, Steve turned to me and said, “Rhette, I need you to call your friend and get me his fax number, the police department there's fax number and that city hall's fax number to the city manager's office. I've got Jim's fax number memorized and then, we'll need David's fax number.”}

^{“Ok, one moment this is hard to remember. I've got the list made, so I'll make calls.”}

^{I dialed the phone and Matt answered. “Hi, It's me. I need your fax number.”}

^{He gave it to me and then I said, “I need the police department's fax number and the city manager's fax number.”}

^{Matt said, “Hang on, let me see if I have it here. Ok, here's the police department's fax number. You might want to label that as confidential to the police chief. Then, here's the city manager's fax number. You did not get these from me.”}

^{“I have no clue where I got them. Thanks Matt.”}

^{“Rhette, I'm having my own highway patrol officers do the questioning. They'll get answers.”}

^“Good.”

^{“Rhette, listen I'm not going to say anything to Kevin. You shouldn't either.”}

^{“I'm not. If it's him Matt, then I want him to stay free and he'll be dealt with accordingly.”}

^{“I understand.”}

^“Good”

^{I got off the phone and I said, “You didn't hear a thing I said. He's worth more to me dead than in jail.”}

^{Steve looked at the investigator and said, “They were lovers for 14 years. I'll stand behind that decision because if someone I trusted that much did that to me, I'd want the same option.”}

^{I looked at him and said, “I won't.”}

^{“I didn't mean you Rhette.”}

^{“You're not getting anyone else until I'm dead and gone, so I'm the only person you could be referring to.” I smiled.}

^{He smiled back and the investigator said, “I'm glad you got someone who's not afraid to speak their mind to you. You need him.”}

^{“Yeah, I do” Steve said blushing.}

^{I said, “I've got to call David to get his fax number.”}

^“Ok”

^{I called David and he answered on the third ring. “Hi hon, I need your fax.”}

^{He gave it to me and I said, “What I need to do is have you check to see who paid them if you can get that information. If not, then that's ok, but Jerry's boots will have dna on them. I want them to be found so they can incriminate him.”}

^{“Ok hon, Right now I've got about thirty people moving at once. The police chief is missing his dinner right now and he's being dealt with. The man is proving to be an egotistical asshole. When this is done, he's going to be investigated for a lot of things and be taken down.”}

^{“He should. There are a lot of questionable things which have taken place under his watch.”}

^{“Name a few so I can use them.”}

^{“One was letting a murderer be questioned without handcuffs on and the door left unlocked to the questioning room and the outside door of the station was also unlocked. That same man was allowed to go to an appointment with a chiropractor and once again allowed to escape unhandcuffed. “}

^{“Ok, that's all I need. I'll speak with the man and see if there was a deal reached whereby he was allowed those liberties.”}

^{“Ok hon.”}

^{I rung off and handed the fax numbers to Steve.}

^{The investigator looked at me and asked, “Did I just hear you correctly?”}

^{“Yeah, the man in question killed my cousin's husband and they wanted her in fear because he was Jordanian and viewed as a person of color and my cousin is white.”}

^{“That's fucked up.”}

^{“Yeah, a little bit of racism as well as hate of gays in the police station there.”}

^{“Well, it sounds like there are a lot of things going on at once.”}

^{“Yes, but you never heard a one of those phone calls.”}

^{My cell phone began to ring and I answered it without looking.”Listen up faggot, just as soon as you arrive back in my town, I'll be arresting your fucking ass personally.”}

^{“Why police chief David, how pleasant to speak with you. Did you get the fax you were expecting?”}

^{“What the fuck are you referring to?”}

^{“They're about to send it. Hold on.”}

^{I looked over to Steve and said, “Send the God damned thing already. This prick needs to know he's got his nuts in the palm of my hand so when I begin squeezing he can tell me how it feels.”}

^{“You think you're funny punk, just wait until you're in my custody.”}

^{“I'm sorry, you're saying I have to wait until I'm in your custody before I feel safe in that town?”}

^{“You know what the fuck will happen.”}

^{“I have no clue.”}

^{“You sure as shit won't ever be able to write a thing on that website again about me.”}

^{“Oh, well sir, I really do think there's more going to be written about you than that. Let me get off here, and you just grab your left cheek with your left hand and your right with your right and you spread 'em because that's how fucked you're going to feel when I'm done with you.”}

^{I hung up and turned to Steve. “The police chief paid.”}

^{He looked at me shocked and I said, “I'm going to get on the phone now. Don't even try to stop me.”}

^{Steve turned to the investigator and said, “Hold on a second Rhette, I've got to see if he used a cell phone to make that call or a line. If he used a line in that station, it'll be recorded.”}

^{“Not if he's getting rid of the tape! SO, you do what you've got to do and I've got to do what I shall. He said it's because I wrote something upon a website about him?”}

^{“And he thought enough of it to pay someone to hurt you?”}

^{“Apparently and I'm getting he thinks he's going to hurt me when he gets me arrested and he wants to do that personally.”}

^{“Ok, call your friend Matt and tell him about the call and then, call the other guy. Cover your ass first and then do what you want.”}

^{Steve said to his friends, “You never heard this. That's bullshit. All the guy will get is a slap on the wrist and his power has gone to his head.”}

^{I called Matt and he answered. “Matt, I just received a threatening phone call from the police chief. I need those tapes.”}

^{“What did he say?”}

^{“He implied he paid for the hit on me because I wrote something on a website about him. He's also going to arrest me personally to see I hurt just as much as I did before.”}

^{“Ok, my guys are in the station now, I'll get them on him.”}

^{“Matt, David's guys are with him wherever he is. Don't mess with them.”}

^{“Ok, that's fair. I want those tapes.”}

^{“If that last call was on a cell phone, I want to know and I want you to get me proof it was so I can use it later.”}

^{“Ok hon, hang on...”}

^{He apparently switched lines and spoke with his guys.”They've got the tapes up to about five seconds ago. They're listening to them.”}

^{“Ok, see if he just called and threatened me.”}

^{“Hang on.”}

^{He went over and when he came back, he said, “Rhette, it's on his personal line in his office. It's on tape.”}

^{“Good, that's a federal wire charge so you'll need the feds in. I'll insist on charges pressed.”}

^{“They're getting on it now. By the way, your fax is wadded up and in his trash.”}

^{“Ok. Thanks Matt.”}

^{I got off the phone and looked at Steve. The fax is wadded up in his trash and the tapes are gotten. The threats are on there.”}

^{Steve smiled and said, “Good. One down and with him implying he paid for the hit and why, we have motive.”}

^{I nodded and said, “Steve, I want the guy to self destruct and commit suicide. He's already given enough evidence. If he goes to fed prison, he'll be at a golf course and what punishment is that?”}

^{He nodded and said, “Make your other phone call.”}

^{I called David and as soon as he answered, he said, “My guys can't get to him. The highway patrol guys are in there.”}

^{“Dave, he's the one that paid for the hit. I want him to self destruct and commit suicide.”}

^{“He will. Believe me, he will.”}

^{“Ok hon, thanks.”}

^{“No problem. I owe you more than that.”}

^{“Nope, there are no favors owed between us. You do yours and I do mine.”}

^{“Rhette, we've got to talk sometime.”}

^{“Dave, I love ya dude, but I doubt if I'm ever back in that city. There are too many memories.”}

^{“Rhette. This is personal. Dad left you some things and I need to give them to you.”}

^{“What things?”}

^{“Buildings, his house, and a bank account.”}

^{“David, you use them all as yours and consider them my gift back.”}

^{“Rhette, there's more.”}

^{“More what?”}

^“Files.”

^{“Shred them.”}

^{“You need them.”}

^{“They're about the past. Shred them. Everyone's dead.”}

^{“No, one person is still alive.”}

^{“Ok, then scan them and send them in an email.”}

^{“That's not secure!”}

^{“David! Listen to me please! I love you, but I don't want to come back to that city. If you insist, then come to my new house and give them to me. I'd like for you to meet Steve anyways. He needs you.”}

^{“Ok, but if he doesn't ask, I can't do a thing.”}

^{“He's been told.”}

^{“Rhette, you make life difficult for me.”}

^{“Hon, look at it as me making your life interesting. How dull would it be without me!”}

^{“Fuck you.”}

^{“If you had, you'd still have the smile on your face babe.”}

^{“If I had, you would've never left this town. My dad's mistake was not thinking he could share the two. I think you would've stayed if he'd kept it 9 to 5.”}

^{“We'll never know. I loved him enough to try, but we won't know.”}

^{“Rhette, when I come out, one of those files you're going to read and you're going to hate me for.”}

^{“David, shred it. You've more than made up for it...whatever it is.”}

^{“Rhette,...”}

^{“David, listen and you listen to me good. I don't know what your guilt is, but you carry that phone with you and you get that file and I want you to walk over to the shredder and I want to hear that fucking thing shred. You got me!”}

^{“Hang on.”}

^{“David, I'll trust you did it. Don't bring me that fucking file and don't you ever think you'll sneak it to me. The moment I see it, I'll deal with you and you're not going to appreciate me when it happens.”}

^{“Rhette, it's shredding now.”}

^{“Good, consider me your friend and leave that in the past.”}

^{He had a giggle to his voice and said, “Rhette, there still has to be forgiveness and I've got to tell you.”}

^{“David, do it over the phone so I can do it now.”}

^{“Ok, but this is hard.”}

^{“Try me.”}

^{“I put you in prison.”}

^{“What the fuck!”}

^{“Yeah, I contacted the judge and he took away your probation. Dad was going to leave everything to you. Now, tell me you hate me and let me get off here.”}

^{“Dave, first of all, I want you to know something. What I feel for you hasn't changed. Yeah, I'm disappointed, but fuck. Look where my life was at the time? Your dad and I were at ends and I was really a basket case. Who would have known if Chad and I would have worked out? Instead, I went to prison and I escaped the AIDS.}

^{In there, I met Kevin and without him, I'd not have what I have now. I'd not be out here and I'd not met Steve. Steve's a blessing and furthermore, you didn't make the decisions which got me put in there. I did. Yeah, you might have furthered it, but indirectly, you could possibly have saved my life. You certainly facilitated me meeting Kevin and I had an actual depth to the meaning for the word Love.}

^{I didn't have that with your dad and I never had it with anyone until him. For that, it made me a better person. So, you've told me and I forgive you. Pull that shit again buddy and I'll find a way to kill your ass myself, but I promise a slow and agonizingly painful death. You got me?”}

^{“I hear you hon.”}

^{“David, your confession has been heard. To atone, you're going to have to give undying faithfulness until your dying breath. When you die, I expect the words “Rhette, I love you” to come out your mouth because you got that extended life from me. So, let's get over this and the next time we see each other in person, I want your blood on my tongue. You hear?”}

^{“Ok, but do I get it back?”}

^{“You will. Now get over it and lets get on with life. You've thought about this too long.”}

^{“Rhette, you know dad said what we've built up wouldn't be possible without you.”}

^{“That's crap. Your dad was a man who was brilliant. He underestimated his charisma and his ability to lead people. He had those people doing his bidding just from his smile. You've got it too and your ass had to be straight. So, find someone and have babies. When you have your second son, name him Vonn and I'll spoil that kid rotten.”}

^{He laughed and said, “I love you.”}

^{“I know. Now let me off here so I can go get dinner.”}

^{“Rhette, name whatever you want whenever you want and I'll get it for you.”}

^{“That's not possible. You can't bring the dead back to life again. Just be thankful there are enough pieces of my heart left that I still have some that didn't die with them.”}

^{“Oh man, that's deep.”}

^{“Yeah, now babe, good bye”}

^{“Bye hon.”}

^{I clicked off and Steve was standing there. “Care to talk?”}

^{“Sure, what's on your mind?”}

^{“Blood on your tongue?”}

^{“You know what it means.” I said as tears stung my eyes. The realization of him hearing the past was jeopardizing the future.}

^{“Hon, unless you're the one, that means something different than what I've been told.”}

^{“I was the one. I got put in prison. Now he's the one. I gave it to him on the phone just now.”}

^{“Oh man.”}

^{“Yeah, so forget you heard the phone call.”}

^{He smiled and said, “You just gave that up like it was nothing.”}

^{“No, I gave it up because it means nothing to me. Certainly not as much as it does to him.”}

^{“Ok, I'm not going to ask.”}

^{“Good because it's private.”}

^{He smiled at me and said, “Hon....”}

^{“Steve, let's go get dinner. I'm hungrier than hell. Too much time has been wasted upon the past. You're looking at me like it was a feat that is awesome. To me, it's shedding off me like a butterfly does a cocoon.”}

^{He smiled and said, “He still owes you the blood though.”}

^{“Yeah and for that he gets mine too. For that, I get a friend for the rest of my life. For that, I get you help if you'll ask for it and I get security. It might not mean much to you, but to me it's meaning a lot.”}

^{“Ted just left out of here shaking his head. He knows what it meant and he's probably wondering what I've involved myself with. What he didn't hear was someone telling me they loved me without saying the words.”}

^{“Someday, you'll get them. For now, I'm going to get some dinner with o-r without you.” I said smiling.}

^{“Ok, let's go get something to eat. What do you want?”}

^{“A salad with coconut, raisins, sunflower seeds and bleu cheese dressing.”}

^{“It sounds good, but it sounds disgusting.”}

^{“Awesome stuff. Sweet and crunchy with a bite.”}

^{We left the station and he asked, “Do you happen to know of a place that has that on their salad bar?”}

^{“Ruby Tuesday's”}

^{“Oh hell, I'm not even sure where there's one in the city.”}

^{“Hang on and I'll ask a cop.”}

^{“Nope, you go get the car started and I'll ask. He might see your loveliness and fall hopelessly in love with you.”}

^{“I doubt it. He'd probably ask who the cow is in the car.”}

^“Shush.”

^{I went to the car and thought about the day. Drama, drama, drama....and some closure.}

^{He came jogging up to the car and said, “We're in luck. Go out and catch the Interstate and it's the exit before we get to the hotel. It's in the parking lot of the mall we passed.”}

^{“Good. Two birds with one stone.”}

^{“Kind of.”}

^{I smiled at him and said, “Steve, thank you for today. I'm glad I'm getting that out of the way so we can actually begin with a fresh start..”}

^{“No problem babe. You need to call your mom and tell her and I need to call mine and get lunch reserved for tomorrow. I'm afraid with our schedule, we might not get the license plates until Friday.”}

^{“I'll get them. You've got to go to work.”}

^{“Ok, but only on Friday. Then I'll schedule the next two weeks off.”}

^{“If you insist.”}

^{My cell phone rang and I handed it to Steve.”Hello” He looked perplexed and said, “It's still behind the seat? Ok, I'll tell him.”}

^{He got off the phone and said, “The bat. It was still behind the seat of the truck it's got both Jerry's and Joe's fingerprints upon it.”}

^{“Good. It puts them both at the scene.”}

^“Yeah”

^{We pulled into Ruby Tuesday's parking lot and went inside. For a week evening, it wasn't bad as far as the crowd went. We were promptly seated and I ordered the Surf and Turf with the salad and asked for the to go box to be brought to the table. I got a baker with butter.”}

^{“You could have gotten sour cream on it.”}

^{“Nope, they have it on the salad bar and if I ask for it on it already, they charge for it. That's stupid.”}

^{“Oh, I never thought of that.”}

^{“That's ok, it's your money. You're buying right?”}

^{“Yeah, today's on me....Well, tomorrow's on me too since we're eating up home.”}

^{I smiled and said, “ok, but Friday, I cook.”}

^{“What we having?”}

^{“I have no clue. I don't know how high the groceries are here. I'll have to find a grocery store and see.”}

^{“I'll have to show you because the ones closest to the house are expensive. They know people have money there and they attempt to get it with every item. Up the street a ways is another that's more affordable.”}

^{“Ok, that's nice to know.”}

^{As we ate, I'd look over and see his gaze firmly upon me. I smiled and he'd smile back. I knew he was falling for me and in little ways, I was falling for him more and more After dinner, we took our go boxes out and he said, “We own Rolls and we still get go boxes.”}

^{“Yeah, and we live in million dollar mansions and we still drive ourselves and work for others.”}

^{“Huh, you don't work!”}

^{“Tell that to my readers. The moment I shut it off, you'll see an email box fill up. I'm not complaining because I'd definitely rather work for them instead of anyone else. I can write what I want and they love it.”}

^{“That's the way I'm seeing you. I hope you see me the same way, but I take you as you are and it's interesting because I wouldn't change a thing.”}

^{“Good because you sure got a box of broken glass.”}

^{“See, you put yourself down and you don't see what I see. You see flaws and I see beauty.”}

^{“Ok, tonight buddy, we take a shower together. When you see the scars under the water, you'll be amazed.”}

^{“I can see them now under the right lighting. At first, when you told me, I thought you were wearing makeup, but like in there, the florescent lighting showed them to me. What you don't know is I see them and it saddens me because I know they took something from you.”}

^{“Yeah, but look at it as they gave me you because without them, I'd not be here.”}

^{“And you have the most positive outlook of anyone I've ever met.”}

^{“Thanks, prison gave me that. Well, Kevin gave me that too.}

^{When I first met him, I was really down on myself and nearly suicidal for letting myself and everyone else down. With him, he is like the perfect shrink. He'll probe and then back off. He does it in just a way so it gets your mind to thinking about things and then a few days later, he'll broach the subject and ask if you've thought about it.}

^{For me, it was wonderful. I'm not saying there weren't moments I was pissed like you wouldn't believe at him. With him, when he gets pissed, he's explosive. For me, at the time, I'd brood and not speak to him.}

^{Finally one day, I got pissed at him and he was pissed too. He told me, 'If I didn't fucking love you, I wouldn't put up with this shit. You shut down on me and I have to put up with a brooding bitch until you're ready to talk.}

^{He came over and kept nudging me and pushing until I finally exploded. It was embarrassing, but it was releasing. I learned it was ok to have feelings. I learned it was ok to be upset, but it wasn't fair to shut them down. So, instead, I would find the right words to use so I would convey my feelings without having to apologize for being so wide open. BUT, I never shut down again.}

^{That was the problem with him. With others, I became a deranged bitch. When I'd get pissed, I'd explode and what is strange is he told me I was the perfect killer. I never did anything the same way twice and no one knew how it'd be when it happened.”}

^{“What do you mean?”}

^{“Ok, serial killers have a way they do things. When they go off, they leave evidence that points back to them. You know it's them because everything's the same way. When I fought in prison, I might just come up and attack, but the next time, I'd look like I was walking off and then attack from the side. What's interesting is I'd study people and I'd watch them fight and I'd learn their weaknesses.”}

^{“Did you and Kevin ever fight in there?”}

^{“Once. When it happened, he jumped my shit because someone else was really trying to be a judgemental motherfucker. Each of us had our hustles. With him, he was a law clerk. Me, I worked in the library and passed kites (notes) from one inmate to another. Each transaction had a price. They paid and I'd have to carry the stuff I'd earned out.”}

^{“You had to hide it?”}

^{“Yeah, they'd frisk us. One thing you don't know are guards and police officers are lazy when they frisk someone. I could hide three things on my body and you'd frisk me and you'd not find them.”}

^{“Where'd you hide them?”}

^{“Ok, You' don't touch guy's dicks. You pat down the stomach and then you pat the legs from behind and go all the way up to their nuts. I could put a five pound package of hamburger in my pants and walk out with it. Another area you don't look or pat is the tops of the arms. I could have a jacket on and when I raise my hands, you don't pat the arms. You go for the torso. If I had ten pounds of dynamite strapped to each bicep, I could blow the hell out of something and you'd not catch it. That's how suicide bombers get through. The ones teaching them have studied the characteristics and they strap that shit where the guards in a hurry don't frisk.”}

^{“Oh man.”}

^{“Yeah, and the tongues of our shoes. The guard will look and he might even pound them on their heels, but who ever looks inside the tongues? No one. Now, in prison everything is currency. I had nearly a hundred packets of sugar in each tongue of my shoe and this guy's telling me there's no way he'd ever buy any sugar from us. I told him it wasn't his business and to mind his own, but he wasn't letting it go. In prison, you don't step back I mean to the death you don't back down. If it takes dying, you stand that ground. So, finally, I went back and I was strapping up with magazines to go to war against him.”}

^{“What do you mean?”}

^{“Body armor. You take magazines and you tape them around your torso. If they've got a knife, they're not going to penetrate that magazine before you've got your own slashes in. Kevin tried to talk me out of it and he was really building himself up. He was afraid I would catch a new case, but I didn't care. The point was the guy and I had an issue and I was going to resolve it. Yeah, it's a stupid issue, but people die in there all the time over stupid shit.}

^{Finally, I told Kevin to get out of my way because if he wasn't going to support me on it, then that was fine and we'd deal with it when I got home. Then, I told him to get the room move pass and I'd move out. On my way out the door, he told me he was doing it because he loved me. I turned around and said, “Dude, there's not a fucking chance in hell you love me. If you did, you'd let me be my own person.”}

^{He came at me and I swung the shank. He knocked it out of my hand and put me up against the wall with a full body block. Now, where Kevin's strong fighting is out wide. He can clock someone but it's a wide fight. Me, I attack from afar, but when I'm in close, I'm lethal because anything and everything is fair game. Some guys will fight and use rules. There are no rules in war. So, he had me pinned against the wall and I put his whole ear lobe in my mouth and told him to prepare to lose it or let me go. His alternative is he grabbed my nuts. I'm sorry, but nuts are something that aren't going to make me looked fucked up after the fight. An ear gone will. So I wasn't letting go. Finally, he conceded and told me he'd let go if I would let go and talk with him.”}

^{“What happened?”}

^{“He sat me down and told me he loved me and he was afraid we'd lose our cell together and we'd never be able to live together again. I was moved enough, I agreed to back off the guy, but I would not back off again if he chose to take it to that level. Kevin agreed to go tell the guy to mind his own.”}

^{“Ok, so love ruled.”}

^{“Yeah, but Steve, I don't know if you've ever been in a prison, but the rules in there are way different. What was ironic is they have these bunk beds which are lower than a standard set. They're designed to make the ease of climbing up on top easier without a ladder that could be used against a guard. So, later that night we were making love and I had my legs up in the air and he was climbing in. I swung my foot around and it clocked him in the eye and gave him a helluva black eye.”}

^{Steve laughed “Oh man!”}

^{“Yeah, what's good about that was the next day everyone's asking him about how he got the black eye and he was smiling and telling them, 'You don't tell Retta no!”}

^{Steve really busted out laughing}

^{“And that's how I got the reputation of not backing down and giving Kevin a black eye in doing so. That guy saw that and he knew Kevin was really feared in there. So, he stayed away from me.”}

^“Good.”

^{“Yeah, but what I was getting at in there is this...if you study your opponent or would be future opponent's actions, you can get a good idea of what their weaknesses are. One thing with me is confidence in fighting. If I've whipped someone else who has whipped the person I'm going up against, I've already won that fight because I know I can whip them. Now, here's what I mean and then I'll get off this because it's really negative.”}

^“Ok”

^{“You have guys who run from you. They do it because they have the fight or flight. They run when they're under pressure. The fear of the here and now is too much. Guys are that way in a fight too. They'll run. In order to beat their ass, you've got to chase them.”}

^{“Ok, I've had situations like that.”}

^{“BUT, have you learned from them?”}

^{“What do you mean?”}

^{“Get them in a closed space and there's no where else left to go. Go in and lock in a cell with them and they're not going to run far. Their defense is gone and they'll concede the fight.”}

^{“Wow, I never thought of that!”}

^{“Yeah, now the dangerous ones are the ones that fight. BUT, I'll tell you now most guys are like fighting a grizzly. They don't really want to fight so they use their whole body to fight like Kevin did. He'll pin you up against something. The key to that fight is using pain spots. A man's nose is where you get their attention. You hit that, it explodes pain and they see blood and they'll think you killed them. To me, a bloody nose is a bloody nose. My brothers and I fought harder than that, so that don't mean a thing to me, but to most it does because they've never been in a fight}

^{Now, if you have someone who's been in fights like me, or Kevin, then you have to know their weaknesses. Key weaknesses are the back and their legs. Take a leg out or take their back out and you've got that person knowing they're done. Break a rib and that broken rib is hurting them. It's painful to breathe and do it enough times and that person's not going to fight long.”}

^{“Ok, so study their weaknesses.”}

^{“Nope, not for you. If you ever get into a fight, haul off and hit them in their nose and start breaking ribs. In your position, you've not got options. I did.”}

^{“Oh man, I guess I should say thanks, but I'm learning from you.”}

^{“Yeah, here's what you've learned. You're a cop and you tend to go in with full riot gear on. I'm sorry, but I saw a naked guy take down three goons in the riot gear. They thought they were invincible, but he studied them. The weakness in that costume is you've got a shield and you've got a helmet. Your shins are exposed and so are knees. He did a linebacker block to their knees and hit them like a bowling ball to a set of pins.}

^{The weakness with goons are they go at you in twos, side by side.”}

^{“I never thought of that, but they do! That's the way we're taught.”}

^{“Yeah, but if you want to learn a lesson, go to where they teach super max goons. Those guys go in one behind the other at arms length so if the first one falls, they're running over that guy to get to the inmate.”}

^{“Ok, would you come to the department and show us?”}

^{“Yeah, but I'll charge you my special consultants fee.”}

^{“What's that?”}

^{“Sex....lots of sex.”}

^{He laughed and said, “As long as I'm paying.”}

^{I laughed at him as we went into the mall. We went into several stores and for something different, I went into The Outfitters. I don't know if it's all over the nation or not, but it's interesting. It's a lot like LL Bean, but way better. The clothes are better quality and the construction is more sturdy. When I saw a pair of pants, I looked at them and said, “You going to think it's too gay if I get an all black outfit to match yours?”}

^{“No, but it'd make you look skinny as a rail.”}

^{“Yeah, that's why I'm looking at it.”}

^{“Go try that outfit on and we'll see.”}

^{I went in and tried the outfit on and loved the shirt. It was all black but done like a western shirt with the puffed sleeves and the nice cut piece across the shoulders. When I went out, he took one look and his mouth dropped open. “You know you could take any article of clothing and make yourself like it was designed for you, don't you?”}

^{“No, my ass is too fat.”}

^{“Your ass is a perfect ass.”}

^{“No, if I could, I'd have a bubble one like you.”}

^{“You've got an onion one like a woman, it's way hotter.”}

^{The male clerk came over and smiled. His smile told me I looked good in it. “Ok, I'll take this one”}

^{“That's all you're getting!”}

^{“No, but that's all I'm getting here. This is too manly for me.” I laughed.}

^{He chuckled and said, “My God, you're going to be on your bike and guys are going to whistle.”}

^{“Let's hope.” I winked.}

^{“Your mom built like you?”}

^{“Nope, neither is my dad. My dad is tall and broad. He's an Italian. My mom is short and wide. She's German.”}

^{“What's your step dad?”}

^{“Short German. He's nice. You'll love him.”}

^{“Where's your dad?”}

^{“He died of cancer.”}

^{“Oh man, I'm sorry.”}

^{“We weren't close growing up, but after their divorce, I didn't speak to him for about a year. Yes, I was angry with him for a lot of things. Finally, we spoke and we accepted each other on our terms. He knew I was gay, but he never broached the subject except the weekend before he died.}

^{He told me, 'Never let a man treat you bad.' I was with Kevin, so I thought that he was implying he thought Kevin treated me bad, but later when I spoke to my mom about it, she said she believed he was meaning him and that he was blaming himself for me being gay. I don't know, but when Kevin and I got into the rough patches, that's the first words I'd think of and ask myself if it was worth it. When that question got to be a firm and resounding no, I ended it.”}

^{“It sounds like Kevin ended it.”}

^{“No, because mentally, I was shut off for that last three weeks. When I told him in that note to go home and pack, I meant it.”}

^{As we were talking, we were walking. We went into the Gap and I said, “I doubt if I buy anything here. Way over priced and over rated. All their jeans remind me of Wranglers. At least Wranglers aren't as high as these.”}

^{“Probably made by them.”}

^{I bought a shirt there, but nothing else. We went into JC Penny. I turned to him and said, “Penny's is where I buy most of my clothes. I love Dockers and Levis. Their Hunt Club polo shirts are really good.”}

^{We went through Penny's and I told him, “Hold out your arm?”}

^“Why?”

^{“I'm going to start throwing clothes over it and these will be what I'm buying.”}

^{“All these!”}

^{“Yeah, I don't have these shirts in these colors. The jeans I know fit me so there's no reason to try them on.”}

^{He smiled and said, “You've always been the same size.”}

^{“Since I was fifteen. My shoe size changed when I was in my late twenties, and don't even ask me how that happened.”}

^{“How much.”}

^{“I used to wear a size ten and a half. Then, suddenly wearing shoes was painful. One day, I went in and instead of not trying them on, I was determined to find a pair of comfortable shoes. I tried them on until I got to a size twelve.”}

^{“That's a difference.”}

^{“Yeah, so I ended up going home and throwing out all my shoes. I had a lot of happy family members because I'm like Imelda Marcos.”}

^{He laughed and said, “Oh man!”}

^{“Yeah, I'll tell you a secret and then you have to listen ok.”}

^“What?”

^{“I wear shoes about five times and then that's about it. My body chemistry is such my feet sweat excessively. I don't know why but I'd have to go to a size 14 to get odor eaters to fit in with them. Without odor eaters, the shoes just stink.”}

^{“Oh, well maybe there's a way we could change that.”}

^{“Yeah, rip out the insoles and install odor eaters. But odor eaters bunch up and really get annoying.”}

^{“We'll think of something. That's a waste of money.”}

^{“Yeah, but...”}

^{“No 'yeah buts'. I know a guy that probably can help. He's a cobbler.”}

^{“Really!”}

^{“Yeah, he'll have you fixed up. Now, I've got a question and that's what cologne do you wear. It's awesome.”}

^{“I don't. What you got here is good old fashioned body odor. It's a curse because my brothers and I got it. Each of us have our own smell, but none of us can wear cologne.”}

^{“You smell awesome. I smelled you and the first thing I thought was 'Man, he smells good.”}

^{“Thanks, but no, if I put on cologne, it smells hideous on me. I can't even use scented deodorant.”}

^{“Oh, well I like it.”}

^{“Good because that's what it is. The more I sweat, the stronger I am. Out on a tennis court, the whole place will smell of it. My brother played tennis one day after I had been gone for about a half an hour and he got there and said, he knew I had been there.”}

^{“You said theirs is different, how do they smell.”}

^{“Brent smells like a really good musk. Ash smells flowery which is funny because he's like really butch.”}

^{“Great, I'll go to your family's house and will be wearing a boner.”}

^{“Nah, interestingly, when we're all three together, the smells merge and you get a nice smell which smells like apples and cinnamon. My mom's friends all thought she used air freshener but one day, my mom's friend took us over to a new apartment she was renting and the rooms were all empty. She paid us kids to haul all the junk out of the place. I guess when she went into the room, the scent was overwhelming to her and she then believed mom.”}

^{“Interesting.”}

^{“Yeah, I couldn't tell you how the guys and I smell without all three of us there because it's so rare. I mean, Brent and Ash both are close, but me, I'm not that close with either one of them. I do think Ash is bi-sexual or has thoughts, so be prepared for him to sneak glances at you, but as far as I know, I don't think he's ever had anything sexually with a guy. He does have some knock out friends though. I've only made comments about one because he was my size and I found him so awesomely attractive. But the guy was straight.”}

^{He smiled and said, “That'd make it uncomfortable, wouldn't it?”}

^{“I don't know. I think it'd be nice if you and them got along so well they'd feel comfortable with you.”}

^{“Yeah, I guess. I mean JT likes you.”}

^{“Yeah, but JT's kind of lusting for me too.”}

^{“Yeah, but he'll get over that.”}

^{“Yeah, but until I feel comfortable around him, I'll be distant.”}

^{“Ok, I'll tell him if he asks.”}

^{“No, don't do that because if you do, it puts it on him and that will make him distant. He'll get used to me and I'll get used to him.”}

^{“What are your brothers like?”}

^{“Brent is cool. He's good looking, I guess, in his own way. He's straight and it's like the flavor of the month with him because that's how many girls he goes through. Ash is too Republican for me. I mean he gets annoying with the conservative stuff that oozes from him. We've hit a happy medium of not speaking because I piss him off and he chooses to annoy the hell out of me.”}

^{“What do you mean?”}

^{“To him Rush Limbaugh is God. He's well read and he knows his shit so I can't debate with him, but he's like big brother.”}

^{“Oh, well I'll probably get along with him.”}

^{“That's what I'm afraid of.!” I said laughing.}

^{“I promise not to bring it home as long as you don't. Ok?”}

^{“I don't know. I mean there's a huge wide margin.”}

^{“That's ok, my family is middle of the road. My dad is a Republican but he shuts it off at home because my mom and you will get along great. She does make valid points and she's got my respect.”}

^{“What do you mean?”}

^{“She said if she raised us like a Republican she'd be way off into our business and there'd be no privacy. She told dad that and if he wanted to pull it in her house, she'd snoop through everything he had for his own betterment. He backed off and they have a great life together. One thing you'll find is at our house, you're going to see a Southern estate the way it used to be. What's funny is where the horses were kept is now four wheelers. We use them to go all over the place.”}

^{“How big is it?”}

^{“In acres?”}

^{“It's that big!”}

^{“Yeah, in acres, it's about sixty four hundred acres. It's a huge place.”}

^{“Oh man, I bet that was fun to grow up there.”}

^{“Yes, and no. I mean around us is a lot of unclaimed land which is swamps. For us to grow up, I had to go to the closest neighbor's house and that was a good mile away and then it was fine for me to play there but they couldn't come home because my daddy didn't like them.”}

^{“Oh, that'd be rough.”}

^{“Yeah, so that's what made JT and I close.”}

^{“I see. How old is he?”}

^{“Thirty two.”}

^{“And he's still single?”}

^{“Yeah, he got really close to getting married once and then the girl started planning a wedding on him that was going to be a real expensive one. He backed off and told her she needed to find someone else.”}

^{“What happened?”}

^{“She went and married a Congressman. His heart was broke.”}

^{“How come? If he told her to get lost, he should have known she would.”}

^{“He wanted her to back off the big wedding. I don't think it was her he disliked. In fact, I think he was in love with her.”}

^{“Poor kid.”}

^{“Yeah, but he dates a whole lot. Your brother Brent and he would get along great. Be thankful they're not closer because they'd both be dating each other's leftovers.”}

^{I laughed and said, “Oh man, that'd be a fright.”}

^“Yeah.”

^{“Well, we never had it easy like that. I mean until my mom and my real dad divorced, we were dirt poor. Then, mom married well and after that, it was nice. I'm glad she married well, but sometimes she forgets what it was like. Me, I don't forget those days. One thing you won't find is me voluntarily eating a pancake ever again, nor will you see me eating many beans, or meatloaf. The thoughts of those things gag me to this day.”}

^{“Oh man, well, I know not to surprise you with breakfast in bed with pancakes.”}

^{“If you want to know my weakness for breakfast in bed, you give me a package of pop tarts, a bag of cool ranch Doritos, and a quart of orange juice.”}

^“Yuck”

^{“Well, I thought this was my breakfast! There are other things I eat, but if I got a choice to eat that for breakfast every day for the rest of my life, that'd be it.”}

^{“Man, that's a perfect way to start your day with heartburn. What other foods don't you like?”}

^{“There's no way you could ever get me to like a stewed tomato, or cooked spinach or green pepper. I love green pepper and spinach raw, but never cooked.”}

^{“I don't know. My mom cooks spinach a way you'd probably love it.”}

^{“I doubt it.”}

^{“Have you ever had greens?”}

^“Huh?”

^{“Greens. Turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens?”}

^{“I've never heard of it.”}

^{“Well, here they're a staple. I think girls have to pass a test or something before they can graduate on how to cook them. The same way with grits. “}

^{“Grits I like. They had those in prison. I like them with butter and sugar.”}

^{“Good, but I'm guessing different parts of the country have different foods which they favor.”}

^{“I imagine. Where do you get these greens.”}

^{“Out in the yard.”}

^“Huh?”

^{“They grow like dandelions which also have greens.”}

^{“You mean you eat the weeds?”}

^{“Hon, you grow them in patches.”}

^{“Remind me to be thankful we've got a jungle for a yard. That sounds gross. I mean we mow our yards back home. We don't eat them, however my mom had a goat once....”}

^{He laughed and said, “Don't be making fun of us. You're here amongst us now you know!”}

^{“Ok, but how do you cook them?”}

^{“Ask my mom. She does that.”}

^{“You don't cook?”}

^{“I know enough to pass and not starve, but being Sheriff has it's advantages of being able to get a free meal at a lot of places.”}

^{“Yeah, donut shops.”}

^{“We only have two of those in the county and I don't get a thing free there thank you!”}

^{“Ok, you're too busy going elsewhere.”}

^{“Yeah, when I'm alone, Mabel gives me my meals free. It drives JT insane because he has to pay. BUT, a lot of other places give me meals too as well as old ladies in the county. You'll find me bringing home a lot of things.”}

^{“Can you ask them to leave the yard outside?”}

^{“No because I bet you like them.”}

^{“I don't know. You've not told me how they're cooked.”}

^{“You either boil them or you fry them.”}

^“Fry?”

^{“Yeah, you take bacon and you fry it and then you put some sort of vinegar in them and you fry them. It's nice when you get a good mess of them.”}

^{“Mess? The thought of a bunch of weeds in fat all cooled and congealed sounds gross. I'm sorry.”}

^{He laughed and aid, “The look on your face tells me I'll have to get you to try them to win you over.”}

^{“I doubt it.”}

^{“Hon, you'll hit them and you'll wonder why you never had them before.”}

^{“I doubt that. If I had a yard, you'd see my happy ass on a riding lawnmower with a gleam in my eyes.”}

^{“And your neighbors sincerely believing you're crazy.”}

^{“I imagine. I mean that's why they make Round Up.”}

^{“Shut your mouth. You trying to kill someone!”}

^{“Nope.” I said giggling}

^{We left Penny's and I had five bags.” You think you bought enough?”}

^{“Yeah until next season's colors come out.”}

^{“Oh sheesh, you and my mom have to go shopping. I bet you don't wear white before Easter and after Labor Day either.”}

^{“They do that!” I said smiling}

^{“Oh man, I'd tell you you're so gay, but that's why I like you.”}

^{“Well, here's the deal. You bring home all the seafood you want and I'll eat that while you bring home the yard. Together we'll have surf and turf.”}

^{He laughed and said, “I'll do that if you try a little. Now, that's a thought. Fresh scallops sauted in with the collards. Man, I'm making myself hungry again.”}

^{“We'll stop by a Baskin Robbins on the way to the hotel.”}

^{“Swenson's is right up the street.”}

^{“Good, I think I could get used to them being close.”}

^{“I'd hate to tell you, but they have one in Bluffton.”}

^{“Really!”}

^{“Yeah, we're not really backwoods you know!”}

^{“I didn't know that!”}

^{“Ooh, just make sure your little burg is perfect.”}

^{“I have otherwise I wouldn't' have bought there. It's perfect.”}

^{“Oh really, I've not seen that from dealing with them all day.”}

^{“Hon, I left imperfection for perfection. My burg is now Bluffton.”}

^{He laughed and said, “Turncoat.”}

^{“Nope, my coat never got worn.”}

^{He laughed and said, “Well, let's go get you your ice cream.”}

^{“You know I'm lactose intolerant, don't you?”}

^{“Really! Then why do you eat ice cream?”}

^{“For the same reason I eat salads or anything else. I like it. It doesn't like me. So, I have this understanding. When I don't like something, I immerse myself in it until I can eat my way out.”}

^{“Remind me to throw a mess of greens at you.”}

^{“When you do, throw in a Weedeater.”}

^{He laughed and said, “I can tell I'm not going to win.”}

^{We went to Swenson's and I got the same brownie sundae. “Do you always eat the same thing.”}

^{“Yup, twenty years ago, I had a brownie sundae. It was good then and it's just as good now. Remind me to call the Coke man and get a fountain set up in the house.”}

^“Huh?”

^{“Yeah, I don't know why, but your Diet Coke tastes funny here. I've had it three places and it's all yuck. So, if I'm going to get some that's good, I'll have to put in a Cullegan system and a Coke machine. I'll find out if it's the syrup here, and if it is, I'll buy it back home. Maybe it's because they don't clean their heads good, I don't know, but I've got to have Diet Coke.”}

^{“You can't deal with Pepsi?”}

^{“Diet Pepsi? Nope, it does the same as ice cream does to me. I'm sorry, but in a second place, I'd put Diet Dr. Pepper and that's not often.”}

^{“Oh, you can really taste that much of a difference?”}

^{“Hon.....” I said looking at him over imaginary glasses, “The difference to me is the difference between you and your brother. One goes down like a soft whisper and the other sounds like a foghorn bad.”}

^{He laughed and said, “Thanks.”}

^{“Don't thank me, thank God who made you and while you're at it thank him for my fine tastes.”}

^{He laughed and said, “Can we drive down by the water?”}

^{“Sure, now I've got a question I need to ask. Is there a beach we can swim there?”}

^{“Yeah, but aren't we getting a pool?”}

^{“Yeah, but I'm not going to be allowed a wave pool there and with the ocean being so close, I want to learn to surf.”}

^{“Huh? You want to be a surfer?”}

^{“I'd like to try it. Do they rent boards?”}

^{“I'll see if I can find a place, but I can't think of any right off hand. In fact, I can't think of many who surf at all. Most everyone has boogy boards.”}

^{“Ok, we'll see.”}

^{“You ever been in the ocean?”}

^{“Yeah, which one? I've been to four.”}

^{“Really?”}

^{“Yeah, the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Mediterranean which is really a sea, but I guess if I included the Gulf of Mexico, that'd count, wouldn't it.”}

^{“Where'd you go here?”}

^{“Myrtle Beach and some state park up by Charleston. It was beautiful. There was a lighthouse there with a little general store right across the road.”}

^{“Oh, that would be Hunting Beach Island. I'm surprised you can't see the lighthouse from the house.”}

^{“What I remember most was swimming for a long time and being like a half mile up the shore. Also, it burns bad when you open your eyes in it like you can the Mississippi River.”}

^{“Which do you prefer?”}

^{“Atlantic. The sand is white here. Out in California, the sand was dark brown and really polluted. Out in Hawaii, the beach had black sand.”}

^{“I bet that was pretty.”}

^{“Yeah, but pretty is down at Key West. When I went there, I walked the beach and just cried like a baby because I felt so at home there.”}

^{“Why didn't you buy there?”}

^{“Hon, when I was down there, a beautiful house couldn't be gotten for five million and some of those are so close together that if you sneeze you neighbor three houses down the street excuses you. Me, since prison, I've required space and lots of it. This house has six bedrooms and it's perfect.”}

^{“It is beautiful.”}

^{“I can hardly wait to meet the architect. He really knew how to draw up a house.”}

^{“Yes, it's like the old ones. When you see my parents, you're going to be amazed.”}

^{“Really?”}

^{“Yeah, it's one of the old original plantation houses. It's been in the same location since the 1950's when it got moved back from the ocean.”}

^{“Why'd they move it back?”}

^{“When it was built, it was out on a peninsula. The breeze out there is incredible, but so is the erosion of the ground. I hear there was a lot of yard with it, but now, even part of the foundation is washed away from where it stood.”}

^{“Oh man, that's called a diminishing value on the investment.” I smiled.}

^{He smiled and said, “Yeah, but if it ever came up for sale, my God.”}

^{“Yeah, but don't ever let them sell it. I'll buy it if it does.”}

^{“Hon, you don't know how many real estate developers contact my parents every year to sell. It's gotten to the point that when my parents see a foreign phone number, they don't bother answering.”}

^{“You'll have to tell them my number.”}

^{“It's already been given to them. My daddy's not in the best health.”}

^{“I'm sorry.”}

^{“So am I. I'm glad he'll get to meet you though because I want him to know I've found someone I think will keep me happy.”}

^“Yup.”

^{“I think he's going to like you. Here's what they'll do. My mom will get out the photo albums and my dad will get out the home movies and videos. For entertainment, we'll have a fun filled evening of embarrassment. “}

^{“Hon, mine are going to do the same thing. Fortunately, the home movies probably won't be drug out, but they'll sure tell stories. If the home movies get drug out, then I'm running out the door.”}

^{“They can't be that bad. I bet you were cute.”}

^{“A little geek who grew to a bigger geek. Thank God for plastic surgery.”}

^{“Awww, you shouldn't say that. TO me, you're awesome looking.”}

^{“Thanks.”}

^{When we got back to the hotel, I said, “Ready to shower?”}

^{“Yeah, we doing it together?”}

^{“If you don't mind. I promise not to get too sexual, but I do plan on putting my hands all over your body.”}

^{He smiled, “I can't promise I won't be sexual. The thought of putting my hands upon your body is going to be enough to put me over the edge.”}

^{“Same here”}

^{I took off my clothes and went into the bathroom. He came in and said, “Your ass doesn't even jiggle when you walk.”}

^{“It's gotta. Gravity hasn't been that nice to me.”}

^{“I watched, it wasn't moving a bit.”}

^{“I'll watch yours when we walk back in.”}

^{We got in the shower and bathed each other. He looked down and gave me a super gentle hug. May I kiss you?”}

^{“Yeah, but don't ask again.”}

^“Huh?”

^{“You have an open ended pass.”}

^{“Oh ok.”}

^{He kissed me and the sensations which went through my body were pleasureful to say the same. We hugged tighter and his hardness was pinned next to mine.}

^{“Oh man” he said “This is incredible.”}

^“Yeah”

^{We began exploring each others bodies with soapy hands. I washed his hair and really gave him a good scalp massage. “Oh man, that feels so good. You're not afraid to apply pressure.”}

^{“Nope, just as long as you return the favor.”}

^{“Oh hon, you don't know how much you're turning me on. Every touch from you is incredible.”}

^{“Babe, just enjoy.”}

^{I began washing his back. I'd scrub with soap and then rinse and kiss. As my hands swept lower and lower, his moans increased in volume. When my hands caressed his butt, he leaned back and kissed me. “Let me do you now. If we don't, I'll blow.”}

^“Ok”

^{I stepped forward and he began washing my hair. He scrubbed hard and then softly washed the ends.”Your hair is dyed.”}

^{“Yeah, I had it all grown out and dyed it blond for Halloween. You saw the photos, didn't you?”}

^{“Yeah, I think.”}

^{“Well, I kept it blonde until after Christmas, but had it died again out at the Bellagio. It's about time for a touch up.”}

^{“Would you ever dye it for me?”}

^{“Yeah, I have no hangups about doing that. It adds zest to the love life.”}

^{“So Kevin liked it blonde?”}

^{“Kevin liked it long. Any color was fine with him, but he did enjoy the blonde particularly.”}

^{“Your natural curl is amazing.”}

^{“Yeah, I got it from my dad. He had waves upon waves. When he'd wash his hair, it'd get really curly, but when it dried, it'd be wavy. Me, I've had it curly and I've had it waved. This here is natural, but I'm thinking about getting it cut in a different style.”}

^{“What style?”}

^{“The blonde on Bananarama's video is how I want it. Sort of Farrah Fawcet looking.”}

^{“So you thinking about taking it blonde?”}

^{“If you want it that way.”}

^{“I want you to meet my parents with this color. My mom is a blonde.”}

^{“So's mine. She's so blonde it's nearly white.”}

^{“So's mine. My dad likes it that way.”}

^{“One thing you'll know is when my hair is blonde, it makes my complexion seem really dark. And, the more I'm out in the sun, the more I get darker. When I was in my teens I stayed out in the sun all the time and I was really really dark. There've been times when family photos have been brought out for my brother's girlfriends and the question got asked who the black kid was, I was so dark.”}

^{“Oh man.”}

^{“Yeah, but my mom gets a tan about the color of a bun and that's it. She can't seem to get more than that.”}

^{“My mom will look a lot older than she really is. Living out here on the beach, she's forever out in the yard. The sun hasn't been kind to her.”}

^{“I understand. I'll get her some moisturizer from Missouri. There are some hillbillies back there that make the best.”}

^{“Are there really hillbillies?”}

^{“Oh hon, yes there are. Some of them live in conditions which are shocking. What's interesting is you'll drive down a backroad and you'll see a house with a box springs on the roof and you'll think to yourself what the hell? But it's their television antenna.”}

^{“Oh man.”}

^{“Yeah, and you'll drive down the road and you'll smell a real sweet smell come late June or July and you'll be smelling what's referred to 'water' brewing. Other people call it 'shine, but back home it's called 'water'. It's clear as water and it will knock you on your butt.”}

^{“Really?”}

^{“Oh yeah and I'll tell you what, you ever put any of that stuff in your gas tank in that Viper and you'll be amazed at what you'll see for performance. You think it'll kick you in the butt now, you put that in the tank and it'll be so hard you'll think your butt met your shoulder blades. By the way, you've got an awesome ass.”}

^{He chuckled and said, “So do you, can I wash between your cheeks?”}

^{“Honey, don't ask. Just do what you want. I'll stop you if I feel uncomfortable.”}

^{“Ok, I just worry.”}

^{“Don't. I know I'm a new toy to you, so do what you want.”}

^{He washed in between my cheeks and said, “Oh man, I've got to stop. Man, oh man you're a fantasy come true.”}

^“Thanks”

^{He hugged me from behind and washed my chest. “Your body is so tight and compact. It's perfect.”}

^{“Hon, there's nothing of perfection here.”}

^“Shush”

^{“That nipple over there, look at it, it's off center.”}

^“Shush”

^{He kissed me and really explored my mouth with his tongue. “Mmmmm” I moaned. Chills went up my spine and on a scale of between one and ten, the man had to have hit a thirty with that kiss. He began to spasm and came all over my chest.}

^{“Oh....ohh....ohhh, I'm so sorry.”}

^{“Hon, that's the best compliment ever. Don't worry about it.”}

^{“I've never done that in my life.”}

^{“I can tell.”}

^{“Let me get you washed off again.”}

^{He said, “Look at that, it's staying hard.”}

^{“Uh huh, while you wash my chest, I'll wash it. I think you're nice sized.”}

^{“Too big.”}

^“Shush”

^{“You don't have to deal with the thing.”}

^{I kissed him and began jacking him again. His girth was such my fingers didn't reach around it. He began moaning and said, “You gotta stop.”}

^{“Hon, lean back and enjoy it.”}

^{I went to my knees and began to give him head.}

^{“Oh man, that's so fantastic.”}

^{As I sucked, I began caressing the erogenous zones of his inner thighs, his lower pelvic region and on up to his nipples.}

^{“Hah! I never knew they were so sensitive. It feels like they're attached to my dick.”}

^{I began a skilled deep throat and continued my caressing of his chest, abdomen and crotch. My other hand began caressing his nuts and behind them. “Oh babe, this feels fantastic. Oh man, I've never had anyone give me head before.”}

^{The thought of this man living until he was thirty four without even receiving head was amazing to me. I knew it was possible because I'd heard about virgins, but to actually stumble across one in my day and age was amazing to me.}

^{He ran his fingers through my hair as I gave him head and soon, he was beginning some short thrusts into my throat. “Hon, I'm about to go again.”}

^{I continued and soon I felt his balls raise in their sack. “Hon, I'm about to cum.”}

^{I continued and he said. “HON!”}

^{And that's when he blew. I continued and then slowed my pace. When he was too sensitive, I pulled off.}

^{“Oh my God!” he smiled weakly.}

^{I smiled at him and said, “Let's get out of this tub.”}

^{He said, “No, I want to return the favor!”}

^{“Not tonight. It's not that I don't want you to, it's that I think we should pace ourselves for your entry into things. It all doesn't have to be done in one day.”}

^{“But I want to do it all. Oh man, I've missed out on so much!”}

^{“No, you made it right for you. I'm honored.”}

^{“So am I. Oh man.”}

^{I toweled him off and then we went into the bedroom. “You ready to go downstairs to the sauna and jacuzzi?”}

^{“Yeah, give me a few moments, I'm so drug out from that I'm nearly ready to go to sleep now.”}

^{“You can stay up here if you'd like and I'll go.”}

^{“No, I want to do it with you. You said it's awesome, so I want to do it too.”}

^{“Ok, I can wait.”}

^{We flipped on the television and I went over to CNN to see what was going on in the world. One of the headlines was about the city police chief getting arrested for ordering a hit on me. I flipped it off and pulled out my cell phone and called my mom.}

^{“Hon, where you at?”}

^{“Jacksonville, Florida.”}

^{“You ok?”}

^{“I'm fine, there's a lot I need to fill you in on.”}

^{“I'm hearing! Kevin called me. It seems they got that bastard.”}

^{“Yeah, mom, Steve got him with me. I've remembered everything.”}

^{“Oh man, are you ok?”}

^{“I'm fine. It's like it was a bad dream. I feel numb.”}

^{“Kevin feels so bad.”}

^{“I'll call him. He didn't do anything.”}

^{“No, but he said he pressed you to meeting the guys and hiring the one.”}

^{“Mom, I had no memories of it. I'm just glad I never remembered, but I'm glad they record the calls there.”}

^{“Hon, Kevin's been talking on the phone to Jerry. He says he won't speak to him anymore.”}

^{“Mom, it's Kevin's life. If that's whom he wants to be with, then that's on him. I wished him luck and I mean it. Hopefully, if he goes looking again, he'll find someone better.”}

^{“Kevin feels so bad.”}

^{“I know mom. I never called him because there was a time there we thought he might've been a suspect.”}

^{“How could you suspect him?” She said outraged.}

^{“When I saw the scene happening, one of the guys said they'd been paid to do it. That made everyone a suspect. Fortunately, the dumb ass police chief called me and gave himself away. Now, I know he's not involved, but that doesn't change things.”}

^{“Do you think you could move back home?”}

^{“I don't think so. Those people will have friends and until this blows over, you guys will all have escorts from the highway patrol.”}

^{“They're not going to be stupid enough to arrest us for anything!”}

^{“Mom, they were stupid enough to do this. I don't put anything past that police chief. He said he was going to personally finish the job with me.”}

^{“Oh my God!”}

^{“Yeah, but a normal person would have considered that intimidating, but for me, I've heard more from lesser people. He had to put his threat into action for me to get worried.”}

^{“You and Steve getting along then?”}

^{“Oh mom, yes.”}

^{“That told me a lot. When do I get to meet him?”}

^{“We're coming in next week to get Gypsy and some of my things. You've got to come see the house. It's beautiful.”}

^{“I saw the pictures.”}

^{“Mom! No, you've got to come. The pictures just don't do it justice. That first view of the house in real life is what sold it, but the more I walked through, the more I really was glad I got it. Steve and I will be living together.”}

^{“You sure you want to do that?”}

^{“Mom, there are times I just know. With Kevin, I felt it and with Steve, I've tried not feeling it, but the more we get to know each other the more I'm feeling.”}

^“Good”

^{“Mom, have you ever had greens?”}

^{“Yes, I didn't care for them myself, but to each his own.”}

^{“He told me about them and he said I've got to try them.”}

^{“Hon, I'm sure they could be cooked in a way they might be good, but to me they're like spinach.”}

^“Yuck.”

^{“Yeah, but maybe there's a way they're cooked I never knew about. I know they're good in salads.”}

^{“I'll have to try them that way, but the thought of eating weeds out of the yard sounds terrible.”}

^{“Hon, give it a try and see. Don't judge it off my experience.”}

^“Ok”

^{“Why are you in Jacksonville?”}

^{“We went down and got the Rolls and decided to stop for the night here. Besides, he had to fax in the deposition he took from me.”}

^{“Oh. Well that's good hon.”}

^{“Yeah, you're going to love him.”}

^{“I imagine I will. It will be awkward at first, but I'm sure we'll adjust.”}

^{“It shouldn't be. I think Kevin and he will get along fine.”}

^{“Good. That's what I've been worried about.”}

^{“There's not going to be a problem. The one with any issues should be me, but I'm not.”}

^{“Hon, you've been lucky. You've got Kevin that loves you and it sounds like you've got someone else.”}

^{“Yes and it's wonderful. Tomorrow, I'm going to meet his parents. That should be fun.”}

^{“Do they sound nice?”}

^{“Yes, it sounds like you and she have a lot in common. His dad is in ill health, but I met his brother today.”}

^{“Was he nice?”}

^{“Yeah, but he and Brent would probably have too much in common if we lived closer together.”}

^{“What do you mean?”}

^{“He's a rounder too. They'd probably have exes in common.”}

^{She laughed and said, “One of these days, I'm hoping he finds someone.”}

^{“Me too, but whoever it is better accept us.”}

^{“Oh she will or she won't be welcomed into my home. I've made that clear to your brothers.”}

^{“I don't mean to be a hardship.”}

^{“No, it's about loving each other. If either one of your brothers ever chose to do that to you, I'd wake them up real fast. And, I'd do it to you too.”}

^{“Well, there's no problem with me. All I expect of whomever is they love them.”}

^{“Me too.”}

^{“I did some research on the internet about the area where you live, we were down by there.”}

^{“Steve says he's surprised we can't see the lighthouse of that place from this house.”}

^{“Really!”}

^{“Yeah, he says it's right across a bay.”}

^{“It's beautiful there. Remember we tried to go out to Hilton Head Island and they had a gate across it?”}

^{“Yeah, this is the way our community is. It's got a guard house so no one can come in.”}

^{“I guess that's ok, but isn't it like living in prison again?”}

^{“No, it's to keep people out. Prison guards were there to keep people in. You'll love it. It's like living in the jungle, but the marsh out back is awesome.”}

^{“Remember we walked out on that boardwalk there?”}

^{“Yeah, it's just like that.”}

^{“Then you've got gators and rattle snakes.”}

^{“Steve and I are going to put up a chain link fence so they can't get in.”}

^{“That'll be good, but remember a snake can go through a fence.”}

^{“I'll have them build the concrete part up taller. He wants to set it in concrete so if hurricane comes it doesn't become a missile.”}

^{“It was sure pretty down there.”}

^{“Yeah, but I found out they have direct flights from St. Louis.”}

^{“Good, having to connect and all that is a pain.”}

^{“Savannah's airport is nice and the drive wasn't long at all.”}

^{“It's beautiful there too. Man, you're in a part of the country that's not cold. It got up to 19 degrees here today.”}

^{“Oh man, down here it was like seventy or eighty. Up at the house I think it was in the high sixties. I know we can keep the windows open year round.”}

^{“Your heating bill will be low.”}

^{“Yeah it's got eight fireplaces. We'll burn wood because his parents have a lot of it.”}

^{“That's good, now you mind your manners when you meet them.”}

^{“I will.”}

^{“I'm going to get off here. CSI is coming on.”}

^{“Ok, I love you.”}

^{“I love you more!”}

^{“No, I love you twice that!”}

^{We hung up and he said, “You're mama's baby, aren't you?”}

^{“No, but we are good friends. She's anxious to meet you.”}

^{“I heard. She worried about Kevin and I?”}

^{“Yeah, speaking of him, I'm going to call him and tell him what's going on. He's heard and he was having Jerry call him from jail. So he's a bit worried about what I'll think.”}

^{“That's messed up.”}

^{“Hon, when we split up, I told him to be happy with whomever he got with. We're staying friends, so if it was going to be Jerry, then I'd wish him the best, but thank God it's not.”}

^{“Well, let's hope he can find someone.”}

^{“Yeah, you're not going to mind if he comes down to visit, are you?”}

^{“No, I'd welcome him.”}

^{“Good because I'd like to have him visit if he wanted to sometime.”}

^{“That's fine hon.”}

^{I dialed Kevin's cell and he answered. “Hello?”}

^{“Hi It's me.”}

^{“How are you doing?”}

^{“I'm doing fine. I've remembered everything and I'm doing well.”}

^{“Who all was it?”}

^{“Well, the police chief ordered the hit.”}

^{“That son of a bitch.”}

^{“Yeah, but Jerry was the one with the boots on that fucked up my face Kevin.”}

^{“I'm sorry Rhett.”}

^{“You didn't do anything, but he's going to be up on attempted murder charges and capital at that.”}

^{“I'm not going to speak with him any longer.”}

^{“That's good because it would make you look guilty.”}

^{“I didn't do anything. You've got to believe that.”}

^{“I do because if I didn't, there'd not be much left of you.”}

^{“Rhette!”}

^{“I'm not choosing to believe that Kev, now let it settle.”}

^{“I've got to tell you I'm sorry. They had the news report which showed Joe and Kyle getting arrested. They also had some other guy.”}

^{“Good, they got them all.”}

^{“They also have the ball bat and the truck.”}

^{“I know, I was told.”}

^{“I'm glad you're down there. There are news trucks parked on the street in front of your house.”}

^{“Gyp ok?”}

^{“Yeah, but I had to tell the highway patrol officer that was assigned to me to get someone up there to get people off your property.”}

^{“Did they do it?”}

^{“Yeah, but the police here in town are all up in arms.”}

^{“Fuck them, they think they're going to arrest me when I get back.”}

^{“What for?”}

^{“Because I dared disturb their little field day. I'm glad I've moved away.”}

^{“I really wish you hadn't, but I'm glad you're not here now.”}

^{“Well, I think I'm going to like it. By the way, you're invited.”}

^{“I don't know hon.”}

^{“Well, Steve is going to be up there with me next week and when we get there, I want you two to meet. He's willing.”}

^{“Ok, I want to meet him too to be sure you're going to be fine.”}

^{“Kev, I'm sorry about Jerry for your sake.”}

^{“It's for the best. I'm glad he's in jail right now because I'd probably kill him.”}

^{“That's ok, things work out.”}

^{“What are you talking about?”}

^{“Kevin, I'm not talking on the phone.”}

^“David?”

^“Yeah”

^{“Ok. I'm not going to say anything because I'd do the same thing. He deserves it.”}

^{“The others are all going to get a trial and go down. There's enough evidence if they get it.”}

^{“Good. It just pisses me off Kyle worked for us.”}

^{“Yeah, I'm glad I didn't remember then, I'd probably had his sorry ass up in some electrical lines and laughed as he buzzed.”}

^{“That's ok, I just feel like a real shit insisting on you meeting them and telling you they were good people. I didn't know.”}

^{“I know, but we should have listened to that migraine I got right after meeting them.”}

^{“Yeah, I never thought of that, but them standing there like nothing happened really burns me a new one.”}

^{“I know, but Kev, watch your back because we don't know who they have as friends and who will do anything. I don't want you in jeopardy.”}

^{“Ok, what I'll do is go over and get Gyp and bring her here. You want anything else out of the house in case they do anything?”}

^{“My photo albums, safe, and all my clothes. If you'd pack them into boxes and put those in the back of the Dakota, I'd appreciate it.”}

^{“Where's your key to the Dakota?”}

^{“On the door to the basement. It's with all the other keys.”}

^{“Ok, anything else?”}

^{“Everything else is insured. I doubt if anything happens, but I've got one question.”}

^{“What hon?”}

^{“Where are Jerry's boots. The black ones with the spurs and tips?”}

^{“Oh man, he gave me those. They're up in my closet.”}

^{“Hon, take them and give them to the highway patrol officer. He used those to fuck up my face.”}

^{“Oh man, that motherfucker”}

^{“Hon, you didn't know. It just says what callous assholes they were.”}

^{“You think your parents are in jeopardy?”}

^{“No, but everyone's got highway patrol protection and escorts so the police won't arrest them for jacked up causes. I think when it's all said and done, the city is going to owe me a huge apology...well, I'll get one for you too. You stood by me through everything until you fucked whats her name.”}

^{“Hon, do we have to rehash that?”}

^{“No, I've moved on and I think he'll stay faithful.”}

^“Rhett!”

^{“Kev! I don't know why you fucked around, but it all changed after the attack.”}

^{“You weren't the same. Until then, you were a force that was a power of one. After that, you were meek and kept asking me to do everything for you.”}

^{“And that was so bad? I mean love is doing things for the other when they're down. You stepped out of that to do things with others.”}

^{“I know it's my fault.”}

^{“Kev, that's where I was let down. The first time, I worked with you on it. The second, I was pissed and my trust was violated, but for you to accuse me of doing anything with Patrik was below the belt.”}

^{“I know. I think I've lost him as a friend for us.”}

^{“For you, he's still emailing me.”}

^{“Good. You know, maybe it's that I wanted you to do things with him. I mean I knew I was failing you and if you had, I wouldn't have blamed you. He's a damned nice guy and he's not hard on the eye.”}

^{“Well, Steve is that too. You're going to see someone who is built just like you and you might think I found a replacement for you, but you're not replaceable. He's building his own place in my heart and that's where I'm leaving it with you. I want you for a friend, but if it's too hard on you, I'll back away.”}

^{“No, I love what we have now. I want to continue being a part of your life even if it is as friends.”}

^{“You'll have that.”}

^{“Rhett, can I tell you something so you're not upset hearing it from anyone else?”}

^“Ok”

^{“I've got someone else I'm seeing.”}

^{“Good, who is it?”}

^{“Dan Rains. You probably don't know him.”}

^{“I know him. I went to college with him. Be careful there.”}

^{“What do you mean?”}

^{“Hon, check him out. He's a nice guy, but there were a lot of shady things with him. I do know he's got a kid that's got to be about thirteen or fourteen.”}

^{“Really? He says he doesn't.”}

^{“Be careful. It's his kid and be careful if he tells you he's an only child too.”}

^{“He has.”}

^{“Kev, get away from him. That's two lies he's told you. His brother is mentally handicapped and is in a home up at Skyview.”}

^{“Oh really!....”}

^{“Yeah. So, back away from him. It sounds like he's still singing the same song.”}

^{“How do you know him?”}

^{“We spent a few nights together. He filled me full of shit and Gino did some checking on him. I didn't want to believe he was bad either, but at the same time, he was seeing me, he was engaged to the girl who had his kid. She was pregnant with the kid when she learned about me.”}

^{“Oh man, why didn't you tell me?”}

^{“Hon, if I told you everyone I'd had a one night stand with, you'd thought me to be a whore.”}

^{“Oh, well, I'm listening now. I'm glad you're telling me because I'm supposed to see him tonight.”}

^{“It's your call.”}

^{“No, that just ended. I'll give him a call and tell him I've learned some things and I don't want a thing to do with him.”}

^{“Normally, I'd say give him a chance, but if he's lied to you twice already, then I'm sure he's thinking he's getting it off.”}

^{“Ok, well, wish me luck on the next one then!” he said with a smile to his voice.}

^{“Ok, why don't you go and check on Curt.”}

^“Why?”

^{“Kev, he's a nice guy and he's a sweet person. I know how he feels about you and you'd do good with him.”}

^{“I had no idea.”}

^{“What! That he liked you?”}

^“Yeah”

^{“Kev, the man's eyes watch you wherever you go in a room.”}

^{“Why didn't you ever tell me.”}

^{“When I noticed it, we were dealing with the Jerry situation. Do you think I'd tell you someone else was attracted to you so I'd get another chunk of my heart ripped out?”}

^{“Ok, that was fair. I understand.”}

^{“Yeah, but now you're not attached, so ask him out.”}

^{“Rhett, you're being a babe about this.”}

^{“Kev, I want to see you as happy as I'm becoming.”}

^{“So it's working out for you two?”}

^{“Oh yeah, he took the day off to be with me and the more I learn the more I like.”}

^{“Good, what's his past track record like?”}

^{“He's not been with anyone.”}

^{“You sure!”}

^{“Yeah, I'm sure.”}

^{“How old is the guy?”}

^{“My age.”}

^{“And he's a virgin!”}

^{“Yeah, amazing isn't it.”}

^{“Oh man, any more of them down there?”}

^{“I don't know but you're welcome to come down and visit.”}

^{“Would you mind? I mean I want you to be safe there.”}

^{“I told mom about the place and she thinks I'm in a prison again because it's got a guard shack. I told her it was to keep people out instead of people in.”}

^{He laughed and said, “How big is the place?”}

^{“Our community? Or the whole area?”}

^{“Your community.”}

^{“Oh hell, probably as big as Northeast Missouri, why?”}

^{“I looked it up on the internet. It sure sounds exclusive.”}

^{“A lot of retired people, but the golf course is Jack Nicklaus.”}

^{“Is that good?”}

^{“One of the best, but the community has two of them, the other is pro ranked too and there's a Country club which has tennis and a lot of closet cases from what I've heard.”}

^{“How much is land there?”}

^{“The lots sell for about two hundred grand. I'm not sure how big they are, but there's not many left. Why? You thinking about buying?”}

^{“I don't know. I've had thoughts about selling out totally.”}

^{“If you do, then settle with me when it happens.”}

^{“Ok, but I'll give you the sixty you've got coming.”}

^{“No, I've got Tony's trust. Use it for yourself.”}

^{“Hon, that's a helluva lot of change.”}

^{“I know, but forty years form now when we get old enough to really be retired, it won't be.”}

^{“Forty years from now, I'll be too old to care.”}

^{“Nah, you're still young at heart.”}

^{“Rhett, I miss you. I know we're going to be friends, and I can deal with that, but your friendship is halfway across the country. As time passes, I just feel our dealings with each other will be less and less.”}

^{“Kevin, do what makes your heart happy. Life's too short to ignore your heart. If it's out here, you'll be fine. The opportunities are what money buys. It's strange, but they'll let you into their exclusive little world if you can demonstrate you can afford it...which is fucked up, but that's a bunch of rich assholes for you.”}

^{“Well, do you think Steve will mind?”}

^{“No, I think he'd welcome you. You want to ask him?”}

^{“No, you ask and then get back with me on it. I'll think about things and see.”}

^{“Kev, I'll get off here. I just wanted to call and stay in touch so you weren't out of the loop.”}

^{“Thanks.”}

^{“Ok, well, we're going to go down to the jacuzzi and sauna. He's not been so he's wanting to try it since I want one installed in the house.”}

^{“That sounds nice.”}

^{“Kev, if you buy land out here, get my architect. This house is awesome.”}

^{“Ok, I'll look. Maybe I'll help haul your stuff out there to check things out.”}

^{“That'd be good. Well, I'll get of here. I love you dude.”}

^{“I love you too.”}

^{I hung up and Steve smiled.}

^{“He wants to come out?”}

^{“Yeah, he's lonely which I don't blame him.”}

^{“You going to have problems with that?”}

^{“No, but I want to talk with you about everything to be sure you're fine with it.”}

^{“Hon, I'm fine with it. I'm sorry, but I overheard your part of the conversation. I didn't mean to intrude, but this room is too small not to have heard.”}

^{“That's fine, but yes, he's interested in coming out to look at the house and possibly buy. He's now wondering if it's worth it doing it alone too.”}

^{“What was so hard about the business that one person couldn't do it? I mean, you didn't want it and he's not wanting it.”}

^{“Hon, look at it this way. Just think of your mom and your dad. They have a life there on their plantation. When your dad passes, I bet she's going to find it a lonely place and I bet she seriously thinks about getting a place in town.”}

^{“She's already spoken about that.”}

^{“Well, don't deny her that because I'll tell you it's not the business. It pretty much runs itself. What's not there was my heart. We built it to be together more. When he wasn't there, I didn't want it. He's now seeing that for himself and he's wanting out.”}

^{“So if he sells, he'll come out here?”}

^{“He's considering it, would you mind?”}

^{“No, not at all. I mean if you think I'll be jealous, I won't be unless I catch you in a compromising position trying to give him another black eye, but if I came home and saw you two sitting on a sofa together, I'd not think anything. Hell, I'd rather have you with someone you've got a real friendship with than those snobs.”}

^{“Well, you know my position on it. I'll assure you there's nothing intended for you to be jealous over on my part.”}

^{“Let's go down and soak in the hot tub and talk.”}

^“Ok”

^{We went to the jacuzzi and when he stepped in, he said, “Man, it's hot.”}

^{“Yeah, they want it to be as close to your body temperature as it can be so it relaxes you. Now put one of those jets in the middle of your back and feel what it does for you.”}

^{“Oh man, this is nice. I could use one of these after being in that patrol car all day. I bought a special chair for my office just so I could relax, but this is way better.”}

^{“Yeah, but there's a machine out that's got this beat that I'll probably buy too.”}

^{“What's it?”}

^{“It's a water massage table. I didn't see one at this mall, but they usually have them in malls. It looks like a bathtub with a rubber waterbed liner on it. You lay on it and underneath it has these sorts of jets which pulse up against the liner and you can get the same effect.”}

^{“How much are those?”}

^{“About five grand.”}

^{“That's quite a bit.”}

^{“Yeah, but the thought of me having a laptop here is sort of scary. On one of those tables, I could do it.”}

^{“No, it's only fifteen minutes of your life, so you could do without the laptop.”}

^{“Yeah, but I might be inclined to do it longer.”}

^{“Hon, this is nice. I can see us in one of these sitting and having a nice relaxing part of our evenings together.”}

^{“Ok, well, let's go to part two and we'll see what you think of it.”}

^{We got up out of the jacuzzi and went to the sauna. As soon as he walked in, he said, “Ah, Summertime in South Carolina.”}

^{I laughed and said, “Missouri too. You've got an ocean breeze here, and we don't. What we have feels like a fucking hot air dryer.”}

^{“It can't be that bad.”}

^{“Yeah, I'll tell you that when you come home bitching about the heat and I'm out playing tennis in the hundred degree weather making everyone look like they're a wuss. Back there, the humidity is what gets a person. Here a hundred degrees is a hundred. There, eighty feels like a hundred and a hundred feels like a hundred and thirty. We'll go back in August and September and you'll see. You'll wonder how people take it.”}

^{“It can't be that bad.”}

^{I laughed and said, “Remember this conversation because you'll wonder how everyone survives there.”}

^{“This is nice, but I'm sweating terrible.”}

^{“Yup, that's what you're supposed to do . It cleans out your pores and allows your skin to breathe and clean out the toxins of your body. We'll get you a good sweat going and then we'll go hop in that hot tub.”}

^{“Oh man.”}

^{He lay back against the upper bench and said, “Can we lay down on these?”}

^{“Yeah, but I won't allow myself to. I fell asleep once in one of these things and when I went outside, I went and took a cold shower. It was hell. One part of me was wanting to puke and the other part was wanting to pass out. It was scary there for a moment.”}

^{“You could have put yourself into shock.”}

^{“Yeah, so I won't lay down in one again. About the time I feel drowsy, I leave.”}

^{“Well, it is relaxing. I bet this would be awesome with a head cold.”}

^“Yeah”

^{“What you were saying about Kevin coming out. Can I give a piece of advice?”}

^“Yeah”

^{“You've got five lots there. Why don't you sell him one of yours and then let him build on it.”}

^{“First of all, back up and slam it into rewind. Ok?}

^{“What's wrong.”}

^{“The word of the day is we and I'm not at a fucking amusement park. We have five lots and we are talking about this. If we decide to sell him the land it will be us that does it, not me.”}

^{“Ok, but you ready for the bad news?”}

^“What?”

^{“In 2005 they changed the bylaws of the community and now only houses valued at five million and up are allowed to be built.”}

^{“Really! Well I'm surprised someone didn't snatch up ours.”}

^{“Me too, but there's not that many people out there ready to plunk down that sort of change. I mean if it were me, I'd go someplace and buy a farm which wouldn't have the home owner's association fees we'll have.”}

^{“Yeah, they're a bit steep, but not really. Back home, the fees just to belong to the Country Club are almost six grand a year. For us to have the membership and the other amenities they throw in, it's coming out about even for that ten grand.”}

^{“Yes, but they're talking about raising it to twelve so we can have our own zip code.”}

^{“That means it will be it's own town instead of a part of Bluffton, won't it.”}

^{“You catch on fast. I doubt if Bluffton will continue to offer fire and police protection then without charging for the services.”}

^{“If they do that, the fees will go up more!”}

^{“Yes, but that's also why there are a lot of people who aren't wanting to do that. To them a zip code doesn't mean that much to them. They like the quaint feel of being an exclusive subdivision.”}

^{“Me too. What's fire protection like?”}

^{“Excellent. The fire department is full time. The trucks are leased so they never get older than five years and the guys who work there are all calender model material.”}

^{“Any gay ones?”}

^{“I don't know”}

^{“If Kevin comes that'd be nice for him to look into.”}

^{“You really care about him, don't you?”}

^{“Yeah, my love didn't stop just because we ended things. I'll still care about him and want the best for him.”}

^{“Do you think there will be issues?”}

^{“No, in a huge way, I think they're resolving themselves. Us moving it over to friendship will be a good transition.”}

^{“What does he like to do for sports.”}

^{“Oh man, let's see. For actual sports, he's an avid handball player. He loves baseball and football and basketball. He watches games like you wouldn't believe standing in the middle of a room and yelling like he's there.”}

^{He smiled and said, “My brother does that.”}

^{“I do it for a stock car race, but nothing like Kevin. You'd think he was a coach or something.”}

^{“We have a strong boys and girls club. Do you think he'd want to coach a team?”}

^{“I don't know, but that might be something he'd really get into.”}

^{“I was wondering because I had thought about it for when I retired. I'm into those sports too.”}

^{“Good, you two will have things in common.”}

^{He smiled and said, “Who are his teams?”}

^{“Rams, Cardinals, Blues, and for some odd reason, the Kings.”}

^{“For me, it's the Yankees, Marlins, Ducks, and Bulls.”}

^{“Oh man, you and he would be constantly jibing each other over them.”}

^{He smiled and said, “Maybe he'll see the light.”}

^{“Yeah, just as soon as he dies. He'd rather die than cheer on a different set of teams.”}

^{“Do you get into watching the games?”}

^{“I enjoyed watching them with him, but not like he does. He had those special passes bought for the cable company so he'd see them all.”}

^{“Could we set up the basement to have a bunch of televisions?”}

^{“Yeah, which way do you mean, like a sports bar? Or with a wall of plasmas?”}

^{“Oh man, both sound awesome.”}

^{“My call would be a wall of plasmas. I could do a link into my computer and rather than a wall of plasmas, we could get a smaller jumbotron.”}

^“Huh?”

^{“They make them in different sizes. Imagine if you would a television which was from floor to ceiling and about twelve feet wide. If I linked it through a computer, you'd have the ability to split the screen so you could watch more than one, but you could also bring up the little one to being the whole screen.”}

^{“Man, that'd be awesome for you to type up stories, wouldn't it.”}

^{“It's better to watch tennis matches. Those guys asses are life size.”}

^{He laughed and said, “I never thought of that, but you're right. You've got a tennis player's build.”}

^{“Yeah, I love tennis. I'll be a force on the court over there.”}

^{“I imagine. The look in your eyes tells me you know you're good.”}

^{“I am. Hon, with Annie Oakley, she shot birds with a 22 rifle. She was a crack shot.}

^{With me, I'm that way with a tennis racket. Wherever on the court I want to put that ball, I put it. I didn't know I had the ability until I went to the court with a racket to practice so I could play Tony. They were having a tournament, so I signed up in order to play on the court that day. I had no clue how to play and I came in third place.}

^{By the end of the tournament, they thought I was a crack player brought in to beat their best which I was doing. Those guys were over there in their white uniforms and I was over there in a pair of cut off blue jeans and a KISS t-shirt smelling up the place.}

^{They would grunt with each serve and I couldn't figure out what they were doing since I wasn't a part of that scene. After that tournament, I decided they were fun and started going to tournaments all over the area. That placement was the only third place I ever received. All the others were first place with the exception of a second where I twisted my ankle in the third set and the guy came back and whipped my butt.”}

^{“So you could have gotten a scholarship and didn't because of the hair on your legs.”}

^{“Yeah, guys were making comments about how hairy I was and I knew I looked like a chimpanzee. So, I went to college to be a entertainment director on a cruise ship but after Tony's death, I switched it to Mortuary Science but each chance I got, I'd go out and practice. I still go out and practice, but in a handball court where the ball can rebound.”}

^{“I don't know much about tennis, but it'd be nice to watch you play.”}

^{“You can see me practice first. I now have different outfits I play in, but none of them are white.”}

^{“Why not?”}

^{“Hon, when I first started all the other people had white outfits and those were expensive. They would make comments about my hideous clothes and I would turn it back on them and say, “Yeah, hideous clothes mean individuality. I've beaten you all. To me, you're a lump of the same. Wanna play or do a fucking fashion show.” They'd look at me like I was insane, so when I had the chance I bought a used tennis outfit and then went to a friend of mine and had her tear it apart. Then, I went to Wal-Mart and bought a bunch of cool lighter weight materials with all sorts of prints and designs on them and had her make me outfits.}

^{The first time I went out onto the court for a tournament, I showed up in the same old ratty stuff and they began to make comments. Then, I went into the men's rest room and changed and came out looking like Elvis Presley in gold lame. What was funny was there was a huge crowd there that day and they viewed my clothes as a slap in the face of the establishment because numerous ones had made comments about my clothing. So it became a huge joke and everyone would laugh and hold up score cards on people's outfits. As I would come out, they'd all hold up tens so even before I got on the court I'd have a psychological gain on them.”}

^{“Oh man, I bet that was funny.”}

^{“Yeah because all the girls thought I was hot and I'd go over and pay attention to them. It was like I had a fan club.”}

^{“If you were straight, you would have played the hell out of them.”}

^{“Yeah, but when I left, I'd leave and go home to Tony. When we moved to Kansas City, I played in tournaments and won easily. The same for Moberly.”}

^{“Your leg hair never bothered you to join a tournament.”}

^{“No, but that was because I'd be in and out in one afternoon. I figured I didn't have to be around them to hear the comments, but my reputation got around and finally a coach found me. What's funny is my high school's tennis coach didn't know I existed because I never went out for Tennis there.”}

^{“Oh man, so he had someone who had beaten most of the area who could probably take him to state not even going out for the sport in his school.”}

^{“You know what's crazy? Until you mentioned state, I never thought about that. I probably should have went out for Tennis just to get that state trophy.”}

^{“You have lots of trophies?”}

^{“Yeah, a whole room full of them. Mom tried putting them on shelves but finally the shelves were full and then she started putting them on the floor as I'd come in and leave it on the counter from another tournament. I had no idea how many I had until she took Kevin down there to show him. She'll show you too since she's really proud of me for that. She has no idea I got my legs zapped, so when the trophies start coming in again, I'll start mailing them to her and she'll be blown away.”}

^{“Why don't you make the basement for your trophies?”}

^{“Hon, that's something we can do, but I'd prefer we take that apartment above the garage and put them there. That way I don't have to see them. I'd prefer the guests we have over not be viewed as seeing all of them.”}

^{“Why not?”}

^{“That's sort of egotistical if you ask me. It'd be like me saying, “Here, let's go down to my trophy room all about me.”. That's a bunch of horse shit. That's not why I'm into Tennis. For me, it's about beating the other guy.”}

^{“So you don't do it as enjoyment?”}

^{“No, it's a sport. Does a boxer get into the ring for the enjoyment of getting his ass beat around the ring? No. He goes in to beat the other guy.”}

^{“Ok, I think I get it, but some people do it for the enjoyment.”}

^{“I guess I could, but I'd prefer to teach someone the game if it were that.”}

^{“Were you that good? Or did you practice?”}

^{“I was good, but my practice wasn't your average practice. That first racket Tony got me was a heavy motherfucker. It was wood and I put double strings on the thing. We lived out in the country, so I had no court to practice on. I would go outside and practice serving by hitting mom's chickens. After a while, she told me to cut it out because I was killing the things. So, I started trying to hit birds. Soon, I got good enough to hit them and that's when I started practicing serving with spins. The reason was we have woods and if I missed, the ball would hop out into the woods and then it'd be hell trying to find it. I learned if I spun it, it would hop back out into the yard. Soon, I was practicing and doing trick shots with different spins. That's when my serving became lethal.”}

^{“Oh man!”}

^{“Yeah, the first time I served that ball and I found out it would do amazing things on a solid court rather than soft earth, I was just about as blown away as the other guy. The ball would go over the net and he'd run towards where it should have went and it'd totally veer a different way.”}

^{“How do you make it spin?”}

^{“A spin is a fraction of a second thing. At the moment the ball hits the racket, you've got to move your racket a bit. It puts a spin on the ball and the ball will be barreling with the disposition to be that direction when it hits.”}

^{“Man, did they ever catch on?”}

^{“I showed a guy once and he couldn't ever get the knack of it. To him, it was all about power serves. I'm not that big. For me to put my whole body into it, I'm still going to serve it up with less force than the average guy and some of them serve with enough force I almost have the racket taken from my hand. What's hard is I have to use a double hand return for those people until I wear them down.”}

^{“So you adapted to get the advantage.”}

^{“Yeah. I learned if the ball looked like it was going to go one direction and they had to run the other to attempt to get it, they were running their ass off.”}

^{“Yeah, but they'd wear on you by making you do the double hand return.”}

^{“Yeah, but that only happened once because then I had to go home and make a ball server that worked off a pto on my dad's tractor. When that thing would serve me a ball, it'd come in about fifty miles an hour faster than they could serve and with a whole lot more force. I began to get my spins down on double hand returns and that's when they really had problems.”}

^{“Oh man”}

^{“Yeah, so my goal would be to go into Wimbleton or one of those as an unknown and beat a pro. That goal would be the point I knew I was really good but in order to go there you have to win other tournaments against them and they'd have a heads up.”}

^{“We'll have to look into it. That tennis coach over at the club would probably be able to give you a good idea of which way you could go to take them.”}

^{“I don't know. That takes a lot of money to travel and a lot of time.”}

^{“Well, decide if it's something you really want to do, or if it's a dream you'll let slip away again.”}

^{“Man, that was a psych out.”}

^{“You did it to yourself for a long time. I think you know the answer, so why not devote some time to getting your trophy with crown jewels instead of little ones. TO me, the way I see it, you probably dashed a lot of hopes of those guys, just for the sport of it. Now, why don't you go do something with it so they can see they were beaten by the best. To them, they'd look at that defeat as a source of pride. Give back their respect.”}

^{“Oh man” I said with tears in my eyes.}

^{“I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.”}

^{“No, it's not that. Now I know I'll have to do it and I'm afraid of losing.”}

^{“Hon, come here.” He hugged me and said, “You've got the mentality of a killer and the heart of a softy. Do it and then I can see you're proud of yourself.”}

^{“Ok, I'll look into it. Before I do that, I want to go out into the community and practice my ass off so I'm real good again.”}

^{“Ok, but make time for your readers.”}

^{“I will, it's not that hard. Just time consuming. What I'll do is when I'm not sleeping, I'll write. During the daylight hours, I'll go out and practice and be home in time to have you a good dinner.”}

^{“Hon, don't worry about that.”}

^{“No, that's something I want to do. You don't know it, but a huge part of my personal feelings of failure in Kevin and I's relationship was not doing that and making it special. He'd point the finger at my writing and I'd point the finger back at him about his sports, but mentally, I blamed myself for not putting the effort in that way.”}

^{“Home cooked meals are nice, but I know they're a real chore. To me, us going out together would be nice.”}

^{“Yeah, but everyone would then be giving you what I should be.”}

^{“I see what your saying now, but you don't need to really worry about that. If you have a home cooked meal prepared, I will value it, but if you don't and you say you want to go out, then I'll understand as I will have had a long day too. I'm not going to come home and say, “What the hell have you been doing all day and see boxes of empty bonbon cartons with you, so I know you'll have done something probably more grueling than I, or you'll have more chapters of my soon to be favorite stories.”}