Bottoms Away

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Jacksonville, FL

TED CAME HOME from the Clarks’ at the usual time, and the first words out of his mouth after he’d given Chris a hug were, “Can I cook our dinner?”

“You sure can,” Chris said. “I’ve already got a list of menus for the rest of the week printed out and ready.”

“Can you come downstairs to help?”

“Yes, I can.”

“When should I start?” Ted said.

“Wait till a little before five to start. That way, we’ll still have it ready a few minutes before Mickey makes it home.”

“Okay. What are we having today?”

“Grilled chicken breasts and a couple of vegetables.”

“What about a salad?” Ted said.

“I haven’t been able to go to Publix since the day before I entered the hospital, so we don’t have any fresh lettuce. Maybe we can persuade Mickey to take you over there after dinner.”

“Good. I like salads.”

“So do I, kiddo. So do I.”

Mickey arrived from work a little before six as usual and was surprised to find the kitchen table set and food ready to be served.

“Who’s responsible for this?” Mickey said.

“I cannot tell a lie,” Chris said. “Ted did it all. By the time you’ve gotten back from changing out of that suit, your food will be on the table.”

“You haven’t been overdoing it on the stairs, have you?”

“Not at all… now go change.”

“Yes, Sir,” Mickey said, giving Chris a mock salute.

“That was your cue, Ted,” Chris said. “You can begin plating the food.”

“Yes, Sir,” Ted said, and got to work.

Mickey returned, dressed in casual clothes, just in time to sit down at the table and eat.

“This is good,” he said.

“Of course it’s good,” Chris said. “All we lack is a salad.”

“Why don’t we have one?”

“Because I haven’t been to Publix since the day before my surgery, and we’re out of lettuce. I was hoping that you’d take Ted over there after a bit and get a few basics.”

“I can do that,” Mickey said. “Don’t you want to come with us?”

“One, I don’t feel like walking all that much; two, I’m not about to use one of those electric carts; and three, I’d rather get back to work on the project you assigned me.”

“What project?”

“Shame on you, Mick,” Chris said, giving him a look. “You gave me an assignment, and you’ve already forgotten about it.”

“Oh, that.”

“Yes, that. I’ve got an outline and a partial first chapter already, and I’m eager to get back to it.”

“Good for you. I’ll help Ted clean up the dishes, and we’ll be on our way. Do you have a shopping list for us?”

“Of course I do. It’s upstairs in the computer. I’ll go print it out for you.”

Chris walked carefully up the steps, and after he went to the bathroom to brush his teeth, he settled down at his desk in the den. He located and printed out the grocery list, then began to work on his unfinished chapter. He was so engrossed in his writing that he failed to notice a presence in the room, until he heard Mickey’s voice coming from very close to his ear.

“Wow! You decided to start with your stepfather. That’s great.”

Chris jumped a bit. “Mick! Don’t sneak up on me like that. Besides, I’m not ready for you to read any of this. At least not yet.”

“Sorry. Got that list for Ted and me?”

“It’s in the printer, and try not to do too much impulse buying, okay?”

“Who, me?” Mickey said.

“Yes, you. When you go to the store with me, you always do your best to load up the shopping cart with stuff we don’t really need.”

“I can’t help it if I like bargains.”

“Perhaps, but you buy them simply because they are bargains—without regard to whether or not we really need them.”

“I promise I’ll be good,” Mickey said. “Scout’s honor.”

Chris had to chuckle at that. “Get out of here and let me get some writing done.”

“I’ve created a monster.”

“You wanted me to write, my boy, and I’m writing. Be careful what you wish for, and all that.”

“Yeah.”

Mickey gave Chris a brief kiss. As he headed for the door, he raised his voice and said, “Ready to go, Ted?”

“Yes, Sir,” Ted said from down the hall.

Chris smiled inwardly and returned to his writing. He didn’t stop working until he heard noises from downstairs. I’d better go down there and supervise, he thought. Otherwise, they’ll put things in the wrong places. Chris saved his document, then made his way slowly down the stairs and into the kitchen, where he settled on a stool.

He surveyed the many Publix bags on the kitchen island and said, “What did you guys do, buy out the store?”

“They were having ‘buy one, get one free’ sales all over the place,” Mickey said.

“I tried to stop him,” Ted said, “but he wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Don’t worry about it, Ted,” Chris said. “Let’s see what you got?”

Ted began taking things out of the Publix bags and stacking them on the island.

“Whoa!” Chris said. “Whose idea was it to get two boxes of generic Cheerios?”

“Mine,” Mickey said. “They’re a lot less expensive than the name brand.”

“That’s true,” Chris said. “Unfortunately, generic Cheerios don’t taste as good as regular Cheerios.”

“But I’ve seen you buy generic cereal at Publix, and at Walmart, too, for that matter.”

“That’s true, because I can’t detect a difference in the taste of those particular cereals. In fact, I buy a lot of generic or so-called ‘house’ brands, but I’ve learned not to buy certain items, including generic Cheerios, because they’re simply not as tasty as the name-brand items. For that matter, Cheerios weren’t even on the shopping list, because we have two unopened boxes on hand. You bought that extra cereal, you can eat it.”

“I can do that,” Mickey said.

Chris returned to the den, settled down at his computer, and didn’t stop writing until he heard footsteps.

“Sorry about the groceries, babe,” Mickey said. “In spite of what you said, I just couldn’t resist all those bargains.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Chris sent a couple of documents to the printer, then continued, “Have a look at these printouts and tell me what you think. Bear in mind these are just rough drafts and will need a lot of editing.”

“Sure.” Mickey gathered the printouts and settled down in one of the recliners to read them.

While Mickey was reading, Chris wrapped up the chapter he’d been working on, closed the program, and backed up his work. He swiveled his chair around to face Mickey. “Well?”

“Two ticks,” Mickey said. A minute or so later, he handed the pages to Chris. “I don’t see a thing wrong here. You’re telling your story, and you’re doing it openly and forthrightly.”

“Thanks.”

“Have you thought about how you’re going to get it published?” Mickey said.

“I’m a long way from that point,” Chris said. “Why do you ask?”

“I just remembered something George said the last time we had dinner with him and Mike.”

“What was that?”

“One of their friends in Atlanta is a best-selling author who has contacts in the publishing world. Coincidentally, you just happen to be in Atlanta every Wednesday because of Ted’s appointment with the psychologist, so—”

“—George might arrange an introduction, right?” Chris said.

“Stranger things have happened.”

“Let’s wait until I have… say, five chapters finished. Maybe we can e-mail them to this guy and see if he thinks my writing is worth it first.”

“I’ll hold you to that, babe.”

“Where’s Ted at the moment?” Chris said.

“Doing his homework. Why?”

Chris raised his eyebrows. “I feel like lying down for a bit.”

“Want some company?”

“Need you ask?”

When they were in their bed, Chris said, “Slow and easy, okay?”

“Works for me—if you’re sure you’re up to it.”

“Only one way to find out.”