New Friends Part 2

Hi, my name's Danny. Want to come see my tree house?"

"Yes, great."

She started to climb over the fence when another voice said," You'd better stay here, Charlie. Dad'll get mad."

"Danny, this is Steven, my twin brother. Come on don't you want to see Danny's tree house. It looks great."

They both climbed over and went up the ladder to the tree house. "This is great," they both said together.

"Who built it for you?" Steven asked.

"Jack, my dad."

They walked around looking at everything. Jack had put in shelves for books and some board games. There was a lock on the door to stop anyone else getting in. Sam had put that in, it had a pad where you had to put in a password.

"Wow," Charlie said.

"You got any food and drink?" Steven asked.

"I'll go get some from the kitchen. There's a little fridge in the corner. Sam put in electricity so that it would work and the lights go on as well."

He ran into the kitchen and grabbed juice, cookies and chips.

They were sitting eating and drinking when a voice shouted," Charlotte, Steven."

"Oh s*** dad, " they both said. Charlie got up off the floor and went to the window.

"We're up here dad," she said.

"I thought I told you to stay in the yard."

"We met Danny. This is his tree house. His dad built it for him."

"Come on down." The three of them climbed down and went over to the fence.

"Hi, I'm Danny O'Neill. It really wasn't their fault. I invited them over."

"Where's your parents?"

"Jack's in the house, I'll call him. Jack!!!" he shouted at the top of his voice.

"What on Earth are you shouting for, Danny. What have I told you?" He saw the two children and the man standing in his yard.

The man immediately stood to attention. "Colonel O'Neill."

"At ease," Jack said," we're not on the base now. Major Roberts isn't it? My name's Jack. You've met my son, Danny."

"Yes sir. These are my two youngest children. Charlotte or Charlie as we call her and Steven." The name Charlie made Jack's heart beat faster. Danny gave him a look to see if he was alright. He gave him a smile.

"That's a cool tree house Danny's got. How come he calls you Jack?"

"Charlie manners." Her father said.

"Sorry."

Danny laughed. "Jack's always saying that to me as well."

"Come over Major, have a beer. Danny get some juice."

"Well we've had some. I took it to the tree house and put it in the fridge. It makes sense if I'm going to be out there a lot."

"So that's where it all went."

"My name's Paul."

He handed him a beer. The children went to play on the swings and climbing frame. Jack's garden was a child's dream.

"So that's Dr. Jackson?" he asked.

"Yes. That's him, although he's O'Neill now. I adopted him."

"Don't you find it strange?"

"Sometimes but most of the time it's okay. He's a six year old boy who has the intellect and memories of a 36 year old man who happened to be my best friend, now he's my son."

Danny came over, "Can I have a bike?"

"What?" Jack said.

"You know, a bike, two wheels and pedals," he said sarcastically. Sometimes Jack wished Danny hadn't picked up so much of his sarcasm.

"Want to end up in the corner?"

Danny looked around to make sure no one had heard. He went red when he saw that Paul was looking at him. "Jack. I want to go get a bike. I need one. I have one at Rose and John's."

"I know and look what happened there."

"That was just a misunderstanding." He waved his hand as if to say that was in the past and not worth bothering about. "We can go get one when Grandma and Grandpa get here. I've got plenty of money."

Steven and Charlie came over. "Can we show Danny our new bikes dad?"

"Yes go on."

They climbed over the fence. Danny liked their bikes. He really wanted one. Jack had to get him one. He was determined.

"Can we play outside?" Charlie shouted.

"No further than outside the house," Paul said.

"Danny, are you listening?" Jack asked.

"Yes." What a fuss he thought. After all he had been on planets light years away. He only wanted to go outside the house. "You don't have to worry."

That little phrase made Jack worry. Danny managed to find trouble without any help and now it looked as if he had two friends who might be like him. Oh for a quiet life and a head with at least some brown hair would be nice.

"Does your dad always fuss like that?" Danny asked.

"Yours isn't any better. Must be being in the military," Steven said.

"Is there a park near here?" Charlie asked.

"Yes down the road and on the left. We could go," Danny said.

As they were about to move off a car drew up. Two people got out.

"Grandma, Grandpa," Danny said and ran to them.

"Are these your friends?" they asked.

"Yes, Charlie and Steven." Rose looked at John. She knew it would be difficult for Jack to hear that name. "Where were you going?"

"Nowhere. We were just going to play outside."

"Are you coming in?" John asked him.

"No. We'll stay here." They were still hoping to be able to sneak away without their parents knowing.

They were just about to go when Jack came to the door. "We're going into town, go get ready," he said to Danny. Danny bristled, he didn't like being given orders. Especially not in front of his friends, they'd think he was a baby.

Charlie and Steven said goodbye and went into their house. Danny ran into the house. He turned round and spoke to Jack as he entered the house. "There's no need to speak to me like that you know, I'm not a dog." He turned to his grandparents. "We're going to get a bike for me," he told them. "Did Jack tell you."

"No he didn't mention it."

"Jack!"

"I didn't say you were getting a bike today."

"I wasn't asking permission. I have got my own money." He glared at Jack.

"Excuse me!" Jack said annoyed at being spoken to like this in front of his parents. "Don't speak to me like that, it's disrespectful."

"Well you do it to me. I want a bike," he said loudly. Now he was starting to whine just like a 6 year old Jack thought. He looked as if he was going to stamp his foot. "Everyone else has one."

"We'll put our things in our bedroom," Rose said.

"I'm not saying you won't get one but if you attitude doesn't change it won't be today." Danny scowled at him. "And that look won't help." Danny muttered something under his breath. "Corner 10 minutes. I speak Arabic little boy and if you use that phrase again I'll wash your mouth out with soap and I can assure you, you won't like it."

"Fine." He stomped off into the corner. John and Rose came out. "You're just being mean and horrible. It's my money and I should be able to spend it any way I please."

"15 minutes. Keep going and you could be spending all day there."

Jack went to speak to his father. "He's always like this when I'm going off on a mission. He'll calm down."

Fifteen minutes later Jack called his name. He walked over much calmer than before. "Sorry."

"Do you still want to go to town?"

"Please."

There was a knock at the door and Charlie came in. "We found the brochure we looked at for our bikes and we thought Danny might like to look at it."

Jack told her to come in and she could look at it with Danny before they left for town.

Danny liked quite a few of them. Then he noticed the water guns, "They look good," he said to Charlie.

"Yes. It'd be great if we could get one."

"I'll get one today."

"They're $40 each." Steven appeared behind them.

"You'll not get that and a bike. They're too expensive," he said. "Dad says you're to come back."

"I'm going to get two, I've got my own money," Danny boasted.

"Oh yeh. Come on Charlie." They left. The remarks Steven made, made Danny more determined he was having the water guns.

He showed Jack the bike he liked and the water guns. "I could buy two guns and then we could play with them," he told him.

"No. You're not using your money. Don't mention it again. Not going to happen."

He's not going to dictate to me Danny thought. He'd find the money somehow and prove to Steve and Charlie that he could get those water guns. Jack was being so annoying. Speaking to him like that and stopping him from spending his own money. Who does he think he is. Well he'd show him. Jack may be a Colonel in the Air force but he wasn't his boss. No way.

TBC