Author Note: …a shortie moving the story along…speed is picking up fast!

T7S

Chapter 02 – Always Something New

T7S

Eric stretched lazily in the daybed. He finally had a decent nights sleep and woke up to the smell of fresh roasted coffee. Yes, he definitely missed being home. He pulled on his pants from the day before – first order of the day was laundry! There was a crinkling noise in his back pocket and he prayed it was a twenty dollar bill he had forgotten. Nope, just the souvenirs he couldn't part with. He put the scratcher, the brochures, the ticket stubs and matchbooks on top of the dresser and slipped on his most clean tee shirt.

Today was the first day of his new unemployed life.

Crap.

T7S

Red was reading the Friday morning paper when Eric came in the kitchen. He immediately handed his son the classified ads and said, "Start looking. Living isn't free anymore."

Eric smiled ruefully and opened the newspaper. His mom brought over a fresh muffin and a cup of coffee. "How did you sleep dear?"

He looked up, "It was great mom. I like what you did with Laurie's bedroom." That seemed to be the key word of the morning and Eric was immediately granted a second muffin. Kitty sat down with her coffee. "I had so much fun decorating it. Jackie stays there sometimes when she's in town."

Eric lowered the classified. "What? Jackie Burkhart stays here?"

Kitty smiled, "Oh don't get your boxers in a twist! She travels a lot and considers this her home base. Red and I don't mind and we let her use our address for her mail. Your dad adores her ever since she got him that autographed can of beer from Rodney Dangerfield."

Red added, "Don't forget the half naked picture of Dolly Parton that says, "I love Red…it's my favorite color…." Red Forman almost sighed. He looked at Eric, "It was from that crap movie, Rhinestone Cowboy. Jackie was in Leipers Fork, Tennessee as a movie extra. I think that was late 1984, right Kitty?"

Eric laughed. "You have to be joking."

Kitty frowned, "Would I be joking about my autographed Paul Newman coffee mug? She got that for me when she was in Chicago back in 1983 working on The Color of Money film. I'm not kidding. Your father and I have quite a collection of movie autographs."

"So is that why her mother was here last night? She looked pretty pissed."

Red sipped his coffee. "No. Remember back in 79 when Jack got convicted of bribery and embezzlement? Well, there were some lesser charges and he got sentenced to 15 years. Before he caught, and before Jackie turned 18, Jack Burkhart set up a trust fund with money he actually earned. That money has been earning money so when Jackie turns 30; she'll become a pretty wealthy young lady. Pam wants the money."

Kitty nodded, "Even though they divorced and Jack died five years ago, Pam thinks she's entitled to it. She's been trying to track down Jackie since 1985 when her dad had his heart attack."

"What a sad story. So Pam Burkhart just follows the money?"

Red grimaced. "A piece of work that one - nice to look at, but still a piece of work. Speaking of work, I have some friends at the lodge that are looking for a nice young man to run errands."

Eric finished his blueberry muffin. "I'm going to check out Price Mart this morning. Hey, does Kelso still live nearby? I heard he has another baby."

Smiling, Kitty replied. "He and Brooke moved back to his parent's house last month. John is getting on in years and wants to spend time with the grandbabies. Casey's in jail again and the rest of the boys just took off. Let's see, Betsy is 11, Kevin is six and little Eva is six months."

"Kevin Kelso? Oh that poor kid." Eric laughed. "I haven't seen Kelso in years, I'm gonna have to drop by and see how he's doing. Is Fez still in New York?"

Kitty answered, "Yes, he's been doing hair and make up on those music videos that WB and Steven are producing. I can't stand that music but if I keep the sound turned down, those shows are amusing."

Eric smiled – his folks never changed and he was glad for that. They were a lighthouse in a storm and right now, his ship had a hole in it. Time to fix the boat and carry on!

T7S

Eric sat outside the Personnel office and shook his head sadly. He had six years of retail experience owning his own store and yet Price Mart could only offer a 31 year old man a position in Jewelry. Did he look like a guy that sold jewelry? The 20-something in Electronics didn't have a clue of what he was selling yet Eric didn't know plate gold from 14 carat – what was the Personnel hiring manager smoking?

He begrudgingly took the Jewelry position hoping later to jockey his way up to the coveted spot in Electronics or maybe getting a position in Receiving. Forklifts were fun and that job paid a little more. All in all, it would be nice to be working with a team again even if it was Price Mart! He looked forward to his March 05 start date.

T7S

Eric had to park his Honda Civic on the street due to a huge Coachman RV that was blocking most of the Forman driveway. Did his folks finally buy that retirement motor home they always dreamed about? He walked up the drive admiring the 26 foot recreational vehicle; it looked like a fancy tour bus with its sleek lines and huge front windshield. He was almost tempted to open the side door and peek in but decided to mind his own business.

Kitty and Red were at the kitchen table pouring over a photo album. Eric walked up to the table and looked over his mom's shoulder. "What's that?"

Red looked up, "Robert Redford's newest movie. It's about fishing."

Kitty smiled. "It's going to be released next year and has this nice looking young man named Brad Pitt in it. What a terrible last name but look, he's so handsome."

Eric sat down. "I got the job."

Red looked impressed. "Which one?" Eric had to bite his tongue not to sound cynical. "I work the Jewelry counter at Price Mart. I'm hoping to get a position I the Receiving department but this is at least a foot in the door." He was expecting a dumbass comment but what he got was, "Good for you son. Always thinking of the future."

Eric watched his parents go back to looking at the photo album. "Say, when did you guys get a recreational vehicle?"

Kitty tittered with laughter. "Oh honey, that's not ours. We have a visitor."

"Another? Is this some sort of Forman boarding house?"

Red raised a brow. "No and this guest is always welcome. Promise to behave or my foot will kicking your ass to the garage for the duration of your homelessness."

"Ouch!" Eric laughed. "I'll be nice. Do I have to sleep on the sofa?"

Kitty smiled, "Maybe. Oh, I can get the cot out for you. She's only spending the night so you should feel too put out."

"When do you start working?" Red asked.

"The first Monday in March. I think that's the fifth." Eric replied.

"You may have noticed some clothes in the guestroom closet." Kitty added.

"No, I didn't." Eric was trying to carry on two separate conversations at the same time and it was a little like watching a tennis match. "Hey, tell you what, I'll get the cot and set up in the basement. I'm just going to go watch some news for a bit…if that's okay?"

Red pulled out a photo of a Fly-Fishing pole and admired the workmanship. "Sure son, whatever you need to do." He mumbled and Eric shook his head walking through the door to go upstairs. At least he could get a change of clothes to take downstairs with him.

The bedroom door was partially closed and he didn't remember leaving it that way. Seeing a shadow against the wall, he opened the door and saw the silhouette of a woman pulling on a sweater. He could smell Jasmine and vanilla and wondered who she was. He rapped lightly on the door before speaking. "Hey, could I come in and grab a change of clothes?"

Suddenly, the door was ripped from his hands and he was grabbed in a soft feminine hug of epic proportions. He saw big luminous eyes and soft dark hair and god she was all curvy and strong!

"Hi Eric…Did you miss me?" Petal pink lips asked his shocked body.

He blinked. "Jackie?"

She kissed him on the cheek. "The one and only!"

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