Here we go again, lol, a bit more of 'getting there' for you. Thanks for reading, and reviewing. I can't really comment on any I get because I'm posting before most likely the chapters before are read by many, but I hope you guys like them anyway.
VACATION
BY M
CHAPTER 4
Three days ago:
CJ had seemed evasive about the trip and would not tell Bosco what was bothering him. He had already thought it strange when CJ had told him not to worry about the tickets, that Bosco could pay him when he got his creditcard bill in. He wouldn't tell him how much they were except that they were dirt cheap; a statement that made Bosco nervous no matter who said it.
Having walked into the kitchen when the cabby buzzed up, he caught CJ putting something on his chest. Bosco raised his eyebrows and asked, "What the hell are you doing now!" causing CJ to jump and grin slightly as he held up a small box.
Bosco started laughing, "Motion sickness patches! You get airsick?! Oh my god! This ought to be fun! You planning on puking you sit next to someone else or we're going to have a problem, cause I'm telling you puke on me and I'll throw you off that damn plane!" About to walk off, he turned back, "Wait, you get airsick, do you get boat sick, or whatever they call it? Cause if we're going fishing that could be a problem, because I'm not taking care of you! You better bring your mama if you do! And wait, I know you don't get carsick cause if I can't make you puke..." he was on a roll now.
CJ sighed, he was used to Bosco by now but sometimes Bosco could be a real SOB, "No, I don't get 'sea' sick or carsick, just airsick." he interrupted, "maybe you should use one too, you don't know if you're going to get sick cause you haven't flown anywhere in a long time have you? And don't worry about taking care of me I can take care of myself just fine thank you and I'd like to see you pick me up to throw me off the plane you little gin.."
"Hey, hey, hey, no name calling now, geesh can't you take a joke? You sure have been touchy lately! And no, for your info I DON'T get airsick, damn swamp rat!" Then laughing and ducking as CJ threw the box at him he asked if he was ready cause the cab was there.
"Yeah, shortie I'm ready, lets go."
XXXX
When they got there Bosco paid the cabby and they took their luggage and went inside. Bosco expected them to go to one of the kiosks but CJ passed them all and went straight to security to check in. "CJ, what are you doing? We need to get boarding passes first" Bosco was looking back at the counters.
CJ just shook his head and said, "No, this is where we need to be." Then he took out a pass of some sort, two actually and showed them to the guard. Bosco raised his eyebrows and then frowned as the woman read them, scanned them and after looking at their ID's said, "Have a great flight gentlemen." and turned to the next people in line.
"CJ, what was that?" Bosco was more confused now, he had thought for sure that they would be sent back to the other counters in shame.
CJ for his part did not answer nor would he look directly at Bosco, he just picked up his bags and took off, Bosco following.
"Oh man what is your problem, and where are we..." he stopped as they came to a kiosk that was for sure not where they should be.
CJ for his part just walked right up and handed the woman behind the counter his passes.
Reading them she smiled brightly at him and then at Bosco who was standing there trying not to look like an idiot and said, "Welcome Mr. Caster; Mr. Boscorelli. If you will follow me I will take you to your plane. The pilot and attendant were just asking about you!" She then proceeded to lead them outside as a baggage handler stepped up and took their bags them. CJ didn't even look back at Bosco as he thanked her and the handler and followed them, Bosco shook his head not sure if he liked this or not and following them was stunned to see a pilot, a woman, come walking quickly up to them and with her hand out exclaimed, "CJ! It's been too long! Hope you've been careful here in New York!?"
CJ started smiling and extending his own hand replied, "Mari, its good to see you to and yes I've been careful." Then turning to Bosco, "Mari, this is Maurice Boscorelli. He's my partner at work and..."
"Of course, your mother told me he was joining you, you guys share an apartment too, right? A real babe magnet place according to your dad!" smiling she reached out for Bosco's hand, who reached out in return, "Nice to meet you Mr. Boscorelli. And don't worry I haven't crashed in at least six months!"
"Nice to meet you too Mari, and I'm glad to hear that, I think!" he was smiling but even more confused now than before.
She was about fifty and shorter than Bosco, but seemed sure of herself and her plane as they walked over and boarded the Learjet that was about forty-five feet from them, Bosco following along slightly behind CJ his mouth hanging as he realized this indeed was the plane they were boarding afterall. He waited for her to step into the cockpit then he pounced, "Excuse me, but did I miss something," he started, a little angry, a little in awe, "What is going on here? How do you score this..!" He waved his hand around at the interior of the plane which was lush with leather and glass, with wood and brass trim.
Before he could get an answer, another woman a bit older than the pilot came out and greeted CJ as if he was her long lost son, hugging him and exclaiming over him, "You haven't been eating have you, I told your mama that New York was no place for you to be but she said 'You know CJ, Terri you don't tell that boy anything that he doesn't do the opposite of!', and then you go and become a POLICE officer; umh, umh, umh, make me worry about you ALL the time! But never mind, you have time you come see me and I'll fix you up...Oh my who is this cutie!" looking now at Bosco who was suddenly looking like a dear in headlights as he was now very much in fear of the same treatment.
CJ was laughing outloud now, partly at Terri's speech and partly at Bosco's face, "This 'cutie' as you put it is..." but before he could finish.
"Oh, I know well enough who this is," and she sure enough reached out, "this is 'Bosco" is it?! Boy come here and give Terri a hug!", and grabbing him hugged him too!
CJ was shaking with laughter at Bosco's reaction; he looked like he was ready to run as he lightly hugged her back and said "Nice to meet you Terri." Giving CJ the universal male face for "HELP!"
"Boy! Who feeds you two, you're even skinner then him!" pinching him and then pointing to CJ, "you bring him around when you come see me and I'll put some meat on his bones too. Now sit down and put your seatbelts on and Aunt Terri will bring you something to drink and a little something to eat, too!" Then, slapping Bosco sharply on the butt, giving him a wink, she turned and disappeared into the back of the plane.
Bosco looked at CJ his eyes wide and whispered, "WHO was THAT," as they did what she said.
CJ sighed and whispered back, "THAT is one of the women who helped raise me, so BE NICE!"
Then he paused and sheepishly said, "I guess there's something I kind of forgot to tell you..."
"I'd say so," Bosco was suddenly sure that this was going to be a real interesting trip, "and I can't wait to hear this!"
CJ waited until they were in the air for about 20 minutes before he told Bosco how they 'scored' the Lear.
XXXX
"Your mothers the WHAT!" he exclaimed.
"Shush, keep your voice down, man, unless you want Aunt Terri back in here!" CJ was looking at him pleadingly.
"CJ, you didn't think that it might be important to inform a person that your MA's a Senator from Louisiana! And that your dad is the owner of an oil company! This is major, ok! Does the Department know about this? Wait, what the hell are you doing being a cop when you are...man just how rich are you? OH, MAN wait till Faith hears about this, she'll flip!", as he continued in this vein CJ got this 'kill me now' look on his face.
He sighed deeply and put his head down on the table in front of him. To most people that would have been a sign to stop but not Bosco! He continued with, "CJ, you gave up THIS for a patrol car! What the hell were you thinking! I mean yeah if I won the lottery or something I would still be a cop cause that is what I already was but if I was rich and shit I wouldn't give it up to be a cop!" Then looking around him he paused and said, "Well actually since you're here now I guess you didn't give anything up, huh," and with that he stopped having finally run out of steam.
CJ looked up, "Are you finished?"
"Yeah, yeah I think I am," Bosco frowned.
"Good. Look, I can't help who I came from. I love my mom and dad but living with their 'fame' was not easy. And before you continue!..." holding up his hand to stop Bosco from commenting, "yeah, the 'perks', like this one", indicating the plane with his hand, "are great! But, living up to the "Senators Son and the Oil Baron's Son title was a bit more than I could stand. I played football in high school was on the debating team and was an honor student who volunteered in every free minute I had, was on display at all the 'function's' my folks had to attend with 'family' in tow and when I went to college 'which they argued over for 4 years, cause my dad wanted LSU and mom wanted Loyola, cause that's where they each went, and I enrolled in USL instead which I'll tell you started World War III in my house..." he paused for breath then continued, "and you should have been in the house when I told them I wasn't going to be a lawyer or doctor and wanted to act instead!"
"Damn CJ I imagine that started some shit!" Bosco was grinning.
"Shit isn't the right word, believe me! I had an ulcer in my second year of college and quit. I couldn't take the constant bitching about what a failure I was and how much I was disappointing my family. AND that wasn't from my mom and dad even, that, was from their friends and boy you should have heard the people in school! Man I had to move to New York a few years ago just to breathe!" he paused again. "My mom and dad let it go when I quit acting school and told them I had joined the police academy. I think my mom sees it as a 'ladder step' to politics and my dad doesn't have to tell all his cronies that his son is an 'actor'. I know they are hoping I'll come to my senses and go back to school but, I know what I want to do, and I'm doing it. If that changes later, well..." he finally stopped. Turning his head to look out the window, then quickly back again, as the nervousness in his stomach began to make itself known.
Bosco didn't say anything smartass to that. He understood trying to make your 'own self', from who your parents are or want you to be, after all look at his folks. "Ok, that's cool." he said, "I understand that, but, hey..." adding, as he realized something, "that's why you ducked those reporters that day about the 'Carl" thing! You didn't want them to find out who your folks are! I wondered about that, and I'll tell you Lieu wasn't real happy about it either!"
CJ nodded, "I didn't tell anyone about my mom at the academy and I would prefer they not know. I don't want to get anything with her or my dad's connections. And if the bosses found out I would probably get assigned to some stupid baby-sitting detail cause they wouldn't want the Senators' son to get hurt! Or something moronic like that!"
Just then the jet took a dip and rise, and then another more pronounced, Bosco just laughed as he grabbed the table and looking at CJ, remarked, "Hey man you're looking kind a green there." just as CJ stood and with a wild look on his face took off for the bathroom.
"Hey, I don't think that patch thing is working, partner, maybe you should ask for your money back or something!" he called out laughing.
"Go to hell, Maurice!" CJ yelled weakly as he paused in throwing up, "Oh god just kill me now! I hate to freaking fly!" he moaned.
Bosco just laughed.
About that time Terri came out from the little kitchen, "Oh baby, did you get sick again! I tell you I can't remember a time when this child has flown without throwing up!" she exclaimed to no one in particular as she went back to the kitchen for an ice pack for his neck.
The jet took another dip and rise as they hit some turbulence and then another and another and suddenly Bosco wasn't laughing anymore. His stomach did a flip flop and then a roll and as CJ came out of the bathroom looking like death warmed over, he started to get up, CJ was about to comment to him that if he had this he wouldn't think it was so funny when he saw the greenish cast to Bosco's face. "That's what you get for laughing at me!" he remarked as Bosco passed him on his way to the bathroom. CJ sat back in his seat with his eyes closed, the icepack on his forehead now.
As Bosco reached the bathroom door he had to grab the frame and the door as the plane dipped again and then barely made the toilet before he threw up. Terri, coming out of the kitchen again paused looking down at him as he knelt there and shaking her head said, "Wimps!" as she went back for another icepack.
There were never in the history of flight two more grateful men to see ground than Bosco and CJ that day at the New Orleans airport. Bosco couldn't even be impressed with the chauffeured Mercedes that picked them up. He just wanted to die and be done with it.
XXXX
Later that night, "CJ! Where are you two, we're waiting for you! Your sisters just got here and they can't wait to meet Maurice!" CJ's mom called upstairs.
"Oh great! They brought the monster nieces and nephews too I bet!" CJ moaned. He still wasn't fully recovered and while he loved them all they would want to wrestle and he wasn't sure that he was up to it just yet. What he really wanted was a beer and come crawfish and a nap and not necessarily in that order but...
"Be right down Mom!" he called back.
Bosco hung up with Rose, he had recovered already and he had already shared a beer with Mr. Caster, Jake as he told Bosco to call him.
"Bos, if you tell your ma you know she's going to tell someone else and it will probably at the station before we get back and I'll never hear the end of it!" he complained.
"Hey, you know if you're mom and dad come to New York like she was talking earlier everyone's going to find out anyway! I mean the only reason they haven't already is cause your mom uses a different last name than your dad, so...", Bosco pointed out.
"Man don't, I'm trying not to think about it!" CJ laughed as he left the room, "Come on before my sisters decide to come find us, we'll never get away from them."
"Wow and Faith and Jamie think I live in the state of Denial!", Bosco said following him out, "So your sisters got any hot friends?"
"Oh no! I'm so going to tell Jamie!", CJ teased.
"You do that, she could use some inspiration!", Bosco laughed, "Make her work harder!"
"Man you are so asking for trouble with that woman!", CJ was still amazed at Bosco's restraint when it came to Jamie.
"But its GOOD trouble CJ, its GOOOOD trouble!" he grinned as he passed CJ and went to greet CJ's mom and sisters.
XXXX
Bosco met more than CJ's sisters and their husbands and kids, he met practically the whole family, from CJ's grandfather to his aunts, uncles and cousins, not to mention a large amount of his mom and dads friends, as well as a few of CJ's.
There was a ton of food and even a Cajun band. Bosco enjoyed the music it was full of life and you couldn't help but tap your foot to it. He was watching CJ's sisters and husbands dance to something called Evangeline when CJ's mom slipped up beside him, suddenly he was real nervous and it showed as he stepped away a little and put on his best manners as he said, "This is great Mrs. Caster, do you have a party like this everytime he comes home?"
CJ's mom Laurel Rabineau was French/Spanish and was one of the most beautiful women that Bosco had ever seen. Her daughters took after her in their features but like CJ, their dad in their coloring and were blondes with gray eyes. Laurel, Senator Rabineau, had a peaches and cream skin and brown almost black eyes with curly black hair that she was wearing in a ponytail. She had on jeans and a tee-shirt and Bosco couldn't believe that she was CJ's mom much less a Senator!
"Sugar, we have a party here if the cat comes home at night!" she was a bubbly person but not annoying, Bosco figured that was cause she was in politics, "How are you feeling now? Did you get enough to eat? Drink?" she asked as he laughed.
"Yes mamm I have everything I need and I'm feeling real good right about now." he answered her, "thank you. I'm having a real good time."
"MAMM! Lets get something straight right the hell now mister! Don't and I mean Don't call me MAMM again or you and I are going to have a problem!" she was frowning but her eyes were laughing, "My name is Laurel and you use it or nothing!" and as Bosco began to apologize she continued with, "Oh handsome, go get me another margarita and maybe I'll forgive you!", she winked as she said this and Bosco realized with a start that she was flirting with him, CJ's mom, a Senator.
"Yes mam...I mean Laurel" he grinned and went to do her bidding.
As he walked away to get her a new drink, CJ, who had witnessed this walked up to her, saying with exasperation, "Mom, what are you doing to him? Stop it!"
"Baby, I'm not doing anything." she innocently said smiling sweetly at him.
"Mom, picking on my friends is not fair, they can't defend themselves against you and you know it." he scolded. His mother was a notorious flirt but meant no harm by it, his father said it was one of her best political qualities; put her adversaries off guard as they tended to underestimate her and often forgot the brilliant mind behind it and it worked on the women as well as the men. When she was full on she sparkled. She was nearly full on now and CJ knew that Bosco was in danger cause no one could say no to her.
"Is that my fault?", she was laughing now, "I can't help it, I love to tease them, puts them at ease and besides he deserved it calling me mamm! I'm not that old!" she pouted at him.
CJ put his arm around her, "Mom you will never get old with that attitude but that man is taken, he just doesn't know it yet, and you're going to scare him. And I'll tell Dad if you keep it up!" he laughed, "and that pout doesn't work on me!"
"AHH, traitor!" she teased, "spoil my fun will you; for that you're going to have to dance with me." and she dragged him protesting to do just that, then, when they had finished she grabbed Bosco and taught him how to do the Cajun two step.
The party started at 5pm and went on till well after 2am and when it was finally over Bosco and CJ staggered upstairs to their beds to fall asleep with their clothes on; exhausted. Laurel and Jake were still laughing and talking like teenagers as they went to their room and called out to them that they were "too damn young to be so tired this early!".
The next morning Laurel woke them up by singing loudly and badly at their doors and as they came down, "Does she do that often?! That was awful!" Bosco asked holding his head. His head was killing him and from the look on CJ's face his was the same. "How can she be so damn happy after all she drank last night!?"
CJ scratched his face and said, "YES, she does, YES it was, and if you were wondering if she was faking it, NO she wasn't that's her singing voice. We usually have to throw money at her to get her to stop. And yes, she is always that happy, she doesn't seem to get hangovers. Unlike the rest of us, obviously..." he was looking at his sisters and their husbands at the counter pouring coffee in their mugs, they looked no better than CJ and Bosco, but, Laurel well she was humming as she whipped up breakfast.
Bosco shook his head in amazement and then looking out the window realized it was still dark outside, "Um, what time is it? Did I sleep through the day?" he asked rubbing his neck.
Laurel laughed, Jake was grinning at him, "No son its still morning. It's 5am."
"5am!!!! What the..." Bosco exclaimed.
"Don't even fight it Maurice." CJ said quietly, "My mom is crazy man, I'm telling you."
"Yeah, I can see that, um, I'll be in bed if anybody needs me." Bosco replied as he started back out of the room.
"Oh no, uh uh! You're not leaving me here with this mob!" CJ said stepping in front of him, "I brought you here so I wouldn't have to deal with them by myself and with you here they have to behave themselves, I hope anyway."
"So, go get some coffee and have a seat, besides the sooner we get through with this the sooner we get out of here and to the camp!" CJ could be a lot like his mom when he wanted to be.
Bosco glared at CJ through his headache as if he were about to push past him but then decided that it was too much trouble and turning went to get coffee like everyone else. "Does anyone have any aspirin?" he asked as Laurel poured him a cup, she was smiling like the Cheshire cat.
By 7:30 am they were finished with the breakfast and the 'CJ, don't you want to finish your education' lecture and were on their way to five fun filled days of fishing.
Well two days of fun anyway...
TBC....