Slow Down
Kyle's POV
The following Saturday...
"AH...now why CAN'T we use this for everywhere we go, huh?"
"BECAUSE...it's awful. It makes both of us look like we're too lazy to drive ourselves."
"It doesn't, don't be daft. Hey look, I bet all the other famous so-and-so's are gunna be coming here in their limos as well. Don't yer' think it would look pretty daft if we of all people, turned out to be the only ones who didn't come in a limo and ended up parking our vehicle up front – all alone and embarassing."
"I doubt that Kyle."
"OK...well how about we bet on the outcome then, huh?"
"Fine...but what's the prize for whoever wins." I wiggle my eyebrows again and look directly at him. "Heh...oh...is that look what I think it means?"
"Could be."
He smiles back and raises an eye-brow. "Alright then...you're on – but don't back-out when you realise that it's YOU who's gunna be the receiver on this bet."
"Well...we'll see about that." I smirk back and give him a quick kiss.
Thank God the boys don't yet understand what we go on about in discussions like this – good thing we can use nicknames and sneaky looks instead. We've been having one of our rare silly arguments, me and Stan. And this time...it's about our own chaffeur-driven limo. I like it – it's nice for us to be the passengers in this nice and cosey leather-interior limo, now and again. However, Stan has had other ideas – HE thinks that it somehow exploits our rich status and is just a way to show that we're being smug or sumin. Ha, what a silly thought. Practically every business tycoon and billionaire in California has a super-stretched limo driving them around to every location they go to. As of now, I think the limo should stay and I see no reason in getting rid of it. Besides, our limo driver is one of the nicest people I've ever met - well, not as 'NICE' as Stan is in both ways, but still a very friendly person to both of us.
Moving on and finally ending the argument with a sneaky kiss, I look out the window and realise we're beginning to make our ascent up the twisting hill that is Oxley Way. It takes just over 5 minutes to get to the top at this speed – funny how Kenny seemed to want 69 not just for its number, but also the fact that it's the last mammoth estate on the hill and lies right at the top of the hill. But like he said – perfect choice for spying on people - though I doubt he'll ever do that...I think.
As Stan sits close to my right at the back of the limo, the boys meanwhile are STILL messing around at the front and judging by what's gone on in this trip up here, they've already discovered all of the limo's cool features. For a few minutes now, Daniel's been messing around with the light options and the dimmers – messing with the different fade and colour settings, which is starting to get on Stan's nerves as I can see.
"Daniel...stop it." Stan says in a calm but forceful manner.
"Sowwy daddy." Daniel replies – sitting back on his leather seat – almost instantly turning his attention to playing with the multi-mode HD-DVD player as he makes the disc slot automatically suck a disc in and out and in and out and...well, you get the idea. Kids these days...and probably for the past days as well – they never can sit still, they always have to focus their enjoyment on something.
It's up to you,
You know it is.
I can't convince you.
All you have to do is,
Slow down.
5 minutes later, we arrive at the entrance to Kenny's estate to which the iron gates automatically open for the black limo to drive onwards. Thank goodness – I doubt our driver would have any clue into how to respond to any of Kenny's quirky but funny quotes and anecdotes. And as soon as the limo stops just outside the front door, the driver opens the door to my left and allows all four of us to step out. I know this is a special invitational party of sorts, but we haven't gone over-board with the dress code. Me, I'm simply wearing a short-sleeved black T-Shirt and dark jeans with Stan wearing the same in blue. But we had to make sure the boys didn't come wearing something too daft. If we hadn't decided what they were gunna wear for themselves, Daniel would have come in some weird-looking sports shirt and Miles would have come wearing his pyjamas since he got up late this morning…again.
"Alright, thanks Jéan – be back here for about 11 this evening please and no earlier nor later."
"Will do sir." And with that, our driver returns to the front of the limo, sits back in and drives off back down the estate driveway.
Good thing it's hot, sunny and cloud-less today……I could do with a nice out-door party in the midst of this heat-wave we're getting. Then again, THAT could be a bad thing too – no doubt Kenny'll want to do something or some THINGS with our boys involving some crazy outdoor activity. And I'm betting the boys are eager to see "Uncle" Kenny again – it's been about six months since they last saw him. Finally, after Stan presses the touch-screen buzzer next to the door, it isn't long before Kenny, dressed in an orange shirt and white shorts with black shades on answers the door with a towel around his neck.
"Well well…looks like you guys are keeping your status as the first to turn up…as usual." Kenny greets us.
"Hey Kenny……may we come in?"
"If you're not gunna 'stain' my clean marble tile flooring that is." I know dam well what he's implying there and I give him an evil-eye but smirking look to which he smirks back. He then looks down at the boys. "Hello there."
"UNCLE KENNY!" They both shout and run over to him to which Kenny picks both up with no problem whatsoever.
"By heck, you two have grown……" He then starts pretending to having a problem with holding them up to which both boys laugh. "Say…how would you two like to have a free-look through my library, huh?"
"YAY!"
"UH…NO…I DON'T think they should." I say with a serious look on my smirking face. "Why don't you two head off and have some fun in the swimming pool until more people arrive."
"OK…" To which Stan gives them their swimming shorts and they both run off upstairs to find somewhere to change…for now.
With the boys finally upstairs, I turn my attention back to Kenny. "Are you mad Kenny? What kind of weirdo told you it'd be alright to show them all that, eh?"
"What?! What's wrong with showing them a few cartoon books for them?"
"Huh?"
"Well…I HAVE been stocking up on lots of books and whatnot to fill up the other parts of my library." He then laughs. "What, you thought I was planning on showing them some of my porn. What do you think I am, some kind of sex –minded pornaholic or sumin?"
Me and Stan look at one another and then look back at him. "YES!"
Kenny laughs. "Fair enough, ha ha. RIGHT…would you like a quick guide outside just so you know where everything is and so you don't get lost? At least then you won't have a perfect excuse if you two decide to sneak somewhere to do you know what in the garden." He smirks again to which me and Stan once more, give him a smile but odd look.
"Yeh sure." And with that said, Kenny takes us out into the garden and shows us around. He's got everything set up – the food table which he reminds us he'll be covering with food that he's about to start preparing in his large kitchen, the large extended eating table with 32 seats and a play-area for all the kids that are coming – not that the swimming pool and tennis court nearby won't be enough to keep them happy.
I've always said,
It will never change.
All you have to do…
Just you be you,
I mean that's all I want to say.
Miles' POV
2 Hours Later
Everyone's here now. Not only have Alex and his parents come, but the kids of some really famous people have come too – y'know, the famous people who yer' see on telly programmes and stuff like that. Now, after spending a couple of hours swimming in Uncle Kenny's fun swimming pool, me and my brother have dried off and changed back into what we were wearing before. Along with a few other kids, we're watching Kenny prepare some of the food that we'll be eating later tonight. And he sure is good at doing what he does – what with all those fancy tricks of his with all the stuff that he uses. I'm amazed – not only can he catch two sharp knives on the handle part whilst focusing on doing something else, but it's as if he can cut vegetables and meat at about a billion miles per hour, which impresses us all.
Kenny even lets us help him with some of the stuff he's preparing – providing we don't spit in the ingredients or as a joke, put something else in when he's not looking…despite how funny that would be if we did. There's loads of 'Ooooooos' and 'Ahhhhhhhs' from me, Daniel and all the others as we watch Uncle Kenny chopping up vegetables at a really quick speed and juggling pots and pans around in his hands like he's some kind of fancy show-off……which he probably is judging by how good and how much he's been doing this for the last 10 minutes now. Throughout this whole thing, he's been saying a whole load of confusing words and stuff about food which I bet none of us have even understood one bit. All we've been able to do is just stand here and watch as Uncle Kenny impresses us with his cooking and juggling skills, even if it is slightly dangerous, but thankfully, he knows what he's doing – heck, he even makes us laugh at times. Still……he could at least cut back on all the confusing words and stuff like that.
All these things that I told you.
I didn't mean at all,
I didn't mean at all.
I'd forget you.
Finally, after so much work in the kitchen, Kenny finally puts the last pot of food in his MASSIVE black chef's oven and turns back 'round.
"Right…that's it…" He begins. "Everything's in cooking and freezing mode now."
"Awwwwwww….." We all let out at the same time – showing our disappointed in the fact that he's already finished preparing.
"Tell you what……I've got a whole room's worth of toys and games just up the corridor. Why don't you lot go help yourself to whatever you find fit for your enjoyment until our big set-lunch is ready." All the boy's and girl's faces light up and they immediately start running down the corridor in different directions – desperate probably to try and find the toy room first. Daniel and I begin to make our way too towards wherever the toy room is, but Kenny stops us.
"Hold on you two…" He calls to us from the other side of his massive kitchen. "I only did that so that I could get them out of the way for a little while."
"What do you mean Uncwle Kenny?"
"Oh come on – I haven't seen you two for well over six months and already you've grown bigger. By heck, you haven't been taking any naughty food that your daddies don't know about, have you?" He asks with a smile which makes both me and Daniel laugh.
"No……we'd never do THAT." I reply – unable to stop myself from giggling.
"You promise?"
"We pwomise." We both say.
"OK…I guess I'll have to believe that." Kenny says – taking off his chef's white shirt and putting on that other shirt he was wearing from before. "So…would you two like to see my big BIG tennis court I got in the far back of my garden?"
"Yeh yeh YEH!" We both jump up and down in excitement since it's one of the things we've been looking forward to seeing before we came here.
"Alright then……follow me…and don't get lost – my back garden's like a jungle."
As soon as Kenny's checked all the funny-looking switches and buttons on all his ovens and whatnot, he takes us out of the kitchen, past the main garden and down a brick-layed path into this tree-filled area of his garden. Passing a few pretty water features and going down a few steps and deeper into this 'jungle' of his, we pass a line of greenhouses full of vegetables.
"You gwow vegeta-ta-tababwles?" Daniel asks – expressing the fact that he finds it difficult to say that word.
"Yep – all fresh and organic fruit & vegetables."
"What does organic mean?"
"It means they're better for us Daniel." I don't know a lot about that meaning as well, but I do know from what daddy says that it is better for us than ordinary fruit and vegetables. And judging by how many and how big those greenhouses are and how much security he's put on and around the greenhouses, they must be some very yummy vegetables he's got in there. No wonder he's selling them in Alex's daddy's shop – people must really love the stuff he grows in his garden.
Anyway, we take a turn off the main path and down a shorter path and before you know that, we finally find ourselves outside the big massive metal barrier of Uncle Kenny's tennis court. Once he unlocks the metal door with a funny-looking key, he takes us inside the court and it looks and feels exactly like the type of court thingy that you see on TV that all those very good players play on – only this one is orange and looks all dusty and clay-like.
"So…how about you two play a few games up-close to the net and I'll be the annoying umpire that gets every decision wrong." Kenny says to which Daniel makes no hesitation to grab one of the rackets and a few balls that lay by the side. As for me……well……ummmmm……I'm not so sure…but ah well, I'll give it a go. I just wish daddy was here to give me some help and support coz' I know he's good at tennis. By the way…I wonder where daddy and pops are now – I haven't seen them since Kenny started preparing the food.
Meanwhile…
Kyle's POV
Good thing Kenny's got a thick tree area in his back garden – no one will spot us here doing what we're doing.
"Oh come on Kyle – someone'll see us if we stay here any longer." Stan adorably begs me – speaking via the only chance he gets whilst my lips aren't touching his. As I press Stan down on the soft short grass surrounded by tropical trees, I look down at him and give him a quick giggle.
"Y'know, this kinda reminds me of our honey-moon."
"Which bit – the 'you lying on top of me' bit or the 'surrounded by tropical trees WHILST looking down at me' bit?"
"Oh well……I don't think we can decide on that just yet." I give him another long kiss. "OK…now I'd day it reminds me of the second option."
"Oh…so what does the first option remind you of."
I wiggle my eye-brows and smile to which Stan realizes what I'm thinking about in my mind for that answer. "Well…I guess 10 minutes is enough for a private little kiss…"
"Oh, so THAT was just little, huh?"
"You should know Stan – I'm sure you know what medium and even large would be?"
"Oh...ummmmm…" Stan tries his luck at teasing. "……what if I was to say I'd forgotten about those other two, hmmm?"
"Then I would reply with the answer 'You'll find out if I win this bet of ours'."
"Dam……I don't wanna lose that bet, but now at the same time, I DO just so that you can refresh my memory." We both giggle and make one last long kiss together. "Alright…now get off me you big lovely lump and let's go find the boys before they find something they shouldn't really see."
"Point taken – even I don't want to put a cake on Kenny's head by tonight if that were to happen."
I help Stan up and we both make our way back onto the path and towards the house which now feels like miles away from here.
Daniel's POV
10 Minutes Later…
"Aw come on bwo……you're not even twying…" I say after watching Miles miss yet another easy ball I lob in his direction. I haven't really got the hang yet of tennis scoring but according to Uncle Kenny who's still sat in that funny-looking tall umpire chair of his, I'm winning by 5 games to love and currently it's 30 love to me – whatever the heck that means. Honestly, I don't get tennis whatsoever; first you get 15 points, then 30, then 40 and then you win that game, but if you both get 40 points, you get what's called 'juice' or sumin like that. Is that like some kind of rule saying you can have a drink like apple juice or something like that? And then you play for what's called an advantage until someone misses the ball.
But it doesn't look like we're gunna get to that confusing stage – Miles has pretty much missed nearly ball I've sent his way. I guess he must suck at tennis, ha ha.
"Hey…what's all this then?" A voice calls. All three of us turn towards the gates and there we see daddy and pops walking onto the court with smiles on their faces.
"Daddy…" I cry out.
"Oh look – I guess we've got new balls on the court now." Uncle Kenny shouts to which my daddy gives him a funny look.
"Daddy…you missed my whole game…"
"Aw, I'm sorry son……I was a bit……busy." Daddy says – hesitating slightly with that last bit. "I hope I'm not too late to see the end."
"Which will be over in a matter of seconds, I'm afraid…" Kenny reminds them both. "Unfortunately, Miles isn't doing too well with defending his pretend crown as champion."
"Oh really, what's the score?" Pops asks to which I proudly show him by holding up fingers – well……as soon as I figure out how many the number 5 actually is.
"Miles…what's going on…" Pops jokes. "Yer' getting beat by Daniel. Come on son, you can do it."
"I don't wanna pway anymore daddy…" Miles says. "I fweel like a idiot now."
"Tell you what, how about I play on your behalf, Miles?" Kenny says – jumping off his umpire chair and walking over to Miles. "Trust me, I'm sure I can beat yer' no-good brother." HA, fat chance! Miles smiles and hands Kenny the tennis thingy. "Alright Daniel – show me what you're made of." He has no idea what he's in for. I'm gunna beat him no matter what it takes. In fact, I'm gunna try something that I haven't tried yet – I'm gunna see if I can do one of those cool serves that the people on TV do when they do what I'm gunna do. All I've been doing is tapping it over the net but since Uncle Kenny's playing me, I guess I can give it a go now.
So if you come here,
If you come here.
All you have to do,
Just you be you.
I grab tight hold of the stick part of the tennis hitting thingy and I throw the green ball into the air. As soon as it reaches the highest point, I swing the thingy 'round and smack it over the net to which it goes 'Zzzzooooooom' and 'WHACK' at the same time and ends up hitting Kenny just below his tummy and at the top of his trousers. Kenny goes down in what looks like a lot of pain and starts putting his hands over the place where the ball struck him. Miles starts giggling whilst daddy and pops can't stop laughing at the sight of Uncle Kenny rolling on the floor in what looks like a lot of hurt.
"Looks like we'll be needing some more new balls on the court." Daddy says.
"Oh……MAN……ma' family jewels……Christ almighty…" Finally, Kenny stands up – still having one of his hands covering the area the ball hit him. "That's a strong arm you got there Daniel – shame you used it a little too well in my private parts."
"Private parts?"
"ANYWAY…" Daddy says before I can start thinking about what Kenny just said. "How about we all make our way back towards the house, hmmm?"
"Yeh…starters should be done by now and I really need to set and put out most of the main course food." Kenny says in what sounds like a slight breathless voice. "I regret wearing these thin-material shorts now."
"Serves you right." Pops says with a smile. "You got beat by Daniel." Ha ha, he SURE did.
"Shut up…" Kenny then looks towards me. "Next time we play a game…I'll beat him f'sure." Yeh…SURE you will.
-
Author's Comments: Right, this is basically Part 1 of a BIG chapter in which Part 2 will follow immediately on from this one. But one thing to take note on is the fact that the next chapter will reveal some huge revelations and facts surrounding Kenny and his estate – to which a few hints have already been revealed in this chapter. But of course…it won't ALL be about Kenny – there's still the oh-so important result of THAT bet y'know, ha ha.