This chapter was inspired by my life in a small country town. And my Granny who used to say some of the funniest things.
"As soon as we get done here, we're going back home to get our stuff and the dog and then we'll be on our way to pick you up." Chance said into his cell phone, leaning against the cool brick exterior of the building that housed Jake's orthodontist. "No Mom, everything is already packed." He heard the door open and found himself on the receiving end of a very unpleasant glare from his favorite teenager. "I gotta go. I'll see you in about an hour." He rolled his eyes. "Love you too." Chance pocketed the phone. "Did they fix that wire that was stabbing your cheek?"
"Yeah." Jake replied quietly. "Please tell me you didn't pack the aspirin."
"What else did they do?" Chance asked, reaching for Jake's face to see for himself.
Jake pulled away, giving him his best 'don't touch me' look. "They tightened something up. Now my head feels like it's in a blender."
Chance frowned. "If I can't find it, we'll pick you up a bottle on the way to get Mom."
"Thanks," Jake mumbled and started for the car, his flip flops slapping the pavement loudly. Chance followed behind him, pressing the UNLOCK button on the keyring once they were near the black SUV. Jake opened his door and let out a hiss as a wave of heat hit him. "It's not even noon yet." He complained. "How can it be this hot?"
"It's going to be hotter out in Pawline." Chance reminded. "You did pack your swim trunks, right?"
Jake rolled his eyes and fastened his seat belt. "Yes."
"And your sneakers? Not those stupid converses that slide on everything."
"Oh my god, Chance." Jake leered at him out of the corners of his eyes. "Yes. I packed everything I was supposed to. And I am bringing my converses no matter what. I've got the stupid normal sneakers that don't look good with anything I own. And I've got my swim trunks even though we aren't going somewhere with a pool or the beach. So just... stop."
"Okay." Chance chuckled softly. "What about...?"
"No." Jake interrupted. "I totally just forget it and you can pack it for me when we get home."
"Your little video game... thing." Chance sighed.
"It's charging right there." Jake pointed at the console and the cord plugged into the cigarette lighter. "Anything else."
"Yeah. You're getting morphine instead of aspirin." Chance teased.
"Don't make promises if you aren't going to keep them." Jake pouted.
"That bad?" Chance sounded more sympathetic than he looked.
"How about you let me glue a wire to your teeth and tighten it up every month or so. It's the slowest form of torture ever. I don't even know what the point is." Jake ranted. "And what's this about needing to have an 'extraction'?"
Chance winced. "I was waiting to tell you. It won't happen until the braces come off."
"You're an evil, sadistic kat, Chance." Jake hissed.
Jake picked Charlie up out of his lap and slid out of the car. "You're getting kind of heavy, girl." He complained, leaving the passenger door open for Rita as he got into the back.
"You remembered your tools?" Rita asked as she slowly got in, Chance shutting the door for her.
"Yeah. You didn't see the enormous tool box taking up half the room in the trunk?" Chance joked.
"I was too busy trying to fit my things in there too. You know, if it was going too be cramped, you could have said something. I would have driven myself." Rita looked behind her. There were only a couple of things in the backseat and then behind that she could see all the luggage, leaving just enough room so Chance could see out the back window.
"It's not cramped. Jake has plenty of room back there." Chance replied, choosing instead to take that route instead of explaining how he just felt better knowing she wasn't taking such a long drive by herself. "Alright. Everyone ready?"
"Let's get this show on the road." Rita smiled, excited about a 'family vacation'.
"Jake? You good? Did you take something for your head?" Chance asked.
"Affirmative," the teen mumbled quietly, his head already resting against the cool window, ear buds ready and plugged into his new toy so that he could listen to his own music and possibly take a nap.
"Right." Chance winced at the irritable tone.
"Oh." Rita looked up from the book she'd been reading about an hour into the drive. "You boys did pack something nice to wear like I asked, right?"
"Yes we did." Chance confirmed. "And I packed half of Jake's clothes just to make sure he got that too." He shot a look in the rear view mirror. "Is he asleep?"
Rita slowly turned in her seat to look behind her. Jake was asleep with one foot up and resting against the backs of the seats, another in the floor and Charlie snoring against his thigh. "Oh yeah." She chuckled. "Out like a light."
Chance allowed himself an amused snort as well. "So me and Jake are gonna get to work on the yard at Grammy's when we get there and you're going to the store?"
"If you don't mind me driving your car." Rita replied.
"I'll send Jake with you to help." Chance said. "They still just have that little general store?"
Rita laughed. "Chance, that little town will always be that... a little town. It's like they are trapped in time. That's why Grammy Furlong loved it. Nothing ever changed. Well, aside from getting electricity and indoor plumbing. They still do the town picnic thing and the fireworks." She went on talking about how much fun it was going to be.
Jake made a disgusted face and pushed Charlie off his lap. "Stop," he moaned when she continued to lick a spot on his cargo shorts. He felt the SUV hit a patch of rough road and got a suddenly sour taste in his mouth. Jake swallowed forcefully. "Chance," he said. "Pull over."
"What?" Chance looked behind Rita to see Jake hunched over, an arm across his stomach and his fist pressed against his mouth. "Shit." He looked to the right, finding nothing but guardrail with no room on the shoulder for more than a motorcycle. "Hang on." Chance slammed his foot down on the accelerator, clearing the bridge and hitting his blinker as soon as he neared the shoulder on the other side. Then he hit the brakes. Jake felt Charlie brush passed him as he got out.
"Is he alright?" Rita asked, opening her own door as soon as Jake started heaving.
"Did you seriously just get carsick on me?" Chance asked as he came around the car.
Jake shook his head, leaning against the car while he heaved near the tire. "Well..." he spat to get the taste out of his mouth. "You know your short cuts..." he joked, trailing off as more of his breakfast decided to abandon ship.
"Ma, grab my water, will you?" Chance asked.
Rita complied, handing the drink to Chance and proceeding to rub Jake's back with her paw. "Why didn't you say something if you didn't feel well? We would have left tomorrow instead."
Jake took a swig of Chance's water and swished it around his mouth, trying to clear the partially digested food out of the metal in his mouth, and then spat it out on the ground. "I feel fine." He leaned with his back against the car. "It was just this stupid headache." Jake complained. "It's better now, though." He started to hand the water back to Chance.
"I'm not drinking your backwash from that." Chance crinkled his nose in disgust. "You can keep it."
"Right." Jake took a cautious sip. "Where's Charlie?"
Chance turned to look for the black puppy. "CHARLIE!" He shouted before whistling loudly. There was a series of excited barks and some rustling in the trees before she came bounding out happily. "You think you can keep that down?"
Jake nodded. "I really think it was my head, Chance." He cleared his throat and spat again. "That plus the sun pretty much cooking me through the glass and Charlie laying on me."
"Yeah." Chance agreed. "Well we're about halfway there. You think you can make it the rest of the way or do you want to stop and get something?"
Jake shook his head. "I'm okay. I swear."
"You sure?"
Jake frowned. "Chance. Seriously. I'm fine. Now, anyway."
"Alright." Chance pointed into the car. "Let's get going."
The remainder of the trip slipped by without event. Jake had removed the head phones from his game and the muffled sounds of gunfire drifted up to the front seat to blend in with the classic rock playing on the radio. Chance couldn't keep himself from singing along to 'Bad Company' and 'Sultans Of Swing'.
Jake looked up from his game when he felt their speed drop and the road become increasingly rough. "Are we there yet?" He couldn't resist.
"Another fifteen minutes." Chance replied, giving Jake a 'please don't start that' look in the mirror.
"Sweet." Jake breathed. "I'm soo hungry."
Rita made a 'hmph' sound but didn't say anything. She slid the piece of paper into her book to hold her spot. "How much of your summer reading do you have left?"
"I've got two books left." Jake replied. "Then I have to write essays on three of them. I can't remember the topics."
"Did you bring them with you?"
"He's not doing homework on vacation." Chance interjected.
"Right." Jake agreed. "Besides, we're only here for a week. I have another month and a half before I need to even think about school. Well, except football practice starts two weeks before registration."
"Oh that is right." Rita turned to look at Jake, twisting to try and see him behind her. "What position did you get put in?"
"Aw come on, Ma." Chance smirked. "He's small, quick. What do you think?"
Rita sighed loudly. "Chance, as much as I loved to watch you play ball when you were in school, I don't know enough about the sport to know who does what."
"Wide receiver." Chance replied.
"Now that was always the thing to do even when I was in high school." Rita smiled. "Friday night football games with my friends."
"Well, Jake's playing for JV so the games are going to be on Thursdays." Chance reminded.
"Doesn't mean he can't go to the varsity games." Rita huffed. "Maybe he could ask one of the cheerleaders out and it could be a date."
"Jake's not going to ask a cheerleader out." Chance laughed.
"Why not?" Jake interrupted, sounding off put.
"Well, because you're you." Chance stated. "I mean, come on, Jake. The only girl I've seen you show interest in is as far from cheerleader as they get."
"So?" Jake huffed.
"I just don't think they're your type." Chance replied.
"Um well as long as she's a girl and she's cute then she's my type." Jake rolled his eyes. "I could totally date a cheerleader."
"Yeah. And that will last however long it takes you to realize she's a complete airhead." Chance laughed.
"Didn't say it would work out with one." Jake smirked. "Just that I could date one."
"Chance, you're about to miss your turn." Rita pointed out the window.
"Shit." Chance swore, hitting the brakes at the same time his mother cuffed him behind the ear. "Sorry."
Jake scrambled to keep his game from going out of his lap. He looked up at the old farm house and then out at the tall, uncut grass. "Why does this look like the scene from a horror movie?"
"Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Chance answered.
"Yep." Jake frowned. "That's the one."
"Oh would you two just stop it?" Rita sighed and dug her keys out of her purse. "I'll go unlock it. You two start bringing our things up to the porch."
Jake slipped his feet back into his flip flops and got out. At least the dirt driveway was visible among the overgrown weeds. Charlie ran after Rita, barking from the porch while she unlocked the house and nearly tripping her to go inside. Jake squeezed his eyes and tried to shut out the string of unladylike curses followed by a sharp yelp before Charlie came back out, her head ducked in apology.
"Don't give me the puppy eyes." Chance glared at the dog. "You shouldn't get under her feet." He turned to look at Jake. "You got it? You need help?"
Jake shook his head. "No Chance. I think I can handle some suitcases on my own." He was using his backpack for some of his things and had slipped that on before grabbing a couple of suitcases, using the one that was on rollers to carry a third. "There's one left." He told Chance as he went inside.
"Then go get it." Chance replied, moving all the luggage into the foyer. Jake ignored him as he headed through the kitchen. Rita passed him in the large doorway. "Are you going to the bathroom?"
Jake nodded.
"Something's wrong with the faucet. The hot water side isn't working." She told him. "Is that all of it?"
"Jake said there was one more." Chance replied, going back out into the bright afternoon sun. "You don't know if the air works upstairs, do you?"
"I don't know. I know there are only units in two of the rooms up there." She began opening windows to air out the musty old home.
"I'll take one without the air." Jake said, coming back out to finish unloading the car. "I can't sleep if it's cold."
"Jake, it's going to be like an oven upstairs." Chance deposited the bag of dog food into Jake's waiting arms.
"I'll just leave the window open or something." Jake shrugged.
"You sure?" Chance looked uneasy. "I don't want you getting overheated like you did on the way here."
"I didn't get overheated." Jake replied, going inside.
"Alright." Chance dragged a paw across his forehead. "Everything's put away. I'm going to change and see if I can get that old lawn mower started. Jake, will you..."
"Yeah. Give me a second and I'll help you." Jake replied, starting for the stairs.
"No. Will you ride with her to the store so you can help her?" Chance gave him a pleading look.
"Sure." Jake hid his disappointment.
"Thanks. You can help me when you get back. If I'm even started by then." Chance patted him on the back.
"That refrigerator is clean and ready for some food." Rita came out of the kitchen and held out her paw for the keys.
"Why don't you let Jake drive?" Chance pulled them out of his pocket.
"Because he doesn't have a license." Rita reminded.
"He'll probably get his permit this year." Chance told her. "Besides, there's never any traffic out here. He'll be fine."
"And it's not like I haven't driven that car before." Jake added, taking the keys.
"Oh alright." Rita sighed. "Just don't scare me."
"Rita," Jake looked hurt. "This is me. Not Chance."
She put her paws on her hips. "I'll have you know that I taught Chance how to drive."
"Which is probably why he wants me to take you to the store." Jake joked.
"Don't you get cheeky with me, boy." Rita glared, a sparkle in her eye as she swatted him with her purse. "We'll be back in a little while." She told Chance.
"Well now that wasn't so bad." Rita climbed out of the SUV.
"I told you." Jake smirked. "So... this is the store, huh?" He eyed the row of rocking chairs in the shade and the window chalk proclaiming tomatoes $0.89 a pound.
"It sure is. I wonder if Mr. Dalton still owns it." Rita said as she pushed open the door, jingling the bell tied to the hinge.
"Good afternoon!" An enthusiastic female voice greeted them from behind a counter lined with stools. "How are y'all doing today?"
"Just fine, sweetie." Rita picked up a basket and handed it to Jake. "Carry this for me, please?" She walked up to the counter. "Hey honey. Can you tell me if Mr. Dalton still manages this store?"
The sandy brown she-kat smiled even brighter. "That's my grandfather. And yes he does. Would you like me to get him for you?"
Rita's eyes brightened. "I sure would."
"I'll be right back." She smiled and disappeared into a door that read 'Employees Only'.
"Well isn't she cute?" Rita winked at Jake. The door opened back up and the young she-kat returned, followed by a solid gray tom, walking with a hunch and leaning on a cane.
"Can I help you folks?" He asked in a deep voice.
"Hey there, Mr. Dalton. You remember me?" Rita asked.
Mr. Dalton laughed and winked at her. "Why I think I'd remember a pretty young thing like you ma'am."
Jake couldn't help but share an awkward look with his granddaughter.
"Why you haven't changed a bit, sir." Rita smiled. "Rita Furlong, and this is my grandson Jake."
Mr. Dalton took a moment to think before laughing loudly. It quickly turned into a cough. He cleared his throat. "Well I'll be damned. I haven't seen you since my sweet Deloris left us. What brings you here?"
"Well, Mable called me and said she wasn't so good. So, I figured I'd bring Chance and Jake up here for a week so we could see her." Rita explained. "We're staying at the old house and needed to get some groceries."
"Yeah. Yeah, I went to see Mable last week. I brought her some food. She doesn't have much left in her. You two are the last of the Bellclaws. I remember my father running you girls out of this store all the time when we were young." Mr. Dalton laughed. "Here. Let me help you get those groceries. Sandra, why don't you get this young fellow here some of our wonderful ice cream and tell him what there is to do around here." He took the basket from Jake and pointed towards the counter.
"So Jake," her smile turned to Jake. "What will it be? We have the best strawberry ice cream in all the world."
Jake ducked his head. "I bet." He looked at his toes nervously. "Got any chocolate?"
"Do I ever?" She laughed and pulled out a glass dish and began filling it with chocolate ice cream. "Whipped cream and a cherry?"
"Sure." Jake sat on one of the stools. "Wow that's... that's a lot of ice cream." He bit his lip. "You want to help me eat it?"
"Gee I don't know." Sandra handed him a spoon.
"Please?" Jake tried.
"Well, since you asked so nicely." She grabbed another spoon and came around the counter. "So, where are you from?"
"Megakat City." Jake replied before taking a big spoonful. "This is really good." He said with wide eyes.
"Homemade." Sandra smiled. "My mother makes all our ice cream. You're from Megakat City? Wow. I see stories in the paper all the time about monsters and mutated plants and aliens. Is it really like that?"
"Sometimes." Jake swallowed another bite. "I mean, it's not, like, everyday or anything. Just, you know, maybe once a week someone decides the key to the world lies in destroying the city."
"That sounds so exciting." She gushed. "Nothing like that ever happens here."
"That's a good thing, right?" Jake looked at her in disbelief. "I mean, would you really want to worry about your homes being destroyed?"
"Well, no. I guess when you put it like that." Sandra looked away, embarrassed. "Have you been to the lake yet?"
Jake shook his head. "We just got here an hour ago."
"Oh." Sandra smiled. "You have to come to the lake. The water is so cool and everyone goes there. That's where the big picnic is after church on Sunday, well, near it anyway. You're going to be here for that, aren't you?"
"For sure." Jake replied.
"Good. I'll see you there." Sandra purred excitedly before stealing the cherry off the top of the sundae and then getting up.
Chance released his hold on the push mower and it shut off. He lifted his hat to wipe the sweat off his head and face. "You get everything you needed?"
"I sure did." Rita went around to the back to get the groceries, handing bags to Jake. Chance came over to help. "If you can just take those inside, then Jake can help you get this yard cleaned up. Did you check to see if the air works?"
"Yeah. The two upstairs work and then the one in the living room works too. I found a window fan for the kitchen to help in there." Chance replied.
"Where's Charlie?" Jake asked, setting down the bags.
"She's outside somewhere." Chance replied. "Probably found the creek."
"You just let her run off?" Jake looked panicked. "Chance, she could find a snake or something and think it's a chew toy!"
"Relax." Chance rolled his eyes. "I'm kidding. Your lazy, spoiled little dog is upstairs, sleeping in your room."
Jake was visibly relieved.
"I should have gotten you a Pomeranian or something. At least then it would be a dog that's meant to be treated like royalty." Chance teased. "Go change."
The sun was setting by the time Jake finished cutting the rest of the yard. Chance was sitting on the porch with a glass of tea, waiting for him to finish. Rita was out there too, in the old porch swing. Charlie was chasing a grasshopper that had been disturbed by the lawnmower. She stopped trying to sniff it out and looked up at Jake, her floppy black ears bouncing as she ran towards him and then back to the porch. "You missed a spot." Chance teased.
Jake dropped onto the steps next to him and took the waiting glass of tea, downing it at once. "Then you get it."
"Leave him be, Chance. You did a nice job, Jake." Rita complimented. "I got some steaks if you wouldn't mind grilling them, son. Jake, Chance broke the shower head, you're gonna have to take a bath instead."
Jake looked down at his dirty, sweaty arms and paws and the grass clinging to the fur on his exposed shins. "I might need to take two."
"Well you go ahead and do that. I'm going to start heating up the grill." Chance patted him on the knee. "The yard looks good, kiddo." He stood up and went for the bag of charcoal Rita had picked up at the store.
Jake kicked the sheets off and rolled over, glaring at the window in the dark. It was unbelievably dark without any street lamps or light pollution. On top of that, the air was so stale and heavy. Even Charlie had abandoned the large bed for the cool hardwood floor. He let out a frustrated groan and pulled off his boxers, kicking them to the floor where the rest of his clothes rested. "Much better," he mumbled, pulling just the thin sheet over him enough to keep him from being exposed, leaving it so that he was relatively uncovered. Finally, he was able to fall asleep.
Aunt Mable's house was very similar to Grammy Furlong's. Someone had been taking care of the yard, though. And flowers were planted along the porch. Jake hung back nervously. He was never really sure how to act around the elderly.
"Mable?" Rita called out as she entered the house. It was clear she'd had an actual air unit installed at some point during her lifetime as the house was nice and cool. "I'm going to look upstairs. Jake, don't touch that. It's older than all of us put together."
Jake drew his paw back from the intricately carved mirror hanging above the fireplace. "It smells weird in here," he whispered.
"Yeah." Chance agreed. "Hey at least she has a TV."
"You think she'd mind if I turned it on?" Jake wasn't sure why he was still whispering.
"I'll ask when she comes down." Chance was whispering as well. "I hope she's not dead."
Jake looked back up at Chance with shock. Then they heard Rita talking, broken up by the sound of a cane on the stairs.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming, little sister?" Mable's old voice cracked. "I would have made some tea."
"I told you yesterday we would come see you once we got settled in." Rita helped her oldest, and only remaining sibling, down the stairs. "You remember my son Chance?"
"Oh my. How could I ever forget that chubby face of his." Mable hobbled right over to Chance and looked up at him. She was a foot and a half shorter than her nephew. "Just look at you." She patted him on the cheek. "Give your auntie a kiss now."
Chance stooped and gave her a light peck on the cheek. "Aunt Mable," he said politely.
"And who is this handsome little devil?" She quickly abandoned Chance for Jake, reaching up to pinch one of his cinnamon furred cheeks.
"Aunt Mable this is Jake."
"Just look at your color. I bet your mother is one darling of a she-kat." Mable continued her assessment. "A bit on the thin side, though. That's not typical of a Furlong."
"Well I..." Jake started to explain that he wasn't actually related to Chance.
"No matter." Mable seemed oblivious that he'd started to speak. "Why don't you get a candy out of the dish over there? Rita, Chance. Sit down. Turn on that television set." She started to hobble to the kitchen. "I'll get us some tea."
"Oh let me do that, Mable." Rita hurried to help her.
Jake eyed the expensive looking crystal dish on an end table and looked back at Chance as if asking permission.
"She'll think you're rude if you don't take one." Chance whispered, looking for the remote. "Oh you have to be kidding me." He shook his head and walked over to the TV, turning the knob. "I didn't even know they still existed like this. I hope you like soap operas."
Jake carefully lifted the lid. "Oh she has the good stuff, Chance." He hissed, taking a couple pieces of chocolate and a butterscotch.
"Really?" Chance reached for a piece.
"Now Chance. Leave those for the boy." Mable said from behind him. "Here. Set that tray right on the table, Rita."
Chance shot Jake an envious look before sitting down.
"There we go. You drink up." Mable settled into a large old padded rocker. "I am just so glad to see you. Now why didn't you tell me Chance had found a she-kat?"
Rita shot Jake a look as if asking for permission. He gave her a subtle nod and took a gulp of tea, eyes nearly popping out at the amount of sugar he tasted. "Well, Chance hasn't exactly met the right one yet. Jake's adopted."
"Well my goodness." Mable gasped dramatically. "Tell me dear, what happened?"
"Well, it's a long story. But Chance met Jake while he was in the Enforcers. And, well, Jake's father wasn't exactly, you could say, involved. And, long story short, Chance was able to get custody of Jake. How old were you when you met Chance, baby?"
Jake forcefully swallowed a caramel and peanut chocolate covered candy. "Ten, I think." He looked thoughtful. "Maybe nine."
"No you had to be younger than that." Chance looked thoughtful.
"I got my masters degree when I was eight." Jake said quietly. "That's when my dad started talking about the Enforcer Academy."
"So you were about to turn nine." Chance nodded his head. "Jeez, it's already been five years since that?"
"You have a master's degree?" Mable blinked in disbelief.
"Yes ma'am. In Aeronautic Science and Advanced Physics." Jake replied.
"Well isn't that something." She smiled. "Look in that little wooden box next to the candy dish, boy."
Jake carefully opened the hinged lid.
"You see that little toy block in there with all the different colors? My son gave me that about twenty years go. See if you can figure it out. I could never do it." Mable pointed a wrinkled gray paw.
Jake pulled out the cube and shot Chance a sly look. "Gee, I dunno. This looks kind of hard."
"Well you take a crack at it while we catch up." Mable leaned back in her rocker. "So you're staying for the week? Chance, you remember your cousin Stephen?"
Chance nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"His bike is out in my barn. Why don't you give it to Jake and let him get out of your hair for a while. You know it can get kind of boring around here." Mable started to get up. "I'll get you the key."
Rita and Mable talked for another hour while Chance watched an old rerun of a show that didn't come on much anymore. Finally, Rita stood up. "Well we should get going. We'll see you at church, won't we?"
"Of course you will." Mable stood up to give her a hug. "You'll come see me again this year, won't you?"
"I will, sis." Rita promised.
"And you, get you a nice she-kat." Mable gave Chance a tight hug. "And tell that boy of yours to pull his damn britches up. I don't know why these kittens are wearing them so low like that."
"I'll keep on him." Chance smirked.
Jake held out the solved puzzle. "Would you like me to put it back in the box?"
"Well tie me to a pig and roll me in the mud!" Mable laughed. "You hang on to that, boy. I never could figure that thing out."
Jake arched his back into a wide stretch and laid down on the porch, his feet on the steps below. He inhaled the strong smell of country ham and could hear it sizzling through the screen door.
"Jake! Breakfast is ready!" Chance called from inside the house.
Jake sat up slowly and looked around for Charlie. She came running through the yard, carrying a stick that seemed too big for her. "Drop it," he said as she got to his feet. When she tilted her head in confusion, Jake tried a different tactic. "Food."
She dropped the stick and ran to the door.
"So you gonna check out the lake?" Chance asked, dropping a spoonful of butter into his grits.
"I was thinking about it." Jake replied, tearing off a piece of ham and slipping it under the table where Charlie was waiting.
"Jake stop giving table scraps to that dog before she gets worms or something." Rita scolded.
Jake gave her a horrified look.
"Sorry." He cleared his throat.
"Just be back here by seven." Chance told him. "And wear your sneakers to the lake. The ground can be kind of slick."
Jake rolled his eyes.
Once breakfast was done, Jake went upstairs to put on his swim trunks and then his baggy shorts over them. He then pulled on a loose fitted t-shirt and his sneakers. "I'll see you later, Chance." Jake called over his shoulder as he went out the door, excited to be allowed to do pretty much what he wanted, and hoping to see Sandra.
"Stay out of trouble." Chance said with a smirk as Jake ran out the door, Charlie on his heels.
"Think you can keep up with me, girl?" Jake looked down at the growing pup beside him. She barked excitedly. "Then lets go."
Jake hadn't actually ridden a normal bicycle since he was six or so, but they weren't lying when they said you never forgot how. He pedaled up to the general store, where he asked Mr. Dalton the best way to get to the lake. Sandra wasn't there.
Jake's ears perked up at the sound of laughter and water splashing as his bike bounced on the loose ground. He squeezed the paw-brakes and pushed it over to a covered picnic area. Excited, Charlie barked and took off running towards a group of kits. They seemed to be all different ages. Jake smiled when he saw Sandra turn around. He waved and she smiled brightly and ran over to him.
"Hey! You came!" She was wearing a one piece swimsuit and her light brown fur glistened in the sunlight. "Is this your dog?"
"Yeah." Jake scratched the back of his head nervously. "This is Charlie."
"Aw. Hey Charlie." Sandra knelt in the sand to pet the puppy. "You're a good boy."
"Girl." Jake corrected.
"Girl? But Charlie's a boy's name." Sandra looked confused.
"It can go both ways." Jake explained.
"That's what I hear about the boys in the city." A taller boy joked. "I'm Blake." He held out his paw. "You must be Jake, 'the boy from the city'."
"Yeah." Jake held out his paw. "And I definitely don't go both ways."
"Relax. I'm just messing with you. We were just about to try out this rope we hung up." Blake pointed at a tree with long thick branches extending out over the water.
"Now that looks like it could be fun." Jake grinned.
"You wanna be first?" Blake asked. "Unless your scared."
"I don't even know the meaning of the word." Jake replied, winking at Sandra before pulling off his shirt and shucking the shorts covering his swim wear.
"This looks like a good place for lunch." Rita pointed at the picnic tables. "I knew we'd find that boy here."
Chance eyed the secondhand bike and then jerked his head in the direction of a loud shout, followed by a splash. He set the picnic basket on the table. "You think he'll be mad if we eat here?"
"Why would he?" Rita asked.
"I dunno. I don't want him to think we're spying on him." Chance shrugged.
"He'll be fine." Rita opened the basket and pulled out the sandwiches. "Especially when he sees we brought him lunch."
"BLAKE!"
Both Rita and Chance turned to see a small calico she-kat with red hair walking down the path, barefoot and paws on her hips. "Where is that damn boy?" She said to herself before shouting again.
"BLAKE LEE WILLIAMS GET YOUR TAIL OUT OF THAT WATER THIS INSTANT!"
Blake turned bright red, visible in his patches of white. "Oh you've got to be kidding me."
"Whoa." Jake laughed. "Is that your mom?"
"Yeah." Blake looked down at the water. "She's kind of nutso since my dad left. I'll be right back."
"BLAKE!" One of his friends mocked. "BLA-AKE!"
"Shut your mouth, David!" Blake growled on his way up the beach.
"Oh." Jake winced speaking of family. He pointed at Chance and Rita. "I'm going to be right back." He pulled himself up onto the dock.
"Wait. I'll come with you." Sandra followed suit.
"CHARLIE!" Jake shouted and the dog swam to the shallow part and walked onto the beach, stopping in the warm sand to shake, sending a spray of water in all directions. "Come on girl."
"What the hell did I tell you?" Blake's mother shouted at her son. "I said 'take the trash out before you leave'. Do you know why I'm down here? Because you didn't take the trash out. I had to do it."
"You came all the way here to yell at me for that?" Blake gave her a pleading look. "Can you just be normal for one day?"
Rita shot the boy a sympathetic look. "Melissa?" She interrupted and walked over to the redhead. "You're Melissa Summerton, right? Ashley's daughter?"
Blake's mother looked surprise. "It's Williams now." She corrected. "Or... at least until the divorce is final." Melissa attempted to smile. "Do I know you?"
"I used to babysit you. You remember me. Rita? You used to play with Chance before we moved." She pointed at her own son.
"Oh my goodness. Chance Furlong?" Melissa nearly giggled, forgetting all about her son and walking over to the picnic area.
"Thank you," Blake whispered in Jake's ear as he joined them. "Hey let me have one of those sandwiches."
Jake glared at the boy as he pulled his food from his paws. "Douche," he hissed, earning an unexpected thump to his ear. "Hey!"
"Don't say that." Chance warned before turning to get a good look at Melissa. "Jake didn't get your son in trouble did he? Because he does that sometimes."
"Oh no. Not at all. I'm not really mad. I was just..." Melissa looked away, embarrassed.
"Hey." Jake repeated. "I don't get anyone in trouble."
"Don't get me started." Chance smirked, a glint in his eyes when he looked back at Melissa.
"I know that look." Jake rolled his eyes. "It's the 'don't misbehave in front of a beautiful she-kat before I can impress her with my charm' look." He pulled another sandwich from the basket. "I'm kind of tired of swimming. You guys want to do something else?"
"Sure." Blake said and the three walked away from the picnic area. "I saw a baseball bat in the parking lot. It's empty enough. I think we could make a diamond."
"Sounds good to me." Jake grabbed his shoes and headed up the hill to the parking area.
"You know I don't even remember living here." Chance said.
"Oh, Chance, you were just a baby. Three, I think. It was right before your father got stationed in Megakat." Rita explained. "I used to babysit Melissa. You were.. five I think?"
"That's right." Melissa agreed. "And Chance used to get mad at me for trying to play with his toys."
Chance shook his head. "I don't remember any of that. But I'm pretty sure I would have shared with you."
"Oh stop." Melissa blushed. "So is there a Mrs. Furlong?"
Chance shook his head. "No. Not yet anyway."
"What a shame." Melissa said without any real feeling. "Are you going to be around for the fireworks Sunday night?"
"What the town picnic and all?" Chance asked. "Wasn't going to miss it. Will you be there?"
"I certainly will." Melissa smiled. It faded at the sound of glass breaking. "If I don't have to kill my son before then." She stood up. "BLAKE!"
Jake swung the bat hard, nailing the ball. In the most intriguing twist of fate, the ball soared across the parking lot, where it nailed a tree and ricocheted straight into the rear window of a faded red Honda. "Fuck," he hissed and dropped the bat.
"BLAKE!" Echoed through the trees.
"Uh uh!" Blake backed away. "I'm not getting my ass beat over this."
"Whose car is that, anyway?" Sandra asked, looking around. The other kits they'd been playing with had joined them. A chorus of "ooooh" came from the smaller ones and some laughing from the older ones. A tall, slightly older black furred tom, David, raised his paw. "That would be mine."
"Dude." Jake tried not to laugh. "I'm really, really sorry. I mean, what are the odds of that happening?"
"I mean..." He sighed. "I guess I could just put some tape over it or something."
"If you can't duct it..." Someone said.
"Fuck it." They all chorused.
"Caleb! I'm telling your mother!" Melissa hissed at one of the smaller kittens after hearing them all drop the 'F' bomb. "Blake, what the hell did you just do?"
"It wasn't my fault." Blake defended, smiling widely. "Honestly." He pointed at Jake.
"Aw come on." Jake pouted. "You'd rat out your friends that quickly?"
"We just met." Blake said, trying not to laugh.
"Who did what?" Chance asked, trailed by his mother.
"Oh my god." Jake sighed. "I mean, he's just going to put tape over it. I don't see why it matters who did it." He hung his head when all of his new found 'friends' pointed at him at once.
"You're still holding the evidence, bro." David replied.
Chance looked from the bat in Jake's paw to the trees. "I don't see what..." He trailed off as he looked around the parking lot. "Oh. Nice one, Jake. Your aim is usually better than that."
"Look, if it's that big of a deal, I'll pay for it." Jake's ears flattened against his head.
"Aw come on guys." The owner of the car laughed. "Get off his case before you make him cry or something. It's really no big deal. Look, last year, Blake launched a pumpkin through my windshield. At least this is somewhat normal."
"A pumpkin?" Jake blinked. "How?"
"Oh, David you have to show him the pumpkin cannon your dad built." Sandra gushed.
"A pumpkin cannon?" Jake blinked again. "Where?"
David grinned widely.
"Um, hello!" Chance interrupted. "Jake! You broke his window?"
Jake nodded his head.
"Find out how much it's going to cost to fix it and settle it with him before we leave." Chance told him.
"Right. I was going to do that anyway." Jake said, matter-of-fact. "Can I please see this pumpkin cannon?"
"Sure. But you gotta clean the glass out of my car first." David smirked.
Chance looked at his watch. It was almost nine. "Where the hell is he?" He walked out onto the porch and sat on the steps. Rita followed him out and sat in her swing. "He probably just got caught up, Chance."
It was nearing 9:30 when Jake came pedaling up the driveway, Charlie walking tiredly behind him.
"Where the hell have you been?" Chance barked. "I told you to be home by seven."
"Yeah." Jake looked sheepish as he rested the bike against the house before coming onto the porch. "I kind of forgot to take my watch off and I lost it somewhere in the lake." He held up his bare left wrist as evidence. "Sorry." He moved into the porch light, revealing his dirty clothes and shoes.
"Wow." Chance's shoulders sagged. "What did you do?"
"Oh Chance. It was so awesome. You should have been there." Jake gushed and then proceeded to explain how the Pumpkin Cannon worked, and how there were spare parts so he put together something like a grenade launcher. "It was like a veggie war or something."
Chance looked disgusted as he pulled what looked like rotten tomato out of Jake's fur. "So, you pretty much had a food fight in the middle of someone's yard? Did you clean it up?"
"Yeah. That's what took so long. I knew it was getting late but we couldn't just leave David's backyard looking like a garbage disposal." Jake said. "You really aren't mad, are you?"
Chance looked as if he might be really angry for a moment and then started laughing. "Are you kidding me? Jake you just spent all day either swimming or playing baseball or... well the pumpkin launching thing isn't really normal, but you're finally doing normal teenager things. I'm not thrilled you broke someone's window. But hey, that happens. You had fun, right?"
"A blast." Jake grinned.
"Good." Chance patted him on the knee. "Go... take a bath or something."
"He isn't going in the house covered in rotten tomatoes." Rita warned.
"Well what do you want me to do?" Jake looked at her in disbelief.
"Backdoor is unlocked. You can go in that way and take a bath. Chance will bring you some clothes." Rita stood up to go inside. "I'm wiped out. This heat just takes it out of you."
"I mean, they do realize it's, like a hundred and twenty degrees?" Jake complained, tugging on his blue tie and giving Chance the most pleading look he could manage.
"I'm pretty sure they're aware." Chance had his paw on Jake's back and was directing him to a pew on the left. "Slide down to save a place for Ma when she gets done catching up with everyone."
Jake left plenty of room for Rita between himself and Chance but she came around the other side.
"Slide down, baby. I want you in the middle." Rita told him.
"Why?" Jake asked.
"Because I said so." Rita huffed. "Oh hey Mrs. Lawrence!"
Jake rolled his eyes as Rita leaned forward to talk to an older she-kat in front of him. "There's so many old kats here," he moaned. Chance jabbed his elbow into his side. "What? There are." Jake looked around the large, but quickly crowding chapel and smiled when he spotted Sandra in a blue sundress and a bonnet. She waved shyly before her mother swatted her and told her to sit.
Chance looked up when someone sat beside him. He smiled. "Come here often?"
Melissa chuckled. "Not often enough."
Jake leaned forward. "Hey can I move down near Blake?"
"No." Chance told him.
"Why not?" Jake asked.
"Because the last time you were with him, you broke a window." Chance hissed.
"He's the one that wanted to play baseball in the parking lot." Jake huffed.
"Jake, I don't care who wanted to do what." Chance glared. "Quit being a brat."
"Okay." Jake took a deep breath. "What if he just sat here and you two slid down that way we'd still be in the middle and you wouldn't be flipping out over it?"
Chance shook his head and looked at Melissa. "Would that be fine with you?"
"Just as long as you'll smack him for me if he deserves it." Melissa smiled sweetly.
"I think you're my new best friend." Blake whispered. "So check it out." He stretched his leg out and removed a small game from his pocket. "Were you able to bring yours?"
"Yeah." Jake whispered back and carefully slid it out of his pocket. "And I've got the cable to connect them."
Rita settled back into the pew as the preacher started talking. She turned to look at Chance, to see if he was paying attention to the service and frowned at the two boys between them. "Jacob," she hissed and shook her head when he didn't pay her any attention, too involved in the video game. Rita snatched it from her paws, unaware that it was connected to Blake's. She held Jake's as the other hit the hard floor loudly.
"Oh for the love of..." Rita muttered, pulling the cord out and cramming the gaming device into her purse.
"Blake," Melissa growled. "Pick that up and hand it here."
Jake slid so that Blake could find his and pick it up.
"Sorry," he whispered as she snatched it from him and shoved it into her own bag.
Chance reached behind Blake and slapped the back of Jake's head.
"Jesu..."
Rita jabbed her elbow into his side. "Watch your mouth."
Melissa leaned forward so that she could whisper to her son. "Blake, so help me, when we get out of here, I'm going to whip you in front of this whole church."
Jake bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing.
"And you too." Melissa hissed. "Don't think just because you aren't my son that you won't get in trouble with him. I won't go easy on you."
Jake's eyes widened at her tone. He had a feeling she was serious.
Chance gave Jake the same glare. "I'll let her do it." He whispered.
Jake fought the urge to remind Chance that he barely knew this she-kat. Life long connection aside, they were pretty much strangers. Still he let out a sullen sigh and slouched with his arms folded across his chest. "This is so boring," he thought.
Finally, the long winded sermon was over and the were allowed to leave the unbearably warm building. The moment they were outside, Melissa was on her son like white on rice. "What in the hell is wrong with you? Bringing a video game into church? That's just disrespectful." She pulled him by his shirt down the church steps. "Chance, Rita." Melissa turned at the base of the stairs. "I'll see you at the picnic. We're going to head home and change first."
"We're going to do the same, Melissa, dear." Rita smiled sweetly, her arm around Jake in a deceptively sweet manor. "You know what she's going to do to that boy once they're home?" She asked.
"Well she said something about whipping him in front of the whole church, but seeing as that didn't happen..."
"Jake." Chance hissed. "Don't get smart with her. What were you thinking bringing that to church?"
"That it was going to be really boring." Jake knew it was the wrong thing to say the moment he said it.
"She's going to whip him so hard he won't be able to sit for a week." Rita snapped. "Give me one good reason why I, or Chance shouldn't do that to you?"
Jake bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying "because you aren't my parents" simply because the rational part of him knew it would just be like throwing gas on a fire. He chose to remain silent.
"Ooh, If I was Chance I'd have half a mind to take a switch across your tail right here in the parking lot." Rita huffed. "Lord knows that's what I would have done to him."
Jake turned to look at Chance and found him walking off towards the car. His heart faltered when he noticed the dogwood near the SUV. For a moment, he thought Chance might actually pull one off and hit him. Instead, Chance hit unlock button and got in the car.
Jake nervously got in the backseat.
"Of all the immature stunts to pull. I just can't believe you would do that, Jake. It's just not like you. You aren't that disrespectful." Rita kept on her rant.
Jake shook his head and rolled his eyes, reaching to loosen his tie.
"Don't you touch that! I want pictures of you dressed up before you go change." Rita switched tones.
Jake couldn't help the chuckle the escaped from his throat.
"What's so funny?" Chance asked, glaring at him in the mirror.
Jake cleared his throat. "Nothing. Nothing at all."
It was nearly four in the afternoon by the time they got back to the church, whose sprawling open field was housing the town picnic. Now clad in a pair of black cargo shorts, flip flops and a fitted t-shirt with a faded vintage fighter plane on the front.
"Jake!" Chance grabbed him by the arm before he could dart off and find his friends. "Don't break any more windows, okay?"
"I won't. I promise." Jake laughed.
"And make sure you eat something." Chance pointed over towards several tents where grills were set up and several kats were cooking hot dogs and hamburgers.
"I will." Jake pulled away, rolling his eyes at the over protectiveness. He jogged off in search of Blake and Sandra, finding them on the hill. Sandra was sitting under a tree watching Blake, David and a couple other boys playing what looked like football but with a frisbee.
"There you are." Blake walked away from the game and slapped Jake's palm. "You didn't get beat too badly, did you?"
Jake smirked. "Not at all. You?"
"Lucky." Blake frowned.
"What are you guys playing?" Jake asked.
"Full Contact Frisbee." Blake grinned. "It's like soccer. Except you have a disc instead of a ball. Come on, let's grab some dogs and I'll tell you all about it." He looked around. "Speaking of dogs... where's yours?"
Jake rolled his eyes. "With Chance. I couldn't bring her unless she was on her leash."
"Yeah, they kind of frown on stepping in dog shit and having their food taken at these things." Blake walked towards one of the tents. "Hey Miss Lewis." He smiled at an elderly she-kat. "Don't eat her potato salad," he whispered as they walked by. "Or you'll be blowing chunks for two days."
Jake looked disgusted. "I'll keep that in mind."
"You know who has the best chili?" Blake grinned. "Pastor Wallace." He grabbed Jake by the arm and pulled him down the row of food.
"You boys aren't causing more trouble, are you?" The middle aged preacher had traded his shirt and tie for jeans and a polo shirt.
"No sir." Blake replied politely.
"Uh huh." Pastor Wallace said in disbelief. "And who is your co-conspirator, here?"
"Oh this is Jake. His family is visiting this week." Blake explained. "I was just telling him how awesome your chili dogs are."
"Help yourselves. There's plenty. Jake, huh? I believe I saw you with Rita. It's good to see her back in town. I guess that makes you Chance's youngin?"
Wanting to keep things simple, Jake simply said "yes sir" and helped himself to a couple of hot dogs.
"Alright." Blake said as he loaded his dog down with toppings. "So like I was saying about our game..."
Chance had tethered Charlie's leash to the leg of the picnic table. She whined and pulled, trying to get free and go after Jake. "Sorry girl." Chance patted her on the head, giving her a potato chip. "You can't just run free here like everywhere else."
"Do you see those boys up there on that hill?" Rita huffed as she sat down. "Jake's going to be filthy by tonight."
"He'll be fine." Chance took a big bite out of his hot dog, loaded down with mayonnaise, mustard, chili and cole slaw.
"And I do believe that pretty little Melissa has fallen for that Furlong charm." Rita chuckled, seeing the she-kat in question approach. She had changed into floral print sundress and let her curly red fur flow freely behind her. Chance swallowed his food, wiped his paws with a napkin and stood up.
"You weren't too hard on him, were you?" He asked.
"I've got to be hard on that boy." Melissa sighed. "He just doesn't think sometimes." She sat down beside Rita. "But never mind that now."
"Aren't you going to get something to eat?" Chance asked.
Melissa eyed the amount of kats filling their plates. "I'll wait a while."
"What do you want? I'll get it for you." Chance offered.
"Well if you're offering," she blushed. "Yours looks pretty good. Why don't you go fix me one?"
"Sure thing." Chance grinned. "The lady has good taste."
Jake panted and dropped to the ground next to Sandra. "That was fun."
She shook her head and continued to fan herself with an unused paper plate. "I really wish they'd just have this at the lake."
"We could go to the lake." Jake offered. "You can see it from here. And there's other kats down there. You can hear them."
"Oh my mother would be angry. And I didn't bring anything to swim in." Sandra blushed.
"What about what you're wearing?" He looked down at her soft cotton shorts and spaghetti strap shirt.
"I guess that could work. But I'd feel weird if it was just me and you." Sandra looked away. "No offense."
"None taken." Jake blushed. "I wasn't, you know, suggesting something like that, I was just thinking..." He looked around. "You know Blake would go for it. And David probably. And who's that other girl you were talking to?"
"Kayla?" Sandra replied.
"Yeah. Her. She could come." Jake gave her a sly look. "I'll just go grab Charlie and tell Chance I was going to take her for a walk and we could sneak down there."
"You are so sneaky." Sandra looked excited. "Alright. Let's do it."
Chance looked up to see Jake walking over to him. "What's up?"
"I was just going to take Charlie down on the other side of the hill so she could run around." Jake said, brushing some of the dirt off his arm. "If that's alright."
"Yeah that's fine." Chance stood up to untie her leash. "Go right ahead. Just make sure you have her back on the leash before you come up here."
"I will." Jake walked away from the table.
Chance watched him go back up the hill where his friends were waiting. "Why can't he make friends like that at school?"
Rita laughed. "Because you'd be pulling your fur out with him acting the way he has today."
Jake pulled off his shirt and emptied out his pockets, setting Charlie's leash with his wallet and cell phone, which didn't even get reception where he was. He looked at Blake, he was stripping off completely. "What are you doing?"
"Are you kidding me? If I come back with wet clothes, my mom is going to be furious." Blake looked genuinely worried. "You've never been skinny dipping?"
Jake shook his head.
Blake suddenly grinned. "Then I dare you to do it."
"No." Jake stood his ground.
"Come on, Jake. You have to do it if it's a dare." David said, pulling off his shirt.
"No. I don't." Jake huffed. "But I'll lose the shorts and go in just my boxers if the girls lose their clothes too."
"That's not going to happen." Kayla said loudly.
"It's the same as a bikini." Jake insisted.
"He's got a point." Blake turned to look at the girls. "I'll leave my underwear on and not swim naked, if you girls swim in your underwear too. And Jake."
"I really don't want to be in the water knowing Blake's just, you know, hanging out there." Kayla looked at Sandra. The younger she-kat blushed deeply.
"Okay." She said finally.
Jake removed his belt and his shorts fell without much effort. The girls followed suit. Kayla laughed. "Nice training bra, Sandy."
"Shut up." Sandra hissed, clapping her paws over the small pink lacy bra.
Jake, Blake and David chuckled until Kayla pulled off her own top, revealing two barely restrained, perky boobs that seemed to bounce with every movement.
"Holy shit..." They mumbled in unison.
Kayla laughed lightly and pointed down. "Um boys. You mind telling your shorts that it's not polite to point?"
Jake cleared his throat, covering himself with his paws. Blake did something similar, but David, who was older, and, clearly, more mature, simply laughed.
"Only if you tell the twins to stop jiggling there, Kayla." David ran after her. "Want me to slap you with it?"
"Oh gross!" She laughed and ran towards the water.
With the tension broken, Sandy giggled and ran towards the water. "Are we going swimming or what?"
"Where the hell are they?" Chance asked, looking around. It was starting to get dark. The fireworks would be starting soon.
"I've got half a mind to go look for them." Melissa huffed.
"I think we should." Chance replied. "This isn't like Jake at all." He stood up and walked in the direction he'd last seen the boys. Melissa followed. As they passed over the hill, sounds drifted in from the nearby lake. Laughter, screams and splashing. Chance narrowed his eyes in the direction of the path leading through the trees to the shore front. "You don't think they would have taken off, do you?"
"Do you want an answer to that?" Melissa groaned. "Let's go haul them out."
Jake held his breath under the water while Sandra got on his shoulders. When he had his arms around her shins and was sure she wasn't going to fall, he stood up, sucking in a breath of fresh air as soon as he cleared the water. Then the wrestling match between Kayla and Sandra ensued. Jake dug his heels in to maintain his balance. "Come on, Sandra! Knock her off!" Jake shouted, feeling Kayla getting the upper paw. If Kayla won this time, that would make it 4 and 0. Where was Blake? He was supposed to be tickling her feet so she'd fall. Jake smiled when Kayla suddenly drove her foot into David's ribs.
"Oh MY GOD!" The shrill yell caught their attention. "SANDRA DEEANNE DALTON! YOUR MOTHER IS GOING TO SKIN YOU ALIVE!"
"Oh crud." Sandra hissed, locking her leg around Jake as she started to fall, taking him under with her. They shared a look under the murky water, still hearing Blake's mother shouting, before coming back up.
Jake zeroed in on Charlie. Chance had already found her leash and put her back on it. Casually, he walked out of the water.
"I cannot believe you two girls! This is not how a she-kat behaves." Melissa clicked her tongue. "And you, David!" She sighed. "Well I guess we all expect this sort of thing from you."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" The older teen glared. "For the record, getting the girls out of their clothes was not my idea."
"Like you didn't hesitate to go along with it." Jake hissed, taking his shorts from Chance.
"Well I know that my son would never suggest anyone do anything like this." Melissa gestured towards her son, who was reaching to remove a piece of grass from Sandra's behind. She cleared her throat loudly.
"What?" He snapped back up. "She asked... I mean." He cleared his throat. "Totally not my fault."
Melissa turned her accusing eyes onto Jake, making him stumble while putting his own clothes back on. "What?" He asked, voice cracking. Two pairs of eyes glared at him while the rest tried to find something more interesting to look at. Jake sighed. "Yeah. It was my idea. But it's way better than what Blake was suggesting."
"Which is what, exactly?" Melissa turned back to her son.
"That... we... should probably be heading back or we'll miss the fireworks?" Blake smiled innocently.
"That's a pretty good call." Chance smirked. "Maybe you should have that of that two hours ago."
"Not my fault the picnic was boring," Blake whispered to Jake as they started walking back.
"No shit." Jake hissed in response, only to have his head whacked by Chance. "OW!" He rubbed the base of his skull. "What the hell, Chance? Are you and Rita trying to give me a concussion?"
"You're really on thin ice right now, Jake." Chance glared in the dark, handing the leash over. "You need to give her a bath before we leave tomorrow."
"You're leaving tomorrow?" Blake asked. "That blows!"
"Blake!"
"Sorry." Blake flinched, expecting his mother to come at him.
"Yeah." Jake's ears flattened. He hadn't expected to have fun, much less make friends so quickly.
Rita looked up from the blanket she'd spread out so they could watch the night sky.
"I'm just saying," Chance could be heard talking as he was approaching. "You could have told me you were going swimming. I wouldn't have cared."
"You wouldn't have. But you would have told Blake's mom. And she would have cared." Jake sulked.
"What did you now?" Rita asked, her voice lighthearted.
Jake sat down on the blanket only to have Charlie leap at him, trying to nip at his face. He fell backwards. "Nothing worth getting upset over."
"They went down to the lake." Chance said. "Apparently the picnic was boring. You should give Blake your cellphone number." He suggested. "And you never know, he and his mom might be able to come see us for a week."
Rita gave him a curious look.
"He's bummed out about leaving." Chance explained.
"Oh honey." Rita cooed. "Go ahead and give your new friends your number. You know we'll come back up here. And, like Chance said, you'll probably see them in the city."
"Yeah." Jake replied with little enthusiasm.
"Well go on." Rita urged. "While you still have time. You know we're leaving in the morning."
"I don't even have anything to write it on." Jake said, a slight whine to his voice.
"Please." Rita rolled her eyes and found her purse. "I have everything in here."
"Yeah. Including my game." Jake glared.
"And it's staying there." Rita returned the glare, handing him a sheet of paper and a pen. "Now go. And you better come right back. If Chance has to go looking for you again, you're gonna have a hard time sitting down for the trip home."
Jake rolled his eyes and got up. "Come on," he pulled Charlie a little just to get her attention.
Blake looked up from where he sat beside his mother at a picnic table.
"What's up?" He asked.
"Nothing." Jake sat down. "I just, you know, thought it would be cool if we kept in touch. Maybe you and your mom could come to the city for a week or so."
"That would be awesome!" Blake's brown eyes lit up. "What about it, Mom? Could we do it?"
Melissa smiled softly at Jake. "As long as Chance doesn't mind."
"Are you kidding?" Jake laughed. "It was practically his idea." He quickly wrote down his number, then Chance's and the house phone. "I figured you'd want Chance's number." He told Melissa.
"Oh I expect him to call me." Melissa smiled. "He's got our number. You can get it from him."
"Okay." Jake looked nervous. "Do you know where Sandra is? I'd like to tell her bye."
"Can I go with him, Mom?" Blake asked.
"Come right back." She said.
"I will."
Blake navigated through the onlookers as the sky flashed with different colors and sounds. "There she is. Over there!"
Jake smiled at her as he approached. "I'm not about to get shot, am I?"
"What?" Sandra asked.
"You know, for dragging you off to the lake?"
"Oh. No. It's fine." Sandra looked down.
"I just wanted to say goodbye." Jake looked down as well. "I had a lot of fun."
"Will I get to see you again?" Sandra asked.
"Rita says we'll come back. So, yeah. Can..." Jake felt his cheeks burn. "Um... so.. could I get your number? You know? Before I leave?"
Sandra giggled girlishly. "Now that would get you shot."
"Oh. Right." Jake laughed, though it sounded more like her giggle than anything macho. "So.. I'll just see you here?"
"Yeah." Sandra nodded.
"Well, um, then..." Jake smiled. "Goodbye."
"Bye Jake. I had fun this week."
"Me too." He waved again as he walked away. "Would her dad really shoot me?"
"It's not her dad you have to worry about." Blake answered.
"Oh." Jake mouthed. "So. This is it." He held out his paw.
Blake slapped it and pulled their paws together in some sort of shake. "I'll be seeing you."
"Yeah. I hope so." Jake smiled before walking away, Charlie pulling him as a smell caught her attention. He made it back to Chance and Rita without incident and dropped back down to the blanket.
"Don't forget what you're going back to, Jake." Chance said. "You're going to see Jason again soon. And with you playing football now, it's not like you're going to be short on friends."
"Yeah. You're right." Jake turned his head to look at Charlie, rolling on her back in the grass. He reached out and scratched her belly. "And next year is going to be so much better than this year was."
"Damn right it will, kiddo!" Chance laughed, throwing his arms around Jake and driving his knuckles into his dirty hair.
"HEY STOP!" Jake cried out, squirming to get away. "CHANCE!" He let go of Charlie's leash to try and get Chance off of him. Hearing her master's shouts, she jumped onto him and began slobbering on his face with her big pink tongue. "Ugh!" Jake whined. "Not you too!"
Chance laughed and settled back, leaning on his paws. Jake remained on his back, letting Charlie lick him to death, his eyes settling on the elaborate fireworks filling the sky. Rita looked at her son and they shared a smile.
Chance pushed open the door to Jake's room and winced. Since he had the braces put on, Jake had started snoring unbelievably loud. He looked out the window at the sun creeping up over the horizon. It was going to be a long day. Chance clicked his tongue to get Charlie to wake up. Her head snapped up and she jumped out of bed. Chance watched her run out the door and down the stairs before sitting heavily on the edge of the large mattress. "Jake," he shook the boy lightly. "Come on. Time to get up."
Jake made a snorting sound before rolling his head towards the low voice. "Huh?" He blinked his eyes tiredly. "What?"
"Time to get up. We've got to pack and get the car loaded up so we can make it home before it gets too late." Chance patted his shoulder before standing up.
"Hey Chance." Jake slowly pushed himself into a sitting position. "What I said last night. About how next year is going to be better. It will be, right?"
"I guarantee it." Chance smiled brightly.
The End. Of Part One. Soon to come: The Sophomore Year.
Thank you all for your wonderful reviews.
I hope you enjoyed the first part of a, hopefully, four part series, and I can't wait to begin putting up chapters of Part Two.
Nyte Kat