Part Five

After they danced, Mary led Jassa to the room, she and Jesper would share, and since HM already roomed with Bosco it was perfect. Jassa knew exactly where HM was, and she wasn't so worried.

Jassa smiled in Mary's direction and whispered, "Thank you for putting us up here while Jesper goes to his meetings."

"Anytime Jassa", smiled back Mary. "Any time..."

Jesper turned to his wife "Jassa, my love I got to go to my meeting. I will be back at two with my stuff." He kisses her and started to leave.

"Jesper?"

"Yes Jassa?"

"I love you. You old fool"

Jesper smiled. "I love you too Jassa."

Jassa and Mary escorted Jesper to the front door and Jassa watched him go, she loved him, she really did. She looked at Mary, and asked, "Now what? What would you like me to do?"

Mary looked at her "You will do nothing you are a guest."

"We Murdocks do not stay at someone home for nothing."

Mary smiled. "Well I could used help with the dishes."

"Hey mama. I am going to Stinky Anderson."

Mary looked at her son. "All right Scooter, why don't you take HM with you?"

Bosco looked upset "Ah mama do I have to?"

Mary put her hands on her hips and with a warning tone she said. "Bosco "Scooter" Baracus."

That was all that needed to be said. When Mama said those three names in one sentence, she meant for him do what she asked.

Bosco nodded his head "Yes, Ma'am" He turned to HM and said, "C'mon Kid, I'm gonna teach 'ya how to really play stickball."

Grinning HM turned to his grandmother, and said, "Bye Gramma, see you in a little bit." And the two were out the door in a flash.

Bosco led HM though the alley to his best friend home Walter Anderson whom everyone called Stinky. Stinky and the rest of the gang were waiting

Bo Carter stood up "Hey Bosco. Why you bring him back?"

Bosco looked at HM and then back at Bo "Mama made me. Are we going to play stick ball or not?"

HM stared at Bosco. "Aren't you going to teach me how to play?"

Bosco looked at him. "Later I'll teach you later right now just watch."

Finding a comfy patch of grass, and sitting cross-legged, HM cupped his head in his hands, and watched the boys playing stickball. He was fascinated. He wished Bosco would hurry and teach him. Suddenly the ball came straight for him, as HM tried to get it, it passed between his legs. He watched the ball roll to the edge of the grass, and ran over to get it.

"Lemma have it Kid", said Bosco holding out his hand.

"Okay", sighed HM. "But you promised to teach me to play", said HM again.

"Later Kid later", said Bosco.

HM stood up he stared at Bosco "My name is not kid its HM and you promised to teach me. He pull his hand back "So you don't get this ball back until you do."

Bosco grab HM by his shirt "Give me the that ball you little creep."

"No not until you teach me how to play "

Suddenly Bosco hit HM.

"A fight." scream Johnny Anderson Soon all the boys were fighting instead of playing.

Suddenly Mrs. Anderson opened the screen door, she ran out into the yard, and she put her hands on her hips. At first she tried to be calm, and get the boys to calm down that way. But nobody listened to her, until...She ran back inside and grabbed a metal whistle. She blew it, and the fighting stopped.

"What going on here?" she demanded.
Stinky and Johnny looked up at their mother. "Bosco and his friend started it mama," replied Stinky "

"Walter, I don't want to hear it." She spoke calmly to the children. "You kids go home now."

All the kids ran out of the yard and Bosco walked very fast thought the alley.

"Hey wait up," called HM.

Bosco stop and turn around his eyes were blazing. "Why don't you go back from wherever you came from. You hick."

HM's eyes tear up, and he looked at Bosco. "All I wanted was for you teach me to play stickball, because for one thing you're my friend. Aren't you?"

For a split second Bosco was undecided. Then he said, "Well if you wouldn't have taken the ball away, I would've taught ya."

"When?" demanded HM.

"After the game, an' Bosco Baracus don't lie", answered Bosco.

HM thought for a moment "I'm sorry."

Bosco looked at him. "Yeah me too come on let's go to the park and I'll tell you."

He stared at HM who right eye was turning black "Is your grandma going to be mad?"

"Yeah but Grandpa will be proud. It's a beauty," replied HM proudly.

They soon enter the park and Bosco looked around to make sure his friends were not around. Bosco gave HM the stick and show him how to stand but no matter how hard he tried HM could not hit the ball.

"You are hopeless."

"I m sorry," replied HM.

"That 's okay. Here throw me the ball." HM threw Bosco the ball just like a pitcher would Bosco stared at him in amazed.

"Where did you learn to pitch that way?"

HM stared at Bosco "You mean like I just did?"

"Yeah that."

"I guess I learn when I was chasing squirrels out of Gramma 's garden. I threw rocks to chase them out."

Bosco grunted, "You gotta good arm on ya kid."

"Thank you, Bosco", said HM. His face beamed.

Bosco tossed the ball back at HM, and said, "Now hold the broomstick, and when I throw the ball, you swing at it. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it, but if you breathe a word about me helping' you to play, I'll make your other eye black. Got it Murdock?"

"Got it Baracus", smiled HM.

All afternoon Bosco and HM played. It wasn't long before HM could hit the ball but no matter how hard Bosco try he could not hit HM ball. Bosco was amazed because he was the best hitter on the team

"Hey HM?"

HM ran over to him. "Yeah BA "

"Do you want to pitch in tomorrow game against the Wild Cats?"

"Do you really mean it."

"Yeah, I do."

"What about the others?"

"Once they see you pitch they won't say anything. Come on it getting late."

"Hey Bosco "

"Hey call me Scooter all my friends do."

"Hey Scooter I was good wasn't I, you couldn't even hit my ball."

Bosco shrugged his shoulders, and he and HM were back at Bosco's apartment. As they came through the door, Bosco led them both to the kitchen, where Mary had placed a plateful of cookies and two glasses of milk. Soon the two ladies entered the kitchen as well.

Mary spoke first, "Well boys, you played for a very long time."

Jassa nodded. The two raised their heads, and glanced at the women before them.

"Yeah, the game lasted for a long while", said Bosco. Not mentioning that he and HM had been in a fight.

Until Jassa asked, "What happened to your eye HM?"

HM and Bosco looked at each other. HM smiled at his Gramma. "Isn't it a beauty Gramma?"

"What happened oh my poor baby. Here let me kiss it "

HM pulls away. "Don't Gramma, please. I got my very first black eye and I am so proud of it."

"But what happened. HM who hurt you?"

Mary looked at her son Bosco I think you better tell us what happened and right now."

Bosco looked from left to right, and from right to left, he took a deep breath, and said, "Well we were at Stinky Anderson's house, and we were playing stickball when..." Bosco's voice trailed off, and he hung his head.

"When ,what Bosco Baracus?" asked Mary softly, but sharply.

"Well we wouldn't let HM play at first, and the ball came to him, and he wouldn't give it back and I got mad, and I punched him in the eye..."

"Bosco Baracus, I have told you time and again to control that temper of yours", admonished Mary.

Bosco hung his head. "I'm sorry Mama."

Mary nodded her head. "I know you are baby but I just can't let you get away with it so go to your room."

Jassa looked at her grandson. "I think you should have given Bosco back his ball Howard Mancuso Murdock, now you go stand in the corner."

HM also hung his head, and went to stand in the corner, while the mother and the grandmother watched them do what the boys were told to do. They stood with their arms folded. Suddenly without any warning, Jesper came through the door, with his and HM's bags with him. He called for Jassa, and both she and Mary came running.

"What is it Jesper?" asked Jassa as soon as she caught her breath. "Old man you scare the daylight out of me."

"Nothing just announcing I was back and I have surprise for that grandson of ours, and that Bosco fellow."

"Well speaking of HM Murdock Jesper, he needs a good talking to", said Jassa. "A grandfather to grandson sort of talk."

"Oh one of those said Jesper his brows furrowing together.

Jesper just smiled at his wife and went to talk to HM. "Hey sport I heard you got into a fight."

HM turned around and face him. "Yeah I got a black eye Grandpa. It's it a beauty?"

Jepser looked at the black eye carefully. "Best looking black eye I seen in a long time." HM stood there proud of him.

"You think so Grandpa", said HM finally. "Because Gramma looked awfully mad an' scared at the same time when I showed her", he finished.

Jesper chuckled, "Women are funny like that Howard." They get ruffled about the strangest things. Oh and if she asks, we had a man to man talk. Okay"
HM nodded, and Jesper gets up from the corner where he'd knelt in front of HM to talk to him.

Jesper walked back into the kitchen.

"Well Jesper did you have a talk with your grandson."

"Yes Jassa I did. HM understands. "Then he won't do, it again?"

"I said he understood, I didn't say he won't do it again. He a boy Jassa and boy get into fights."

"Jesper he's got to learn", argued Jassa.

"He's learned, and he is still learning", argued back Jesper. "He's sorry, he try not to do it again. So please let him out of the corner", finished Jesper.

Jassa looked at her husband. "Jesper you come with me right now. "

Jesper followed Jassa in the room where she pointed to a corner. "Jesper stand in that corner now."

Jesper look at her but she stood firm he shook his head and stood in the corner.

HM looked over at him and whisper "Grandpa we're in trouble right?"

"Yeah HM deep trouble"
End of Part 5