Author Note: ...thank you to all you Hardy Boys and Nancy Drews who spotted the incorrect date on Lotte Lenya - who knew she was so popular!

Chapter 41– No Playing Around

T7S

Kitty Forman had a healthy tan and a skip in her step. Colored flowers were pinned in her hair and she was happy. Red was actually smiling as the two temporary caretakers carried the luggage into the kitchen. Against hope, Eric asked, "Did you get me something?"

Red grinned – rare- but a grin and handed Eric a small plastic wrapped package. Eric smiled at his mom whose glittering eyes encouraged him to open the gift. With renewed enthusiasm, he tore open the plastic and shook out something made with fabric. From behind the table, Jackie started laughing. "Oh….look…you got a nice shirt."

He turned the white fabric around to review a private little joke his dad had played on him. He read the front of the shirt. "My parents went to Cancun and all I got was this lousy T-shirt. Ha. Ha."

Red roared with mirth. "See Kitty? I told you he'd love it." He ruffled his son's hair, "Now don't say I never gave you anything!"

Jackie intervened. "Mrs. Forman, how is your back doing?"

Kitty smiled and replied, "It's wonderful. I got a massage everyday and the ship had these wonderful hot tubs….not like that wooden barrel Bob Pinciotti had in his backyard. This was actually a part of the swimming pool."

Jackie beamed her approval. "And you got some sunshine too. Looks good on you."

Red walked towards the fridge, "Boy, there better be some beer in here."

Eric pulled the corny tee-shirt over his head just to show his father there was no hard feelings. "I promised to leave you with more than you left."

"Coffee Mrs. Forman?"

"Oh honey, please. I found out you can only drink so much booze before it all tastes the same." Kitty eased into a kitchen chair. "I had such a wonderful vacation."

Jackie poured a cup of black coffee and set in on the table in front of Kitty and then took the empty seat next to Eric.

Red moved to sit across from his wife with a cold can in his hand. "I even got some fishing in and the ship's cook filleted it for me. Good times. Met a couple of dumbasses but it was good."

Eric visibly flinched at the word "dumbass" but he and Jackie had already concocted the missing bird story so everything should be okay. Kitty was raving about the sites of Cancun while Red was talking about the saltwater fishing. Jackie was squeezing Eric's knee under the table, making him very close to losing his composure. "Er, mom? I need to run to the store to get – I'm…I...need to pick up the Sunday paper for Dad. I think Perkin's still has some old ones."

Jackie winked slyly. "I'll go with you; I have to get some pantyhose."

Eric nearly ran out the door so fast that Jackie could almost swear she saw tread marks on the floor. She grabbed her purse from the barstool and slid the door shut behind her. All of a sudden she was pulled around the corner of the house and into a most welcome embrace.

Eric kissed her.

It was mad and passionate. It was lusty yet cavalier and Jackie adored it. She shivered and loved the blood pounding in her veins and when he whispered against her hair "You make me so crazy" she knew this was it. Definitely the IT she had been looking for. The "thing" Jackie thought they were going to be was so far removed from the "couple" they became, that it was like she was on a different plane of love than she had ever experienced.

Eric looked at her with adoring eyes. "Kill me now because I can't go back in there and pretend in front of my folks that you don't mean something to me."

Jackie bit her lip in the most provocative way before admitting, "I can't either. I'll tell your dad that I'm going to start looking for an apartment – soon!" She was so happy that she was unable to wipe the smile off her face.

Jackie's hand was at his chest and Eric trapped it with his palm covering hers. "You do know I love you and the idea of you moving out…."

She sighed, "Me moving out means freedom - for both of us, but not until I'm sure your mom doesn't need me so don't be a worrywart!" She pressed a soft kiss on his upper lip and continued, "In the meantime, take me to the store because I really do have to get some pantyhose."

T7S

Kitty was dismayed at the loss of Marco but Jackie and Eric convinced her (lied BIG time) that Marco's original owner sought him out and took Marco back to Milwaukee (another big lie). Eric lied again when he told Red he couldn't accept the reward since after all, he had only been doing his job.

Red couldn't really argue with his son doing the right thing but he was going to miss his beer drinking companion dammit. Jackie offered to take Kitty to the pet shop if she wanted to get another bird.

"Oh honey…just like Shotzie – you really can't replace one animal with another. Each little pet makes a place in your heart that you keep forever. I'm just glad I got to nurse Marco back to health – maybe I should think about taking some veterinary classes at night. I'm not too old to go back to school – am I?"

Jackie laughed, "No Mrs. Forman, you're not and you would make a great vet assistant. I can find out where they hold night classes if you are interested."

Kitty patted Jackie's hand. "Oh honey, let me talk it over with Red. In the meantime, you need to hurry or you're going to be late to work."

The brunette smiled. "I'll see you in the morning. I'm glad you had a great vacation." She looked at the happy relaxed smile on Mrs. Forman's face and realized that one day; she would have that kind of contentment. Quickly, grabbing her sweater and purse she waved goodbye and ran to her car.

On the front seat was a pink envelope. Laughing with glee, she put the letter in her purse and started her Monday with a smile.

xXx

"Forman. Meet me in my office in ten minutes." Mort Herzerger said in a gruff voice. Eric looked up at the sight of the burly office manager who was usually absent on Monday's. What was Mort doing here so early? Eric shrugged and nodded that he understood, he mimed looking at his watch and held up his hands wiggling his ten digits. Mort nodded and headed into his office slamming the door behind him.

Christy, one of the office dispatch attendants looked alarmed. "What did you do?"

Eric held up his hand in defeat. "Not a single clue – he is pissed off and I don't know why."

She smiled, "Well, good luck Eric, you are one of the best dog catchers we have." She winked on the words dog catcher but he knew what she meant. He had only been at this job a little over four months, how badly could he have screwed it up?

xXx

Hyde picked up the telephone receiver and dialed 411 asking the operator for the number of Glassworx in Kensoha. He held while the voice looked it up and he scratched down the numbers on a steno pad repeated them back before hanging up. He was admiring his little glass pipe and envisioned a larger display and customers coming in with fists full of cash – that wouldn't have to be reported to the Grooves accountant right?

A sharp sting on the back of his neck brought back a buried memory. "…Your greatest fear has come true Steven. The Government was after you but not for the reasons you think. This time is was for failure to pay taxes. Reports were that you pocketed money for sales tax that your father reported as income and it appeared that you altered the books ….. They confiscated the Point Place Grooves store and auctioned it to recover some of the lost income."

Hyde shivered and thought he better talk to W.B. about his new additional venture before he got in any serious trouble. Still, he dialed the Kenosha number and waited while it rang. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained.

The phone rang twice and a chirpy happy voice answered, "Glassworx….can we design something for you?"

Hyde loved the inflection in her voce. "Uh….yeah…I'm interested in adding some of your inventory to my store."

"You would like to be a Glassworx distributor sir?" The perky voice questioned.

"I guess…..what do I need to do?"

"Well, for starters, I'd recommend a tour of the factory. We can show you some of the gaffer's at work and some basic glassforming techniques as we move you through to the showroom." She paused to wait for questions then continued. "It's very informative Mr….I'm sorry, what is your name?"

"Uh…Steven. My name is Steven." Why did he stammer just then?

"Okay Steven. I'll put you down for 3:00 Saturday afternoon. Does that fit into your schedule?"

Hyde didn't want to hang up just yet so he replied, "Say…what's your name?"

A small sigh hovered over the line before she answered with a smile in her voice, "My name is Amber."

He grinned. She did sound like an Amber…the smooth amber color of a smooth shot of whiskey. "So Amber – will you be giving me the tour?"

There was a lilt in her voice as she replied, "Yes Steven. It will be me or one of our capable staff and we are looking forward to seeing you Saturday at three." The call ended but Hyde was actually smiling and anticipating seeing a cool chick – please let her look like her voice sounded – and becoming a Glassworx distributor. W.B. would be proud.

xXx

Mort sat on the edge of his desk while Eric sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair. That ugly yellow that reminded him of a hospital waiting room. Mort was tapping the corner of a manilla folder against the palm of his hand and when he spoke his voice was gruff and louder than usual.

"Forman, as much as I hate to do this…."

Inwardly, Eric cringed. This could NOT be good. Mort tapped the folder a couple more times then sighed. "As I was saying, as much as I hate to do this, I've got no choice but to transfer your ass Forman. There's been a couple of employees quitting the zoo and I need you over there."

Eric looked shocked. "Am I supposed to be the poor sucker that cleans out the monkey cages? Mort, seriously, I think I'm a little overqualified for that kind of crap work."

Mort barked out a laugh. "Eh kid, you're not going to clean the cages. I need you to work the zoo. Help out with the tours, inspect the animal quarters and keep inventory. That damn gorilla eats more bananas than all of Wisconsin and Point Place can't have a skinny ape on display for the kiddies."

Eric's head was reeling. Was this a promotion? "Sir, what about my job now?"

Mort tapped the manila folder. "Already in the works. We got a couple of new guys to take over your route so I need you to hang up your suit and go down to Personnel and see who you got to talk to at the zoo."

Awkwardly, Eric pulled out the keys to the Animal Control truck and laid them on the desk. "So I'm not being fired?"

Guffawing, Mort shook his head. "No Forman, I'm just gonna miss losing my best dog catcher. You made my department look good." He held out his massive paw and shook Eric's hand. "I think you get a raise with this so ask the gals in the office when you go down there."

Skippity-fucking-do-dah! Eric nearly bounced down the breezeway to the Personnel office. He was NOT being fired and he was getting a bonus. Now he really had something good to share with Jackie!

xXx

A/N: It's been pointed out that I keep spelling Shotzie incorrectly. Depending on your source it could be Schautzie or Shotzie - I can't go back and change every little reference so let's just keep it as it - cool?