Chapter 13

The next day, Eddy and Sailor and I were outside. "Who wants to go to the pool today, and chill?". Eddy asked, as he coughed a smoker's cough. "I definitely would". I replied, as I fed Sailor her yogurt. "You might be in for a treat, coochie". "We might go to the pool for a bit, and swim". "It is a fun pool, they have waves, like a wave pool, they have a trampoline in the deep end, that we can mess around on…it's a lot of fun". Eddy coaxed, kindly. Eddy smiled, as he wiped his brow. "That sounds like fun". Sailor said. "I'm definitely in for that".

"Coochie, you are going to have so much fun…we might invite Sarah and Ed to come as well". Eddy said, gently. "They would be nice to have around". Sailor replied. I furrowed my brow as I heard this. "Eddy, need I remind you of Sarah's lack of stability and rational thought?". I said, scowling. "She might be alright…perhaps". Eddy said, as he chuckled a bit.

"Perhaps". I replied. So, in the spirit of the pool, we packed up, gathered the items for the cooler, and headed down to Sunset beach.

Sunset beach is a lovely pool. There's a weird reason why it's called Sunset Beach, however. The owner added the wave prospect to it, so that's why he refers to it as a beach. But in light of it, we headed down, grabbed a couple chairs, and sat out. Ed and Sarah hadn't arrived yet.

It was a gungy pool. Think of Dino kingdom in the Parkway Center Mall, it was like that….anyone could come in, and make home there. That's how bad it was. You were allowed cigarettes in the pool, and a kid pooped in it every couple months, gangs would come in…it was quite a place.

I walked around, shirtless in fact. Though I had a scrawny little chest. But it was just as well. I was shirtless with jean shorts. Long, jean shorts. "Coochie, come on in". "Join the fun…look, there's a trampoline in the middle of the deep end, a diving board, and the waves will go off any second now". "Every 10 minutes the waves go…and they're not big waves…they're so little". "They're ripples, practically". I convinced, gently.

"Not like Hilton Head, the beach that's there?". Sailor asked, hesitantly. "No, that's the ocean…the ocean will always have big waves…this is a pool…it has baby waves". I said, kindly. "Come on, coochie". "When you're ready, I'll hold you…I'll make sure you're ok, and we'll swim together". I coaxed, kindly. "Ok". Sailor replied, as she came close. She swam by me to begin, but after a while, swam on her own. "This is fun". Sailor said, as she laughed and played. "What'd I tell you, coochie". I said, lovingly. Sailor laughed and played as she and I swam…being so together, and so copesthetic.

Sailor and I smiled as we swam. "Hey, guys…who's afraid of the dickhead on the other side". Eddy said, laughing as he scooped Sailor up in his arms. "Uh oh, the big man who scares kids is back". I said, as we laughed. Sailor laughed as well.

"Check this out, Sailboat". "Essentially, I chunk up the deuce and I throw myself down, like that, it's frrrrl-like boom!". Eddy said, as he did throw himself down from the side. Picture it, reader. You know very well what he's talking about. Just picture it. Eddy laughed, as he snorted some.

Sailor laughed as well, in fact. We all laughed as I rolled my eyes. "You'll break your arm doing that". I advised. "Nah, it's cool". Eddy said, snorting. "Cha!".

I rolled my eyes, as I scooped Sailor up in my arms. "Don't listen to him…he has a few brain cells missing". I advised. "Actually, he's kind of funny…you should try it". Sailor said. "Maybe I should". I replied, as I threw myself down…repeating the half-brained thing Eddy said. We all wound up laughing then.

"Who wants to play keep coochie away from the deep end?". Eddy suggested. I laughed, shaking my head, as I nodded. "So, the object is that if Sailboat tries to wander away to the other side, one of us scoops her up?". I asked. "Yep, let's try it". Eddy suggested. "Alright". I replied. So Sailor tried swimming away…try as she did, as both of us chased her, while she kept swimming. Eddy waited on the other side, scooping her up. "Can't get away from us". Eddy said, as he laughed. "Watch me". Sailor joked, as she laughed. Still Eddy scooped her up, giving her kisses. He tickled her as well. "Double D, help me out here!". Sailor said, as she laughed. "I don't know about that…you know the old adage, never trust your enemies, but indeed, you shouldn't trust your friends, either!". I said, as I laughed. Sailor and I laughed, as I tickled her as well. "Don't worry, Kiwi…I'll get you away from these losers!". Sarah joked, laughing as she wrestled with Eddy and I. She brought out the claws, (fingernails) as she pawed at, and wrestled with Eddy.

"Get the fudge off of me!". Eddy snorted, as he laughed. "Let her go, she's on my side, dipshit!". Sarah exclaimed as she laughed. "The object of this game is to get her, not let her go!". Eddy snorted, laughing. "Dogpile on Sarah!". I exclaimed as we created a body pile consisting of Eddy, Sarah and I. This allowed Sailor to get away. Sailor swam, as she went to the deep end, finding the trampoline. "So, this is the famed trampoline, huh?". Sailor said, as she swam towards it. "Nice…let's try it out". Sailor remarked, as she climbed up, jumping a bit on it. "Bouncy bouncy". Sailor said, as she jumped up and down. "Yeah, it is pretty bouncy, huh?". A young girl replied. "It is…it's nice". Sailor replied. "I'm kind of scared to jump off of it". The girl said, as she buckled her knees. "Don't worry, I've got you". Sailor replied, as she helped the young girl jump. Looking into her eyes, Sailor knew who she was. She was a Powerpuff girl. Bubbles was there.

"Bubbles!". Sailor said, excitedly as she hugged Bubbles. "It's too bad you trusted me…you know, even the most innocent can be underhanded". Bubbles said, in her sweet little voice. "What the…?". "Ok…wait, you aren't playing….uh oh". Sailor said, as Bubbles took out a bullhorn from Radio shack. "Guys, I found her!". Bubbles said, as we all, (plus some other Cartoon Network characters) surrounded the trampoline. "Thought you could wander away, huh?". Eddy and I said, as we snickered, laughing. "Well, to that I say…let's chunk up the deuce!". Sailor said, as we laughed, and she jumped into the pool, while we all tickled her. "Awww, coochie coochie, lookie who's a wittle baby!". We all joked, as some hands pinched her cheeks, affectionately. We all laughed, as the waves came. Eddy walked around with a squirt gun. "Let's get this party started, lookie what I have!". Eddy exclaimed, as he squirted water from the gun. "Come on, now…be happy". Eddy coaxed, as the gun was close to his nipple while he squirted. Sailor laughed, as she was tickled. "No one's happy, weirdo!". "Put that away!". Sarah laughed. Eddy squirted her, as she wrestled the gun from him. It was a nice time…we splashed one another, we laughed, and we even went to the trampoline in the deep end.

"Check this out guys….let's chunk up the deuce!". Eddy said, slamming himself down as he bounced. Sailor laughed at the stupid thing Eddy did. "That's weird, Eddy!". Sailor said, laughing. "No, what's weird is this". Eddy farted on his armpit, while I burped. Sailor laughed at that as well. "Bet you can't guess how good that is". I said, as I burped some more. "You are so weird!". Sailor said, as she laughed until her sides hurt.

"You guys are gross!". Sailor said, as she laughed. "We are gross, but so cool at the same time!". Eddy said, winking. We all laughed, as we gathered around, jumping on the trampoline. I bounced closest to Sailor as she looked behind her. "Double D!". Sailor said, as she laughed. "What can I say, a double bounce is the closest approximation to fun!". I said, kindly, as I laughed. "That is the weirdest thing I've heard you say all day". Sailor said, laughing. I smiled, as I held her hands, bouncing with her. Yes, indeed reader. We were Cartoon Network characters…having a fun time. A fun day. When we jumped down from the trampoline, we swam for a bit, just having a fun old time. It was a good day, in essence.

Sarah got out of the pool, sitting on her towel. "This is a good day, in fact". Sarah said, as she scrunched her eyes, putting on sunscreen. "It truly is, babe". "With or without the dweebs". Kevin said, as he snuck up behind her. "Oh, the Dweebs are here…they're here, and they want stuff". "They're so weird…they were kissing Sailor, and calling her coochie". "Like…they're oddballs". Sarah muttered. "Yeah, Eddy for sure". "I heard he got a girl pregnant". Kevin muttered. Sarah turned around. "No, that was Double D that did that". Sarah replied. "He is…someone that shouldn't be around girls". "Which is weird because…he's usually a nerd".

Kevin nodded as he sat down. "Yeah, he's the nerd I've seen….any nerd that does that is cool". "Wait…isn't he a physicist now, or an engineer?". Kevin asked. "Biochemical". Sarah replied. "He's a biochemical engineer….and he's done stuff". "He makes some money, which is good enough". Sarah muttered as she smoked a cigarette. Kevin nodded, as he laid out, sighing.

"I heard you cussing and swearing at the smoke detector last night". Sarah said, as she laid her head down between Kevin's legs. "You were so vulgar…why'd you do it?". Sarah asked. "Because the damn thing kept chirping, and besides…you screamed when it went off". "It seems we both don't know how to react in a civil manner towards a small necessity like that when it runs out of batteries". Kevin mentioned. Sarah flashed her eyes in an evil glare. "F.Y.I I was in the middle of a bad dream when it went off". "The constant chirping didn't help". Sarah snapped. "Well, we need to get maintenance to come, and do it…because I definitely won't touch it". Kevin growled. "Do as you must…the damn thing won't fix itself, that's for sure". Sarah snapped, evilly. Sarah growled now, as she laid down, with her sunglasses on. "Whatever you say, babe". Kevin replied, passive-aggressively. I will never understand those two. Their marriage is so…explicit in many ways.

Sailor came out of the pool, as Sarah smiled a charismatic, loving, charming smile. She went from Pitbull to kitten in a matter of seconds. "Hello, Kiwi". Sarah said, kindly as she smiled. Her smile became diabolical though. "Looking for something, or someone?". "Kiwi, I have some lunch if you'd like some". "I have some pears, or some lemon squares, I even have some of your favorite capicola from up North". Sarah said, kindly. "That sounds good". Sailor said. "Come sit by us". "We are so glad you're with us, Kiwi". Sarah said, gently. Sailor nodded.

Sailor sat by them, as they sat, plainly, sunning themselves. "How's things going, Sailor?". Kevin asked, kindly as he drank some beer. Mike's hard Lemonade. "Good, school is going good, too". "I got good grades, I am on the honor roll, it's all nice". Sailor said. Kevin nodded. "School is a good thing…I tell ya I was never into school like you are". Kevin closed his eyes, rubbing his face.

"Neither was Ed or Eddy". Sailor replied. "Eddy almost got expelled once".

"So did Ed…he was outside smoking a cigarette on school property when he was caught". Sarah replied, tiredly. "Then, when they caught him, he was suspended for a month". "I laughed so hard, but honestly, I did the same thing". Sarah sighed.

"I'll bet". Sailor replied. Sarah listened to her radio, as she sighed. "So I hear you have an ice cream date with a boy coming up….that sounds fun". Sarah said, gently. Sarah rubbed her face. "Yes, but it'll be a nice one…we're just having ice cream, and swinging on the swings…nothing else". Sailor said. "Awww, that's cute". Sarah said, gently. "I used to like boys as well when I was your age…but to me, ice cream usually meant a peck on the cheek". Sarah chuckled a bit as she said this. "But to each their own….and you are a catch". "I wouldn't be surprised if everyone in your class asked you to ice cream". "Ice cream would be good". Sarah smiled a kind smile.

"I hope everything goes well for you….just remember, boys are always going to ask for things…like a kiss, or if you thought it went well, don't leave them hanging". "Just answer their questions, and treat them as you would a friend". "Boys like doing stuff like that…believe me…I know". Sarah said, kindly. Sailor nodded. "That sounds good…I'll keep that in mind". Sailor said. Sarah smirked as she kept some sunscreen on her. Kevin smirked a bit as well. "I'm proud that you're having your first date, Kiwi". Sarah said, kindly. "You know first dates are always the best".

"It's not really a date, it's a hangout". Kevin replied, as he sighed a bit. "But Sailor can do it if anybody can". "She's got so much coolness about her…she's the lady for it". Kevin chuckled a bit. Sailor nodded, as she ate her fruit, and capicola. When it was time, she headed back in the water. I smiled as I saw my coochie…my Sailor baby.

"There you are, coochie". I said, gently with kindness. "I was wondering where you were". "You left me hanging". I chuckled a bit. "Well, it's good to see you again…did you enjoy your snacks?". I asked, kindly, as I smoked my cigarette in the pool. Sailor nodded. "I'm happy you did…your best friend has some more at the house". I said, kindly. "That sounds viable enough". Sailor said. I smiled a kind smile as I smoked my cigarette. "Maybe tonight or tomorrow, when we escape the hustle and bustle…however it may seem….we should have a private dinner…you and I". I said, kindly. "We could drink some wine, you can even have a sip, and we could even have a luxurious dish". "I make a lot of money in my engineering field….you can order anything you wish". I said, gently. Sailor nodded. "I suppose I possibly could". Sailor replied. I smiled a gentle smile. "Whatever we like, my bodacious darling". "You and I can live large until Nazz returns". I said, kindly. Sailor nodded. When the pool day ended, I said goodbye to Eddy, as he had to return home. He said goodbye to Sailor. But we vowed to get together again. We were always close….Ed, and Eddy and I. Fervently enough.

The next day, I sat on my easy chair, with a blanket over me. I seemed to watch T.V. as I took my hip medicine. My hips were doing well enough….perhaps.

I sat down, watching television, as I yawned a bit, seeing Sailor come downstairs.

"How are you, my darling?". I asked, kindly with gentleness as I sat in my easy chair. My voice was softened to a gentle tone and kindness. "I'm doing pretty well". Sailor said. "I'm happy you are, coochie". I said, kindly with gentleness. I smiled as I saw Sailor….wrapped in her swaddle….drinking her Oat milk.

"There's not much happening today". "What do you say we have some snuggle time…coochie coo…baby". I whispered, gently. Sailor nodded as she drank her milk, her eyes blinking back tiredness. I smiled as I ignored the moisture from the old ceiling. And the dripping from the air conditioner. It was an old house.

Sailor nodded as she looked down at her blanket. I smiled a kind smile as I blew her a kiss. Though I noticed something near Sailor's face. "Coochie…what's going on?". "It looks like you have a buggy bite on your face…near your eyes….and your eye looks red". I said, gently with softness. "I do?". "I always thought…I guess….something fell from the ceiling and bit me on the face". Sailor said, as she looked upwards. "That's a spider that did that". I said kindly. "I think it's a female that did that…she was pregnant with eggs…and she was angry at the moment". "I know it hurts coochie coo…coo coo". I whispered gently. "Let's get some ointment and a band-aid maybe". I suggested, kindly.

Sailor nodded as she looked up at me. "It doesn't hurt that bad…but I guess it kind of is weird". Sailor said. I nodded kindly as I gently checked Sailor's eye. "Let's get some medicine for it, coochie". I said, kindly. Sailor nodded as she waited by the T.V. I smiled as I took some ointment, lathering it on Sailor's eye. "There we go coochie". "Cuddly bear will take care of you". I whispered gently. Sailor took some medicine for it, as we got her set up in my bed. "Where is the spider?". Sailor asked. "She's outside now…she won't bother us any longer". I said, gently. Sailor nodded as I tucked her into bed. "She was mean because she had eggs…she was pregnant…and sometimes expectant mothers are temperamental". I reminded kindly.

"Why are they mean?". Sailor asked. "That's because the mommies want to protect their babies…it's an instinct of theirs". I said, kindly. Sailor nodded as she snuggled up in bed. I snuggled close to her. "Coochie…will you do me a favor really quickly?". I asked, gently. Sailor nodded. "What do you need?". Sailor asked. "There's a bruise on my leg…can you look at it and make sure Nothing Is moving in it?". "Just make sure it's healthy for me?". I asked, gently…showing her the bruise on my leg.

Sailor looked at the bruise. "It looks ok". Sailor replied. "Thank you, coochie". "Mmm, one of these days, I do have to get my hips done". "My hips are bothering me a bit". I whispered, gently. Sailor nodded. "Why do you do your hips?". Sailor asked. "I have to get my hips done because they hurt…and it makes it hard for me to walk sometimes, baby". I said gently. Sailor nodded as I stroked her cheeks lovingly. "My hips need some love". I said, kindly. Sailor looked upwards as she felt the gentle massage, and the kind, loving touch of my hands.

"I love you, coochie". I said, gently. "You know your cuddly bear loves you". Sailor nodded as she closed her eyes. I smiled…seeing Sailor close her eyes as she fell asleep. "I love you too". Sailor said. I smiled a kind smile as I stroked her cheeks, massaging them kindly. Sailor knew she was in good hands. I knew she was in good hands as well. For as long as she needed, I would protect her….and keep her safe from anything. She was my baby….and she was my coochie. What was mine was hers, and what we had was special in so many ways.

As she was asleep, I snuck up behind her, pulling her close. I kept her close to me…pulling her in a warm, gentle, protective hug….which someone as scrawny as me couldn't possibly achieve on his own. But I did it. And I succeeded. Sailor was asleep as I smiled, keeping her close. I hummed a lullaby…her lullaby…her parents used to sing her….I used to sing her as a baby….I just hummed…as I kept her close to my arms…and I kept her close…holding her, tightly and gently….ensuring she didn't get hurt….ensuring she was safe. And she was…because I love her so much.