PS22
Johnny was fast asleep dreaming of lying on the beach with a beautiful woman when a loud pounding forced him to open one eye and look at his clock radio. It was 7 a.m. He and Veronica had talked until almost two a.m. about the art they had seen.
The knocking persisted, forcing him to get up. He wasn't expecting company and wondered what was going on. Johnny unlocked the door and opened it just enough to see who it was.
"Uh, Cap!" Johnny's mouth hung open.
"Want to let me in there pal?" Stanley smiled brightly.
"Um, sure," Gage slowly opened the door and Hank stepped in. It was then he noticed Cap was holding a chair, on the chair was a grocery bag and underneath it was a large pink box.
"John, I suggest you get dressed, the guys will be here any minute with the truck and I suggest you get coffee made, they move much better with it," Hank placed the chair by his kitchen window, the grocery bag and pink box on his counter. "Take care pal," Stanley patted him on the back. "And remember my office door is always open." Stanley turned and was gone.
Johnny blinked his eyes not sure if he had seen Stanley or not. Then he heard a large moving van pull into his parking lot. Shutting the door, he quickly went to his bedroom to get into his jeans and shirt.
"Hey anyone home," Roy called as Johnny opened the door, he also had a chair and another pink box.
"Hey Roy," Johnny rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and blinked a few more times.
"Ah I see Cap was here," Roy smiled noting the chair, box and bag.
"Really kinda thought he was a figment of my imagination." Johnny grinned. "One second he was here and then the next gone."
"Well you better get that coffee going, and open up that box," Roy put the box to his companion and opened it. "Besides Johnny just remember Cap's here in spirit." And winked.
"Um, yeah sure. But Roy I only have a two cup maker and I don't…" Johnny watched as Roy pulled out a large eight cup maker, coffee and Styrofoam cups out of the paper sack Cap had brought.
"TA DA! Like my magic trick?" Roy could see his friend was still in shock. "Just get the joe brewing okay?"
Gage nodded and did what he was told. He poured the first cup and just had gotten to his mouth when he heard them, grunting and groaning. Putting his cup down he opened his front door to find Marco, Chet, Mike, Roy and Brice holding furniture.
"Hey Gage," Chet pointed at his forlorn living room. "Want to get rid of that crap so the good stuff can go in."
"Well?" Johnny acted offended. "What do you want me to do with it?"
"You don't want to know," Marco laughed. "C'mon Chet, lets put this stuff down; I want some of John's coffee."
They dropped the chocolate brown love seat, a small coffee table and lamp in the middle of the tiny room. Stretching they poured themselves some coffee as Johnny retreated to his kitchen and then opened up the pink box Cap had brought. It was filled with doughnuts, bagels and Danish from the bakery he knew so well.
"Guys," Johnny offered the box and then refreshed their coffee, realizing he would have to make another pot. He watched as the guys wolfed down a few pastries and get back to work.
They disappeared and came up with more stuff. John watched as Chet headed to his bedroom.
"Hey Gage," Chet yelled. "Want to get your ass in here?"
Going around his counter he headed to his bedroom.
"Want to get rid of this," Chet kicked the air mattress. "You remember how to sleep on a real bed, don't ya?" He snickered.
"Of course I do," Johnny whined as he deflated the bed and rolled up his sleeping bag.
"Now get the hell out of here so us 'real men' can work," Chet signaled and Marco and Mike came in carrying other parts of a bed.
Still in shock Johnny retreated to the safety of his kitchen to find Roy and Brice carrying in a book case.
"All right!" Johnny grinned.
"Oh but there's more Gage," Brice pushed up his glasses and disappeared.
"Um more?" Johnny looked stricken and was having a hard time focusing.
Roy quickly came to his friend's aid.
"Hey Johnny c'mon why don't we take a seat over there?" Roy guided him to his new breakfast nook and sat him on a chair. He helped John put his head between his knees, thankful the woman's auxiliary would be arriving shortly with more food.
DeSoto watched as the Brice and Mike brought up the TV and stereo and shrugged and mouthed 'too much'.
The men both nodded and went about their work.
"Here Junior," Roy put a wet cloth on Johnny's neck.
"I hate you calling me Junior Roy, man. I'm sorry I ever let you do that," Johnny shook his head.
"Hey don't want to undo my good work. Now stay down a few more minutes until the color comes back to your face," Roy watched as the door opened to reveal his wife, Janine Stoker, Marco's mother and Cap's wife, Elaine each carrying some sort of food.
"Well partner the ladies are here. I think I'll let you sit up now," Roy went and kissed his wife. "I'll go get the boxes. Hey guys the women are here with food, but I suggest we get the boxes first."
Roy took the box to the bedroom and Joanne followed closely behind. He set the box on the now made bed.
"How's Johnny doing?" Joanne had noticed her friend's quiet behavior.
"It's a little too much for him. He's keeping it together although I don't know for how much longer," Roy fretted.
"Well feed him that ought to get his strength up. I take it from here," Joanne kissed Roy and opened the box.
"Okay," Roy kissed her back and found his worried friend in the kitchen. "Sit," he ordered, forcing Johnny to sit again on his new chair.
Unhappily he did and then found a plate of food placed in front of him as the women had disappeared. Johnny munched happily on his Italian sandwich filled with hot peppers, potato salad and chips. He found a soda by his plate and the guys taking a breather on the floor of his apartment.
"Wow, it actually looks decent now," Chet beamed proud of his handiwork.
"Well Chet this isn't a slum you know," Johnny's ire was up. He was happy his friends did this for him, but he wasn't a charity case. One thing he hated at the reservation, with all these people sending their throw always for the poor Indians.
"Relax Johnny, it's all good," Roy gave him a trusting smile and another plate of food.
"Hola Juanito," Mama Lopez came over and gave Johnny a big hug. "I put some tamales in your freezer and other good things. Now I put away you can rearrange later." She proceeded to open a box and pull out pots, pans and appliances.
Johnny opened his mouth, Roy glared at him and he dug into his food again. Eating made him feel better. He looked at his counter and saw a new toaster oven to go with his new coffeepot.
"Well guys we got to go," Mike stood up, "promised my friend we'd get the truck back to him." Stoker stood up and nodded to the other guys, who quickly policed their area.
"Yeah, besides I have a hot date," Chet announced and winked at Johnny. "We got to double date sometime; Roy tells me you got a new girlfriend." Kelly quickly made his exit.
"Roy, how could you!" Johnny put his hand to his chest.
"Sorry," Roy blushed, "it just slipped out besides I'm happy for ya!"
Now it was Gage's turn to blush. The guys waved goodbye soon followed by the women and the boxes they came with. It just left him and Roy.
Standing up Johnny looked at his new furniture, he saw the TV and stereo and even a small plant. He walked over and touched everything making sure it wasn't a dream.
"Hey partner," Roy walked over to his friend. "We want you over for dinner sometime this week."
"Yeah, sure, sure," Johnny mumbled still in awe of his new digs.
"Huh uh. I'll call you. I got to go," Roy patted Johnny on the back.
Johnny turned around, "Thanks pally I mean it, it's just….words can't…"
"It's all right Johnny that's what friends are for. Promise to call," Roy grinned from ear to ear.
"Yeah I promise to call. And thanks again Pally." Johnny walked his friend out. Shutting the door behind him, he headed to his bedroom and his mouth dropped open. On his bed was an Indian blanket but that wasn't caught his eye. On the bookcase/headboard were small photo frames. Coming closer he saw photos of him and Roy, the DeSoto's and the gang at 51's. Photos he had lost in his hurry to move and get out of LA. Sitting on his bed, he held the photo of him and Roy in front of the squad, their first year as paramedics. Before he could stop himself, a steady stream of silent tears fell from his eyes. He laughed and wiped his tears.
