Memories, ..more stories Options

[old Andy]

Here's some new stuff, I hope you guys like it




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My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then



“That's it?” The youth asked frantically, as he paced the interior of the small bedroom.

“That's what it says.” The other replied, indicating the 'End of File' cursor that blinked with an irrefutable logic at the bottom of the small screen. “See?”

“But that, that, that blows Brahmin!” As the first youth gazed in denial at the sceen. “I mean.. this really sucks, Aaron.” Looking over the object again. “Are you sure there aren't anymore files in here somewhere.” Turning the device over in his hands “A secret button or something somewhere?”

Aaron grabbed it back. “[censored]'s sake Tom, you'll break it further. I only just got the audio to playback.” As he checked for any harm done. “It was my dad's, remember?” He added, in a softer tone.

“Yeah, sorry 'bout that.” Tom apologized, “But I mean, we still don't know anything! We don't know what happened to your mom -except of course that she survived since we just saw her an hour ago, we don't know what happened to your dad later on, with your uncle Carl..” Tom took Aaron dramatically by the arms, “Dude, we don't know anything!” Aaron grabbed his friend back and together they yelled in well rehearsed form “Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh, we're guuurlz!!”

A radio on a bed stand stopped in the middle of the song and the dj broke through; “Zow-wee, my cool cats and all my home dawgs out there in radio land, this is your Blitzener, the bizzer, the man who can, knows it like a radar scan.. from waay up top in my caddy shack, sending out the vibe.. we are now passing what once was the fabu-phalliscious golden Gate bridge -which isn't golden, it's painted red, so none of you mother [censored]ers go jumping over board in the hope that it's real gold, it ain't!”

A large shuttered window opened out onto a narrow balcony past the bed. The balcony ran for ten meters or so along the outside of the tower, crude but effectively welded to the side. Aaron had the window open and was already half way out. “C'mon Tom, we're higher up than Blitzener,” indicating that the twin towers that rose out of the Flying Dutchman's cargo holds were taller than the Cryslus Memorial tower that we should be able to have a great view.” Tom looked out onto the balcony with a look of trepidation creeping over his face.

“I dunno Aaron.. you sure it's safe?”

Aaron jumped up and down a few times, they balcony swaying slightly downward. “Yes, it safe. It's always safe. It was safe the last time you were out here, and it's safe now, see?” Cautiously, his friend climbed halfway out, Aaron withholding the urge to grab Tom and scare him, once had been enough.

“You're not going to freak me out, are you?”

Aaron held his hands up in defense “I'm cool, I promise.” as his friend climbed out further onto the balcony. While Tom seated himself, Aaron dived back inside to retrieve their snacks -left over from his birthday three days earlier. “Well..?” Aaron asked once they were finally sitting, soda's and chips at the ready.

“It's an okay view.” Tom muttered.

“What??” Aaron cupped his ear like an elderly person, “Wazzat sonny. Ya gots to speak up into my hearin' thingy, cuz I'm deaf like..”

Tom was grinning at Aaron's antics; “IT”S BLOODY BEAUTIFUL UP HERE!!”

A window opened and a female face in her twenties stuck out, looking for the source of the noise. Her gaze quickly fell upon the two youths.

“Ah, there you are. Get in here and wash up -oh, hello Thomas, I didn't know you were still here.”

“Rather here than my place, ma'am.” Tom replied “I think my mum hates me.”

“Well you're welcome to stay as long as you wish, I'll get word down to the Hunger Donner and let them know.” She wagged a finger at him quasi seriously. “But if I get any Wanderers or Warriors knocking at the door, I'm sending them straight to you.” Her head disappearing before it popped back out. “And wash up too. Honestly, where you kids find dirt and grim in those quantities on a steel ship is beyond me.”

“It's a talent.” Aaron retorted.


My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then


“Mom?”

“Yes dear, what is it.” Knowing that tone of voice she set set her fork down and looked over the finishing bits of birthday cake that had served as desert, again. “you can have the last piece of cake if our guest doesn't want it.” Tom looked at Aaron, head bobbing.

“I'm having it.” He stated. Aaron waved it off, shaking his head.

“No, that's not it. And sure, he can have it.” Winking at his mom, “You know how they only eat seaweed and crab cakes once a week.” referring to the mutated horseshoe crabs called mirelurks that were cultivated on board in captivity as a renewable food source.

His mother brushed away her son's joke, but Tom chimed in through mouthfuls of birthday cake. “It's the truth Mrs. A., all my mum makes is seaweed stew for my dad, who loves it for some odd reason.” He shuddered, “Actually, almost everyone in our house hate my mums cooking, except my dad.” She was laughing now as he continued, “That's why we can always be found at either the Hungry Donner or M'here.”

“Anyway” Aaron finally continued, “I was wondering..”

“Yes?”

“Well, you know dad's old pip unit you gave me for my birthday?”

“She was there, remember?” Tom made face palm gestures in between bites. Aaron shot daggers at him.

“Right, thanks Tom, eat your cake.” And to his mother again, “Well uhh.., as it turns out I could get some of it working again.” His mom looked up.

“Really?”

“Yeah, old stuff from you and dad, nothing gross or anything.” He put in quickly, “But uhh, enough to wonder what happened back then, you know, where uncle Carl might be.” And after a quick glace at his friend, “and uhh, maybe what happened to dad.” he added quietly. His mother, finished with her plate, wiped her mouth and stood to put it with the rest of the dishes. Aaron looked at his friend as she walked the few feet to the kitchen, Tom only shrugged in mid munch.

As Celeste walked back from the kitchen she thought carefully about what she wanted to say. She knew this could happen -he had his fathers gift for tinkering with stuff, and so she knew what she wanted to say.

“Your father left five years ago,” she looked at him as she stood by the table, “and uncle Carl has been out there searching for him all this time.” They never really talked about it before, but Aaron was fast becoming a person old enough to have these questions, so she took a deep breath, “And he hasn't found a trace of your father, nor has anyone seen him, or heard from him.”

Aaron was shaking his head. This wasn't what he wanted to hear. This wasn't what he wanted to ask his mother about.

“As much as I love your father, I'm afraid he's probably-”

“Noooo! You lying!!” Aaron was in tears. What the hell, could she just listen for a second? “He's not dead! He's not!! He's out there, and these tapes, these tapes say so!” Grabbing the pip unit from the table, Aaron stormed up the stairs where the door to his room slammed shut, loudly.

Tom sat at the table still, wondering if he could ask for another soda.

+++

Excusing himself from the kitchen, Tom ventured back up stair where sounds from the radio floated through the open door to his friends room. He could hear Blitzener giving the weather report for the bay area -sunny with a chance of showers of acid rain, and the UV-B count was a whopping 52 for today, so remember that sunblock, kiddies!

“Hey...” Edging it slightly further ajar, Tom poked his head inside cautiously. “It's the cavalry, don't shoot.” He eyed Aaron who lay sprawled out on his bed, slowly turning the pip unit over on the bed.

“Sorry 'bout that.” Aaron was still toying with the pip unit in his hands.

“Yeah well, I just talked to your mom, and convinced her to let you stay at my place this week while she's gone.”

“Seaweed stew all week? No thanks.” Although they both knew Aaron enjoyed staying with tom's family. There were always so many people about, not dulls ville like up here in the towers. Of course, extra prodding never hurt.

“It's either that or Princess Stomper. She's looking after the place while your mom's gone.” Tom commented as he pretended to be looking at some unnoticed detail in a poster hanging on the wall.

“Seaweed stew.. love it, it's my favorite, yum. And your family aren't the worst on board to be with by the way.” Aaron jumped up, comically over dramatizing his grabbing a bag and looking for stuff to pack.

“That's because you can escape, lucky sod. I'm serving a life sentence, remember? And Jenny's acting mental again..”

“I'll live.”

“With any luck, my mum will be so busy spoiling you, she'll completely forget about abusing me.”

“Great, we both win.”

“Soo.., you really think the answer to what happened to your dad is on that thing?”

“Gotta be.. or at least tell me something about what happened to him.”

“Well, what I said earlier about not knowing anything-”

“The truth hurts, huh?”

“Ha ha, dork. No, what I meant was.. we do know something! Lots actually.”

“How so?”

“Don't you see?” Tom walked over reaching for the pip unit. Aaron handed it to him cautiously with Tom making reassuring gestures. “Here look.” Pushing the replay button and skimming to the end. “Listen, your dad talks about everyone he knew back then, many of whom live either here on board, or on the Minnow.”

“And we can find 'em..” Aaron clued in.

“Yeah..” Tom nodded.

“And get them to tell about my dad..” Aaron continued. “By any means possible.”

“I can do irritating very well.” Tom ventured happily, knowing things would start happening soon. With Aaron, things usually did.

“We'll need that.” Aaron mentioned towards Tom's self acknowledged social skills while throwing some things into a duffle bag for the stay.

“What we need, is to get outta here before princess Stomper gets here.. honestly, as mutants go, she scares me.”

Aaron, having grown up a while on the farm with his uncle Archie -a nine foot, 800 pnd mutant followed everywhere by a pack of wasteland dogs he called his family, wasn't too phased by mutants as Tom was. But the princess was a ok, if somewhat over protective.

“She's okay, as long as you don't have to share a room with her, she snores like a chainsaw and a bullhorn had a love child together, and then beat it to death.

Back down stairs, Celeste was finishing up with the dishes, rinsing them with rain water from a bucket Aaron had drawn from the reservoir earlier. Rinsing with the semi salt water from the taps was vile, and left a the dishes tasting salty. Putting the plates away, she heard the boy laughing up stairs, she stopped and catching a glimpse of herself reflected in the plates surface, realized the time that had passed.

Five years.


Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

+++ five years earlier +++

“Then what, uncle Acky?”

“Uhh.., lemme sees 'ere.. uhh... errr.. 'ang on, der's some big wordy bits 'ere..”

The stairs to the attic were dark, the door shut. Inside, light came from the window at the far end, as well as small shafts of light from a structure at the other end, in the corner, behind some boxes was a crude barricade built from planks and cardboard, with a sign written in crayon over a tiny doorway,

'timothy's fort'
'No Gurls!!'

Next to it was a taped note that read

'& Aaron to!'

sticking out of the fort's doorway were a set of massively over sized feet trailing two hugely muscled legs, that both disappeared into the fort, the beam from a flashlight struggling to fit though the occupied doorway, and escape further into the attic proper.

Looking closer inside the fort, the rest of the muscled body was crammed into the fort as much as it would fit -which wasn't much considering the other occupant, a much smaller occupant, who was currently badgering his uncle for the rest of the story.

“And den Grognak says to da dragun 'Aaaaaarrrrhggggllll!!!' and den stomps it in 'is 'ead. See? 'ere on dis page, see?”

“Then what?”

“Uhhm..., err.. it sayz and den Grognak took da trr-eyeble guurl to 'is place and uhh, did fings wit her.”

“What things?” Inquisitively he asked. Archie wasn't sure himself, but the suggestions scratched at something deep within him, something nearly forgotten with time.

Uhhmm, it don't say” Looking at the last page, “But prolly she gets swanky new cloths an' stuff cuz 'ere at the end he's takin' her old stuff off of her, and den it ends.” he put the comic down. “Guurlz likes dem swanky stuff.”

“Pfft.. guurls.. blech!”

“And what, exactly, do you to gentlemen have against girls? I'm a girl to ya know?” Came a voice from out in the attic.

“Hey mom! You're not allowed in here!!” A trap door in the roof of the fort opened up, and an irritated six year old's face popped out. “No guurlz!”

“Well, this girl is telling the two of you to wash up for dinner, and Archie, Lunk was in the vegetable garden again. Do whatever it is you do with them, and please keep that dog out of there.”

A muffled “yes ma'am” emitted from the fort. Aaron's head ducked back in, and then popped back out again, all smiles.

“Sokay mom, we'll take care of it!” Then disappeared again.

Well okay.. dinner in five minutes.” Leaving the attic unsure whether this could be classified as a success, or failure in parenting..

As she came down the stairs, she heard the dogs bark outside in excitement, and a voice from outside as well amidst the tumult.

“Okay, okay.. here, here.. Hi ya big guy, how ya doin' then? Yeesss, good boy.., geez how many of you does Archie have? Yes, yes, I have some snacks.. here guys have fun.. I smell real food anyway.”

Outside in front of the porch, surrounded by dogs of all sizes, each trying harder to greet the newcomer, who was obviously a friend.

“Carl!?”

“Hey there sweet cheeks, hubby home yet?” As he tried in vain to dislodge himself from the pack.

Celeste now looked concerned. “I thought he was with you.”


I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

This post has been edited by old Andy: Aug 21 2011, 01:02 AM

[old Andy]

I'm really good at artfully dodging macabre port-o-potty thingies while on the road.. it's called not sleeping behind the wheel.


anywho

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+++ On board the Flying Dutchman, 2281 +++

“'Kay mom, we're outta here!” duffel bag shouldered Aaron jumped the banister onto the stairs and then bounced the rest of the way down, dropping his bag with practiced throw beside the stairs, landing neatly on his feet. Tom took the long way, starting at the top of the stairs, and going down them one by one.

“You're like a bloody jumping thing, one of those animals that jumps a lot.” He commented dryly.

“Big horn mountain sheep?” Aaron stood leaning casually against a support beam.

“Yeah.. one of them, I s'pose. Never seen one before, but apparently they can jump up and down the side of mountains... that's you that is!”

Aaron grinned at his friends remarks “Well, when you live in the towers, you either learn free running, or love stairs.” Then, looking around the room. “Mom?”

“Up here!” The voice coming from his mothers room. Tom, who had only made it halfway down, simply turned and walked back upstairs, while Aaron now grudgingly climbed up behind him. “There are, of course moments, where taking the slow route can be less work.”

“I believe in maximized gain from minimal effort.” Tom proudly declared over him shoulder, “Course my mum says I'm lazy as sin..” The door to Celeste's room was open slightly, so Tom just walked in; “He'll be right up Mrs. A., once he's- yikes!”

“Thomas!!” Celeste had her flame retardant flight suit on, a one piece job that zipped up the front. Celeste never wore anything underneath except panties, and with the suit still open down past her belly, the view had been something any warm blooded eleven year old stops and stares at.

“Hey I-” Tom, bug eyed at the view of his best friends mother with a frontal cleavage going down way to far, he spun on the spot and tried desperately to retrace his steps, in such colliding with Aaron coming through the door behind him.

“What? Oh.. whoops, sorry mom.” Aaron saw his mom just spin away towards her cabinet. That and Tom's complexion told the whole story.

“Sorry Mrs A..” Tom sided past Aaron and disappeared guiltily into the shadows beyond the room.

“That's uhh, okay boys. I, just uhh, thought you both, well it sounded like you were still downstairs.” flight suit now decently fastened, she picked up her holster and slipping her arms into the straps, then secured a sizable automatic in place, along with extra clips. She looked up, into the eyes of her son, who stood smiling back, full of love.

“Right then.” Getting the last business out of the way. “I'll be gone for a week- ten days at the most.” Aaron knew already where his mom was headed for, she was ferrying high-rollers from Ka-chinga towers on the Minnow to New Vegas, for a week of adult indulgence, that also as an eleven year old, he truly couldn't fathom the appeal of.

“You're flying 'em in on Serenity?” He asked, the south African built vertibird being by far his most favorite vehicle in or above the fleet.., as well as captain Davey's BRB 9000 of course, which was mega cool, as well as uncle Danny's Hal powerboat.. and the wanderers as well as the Warriors each had a dozen or so jetski's, which were rad as hell -although his mom had strictly forbidden him to ride them alone. But Serenity was definitely his favorite.

Definitely.

“No.” She stated, finalizing her flight bag for the trip “Grounded on a count of Daniel needing it himself.”

“Is it me, or is uncle Danny getting uppity?”

“Don't talk like that about him.” Pointing an accusing finger, “You should be grateful, he helped us out a lot when we first came a board.” In doing so, Celeste noticed the time. “and I'll be grateful if I can get onto the flight deck on time, so can we move this along, sweetheart”

“Yeah, I know. But is he?”

“Your uncle Daniel is..,” Celeste chose her words carefully, as she checked herself in the mirror. “A very busy man these days with the affairs of the ships senate committee.” Finished, she grabbed her things ready to go. “He does represent the most wealthy people on the ship these days.”

“I liked it better when he was representing the Dutchman.” As the two walked downstairs together, “Old prune face is letting this place rot.” His mom stopped on the stairs.

“Aaron?!” That didn't sound like her son. Aaron kept descending the stairs to where Tom stood waiting, and turned.

“Well, it's what everyone is saying mom.” Tom nodded in agreement, having heard everything from 'prune face' onward. Desperate to get past the awkward moment from earlier, he added his two cts worth.

“Is true Mrs A., things were a lot better around here when Mr. Dee was still representing for us over on the Minnow. Old Mister Howell doesn't seem to take much interest in us” Aaron started naming things, over emphasizing it using his fingers as counters.

“Numero uno: -your words- inflation. You said it yourself that everything was getting more and more expensive and hard-to-get.. hmm? Numero two-o.. uhh, whatever. -your words again- services. How many brown outs a week do we get up here? Not to mention have the time I turn on the faucet there's no water up here -and I'm talking salt water, okay.” Nodding, Tom helped interject.

“That's numero three-o” Smiling smug as Aaron continued.

“Geez the last time we had even semi working drink water up is.., what? A month ago, mom?” Aaron had his arms outreached, and let them fall to his side, his head fell. Celeste came down the rest of the stairs, and patted her son on the head, and hugged him. Tom felt a moment of jealousy as Aaron was pulled in a tight hug.

“Ooooh.., it's so terrible, we should all just jump over board now, huh?” And ruffled his hair, as Aaron tried ducking the assault.

“Naah, don't. Blitzener said not to because the golden gate bridge isn't really golden, just painted red.” Smiling, “We'd look like total chumps if we jumped now.” punctuating the 'now'. Reaching safety -i.e., more than an arm length from his mom, he turned adding; “If we wanted to save ourselves pain and misery, we should've jumped before we ate those gross rat burgers you cooked!”

Celeste stopped cold under the insults to her cooking, squinting, hand on one hip and pointing a loaded finger of reason, “Really? Rat burgers, huh? Then why, Mr. Anderson, did you eat three of them? Hmm??”

“I was being polite.”

Yuk.

She was so gonna get him.

“And Tom here,” Who was already holding his hands up in a defensive leave-me-outta-this stance, was grabbed by Celeste who threw an arm around the boy, “If my cooking is sooo bad,” Inching around the furniture, her captive in tow, “Why on earth did this strapping young gentleman put away so much of it? Hmm, smarty pant, riddle me that one.”

“Simple.” Making sure Aaron was keeping the table strategically placed between him and his mom, “Tom's the politest person on this ship. Hell, he even say he thinks you're pretty! HA!”

“Aww., that's so sweet of you Thomas.” giving him a sudden hug and kiss on his head before letting go. Then she turned to the business at hand.

“But, as FOR YOU..” Celeste dove over the table, sure she would get the drop on her son.

The door buzzer rang, and since mother and son were engaged in a steeple race around the house, squeals of laughter ensuing, Tom opened the door and stared into the face of HATE.

It was tattoo'ed on Princess Stompers forehead.

“Ermm.. uhhh.. hi.., princess.” Tom croaked barely audible, as all the happiness from earlier drained away in an instant from Tom's face, as well as a sizable portion of the blood that circulated in it.

There stood, fully filling the frame of the door, and having to duck to get in, seven and a half feet, and nearly seven hundred pounds -she would tell you it was a bit over six, of female mutant. And a good friend of Aaron's mother.

She bent over closer to tom, eying him from mere inches away. “Yous a Beasly boy?”

“uh-huh..” He squirmed. If Tom could have, he would have climbed inside himself, dug a hole deep within himself, to finally climb in, pull a big massive rock over himself, and hid. As it was, he hoped he wouldn't faint. The princess gruffed a snort of indifference,

“Where Mrs. Si-si at?!” Which to anyone, meant Celeste.

“Follow the noise.” Weakly pointing a finger in the direction of upstairs where bouts of hysterical laughter were intermixed with words like 'You hate my cooking do you??' and 'TICKLE DEATH!!'. Tom shrugged in a they're-mental-what-can-you-do fashion that wasn't lost to the princess.

“OI!!” She bellowed over Tom's head, “I'M 'ERE!!!”

Not much later, the boys were on their way, Tom's ears still ringing.

Once safely out of earshot and bounding down the stairwell, tom felt that certain things needed to be cleared up between him and his good friend. Things that shouldn't stay unresolved between best buds.

“Your mum's a serious MILF, you do know that don't you?” Aaron ducked as is assaulted by cootie’s.

“Aw man, that's my mom your talking about. I live with her, remember?” As if that answered everything there was to say on the matter.

“I know.., must be brilliant.” Tom had a far away gaze in his eyes. “Coming out of the bed room.. going into the showers.. coming out of the shower and going into the bedroom... maybe accidentally dropping the towel.. 'oh sweetheart, could you pick that up for me? Never mind, I'll just bend over and grab it myself'-” Aaron whacked his friend in the chest.

“Dude, one more word and it's knuckle sandwich Tuesday, yeah?” Back and the here and now, Tom's thoughts to a turn for the more practical.

“You think your mum would adopt me?” Aaron blinked at his friend seemingly serious question.

“I know my mum wouldn't bat an eyelid at swapping out me for you.. she adores you.”

“Mom says it's because I have charm.” Aaron gloated kindheartedly. “Sokay though, I could teach you.” Bounding down half a flight at a time, his friend in a slower, and safer pursuit.

As Tom descended the stairs to another landing, he slowed even further, lost in contemplation. As if with each step further he reached a deeper conclusion in the train of thought.

“Hey,” Speaking to his friend, “We have to start at the beginning when you arrived on board.” And following his own logic, “So how did you guys actually arrive on board? Cuz it probably has to do with everything.”

“Captain Davey's BRB.., I told you that once, didn't I.” Aaron didn't understand.

“Yeah, yeah. But before that. What happened that made you guys come aboard in the first place.” Aaron just blinked. That wasn't a fun time to remember for him. And it certainly wasn't one he'd talked about. He slumped on a chair which was in the corner, resting his elbows on his knees. Tom sat on the stairs.

+++ five years ago, the Vanderkamp farm house +++

They were all sitting at the table on the porch, on account of the weather still being so nice this far into the year. Celeste, Aaron, Archie and Carl were finishing up their plates, enjoying the early evening.

“Archie, stop feeding them at the table, you know it only spoils them.” Celeste remarked in between bites as another piece of meat fell into the waiting jaws of his lead dog Ivy, a healthy animal and alpha female of the pack ever since her mate, the then alpha male of the pack died a few years earlier. For awhile Archie had thought that Gonzo would have been her new mate, and rise to alpha male. But Gonzo rested in his grave, reshly dug by the old oak tree, next to the family grave of the Vanderkamps, all looking down from the hillside peacefully.

“Can I be done now?” A fidgety six year old asked. “Pweeeeeessse..” Batting his eyelids for good measure. Normally, as any good mother will attest to, Celeste was able to ignore the insurmountable assault of cuteness that her son could unleash at the drop of a hat. Normally that is, but Carl, and then Archie came to the boys defense, and under their conbinded effort, she swayed, faltered, and finally caved in.

“You didn't eat your veggie's”

“He ate most of them, Celsete. C'mon, it's nice weather, let his play.”

“He et most of my udder sandwich earlier too, he did.”

“It's 'ate' Archie, and if he wasn't feeding half of it to Ivy, like you are.. yes, I saw that.”

Carl dug into his bag he had next to him, “Check it out, squirt.” Pulling what looked to be a toy raygun out.

“Whoa.. cool!”

“That isn't real, is it?” Aaron mom asked slightly worried that if it was, it was already too late. Carl gave a reassuring nod.

“Okay, look, before I give this to you, you have to understand a few things.” Googly eyed, Aaron just nodded.

-How to get the complete and undecided attention of any six year old boy: hold a cool looking gun in front of them.

“This, is a sonic repulsor, hand model. Picked it up north off of a guy who certainly didn't have any use for it anymore. It's nonlethal, meaning it won't kill anything, just make them wish they were somewhere else.” Pointing the the various dials and settings. “safety, trigger -of course, this is where the battery goes, and this is the amplitude adjustment controls.” Looking at Aaron to see whether he was taking it all in. He was. “Lowest setting just tickles, on two or three it gets really uncomfortable. Level five is where wild animals will just start to run away, and will force a grown man to lose their lunch violently, as well as needing a change of undies.” Aaron grinned at the last bit, took the weapon while thanking him and eying his mother whether it was okay, but Celeste held quiet.

“Let's go boys!” Running down the hill, three quarters of the pack running happily after him, Aaron making 'pew-pew' sounds. Carl smiled as the boys dissapeared, turned to see a rather annoyed woman across from him.

“Whaa..” Shrugging his shoulders innocently.

“If I mysteriously contract a case of diarrhea for no appearnt reason,” Pointing after her son, “I'm taking that thing,” then pointing at Carl, “hunting you down and shoving it in your pants on auto-fire, Carl Johnson!”

Carl didn't think it wise to point out it was only made for single shot use. Archie was looking at something insignificant on the porch ceiling, seemingly a lot smaller than he was. So Carl did what his friend had taught him once.

Smile like a scared monkey, and pray.

This post has been edited by old Andy: Aug 19 2011, 03:05 AM