Tip & Ty by E Walk

Tip & Ty
by: E Walk

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 18

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

This is Mark.

As I was driving to the school, I was thinking. I have been up for nine hours and I have aged twenty years. I pulled into the loading zone and Bobby, Becky and Billy climbed into the van and strapped themselves into their assigned seats.

Bobby was holding an envelope, "Mr. Harrison gave me a note for you, Nano. I'll give it to you when we get home."

When we got to the house, Bobby handed me the envelope and I laid it on the counter and gave the children their snack. Bobby and Becky did their homework which was minimal. I was to find out that they were model students.

While they were working, I finished fixing the things for dinner. When they had finished their work, I took the children to the park to play with their friends.

The other three mothers who were interested in the playgroup were there and they were excited that I would be taking the group on Fridays. We decided to keep Mondays free. They were trying to figure out who would take which day.

We were watching the children playing, when a boy of about 12, who was playing soccer with his friends, took a bad fall. I watched as he tried to get up and he fell back to the ground. I ran to him and whispered, "Just lay still, we'll get you some help. Are either of your parents here?"

I felt the boy's legs and the right one was definitely not as it should have been. I had him lie back on the ground. Fortunately the other three mothers had reached us.

The young boy was starting to sob. "My leg hurts, and no my parents are not here. They are both at work."

I looked at the three ladies, "Do any of you have a cell phone?"

Two of the ladies pulled a cell phone out of their pockets. I asked one of the ladies to call 911 and tell that we have a young man here with a broken leg and that we are trying to get in touch with his parents. I took the other phone and asked the young boy, "What your name and do you know your parents work numbers?"

"My name Chris Watson and Dad's work number is 554-2810."

While I was dialing, I asked, "What his name?"

"Mike Watson."

The phone was answered, "May I speak with Mr. Mike Watson?" ^Å Good afternoon Mr. Watson. This is Mark Leavitt. I am here at the park with your son. Chris was playing soccer with his friends and he fell. I think he might have broken a leg. ^Å Just a minute, sir."

I turned to the young man. "Your Dad wants to know where you sister is?" I handed the phone to Chris.

"Dad, she's with her friends and she sent me here to play."

Chris handed the phone to me, "Dad wants to talk to you."

Mr. Leavitt said, "Thank you for taking care of Christopher."

"Mr. Watson, I'm glad I was here. I hope I was able to keep Chris from moving his leg and doing any more damage. Sir, the ambulance has just arrived. ^Å Let me check sir?"

I turned to the paramedics, "I have the young man's father on the phone. He wants to know where to go."

I handed the phone to the paramedic. The paramedic explained where they would be taking Christopher.

He handed the phone back to me, "Mr. Watson would like to talk to you."

Mr. Watson asked how he could get in touch with me. "Sir, my name is Mark Leavitt. I live with my employers at 626 Terra Drive and the phone number 676-7320."

He hung up and I handed the phone back to the owner, "Thank you very much."

Chris was placed in the ambulance on a gurney and the lead paramedic asked, "Will anyone be going with him?"

I shook my head, "We all have small children here whom we need to take care of."

The paramedic turned to me, "I commend you for reacting so quickly Mr. Leavitt."

After the ambulance departed, I collected my four charges and we walked back to the condo. I had them wash their hands, and I asked Bobby to set the table.

Ty was the first to arrive. Bobby was excitedly telling his Dad about what happened at the park. Ty turned to me, "That settles it. Mark, I want you to take your debit card and get a cell phone just for situations like this. How did the appraisal go?"

I took Mr. Hastings card out of my pocket and handed it to Ty, "Mr. Hastings would like for you to call him. He would like to set up an appointment to go over the appraisal with you and Mrs. Quinn tomorrow evening."

Ty made the call to Mr. Hastings and they agreed on a time and then he called Mrs. Quinn, "Okay Mrs. Quinn, we'll see you tomorrow night at 7:30."

Tip finally arrived and we had just started eating when the phone rang. I answered, "This is Mark Leavitt, how may I help you? ^Å Oh hi, Kevin, may I call you back after we finish dinner? ^Å Talk to you shortly."

I had just returned to the table and started eating when the phone rang again. Tip got up and answered, "Just a minute sir. I'll get Mark for you."

"Mark, it's a Mr. Watson. He would like to talk to you." Tip looked befuddled since he hadn't heard the story about what had happened at the park.

"Hi, Mr. Watson. This is Mark. How is Chris? ^Å Oh, he's the proud owner of a cast from his ankle to his knee and he wants me to be the first to autograph it. ^Å Of course sir, we should be finished eating in about a half hour. ^Å Okay, see you about 7:15."

Tip asked, "What was that about?"

The children excitedly told Tip about had happened at the park.

Tip shook his head, "I guess we will just have to start calling you Doctor Nano."

We had just finished eating and the phone rang again. Ty answered this time, "This is Ty Jefferson ^Å Oh hi Rita ^Å Let me put Mark on."

Ty handed the phone to me, "Rita Cummings would like to speak to you?"

"Hi Mrs. Cummings ^Å. We just finished eating ^Å Okay see you and Ryan in a little bit."

Tip and Ty were looking at me. I spoke before they could ask, "I will explain after the children clear the table and we do the dishes."

Bobby looked at me, "I guess you don't want us to hear, huh?"

"No, it's a very long story and you would get bored. Now come on we need to get the dishes done."

The dishes were done and the children had gone to Tip's bedroom to watch a video and I quickly explained what had happened in Mrs. Cummings office. After I finished explaining, I picked up the phone, "I need to return Kevin's call."

"Hi Kelly, this is Mark Leavitt. Is Kevin available? ^Å Hey Kev, what's up? ^Å Why don't you get someone to bring you to Doctor Washington's condo? ^Å I'll get you home. The address is 626 Terra Drive. Your Grandmother knows where it is. ^Å Okay, see you shortly."

Ty looked at me, "You have had quite a busy day."

I laughed, "Yeah, it has been 30 hours long and it is not even dark yet. I'm going to go check on the children."

The children were lying on the floor in Tip and Ty's bedroom watching a video. I sat down beside them and Billy crawled on my lap. When I heard the door bell, I put Billy on the floor and went to see who had arrived.

When I got downstairs, I saw Mrs. Cummings with a teenager. "Hi Mrs. Cummings, I take it this handsome young man is Ryan."

Ryan shook my hand with a firm grip. Tip and Ty introduced themselves.

We hadn't even had a chance to get seated when the doorbell rang again. I opened the door and Chris was standing there with a gentleman and a lady.

"Hi Chris. Are these your brother and sister?"

"No you nut. These are my parents, Mike and Vicky Watson." Chris laughed.

"Come in, I'd like for you to meet my bosses and some other people." I took them to the living room.

Before I could make any introductions, Chris looked at Ty, "I know who you are. You're Tyler Jefferson who played for the Kansas City Chiefs."

Mrs. Watson looked at Tip, "If I am not mistaken, you are the Doctor Tipton Washington who was featured on the front page of the Kansas City Star today. We already know Mrs. Cummings."

We had just gotten seated when the doorbell rang again. Kevin was standing there. He turned to the car, "Thanks Dad."

I took Kevin into the living room, "Everyone, this is Kevin Quinn." I introduced him to the people he didn't already know.

We finally got seated and I asked, "So Chris, what did the Doctors say?"

"They said I had a broken bone in my leg, but because of your help, it will heal very nicely. I wanted to come and thank you and have you be the first person to sign my cast. Mr. Jefferson and Doctor Washington, I would like for the two of you to sign it also, so I can brag to my friends that I have met you. Oh yeah, my mother would like to take some pictures of us together."

"Of course your mother can take a picture of us, but I only did what we were taught to do in my college courses. Here, let me sign your cast and your mother can take a picture."

Mrs. Watson took the picture of me signing Chris' cast. Mrs. Watson laughed, "What Chris forgot to tell you was that I work for the Kansas City Star and would also like to do a feature article on you."

I must have had a funny look on my face. Everyone was watching me, "Ma'am, you may write an article, but it is not going to be very interesting. But first I need to get the children ready for bed."

Ty interrupted, "Mark, go with Mrs. Watson. I'll go get my children ready for bed.

I looked at Mrs. Cummings, "Mrs. Cummings, I'll make sure to get Ryan home. I am taking Kevin home so it would not be a problem."

Mrs. Cummings left and Mrs. Watson took several more pictures. Then she and I went into the dining room where she did the interview. She asked some very strange questions which I could not understand the reason for, but I answered as best as I could.

I was to find out later that Kevin and Ryan had enjoyed the time they had to visit with Tip and Ty and Chris and his father.

The Watsons left and Tip and Ty excused themselves and went to their room. That left me with Ryan and Kevin, "Guys, I apologize, I had no idea it was going to be so hectic here tonight. Kevin knows a little about me but Ryan is probably a little confused about why he is here."

"I'm going to tell you a little about myself and then you may ask any questions you want and I will answer them as best as I can."

I quickly related a synopsis of my life.

Kevin picked up, "Ryan, I have shared this with Mark. I think I am gay and have asked Mark to be my mentor to help me understand the implications of what it means to be gay."

Ryan smacked his head, "Mark, I have been trying to figure out why I was here. I'm guessing that my Grandmother has told to you a little about me and what happened to my uncle. My parents are having a very difficult time accepting the fact that I might be gay."

I moved to the sofa where the guys were seated and sat down between them, "Ryan and Kevin, this worked out better than I had anticipated. I am not trying to get you together as a couple. I was just hoping that you could get together so you would have someone your own age to talk to."

Ryan and Kevin both looked at me. Ryan spoke, "Mark, thank you for even caring."

"Guys, Zack and I are going to be babysitting Mr. Jefferson's children this weekend while he and Doctor Washington take a trip to Colorado. Perhaps the two of you could come to dinner on Saturday night and spend the night. Ask your parents and if they give you any flak, get your grandmothers to help. Now I need to get you home since it is a school night."

I took the two guys home and secured the house when I returned. I was just walking out of the shower when Tip and Ty came into the room.

Ty looked at me and made some strange sounds, "Woof, Woof."

I started to laugh, "Knock it off Ty Boy. Your master will get jealous." I put on a pair of briefs.

Tip looked at me, "Mark, exactly what is going on with Kevin, Ryan and you? You must have something on your mind."

I finished telling them about the rest of the day and told them what had happened after they left when I was alone with Kevin and Ryan. "I asked them to dinner on Saturday and to spend the night. I hope you don't mind if they sleep in your bed."

Tip threw up his hands, "I guess you are not only a doctor but also a psychologist. Oh by the way Zack called. He is getting concerned because you are never here when calls. He said he was beginning to think that you had other dates. You'd better go call him before he flunks out of school."

I put on my pajama bottoms and a tee shirt and went down stairs to use the phone.

Zack answered, "This is sex starved, lonely and blue speaking, so where were you this time?"

I was laughing as I started to tell him about my day.

He started to laugh, "So, I guess you were bored huh?"

"Bored I'm not; exhausted I am. But don't worry, I'll be rested by the time you get home on Friday. I'll work on getting you so tired over the weekend that you will probably fall asleep on your way back to school on Monday. Love you, but I got to go to bed."

Zack responded, "Love you double, goodnight."

I was about to go to our room when I remembered the note that Bobby had handed me. I had been so busy that I hadn't even opened it.

I went to the kitchen and picked it up off of the counter where I had put it. It was addressed to Mr. Mark Leavitt. How odd? I opened it and started to read.

Mark,

It was a pleasure meeting you today. I would very much like to get to know you better outside of the school environment. Perhaps we could get together for dinner and a movie if you are interested.
Sincerely, Tim Harrison

I was stunned. Why would Tim take the risk of writing me a note like this? I had only talked to him two or three minutes while I was making arrangements to volunteer in his classroom. Do I have the word gay written on my forehead? I think I had better show this to Tip and Ty and the morning and ask for their advice.

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:

Author's Note:

If you would like to read more of this story and other interesting stories, you might like to visit www.tickiestories.us.

Editor's Notes: I think Mark is a remarkable person. He seems to have it together pretty well. He understands people and does his best to help everyone. Everyone seems to take an instant liking to him. I can hardly wait to find out what will happen next, but then that is always the case with Uncle Ed's stories. He has the ability to bring his stories to life. We are all ready for more with each new chapter.

Tip and Ty are going to have a wonderful weekend together. I am sure that Mark, the kids and Mark's new young friends will have a great time together too.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 11/16/07