Companions All by Will B

Cousins All
by: Will B
(© 2007 by the Author)
Advisor: E Walk

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

Jason and Nicky: You have found love with each other

and now together you soar on eagle’s wings in endless space.

We miss you, we miss your love and your wit

May peace and light fill your days.

From Chapter 17: Jim attended an educational conference; Troy got a phone call from his brother; plans were being made for Moving day for Al and Mark.

It was 7:30 in the morning. Luigi, Rosa, and Tony were getting the store ready for another day’s business. Papa Luigi was bringing some canned goods from the storeroom. Mama Rosa was counting change into the drawer of the cash register. Tony was sweeping the floor.

At 14, almost 15, Tony’s work in the store was developing his muscles. His shoulders were just a little bit broader. His chest and abdomen were becoming more defined. His peach fuzz was turning into stubble. He was thinking that he would have to start shaving. Other changes were taking place in his young body, too.

All three of the people in the store were thinking about Tony’s future. Mama Rose was thinking how wonderful it would be if her Tony would go to high school, and then college, and then become a lawyer or a doctor. Papa Luigi wanted the best for his Tony, but he had a secret dream that he had shared with no one, not even his dear Rosa. He thought that maybe Tony would want to . . . but, no, it probably wouldn’t happen. Best not to hope.

Tony wanted to go to school and get an education, and make Mama and Papa proud of him, but he saw how Papa enjoyed working in the store, and helping people, especially those who were ‘temporarily’ going through a rough patch. Tony thought some day he would like to . . ., well, he would do anything for his parents, anything except . . . he would not give up his Rosa. His feelings for her were growing stronger. He would never give her up, not even for Papa and Mama.

At 8:00, just as the store was opening, a car pulled up and parked outside the store. Two women got out. One was Nellie Taylor, and one was a woman Papa and Mama had never met. The two ladies came into the store.

“Hello, Rosa, Luigi, and Tony,” Nellie replied. “I would like you to meet Peggy Johnson. She is Al Johnson’s mother, and she and I spent yesterday getting things for our sons’ ‘kitchen shower,’ and there are just a few more things we thought we would like to buy.”

The adults greeted Peggy Johnson and shook her hands. Tony just smiled a friendly greeting.

Peggy smiled, “Al and Mark are moving into an apartment together, to save money on the rent. Nellie and I have bought some things for their kitchen that they will need, and we thought we would get some groceries. They are moving today, and so, when we leave here, we are going to their new place and stock their refrigerator.”

“We thought they might like some of the meals that are easy to prepare, that they can just pop into the oven or into the microwave,” Nellie said. “We have a list.”

Mama and Papa quickly filled the list and then Mama went into the refrigerator and brought out a large ham. “This will be easy to bake, and when it’s done, they will have meat for several days,” Mama said.

Mama said, “Your sons helped us catch those criminals, and their alarm system helped save our lives. This is a present from us; it is the least we can do. Please take it.”

“Yes, ladies, please accept it. Mama and Tony and I want you to give it to the men as a housewarming from present us,” Papa said. “Tony, please carry the ladies’ groceries to their car.”

As Tony carried the bags to the car, Nellie said to Mama, “He is a nice boy, so polite, and helpful.”

“Oh, yes,” said Mama, “And do you know he even does his own laundry. He puts his sheets and pillowcases into the washing machine every week, sometimes twice a week. Once he even did them three times in one week.”

Peggy and Nellie said how nice that was, but inwardly they were chuckling. They had both raised sons, and they had a pretty good idea as o why a young man might want to save his mother from having to do his sheets, and from seeing certain marks.

The two ladies went out to the car, thanked Tony, and each tipped him $5.00. Tony didn’t want to take it, but Nellie and Peggy both insisted. They got into the car and drive to Milford Avenue.

There was a lot of activity on Milford Avenue. Matt and Gary were up early, to greet their new tenants. Pete, Joe, Mack. and Buddy were also up early so they could help carry in boxes.

Al and Steve (the granddads) were also up. They had some preparations to make for later afternoon, and they had something coming that was to be delivered to their house at noon.

Matt and Gary had had the painters in, and they had painted the apartment in colors that their new tenants had chosen. The painting had been done a few days ago, but Matt and Gary opened all the windows so that any lingering smell of paint would be dissipated.

At 9:00 Steve Johnson drove up in a truck carrying the boxes with Al’s possessions, a couple of pieces of furniture, and Al’s clothes. He was followed by Al in his own car. The truck was quickly unloaded, and at 9:30, Jim Smith arrived in another truck with all of Mark Taylor’s worldly goods. Mark was close behind him in his own car.

Jack Johnson, Al’s father, arrived shortly after that and he carried several mysterious looking boxes into his father’s and Steve, Sr.’s, house.

Al and Mark had their clothes hung in the closet and a delivery truck from Sears arrived with a new king-sized bed and mattress. The bed was set up, and Pete, Joe, Mack, and Buddy came across the back yard with several boxes—new sheets and pillowcases, and towels and washcloths.

Nellie and Peggy arrived with their groceries, which were quickly put in the refrigerator.

Everyone greeted Nellie Taylor warmly, making her feel right at home. “Dear Lord,’ she thought to herself, ‘These are such nice people. I think Mark and Al will be happy here, and to think that years ago, people of different races might not have felt so much at ease with each other!’

Al, Sr., said to her, “So you’re the mother of my new grandson. I know you’re proud of him.”

“Yes, sir, I am,” replied Nellie, “and I guess you’re grandfather of my new son. I know you’re proud of him, too.”

“Nellie, I’m Steve, Al’s other grandfather, and I just want to say, well . . .. Welcome to the family.”

By 2:30 Al and Mark’s furniture and possessions were all moved in and put away. Al, Sr., Steve. Sr., and Jack Johnson were relaxing on the back porch, when Jack asked everyone to gather around.

Jack spoke first, “We want to thank you all for helping Al and Mark to get moved in, but there are two more items to go. Peggy and I want to give Al and Mark a brand-new, top of the line . . . stereo. I just hope they won’t play their music too loudly.”

“No, Dad, we promise,” his son replied, “except maybe we’ll turn the volume up for Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture on the Fourth of July.”

Al and Steve, the two granddads, then moved forward and said, “And we want Al and Mark to have this – a new color TV set.”

Everyone clapped, and then Al, Sr., said, “It’s 3:00 o’clock now. I think everyone should take a breather, go take a nap, or whatever, and come back at 5:00. I will be grilling steaks and burgers for everybody. Maybe after supper, we’ll have a little music.”

Jack and Peggy turned to Nellie and said, “We’ll take you home so you can rest, and we’ll come get you at 4:30.

Al and Mark were alone in their new apartment. “Home, at last!” Mark said. Al gave a snicker and said, “Aww, I wanted to say ‘Honey, I’m home.’”

Al looked at the living room, and said, “Don’t you think the book-case would look better on that wall?”

Mark thought for a minute and then said, “No, I think it’s fine right where it is.”

Al and Mark looked at each other and started to laugh. AL said, “Honey, I guess we are well and truly home, and we’ve just ‘christened’ this home with our own very first almost argument.”

Mark shot back, “You bet your sweet ass we’re home, and since we’ve ‘christened’ the apartment, and we have two hours to ‘rest,’ waddaya say we ‘christen’ the bed?”

Tender kisses turned to passionate love bites. Gentle caresses became warm hugs and caresses on each other’s chests, sides, abdomens, hips and butt cheeks. Flaccid appendages stood to attention like rigid flagpoles. Lips, hands, and penises explored every orifice, crevice, and nook and cranny that they could find. Faster and faster . . . faster and faster . . . until . . . .

To be continued, and the events of the remainder of this day will be told in our next chapter.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you’re not sure of the meaning of the symbols used above, drop me a line, and I will try to explain them to you.

Editorial Comments: I keep wondering what Papa Luigi wanted Tony to be. Did he want him to be a professional baseball player, porn star or perhaps a priest? I guess we’ll never know. Hey, any author that uses symbols in his story should be investigated by someone. E