Struggling Forward - 10. Hatman's Return

Hatman’s Return:

The boys were sitting in the living room enjoying their late Christmas gift exchange with the Colonel when a loud hammering sound emanated from the door. Davis jumped up from his spot on the floor and ran to answer the door.

As Davis opened the door, Rudolph slammed the door into of Davis sending him sprawling across the floor, “Get out of the way you…” Rudolph grunted as he glanced at Davis while he stepped over him, “KYLE MATTHEW REMINGTON GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE!”

Kyle glanced at Blu, “What the hell?” Kyle stood up and walked into the foyer finding Davis laying on the floor, “What happened to you, Davis?”

Rudolph grabbed Kyle by the shoulder jerking him away from Davis, “You pathetic piece of shit,” Rudolph shoved Kyle against the wall as he pulled a copy of the newspaper from his pocket shoving the engagement notice into Kyle’s face. “Haven’t you brought enough embarrassment to our family?” Rudolph smacked Kyle alongside the head causing it to slam off the wall, “I wish you were never born.” Khan ran around the corner snarling, backing Rudolph into the dining room until he became pinned against the table, Khan stood his ground not allowing Rudolph to move as Khan’s teeth rested against Rudolph’s crotch.

Blu and Kaleb with the Colonel came into the foyer where they found Kyle helping Davis up off the floor. Kyle studied Davis’s reaction once he was on his feet, “You ok?”

“Yeah, I think I’m okay,” Davis answered rubbing his head, “Geez, your face Kyle. Are you okay and who the fuck is that asshole?”

Kaleb and Blu tried to run toward the dining room, but the Colonel held each boy tightly by the shoulder, “That’s enough gentlemen, anger will settle nothing.”

Kaleb glared at the Colonel as he wiggled free to go to Davis’s side, “That asshole used to be our father,” Kaleb looked at Kyle and back to Davis, “You’re sure you’re okay?” Davis nodded his head. Kaleb wrapped his arm around Davis’s shoulder and looked at his brother, “You look sorta dazed Kyle. Should you sit down?”

“Fuck that,” Kyle spat with venom, “That asshole can’t die soon enough…” Kyle leaned against the end table for a second shaking his head to clear the confusion as he heard Khan’s muffled growl. Kyle stood up and staggered slightly into the dining room finding Khan with his mouth holding onto Rudolph’s crotch growling. Kyle smirked as he watched Khan gently tugging and growling, “He doesn’t need them, Khan, do ya, Rudy?”

“Boy you better get this monstrosity off of me right now,” Rudolph stammered through gritted teeth.

“Stay Khan,” Blu said chuckling.

“Boys, call the dog off. It won’t look good for you if he hurts the man. The rest won’t matter, I’m calling the police.” The Colonel said in his tone of authority as if the boys were in his command. He then pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed walking into the foyer to block the exit while he made his call.

Blu stood between Kyle and Rudolph, calling Khan to his side, still trapping Rudolph. Blu turned to Kyle, “Blondie, sit down Baby, you’ve really knocked your head,” Blu forced Kyle to sit on one of the dining room chairs. Then checked his face and the back of his head. “Stay here with Khan, Blondie, I’ll get some ice for your face and the back of your head, you’ve got quite the knot there.”

Blu walked away from Kyle, passing Kaleb, “Give me a hand shit-head.”

Once Blu and Kaleb were in the kitchen, Blu went about fixing ice packs for Kyle, “Davis okay?”

“Yeah he’s fine, Davis said he has a headache,” Kaleb shook his head, “Rudolph is such a miserable asshole.”

“Call the ambulance for your brother and Davis. Kyle’s knocked his head, and he was stumbling when he was walking, he’s probably got some kind of concussion. It couldn’t hurt for Davis to get checked out either. So help me God, if either of them is hurt, Rudolph is going to regret it.” Blu angrily finished putting the ice packs together leaving Kaleb to do his dirty work for him.

Kaleb pulled out his cell phone and called for an ambulance. After finishing the call Kaleb put his phone in his pocket and walked back into the dining room and draped his arm over Davis’s shoulder, “Everything will be fine Baby,” Kaleb stared daggers at Rudolph, and then he kissed Davis, “By the way Rudy you have two gay sons. Are you sure you aren’t gay Rudy? You know it has been argued that being gay is said to be hereditary.”

Rudolph turned a shade of green, “Your mother’s family must be the cause, I always thought your Uncle Gene was a fudge packer.” Rudolph tried pushing his way through Kaleb and Blu, “Get out of my way I need to get away from you deprived perverts.”

“Don’t even think you’re goin’ anywhere Rudolph,” Kyle grumbled as he shifted his ice pack, “If you even try to run Khan will repo the family jewels, right Khan?” Kyle patted Khan’s head.

The Colonel and the Police entered the dining room. Rudolph continued his verbal assault which only fueled the Policemen’s ire. One officer spun Rudolph around slamming him face first on the dining room table. The Officer’s roughly fastened their handcuffs around Rudolph’s wrists, the cold metal biting into his skin. Once Rudolph was secured the Officer’s interviewed each of the boys, after receiving their statements the Police determined they had sufficient cause to charge Rudolph with Hate Crime, Domestic Disturbance, and Criminal Trespass. The one Policeman grabbed Rudolph’s shirt collar yanking him out of the chair displaying a bloody nose. One of the arresting officers who also happened to be gay practically dragged a kicking and screaming Rudolph to the Police car. The Officer directed Rudolph into the patrol car he accidentally fell face first into the side of the car, as the paramedics placed Kyle in the ambulance to go to the hospital to be checked out.

*****

“Leb, you seem distant, what’s on your mind?” Davis took Kaleb’s hand in his as he drove to Liv, Charlie and Christopher’s new apartment. The three of them were moving off campus for the new semester, the boys were helping with the move. Blu and Kyle were in their new SUV, while Davis drove Kaleb’s car he’d received for Christmas from Blu and his brother.

Kaleb shifted in his seat, “I sorta made a big decision,” Kaleb reached up playing with the vent controls, “I uh… I switched to Culinary Arts with a minor in Business Management.”

Davis glanced at Kaleb, “Is that what you really want to do?” he asked inquisitively.

“Yeah, I really do. The instructor from our cooking class Mr. Wahlberg gave me a lot of advice. I love cooking, and to see peoples faces as they enjoy what I cook just makes me feel good,” Kaleb looked at Davis as a grin slowly spread from ear-to-ear on his face.

“Then that’s what you should do, I’m behind you with whatever you choose to do. Except maybe stripper and/or serial killer, they’re both dodgy professions.” Davis said deadpanned.

“My other problem is what should I do about Kyle?” Kaleb fussed with the power window button and had the window going up and down.

Davis flicked the window lock and pulled the car over, once he’d stopped he turned in his seat to face Kaleb, “Leb, look at me,” he said. Kaleb laid his head back on the seat rest and twisted so that his gaze reached Davis.

“I have your back if you want to be a chef or a cook, it doesn’t matter. If you want to clean portable shitters the rest of your life I don’t care, just make sure it’s what you want to do. Kyle will have to live with it, I know your brother is used to looking out for you, but this is your life, our life even. No matter what you choose to be, I’ll be supportive, if you love it.”

Davis was emphatic about the subject, he brought Kaleb’s hand to his mouth and kissed the inside of Kaleb’s wrist, “I love you, Kaleb, I want everything for you, and for us. What we decide for our life, is for us to decide. I’ll be with you when you talk to Kyle, I’m sure he will see that it’s what you love and will be happy for you – after he calms down.”

Kaleb took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, “I hope so… I just don’t wanna let him down, he’s always been there for me. I just want him to be proud of what I do in life.”

“I know you do, and he will be. How could he not, you’ll have a career that makes you happy, I’m sure that’s all he really wants for you. You were going to study business anyway, you are just adding a level of focus to your studies,” Davis gave Kaleb an encouraging smile, then pulled him to his side of the car for a kiss.

After the kiss Kaleb laid his head on Davis’s shoulder, “Thanks, I love you.”

The two boys eventually made it to the apartment, a little disheveled after their makeout session in the car. They entered the apartment, Blu and Kyle burst out laughing after seeing the two.

“Stop for a quickie, you guys left before we did. I’m gathering you forgot to pick up the subs on the way here by the look of ya,” Blu laughed.

“Screw you,” Kaleb scoffed and picked up his backpack pulling out seven mildly smashed subs tossing them onto the countertop, “Hope they taste better than they look,” Kaleb shrugged his shoulders and started to unwrap his.

“Yes! Food,” Liv said entering the living room, “you two are my favorite people in the world right now.”

“Awesome!” Charlie followed behind, Liv handed her a sub, then they sat on the couch to hoe into their lunch.

“TOPHER!” Blu screamed, “LUNCH IS HERE!”

Chris came out of his room covered in sweat, “Thanks, I uh…” Chris looked back toward his bedroom, “I want you to meet somebody really special to me.” Chris walked back to his room and returned a few minutes later with a very attractive young lady attached to his arm. She had long flowing natural reddish colored hair with sapphire blue eyes and freckles that were offset by the brightest smile which reached from ear-to-ear, “Everybody this is my girlfriend, Stephanie Mac Arthur.” Chris took his time introducing Steph to each of his family members, which made her feel really special.

“Holy shit! Topher, she’s gorgeous,” Blu blurted out, reaching forward to shake her hand, then surprisingly pulled her into a hug, “Oh my god, she gives the best hugs, you can’t have her back,” Blu said still holding the girl in his arms mischievously smirking at Christopher.

“Oh no,” Chris shook his head as he reached for Steph’s hand, “She’s all mine, you got Kyle,” Steph smiled shyly as she twirled a locket of her hair around her finger. “I’m not into sharing no offense,” Chris cringed, and then belly laughed.

“You can hug Kyle anytime you want,” Blu waved his hand dismissively toward his fiancée.

“That’s enough Babe,” Kyle smiled at Blu and looked at Chris and Steph, “Don’t let him get ya worked up, it’s his time of the month,” Kyle chuckled.

*****

“HURRY UP!” Blu paced at the bottom of the stairs waiting for the others. Davis came bounding down the stairs.

“Kaleb will be a second he had to pee.”

Kyle came down the stairs running his hand through his damp hair, “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“Because you are gorgeous when you’re sleeping?” Blu answered giving Kyle a quick kiss good morning, “Plus, I don’t have a death wish, you’re a bitch if you don’t want to get up.”

Kyle shook his head, “Pfft… whatever,” He ran into the kitchen, returning sipping coffee from his travel mug, “Mmm… much better, now I’m not a bitch,” Kyle kissed Blu, “Where’s my baby brother?”

“Rubbing one out!” Blu scoffed as Davis glared at Blu.

“What? Who takes this long to just pee?”

Kaleb bounded down the stairs grabbing Davis’s hand dragging him toward the door, “Hi, morning, let’s go, can’t be late,” Kaleb rambled as they headed toward the door.

Blu wrapped his arm around Kyle, “There should be a law that legalizes stabbing your brother-in-law in the eye, at least once a year.”

“Why? Don't you like his cheerful morning attitude? It only makes me sick to my stomach the five times a week I had to wake him up for school,” Kyle shivered at the memory, “It’s quite sickening.”

Kyle was driving the group to school when Davis elbowed Kaleb and rolled his eyes toward Kyle, Kaleb shook his head tentatively, and Davis elbowed him harder. “Oww,” Kaleb yelped as Kyle looked into the rearview mirror, “I uh…” Kaleb rubbed his ribs, “Kyle, I made a big decision.”

“Oh ya?” Kyle laughed, “What did you decide? To not be so damned cheerful in the morning?”

“Bite me asshole,” Kaleb quipped. “I changed my courses,” Kaleb hesitated, “I switched my major to Culinary Arts with a minor in Business Management.”

“You what?” Kyle interrogatively asked, “What the hell? You know how hard that is going to be to make a career of that?”

“Listen, ok Kyle?” Kaleb asked as he received a nod from his brother, “I love to cook, and I’m really good at it too, but I enjoy seeing peoples reactions when they eat stuff that I make,” Kaleb grabbed Davis’s hand and got a squeeze in support from him. “I know it will be rough at first as my career begins, but you being a teacher has just as many issues, you’ll probably have to work as a substitute teacher at a couple of schools to get the experience before anybody hires you fulltime.”

“Blondie, he’s right,” Blu said supporting Kaleb.

“Kaleb I love you, but I hope you’re not making a mistake,” Kyle stated flatly.

Kaleb leaned forward resting his elbows on the front seats, “Seatbelts on Blu look for yourself. Kyle, I have a plan I take this two-year course here at BU and then I’m going to the Culinary Institute of America in New York for two years, after Davis is done with his schooling we’ll move closer to wherever you guys are living.”

Kyle sighed, “I’ll give you credit Kaleb, you’ve thought things through, I guess I gotta trust you. You’ve grown up, and it’s hard to accept you don’t need me looking out for you no more.”

“Never stop looking out for me,” Kaleb mumbled sullenly.

“I just didn’t think you’d want me doing it anymore,” Kyle glanced into the rearview mirror with glistening eyes.

“Kyle just because I’m getting older doesn’t mean I don’t need or want you looking out for me,” Kaleb put his hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “You’re my big brother, you’ve always been there to pick me up when I stumble and protect me from bullshit in life.”

Kyle rubbed his eyes one at a time sniffling, “Thanks, Kaleb, this is really hard to get used to you being grown up and know what boundaries I shouldn’t cross.”

*****

Kyle met Blu outside of his final class wrapping his arm around Blu’s shoulders kissing him on the cheek, “God, I really missed you today Babe,” Kyle squeezed Blu a little tighter. “I can’t wait until the day comes where we are done with school,” Kyle smiled as they walked toward their parking space. Kyle saw a man crouched down at the rear tire of their SUV and spotted a Derby on the man's head, “Get the fuck away from there,” Kyle let go of Blu and took off chasing Hatman. Kyle returned a short time later cussing under his breath as he crouched in about the same spot the man was in. Kyle’s head tilted to, and fro, then he reached in the wheel well and grabbed a black colored box that was fastened with some thick, sticky goo, “What the fuck is this?” Kyle handed the box to Blu.

“Not really sure, but I have a pretty good idea what the hell it is,” Blu stated angrily as he inspected the device. “I’ll send a picture to the Colonel, he might know or have a way of finding out. But let’s agree on one thing, we don’t say anything to the folks until we know exactly what’s happening. We’ll end up with Doug, Lily and freakin’ Nan, glued to our sides.”

“Do you want me to drop you home with the others, you have lessons this afternoon don’t you?” Blu asked changing the subject as he watched Kaleb, piggybacking Davis to the car like they were little kids.

“Yeah I have Casey, Jeremy, and Melissa for lessons today,” Kyle sighed, “Are you gonna be comfortable running around today by yourself?”

“Sure, I might ring the girls to see if they want to come, or Topher might come just for a ride,” Blu smiled assuring Kyle, he’d be fine.

Kyle nodded and kicked Kaleb in the ass as he opened the rear passenger door, “See I can still kick your ass.”

“Watch it old man, or you might break a hip,” Kaleb laughed and got in the car.

*****

Blu dropped everyone back at the house, then headed toward the Boston Arms apartments the girls shared with Christopher. He called using blue-tooth in the SUV, a little luxury Blu was starting to love.

“Hello Blu,” Christopher sighed into the phone.

“Jesus, Topher, who pissed in your cornflakes?” Blu chuckled.

“Sorry nobody, I was studying and need a break.”

“How would you like to get that break by coming with me to look at wedding venues?” Blu said exaggerating the excitement in his voice.

“I’ll take it… uh… can Steph come?”

“Of course she can, girls tend to love that crap,” Blu chuckled, “at least I’ll get an opinion from someone else's point of view.”

“Sure see you in a few.”

Christopher ended the call. Blu pulled up outside the apartments sending a text to Christopher to let him know he was waiting.

Christopher opened the rear door for Steph she got in fastening her seatbelt, “Thanks for inviting us Chris was becoming a bit tense, I’m surprised the textbook survived.” Chris hopped in the front seat and fastened his seatbelt smiling at his girlfriend.

“Yeah, it gets like that sometimes, what class is it?” Blu asked.

“College Calculus,” Chris groaned, “Maybe I should give up on engineering and do agriculture, I’ve known Kaleb long enough I know how to shovel shit.”

Blu laughed, “Why do you think I refer to him as shit-head,” Blu glanced at Chris, “Don’t give up just yet, Davis is your man when it comes to mathematics, if he can’t help you understand it, you never will. Give him a call, he’ll probably let you study with him.”

“I love Kaleb, don’t get me wrong, but that kid can get himself and others into more shit than any other person I’ve ever known,” Chris chuckled, “But I wouldn’t trade him. So where are we off too?”

“We, my friend, are going to a Country Club about an hour away for starters, they have a venue within our budget for the reception. I don’t think we’ll have the ceremony there.” Blu said pensively.

“Sounds good, drive James,” Chris joked pointing his finger forward.

The three companions drove as Steph asked all kinds of questions, Blu and Kyle’s relationship, what type of guys were they, what were they looking for in a venue. Blu liked the girl, she was bubbly, intelligent, and a sweet girl. She suited Chris’s reserved demeanor and seemed to soften his rough edges. The way he looked at her, Blu could tell that his friend was hot for her. They pulled up at the Country Club and all hopped out. Blu made a beeline straight for Stephanie to give her a hug. Chris put his arm out stopping Blu while laughing good-naturedly.

“Fine,” Blu said pouting, “I’ll get ya later Red,” winking at her.

They were greeted by a stuffy old man, who treated his job like he was paired with them to interfere with the riff-raff. He looked down his nose at the three of them.

“Yes, can I help you?” He said in a posh voice.

“I’m Blu Waters, I spoke with Michael on the phone. We’ve come to see the venue for our wedding reception.”

“Really, is this the young lady?” the man asked condescendingly.

Blu smiled at Steph, “I wish, but no, my fiancée couldn’t come he’s working this afternoon.”

“You obviously meant she,” the asshole corrected Blu.

“No, he meant he, you bigoted asshole,” Steph spoke up and grabbed both boys by the hand, “We’ve changed our minds, sorry to have wasted your valuable time,” she said smiling sweetly at him, then muttered under her breath, “Dickbag.”

The girl had the strength of a Viking, she dragged Chris and Blu out of there before they even knew what was happening. Blu and Chris stood next to the SUV dumbfounded.

“Shithole, next place,” she said trying to get into the car, “unlock the door Blu.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry,” Blu clicked the button on his key, the doors all unlocked.

Christopher opened the door for Stephenie while staring at Blu.

Blu guffawed, “You are gonna have your hands full with that one. She’s gonna be fun to have around.”

The next stop on the wedding venue tour was the Onyx Room. The guy that showed them around and spoke with them this time was batting for Blu’s team so that wouldn’t be an issue. The three were content with what they had been shown thus far on their tour… Until the man excitedly showed them the lighting for the reception. They made a kind, “We’ll think about it, thank you for showing us around,” then ran for their lives.

“I don’t want my wedding reception to look like a damn rave, or singles meet and greet, no thank you. Kyle would kick my ass.” Blu stated as they drove to the next location.

They hit a few more locations, they were okay but didn’t really seem right, nothing specific was wrong with them, but they just didn’t suit what Kyle wanted in Blu’s mind.

“Are you guys hungry, I’m starving let’s hit that place,” Blu pointed to a Beef and Pizza joint, pulling into the parking lot.