Family Struggles - 2. Whole New World

Family Struggles

Whole New World:

Kyle and Blu got to the school early to kick off the new school year. They walked into the school chatting about new ideas and techniques they both wanted to try. Mr. Hiscock gave them both the usual snarl. Kyle had seen and heard enough of the miserable man, and there were no students present yet, “Mr. Hiscock would you like me to speak to your significant other? Obviously, you have a serious constipation problem, and it appears to be quite painful with the strange faces you are making,” Blu rolled his eyes.

Mr. Hiscock walked into his classroom and slammed his door muttering, “Fags.”

“Babe, have a good day. I’ll see you at lunch?” Kyle smiled from ear-to-ear.

“Feel better?” Blu chuckled, “Just ignore him Blondie.”

Kyle’s grin grew, “Babe if that man ever smiles it will kill him.”

Blu grinned back at Kyle amused, then made his way toward his classroom, “Lunch Blondie,” he said waving behind him.

Kyle waved as he disappeared down the hall entering the music room to stow his belongings. Kyle had first period free this school year, so he had hall monitor duties. Kyle roamed the hall where he spotted two younger boys – twins, carrying on with one another joking and pushing each other around. “Boy’s come here,” Kyle called out motioning them to his side. “What are your names?”

The boy wearing a blue t-shirt and ragged faded blue jeans elbowed his brother, “Don’t tell this dork anything.” The boy wearing a tattered green shirt and cut off jeans nodded his head and snickered.

“Boys things don’t need to be this way, I just asked you both your names,” Kyle said frustratedly. Both boys stood there just staring at him defiantly. “Okay, rather than stand in the middle of the hall to stare at each other, we can go back to my classroom and sit,” Kyle said as he escorted them to the music room. The boy's eyes grew as they saw the instruments sitting around the room.

“He can’t be that bad,” the one brother leaned over talking to the other.

“He’s a teacher, they’re dicks,” the other brother answered.

“I’m not a dick,” Kyle said as he sat at his desk, “And watch your mouth.”

“You’re a teacher it's your job description,” the one brother mumbled in frustration.

“First the word is description, and no it’s not a requirement for me,” Kyle crossed his arms over his chest taking a deep breath, “How about if I tell you my first name?” The boys both shrugged their shoulders, “I’m Kyle Waters, normally you’d call me Mr. Waters but there are too many of us with the same last name, so I’m Mr. Kyle.”

The boys leaned together whispering both boys came up with a devilish grin on their faces that would have made Kaleb pee his pants.

“I’m Levi,” the boy dressed in blue smirked his dishwater blonde hair looking like it needed to be cleaned.

“And I’m Lincoln,” smiled shyly before his eyes focused on his worn tennis shoes.

“Baby steps, I guess,” Kyle leaned his elbows on his desk, “It’s nice to meet you both. Do you guys like music?”

Lincoln’s eyes lit up as he nodded his head vigorously, while Levi shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, what grade are you both in? I’m guessing you’re both what fourteen or fifteen?” Kyle was trying to accumulate brownie points with the boys.

Lincoln snickered and got an elbow from Levi, “We’re eleven and a half,” Levi said with harshness in his voice.

“Well, I hope I get a chance to teach you both how to play some instruments and how to read music,” Kyle smiled at the boys as the bell rang, “Okay boys, now no more carrying on in the hall and if you ever need to talk just come find me.”

The boys stood up heading toward the door Levi disappeared into the chaotic hall, Lincoln stopped at the door as he turned to look at Kyle, “Thanks for not being mean, Levi doesn’t like adults,” Lincoln turned and headed off leaving Kyle at a loss for words.

*****

Blu was perched on his desk smiling at the students as they made their way into the classroom and found a seat. Once the desks were mostly full, he stood, then as he shut the door a young girl pushed her way through.

“Sorry,” she said in a quiet voice and scurried to one of the last vacant desks.

“Okay everyone, quiet down,” Blu took another quick look out the door then closed it, then walked back to his desk, resuming his original spot, “As some of you know and for those who don’t, I’m Mr. Waters your English teacher this year. I know you’re all excited, so am I.”

The kids all groaned, “That’s what I like to hear, enthusiasm,” Blu snapped his fingers. He swung his legs with enough momentum to help him off the desk. He turned around grabbing a stack of papers then put a few on a desk on the first row, “Take one then pass them back, please,” he did the same to each row.

Blu stood at the front of the class in his suit although his jacket was slung over the back of his chair, his shirt sleeves already rolled up ready to take on hormonal teenagers. He watched the class as they did what he asked, Blu was sneaky and had already learned the lesson the hard way, on the first day of school distract the hellions the while taking attendance for the first time. Plus this would help him gauge where his students were at, who needed help, who needed to be challenged, and most of all who was lazy. All eyes were eventually on Blu, he liked to work quickly keep things moving so he could keep them focused.

“Righty-O, does everyone have a copy of the quiz?” Blu asked, about ten hands went up, his shoulders sagged, and his head drooped.

“You,” he pointed to a kid who still had his cap on in the classroom, “hat off, then ask your question.”

“How…” Blu made the action to take the hat off with his hand while holding the other in a stop gesture. The boy rolled his eyes at Blu but took his hat off, “Dude…”

“Mr. Waters, continue,” Blu interrupted.

The kid sighed frustratingly as he crushed his hat in his hands, “You can’t give us a quiz on our first day, you haven’t taught us nuffin.”

“It’s pronounced nothing, not nuffin. There is your first lesson, another was to be respectful and take your hat off in class,” he held his hands up indicating to the other five or six in the class wearing a hat. Blu waited patiently as they did so, “Great, also that my name is Mr. Waters, so technically I’ve taught you three things already today.”

A couple of the students snickered, the kid looked embarrassed making Blu feel a little bad, but at least they know he won’t take their crap.

“Mr…” Blu pointed at the boy again.

“Anderson,” he mumbled.

“Great, now Mr. Anderson, you and I are going to be great friends, I can tell. You know why?” Blu didn’t wait for him to finish, “because you were on time to my class, I asked you to be respectful, and you took your hat off, and I asked you to call me by my name, and you did. As far as I can tell, we are going to get along great. Everyone,” he turned back to the class, “I’m pretty easy to get along with, be on time, be respectful to those around you, and do the work folks, that’s it. If you can do those small things, we are going to have a great year and have some fun in the process.”

Blank expressions, about thirty of them.

“The quiz in front of you is not a test, it’s an ungraded quiz. The point is so I can determine what level you are at and where we,” Blu motioned around the room, “as a class needs to improve. These will be returned to you without a grade but will be marked with errors so you know where your weaknesses lie,” hands shot up all over the place. Blu waved his hands stretched out indicating for them to put their hands down, “You have this year to get it together before you hit high school, let’s work together and get you as ready as possible. Now put your name at the top and start. I’ll be taking attendance as we go.”

Blu took attendance with real names, they were too focused on their quiz to give fake ones. After he took attendance he sat and watched taking notes about the different students. How they reacted to the quiz questions, he would match his notes to the quiz results later so he could better gauge how to work the lessons. He did this every year, people learn differently, and Blu was determined by the end of the year these kids would be able to navigate the high school learning experience with a little bit of confidence.

*****

Kyle caught up with Blu for lunch, “How’s your day been, Babe?” He asked as he picked up a carrot stick taking a bite.

“I like my classes so far. They are all a different dynamic so lesson plans might be a challenge, but it was good,” Blu smiled at Kyle, “what about you Blondie?”

“Ugh!” They heard from behind them, Blu turned around to be faced with Hiscock, “Problem Stanley?” Blu raised his eyebrow.

“Another case of constipation Stanley? Maybe you should see a doctor,” Kyle smiled mischievously.

Stanley Hiscock, packed up his lunch, threw it in the staff fridge then stormed out. Blu and Kyle looked at each other, as they both imitated Stanley’s huff causing them both to roar with laughter. A little childish Blu thought, but the guy is a total prick. He was particularly rude to Kyle, that didn’t sit well with Blu.

Kyle shook his head, “I had an interesting morning, I met twin boys who were messing around in the hall. They are both on the shy side Lincoln is a pretty nice kid if you get him to talk. Levi, well he’s a hard nut to crack.” Kyle sipped his coffee, “Levi’s like Kaleb with the addition of massive trust issues, and he has a chip on his shoulders over something. He even called me a dick, I’m definitely not a dick to kids.”

“No you’re not a dick to kids,” Blu chuckled, “they were just lashing out, you know that remember that Antwon kid last year?”

Kyle sat his mug down, “There’s definitely more to both of the boy's life than they are letting on.”

Jared came in looking a little frazzled, “I don’t know if I’ll survive Kasey’s terrible two’s last night he found where Mason stashed his candy. After he got his sugar fix, he tried to imitate Superman.”

Blu giggled, “He kneed you in the sac again huh?”

“I don’t think the boys will work ever again,” Jared cringed, “Not like I use them anyways.”

Kyle laughed, “I offered to set you up with Sarah.”

Jared glared at his brother, “She’s forty and has four kids, and her oldest is eighteen.”

“Pfft,” Kyle chortled.

“I’m just not ready,” Jared sighed, “I can’t help it.”

*****

Kyle and Blu walked in the door as a welcoming aroma of Kaleb’s lasagne wafted in the air. Kyle’s nose followed the aroma of the Italian delicacy, “Oh my god have I missed your food,” Kyle looked down at Khan who gave him a dirty look and shifted closer to the stove, “You trader Khan,” the Great Dane licked his chops as Kaleb opened the oven door.

“You’ve been starving my nephew,” Kaleb smiled at Khan, “He’s told me about your neglectful ways,” Khan left out a low rumbling growl.

“I’m sorry Kaleb, I don’t spoil him to your standards. Khan lies anyway, he just doesn’t like my cooking,” Kyle stared at his four-legged baby, who tucked his ears back as he drooped his head toward the floor.

Kaleb chuckled, “Kyle you boil water well, beyond that your cooking is iffy at best,” Kyle gave Kaleb the one-fingered salute as he pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge, before going to look for Blu.

*****

As the guys finished eating Kaleb grabbed his plated rinsing it off, then placing it in the dishwasher. “Sorry to eat and run, but I need to get back to work we have a big event we are prepping for tomorrow. Hopefully, this will help us expand Water’s Catering to a larger clientele,” Kaleb grabbed his jacket, “Oh, you guys are on your own for dinner tomorrow, I’ll probably be late getting home.”

Kyle looked at his brother, “Kaleb you look like you could use a break, you’re really pushing yourself hard.”

Kaleb looked at his watch, “I’m thinking about opening a restaurant, plus Davis has a large student loan we have to think about. I really got to get on the road,” Kaleb turned rushing out the door.

Kyle followed Kaleb and watched him out the window before turning to Blu, “I wish he weren’t pushing himself so hard Babe, he barely gets a chance to relax.”

Blu pat beside him on the couch for Kyle to join him, “Do you want me to give Wesley a call, you know he’s a business consultant now. Maybe he can help Kaleb and Chris streamline the business side and help with expanding and opening the restaurant?”

“I don’t want to overstep my bounds, Chris and Kaleb are both adults,” Kyle sighed as he ran his hand through his hair and flopped on the couch placing his head in Blu’s lap.

Blu gently raked his fingers through Kyle’s hair, “I know that Blondie, but they are working themselves into being dead by thirty, I promise I’ll be sneaky about it. I’ll make sure Wesley finds them by accident.”

Kyle closed his eyes taking a deep breath, “Just make sure he knows to keep our names out of it. I don’t want either of them thinking we are meddling. Chris can’t keep working like this either, his second child will be here in six months, Steph will need more help from him too.”

Blu swept Kyle’s hair out of his eyes then leaned over kissing Kyle, it started off gentle but ended up in a makeout session until Khan decided he’d had enough of their affections. Khan hopped up on Kyle’s chest ending their fun time, as Blu and Kyle tried getting Khan off of Kyle.

The front door flew open as a little speed demon tore through the living room, “Unc Ky, Unc Boo, canny?”

Jared came around the corner, “He has an addiction sorry,” Jared tried grabbing Kasey, but both Khan and he disappeared out of the living room. “Well, I guess neither of them wants to deal with adults at the moment.”

Kyle laughed, “Khan was a little bored I think.” The guys sat in the living room talking until they heard Kasey laughing uncontrollably and the sound of water splashing. Khan came back in the room dripping from head to tail he sidled up beside the adults shaking the water off.

“Oh god,” Jared jumped up rushing to find Kasey. When he returned to the room, Kasey was naked as the day he was born and dripping with water giggling.

“Fun Daddy,” Kasey wiggled around until he freed himself from his Dad’s clutch. He ran over pouncing in Blu’s lap bouncing, “Horsey, Boo.”

“You, my young boy are just like your Uncle Kaleb – a menace,” Blu said fondly kissing the top of the boys head, who then looked at Blu and poked his tongue out.

“Horsey!” Kasey shouted and bounced harder on Blu’s lap.

“Unk Boo is conserving his energy to go riding later,” he said with a tongue in cheek manner.

Jared laughed, “Uh… ya riding I’m sure,” shaking his head Jared smiled, “When are you both going to have little pitter-pattering of your own?”

Kyle smiled at his husband, “We’ve talked about it, we just don’t feel that we are ready yet, right Babe?”

“Is that my phone, I think I left it in the kitchen,” Blu said avoiding the question. He went to the kitchen and grabbed three bottles of water, returning he gave one to Jared then Kyle, “what do we need kids for anyhow, we have Kaleb and friggin’ Nan, they keep us plenty busy with their shenanigans.”

“To be honest Jared, I’m the one that doesn’t feel quite ready. I just feel like something is holding me back,” Kyle gave a somber look at his husband.

Jared looked at Blu questioningly as Kyle stood up and took Kasey with him, “What’s his deal?”

“I don’t know bud, I think it’s that he’s worried he’ll be like Rudy. In his heart, he knows that’s ridiculous, but they really did a number on his head. I think he’ll be a great Dad, but…” Blu looked affectionately at the empty path Kyle had taken out of the room.

Jared had a sympathetic look, “Kyle’s great with kids, I know Rudolph and Penelope left a wake of more damage.” Jared shook his head, “Kyle will make an awesome Dad, I know it in my heart he cares so much about kids.”

“I know,” Blu said wistfully, “Hey, how’s Mason doing with his Grad School applications?”

“He’s been accepted at BU for Computer Science with Specialization in Cyber Security,” Jared leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees, “He wants to join the FBI in Boston for their Cyber Crimes Division.”

“If anyone can get a million to one job, it’s Mason. I imagine that’s a pretty coveted job in his industry,” Blu said in awe. The entire family knew Mason was wicked smart and destined for great things. His sister's death had really affected him, he was only now starting to show signs of his old self – according to his Mom anyway. Mason had helped Jared get through his grieving and vice versa, the pair were very close and completely protective of their little family unit.

“I guess I should take Kasey home, Mason will want to give him his bath before bedtime,” Jared stood up, “Oh, by the way, have Mom and Dad talked to you?”

Blu shook his head, waiting for Jared to finish.

“I think they wish they were closer to the family. They might be considering retirement, I’m just guessing,” Jared said thoughtfully.

“Huh, I’ll give Dad a call in the next couple of days, see if I can fish for information,” he promised Jared.

Jared nodded his head, “Kasey time to go home,” he called out loud enough that Kyle walked in with Khan prancing in Kasey mounted on his shoulders holding Khan’s ears yelling “Gid’ up Canny.” Jared laughed picking up Kasey in one arm and his wet clothes in the other, “Love you guys see ya at work.”

Jared left closing the door behind him, “Blondie lock the door, I want you naked and we’re doing it right here.” Blu demanded as he leaned over to the drawer against the wall pulling out a bottle of lube.

Kyle waggled his eyebrows, “Sounds intriguing,” he laughed as he shucked his clothes off after locking the door, “I like your thinking, Babe,” Kyle shoved Blu against the wall stripping him.

After an hour of intense sexual gratification, the couple laid sated on the couch in one another's arms. The pair heard the front door unlock, Kaleb walked in the door, “For fuck sakes, we can’t use the damn laundry room but its ok for you to leave your clothes in mid…” Kaleb walked into the living room his eyes bulged, “Holy shit, really?” Kaleb turned around shaking his head walking to the kitchen, “Wait until I tell Davis about this,” he called out over his shoulder.

“Kaleb, we own the house, we were just trying to catch up with both of your records,” Kyle said jokingly, “And stay out of the fucking laundry room!”

“Whatever, Davis and I have an appointment to view a condo on Thursday,” Kaleb shouted back, “I need to make sure it has it’s own laundry room.”

*****

Kyle and Blu sat at the table later that evening going over their work. Kyle worked on his lesson plan plotting out different music scores for each of the different grades he teaches. “Babe, I was thinking…” Kyle looked up from his planner, “Lincoln and Levi seem like that have an interest in music. Maybe I could offer to work with them after school some.”

“Good idea, Blondie, just keep the lessons at school until you speak with their parents yeah?” Blu said distractedly, scrunching his face up at the quiz in front of him.

“I know,” Kyle chewed on the end of the pen, “Maybe the boys will open up a little if they realize they can trust me.”

Blu looked up from marking, “It’s worth a shot Blondie if that doesn’t work, try something else.”

Kyle’s focus shifted from his lesson plan to the boys, “I wonder if Liv would mind helping with figuring the boys out since she works for CYS?”

“Give her a call, can’t hurt to ask, right?” Blu smiled at Kyle, he knew his husband wouldn’t let up until he found a way to connect with the twins.

Kyle sat his pen down, “Did any of your students make an impression on you?”

“Yeah in my Year Eight class, a young girl, very quiet, bags under her eyes, not just little ones, but ones the size of luggage. So something is up there, not only that though she aced this grammar quiz,” Blu held it up then handed it to Kyle. Another boy too, last name Anderson, I think he’s one of the popular kids, he seems to have a lot of anger under the surface, but he was still respectful even though I could tell I was pissing him off.”

Kyle looked at the girl's quiz, “She definitely has untapped potential. Hopefully, you can help her out.” Kyle slid the paper back to Blu, “Babe, you can be a bit intimidating,” Kyle chuckled, “You’re so nice with a wicked delivery at school.”

“Leave me alone,” Blu chuckled, “I don’t teach a fun subject like you, I think it’s fun, but the kids don’t seem to like it. I try and keep quick and light so they can at least stay focused and not zone out.”

Kyle smiled, “I can relate with the kids, all of those damn commas, exclamation points, quotations, they are a bit, blah for me too.”

Blu snatched his quiz back, “You’re mean, I’m going to bed and read before I go to sleep. If you need help with any of the big words in your lesson plan come find me.”

Kyle smiled as he leaned over the table kissing his husband, “I use little words, I’ll be up in a bit I’m gonna call and touch base with Liv about the boys. Love you, Babe.”

“Yeah, whatever, love you sometimes too,” Blu kissed Kyle again before going upstairs to get ready for bed.

Kyle called and spoke to Liv, her recommendation was for him to make a connection with the boys on his own. If he felt a need for her involvement, she would need to do so at a professional level. The conversation left Kyle with yet more unanswered questions, that made him more determined that he would connect to Lincoln and Levi.