Jacob Finding His Way - 42. Chapter 42

(JACOB’S POINT OF VIEW)

As soon as I walked into the door, after I got home from the meeting. I went straight into the kitchen to get me something to drink. I heard some noise in the back yard, so I looked out the window to see what all the commotion is all about.

I completely forgot that today is the day that Franseca and her two younger boys are moving into the house behind us. It is going to seem strange to me to have somebody else living in the home that Joey and I bought for his mother. I never thought the day would come that Beth wouldn’t be living in that house.

As I look at Alex's brothers I can see the resemblance they all have to each other. They must all get their looks from their father. I have never met the guy, but none of them look like the mother. Don't get me wrong, they have some features of their mother but the majority of the features have to come from their father.

I sat in front of the window watching the young guys tossing the boxes in the back yard, Franseca walked out. I heard her telling her sons to not make a mess or play around with the equipment and supplies in the yard.

The younger kids followed their mother back into the house and closed the door. I turned around with a smile on my face, thinking how would be nice to go back to being in middle school like they are.

I know it sounds weird coming from such a young kid like me. I just never got a chance to really enjoy my years in high school. It seems at the moment I entered into high school, everything went to hell in a hand basket. I had to grow up so quickly to take on so much responsibility for myself and family.

I sat down at the table and kept thinking how things would be different if I would've made different choices in life. If I didn't walk out the front of the school that day, or just stood there on top of the stairs looking down at Joey and Chase. I would have never gotten shot and everything would be different for me today.

Then I think it could be worse also. Because of me getting shot, I got saved at the same time from the cancer. My grandfather was able to get me some money through a lawsuit and then invest right to make me more money.

All and all, everything is pretty damn good for me. I am not poor or gone without anything. I didn’t have to live underneath the same roof as my mother. Man if I would've had to grow up in the last couple years underneath her roof and rules, I probably wouldn't be standing here today, because there would be no way I would've made it.

My grandfather walked in and sat down at the table with me after pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“Jake, I know you want to go into the restaurants and learn the business from the ground up. I just don't think it is a good idea for any of us to do so. You have quite a bit of money and a big generous heart to top it off.

You will see those that are in need and try to help them or someone will find out about it. They will realize how much you have and try to take advantage of you or maybe even kidnapped you for ransom!

I know you may be thinking I'm going way too far on my thoughts. I love you Jake and I want to protect you as much as I can from this ugly world. So far I have been doing an OK job on that.”

“Grandpa, you have been doing such a great job for me. I can’t even begin to thank you and tell you how much what you have been……..”

“Let me finish Jake, please let me finish before you say anything. I should have stepped in a long time ago when I new what your mom would do. Then I should have shielded you from the ugliness like the Alex’s of this world. The hurt you learned from Joey’s actions you are still feeling right now. I have failed you on many fronts of your life right now.”

As I sat there listening to my grandfather on blaming himself on everything that went wrong in my life I started to tear up, and when I couldn't hold the tears it anymore, they started rolling down my cheeks. Just before, my grandfather walked in, I was thinking about the past few years, and here he is taking the blame on his shoulders.

“I don’t want to put you in any more danger Jake. I have no problem you going to the restaurants and looking over them as an owner should do. Yes, learn the company from top to bottom. Stay a couple of hours in a shift and learn as much as you can. Just don’t stay a complete shift at the same store, day in and day out!

I have a plan for you, Jake; you are to take over everything the day I retire. These restaurants are not going to be the only things that we are going to own. I need you to be with me in the main office, learning everything about this company that we are starting to form from the ground up.”

“Okay grandpa, I promise to follow through on your request. Right now, I'm in school, and I really don't have that much spare time. During the evenings I will sit with you and learn every aspect of the company.

During the weekend I spent a couple of hours at different stores and see how things are done at the store level. I want them to see the managers willing to get their hands dirty. Don't forget I worked at a fast food restaurant before.”

A loud bang came from the back yard and my grandfather stood up to see what’s going on. He looked out of the window, and then looked over at me and started to laugh.

“I see that Franseca is moving in tonight, her two sons just dropped what looks to be a box of dishes. They are scooping up the pieces in a hurry. I guess they think that their mom didn't hear the loud bang same as we did.”

I stood up and walked over to the window where my grandfather standing. I looked out to see these poor kids frantically trying to scoop up all the pieces of the dishes. Too late, Franseca has just walked out, and she doesn’t look happy at all!

Neither grandfather not I want to be nosy and go over there. We decided to mind our own business and let them move in. They only had a week to pack stuff and get it moved out of the old house so of course, things are not going to be packed very well. They should have at least marked boxes with what’s in them.

The next morning I woke up and headed downstairs for breakfast. Whoever is cooking, it really smells good. I walked into the kitchen to find Franseca in front of the stove preparing breakfast for us.

“Franseca, good morning, how are you this morning?” Franseca looked at me and smiled as she flipped the bacon.

“I am doing great this morning Jake, thank you for asking. I really hope we didn't make a lot of noise last night were moving in. We had a couple mishaps last night that made quite a bit of noise.”

“Oh no, you guys are just fine. We understand moving into a new place. You're going to make noise while doing so. Talking about your sons, where are they this morning? Are they sleeping in after working so hard last night on the move?”

“Yes Jacob, they are sleeping in after working so hard. I will go over there after I finish up here and get them out of bed and fed. Then I will be back and clean up the kitchen and straighten up the house a little.”

“You know it is ok that your kids can come over here and eat with us in the house. That way you don’t double work on cooking over the weekend.”

“Your grandfather told me that he doesn’t want my kids in the two main houses. He did it respectfully, but did tell me that is one of the few rules he has for me and my family.”

My grandfather walked into the kitchen at that moment. “What are you guys talking about? My ears are ringing and I know it has something to do with me. So what did I do wrong now and what can I do to correct it?”

Franseca and I looked at each other and I turned to my grandpa. “I think there has been a misunderstanding on the rule about her kids. She believes we don’t want her kids in the house at all.”

“What? Franseca you took what I said about your kids wrong. When we spoke last Monday I thought I was clear on that. Let me go ahead and clear up any misunderstanding you have on that subject.

Your kids are more then welcome in the house at any time. When Beth was here, her daughter came down and ate dinner and meals over the weekend with us. That way Beth didn’t have to work double on cooking. The same goes for you Franseca. Just when you sons have friends over, they are to stay in your house. Sorry for any misunderstanding.”

“We trust you, Alex and your sons because we know you. Your sons’ friends we don’t know. I know you brought your kids up to choose the right friends and you won’t let them hang with the wrong crowd either.”

“Thank you both and I understand where you guys are coming from. If I was in your shoes, I would set the same rules. In fact I would be even stricter when it comes down to it. You guys are way too easy and nice.

Let me finish up here and then I will go and wake up the boys. I want them to eat while the food is hot and with the rest of you.”

Sure enough, Franseca went and got her two sons, and shortly came back and he sat down to eat with us. They didn't say a word the entire time but kept looking around. I know that they are not casing out the house. They are just like little kids that are excited and nervous in a new environment.

After finished up breakfast, I headed upstairs to change clothes. I've been meaning to start my Christmas shopping and just haven't had the time. I normally don’t wait the last minute because I hate crowds in the stores there is not much to choose from and what there is, everyone's fighting over it.

I jumped in my car and headed off to Ceila Vista Mall. This is the largest mall on the east side of town. We have two of the malls one on the west, which is closer to me, but it is brand-new and not all the stores are open yet. Then we have another one in the middle of town, but this mall is smaller and doesn't have that many stores.

I really don't like malls because of the crowds and the parking situation. It doesn't matter what time of year, our malls are always packed. Most of the time, it's just people walking around window shopping.

I drove up to the east side entrance trying to find a parking spot. Once I found one I immediately took it and headed in. The minute I walked through the doors of the mall I’m engulfed in the crowd of people already there.

I normally know which stores to go to whenever I got shopping for my friends and family. For some reason today though, I joined the crowd of people and just walked around the mall not really wanting to shop. I just went along looking into windows and just walking and thinking.

I went upstairs and started walking around looking down at the sea of shoppers on the first floor I ended up at the food court without even thinking about where I am going. Since I was here I decided to grab something to eat. I looked around to see what I am in the mood to eat.

That is when I noticed there is a McDonald's in the mall. I didn't remember that there is a McDonald's in the mall. I walked over and stood in a line to get something to eat. The line moved pretty quickly and before I knew it I am the next one in line to order.

I looked up at the menu to figure out what to eat. I'm a little upset that McDonald's got rid of that hamburger that they kept the hot part on one side and the cold side on the other. I really loved that hamburger.

I walked up and decided on the big Mac meal with a Coke. I paid and moved to the side to wait for my food. I always special order to take off the onions and pickles because I want my hamburger made fresh and not taken from underneath the red lights.

It only took a couple of minutes to get my food. I went and grabbed the first table available. I sat down and dug right into my hamburger. Right away I ate a pickle and onions. That just got me pissed, so I got up and walked back to the counter.

I handed my hamburger back to the same cashier that took my order. I told her that the hamburger had pickles and onions on it. She could have just taken my hamburger back and ordered me up a new one. Instead she stood there and argued with me that I didn’t request a special order.

I am not about to back down when I know that I did. I always ask for the same order no matter what hamburger meal I order. The only meal I don’t do it on is the chicken nugget meal. We all know why I don’t ask to have the pickles and onions removed from the meal.

Just then the store manager walked up to see what was going on. I recognized her from the meeting, but by the looks of it she doesn’t recognize me. She listened to her cashier first and then turned to me.

“Sir, according to my employee, you didn’t order anything to be taken off of your meal. You need to take the hamburger as is, because that is what you ordered. I am going to ask you politely to stop making a scene in please take your seat.”

I stood there just looking straight into the eyes of the store manager hoping that the store manager recognizes me. If she doesn't recognize me, we are going to have a problem.

“Ma'am, I am not making a scene with your employee. I ordered my hamburger a certain way, and even if I didn’t, reputable companies work on the basis that the customer is always right. You don’t argue with your customers in front of other customers. It just not good business practice.”

“If you don’t take your sandwich back and sit down. I will have you removed from this restaurant by force, if necessary.”

“I really did hope I didn't have to play this card, but you leave me with no other choice. You don’t recognize me, do you? Look at me really hard and think back to those who you have met in the last couple days.”

The manager didn't even bother to look at me. She just turned her back on me and started to walk back to wherever she came from. That just blew my top. You don’t treat your customers in this fashion.

I walked over to the cashier to speak with her again. “I need you to go back there and get your manager to come back in front. If she refuses to come back in front, let her know she will be suspended without pay until I decide to bring her back unless I decide to terminate her instead.”

The cashier just looked at me like I was from another planet. She walked back and came back up within minutes with the store manager. She doesn’t look to happy at all.

“Sir, you have no power to threaten that. You could launch a complaint against me and my supervisors would look at it and decide what to do. Since you don’t want to leave the counter peacefully, I am going to have to call security.”

“I asked you to look at me for you to place me, and you refused to do that. I saw you during the meeting of the new ownership. I am your new owner, and in other words, I am your new boss. I didn’t want to pull that card, but you left me with no other choice.”

Right there the light bulbs went off in her head. She finally places me from the meeting, not just a little too late now, but WAY too late for her to do so!

“Sir, I am very sorry for what happened here. Let me go and get my kitchen to prepare you the hamburger in the way you want it.”

“Ma'am, you had that chance when we started talking at first. I told everyone in that meeting, that I will be popping up at your stores. Did you think I was lying when I said that? Forget the question, obviously you thought so.

You don’t treat your customers in the manner you treated me here today. This restaurant is located in a food-court with a dozen of other restaurants. If you anger a customer, not only the customer will not return to the store, but others will shy away as well.”

The line of customers waiting to place their order started to clap with what I said. I looked and felt bad for the manager. This is telling me that those in line were treated this way before or they just agree with the principle of my statement.

“You are busy right now, with a huge crowd of customers. You know where new offices are. I will inform Mr. Serna about what occurred here today, and you are to see him first thing Monday morning. If you don’t talk with Mr. Serna on Monday, you will be suspended without pay until you do or possibly terminated.”

I thanked the manager, as I left the store. I really hope not all stores are run this way. McDonald's is supposed to be a place where a family can go to eat and get friendly and good service. That is not what I got here today.

Since I was not in the mood to shop, I headed out to go home. I really don't feel in a holiday mood right now. In fact, I feel like looking into several more the restaurants before going home.

(CHASE’S POINT OF VIEW)

Jacob quickly ate breakfast, and then headed out. He didn't say to anyone where he is going and that gets me worried. You can tell that Jacob is still really hurting over the loss of Joey. No matter how hard he tries to hide it, you can tell.

I decided to use today is a lazy day and just bum around the house. After helping Francesca with the dishes, I headed to watch a little bit of television. I found Andy already in front of the TV as I walked in.

I sat down on the chair and started watch whatever Andy is watching. He is watching an action movie on pay-per-view. That is one thing that Andy and I agree on. We both like action movies, the more action, the better.

The phone started to ring, but Andy and I didn't take our eyes off the screen. Franseca walked in, minutes later and told me that the phone is for me. I looked at her with a puzzled look in my face. I don't know who would be calling me right now.

I picked up the phone on the end table to see who it is. After the first few words, I jumped up from my seat and started yelling at the poor lady on the other end. I can’t believe I am getting this call.

It is the hospital, calling about Linda. She took several pills more then she should have. In return she got rushed to the hospital to get her stomach pumped. That is the only information they can give me over the phone right now. I need to get down to the hospital, if I want to get anymore information about her.

I hung up the phone and rushed upstairs to change. As I came back down is when I realize I have no way on getting to the hospital. Andy doesn't have a car, and Tom and David already left.

I walked over to speak with Grandpa Al. He is the only one left in the house that has a vehicle. I hate to ask him for this favor. I have no other choice then to ask him and I know he wants to know.

Immediately after I found him, he didn't hesitate before saying ‘yes’. We jumped into his car and headed off to the hospital. Andy decided to go with us for support. None of us spoke, the entire way to the hospital. I am starting to really hate this hospital.

As soon as we got to the hospital, the nurse took me immediately back to see Linda. I walked into her bay to find her alone in the bed. I know her parents are somewhere around here in the hospital. There is no way they would let their only daughter go through this alone.

“Linda, are you okay and is the baby okay?”

Linda didn't move an inch as I spoke. She just stayed on her side, lying in the bed, looking straight at the wall. I asked the same question several times before she finally answered the question.

“There is no more baby because I lost it today.” Linda spoke in a soft voice as she answered my question.

I slid down the wall until my butt hit the floor. Now I'm wondering if she did this on purpose or was it an accident. I know that ever since she got pregnant, she hasn't been happy about the whole thing. No matter what I did or said, she wasn't happy.

Her parents made it very clear to me that all this pregnancy issue is my fault. Their special little daughter would never have had sex with me if I didn’t pressure her to do so. If only they knew who was the one doing the pressuring.

Her parents basically made it clear to us that abortion is out of the question. We played with matches, and we got burnt. Now we are going to have to pay for what we did and that is to have the child. I have no problem with that at all. Only, Linda is the one that has the problem with that decision. Finally we settled on adoption.

“Can I ask you, Linda, a question and you will not go all crazy on me?” Linda didn't say a word or move at all. “Did you purposely take those pills in order to get rid of our baby? I know you have not been happy since you got pregnant.”

Still, Linda didn’t answer my question in anyway. She just laid on her side and looking at the wall the entire time that I sat in her bay. No matter if she did it on purpose or not, we no longer have a baby anymore.

“No matter what you think Linda, I always have and always will love you no matter what. You're the one that decided to call it quits. Now that we no longer have the baby anymore, that means we have no reason to speak with each other any more.

I really do hope you find someone that will love you like I do. You need to stop pushing people away and that includes your parents. No matter what you think, we do love you and hope for the best for you.”

I got up from the floor as I spoke to her. I walked over to her bed and leaned in to kiss her one last time on the forehead. I turned to walk out, but before I left. I turned and looked at her once more.

When I reached the lobby I found Linda's parents talking with Grandpa Al and Andy. I quickly walked up to see what they are talking about. Whenever Linda's parents are around, they make me very nervous.

“Good, Chase you are here to explain to this man about the deal you made with your friend. Your friend is obligated to pay for any hospital stay or bill while my daughter is pregnant with a child that they are going to adopt.”

“With all due respect, your daughter downs a bottle of pills in order to get rid of the baby. My friend agreed to pay for any hospital bill dealing with the pregnancy not attempted suicide or an attempt at self induced abortion. This has nothing to do with the pregnancy at all.”

“Son, everything that my daughter is doing right now is because of the pregnancy. She would not have accidentally taken too many pills if it was not for you getting her pregnant. Now, either he is a man of his word or we sue him for breach of contract.”

“There was no contract ever signed between the two parties. Even if a verbal contract is recognized, any judge would throw it out because your daughter’s stay here today isn't due to her pregnancy. It is part of her trying to kill herself, either by accident or on purpose. It doesn't matter because the end result is still the same. So my grandson will pay if he wants to be nice about it, but isn't obligated to do so.”

Grandpa Al thanked Linda's parents, and we left. Just like on the ride up, nothing got said on the ride back. So many thoughts kept going through my mind on the ride home. Good thoughts and bad thoughts, all at the same time.

I know this isn't the right way to think about this whole thing. But maybe this is a blessing in disguise. With the breakup that Joey and Jacob just went through maybe it isn't a good time to bring a baby into this house and more so a baby that was wanted by both Joey and Jacob. It could be a bad memory for Jacob.

I know Jacob would never harm a soul in this world. He doesn't have it in him to hurt another out of the hurt he is feeling. Right now Jacob needs this time to put his life back together after his loss.

(TONI’S POINT OF VIEW)

As more times passes and I see how things are done in the group home. I feel more out of my element every passing minute. The lady that runs the group home, Janet Young, I thought at first she was going to be on side. Almost immediately she started to treat me like the step sisters did to Cinderella.

We all have chores to do at the group home, but I got the worst of them. I have to clean all the restrooms in the house. Normally we do our chores in a group of two, but Janet won’t sign me a partner. That means I clean all the restrooms in the house by myself.

Since we live in a regular house, we are called down in groups to eat. Always the last group gets whatever is left over. I am part of the last group always; me and another kid that just arrived to the group home a couple weeks before me.

Mrs. Perkins, my guardian ad-litem, from the get go protected all my money that was left to me by my adopted parents. That has angered Janet even more, because she keeps trying to get to my money and gets refused. She thinks I had set it up that way. Because of her thinking that, she is making my life hell here.

I just don’t understand Janet because she gets money from the State for each of us. It isn’t just a little bit of money either. Some people don’t even make the money she gets for each of us in a month working their jobs. Janet is really getting rich off of the State.

The only one that has made things a little bearable here is my roommate Neil Kelly. I find that funny. When I first met him, I thought he was the one I was going to need to look out for. Instead it is Janet I have to worry about and watch out for and Neil has become a friend.

So I spend most of my days after school either dong my chores or hiding out in the back yard reading my books. We are not allowed to go anywhere except school and back to the house. That also includes sports or after school events we are not allowed to do.

Being here now for almost a month, or a little longer, I have gotten into a routine doing things. Once I get home, I right away change out of my school clothes, followed by doing my chores, and then heading outside to the back yard to my little piece of the world to read my books in peace.

Now that it's Saturday, I do as I do every Saturday. I get up and clean my part of the room, and then head down for breakfast. After breakfast, I do whatever Janet asks me to do before going outside to hide out till lunch.

As I sat behind the storage room, I started to hear footsteps walking up. Just ask I leaned over to the edge of the storage room to see who is coming my way, Neil popped his head around the storage room.

“I was told I could find you here. What do you do here, all the time Toni? By the looks of it, you just stare out to nothing.”

I clear my throat before I started to talk. “No, I come over here, for the peace and quiet to read. In that house, there are so many of us there I can’t even think with all the noise around me. Back here, I can read my book in silence or do my homework with no disruptions of any kind.”

“I didn't think of it that way Toni! I know you are having a hard time adjusting to living in a group home like this. Janet isn't making it be easier for you either. I think, and I might be wrong, I'm the only friend you have in here.

Why don't you go to your friends Jake and Joey's house during the weekend or after school? I'm pretty sure you're more than welcome at their home. Plus, you get along with them more than you do anyone else in this house.”

“I wish I could Neil, but you know the rules of the house. We have to come straight home from school and not have anything planned for the weekend. If I mess this up, the next place for me is like a detention home. I can’t live like that, because I can’t obey the rules of his house.”

“Come on Toni, by now you should know that Janet is nothing but hot air. None of us follow those stupid rules. She can’t afford to lose any of us for any reason. If one of us gets sent back into the system, she will have a harder time getting a new placement. We basically call our own shots here. Just don’t get in trouble with the law.”

I looked at Neil thinking of what he just said. It makes a lot of sense if you really think about. Just I said earlier about the money coming from the State to her. She needs that money, and she will not endanger it in any way. I will continue doing my chores of course, but coming home straight after school and nothing on the weekends will end. I will start getting back into my afterschool programs in hanging out with Jacob.

“Neil, thank you very much for coming out here and talking with me, I know you didn’t have to do that. Also for basically for being the only friend like you said, I have here. You are right about everything you said and I plan to start getting back into my programs after school and everything else.”

“Don't mention it at all. Toni! Ever since you got here, I have been watching you. You really look out of place here. You’re a little boy genius, who knows everything and deserves a lot more then this place!”

(ANDY’S POINT OF VIEW)

After getting back from the hospital, Chase and I sat in front of the TV and continued to watch the movie that we were watching before he got his phone call. Since I don't really know the guy, I really can’t tell if he is hurting or not.

When I first moved back into the house, he and I started to hang around a lot. In fact, we talked to each other almost about everything. One of the things he had talked to me about is Linda and the baby. The couple of times we spoke about the baby, he didn't seem too into the idea of having a baby.

I don't know whether or not it is because of the situation between him and Linda that got him that way, but something killed his spirit. The guy was going to be a father and at that time, he didn’t reflect that in his mood. Although he was giving the baby up for adoption, he would have been able to see the baby every day. My brother was going to be the one to adopt his baby.

The moment the doorbell rang, I jumped out of my seat. I almost forgot through all of the commotion here today that I set up a meeting with Norma. I walked quickly to the door to beat everyone on answering it.

I opened it, and there standing in front of me is Norma. We greeted each other, as I walked out the front door and shut it behind me. We walked over to her car and just stood in front of it for a few minutes. Finally, I decided to break the silence between us.

“The reason I called you over here today Norma is where we can either come to terms with what’s in front of us or just walk away. It isn’t good for either of us to keep dragging the other one along.”

“What you're saying Andy is I need to make my mind here and now about your brother? If you are telling me either take it or leave it. You don’t want to hear my answer to that.”

“Norma, I love you, but I can’t have you come here in demand either it is you or my brother. I have had a lot of time to think about everything. I will never again allow anyone to dictate to me who I may or may not love.

I am not going to continue to have the same old fight with you over and over again. You know the facts, but you don’t want to believe in the facts. You’d rather stick your nose up in the air and spit on people like my brother.

It is getting too close for me on entering into the military. Either we see eye to eye on the issue with my brother, or we call it quits here and now. I want to spend the rest of my life with you Norma. The ball is now in your court, and you need to make up your mind. Enough of this back-and-forth crap that we are doing to each other! ”

Norma just stood there in front of her car kicking around the pebbles on the street. She refuses to look up at me as I talk to her. I figure, a lot of things in this family have been coming to an end in the last couple days. I need to figure where I'm going and with whom I'm going with.

“Andy, I just don’t understand why you can’t see where I'm coming from. Ever since you will back into Jacob's house, you started thinking differently. When you live with me, you agreed with me on this issue.

Now were standing in the middle of a street in a neighborhood talking about our future. I can’t change who I am and what I believe in. I am asking you to give me time, and I will try to change for you.”

“I have told you Norma I have no problem giving you time. Where I have a problem at is you demanding that my brother not be allowed at our wedding. Fine, I will give you time in order for you to try to change as you say. At the same time, I am asking you to get along with my brother, and allow him at our wedding.”

“That Andy, I can’t do for you. Your brother will not be allowed at our wedding nor will I try to get along with him. I will not cause him any grief or trouble in any way. I just can’t stand by and allow your brother in a church being the most sinful person there in front of God and every one.”

I just can’t understand Norma and her thick headedness on this subject. The church is not going to crumble to the ground if my brother attends our wedding. I can’t believe she is willing to end us over this.

“Norma, you are leaving me with no other choice in this matter. I see we can’t come to terms on this issue now or no matter how much time that I give you. Not only is the wedding permanently called off, you and I as of now are done as well.

Norma, like I told you earlier, I will never again allow anyone to come between me and my family. Although we have had a rough go at it the last couple years my brother has always had my back no matter what. The way you want me to pay him back is by turning my back on him when he needs me the most. I will not do that to my brother.”

“Are you sure Andy you want to do this? Once you make this decision there is no going back on the decision. So once again, let me ask you, are you sure you want to do this with our relationship?”

I looked at Norma and just the look on her face; a look of being better than me and my family disgusted me to the core! I am not saying that my family is all that, but we're a little bit better off than she and her family are. Her look confirmed and sealed the deal with me.

“I am definitely without question for sure on what I just said. You better get home and start calling everyone to let them know we are permanently split up. Be careful and good luck on whatever you do and meet in the future.”

Not giving Norma another chance to respond to what I said, I turned and I walked back to the house and went in as quickly and smoothly as I could. I walked back into the television room and sat down with Chase in front of the television.

I am not really watching, what’s on television. I am thinking on what just occurred between Norma and me. It isn’t really bothering me at all. I am not broken hearted in anyway on loosing her. That may seem weird to others, but not to me. As a matter of fact I feel a heavy weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel a sense of relief that this is resolved, finally.

I got with her several years ago when I was at my worst. She helped me pick myself back up and find my way back. We never really shared a bed together in the whole time or had sex. I really think we got together and went as far as we did because our friends kept saying we make a perfect couple. Boy, were they wrong on the front!

Jacob walked into the room as Chase and I are in our own little worlds. There is like a glow radiating from Jacob right now. He actually looks a little happy for the first time since Joey left. I wonder where in the world or what in the world Jacob was doing all day long, while he was out.

Chase looked up and noticed Jacob standing at the doorway. He looked over at me and gave me this questioning look in his face. The only thing I can get from that look is his quandary as whether or not he should tell Jacob about what happened with Linda. I don't want to spoil whatever the reason that Jacob is happy, but he needs to know.

(CHASE’S POINT OF VIEW)

I got up from the chair that I am sitting in. I started to pull Jacob into the den as I walked out of the television room. He just looked at me all confused about what’s going on. All I can keep thinking is how I am going to break the news to him.

We both sat down on the couch and immediately I started from the beginning. I told him about the phone call that I got from the hospital. I went into detail what occurred between Linda and night at the hospital and then I told him about the conversation between Grandpa Al and Linda's parents. The entire time, Jacob just sat there listening to me without interrupting.

“I am sorry to hear the news about your loss. No matter what Linda says, she has to live with the truth about what actually happened. If she really didn't want to have that baby, she should have come to us. Although I would not agree with abortion, that wouldn’t have been my call to make.

One part of me is telling me to tell Linda's parents to shove it in another part of me is telling me to do what’s right. We are better people, you and me. We can’t lower ourselves to their level.

At the same time, we will not take them by their word. I will have our attorneys look into it and find out what the actual total cost of her hospital stay was. Once I get that amount, I will go ahead and pay the bill.

That is going to be the last bill I pay dealing with Linda. If there is any other follow-ups do to her misuse of medicine, those bills are to be paid by heard her family not me. My responsibility ended at the moment that she lost the baby.”

“I agree with you and I will ensure that Linda's family not only understands that, but won't be coming around asking for any more money. I recommend that you have your attorneys draw something up to ensure that.”

“I will have my grandpa work on it with the attorneys. For now, let's just mourn the loss and move on. This house has had too much unhappiness in the last several weeks. It is time for us to move on, and somehow find ways to get into the holiday spirit.”

I smiled at Jacob as he said that. Like always, Jacob is right when he says things like that. We need to bring happiness into this house as quickly as humanly possible.

“If you and the others are in the mood tomorrow to get our Christmas tree, I say we should. Normally we put our Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving, and then take it down the after the New Year's.”

“I think that is a very good idea Jacob and count me in.”

“What’s a very good idea you guys that you are counting each other in?” Andy asked as he walked into the room.

“We are thinking on going out tomorrow to get our Christmas tree. I just was telling Chase that we normally put the Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving, and then take it down after the New Year's.”

“Hell yeah! Count me in on that as well. I miss putting up the Christmas tree with you, little bro. Are we going to get a real tree or one of those fake plastic ones mom has had for many decades?”

“I think we should go out and actually get a real tree this year. In fact we should get the largest tree that can fit in this house. Each of us deserves something good this year, after all the shit that has happened to all of us.”

Andy and I just nodded our heads agreeing with what Jacob said. We all do deserve a lot more happiness as I said before. Enough of the moping and feeling sorry for ourselves! There are people worse off than we are.

(JACOB’S POINT OF VIEW)

I decided to tell everybody during dinner, what the plans are for tomorrow. This is the only time today. I have seen everybody at once. Tom and David immediately said yes, and to my surprise Grandpa Al said he wanted to go.

I invited Franseca and her two sons to come along with us. She accepted, and we all agreed to leave after breakfast. As each of the guys finish eating. They left the table, and eventually just I and my grandfather are left.

I took the opportunity to tell my grandfather what occurred at the mall today. As I told him what happened. He seemed to be getting madder and madder as I continued telling him about the manager and her employee.

“There is no way that manager could have already forgotten your face Jacob. We had the meeting just yesterday evening. How could she not recognize you? Forget all that, how could she treat a customer in that fashion?

No Jacob, we can’t let managers like that stay in leadership positions. Her way of treating customers has already infected her crew. Once a person adopts a bad habit, it is very hard to break that bad habit.”

“Trust me grandpa. I wanted to have her removed from that restaurant by force. Then I started thinking about her, and maybe the family that she is helping to support. I bit my tongue as best as I could and asked her to report to the office on Monday.”

“This is your call Jacob on what to do with her. Just let me know and I will follow your recommendation dealing with her.”

“I agree with you that we can’t have managers running around treating customers like she did. At the same time, I don’t like to take a livelihood away from someone that may be depending on this job.

Although Major Moore and I have recently hit heads a lot, he has taught me a lot of things on how to handle people. One thing I've taken away from his teaching is to give the people the rope to hang themselves and see what they do.

We should write her up and make it very clear to her that under this ownership we will not tolerate customers to be treated in the fashion she treated me today. We need to adopt that old saying that customer is always right. Even if the customer is wrong, we will treat the customer as if they are always right. Customer satisfaction needs to be our motto.

We will not stop at just a write up with her though. We should suspend her for a couple days at least, without pay. Then when she returns to her store after her suspension, she must retrain her crew, if necessary. The crew needs to have a full customer service re-orientation.

We will give her a couple weeks for that, and then send in one of the guys as a customer. If he gets the same treatment the rope we have given her will tighten up even more until she actually hangs herself with it.”

“I like your way of thinking Jacob and I will follow through on it. Major Moore is really teaching you guys a thing or two about leadership. It is better to let those under you dig their own grave than you digging the grave for them.”

We sat there talking about other ideas on where to take the newly born company. One thing we both agree on is that we can’t just stay in fast food. We need to branch out to other areas that will make us more money in the long run. One of the ideas, my grandfather has is buying land, and then developing it to suit and leasing it to large companies.

I told my grandfather about the visits to the other two stores, but I left out some detail of the visits. Mainly about a good-looking guy that I saw working in the kitchen at our Mesa store.

When I say good-looking guy, which is an understatement. This guy can’t be any older than eighteen. Maybe he might be nineteen but no older then that. He looked very shy not wanting to look anyone in the face.

The couple of times I actually got a full body look at him, bow-wow is all I can say! This guy can fill out a uniform better than any guy I have seen in uniform. The blue uniform pants that he is wearing I thought would have ripped right down the middle if he bent over. Trust me, I wanted him to bend over so bad as I stood there at the counter.

I am a butt guy and have been since I could remember. I love nice bubble butts on a guy and he has one to die for. The shirt stretched across his muscle chest with his cut arms hanging out of the short sleeves.

When the guy smiled he has these two dimples. A beautiful set of white perfect teeth shined as he smiled and a little bit of a curl in his jet black hair. It was all topped off with a niece tan that looks like he has year around.

He has to have girls all over him with that body and looks. I don't know about this gaydar I am suppose to have, but nothing about him told me that he is gay. The only thing that seemed weird to me about him is his shyness. If I had a body like his, there would be no way I would be shy!

I will guarantee you this much, I will be visiting this store, a hell of a lot for the awesome view. I will keep my distance and not let him know about me unless he gives me solid clues that he plays ball for my team. Most guys like him would not take kindly to guys like me fantasizing about them.
We decided instead of cooking in the morning, we will go out to eat for breakfast and then go shopping a little before picking up the tree. I headed off to bed, and for the first time in a long time, I actually had a good night’s sleep.

My dreams are filled with the vision of that cute guy from McDonald's. I can only hope that not only that he is gay, but will find me attractive as much as I find him attractive. I never thought I would ever find someone in a place like a restaurant.

That, I got up the next morning and took a shower, dressed, and headed downstairs to join the others. As I reached the kitchen, Franseca, and her two sons are already waiting for us, but the rest are not down yet.

Franseca offered me something to drink or eat for the meantime, but I turned it down. She is dressed up so nicely, I don’t want her to dirty her clothes because of me. I can wait until we get to wherever going to have breakfast.

One by one, everyone started to walk into the kitchen ready to go. The last to arrive is Tom and David. We quickly decided to take three cars, because of the amount of people. We decided pretty fast on where to have breakfast. I figure the reason we were able to do that is because everybody is actually hungry.

I glanced down the street as I held the door open for Andy to get in. That is when I noticed Toni walking down the street towards our house. I waved him over in excitement seeing him coming to the house. He hasn't paid a visit to us since his grandparents passed away. Something about the house rules that don’t allow him to come down after school or during the weekends.

“Wow, where are you guys going to such a huge group?”

“We are going to go out to eat breakfast, shop a little and then buy our Christmas tree. If you can go you should jump in because you're more than welcome to join us. In fact, I would love it if you could go.”

Toni didn't say another word and just climbed into the car. We drove to Denny's across the street from our McDonald's on Mesa Street. I kept looking over to McDonald's to see if I could get a glance of the cute ass guy; the one I saw yesterday when I visited the store. Just my luck, he is nowhere to be seen.

After eating it heading back to the cars, I did the exact same thing as I did going into the restaurant. Same results as before, I didn’t see the guy. I really wanted to see him so badly. It actually hurts that I didn't.

Instead of going to the mall I went to yesterday we've decided to go to Sunland Park Mall instead. This is the new mall. I was telling you about yesterday, that hasn't gotten all the stores to open yet. So basically, the mall is halfway open.

The minute we walked into the mall, we broke into our own groups. Toni and I went our own direction, and the others broke into their own groups. Unlike yesterday, I am actually in more of a mood to shop today. I don't know if it's because of having someone with me, or knowing that I can actually find another guy attractive. Either way, I'm in a very good mood to shop today.

As Toni and I walked in and out of stores, I started to get a feeling that someone is following me or Toni for that matter. Every time we walked into a store, this same guy would hover around the window, and not move until we walked back out again.

The first couple stories I just ignored it thinking it is me. Now we have been shopping for almost an hour and been to several stores already. The same guy has been outside the store. Just the way he is being is getting me a little bit nervous. I just decided to ignore him and just have fun.

We shopped a couple more hours and then went looking for my grandparents. Knowing them the way I do, they made their way to the food court already. As we headed to the food court, we started running into everyone else on the way. So by the time we reached the food court, the entire group is back together again

I found my grandparents with Franseca drinking a soda and talking. They look up as we approach and smiled at us.

“So you boys are ready to go now and get the Christmas tree you were talking about to me yesterday? It looks like you guys have done a lot of shopping here today. The mall made a lot of money with our visit today.” My grandfather started laughing as he got up and helped my grandma get out of her seat.

We made our way back to our cars and headed out to the tree lot. Last night we actually measured from the floor to the ceiling to see what size tree we can fit into the house. I want the largest tree as possible.

The first tree lot we drove into we left in a hurry. None of the trees were nice or even big for that matter. Then the prices were outrageous. I really don't call what they had trees but bushes; way overpriced bushes!

The second tree lot is a hell a lot better than the first. We started looking around at all the trees but couldn't find a large enough tree that we want. As I walked up to ask the attendant if they had any larger trees in the back. I noticed the same guy from the mall outside just sitting in his vehicle.

Now, at this point I am completely freaking out. There is no way I am misreading the situation here. This guy followed us all over the mall, and now he is in a parking lot, sitting in his car as we are tree shopping.

I turned to the attendant trying to remember why I came up front to speak with him. My mind just went blank after seeing that guy again. Looking through the corner of my at the guy in his car, I remember what I needed with the attendant.

“Yes, I was wondering if you had any larger trees in the back somewhere or on another lot that we can buy.”

“All the trees that we have are under the tent here. We do have a lot down the street that actually has larger trees than I have here.”

I thanked the attendant and headed back to find the others. Still spooked about that guy sitting in his car out there in the parking lot, I figured not to be anyone else worried until there is no other choice but to do so.

As we arrived at the other lot, I looked around to see if that guy followed us here. So far so good that he is nowhere to be seen! We walked into the tent and right away we noticed the trees are a lot larger a lot fuller then the other trees on the lots we had visited before this one.

Almost immediately, an attendant came up to us to offer his help. Retrieving the measurements of the tree that we want, and he directed us where in the tent to go. We quickly went over and found several trees we liked.

In fact we actually started to argue about which tree to buy. To be honest, the three trees that we can’t make up our mind on all look basically the same. I decided to step away and let the others argue over which tree is the best. It did take several more minutes before we actually decided which tree to buy finally.

I went up to the attendant and paid for the tree. At the same time set up a delivery time for later today to get the tree delivered to the house. We need to stop and buy all the ornaments for the tree. I have a few, but not any where near enough to cover that tree so we will need to make one more stop before heading home.

Still not breaking off and heading out in different directions everyone agreed on going to Wal-Mart. Just like in the mall, the minute we walked in, we separated in our own groups. I headed over to the decorations to buy the ornaments and lights for the tree.

Just as I turned into another aisle, I noticed that same guy standing there. He is trying his best to look like he is shopping, but there is no way he isn’t following me. This time, I am alone and now confirmed it is me that he is following.

Without alerting him that I have caught on to him, I continued to get the ornaments and lights that we need. Once I thought I had enough, I headed off to the front of the store to pay. As I got into the line, I looked around for that guy. Thankfully, once again he is nowhere to be seen.

I noticed my grandparents sitting on a bench in front of the cashiers. I paid for my stuff and headed over to them. I walked up to see if they are ready to get going and call it a day. They didn’t even fight me on calling it a day.

My grandpa got up, but stopped immediately looking behind me. I turned to see what my grandfather's looking out and to no surprise to me. It is that guy that has been following me all day from the mall, to the tree lots, and over here. This time the guy didn’t even try to play it off as if he is shopping.

My grandfather pushed me out of the way. He stared the guy down as if he knew him from somewhere. None of them said anything at first. They just looked each other as if they are sizing each other up.

“If you are here get back into your sons’ lives. It is a little too late for that Andy. Your boys are all grown up and don't need you at this point in their life. They needed you when they were smaller, but you ran for the hills.”

I just stood there stunned by what my grandfather said. I turned to look at the guy that has been following me all over the place today to see what he looks like. The other times I saw him; I just got quick glances of him and really never stared him down.

I looked at him and without a doubt he is my father. We look almost exactly the same, but he is older of course. Take the miles of life off of his face; he is a spitting image of me. Or should I say I am the spitting image of him. It looks like I am looking in a mirror seeing myself twenty or so years later.

TO BE CONTINUED…………..

WRITER’S CORNER:

{Okay everyone, we knew eventually Jacob's father is going to come around. Remember, as the story started, the father was not around. Later on in the chapters I explained why and where my father is. Let me give you a brief reminder of those facts because they were separated into several chapters in this story.

As you know, this story is based on many facts of my life. I never met my father, or remember him. I explained in chapter 20 or so about why I never met him. I don't want to bore you going over the same details. Just let me tie you in this much. He got into the drug scene, very heavily. Then he abused my older brother, and then later my mother all due to the drugs. If you want to know more detail you will need to go back to the chapters where I go into detail about it.

So, of course, this part of the story is purely fictional. So before you logon to your e-mails and start e-mailing me, let me stop you here and tell you this part is pure fiction. Now with that at of the way, let’s get right into what might happen in the chapters to come.

First, how do you think Jacob and Andy are going to take their father coming back into the picture? We need to also ask why he is back in the picture. I really do hope it isn't because of where Jacob is sitting financially. If that is the case, rest assured that grandpa Al is going make sure that Andy Senior doesn't get away with it.

Another new plot opening up in this chapter is that mysterious guy. The one that Jacob keeps talking about he saw at the McDonald's. By his description the guy, he is a hottie. I really hope Jacob gets him for Christmas. LOL!

Already, Jacob has had his first run in with a manager at one of his McDonald's. Just like grandpa Al told Jacob he would. How could she not remember Jacob from the night before? Come on, does she have a short memory span or something? Maybe she has been spending too much time over the grease traps. Whatever the reason is, she just got on the owner's radar as a bad blip.

It was sad what happened with Linda and the baby. Do any of us think she didn't do this on purpose in order to get rid of the baby? Come on, even Chase told her that he knew that she hasn't been happy since she got pregnant but no baby deserves that fate at all. I have my own personal views about abortion, and I will not state them here. But I don't agree with what she did accidentally or on purpose.

Linda though is finally gone from this story. We will not have her around like Elizabeth in the Shadow of My Father. She lost the baby, she and Chase are broken up already so that means Linda is gone for good.

Norma, Norma, Norma got what was coming to her. Andy finally came to his senses and put his foot down with her. She refused to meet half way and then in return she lost more than Andy did. Looking down at Andy and Jacob like they are lesser then her, that isn’t right at all. Just like Linda, Norma is gone from the story.

A lot of things happened in this chapter and I hope that a lot of things got cleared up. Several small plots were finally closed in this chapter. They were not going anywhere, but needed to be dealt with. Also the new plots open that you guys need to keep on reading to see where they go.

As always I can go on and on about the open plots in the story! If I do that, I can actually write several more chapters. There are so many plots that can take a turn at anytime. You might think it is going to go one way, but is lands up going another. Don’t miss out on anything, or you will be kicking yourself for it.

There is a so much to answer in the chapters to come. Stick around and keep reading the future chapters, and enjoy! Please email me and let me know how I am doing at jacobmillertex@aol.com, Thanks!}

EDITOR’S CORNER:

I was CHEERING Andy on when he was dealing with Norma! Andy finally got his priorities lined up and did what he needed to do. He gave Norma every chance to mitigate her bigoted ways. He finally reached down in his Fruit of the Looms and got a grip! Way to show your brass, Andy ! WOO HOO ! Not only that, Andy realized that family has to be number one.

Chase’s response to Linda’s situation and the loss of the baby was measured and thought provoked. I’m glad that he didn’t get depressed over the situation; that he had gotten his closure earlier. Yes, the loss of a baby during pregnancy is tragic (and I know that first hand) but life has to go on, just like Jacob is going on after the ‘death’ of his relationship with Joey.

Jake is getting on with life without Joey. Yes, he’s going to have moments where he will feel the loss for some time to come, but we do go on after relationships die. Hmmm….what is the new guy from McDonald’s all about? Warning to Jake: Don’t dip your pen in the company inkwell! The description of this hunk was very alluring, bordering on arousing!

SUGGESTION TO AUTHOR: Have picture files of characters to e-mail out to readers by request.

Jake’s handling of the errant manager was very skillful. Grandpa Al did his part right too leaving the disposition ways and means to Jacob’s discretion. Jacob had the right pragmatic balance between business and being a decent human being. (Some of my former bosses could take lessons from Jake!)

I’m delighted to see Jake take matters in hand and start to nurture Christmas spirit in his family, both blood and extended.

Andy Sr…….well, I was hoping for a pause in the angst, but here comes bad news once again. I’m sure that the family is united and solid enough to contain this character. How long will it take for Andy Sr. to realize Jacob is wealthy and want his piece? Grandpa Al is there with bared teeth and growling already. Something tells me Andy Sr. will come and go without a great deal of drama being tolerated.

Let us hear your thoughts and reactions to what’s happening and what is to come. Got an idea? Send it on!

‘Nuf for now! Until next time,
“Daddy” Rick