LiL bros - 2. Chapter 2

Chapter Two:

 

Tommy's eighth birthday was coming soon and he didn't know what to do.

Then it came to him, he could take Tommy to Disney world for a week. Let

Tommy be happy and have a lot of fun before school started again. Michael also wanted to know if Scott and Richie two of his best friends would like to go with them also. So with Tommy outside Michael called the Parker home. "Morning Scott, is your mom up yet?"

"Yeah dude, want her?"

"Please."

"You're sick dude."

"Eat me, I didn't mean that way."

"I know I'm just pulling your chain. Mom its Michael he wants to talk to you."

"Morning Michael, what can I do for you?"

"Hi Mrs. Parker, Tommy's birthday is coming up and I was thinking of a week at Disney world, and well I would like to ask if Scott and Richie can come also?"

"Well I don't think it would be good, you would need an adult to be there with you all."

"I know that is why I was hoping you could come too."

"I see, you have thought this all out?"

"Not totally yet, it just came to me."

"Very well let me see what I can do to help you."

"Thank you, but can you please not say anything to Scott or Richie."

"Sure, I think it will be fun to see their faces."

"Thanks, I gotta go someone just jumped into the pool in his clothes."

"Oh my I hope he doesn't do that all the time."

"No this is the first time."

"Well sounds like you have your hands full. I'll call you tomorrow and let you know my answer."

"Thanks Mrs. Parker."

Hanging up I walked to the patio door. "Tommy don't you think a swim suit is better to swim in?"

"Uh huh, but I got hot."

"Okay come out and I'll get you a towel and your swim suit you strip down here."

"Okies."

No sooner had he changed than he was back in the pool swimming and having fun. I was sitting on the patio when the Archer brothers showed up, seeing Tommy in the pool Peter and Billy stripped to their suits and soon joined him, at three playing tag and chasing each other. Jerry the oldest brother came over and sat with Michael. Within an hour Scott and Richie showed up and dove in. "Damn Michael how many more will be in your pool before the day is over?" Jerry asked.

"Let's see if I know Scott he called the whole team so maybe another six. Maybe I should set up the barbecue and get some hot dogs and chips."

"Sounds like fun, want me to call mom and see if she can help?"

"Yeah, I'm not a good cook."

At noon there were eleven boys splashing around in the pool, each spending time tossing little Tommy in the air or riding him around on their backs. The Archer's mother had come over with Mrs. Parker and soon had lunch ready for everyone. Sure it was hot dogs, but with potato salad; and juice all served on paper plates.

Early the next morning as Tommy was still sleeping Michael woke and dressed. Then it was into the kitchen where he started making fresh waffles, he had made enough for seven boys since his other little brothers were on their way, he had lots of juice and bacon ready when Tommy came shuffling into the kitchen. Michael had just given Tommy his hug when the doorbell rang; sitting Tommy at the table Michael opened the door to see his other brothers there. "Come in guy's breakfast is ready."

Soon there were six boys bouncing around in the pool splashing and having fun as Michael sat on the lounger watching. He was just thinking of joining them when Mrs. Parker came around the side. "Morning boys, Michael don't you ever get tired?"

"No ma'am this is the life."

"Well then I won't keep you, I just came to tell you that I have gotten the time off to come with you to Disney world."

"Great, that means I can get everything set up."

"Let me know what is needed or if you need help."

"I will, I just hope things work out right. I'll call you when I have it done."

"Thank you. Now I will let you go and have fun with your little friends."

"I will. You can tell Richie and Scott that they can come and swim if they want."

"I'll tell them."

So with the boys in the pool Michael went inside and made reservations for five at the Boardwalk resort. With that done Michael stripped to his suit and joined the boys in the pool. There were sodas on the patio table, so if they got thirsty they could grab one.

The week at Disney world was great Tommy loved it keeping Scott and

Richie going on rides, Michael wasn't left out for when the brothers got tired Tommy took Michael on more rides, each night the boys slept like the dead that was how tired they were. Mr. Parker wasn't left out a she tried to keep up with an eight year old also.

The last day there was Tommy's birthday, so Michael had the

Parker's take Tommy to the rides as he had to plan for his party. Talking with the manager Michael was able to get a cake made and a special dinner of hamburgers and fries something Tommy loved. They had gotten a small dining room set aside for the party. Michael had gone out and found some gifts for Tommy, getting them wrapped and back to the hotel just before the Parkers showed up. Sending everyone off to shower and change their clothes. When everyone was together he led them down to the restaurant. The dining room was all set and Michael had Tommy sit at the head of the table with Michael on his right. "What's this bro, this is your seat."

"Not tonight little man, now enjoy tonight."

With that the Waiter started to bring in four smoothies and a large ice tea. After they had been served the dinner was brought in double cheese burgers and fries. All the boys were enjoying the meal with the dinner plates cleared the manager then came in and behind him was the cook carrying a cake with eight candles on it as he set it down everyone sang a sour happy birthday as Tommy blew out the candles.

After dinner they all headed back up to the suite where Michael had

Tommy's birthday presents. Tommy was ecstatic when he found that he had a new I pod and movies, Scott and Richie had bought him a chain and pendant with the world's greatest bro hanging on it. That was something Michael didn't know about. All too soon we were driving back to Naples and home,

Tommy listening to his I pod, Scott and Richie sitting in the far back softly talking, then we were home, Tommy grabbing all his things thanked

Mrs. Parker for a great time.

We still had five weeks left before school started. Tommy and

Michael had spent a lot of time in the pool, and time practicing the trumpet and piano, nine weeks after they got home from Disneyland Tommy asked if they could spend the day at the beach. Michael thought that was a great idea so packing his trumpet and things for the day they walked down to the beach. Michael sat on the dock as Tommy ran up and down the sand enjoying himself; always insight soon Michael looked up and saw Tommy building a sand castle, with him was an older boy, Michael thought nothing of it since his brother was having a great time. Tommy called over that he had to go to the bathroom. "Tommy hang on and I'll go with you?" Michael called back."

"Awe, I'm a big boy, I can do it myself."

"Okay but don't be too long."

"Okies, I make it fast."

With that Michael went back to playing his trumpet. He kept watching for Tommy, when an hour went by and Tommy still wasn't back he took his trumpet and started walking towards the washrooms. Getting closer he could see people standing around. Pushing through the crowd he heard some talking that a little boy was inside. Pushing harder Michael made his way inside and saw his brother laying there, his clothes tossed beside him. Kneeling, he slowly lifted Tommy's head. "Oh Tommy. Why didn't you wait for me?" Michael sobbed.

"Son the police are here, you have to let him go now." A man’s voice spoke.

"No I will not leave my brother."

"Let the police do their job."

"I AM NOT LEAVING HIM."

Michael lifted Tommy's inert little body and slowly carried him outside, Michael's jacket covering his lower body, the tears falling into

Tommy's dirty hair. The police and the people standing around stepped aside as Michael made his way out. There were news people around and every so often a flash would brighten the tears. Laying his brother on a gurney Michael slowly cover him leaving his face showing. The police spent time talking to people, including the boy that found him, and even tried to talked to Michael.

Michael took back his trumpet as the coroner drove off. Michael went home and closed the curtains and left the lights off, locking the doors and unplugging his phone he sat on the couch and didn't move for the next twenty four hours. Then he got up and plugged the phones back in. Michael made himself a sandwich and then went back to the front room where he opened the liquor cabinet and started drinking. Michael didn't stop till he had passed out on the couch, only to start the next day and the day after that.

Both the Archer's and the Parkers had learned of the tragedy, and they left him alone. Scott and Richie helped their mother make the funeral arrangements, and still they hadn't heard from Michael. The day of the funeral everyone was there Scott, Richie, Peter, Billy Jerry and Trey Richards acted as pall bearers. Everyone was thinking that Michael would show up, but he didn't and that worried them. At home Michael was once more drinking himself into a stupor then into a sleep. Six weeks went by and no one had seen Michael, Scott and Peter were worried, School had started and he wasn't there, still they waited for another two weeks before they talked to their mothers. The police had finally admitted to that they didn't have a lead and that the case had gone cold.

Michael had started ordering beer through a cab company always using a deep voice to get the order done, then when they showed up Michael would say that his dad was in the bathroom or shower, he would pay for the beers and then once the door was locked again he would start drinking then, soon his house smelled like a brewery.

It was Peter that found Michael passed out on his living room floor, beer cans and bottles all over the place. Leaving the house Peter went home and called his mom at work, he then called Scott. "Hey bro I need you to meet me at Michael's, I just saw him he was passed out on the floor and man that house stinks."

"Okay I'll be there in ten, you want me to bring Richie also?"

"Yeah and I'll bring Billy."

Soon all four boys were at the house waiting for Mrs. Archer to show up. The boys had the doors and windows open when she got there. Billy had taken time out and had gone outside where he called their coach and asked him to come and help. After hanging up Billy walked back inside and saw his mother standing there, a few tears in her eyes as she took one look, calling the boys together and told them that they had to get Michael some help. Then while Michael was gone they would clean the house up and get it back to where it was before. Though from the smell of things it means a lot of work.

"Mom why would Michael do this?" Peter asked."

"We won't know until he is sober again. Now let's get him out of here."

"Guess that means the hospital huh?" Asked Scott.

"For now, then it will have to be a detox center."

The Coach showed up and with the help of Scott and Peter they got

Michael into the car and off to the hospital. There the doctors took him and placed him in the psychiatric ward, the coach told the doctor that he thought the death of his brother had brought this on and that he should be watched for a while. With the agreement that he would get the best care the

Parkers left. Back at Michael's house Richie and the Archers had started cleaning up the cans and bottles; soon they had one hundred cases of beer cans. Not to mention all the bottles. Once that was done they took out the furniture and called in a floor company to rip out the carpets and replace it.

With everything happening at Michael's house, Scott had decided to see if he could help Michael in other ways. One night he drafted an E-mail to the show CSI Miami, Michael's favorite show and asked if they could help a boy overcome the death of his brother. He told them everything that he could and that his friend had been found passed out in his living room. The letter was three pages long when Scott sent it hoping that something could be done.

For two weeks he had heard nothing thinking that the people wouldn't do anything. Michael had come home by then and was still not going out or letting anyone over, all he thought of was Tommy and how he last looked. Michael did learn where he had been buried and had gone to visit planting a small rose bush on either side of the head stone. After that he locked himself in his house and stayed there.

It was the start of the third week when Scott came over and knocked. "Michael I know you're in there so open the door."

Opening the door he saw Scott. "What do you want?"

"I want my friend back, the team wants you back."

"Sorry your friend is gone, and the team will have to do without him."

"You can't keep doing this Michael; we're all worried about you."

"Well don't, I am doing fine."

"Great so you’re just telling everyone to fuck off?"

"That sounds about right."

"Then I guess, I better leave, but one thing you should know."

"What's that?"

"I love you and well I guess that is it."

"Fine you said what you had to, now you can go home."

"Whatever, I didn't think you was scared, but I was wrong you're becoming a loser. Take care Michael."

Leaving Michael's house Scott ran the three blocks home, running in he slammed the door to his room and fell on his bed crying, Richie hearing the slam walked over and knocked. "Go away,"

"Scott, it's Richie, can I come in?"

"No I just wanna be alone."

"Then I guess you don't wanna meet Mr. Calruso or the people that work with him?"

"What?"

"Yeah the people from CSI Miami are sitting in the living room with mom."

"It don't matter, it was a waste of time."

"What are you talking about bro, they came to see you?"

As the brothers were talking Mr. Calruso came up and hearing this tapped Richie's shoulder. "Let me try son."

"Go for it, something pissed him off big time."

"I'll try my best."

"Thanks."

Knocking on the door Mr. Calruso opened it. And in the quiet gentle voice he had he called out. "Scott its David Calruso, may I come in and talk to you?"

"I guess."

Closing the door behind him David came over and sat on the edge of the bed. "I want to thank you for your e-mail, when everyone read it we thought it would be a great idea to come visit you and this friend of yours."

"Sir I thank you, but he doesn't care anymore, ever since his brother died he's become a hermit."

"He's your best friend right?"

"Yeah he is."

"Tell me, how did you cope with Tommy's death?"

"We talked about it. I mean my brother and my parents."

"Did your friend have anyone to talk to?"

"No, he started drinking and now he just doesn't care."

"Well do you think it would be best if he had someone who could help him?"

"Sure, but he told me he didn't want friends."

"Now I know that someone that cares enough to try and help him by bringing in people he likes, is someone that won't give up."

"Sir, I got no choice, I also told him something that I think ended our friendship."

"If you spoke from the heart and meant what you said then I do not think your friend will turn his back on you."

"What can I do, I tried talking to him."

"Well maybe we could show him that a lot of his friends care, I know we can't give him back his brother, but you and his friends can be his brothers also."

"How do we get Michael to let us back in his life?"

"You leave that to me and my team, but you're going to have to show us where he lives. Can you do that?"

"Sure."

"Okay you do that then, how about you pass the word around that this weekend there is going to be a party, what we can maybe do is get the park and fill that with all his friends. Do you know what band he likes?"

"Yeah; he likes the Jonas Brothers."

"Okay, then let’s get your brother and you show us where your friend lives."

"Okay, but can I have a minute with Richie?"

"Sure lets meet in the front room."

"Thanks Mr. Calruso, I didn't think you got my letter."

"That we did, but it takes time to get things set up."

"I hope that my friend knows I did this for him."

"He will; a true friend never gives up son."

"I won't."

"Good."

Ten Minutes later Scott and Richie were walking with the CSI team over to where Michael lived. David was looking at the street and the closeness to the park. "Scott this is perfect, now as I said you let me get things together and you keep trying to help your friend."

"I will sir."

With the rest of the team walking along Mr. Calruso walked up to Michael's door and rang the bell.

"I thought I told you..." Michael said as he yanked the door open, "Oh sorry sir I thought it was someone else."

"That's okay, you thought it was one of your friends?"

"Yeah, what can I do for you?"

"I am David Calruso from CSI Miami."

"Oh god, I really am sorry for yelling at you. Please come in."

"Thank you."

"Can I get you something to drink?"

"A coffee if you have it?"

"Sure come into the kitchen, you take cream and sugar?"

"Two sugar and with a bit of cream please."

Pouring the coffee Michael then got a soda then sat across from his guest. "So, how did you find me?"

"A friend of yours wrote asking for help that was a month ago, we just finished our last shoot and agreed to come for a visit it is only a four hour drive."

"So you came to see this friend of mine?"

"Yes I came to see him and you. It was your friend that wanted us to help you."

"Help me how?"

"Well he told me that you haven't been out of this house since the death of your brother."

"I don't wanna leave. Tommy, he was everything to me, I wish it had been me that died that day not him."

"There is nothing that you could have done to stop it."

"Yeah there is, I could have insisted he wait for me before he went to the bathroom."

"There is no way you could have known that anything was going to happen. Son you really can't blame yourself."

"But he's dead, and the guy is still out there."

"The police will get him one day. But you have to let him go, and get out and be with your friends, they do care for you."

"I know, but well I can't face them."

"Yes you can, just take it easy. They all know you hurt."

Four hours after David left the house and went back to Scott's where he met up with the rest of his team. "Sir is Michael gonna be okay?" Scott asked.

"I think so; it will take a while and someone who will be there to talk to him when he needs it."

"Thank you sir."

"It's okay Scott, now remember this weekend."

"I will sir; we will have all his friends there."

"I know son, I know."

For the next week no one was allowed into the park, Michael had started practicing his trumpet again, though he always played music filled with sadness. The team had learned from Scott that Michael didn't care about them anymore, they like Scott didn't believe it. "Guys we all know how Michael felt about Tommy, so what we need to do is get him another little bro." Donny said.

"How do we do that, if Michael won't come out of his house there is no way we can get him together with another boy that needs a big brother." Peter said.

"Leave that to my friends, they will get him to the park this weekend."

Scott said

"Okay, now where do we find a little brother?"

"I'll do that." Jerry said. "In fact I know just the boy that would be great."

"Okay bro, you get doing that, and the rest of us will get the others in the neighborhood to the party." Peter said.

Michael was playing the piano early Saturday morning when the doorbell rang. "Who is it?"

"David Calruso."

"Just a second sir."

"Morning Michael, sounds like you were listening to some great music?"

"No sir I was playing it?"

"You were playing, you sound very talented."

"No, Tommy was the talented one, he picked up the piano and trumpets fast. I was gonna teach him the guitar next, but now it won't happen."

"I came to ask you to join me and my team for some fun, I know you haven't been out for a long time, but I think it is time to start again."

"Okay, let me get some shoes and my jacket."

With Michael beside him David led him to the silver Hummer with the

CSI logo on the side. "Are we going in that?"

"Yes, unless you don't want to?"

"Oh no, I wanna I mean want to."

"Well hop in and let's go."

"Sweet."

The trip was short but it gave Michael a look at what he was missing. Soon David pulled into the Park entrance and drove up to the play area. Michael could see all his friends including the boys he was a big brother to. Michael was just about to open the door when he saw a small hand pulling on the handle. Gently pushing he helped the little boy open the door. Getting out he saw Jerry and the team standing there. Walking over he stood in front of them. Hi guys."

"Hey Michael, about time you stopped being a hermit." Allan spoke up.

"Look guys I'm sorry, it's just been shit for me." Michael replied as he looked at the grass between his feet.

"We know, but you didn't have to shut out your friends."

"I know, but that will change. I promise."

"It better, besides we need you back on the team, we ain't doing that well."

"You're not trying all that hard then. Now let's go see what's happening around here."

"Sure, but I'll be right with you, I gotta thank someone." Scott yelled as he ran off.

Michael walked off with the team, Jerry falling back a bit and started walking with the little boy that had opened the door. "Cory, why don't you run up and take Michael's hand and walk with him." Jerry whispered.

"I don't think he likes me." Cory mumbled.

"Give him a chance, besides I bet he needs to feel welcome."

"Okay, I try that."

Michael was busy talking to Richie, when he felt a small hand slip into his. "Hey little guy, are you having fun?" Michael asked.

"Uh huh; but well, could you push me on the swing?"

"I don't know, you think you're big enough to be on them?"

"Uh huh. Please would you?"

"Sure come on let’s do that."

"Thanks, my friend said your name is Michael, is that right?"

"Yes I am Michael, so do I get to know your name?"

"I am Cory."

"Well Cory hop on the swing and let's see if you can fly."

David and Scott were watching Michael and Cory at the swings. "Sir

I don't know how to thank you, now I guess the rest is up to me."

"Don't feel that you have to do it yourself, you have your family and all your friends."

"I don't think they would understand, but then who knows.”

"Your right, come on son let me give you a push on the other swing there."

"Wow kewl, but what about your friends?"

"They will be up here later; I came early so we could get your friend out."

"I don't know what to say."

"Then let say party and fun time."

The team had brought the basketball and were on the court as

Michael pushed Cory on the swing, Soon Scott and David were there. "Mr. Calruso, I want you to meet Cory."

"Hello Cory, Are you having fun?"

"Uh huh."

"Well let's try and keep you smiling all day."

"I will this is way better than the home I am in."

"Michael come on we need you to play basketball with us."

"What do you say Cory, you want to watch me kick some team butt?"

Giggling Cory nodded. Then with David and Scott the four went to the court. Taking the ball Michael started bouncing and practicing some shots most of which he sank. Soon there was a fast game going the crowd around the court growing larger. By noon the game had stopped with Michael feeling good again, He was sweating and deep inside he knew that he couldn't get away from his friends. When he sat for lunch it was at a table with Cory the Archer and Parker boys and David.

"Well Michael, how do you feel now?" David asked."

"Fine sir, a bit tired though."

"Well I think you just need to get out more and exercise."

"I know, but,,,"

"Michael you have to get on with life, you have been dealt a few bad hands. So now it is time to make your bets, are you going to bluff or fold?"

"I don't understand."

"Think about it and you will."