Tim's Adventure 21, Part 1: Prelude to a Wedding
by Wordshop
Author's Note: Ch 21 is very long exceeding 40 pages, a great deal of what happens in the earlier parts begins to build a foundation for the many transformations which will start happening over the next few chapters of this story. There are no transformations in this chapter. This long chapter is necessary to keep it "real", and, to show a progression of lives and reasoning for what happens. It does make for a far longer story, but the detail you get here, makes for good continuity and for a story you will remember. When I started Tim's Adventure, the whole concept was to see if there was a way I would be able to write a short novel sized work on MGS and make it work. It was to have all the MGS elements, and yet at the same time there was to be a strong story line, actual romance, and actual believable lives of what would at least seem like real people.
The sunrise was the art that paintings of New Mexico illustrate. The sky shone a myriad of color from yellows to purples.
It took 35 minutes to journey over past Hatch, and, to be able to head north on I-25.
Tim was driving. . .
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Would you like some tea?"
"That would be nice. . ."
"You never told me where we would be staying."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I made reservations for us at the Flying T"
"You didn't want to stay with your Mom?"
"Yes and no. . .my bedroom only has a twin bed in it." "Cheryl will still be there and I am not going to have my husband on a couch for two weeks."
"If you need the time with your Mom. . ."
"Tommy. . .she doesn't even know I'm gay. . ."
"Are you certain of that?"
"Well, at this point I love my Mom sweetheart, but I love you too and our life is ours. . .it is not up for family discussion, and in all reality hon there is no reason that anyone in this group needs to know anything." "You being able to get in a bed and cuddle with me as is normal for us is the best reassurance I can have at a time when I'm not going to be at my best." "I'm not thrilled with Cheryl right now, and in truth I pity her husband."
"Why?"
"Because the only one who can outspend Cheryl is Tori Spelling!" "I don't trust my Sister, and I see hurt coming for her new hubby in spades." "He doesn't deserve it."
"Are you absolutely sure your Mom has not figured out your secret?" "Did you ever have enough dates or something that would have thrown her off?" "I never came out to my biological parents but the main reason is that they simply were never there." "When Uncle Mike and Uncle Gary took me in, I basically had no parents." "You at least have your Mom and she does love you and care about you." "My Dad was a fuckin' drunk and my Mom had a number of other psychiatric problems." "If it hadn't been for two gay Uncles I could have ended up in worse shape than Andy Briggs or Jimmy Martinez." "I am grateful every day, every hour and every minute that they cared enough to help me."
"Are you sure that Cheryl is straight?"
"Well she is marrying a dude, and she had a date book that was always full."
"Tim honey that doesn't mean anything!" "Let's assume her fiancé is in fact gay, the whole marriage between the two of them could be to give some sort of legitimacy to two people as a convenience and a cover."
"Tommy, hold it a minute!" "In the past year or almost year I have been through a great deal." "I meet the man of not only my dreams, but my wet dreams." "This guy finds a crater faced geek attractive and is surprisingly not a joke, and in spite of everything that could have happened, I fall in love with him." "I for some unknown reason walk into a job that is paying me five-hundred percent more than I was making in Scottsbluff." "I find that my two employers are super scientists and they not only offer me more money than my entire family made, they offer me a physical transformation that according to the rest of the world is impossible." "I then go on a camping trip with the love of my life only to nearly lose him to a damn rattlesnake bite." "As all of this was going on, little did I know what was ahead of me physically, see I was always this little guy who had to work his ass of just to get to ground zero." "I am then willingly given some stuff that fixes my genetic flaws, and makes it very easy for me to grow not only muscles but secondary sex characteristics that would make a Colt Model green with envy." "I have grown so quickly that I am at times clumsy and a total klutz when it comes to sense of balance or control of my new and apparently still growing muscle mass." "Then, while all this is going on, by coincidence an MD with senile dementia starts taking his failing brain and applying that lack of functioning brain cells to a bunch of innocent kids, one of which happens to be by coincidence one of the people you train." "I am now witness to the abuse he did." "Then, just for icing on the cake, the same kid you helped and did so much for and who idolizes you, discovers he's gay." "In the process of trying to find some privacy to experiment with sex, he and his sex partner are drug from his Mom's car where they are badly beaten and sexually molested!" "Tommy my darling, I am just a plain common kid from Scottsbluff Nebraska!" I have had more happen in my life in my year with you than in all the years I can remember before that."
"Tommy!" "I love you, but please on this one trip, stop! give me a fucking break!"
"Tim, I am so sorry, I was just trying to help you. . . ."
"Tommy, I am so damn fucking nervous about this whole thing that I almost called this morning and told my entire family to "Go To Hell", because I am so changed both physically and mentally that I am terrified." "Tommy, I have been so nauseated over the past few days that though I am eating like a pig because that has been reprogrammed too, I really don't want to eat."
"Tommy, I am scared, can't you see or even fathom that?"
"This transformation thing, it doesn't change who we are as people, we still have the same frailties and fears, you above everyone else should know and understand that."
- - - - -
Tim pulled off Interstate 25 in to a rest stop, and the tears began to flow down his cheeks.
- - - - -
"Would you drive for a while?"
"God Tim, I am sorry, I would have thought that you would have wanted all this."
"Tommy, I do want it, and maybe that is the problem." "Right now I feel like a sort of `orphan' in that I don't feel like I have progressed to the point that I totally fit with you and your two brainy Uncles, and now I don't feel like I fit at all in Scottsbluff either." "Before meeting you, the one person I could always count on for love and affection was my Mom." "Now, because of the physical change, I'm afraid she's going to either reject me or be afraid of me." "God Tommy, I`m so fucking scared, I don't know what to do." "What is really weird is that I don't understand why I'm so afraid." "This fear is so real it is palpable and it is like it's totally consuming me." "The only thing I think that has been keeping me sane is that I have been so very busy that I have not had time to think about it."
"Tim, think. . . . .this is what kind of happened with me over Rosie and my now famous "Rosie meltdown." "Here I am trying to recover from a massive case of looking stupid, then what do I do, I make myself look like a totally immature moron and have a complete mental breakdown over friggin' horse riding lessons." You and Uncle Mike and Uncle Gary were completely innocent." "You did not do anything wrong, what happened was simply that I felt like I was a failure, and like I could be rejected by you because I first perceived whether right or wrong that I had failed you."
"Tommy honey, would you get this truck pointed up I-25 or we are never going to get our huge boulder butts to Scottsbluff."
"OK sweetheart, I know you've been stressed out, would a nap help?"
- - - - -
Tommy had the dually on the road very quickly and was running at the 75 mile per hour speed limit with the cruse control engaged. Within minutes after taking a swig of hot Tea Tim reclined the passenger seat and in what seemed like seconds after that, he dropped off to sleep. Tommy pulled off and urinated at another rest stop and watched Tim sleep peacefully until the scheduled fuel and lunch stop in Santa Fe. Tommy had been playing with all the gadgets on the new truck. Even the turn signals were computer controlled and responded to touch rather than a locking detent. The constant fuel mileage was averaging on this flat ground at just about twenty miles per gallon. For a huge crew cab dually with 4-wheel drive this was astounding mileage. This truck was also so quiet compared to the red Dodge.
Tommy tapped the turn signal lever and made the exit in Santa Fe and followed the directions on the guide to the fuel station. As he exited the freeway the off-ramp was a little rough and the mild bumps began to awaken Tim. Tim dropped back off to sleep the second Tommy pulled in to refuel. Tommy started the engine and moved the truck back towards I-25.
- - - - -
"Tim honey, you need to wake up."
"Waaaaahhhhtt?"
"You need to wake up sweetheart." "I filled the fuel tank again and we need something to eat." "You slept through a urine stop, through Albuquerque traffic, me filling a fuel tank, and now after your rest, you need food!" "Hell I need food and there's a Taco Bell not far from the freeway onramp." "Does the food from the land of the Chihuahua work for you?"
"That's Ooooookkaaay I, I, guess."
"What's wrong sweetheart?"
"I feel stupid!"
"Why?"
"Because I am being unrealistic, for starters."
"You have a three minute moment of anger and fear, and you're upset?" "Hey, I had a two hour special that required that I be sedated, and literally knocked on my ass!" "I think I won the stupid prize on that one!"
"How much fuel?"
"The receipt is in the center console."
"Have you figured the mileage?"
"No, I'll leave that to you if you want to do it."
"Will you be up to taking this over again at Pueblo, Colorado?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"You tired sweetheart?"
"Yeah, I have learned to hate the Albuquerque traffic."
"I understand that one."
"What did you bring in the way of CD's?"
"Three Containers. . ."
"Can you put on something that is restful?"
"Like What?"
"How about some oldies?"
"Category, or particular artist?"
"Nah, just something that might be easy on the mind.?"
"I brought some stuff by Glenn Yarborough, how about that?"
"Do you still have that disc of Jay and the Americans?"
"Yeah, just a minute, that is in this other CD holder."
Yeah, this mega hit's CD should at least get us to Raton."
Now, let's stop at Taco Bell and get some food!"
"You already had the bathroom stops, and I need to drain some urine, will you get me my regular?"
"Yeah, a number one combo with an enchirito, and you want the Fire or the new Green Sauce?"
"Green Sauce Today."
"Drink?"
"I have had enough Tea, so I guess a Baja Blast would do it."
"OK"
"Waking up is a bitch isn't it?'
"I don't know why I am so damned tired."
"Stress, and the unknown is the only answer I can come up with."
- - - - -
Tommy placed the order and at this point was conceding at least to himself that Tim was right and that they should not have managed their time as poorly as they had done. Two hours would have made a considerable difference. A cell phone call had already been made to the "Flying T" to let them know of the delays.
Just North of Colorado Springs in spite of weather predictions the temperature began to drop until finally the vehicle navigation system showed warnings for black ice. About ten minutes later with the speed slowed a great deal, the first snow flakes started dancing off the windshield. Tim was driving and he kept reducing speed as the weather continued to deteriorate. Fortunately, the weather began to ease up before they reached the Wyoming State Line and with dry roads the speeds began to increase to normal levels. Tommy was driving when at 1:00 AM they reached the entrance to the "Flying T" in Scottsbluff.
- - - - -
"No time like the present to see if I am gonna sink or swim."
"I'll go do the `check-in' and see if Sarah recognizes me."
"I know this is difficult, do you want me to be there?"
"Nah, I gotta face this one myself."
"What's the plate number on the truck?"
"New Mexico NPD4878"
- - - - -
Tim walked in the door and as he did Sarah the woman handling the desk at night looked up. As she did a great big smile appeared on her face. She ran from behind the desk and hugged Tim to her as if he were her own son.
- - - - - - -
"Damn it Tim Kelly, how come I have to see that handsome face as a shock." "Your Mom tells me that you came all the way up here to give Cheryl away at the altar." "When I saw the names Tim Kelley and Tommy Masters on the reservation sheet, I was expecting a couple of gear jammers." "Damn boy, life runnin' that ranch must agree with you!" "Looks like you gained a few pounds." "Damn, the weight made you just as handsome as your Daddy was."
"Excuse me, Sarah, this is Tommy Masters, he's . . . ."
". . . .I know, I know, this is the fellow that got himself appointed into the `Rattlesnake Hall of Fame'."
"Er….ah. . ..nice to meet you too Sarah, but what a way to be remembered!"
"Tim, you notice anything different?"
". . .ooooh, sorry, you can't see, let me take off my overcoat. . .'I lost 35 pounds', and it was your Mom that got me finally to do it." "She told me about you two boys and the bodybuildin' stuff, and I not only got my fat ass off a chair, I got Bobby to go with me." "He has lost nearly seventy pounds at the 24-hour fitness center gym at the mall." "Bobby doesn't need medicine for high blood pressure any more." "The High School Coach is talking to him now and talking about football next year if he keeps doin' so good." "Your Mom, she's so proud of you, and she got a couple of the other gals around this place that were startin' ta get a little on the `hefty side' to go too." "We started watchin' "Biggest Loser" and we even got a few really bad things on the menu removed, and even more important we have some good things put on to replace what was removed." "We even have a special menu…."
- - - - - -
Tim was at this point certain that he was still in the truck and was dreaming. This was not Scottsbluff, land of meat and taters, this was The Twilight Zone. He had mentioned that he had taken up bodybuilding at the Ranch because as small as he was it wound make him strong enough to deal with horses or cattle if it was necessary. He had not really elaborated much on it.
Not even Tommy knew that a conversation had taken place between Mike and Tim's Mom. In an effort to help cushion the blow early on, Mike had told Tim's Mom how he had amazed everybody and that he was catching up with Tommy who was getting ready to compete in the sport.
Well, the gals at the "Flying T" had some of the biggest mouths in Scottsbluff, and little did he know that he was coming back to nearly a heroes welcome!
- - - - - -
"Tim, Tommy, would you make a little time for old Sarah and come over so Bobby can see you." "Maybe seein' you would give him more inspiration to do even better." "Let me call Danny to get your stuff to your room." "They were gonna put you in 179." "Forget that, I just moved your room to 114 that overlooks the new indoor pool." "Did ya get any snow on the road?"
"Indoor pool?"
"Yeah, Mr. McCready cracked loose and had a whole new swimming pool pavilion built." "He was tired of havin' a pool that could only be used a couple of months a year." "You know the boss, the other thing was that heating the old pool was incredible in cost." "He said that the gas to do it during the winter was costing about a thousand dollars a week." "The indoor pool has a combination of both gas and solar heating." "He put a ton of those electric collectors on the roof too." "They're supposedly saving us about a grand a month on electricity." "He wrote the checks for nearly a million for all the new stuff he put in." "You know the old man can smell a buck." "The big deal is that the new stuff keeps us nearly full most of the time."
"As far as the snow, yeah we did, north of Denver, but it started to drop off near Cheyenne Wyoming and was over by the time we hit the Nebraska State Line." "It was clear all the way in from there."
"They said we could get some tomorrow, but, nobody is certain and at this time of year it can be decent and nice one day and snowing the next."
"Let me call Danny and get your stuff to your room."
"OK"
"Danny?"
"Danny Gillis, he was about a year behind you in school."
"Danny is a nice little guy, kinda like what you were when you first started here." "He's a nice kid and the family doesn't have much money." "Oh, that's right you don't know. . . ." "About six months ago, after you left, Danny's Daddy was killed in Iraq in the Guard." "His Mom is working now for us and to pay the bills Danny had to give up going to College."
"Didn't they have any insurance?"
"Yeah, but the paperwork has so far been lost six times." "They can't get the government to even pay for Danny's Dad's Funeral." "Seems they keep losin' the paperwork for that claim too." "He was killed in a fight over there and it wasn't by friendly fire." "It's terrible, and Dan Gillis Senior was a great guy." "The man gives his life for his country, and they treat his family like crap."
"Darn it boys, it's nearly two-fifteen in the morning, you need some sleep an I gotta figure some receipts before my shift is done." "I called Frieda Watson and She can't wait to see you and give you each a big hug." "Tim, Mr. McCready gave your Mom a little extra vacation time to work in Cheryl's wedding." "She won't be in tomorrow at all." "She said she'd see you at the house when you're finished here."
A few moments later Danny showed up with a cart and both Tim and Tommy were taken back to a new section which had been completed only a month before. This particular building was kind of interesting in that it was two stories and the rooms on one side faced in to a large glass enclosed atrium area with a pool and spa. The area was considerably warmer than the area outside. There were also signs to a gym and a steam room and sauna bath. Truckers had rarely seen such amenities. However Tim, knowing the score, could easily see how this could sell if it were properly marketed.
Danny was kind of a quiet little fellow and there were ways he could have been a carbon copy of Tim. At the same time there was a sadness about him that just radiated. He was probably about 5'4" tall and weighed about 115 pounds. He had lighter hair than Tim did and was more fair skinned, but there was some acne scarring and there was a language of look of defeat about him as if his entire life had been taken away.
Tommy gave Danny a rather generous tip, and simply stated to Tim in private that he was going to talk to Uncle Mike about Danny and that situation.
As it was after three A.M. they decided that they would get some sleep and call Tim's Mom in the Morning.
"Wake up sleepyhead!"
"Wa aaa aaaa at?"
"You need to call your Mom and let her know we made it in OK!"
"What time is it?"
"It's about nine-thirty."
"Oh shit, Mom's gonna be worried!"
"I think she'll forgive you."
"Tim picked up the cell and dialed her number."
"Hi Mom, it's me. . . . we made it in at about 1AM"
"You have a cold sweetheart?"
"Not that I know of. . ."
"Your voice sounds a little hoarse."
"I just awakened a few minutes ago. . .well, maybe I better be more truthful, Tommy just awakened me a few minutes ago."
"Tell him that I love him already!"
"You mind if I join you for breakfast?"
"Of course not Mom, why would you worry about asking a thing like that?"
"What's up?"
"This damned Wedding is driving me nuts, I need to get away from the blushing bride before I strangle her." "I thank God that the Stanford's are paying for this, because what they're doing would put me in hock for the next ten years!"
"What's wrong Mom, Wedding or not I'll have it out with Cheryl, what in the hell is going on?"
"Forget it for now, let's just get through this damned thing!"
- - - - - -
Tim ends the telephone call and turns back to Tommy.
- - - - - - - -
"Ah….Fuck!"
"What's the matter sweetheart?"
"Mom's all upset over something to either do with Cheryl or this damned Wedding!"
"I just knew this was going to be the situation, I was going to walk into a damned hornet's nest. . . ."
"Mom wants to meet us for breakfast."
"Great!"
"Where?"
"Here. . . "
"When?"
"She didn't tell me. . ."
"Tim, calm down and call her back and ask."
"I feel stupid!" "Mom, me again, you didn't say when you were coming?"
"Sorry Dear, I'm just getting my coat on, I should be there in about fifteen or twenty minutes."
"Ok Mom, see you in a few minutes."
"By the way sweetheart, you certain McCready is not for the gay system of water saving?"
"Why?"
"Did you see the size of that shower?"
"No, I didn't pay any attention to it."
"We both need a quick rinse and a shave."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to see your Mom for the second time in my life looking like a slob, for starters."
"You need to shave that forest on your face too, you are not a slob and since you're not growing a beard at the moment, you need to look decent."
"Ok, don't be such a nag."
"A nag, you think that the only thing I am a bit angry over is this?" "Tim, I have made many screw ups in my life, and I will pay for them in feelings of guilt for a very long time." "Don't you dare start down this road, you are always the strong one and the one I can depend on to keep a cool head when I lose it." "Yeah, I understand how you feel, but, right now you are making problems in your own mind that you do not yet have." "Right now, of all of the people who think that they have problems, you need to think a little." "Right now there are two young kids back home that are on a treatment because they might have been exposed in the worst way to HIV by getting it up the ass against their wishes, they were raped forcibly." "You're worried about some crap with your Sister and they could lose their lives." "They are going to get more blood draws on the two morons who got to them to be certain, but because of the needle tracks on their damned arms the best thing to do was to hit them fast." "They are watching their lives just maybe go down a tube because a few things are not yet well known." "They are afraid of everything right now, they are afraid of being exposed to their parents as gay, they are afraid of a disease process and the stigma that it presents."
"I. . .I. . .i'm sorry."
"Are you crying?"
"I can't help it, you're right."
"You and I both look like crap from spending the all of yesterday on the road, your Mom will be here now in about 15 minutes and we both look like shit!" "Your Mom is going to take one look at your eyes and see that you've been crying." "What do you say if she asks Tim?"
"I don't know."
"My hair and beard color are lighter than yours, get your ass in the bathroom right now and use a razor on that face and I'll use the damned electric, maybe we can still pull this off."
"I'm sorry."
"What the fuck am I going to wear?"
"What do you mean?"
"My cock is still swollen from that friggin priapic episode, look at these jeans damnit!"
"Shit!"
"No matter where I tuck it, it still looks like I've got an erection!"
"Well, Uncle Mike and Uncle Gary told you what would happen if you played with that effect."
"Why the fuck don't I ever listen. . . .shit!"
"Do you think I can get away with this athletic wear?"
"OK, I'll wear the same thing and we might pull that off."
"Wash your crotch, your underarms and your butt to get rid of any smell and get some damned deodorant on."
"I am moving at about a hundred miles an hour, speed it up honey, normally I'm the fuck-up, I am not going to be accused of training you in that aspect of life."
"What does your Mom drive?"
"A white Chevy Cobalt." "She inherited it when one of my Aunts died two years ago." "It was only about six months old when Aunt Lucy died of a heart attack, and it only had about eight thousand miles on it." "She was lucky to get it." "Aunt Lucy never married and was a school teacher." "Kinda sad, she bought the car because she wanted to take a few trips." "She wanted to take me to San Francisco, but the heart attack got her." "She always talked about Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf."
"Tim, do I look OK now?"
"You look OK to me. . ."
"What about me?"
- - - - -
A few minutes later both were dressed and walking out of their room headed for the restaurant. Both were still a little ragged around the edges from the drive of the previous day, but they still looked pretty decent.
Just as they walked up to the door of the restaurant Tim's Mother came out from the powder room and spotted her son. She literally ran up to him and gave him a big hug.
- - - - -
"Boy have you grown!"
"You look great, and in all honesty I needed to see your face really badly honey."
"Tim!" "Get your butt in here and sit down!"
"What do you think?"
"I'm sorry Nancy, What do I think about what?"
"I've lost 25 pounds over the last year!"
"Congratulations!"
"Nancy, this is my partner Tommy Masters."
"Yeah. . . . the snake charmer!"
"Oh God, that again, am I ever going to live that down?"
"OK Mom, we are both sitting down, what has had you so damned upset?"
"I miss my Son!"
"Mom, I know you too well, I am now nineteen years old, and I am at least trying to make it on my own." "Will you come off it and level with me?"
"I'm worried about Cheryl."
"Mom, do you remember the television show from cable. . . "Leave It To Beaver", in just about every episode June Cleaver could be heard to say. . . ." "Ward, I'm worried about the Beaver.". "Mom, in truth you've been worried about Cheryl for the past fifteen years and Cheryl just turned eighteen." "Now what?"
"This Wedding thing, it came up suddenly, and it was not Cheryl that told me she was getting married?"
"What do you mean Mom?"
"I did some banking for the restaurant and I ran into Emily Stanford, Taylor's Mom at the bank." "She walks up and says, I want to welcome you to the family, I'm so glad that our Son found a great girl like your Cheryl." "I tried to keep my cool, but it was a shock." "The only thing I knew was that she had been dating Taylor."
"How did you find out honey?"
"Cheryl sent me a text message to my cell phone from Taylor's." "The message was short as most text's are, but it basically said I am getting married to Taylor Stanford on this given date and I want you to be there, Love Cheryl" "About two hours later Tommy got a text on his phone from Taylor, asking him to serve as "Best Man".
"Tommy I didn't know that you knew Taylor Stanford."
"I don't."
"Why would she. . . . ?"
"Mom, remember, we're talking Cheryl here. . ."
"Do you remember the little incident when she got caught naked in the boys locker room at the high school?" "Then there was the time she and a girlfriend were caught at that porno shop outside of town, maybe you've forgotten that one." "Mom, the only thing that any of us can do is to help her and hope for the best." "I don't feel great about this either, but my thoughts are far more critical than yours because I am concerned not for Cheryl but for her fiance." "Mom, is there any chance she is pregnant?"
"Oh dear, not that I know of. . ." "I overheard her say that she didn't want children right away a few weeks ago to Melanie, her friend." "She said something about ruining her figure."
"Yep, now that is the Sis I know and love." "She always comes first."
"Mom, you know Taylor's Dad, that guy is going to want heirs to pass the business on to." "I am more afraid she's in this for the money." "What scares me is that she is only looking at the money and will dump this guy after hooking some Lawyer and a great divorce settlement." "I knew Taylor Stanford from school, he's a nice guy, he does not deserve to be mistreated." "He was not well accepted because of the family fortunes." "He was not stuck up at all, he is a good person." "He's a little shy like I am, and if I had not spent so much time working, I probably would have been his friend."
"What can we do sweetheart?"
"Mom, this is one time that we have to butt the hell out." "Cheryl has met her maker in Frank Stanford." "If Frank smells a `gold digger' he will expose Cheryl and she won't get a dime." "Whatever is going on here is going to have to play itself out."
"Will you and Tommy come to the house for dinner tomorrow night?"
"I guess so, what's the occasion?"
"Just updates and a bunch of things going on and the town gossip so you can catch up on all the dirt before the wedding."
"Mom, what did you tell Sarah about me?"
"Only that you were working for these great people in New Mexico and that you'd taken up bodybuilding and were doing really great at it." "I can be proud of my Son can't I?" "I asked you for pictures and you never sent any, why?"
"Yes you can, but the only one who is competitive in the sport is Tommy, I'm a Ranch Manager who only did things to be a little bigger and stronger for the job." "Mom, I didn't send pictures because I have, to say the least, not been very sure of myself in this bodybuilding thing." "I have done extremely well, but I'm not even used to the differences yet, and I kind of wanted a little more time to get used to it myself, before my loving Mom broadcast me as some kind of world champion bodybuilder in Scottsbluff, Nebraska."
"Well Tommy, your two Uncles were nice enough to have sent me some pictures of you two guys around the pool at your ranch, and I am so grateful that they did."
"Well I guess that I now have an explanation of how my personal life became so open to others."
"Tommy, don't be mad at them, they meant well."
"What do you mean dear?"
"Mom, see the veins standing out on his forehead?"
"Yes I do dear, but why am I looking at them?"
"Because it is a major indicator of the level of his anger right this minute at his two Uncles."
"I don't understand why that is an issue?"
"Because Tommy is defending me Mom, he clearly feels that Mike and Gary violated my privacy by doing that without asking me about doing so."
"Mrs, Kelly, you see, Tim means a great deal to . . .er. . .ah. . .me. . .er. . .ah the ranch and it just was not right to do what they did."
"Tommy, you must be some very special kind of personal trainer." "I took that picture to work and when they saw my little Tim looking like this big muscle guy so quickly it really made a major difference in some lives." "The one who really went into a tizzy over the picture was Sarah's son Bobby." "Sarah was really worried about him." "He was nearly one hundred and fifty pounds over weight and because of his weight which had done nothing but go up over the past few years, he was starting to have major health problems." "According to his Mother he could not make it across Wal-Mart without running out of breath, and she saw him on several occasions take one of those handicapped electric scooter carts because he was so fat." "Your picture, and some coaxing got that boy into the gym over at the Mall and he has lost over seventy pounds and it is because of you two." "That picture may have saved his life."
"Tommy, we'll live through this, the anger at Uncle Mike and Uncle Gary is not worth it."
"I wrote a letter of thanks back to them for the picture honey, and they were so nice, they sent me this long letter about everything you had accomplished since you had taken over." "They went on and on about how well you handled that Military truck in the snow, and how fast you learned to ride a rather bad tempered horse, and then there was the fact that you saved Tommy's life with the snake bite."
"Oh God, my headstone is coming into my vision. . . . . "Here lies `whatsisname' he was bitten by a rattlesnake in 2009, lived a bunch more years, then died of something or other." "I'm beginning to understand how Patricia Neal felt about Klaatu Barada Nicto". "I am beginning to feel that no matter who I meet I need to introduce myself as `snakebite victim'."
"Nancy, will you bring the `body smart' menu to the boys?"
"Body smart menu?"
"We got Mr McCready's permission and we are working on an entire second menu."
"You are?"
"Well when we started changing our eating habits and doing some research, we found out that our food may be a contributor to declining health." "Hey there are a few of these truckers that could go over the truck scales themselves without their trucks and qualify as a detriment to cargo capacity."
"Mom, can we get some breakfast?"
"Oh, I forgot about that."
"Oh, we come out to get breakfast with you and we forget about breakfast?"
"If we wait too much longer breakfast will qualify as lunch. . . ."
"Mom, is the AM Cook still Davey Matthews?"
"Yes it is. . . ."
"Tim, you know what is good, go ahead and order for me, I need to use the gent's room."
"OK, . . . "
"Nancy, will you bring two orders of `steak and eggs' with the greatest hash brown potatoes in the world for us please as well as two giant glasses of orange juice?" "What would you like Mom?"
"Oh honey, that's so sweet, I already had breakfast."
"What did you have?"
"Well Cheryl brought over some bear claws from the Do-Nuttery, and I had some coffee."
"Nancy, amend that order please. . . .please bring Mom two scrambled eggs, a bowl of oatmeal, and a glass of orange juice."
"Mom, the one thing I have learned from Tommy and the two Uncles in question is to eat in order to remain healthy." "Do not eat sweets and other unhealthy things other than as a treat and expect not to have problems." "Eat some protein, some light carbs, some grain and get out of the habit of skipping meals . . . . . like you usually do."
"OK Tim that was two steak and eggs, with hash browns, would you like toast or biscuits with that?"
"No. . . .Nancy, would it be possible to forget the bread and substitute two small bowls of oatmeal?"
"Sweetheart that is not a normal substitution."
"Mom, this is one change I suggest that you offer on your health menu, add in whole grain cereals with breakfast as substitutes for breads."
"He returns from the land of the lost!" "I thought that you got sucked down on the flush!"
"Very funny. . . .I apologize for your kid Mrs. Kelly."
"That's Ok Tommy, I should be used to it by now, after all, he spent the first eighteen years with me."
"What am I having?"
"Steak, eggs and hash browns. . ."
"All off my training diet. . . .and I'll enjoy every minute!"
"Well, you're here for me, and you should get at least some pleasure out of this trip."
"Mom, what does the house need?"
"Dear let's not worry about that now. . . ."
"No Mom, you're not going to do this. . . ."
"Do what dear?"
"Mom, I can't make it up here at a moment's notice, I am very much needed in New Mexico right now, we left at a bad time. . . ."
"What's wrong dear?"
"Tommy, while you explain about the two kids, I need to visit the restroom."
As Tim got out of the dining area he headed for a restroom that was shared by the employees. It seemed that it was just a force of habit for many years. As Tim walked in and stood up to a urinal he heard the door open and out of the corner of his eye Danny Gillis came into view. Danny evidently had some need and was also headed for the three urinals. Tim without thinking unzipped and began the process of bringing his now outsized cock out to remove excess liquid. As his now mammoth penis came into view he heard a gasp from Danny Gillis standing one urinal away. As he realized what he had done, Danny started to turn ashen white and then he started to shake. Tim understood the embarrassment of being caught looking, but the shaking was not normal. As Tim looked over, Danny was obviously in a state of terror.
"P-P-P-Please- - -don't hurt me. . ."
"God Danny, why would I do that?"
"B-b-b-b-cause I looked at your. . . .thing."
"That is a natural curiosity."
"Maybe it would have been better if you did hurt me. . ."
"Why would you say that?"
"Because my life is over, that's why."
"My education was going to be my ticket out of this hell hole!"
"Here I am fuckin' eighteen years old, broke, our house is going in to foreclosure, my Mom has to work two jobs and I gotta work one and we are gonna lose everything." "I worked so fuckin' hard in school to get out of here and I'm just another dumb little faggot, prowling rest rooms in order to try and find anything."
"I was beat up twice by guys who did everything to make me think that they were gay and then when I responded they beat the shit out of me."
"What shift are you working tonight?"
"Midnight to 9 A.M.."
"Tell ya what, come by our room tomorrow morning after you get off shift and we need to talk"
"Tim, your Mom has kind of painted you as some kind of super-hero, and we are desperate." "Things would have been OK if, well my Dad hadn't been killed." "If the insurance had paid off, the house would have been paid off, and Mom and I would have been OK too." "My Mom has called everybody numerous times and they just blow her off."
I worked so damned hard!" "Tim I had fuckin' scholarships that would have paid for my damned education in college." "I was in the top ten with a G.P.A. that was stellar, and now I am just "poor Danny".
"Danny, in case you have not noticed you're still hanging out."
"Oh Shit!"
"I've got to get back to my Mom and this Wedding thing, but, remember to come by after shift tomorrow." "We will talk and maybe we can give you a few tools to help you survive for a short time while other problems are being worked on." "Hang in there Danny, it is always dark before a dawn."
- - - - - - -
Tim walks back to the table. . . .
- - - - - - -
"Your Mom and I have had a great talk all about you.!" "I know that she was just getting ready to get out all of those naked baby pictures on the bear rug."
"You wouldn't! You didn't" (Tim's eyes looking at and throwing daggers at his Mother)
"You mean there really are pictures of you naked on a bear rug?" (Tommy's response)
"Yes!"
Just as this conversation draws to a close the breakfast plates begin to arrive at their table.
"Tommy, if you don't mind my asking, how much do you weigh?"
"Mother!"
"It's OK Tim, Mrs. Kelly, the last time I stepped on a scale was before we left and I was about two-fifty."
"Tim, what about you?"
"Mom!"
"Tim, go ahead and answer her, it is your Mom and she is just learning about stuff like this!"
"Let's say it is in the area of two hundred pounds and leave it at that!" "Mom, would you enjoy your breakfast and just back off a little!" "It is now nearly eleven A.M. and we are still sitting and talking about things that we can talk about later." "I need to get to the house to survey the work that needs to be done!" "I need to get to the home center or find one that has everything we need to do the fixing in stock." "Cheryl's Wedding is this coming Saturday and I want to be able to leave here Mom with a clear conscience knowing that I took care of what you need for the next year or until I can get back up here for a visit."
"Ok Dear……"
"Mrs Kelly, the problem is that we have a great deal going with regards to work down in New Mexico."
"Mom, our ranch is in the meat business." "This last year we sold a very large number of Corriente cattle as meat." "The ranch I work for normally raises Bison, it is far healthier and it is far more lucrative." "We ended up with this last heard of Corriente cattle based on a friendship and the death of a rancher in another County." "It was a mess and every single one of us will be thrilled to get rid of the cattle and go back to the Bison."
"Isn't Bison the same as Buffalo?"
"No Mom it is not." "The North American Bison which was at one time an endangered species is genetically different." "The only true Buffalo is found in Africa and it is a million miles different than what you think." Right now there are over five hundred thousand Bison on farms being raised for meat in the United States alone."
"I wanted to try buffalo- -er ah—"bison" because one of the truckers said it's great." "I went down to the meat market and when they gave me the price I almost flipped out!"
"Why is it so horribly expensive?"
"Mom, the reason that is so very expensive is that Bison cannot be bred or fed like cattle." "Bison, in spite of a resemblance, have very functional and selective brains capable of more decision making ability than cattle. " "Cattle can easily be fed in a `feed lot' environment. Bison are very conscientious eaters. They pick and choose what they want, and will also refuse to eat corn which is a big part of lot fed cattle and that aspect of the industry.
"What about the cattle you just sold, were they fed in a lot environment?"
"No Mom they were not, all of our cattle were what are called "range fed" which simply means that they were out in spacious pastures rather than a small feed lot arrangement." "The New Mexico ranch where I work Mom is extremely large at least in your eyes. We are talking of many thousands of acres." "When we have to, we feed things at least similar to what they would eat in nature, we do not use a premixed feed from a major corporation.
I have had to learn a great deal about this kind of thing, and you should see the differences in the nutrition level between the two meats. At the ranch, if we use actual beef it is only range fed and most of the time we use Bison instead because we raise it. When the animals are taken to be rendered into food. we always have a long supply of the stuff ourselves. If Mr. McCready wants a source, all he has to do is to call and we can set that up.
"This is interesting dear. . . ."
"Mom, I know it may be a great stretch right now for all of us, but can we get past breakfast before dinner?" "One of the things that is very important when you are bodybuilding is the timing of things throughout the day." "We have to time our meals a little better than the average guy or we lose ground." "If I seem like I am being pushy or demanding I hope that you understand." "Mom, I love you very much, and I even love Cheryl, sometimes more than others, but, I need to be honest with you."
"Of course dear."
"Mom, I almost did not want to participate in this simply because I knew that it was going to be a "dog and pony show" for Cheryl and I did not want to be a part of or encourage that."
"Tim honey, I know. . . ." "How do you think I felt and still feel finding out that there is going to be a Wedding not from my daughter at all, but instead from the Mother of the prospective husband."
"Mom, why don't you just tell Cheryl the truth!"
"Because Tim, Cheryl lives in her own world, she does what she wants and doesn't listen to anybody." "If Cheryl wants independence and the absolute freedom of an adult, the best thing I can do is to let her have it." "However when the going get's rough, she is not coming home and moving back in with Mommy." "She made her bed of nails and then she is definitely going to lie in it." "Taylor bought her a house, she's going to have to clean it." "Taylor bought her a car, she's going to have to take it in for maintenance and repairs." "If she get's pregnant, she is going to have to continue the work in spite of the size of her belly and breasts."
"Mom, you have something up your sleeve don't you?"
"I wouldn't be surprised dear. . . "
- - - - - - - -
Back in New Mexico Mike had just received a telephone call from Greg Heinzmann the M.D. now treating both Jimmy and Andy. The news is not good. They did escape H.I.V. infection, but, the depression and the resulting lack of appetite and stress was doing a horrific amount of damage. The parents were not doing great with what had happened and it was now both sets of parents that were by their actions unwittingly preventing the healing in the two boys.
Right now, the only thing that Andy and Jimmy had was each other, but the parents were now so protective that they were suffocating the two teens.
Andy's Mother had caught him crying in bed several times in a fetal position, and did not understand that he needed Jimmy's company to divert himself from the grief and embarrassment he had suffered as a result of the incident. Jimmy was just unable to eat and he was losing weight to the point that there was a concerned M.D. and two benefactors who were more concerned than that. Since the incident Jimmy had lost nearly twenty pounds and Andy had lost fifteen.
- - - - - - - -
"Mike, I don't know what to do, until this latest mess happened Andy had been doing well." "The training and such was starting to put on a little muscle, and the magic in a syringe had really started to kick in and help." "Right now we are losing ground because it appears that your magic potion whatever it may be needs food and caloric intake to work well." "Jimmy is all the way into what would look like anorexia." "He knows he's too thin, and it is not that he does not want to gain the weight back, it is that he has no appetite for food."
"Do you have anything in your bag of magic tricks to turn these kids around?"
"I think we can do that, but the psychological damage is what is worrying me." "It sounds like these kids just don't have a great deal in their lives to make them want to go on with living."
"Do you know Darren Rodgers?"
"Yes I do."
"He is one of the best in his field and he is very accepting of homosexuality for those that end up in that area."
"I think we are going to have to bring Darren up to speed on a few of these kids." "When Mad Max made a mess the psychological damage to these kids appears to be far worse than the physical damage." "We are getting hormone profiles back to normal on most of them, but the damage in some areas has been done." "The penile dimensions have certainly improved, but, it appears that most of these teens will be at the bottom end of the scale when it comes to dimensions and it appears that virtually all of them are having problems gaining any significant muscle mass."
"The weird thing is that while all of these kids will be graduating from High School this May, some of them have only started puberty and some it appears are going to need help in spite of normal hormone patterns." "We have bone closure in fact on only a few of these fellows so we have not even gotten full adult height on all of them yet."
"Gary and I will prepare some stronger injectable for both Andy and Jimmy." "It will definitely fix the appetite problem and it will really get them back on track." "The main problem again will be the parents." "This injectable is going to be twenty to thirty times more powerful than what you have been using and the problems we have talked about in the past will be present and in a big way." "What I want you to do is to give them only three consecutive injections of the formula we are preparing and then to back to the original formula we gave you."
"Gary and I are headed up to Taos in a few days to look at some property." "I will have enough of the new injectable for Andy and Jimmy to carry them for three weeks." "We will be back home in about two weeks, Tommy and Tim will be back probably before we will." "Tommy needs to get back to work with his charges at the gym, and I know he was really worried about Andy and Jimmy when he left town."
"Where were they going again?"
"They're in Scottsbluff, Nebraska."
"Wasn't there a Wedding to attend?"
"Yeah, Tim's younger Sister is getting Married."
"Well, I hope she does better at it than I did!"
"Well, I hope so too, I have been at the last three of your five Weddings."
"I hope that Tommy and Tim get some rest."
"I doubt it, Tim and Tommy have to do a great deal of repairs on Tim's Mother's home." "It is a little 3 bedroom one bath place built right after the War." "Tim was afraid it was going to need a new roof."
"Either way, Tim and Tommy will be at the ranch and I will give them instructions to let you know when they get back into town." "If you need anything we will both have our cells on us and we can have Tim or Tommy help long distance as best we can."
- - - - - - - -
Tim, Tommy and Mrs. Kelly did finally make it through breakfast and they did for a short time part company. At about three in the afternoon, after a rest and a shower, both guys hopped into the pickup and headed from the Flying T over to Tim's former home.
Tommy was driving, and when they pulled up to the front of the modest home Tim was in shock. The home was totally in shambles. The lawn which Tim had cared for was dead. The whole yard had gone completely to weeds. The rose bushes lining the front walkway were dead, the window screens were damaged and hanging in tatters on the front of the windows, and the roofing material was curled and had sections that had peeled off in the wind, and those pieces were lying all over the yard.
Tears were streaming down Tim's cheeks as he surveyed work which was going to take a month to accomplish. The place was a mess beyond words and was one of the worst if not the worst looking property in the neighborhood.
Tim became so upset he started to hyperventilate.
- - - - - - - -
"Tim honey, please calm down, we can fix this!"
"Yes…huff…but…huff…it…huff…will…take …us…huff…weeks…to…huff…do…it!"
"Uncle Mike, we have a major problem here!"
"Tim is hyperventilating from a stress reaction, what do I do?"
"OK, that is it?"
"The problem is that his Mom's house looks like a disaster." "The screens are tattered, the yard has not been cared for in any manner I guess since he left here, the weeds are at least knee height if not more, the roof on the house is half gone, the place is a mess beyond belief."
"Probably six thousand on the roof, and maybe another three thousand in yard work." "I'll tell him as soon as I can, the breathing is starting to calm down."
- - - - - - - -
Tommy got off the telephone just in time to watch Mrs. Kelly walk out the front door to the truck. The sight of his Mother calmed the breathing down the rest of the way quickly, and, he tried to pull himself together.
- - - - - - - -
"Mom, what in the hell happened to this place?"
"I didn't have the money to keep the gardener."
"Mom, I was sending you the money for that."
"Where did the money go that was to pay for the gardener and yard maintenance."
"I had bills to pay."
"What bills Mom?"
"Well dear there were some unexpected things that came up."
"Mom, since you diverted money I sent you from legitimate things to other things I have the right to know."
"I am amazed that the City hasn't cited you for this."
"Well dear I'm afraid that they did."
"How long ago?"
"About a month?"
"I smell Cheryl here."
"Well…"
"Well, Farmer's Bank sent her a credit card."
"How, she doesn't have any meaningful form of employment?"
"Well dear they did."
"And she immediately ran it up to it's limit I guess."
"And the next step was that you started trying to pay it off."
"When did they send her this credit card?"
"About three months after you left."
"Mom, at that time she would have been seventeen years old."
"Tommy, would you give the family a call and have them get us a referral to a good Lawyer on this one."
"Mom, the card was sent to a person not of legal age, you did not have to pay anything."
"What was the limit on the card?"
"Three thousand dollars!"
"Did you at least get the card back from Cheryl?"
"She said that she lost it."
"Did the card get cancelled?"
"I guess not, as fast as I would pay it down, new charges kept showing up."
"Why didn't you go to an Attorney?"
"When I get into the house, let me see the statements."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
As Tim eyed the charges on the statements and where they came from his blood began to boil.
A few minutes later, he looked at his mother's check-book to see what she had already paid and where she had been forced to sacrifice. She herself had been eating poorly resorting to cheap garbage to pay these credit card bills.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Mom, there is not much doubt in my mind these charges are all Cheryl."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tim had decided to ask Cheryl for payment for the credit card as a condition of participating in the Wedding, and he would pay off the debt on a one time only basis for his Mother. Tim contacted the gardening company and wrote a three thousand dollar check to them to restore the yard and change the landscaping to "low maintenance". He wrote another large check to a reputable roofing contractor to replace the roofing on the house. He also changed the mailing address for the credit card to Cheryl's new address.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Mom, if I can't trust you to deal honestly with me when we speak of Cheryl, what can I do here." "There is so much work needed on this house and yard that I will not have the time to do it." "Tommy and I together could not do it without renting a ton of power equipment." "We are supposed to meet Tommy's two Uncles in Taos, New Mexico one week after the Wedding." "They are going to stay on in Taos for a week longer than we are, and we have a ton of things to do back at the ranch." "Tommy took off of work to be with me, and we expected to spend no more than one week after the Wedding here in Scottsbluff taking care of things for you, before our return." "The Wedding is this Saturday, that means that the latest we can leave here is the following Sunday." "When did you tell them you'd be back to the gym Tommy?"
"I told them that it would be after the first of the month which would give us one week in Taos and one week to get caught up at the ranch before I have to get back to my clients."
"Mom, this trip is costing us a bundle of money!" "I. . .I, love you Mom, but this whole mess hurts." "Why didn't you tell me what was going on?"
"I will meet with the landscaping contractor and the roofing contractor to set up the work there." "The landscaper has to come in first to clean out the dead stuff before the roofer because they have to tear off the old roofing material." "When the tear off is completed and the refuse hauled away, then the landscaper can start the actual planting and landscaping."
- - - - - - - -
Mrs. Kelly had made a pot roast for dinner. Cheryl was supposed to be there, but, she just simply failed to show up. Tim was not happy, but he was not going to take it out on his Mom. She had already been through enough. Tim had calmed down somewhat and Tommy built a fire in the living room fireplace. The weather had turned cold and two huge bodybuilders were sitting shirtless in sweat pants with Mrs. Kelly in her night gown. They were drinking hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows. Tommy got to see pictures of Tim's Dad, and pictures of Tim as he grew up. They were shirtless and in sweat pants because the clothing that Tim and Tommy had been wearing was dirty and needed a wash and dry before they went back to the Trucker's Motel. The pictures of Tim growing up were fascinating as Tommy saw different aspects of the life his chosen partner had experienced prior to their meeting.
Without announcement Tommy and Tim could hear a key in the front door.
- - - - - - - -
"Hi Mom, sorry we're late.
"Mother!" "Entertaining two young guys who look like this?"
"I'm your Brother you stupid idiot!"
"Tim?"
"OK, I don't look quite the same, get past that, go get a cup and get yourself and your fiancé some hot chocolate."
"I'm truly sorry Taylor, as usual Cheryl forgot to introduce people."
"This is Tommy Masters, the other guy you invited to be part of your Wedding!"
"Tommy, the guy with his jaw on the floor is Taylor Stanford, Cheryl's fiancé."
"U u u u u h h h . . . . nice to meet you Tommy!"
- - - - - - - -
Cheryl motioned to Taylor and in a few minutes Cheryl was back in the living room with her nightgown on and Taylor was standing in a pair of pajama bottoms that had probably belonged to her Father. A little wind could be heard outside and through the dirty panes of one of the front windows some snowflakes could be seen dancing in the light of a streetlight on the corner.
- - - - - - - -
"Mrs. Kelly, may I interrupt for a minute?"
"Yes Taylor, what is it dear?"
"I have a check for you with some interest, I understand that Cheryl ran up some major credit card bills for this Wedding, it is not fair for you to pay any of that."
"Tommy, I understand that you are part of a major cattle operation?"
"Not quite Taylor, we raise Bison which are similar, except for this year as we were stuck with some Corriente Cattle."
"Now that you're a member of the family, remember that we sell all kinds of equipment for your operation." "I can drop ship it anywhere you want it!"
"Thanks Taylor, we already are a one brand operation and it is yours that we use!"
"Have you guys been fitted for the formal wear yet?"
"That is on tomorrow's list!"
"Cheryl, should we pay to go see this one?"
"Giorgio is going to have kittens!"
"Why is that?"
"He had half the litter because of Lenny Carter, the football lineman!"
"These two will be far more difficult to fit than Lenny!"
"Tommy and Tim both just chuckled!"
"Mom, do we have any graham crackers?"
"Cheryl, why do you ask, I think that they are in the cupboard in the pantry."
"Taylor likes smores, I was going to make him a couple."
- - - - - - - -
The evening wore on and when the laundry had been completed Tim and Tommy both dressed and after midnight headed back to the Flying "T". They had time for a little cuddling before sleep and were awakened by a soft knock at the door at about ten the next morning.
Danny Gillis was at the door and he was immediately invited in.
- - - - - - - -
"Danny, I am a little sorry that you're not seeing us at our very best."
"As you may know my Sister Cheryl is getting Married to Taylor Stanford this weekend." "Nothing has gone as planned and I have already heard a great deal about yours and your Mom's problems.
"We can't guarantee anything, but, Tommy's Uncles are very powerful men with a great number of friends in Washington D.C. ." "How long do we have before the real problems start?" "I would guess no more than a couple of months." "I think we can get action faster than that even in Washington." "Would you get me copies of all of the information?" "Danny, do you have a cell phone of your own?"
"Yes and Yes."
"I have already talked to one of my two Uncles and he has made a few telephone calls." "If you have the paperwork trail to do it, we can make quite a stir in Washington with this." "In fact, there are a couple of people up here in elected office that are going to find themselves in the "hot seat" if this is engineered right."
"Can you have photocopies of everything by tonight for us when you come to work?"
"I suppose so."
"What time do you come on tonight?"
"Nine O clock."
"I will be here and I will get everything faxed out tonight."
"Don't give up hope, but remember, I want a copy of every single thing that your Mom filed and every single response that came from the parties involved, all of it!"
"OK, Tim. . ."
"Danny, here is my cell telephone number." "We have a very busy day tomorrow." "We have to be fitted for tuxes for the Wedding on Saturday, then if there is any way we can we need to get by and see Bobby, Sarah's son."
"The fat guy?"
"Well his Mom tells me he's lost a lot of weight."
"Yeah he has, but he has an awful lot more to go!" "Sarah seems to think that seeing us would inspire him to work harder, so, if it helps, I am willing to give it a try."
"Danny, I will look forward to seeing you tonight when you come on shift." "I will make it a point to be here a few minutes early." "Remember that I need photocopies of every single piece of paper your Mom has received."
About an hour later Tim and Tommy made their way to the tux rental shop. When they walked in the door a small portly man in his sixties looked to the ceiling. He started speaking in Italian and by the way the words were coming out it was not because it was pleased.
In broken English he let them know that he was going to have to do such major work to a couple of tuxes to get them to fit that he doubted that he would ever be able to use them again. Would they like to buy a couple of tuxes to fit them really cheap?
Tommy made an inquiry as to the price and when he was told how cheap he went for it. Georgio almost fell over when Tommy asked that he make the tuxedo pants and jackets in such a manner that they could be "let-out" a great deal more. He explained that both were bodybuilders and would be growing a great deal bigger than they were right now.
About an hour later the initial measurements were taken and the extremely large tuxes were laid out and marked for alterations.
"Tommy why was it again that we bought these tuxes?"
"Because I did not want to watch a grown man break down into tears and leave knowing that he would be crying for hours."
"In all honesty hon, what are we ever going to use tux jackets in that color for?"
"Right now I want to murder my jack-ass Sister again!"
"Why?"
"Because, so far, to go to her Wedding, we have spent thousands of dollars!" "I can't hang the roof on Cheryl, but, she gets credit for the landscaping and all the rest!" "Tommy, I still think defending me at a homicide trial and the Attorney's fees would be far cheaper!"
"We'll live!"
"Can we just go back to the motel and get some rest?"
"Yeah, but I would really like to get by and see your Mom's friends Sarah and her Son Bobby, because it would get that accomplished and take that "involuntary errand" off of our plate."
"Remember that we have to be back here by no later than eight-thirty so that we can meet Danny and get that paperwork to Uncle Gary and Uncle Mike.
"I am wondering who is going to get the call on this one?" "If it is as bad and as grossly negligent as I suspect it is going to be, what will the outcome be?"
"Well, all of the payment going to Sarah and her Son in benefits will first be retroactive to the date where they originally applied for starters." "They will in addition because of the financial hardship that this mess has caused, be entitled to some other forms of compensation if they win, and this is cleaned up."
After a rest of a couple of hours a leisurely shower and the steaming out of some clothing and finally a telephone call to Sarah, two hapless bodybuilders with the directions in hand set out for Sarah's home and to see her son Bobby.
"Tommy honey, I am really sorry about this whole fiasco." "The idea of this was to come back up into town, give Cheryl away, do some quick work on Mom's house and then get back down to New Mexico." "The fact that we have been side tracked is not all that surprising." "This kind of thing is just typical of and or for Scottsbluff Nebraska."
"Tim, it's OK, you keep apologizing to me when it isn't necessary." "Remember that my family completely abandoned me and I was adopted by my two Uncles." "If it had not been for them, I have no idea where I would have ended up." "Your family, good or bad at least cares, mine didn't." "I don't have a clue where either of my birth parents are." "I suspect that the only time I will hear from them is if they want something from me in the future."
"I think that this is the address."
"I guess Sarah and Bobby are not big on yard work either."
Tim and Tommy made their exit from the truck and knocked on the door. They were greeted by Sarah and ushered into the living room of the modest home. Sitting on the couch was a male that was so morbidly obese that it defied description. By the hanging flesh, it was obvious that he had lost a great deal of weight, but, the stretched out skin was of such a nature that even at his young age there was some chance it would have to be dealt with surgically. Another unfortunate thing was the gynecomastia. Bobby had larger breasts than many women. Bobby could not help this, but he had to make more changes in his life and that was for certain. Sitting on the coffee table were many snack foods that were at best unhealthy.
Bobby did not know how to react. Initially it appeared he was kind of in shock. He was almost acting as if he was dazed in some fashion.
When Bobby finally opened his mouth to respond voluntary or not both Tim and Tommy's gaydar found all the signs of a very unhappy young and very gay man. In a State with a small gay population and a city which would not be a place for gay men to stay what was it that was happening? Why was it that they kept finding more and more evidence of people like themselves? Danny? Sarah's son Bobby? This was for Tim becoming an episode of the Twilight Zone!
"Bobby, I'm Tim and this is my partner Tommy." "Your Mom tells me that Tommy and I may be able to help you in changing your life!"
"How much have you lost?"
"Seventy two pounds as of this morning."
"Bobby, that is definitely a great start, but as you already know you have a long long way to go." "You need to be congratulated and complemented on what you have accomplished so far."
"Does your trainer have you on a special diet?"
"I don't have a trainer."
"Have you had any help with changing the food to lose the weight and build more muscle?"
"No, I just went into the gym with my Mom and I had to do something, so I kept doing what I guess they call cardio." "I have not really done much with the muscle building aspects at all."
"How long do you spend at cardio?"
"On average I think about 2 or 2 and a half hours right now." "When I first started about six months ago I could only do about ten minutes!" "I know I am not very good, but I am getting better."
"Bobby, what you have done my young friend is very good, but I would like you to get a couple of pieces of paper and let's get some new information to you that will help."
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Tim and Tommy sat and it took them several hours to work with both Sarah and Tommy on the revised eating for both of them. The diet they had been on had more fat than was needed or healthy and it had far more salt and sugar than was wise.
Tommy and Tim not only outlined what to eat, but the best ways to prepare it for people interested in good health and sports.
The final thing that Tim and Tommy discussed with Bobby and Sarah was the possibility that when it was all over Bobby would need some cosmetic surgery to remove the excess skin that would hang loose on his body. Tommy as a trainer went on to explain to Tim that there would be some inconveniences with the weight loss temporarily, but that after the surgical procedures he would not have any problems. Tommy expressed also that it was going to take Bobby at least another year of being absolutely great on diet and exercise before any surgical procedure could take place.
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"That was an interesting time. . . ."
"You think it will do any good?"
"I don't know sweetheart, you talked to Bobby from a trainer's point of view, what else could you do?"
"Both of us drummed the diet stuff into Sarah for this kid." "I was actually afraid to ask Bobby how much he weighed before he started the exercise."
"He was a brave kid to do that, even at his young age, barely out of high school, stepping on heavy duty exercise equipment at the weight I imagine he was, could have caused a heart attack."
"At the same time, I have to admire him, he put himself on the line to change his own life, he began to see where he was going, and he actually cared.
"I am in a way glad that I didn't see it."
"You're a trainer, you should see this all the time."
"I do, that is why I did not want to see it, and why it would have and still does bother me."
"Manuel Medina comes to mind." "Manuel's Father brought him to the gym at fifteen years old, and at that age the kid weighed well over four-hundred pounds." "He got on the treadmill the first time, and within five minutes he was gasping for breath and soaked completely in sweat, and he was not even trying to run, that was just a medium power walk speed, it was so scary!"
"I know hon, there are people who just do not understand how easy it is to kill yourself with food."
"We managed to get over two-hundred pounds off of him but it was a fight." "It did not have a happy ending."
"You've never talked about this, what happened?"
"Manny was one who couldn't get it with the diet and he could not understand that he couldn't cheat." "His extended family was also part of the problem." "We could get the exercise and we did well with it." "If we could have gotten him to eat right, we might have won." "First, the family could not understand that the diet they were eating was killing this kid." "The diet was part of the culture from which he came, and, the whole family was overweight." "Manny would try and it was constant sabotage from the rest of the family." "Manny's Dad was killed in an auto accident on I-10 when he was seventeen." "After that, Manny's relatives sabotaged the gym and the kid ate himself back up to nearly five hundred pounds." "It took us two years to get nearly two hundred pounds off the kid and he was still way overweight." "He gained it all back with some additional in one and he died." "He was at the outlet Mall in West El Paso and he died of a heart attack at age eighteen." "He was so big that they could not even do cardiac compression on him." "To this day, when I see a kid that big it makes me want to look away." "It gives me the creeps because I don't even want to know them." "I don't want them to die like Manny did." "Tim, honey it hurts and it hurts really badly." "It is one of the hazards of my job I guess, but that doesn't mean I have to like it." "Every time I see a two hundred pound twelve year old, I see Manny." "I see a great number of kids who will never see their fortieth Birthday!"
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Tim could see tears on Tommy's cheeks.
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"This is one of the reasons I married you."
"Because I cry easily?"
"No, because you have compassion for your fellow man and you care!"
"Tommy, the fact that you wear your heart on your sleeve does not make you a bad person." "I accept that part of you and it is what makes you who you are."
"Honey, can we move away from all of this sad stuff, we have your Sister's Wedding tomorrow and we can get that over with and begin to move ahead."
"Is there anything else planned for tonight?"
"Not that I know of. . . . ."
"The only thing is Danny's stuff and I will call home with the stuff so that they can get the faxes immediately."
"I thought that they were going to leave home for Taos tomorrow?"
"They were, but they held it up for one day so that they could get the stuff and get it faxed back out."
"Did you get your e-mail?"
"I have not even been on the net since we got here."
"The room has a connection. . . ."
"I know, right now the wedding has been one of two things on my mind."
"What's the other one?"
"Deciding if Taylor should be made into a widower before or after the Wedding. . "