Country Tried Chicken

By Brick ONeil

Max Tredwell loses his second job in less than a year in bustling North Seattle due to 'downsizing'. Just when he thought things couldn't get worse, his boyfriend, Sam the Bouncer, dumps him for a giggly 22 year old boxboy dancer. With the push of his work-wife, he applies for and is hired at the small community of Pinecone, Idaho at the foot of the Fourth of July Pass mountain range. There he finds more action he thought possible with his car crushed by an I Beam, his house rigged with explosives and saving Elena Boxworth, owner of Boxworth's Chicken restaurants, from getting ran over at the grocery store. During all this action, he can't stop thinking about the Tall Mountain Man, Ezekiel Boxworth he saw outside his bed and breakfast window.

Just what is going on in Pinecone, Idaho?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brick ONeil
• Release date: Jun 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370258086

Brick ONeil

Brick ONeil grew up in America’s heartland, the midwestern United States, receiving a Bachelors of Arts in Religious Studies then moving to the southern United States for his Masters in Human Resources, living in both Oklahoma and Texas for some time before settling in the Pacific Northwestern coast in the Emerald City, Seattle.He has been writing professionally since 2001 and before that was a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the private workers’ compensation field, still holding his Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification. He began writing articles and working on projects for clients while writing his first novel, Aside of Murder under his writing business, Lione Services.Now he has ten books under his belt in four genres, fiction-mystery, fiction-short story, non fiction-cookbooks and non fiction-biography. He has his mystery series, The Rose Petal Wine Murder Mysteries with two books published now out of the seven; the cookbook series, “Simple, Healthy, Fresh”, with books 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and the Ultimate; three books of short stories, Different Dreams; Unrelated: A selection of short stories and Triad: Fates, Furies and Graces finally,his short biography, Silver Linings on Dark Clouds (My Life with Alport’s Syndrome) is out as well.Find him online:http://brickoneil.com (pages for each book)http://linkedin.com/in/brickoneilhttps://www.facebook.com/brickoneil

Book preview

Country Tried Chicken

Brick ONeil

Published by Lione Services at Smashwords

Copyright 2017 Brick ONeil

Discover Other Titles by Brick ONeil

Aside of Murder

The Bamboo Killer

Simple Healthy Fresh 1, 2, and 3:Dinners

Free Introduction to Simple Healthy Fresh Cookbook Series

Never Trust The Moon

Under The Woodlands

Go to http://brickoneil.com for more information and to contact.

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A great big thank you out to Susan, for coming to my rescue, for Stets for always being there and my Mom from whom all my creativeness flows.

CHAPTER ONE

  Max Tredwell, recently single after his ex-boyfriend Sam left him for a 22 year old giggly, airheaded graduate of the ‘fat-bottomed boys’ at the club he was a bouncer. Just that morning he thought his life could not get worse, his boss at the community college in North Seattle handed him a pink slip. Since Washington D.C. had cut higher education, the President of the Community College he had been hired at just eleven months ago in Administration, his employer was cutting costs and one of those was anyone hired less than twelve months ago was let loose.

  He was surprised he was given a six-month severance and a promise of a good letter of recommendation. Good thing Sam wasn’t with him--he could not afford to move them both somewhere. A mocha skinned beauty popped her head around his cubicle, her hair was kinky today.

  Sorry, sugar, Donna got the boot too, and she has those twins. Kaylee, his work-wife, as her husband, LaCross (don’t say it, boy-the man warned, with a smile), would state. Max adored Kaylee and vice-versa. They were cubicle mates, helped each other with difficult parents and whiney students. What one didn’t know about the paperwork, the other one did. Usually Max and Kaylee ate lunch together and occasionally had drinks together at The Red Shoe bar a few blocks away.

  Max waved the ‘discontinuation’ letter, as the college called it. Thanks K, at least I have a cushion. But in this economy...

  Kaylee entered the two-person beige and tan cubicle, smiling at the thought they had called themselves the beige and tan powerhouse, in jest. She gave a quick shoulder hug. She smirked and brought her just-right-cooled-off coffee to her magenta lips.

  At least Sam-I-Am-With-Green-Eggs-And-Ham won’t get any more free rent. He has a boy to raise now. Her perfectly arched eyebrows disappeared into her feathery bangs. Max couldn’t resist laughing.

  A blessing in disguise. I’ve heard from the Red Shoe that the go-go boy isn’t Sister Patrille, after all. Max smoothed his oxford button-down shirt, a pale brown. Sam had argued with Max many times about the latter’s overtime at the college, claiming he was ‘doing the baseball team’ and ignoring Sam’s overly dramatizing needs. But, what am I going to do, K? No one is hiring in colleges now.

  Kaylee, unperturbed, gently smacked Max across the side of his head. No one in Western Washington, baby boy. She sipped her coffee one handed, turned to her computer reading the announcement that ten percent of the college was getting dismissed in a cost-saving measure. And you have access to the nationwide college classifieds on the mainframe, in addition to the higher education want ads.

  That’s true, doll. Max turned to his computer, accessing his online profile the college had each employee create, so they could ‘better fill positions based on education, ability and employment’, a euphemism for ‘how can we better exploit our employees to fill our needs without paying more?’ sort of thing. Kaylee was at her terminal, pounding away at her keyboard, while Max was copy/pasting his profile into the resume format on the classified employment application.  

  A few hours later, Max had filled out applications online through the mainframe, applying for anything and everything under Administration, teaching jobs and Staff. His Masters in Human Resources was vague enough to apply for about fifty jobs and was willing to take any pay.

 All done, now it’s up to the employment gods. Max sighed, looked at the clock, it was near lunch time.

  Kaylee turned, smiling. That’s my boy! She proclaimed, hugging him lightly. She looked at the basic clock on the wall, above their cubicle. Time for lunch. Let’s get Indian, LaCross will meet us there. He’ll grab a table and cushions. The Indian Restaurant, Leaves, was both casual and high class.  You took off your shoes at the door and sat on floor cushions to eat. Kaylee and Max loved the place and LaCross put up with it for their sakes.

  Ten minutes later, Max and Kaylee were sitting on brightly colored cushions with LaCross, a tall, slender midnight tinted man, as Kaylee introduced him, with compact muscles. He looked graceful, legs crossed underneath his body, turned around slightly and waved to his wife and friend. They both settled down, while the hostess brought out another pot of green jasmine tea. She looked at them expectantly for their order, knowing what they’d ask for.

  Hi beautiful! Kaylee announced, causing the hostess, a lovely Indian girl, about 19, the daughter of the owners, a conservative older couple who put up with Kaylee, LaCross and their odd male friend, Max.

  Hello, she replied, What may I bring you? She winked and smiled at Max and Kaylee, LaCross’s back to her.

  I’d like today’s special, the yogurt and cumin chicken with parmesan crusted zucchini and asparagus, please. Max announced, with the other two agreeing.  The hostess nodded her head and disappeared behind one of the walls of silk around the room.

  Hey, Kay told me about the pink slip. Sorry to hear, buddy. LaCross sorrowfully told the newly fired friend, with a large hand on his shoulder. But you’ve applied already, right? He gave Max a serious look with one eye half closed in a playful cross stare, causing Max to laugh.

  Yes, Dad, Mom already gave me the lecture. Max chuckled out, making Kaylee and LaCross laugh in turn.

  Won’t be long now that all those colleges are banging on your door. He took a large sip of the scented tea. Speaking of banging, I hear Sam-I-Am-With-Green-Eggs-And-Ham is already kicking out that go-go boy. His mouth turning up on one side, gleefully enjoying Sam’s downfall.  No one had liked who Sam had turned into over the past year.Rumor is, the boy charged up Sam’s cards, in addition to several stores at the mall. He took another sip, giving Max side-eye. He called me asking if he had a chance of getting back with you.

  Max’s slow smile gave his friends answer. Just like an ice cube’s chance in a volcano.

  That’s what I told him, word-for-word. Max held up his fist while LaCross bumped it, making all three laugh.

  Well, if he wants the apartment, he can have it after I move. Hell, I’ll even throw in the furniture.

  But, don’t you love those antique pieces you discovered? Kaylee inquired innocently, making Max snort some tea up his nose. LaCross handed him a napkin.

  You mean those almost-discarded pieces from the flea market? True, the three of them found the dining table with four mismatched chairs, with peeling formica on the table top.  The loveseat and two recliners did have matching fabric, but Max could have done without the Golden Girls fabric and popup springs. He had to cover the mattress with a zippered enclosure before he would sleep on it.

  Well, whatever you need help with moving, count us in, baby boy. LaCross covered the back of Max’s head with his paw of a hand. Just then another girl placed their dishes and they had an enjoyable lunch, despite Max’s firing.

*******

  Max entered the three-room apartment, open living/dining area, small one-wall kitchen, one bedroom with attached 3/4 bath. The rent was cheap, thankfully, because his former job didn’t pay enough to live on,. The plus side, was the utilities were cheap and sewer/trash was included. He could have done without the dog do-do colored carpet and yellow-stained drywall. ‘Hey, same side on the color wheel’, he would remind himself.

  He hung his jacket by the door, his keys in the palm-tree dish underneath the hook on the demilune table he’d gotten for a song, only because the third leg was missing and had to be propped up on the wall. Looking around at the ‘should-be-condemned’ apartment, he sighed.

  Maybe this is a blessing in disguise he mournfully decried to himself. He took stock of his situation. He was a moderately good looking 27 year old, Masters degree with no debt (thank you grants and little-known scholarships!). He had paid off his car, an old 2000 Ford Mystique, when he was employed as assistant to the chief of cardiothoracic surgery at the hospital before they, too, made cutback firings. Not that they paid well.  He’d had that job for three and one half years before getting canned and now at the community college for almost a year before getting canned. ‘Moving won’t take much, just clothes, tv, kitchen stuff’. He nodded at himself. ‘I can do this.’

  Late Saturday Morning Max was woken with hard banging on his front door. He wouldn’t have to wonder who it was.

  BANG BANG BANG! Eh, Chicoboy, we know you’re dere!

  Max smiled. The Latina couple next door, Berenice and Yolonda, would have ferreted out his firing by now. How? He’d stopped wondering years ago how they found things out. They had adopted him at fifteen year old and heavily suggested he moved in next door after earning his Masters degree. They’d been together for over thirty years, both their biological children had graduated high school and been in college for a few years. ‘Hers, Mine and Ours’, they’d always call their children, each given birth to boys, both boys called them Mama and Ma.

  Smiling to himself, Max padded to the door, unlocking and both women bear hugged his neck and abdomen, barrelled into the apartmentlette, they’d called his small studio/one bedroom. Berenice (pronounced Baroness) was carrying a baking dish with a full lasagna, Yolonda carrying a silver bucket of tamales in one hand and a huge bag of mixed salad greens.

  We got lunch and dinner, boyo, Berenice announced, placing the lasagna in the half-fridge while Yolonda placed the bucket in the sink. We’ll warm these up later. Yolonda patted the bucket with an offensively bright yellow tea towel covering the top.

  Max smiled, kissing Yolonda on the cheek while Berenice sat on one of the two wooden chairs, the other two were turquoise metal blue. Yolonda enveloped Max in a huge, gentle hug, which was quite a feat for the petite five foot two inch woman. Berenice was five ten and cut a voluptuous figure.

  What are they doing to my baby boy? Yolonda wailed to no one in particular, covering Max’s face and neck. Yolonda had to grab his neck to bring him down so she could reach his face, but it wasn’t much because he was all of five foot seven himself. She detached herself, pacing and muttering in Spanish, much Max guessed was cursing the college at his firing. Their sons were each over six foot but clearly worshipped their mothers and their upbringing.

  Berenice smiled at her wife, slightly shook her head in love,  and both in their fifties. Go shower and dress, Kaylee and LaCross will be here soon. Berenice intoned in her ‘don’t fuck with me’ voice. We’re going to fix you up. Which could have meant anything from a new outfit to new sparkplugs in his Mystique.

  Berenice and Yolonda had met Kaylee and LaCross at a city softball tournament a few years prior, when the former’s son’s were playing for the city team. LaCross was on the team as well but not the women because their sons were still teenagers and at the embarrassed-at-the-parents stage. Max padded back to the bedroom, grabbed a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve T. While he was in the shower he barely heard greetings over the noise shower and overhead fan. LaCross’s deep baritone voice ballooned in the apartment, causing Max to smile..

  Max entered the main area of the apartment to find a breakfast spread out on his small counter space and table.

  WOW! What’s all this? He looked at a smiling Kaylee, with LaCross sitting on one of the blue metal chairs. Yolonda was still pacing his small living room.

  Gotta keep your strength Yolonda smiled, hanging up her cell phone. Eat up, boyo! She gave a huge, ‘I’m innocent’ smile and walked to the other wooden chair and primly sat down. Max shrugged, dug out the last dinner plate and piled up sausage patties, scrambled eggs and cheese sauce, marinated sauteed mushrooms and several slices of toast.

  So, Max began, Who is going to tell me what’s going on?

  Berenice inhaled, thrusting out her large chest while looking at the ceiling. She usually did this to prevent breaking down in tears.

  We’re going to do a fundraiser for your move, baby boy! The motherly woman brought her gaze down to Max’s wide-eyes.

  Before Max could ask, LaCross started up.

  We know Sam left you with no money, so we talked to The Red Shoe and they agreed to let us do a fundraiser for you next Saturday, man. LaCross slung his arms out and dragged Max sideways into a side man-hug, then pushed Max back upright.

  Yolonda spoke up next. So, we’ve invited some people over here for ideas, we got lunch and dinner, so no one gets hungry. She smiled again from leaning up against the sink now. Kaylee was behind Max, leaning against the wall.

  We’re gonna take care of you, sugar.

  About twenty to twenty five people showed up with help, suggestions and donations for Max’s yet-unplanned move. He was grateful for the family who had his back.

*******

  The next Monday, Max and Kaylee were back in their beige and tan cubicle, punching keyboards, attending meetings all week. Max and Donna had two weeks before their termination and had already received the six-month severance check. Kaylee and Max were quiet about the fundraiser, his applying for jobs through the mainframe, but what could the College do? Fire him? That made Max snort each time Kaylee brought it up when he was concerned about applying for jobs on-the-job. That Friday afternoon, Max received an email, marked URGENT.

  Oh, look at this! He whispered over his shoulder. He heard a chair swivel and scoot across the cork floor and a light hand on his light blue oxford. He shifted to the side a