How It Was Supposed To Be

By Jayson James

Reese Kennecott had everything he could ever want and life was good. He’s dating the guy of his dreams and has a great group of friends. The Kennecotts were living the carefree life as an upper middle class family until the day his father arrives home from work with the news that the company he has worked for since he was Reese’s age has gone out of business. Aside from the great depression, this is the worst economic downturn the United States has ever faced. It does not take long for the Kennecotts to fall behind in their bills and eventually to lose everything.

Reese used to work part time for extra money now he is working all the hours he can get in order to help his family get by. But things have gone from bad to worse. Hope finally comes with a new job that will take the family across the country, which means giving up their lives as they’ve always known them. The family embarks on a road trip to their new life. Along the way, they are forced to make difficult choices and hope begins to fade. Each day things become bleaker and the Kennecotts begin to wonder if they are ever going to make it to their destination. But sometimes things that have no reason to work out do and we end up right where we should be, at the right time and in the right place.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jayson James
• Release date: Apr 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781370065905

Jayson James

Jayson James graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor's degree in education. He was born and raised in Washington State, where he currently lives and teaches. Jayson's interests beyond writing include reading a variety of books, watching movies and drawing.

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How It Was Supposed To Be

Jayson James

How It Was Supposed To Be © 2014 Jayson James

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in or in part without written permission from the author.

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the government and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you have received this book without paying for it, at least have the decency to leave a nice review or recommend it to a friend who will buy it.

Cover art and design: © 2015 by Jayson James

Published by: www.jaysonjamesbooks.blogspot.com/

Edited by: Jennifer Kusakabe & Claudine Clarke

Also available in paperback format:

ISBN-13: 978-1500715458

ISBN-10: 150071545X

To Susanne, Claudine and Mary,

You’ve each shown me thousands of miles of distance makes no difference in the closeness of a friendship. Thank you for only being a phone call, text or email away when I need you.

Contents

More from Jayson James 6

1 – Life Before 8

2 – Home Life 14

3 – Economic Downturn 20

4 – Over the Next Year 26

5 – Sun Through the Clouds 31

6 – Maxed Out 36

7 – The Worst Days Ever 43

8 – Packing Up 50

9 – Saying Good-Bye 57

10 – Off to a Rocky Start 63

11 – Worry Sets In 70

12 – A Ray of Sunshine 77

13 – A Little Good, A Little Bad 84

14 – More Bad 92

15 – Jaded, Bitter and Pissed Off 100

16 – The First Was the Worst 108

17 – One More Night 114

18 – Homeward Bound 119

19 – Life Changes Quickly 124

20 – A Happy Ending 131

More from Jayson James

Novels:

Finding Our Way

Tormented Discovery

Drifting

T.E.D.

Pieces of Us

Novellas:

Summer Escape

Far & Away

Awakenings

"There is a defining moment in every person’s life.

Within that moment, everything that that person is shines its brightest."

-- Anonymous

1 – Life Before

Once you get all those boxes broken down and run out back, you can clock out and go home, Colin instructed Reese Kennecott. Colin was a short scrawny guy in his 30’s, with black hair that was already receding and graying and pale white skin. He’d recently grown out a mustache thinking it made him look cool. In reality, it was more of a red flag insinuating what a douche he really was.

Okay, Reese answered with one word.

In contrast, Reese was six feet tall, had a toned build, dark brown hair, and blue eyes, which he thought were his best feature. His teeth were shining bright and perfectly straight after getting his braces off over a year ago. Reese was sixteen years old and a junior at Huntington Park High School located in the small town of Cashton Falls, Pennsylvania.

Colin continued to watch him break one box after another from the pile that had accumulated. Reese thought for sure Colin was going to comment on the way he was breaking the boxes down and then show him how to do it the right way; the way Colin did it. Or worse, that Colin was going to help him, though he doubted Colin would do anything so labor intensive. Colin was the night manager at the fast food place where Reese worked. Although Reese and his fellow workers referred to Colin as the HD, Horrible Dipshit, behind his back, Colin was under the impression that HD meant Head Dude.

Usually Reese worked the grill on his shifts, cooking and assembling burgers and sandwiches, wrapping them before sending them to the front for the customers. Tonight was the one-day a week that Reese was scheduled to work freight. Chad Bancroft, who was scheduled to work with him, had told him the day before during lunch that he was going to call in sick. Chad had recently lost his virginity to his girlfriend of just under a year. According to Chad, she was impressed with Chad’s fucking skills and her parents were going to be out late tonight, leaving them with the house to themselves. Chad was not about to miss out on the chance to get laid.

The downside for Reese would be missing out on working with Chad, who had a smoking hot body. Reese spent a good portion of the time they labored bringing in boxes, moved around stock and putting new inventory on the shelf, ogling Chad. Reese especially enjoyed the numerous times when Chad was lifting, exposing his firm stomach and sometimes his pecs. Chad was also Reese’s friend and he liked that they got to hang out doing freight. He felt as if they were being paid to work out. An added benefit was that they wouldn’t see much of HD during the shift, unless he was shouting for one of them to come up and help out.

Chad out sick meant that Reese was able to get in a few extra hours, which helped to make up for having to do freight by himself, which was tiring and made him quite sore by the end of his shift. It also meant that Reese did not get to hear Chad share the dirty details of his latest sexual escapade with his girlfriend. Since Chad was having sex and Reese wasn’t Chad’s stories gave him plenty to imagine such as the shape and size of Chad’s penis. Reese would sometimes imagine it was him doing those things with his friend. Sometimes the vivid fantasies would get him so hard that Reese was still sporting wood when he arrived home from work.

It had been a slow night for customers, which meant Reese was able to get most of the freight put away, only getting pulled to help in the grill once during the dinner rush. As soon as Colin walked away Reese slowed his pace. He figured he was already sweaty and dirty from the freight and he was in no hurry to get out of there. As he only made minimum wage, he was going to milk this for all it was worth. The store manager liked Reese enough, so he figured that even if Colin complained, he was confident he would still get scheduled to do it weekly.

Once all the boxes were broken down, Reese grabbed a few and walked them out to the bin by the compactor. As the door opened, he was blinded by the contrast of darkness from the dimly lit backroom to the brightness of streetlights in the parking lot. Reese squinted at the brightness of the sky lit-up by the September sunset. A pang of sadness hit him as he thought about summer being almost over. This would be his last one at Huntington Park High School. He planned to attend community college next year, which would be cheaper for his parents while giving him time to work and figure out what he wanted to pursue in college. His grades were good and his counselor assured Reese that he would have no trouble getting into any school he might want to attend if he decided he wanted to go straight to university. He just needed to make sure to keep his grades good through his final year of high school, which ought to be easy enough, seeing as he’d gotten all of the difficult classes out of the way.

As he was walking past the gate to the compactor, he was slightly startled by the sight of Tami, one of the adults whom he worked with, hiding behind the fence smoking a cigarette. She exhaled, No boyfriend tonight? She grinned, baring her yellowish teeth. Reese tried not to sneer. Tami look liked like the sweet middle aged woman, her brown hair had little gray in it, but she wore thick glasses that made her eyes bulge out and with her wide mouthed smile, she looked sort of like a frog.

No. Freight was light though. Reese paid her comment no attention.

Tami, like half of his coworkers knew he was gay. She could care less. When Reese started the job a few years ago, it seemed as if most of the crew was gay or bisexual. Because he had known ever since he was little that he was gay, he never even thought about hiding the fact. It wasn’t as if Reese went out and introduced himself as such. He figured he didn’t see any heterosexuals running up and telling people they were straight and figured it shouldn’t be any different for him. Even so this did not prevent Tami from making remarks and giving Reese shit about working with Chad. Tami was aware that Reese and Chad were friends and hung out quite a bit. Chad knew he was gay, though Reese never really came out to him, still he knew Chad didn’t mind. What led Reese to believe this was Chad never made suggestions about him needing to get a girlfriend of his own. He was also sure Chad had noticed Reese checking him out and simply didn't care. Chad might even like it, as it seemed he had no problem exposing his body to Reese. Instead, Chad continued to wear a shirt that barely covered his chest even when his arms were at his sides. One evening while on break with Tami, Reese admitted that he’d never come out to Chad. Since then, Tami enjoyed giving Reese grief, referring to Chad as his boyfriend.

Reese threw a few boxes into the bin, walked back over to Tami and leaned up against the wall beside her. She held out her pack offering him a smoke as she always did. In response, he did as he always did, held up a hand in refusal, shaking his head no. Tami inhaled another drag from her cigarette and exhaled. Reese stood there with Tami as she smoked and vented about the customers, HD and about the other employees working tonight. Reese responses were limited, as was his interest in what she was saying. Still her talking occupied the time and she entertained him a little. Reese stood there with her until she finished her smoke and walked with her back into the building.

Reese returned inside to grab more of the boxes. As he was walking out, he sensed someone behind him. Reese turned around and saw it was Morgan, walking like a man on a mission. Morgan smiled at him, Hey! I didn't know you were in tonight.

Freight, was Reese’s response.

Oh! I forgot! Morgan slowed his pace and glanced around, Is Chad here?

Nope! Called in sick!

Yeah, right! Morgan grinned, The lucky bastard is getting laid.

Morgan was not the brightest guy, however he was a nice guy. Reese was amused at how he could remember that Chad was not at work tonight because he was getting laid, yet forgot that Reese would still be here as he was every week. Morgan and Chad had been best friends since childhood, and over the last few years had become one of Reese’s closest friends.

Despite bouts of acne, Morgan was cute and had a nice body. Reese found himself checking him out too, though nowhere as much as he did Chad.

Morgan followed him out back. Reese dropped the boxes into the cardboard bin. Feeling the need to start a conversation Reese asked, What’s up?

Morgan shrugged, HD told me to come help get the backroom cleaned up.

Reese looked down at Morgan’s empty hands. I see you're pacing yourself.

Oh shit! His face reddened. I didn't even think about it. I saw you and just followed you out.

No problem. Reese sullenly thought that this was so like the HD to hustle things along, cutting him out of additional hours. He also knew Morgan was not going to do any more than Reese told him, to do. I was thinking we should pace ourselves.

Yeah! Good idea! Morgan grinned.

Through the split in the fence, Reese saw a red car drive up. He leaned in to get a better look, doubting it was going to be who he hoped would be in the drive-thru. A smile formed on his face immediately when he saw it was Cruz, a guy he went to school with and had developed a crush on. Cruz, like Reese was gay. Cruz was out and didn’t care who knew about it. In a small town like Cashton Falls, Pennsylvania, Reese had been surprised at how very few people messed with Cruz when he came out. This might have been due to his extraordinary baseball skills and being the star player on the Huntington Park High School team. Reese had talked with Cruz a few times, he was friendly enough, but never seemed interested.

Morgan was leaning in behind him, close enough to touch. What are you looking at?

Reese slid out between Morgan and the fence. Nothing. Just somebody I thought I knew.

Darting out of the compactor area, Reese was no longer feeling like padding his time. We’d better get these boxes taken care of.

Wait! Morgan put his hand on Reese’s shoulder, I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I thought that since we were friends, well you know. I thought it would be good for you to be who you are. I know if I had to keep quiet about a part of my life, like who I was, with my friends, I would not feel like they were my friends at all. I don’t have a problem with it. He smirked, well, a little.

Reese was still upset and not comfortable talking about this, no matter how cool Morgan or any of his friends were about his sexuality. His focus shifted to Cruz who was watching him intently from the drive-thru line. Instead of suggesting they drop the conversation, Reese decided further to engage in the conversation with Morgan. Has Chad figured me out, so to speak?

Yes, we’ve both known for a while. We’ve been waiting for you to bring it up. Morgan put a hand on Reese’s shoulder but then Reese pulled back since it blocked his view of Cruz. Don’t be like that. It’s been a real ego boost. For both of us. I mean, you’re a good looking guy and if either of us was, well you know, like that, we’d be all over you. So to speak.

Reese was reeling in disbelief over the comment Morgan had just made. He was rethinking his judgment that Morgan wasn’t the brightest. In fact, he was shocked into speechlessness. He was actually very flattered.

Morgan hung his head and Reese saw out of the corner of his eye that Cruz was watching him even more closely. Was this why Cruz was suddenly interested in him? Was Cruz was thinking that Morgan might be his boyfriend?

There were a few times over the past year alone that Reese had questioned whether or not Morgan might be gay. Although Morgan had a girlfriend of two years, and they’d even slept together he never seemed as wrapped up with her as other boys their age would be with their girlfriends. Morgan never seemed to feel obligated to spend all his time with his girlfriend and was always the one Reese could count on to go out with whenever he wanted.

Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. Morgan shrugged, looking towards Cruz, who’d turned his attention to the radio in his car. Cruz had been so busy watching Reese and Morgan and that he hadn’t noticed the car in front of him had moved forward. Morgan turned back to Reese, they both grinned. Morgan said in a low voice, You should go talk to him.

What? Reese was taken aback. It’s not like that.

A frown formed on Morgan’s face, I’m not saying you should ask him out because you’re both gay. You seem genuinely interested in him.

Reese began to contemplate the idea and noticed almost immediately, what a sweaty mess he was from lifting freight. He was immediately mortified that Cruz had seen him this way. The car behind Cruz honked, prompting him to move forward again, past the building and out of sight of the two boys.

I’m glad you brought it up. Reese said.

A smile filled Morgan’s face. He wrapped his arms around Reese and gave him a great big squeeze. Nothing has to change. You can keep checking us out and we’ll keep pretending not to notice.

Hugging him back, Reese was unsure how he felt about that. The idea that his friends had known and had obviously talked about it behind his back bothered him but only slightly. The guy Reese had only dreamt of had taken obvious notice of him today. Plus, two other boys he found attractive, though straight, found him attractive as well.

Morgan helped Reese bring out the remainder of the broken down boxes, each of them only taking a few at a time, except when Colin returned to investigate and they loaded up their arms. Colin suggested that they put them all in a pile and carry them together. They did as instructed and over half of the boxes fell off in