Angel Above Water

By Michael A. Heck

This sequel to Dancing with the Angels finds Michael Angel continuing to live a life of loneliness since the death of his wife four years ago. He continues to operate several family businesses in a small town where he does not venture out in public with others. He seeks solitude at his home among the memories of his deceased wife. His children have been patient but have decided to take matters into their own hands. They take him on a whimsical trip to a relative's home south of New Orleans where they hope to introduce him to a suitable partner to spend the rest of his life with. He turns the tables on them and slowly weaves them into his personal journey where love, excitement and happy occasions heal this family. Be ready to laugh and shout "yes" at the surprise ending. Be ready!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463452728

Michael A. Heck

Michael A. Heck is a native and lifelong resident of Plaquemine, Louisiana. His desire for writing developed when he was a young man hospitalized in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mike was born with multiple tumors that ravished his shoulders, eyes, neck and skull. More than thirty surgeries were required for him to lead a normal life; but doctors gave him a life expectancy of forty years. He is sixty-nine years old continuing to experience problems with the tumors but always having an optimistic outlook on life, developing friendships along the way and offering a helping hand where needed. He is an avid fisherman and outdoorsman. Mike is married to Judith Gary Heck and they have two girls, Mikelyn Scheid and Neila Heck and one granddaughter, Cortnee Diamond.

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Angel Above Water

Michael A. Heck

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2011 Michael A. Heck. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 9/9/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-5270-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-5271-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-5272-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011915328

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Cover design, interior design, and book produced by:

w.w.w.

Photography by: Mikelyn Scheid

Models on cover Shane & Mickey Scheid

All the characters’, names and events in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. With the true name exception of two very loved friends and idols of many Cajuns throughout southern America and Canada, they are known as Mr. and Mrs. Vin Bruce.

Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

Dedication

This book is dedicated to four very special people that I call The Super Ones. These four persons paved a great path for me to follow. They believed in me and taught me the true facts of life: Remember our God, our country and our families. They taught me to live life to the fullest. To love it, not to ignore it. To choose it, but not to lose it without the fullest preparation to enter the Pearly Gates of Heaven.

To my mother, Tena, I say thank you so very much. Even though you did arrive there before I reached seven years of age. I truly remember you holding me in your protective arms while we were either at one of many clinics, hospitals of New Orleans or at our home. Those are days I’ll truly remember always. I still love you more than just a plenty, Mother.

To my daddy, Pappy Heck. I also say thanks for the support and understanding you gave to me. You are my version of Superman. When you left to join our mother a few years ago, I somehow knew that the two of you would be keeping those Gates open for us. Love you always, Pop.

To my mother-in-law, Vickie, I say, at last, at last. You are at peace up there. I am grateful that you gave me your beautiful daughter to explore a wonderful life together for forty-six years. Now you are sitting upon your own named clouds way up there, some that our Lord had picked out just for you. I know you’ll enjoy every inch of them, along with all of the perfect scenery you prayed to behold. I love you, Momma Vickie.

To my father-in-law, John Gary. I still thank you very much for giving me the hand of your little treasure. We are looking forward to meeting you up there with the rest when the time is called. Please have sight of the best fishing area. I promise to bring along our rod and reels. Love you, man!

In loving family memory,

Michael Anthony Heck

CHAPTER 1

The Battle. The Secret

Well, Anna, my baby. What I need you to tell me right now is the real reason why all these white clouds way up here are so—

Ring! Ring! Ring!

Shut up, will you? If you don’t mind. My wife and I are having a good morning conversation up here, I mumbled, while turning over toward the other direction in the bed.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

(I guess you out there know from past experiences, when you’re having one of those dreams where you are smiling, you for darn sure don’t want to have it destroyed by someone else on the other side of the phone line.) Anyway, To make a long story short, the phone just kept on doing its thing with that ring, ring, ring mess. (I put that lightly.)

I lightly lifted the darn thing up, just about a half an inch, and pretended to be the answering machine. Good morning out there. This is Michael Angel on this end. Right now, I am almost one trillion miles away from you. So please call back another time. Like, maybe next year! Thank you very much. After that, I just let my fingers do the walking, from the hanging up of the phone to the covering of my ears with the pillow.

I returned to my imaginary resort and said, Okay, baby. Where were we before that useless piece of junk right here interrupted us? Oh yeah. I remember. We were just about to jump to the next cloud. Here take my—

Ring! Ring! Ring!

I don’t believe this mess! They don’t give up out there, I said as reached for the phone and got ready to jerk it plum off the connections.

Daddy, don’t you dare try to hang up on me again. You hear! Now listen good! This is your favorite daughter, Linda, on this end. You had better answer me right back, because if you don’t, I won’t tell you why it’ll be best to get your tail up at this very minute.

Well, Anna, my baby. I guess I had better see what our family wants. Maybe it’ll be just a tiny daughter–daddy question. I’ll be right back. Don’t leave me just yet. You hear? I won’t be long, baby. I promise. Please don’t fly away. Just stay right where you are.

Daddy, you had better pick up on the phone or else! the daughter shouted back once more.

Good morning, my little Anna #2. Now, what can I help you with? You need to talk up pretty quick, because with this cold I’ve got, I’ll probably fall back asleep if it isn’t interesting.

Oh, don’t worry at all about what you can do to help me. You had better worry about being ready to face the four tiny monsters in a few minutes. They’re all on the way over there with my sweet, but mean, Sister Christie. Go get ready now. No time to ask any questions.

What are they coming over here to wake me up for? I asked as I started to yawn. I don’t have anywhere else to go for three more hours.

Don’t worry about that. We’ll tell you all about it when we have time. Now, Daddy, get off your butt before it’s too late. I’m warning you. You know what’ll happen if they have to get you out of the bed on their own?

Wait just a minute, my baby. I want to know what’s up?

You haven’t got time to listen to all that small stuff, Daddy. Just hurry up and get out of that bed. Now, needless to say again. Go put some good clean clothes over that big tail, she ordered. I heard her laugh a little bit before the calm sound of the dial tone started coming through.

Well, Anna baby, it looks like it might be tonight before we can get back together again. I got to be a good father and grandpa you know. Stay sweet, and keep those wings shining. Love you, baby, I thought. Then, I somehow managed to roll my fifty-four-year-old set of legs over the side of the bed. The cold water in the shower did its part to wake me up very quickly. Another ten minutes, I was dressed and sitting upon the couch, going through the mail of yesterday. You know, what sections of it I didn’t already owe money to, I was asked very politely to do so.

Daddy, open this door right now! You had better open it. Or so help us, you’ll be crying for mercy when the girls and I get in. Okay, you won’t open it, right? Then tell us where that darn key is at. We know you always hid it behind the mailbox ’til now. Darn it. Where is it hiding at? That tone of voice was one I had heard a few times before. Even if the doors were unlocked, there still would be another battle of the century. Right here in this living room.

Don’t ya’ll come in here. I don’t love any of you; I want to sleep all day. So just go on to your own houses and bang on those doors, I shouted back with a grin as I started pouring another sip into the coffee cup.

Daddy. Just one more time! Where is the key to this darn door? We know you have hidden it from us out here somewhere. But that won’t help you in the least. These four little wild animals and myself are really getting into the war-battling attitude. Right girls? Say it!

YAHOO!

I took another bite from the doughnut. Took another sip from the coffee cup. Then I gave another loud yawn. Hey, I’m going back to sleep right here on the sofa. As far as the house keys, you bunch of mean animals, they’re hidden somewhere out there. Probably in one of your mother’s flowerbeds. I think I hid it out there last week, so I wouldn’t be worried while I’m resting. So, either go home, or just keep on looking. I don’t love any of you today. Good-bye and be careful.

You can just imagine how much I enjoyed a welcoming sound of expectant noise that roared back from the little devils. You know what I mean. They started banging on the door and repeating the names that my Christie would shout out first. Then, finally, I heard the sounds of a winning group of Powerball contesters. A few Hoorays! And a few more of the Yahoos! That’s it now, I thought. It’s time to finish my doughnut and coffee and then get ready for the battle of the century. An attack of the young monsters was just moments away. I think maybe I had better be a little bit more than just ready for this one. I lay back upon the sofa, with the pillow over my head. I pretended to be snoring. Then I heard the door lock snap back. I could also hear each one of them giving that, finger to the lips, Shush, to each other as they walked slowly across the carpet. They were ready for the war.

Then the alarm was sounded. Charge! It came out very loudly before the five warriors started coming at me from all over. The head, the chest, the knees, the feet, and over the back of the couch. I managed to get to the floor and started slowly walking backward. The battle continued, until I bumped into something very small. I was tripped backward to the rug. Tina, the youngest, was the squatted down boulder. They really pounced on top after that. They really enjoyed the winning part. I was able to take about two more minutes of it before I shouted out, I surrender!

It took about another twenty seconds before Christie and I could stop the attackers. Then, naturally, they asked for the rewards. That was the doughnuts, the Fruit Loops, the milk, and the chocolate syrup to mix with all the other stuff. Together! (Well, I guess you know who’s the real winner of the complete battle. Yours truly.) Rewards? Twenty kisses by grandkids.

Christie was in the kitchen, trying to keep the grandkids in a clean condition. Then, trying to clean behind them. Both impossible tasks! The grandkids were known as very clean ones. But as you know, if given a chance, especially by a grandparent, they will pay very little attention to the normal life routine. Right on, my babies. Stay as perfect as your grandmother and I want you to, I thought with a big smile.

Daddy, why did you put on your blue jeans this morning? You’re not going to work today. You just as soon forget all that. So, just go put on those slacks I laid out for you yesterday. Hurry up. We haven’t got very much time left. We have to pick up Linda. Now, be quick about it, while I clean up these four little monsters here. Then she turned toward the four sugar-coated young ones. She just shook her head and slapped her own face about four times. One for each one of them, I suspect.

By the way, young lady. I’m finally starting to wake up now. I would like to know what’s going on with you two masterminds out there? Today is Friday. You five plus your sister are trying to get us set up for something I know nothing about. Well, let me throw a pretty little surprise in ya’ll direction, honeybun. One like saying, I don’t want to go! I have a large set of business deals to take care of out there.

Hush up, Daddy, and change those clothes right quick. We all have something else scheduled for you this morning. Then something for all of us after that. Just forget about your surprise. We aren’t going to listen to no excuse at all coming from your jaws. Hurry up now. We are running a little bit late on the long-planned ordeal.

Is that so? Well, young ladies, whatever you two have planned already without my consent just cannot have me included. Don’t you understand that yet? You two girls know I have three businesses to operate here in Plaquemine, White Castle, and Pierre Part. Plus, I have a meeting in Baton Rouge at 1 p.m. This is pretty important, since it involves my purchasing another lumberyard and material stock. So, I say again, I hope all of you have a beautiful day without me. That is final, ladies!

Daddy, all that crap you have planned for today is being taken care of by Mr. Johnny-boy and his Miss Emma. You know that if anyone can follow in your footsteps on the hardware plus, it’ll be him. Also, if he impossibly messes up on something, Miss Emma will catch it, and his butt will be mud whenever they get home, she smiled back. So, put on your traveling shoes, and let’s get going. Forget about what you have planned on any of the business places. He’s got it. Come on now. We have to go.

I suppose the other two places are taken care of also. Right?

Right! she said as she rolled her fist.

"Okay. Now let me put it this way. Your mother, the idol of my life, has been up there in Heaven very close to four years. I don’t care at all about any other type of life, except staying busy in the daytime and dreaming of her at night. So, as I have said before, all of you have fun, and if you need anything, just call me at one of the places. I’ll be happy to send ya’ll money or transportation. Now, like I say, my love, that’s it.

Well now, girls, did all of you hear that? Your poppa says that he doesn’t feel like coming to ride with us for a little while to get some snowballs. Now isn’t that just so pitiful?

Four loud, continuous, mixed sounds of boos and begging were more than I was ready for this morning. Okay. Okay. That’s enough. We’ll go get the ice cream or whatever. Lord have mercy. Ya’ll are getting like your leader here today. But that’s all we can do out there. Your poppa has lots of other stuff to take care of after that. Now, all of you go on out there and crawl into Poppa’s big van. Hurry your tails up before I pull this big belt off. You understand? Go! Remember to put on the seat harnesses, too, or we aren’t going to go anywhere at all. Now, are there any more questions?

All four of them raised their hands. Sort of looked something like what their grandmother used to see during the summer schooling games over here. She loved it.

Daddy, I think they all have something to tell you.

Like what, baby?

Ask one of them; don’t ask me, Christie came back with as she handed me my handkerchief. I’m sure they’re all four just busting at the pretty little gut with very good new news, as you’d call it, she finished up with. Of course, a smiling wink was added.

All right, young ones. What is it that I don’t know yet? I asked as I looked their way, my arms folded. By the way they were jumping, I knew this was going to be a biggie. Just get ready for this one Mike-e-boy, I told myself out loud. They’re very prepared to pass on some not too good, surprising instructions they were given not very long ago. By their leaders.

Poppa, said Laura, the oldest of the four little ones. She is almost eleven. Three months away. In September. Right around her mother Linda’s date. We were told to tell you that the van is packed already, and the car is outside running right now, but we can’t tell you why until later.

Okay. Now, my sweet little Anita. I’m sure you have some of your own sort of instructions or words of wisdom to be passed on to me. Right, darling?

"Yes sir, Poppa, I do. I was told to only tell you that the clouds are so very beautiful, it would be a perfect day to go have a sort of family day out there somewhere. Maybe over here on the Mississippi River’s levee. I’m not exactly sure where at, though. They say that I am your little informer of their secrets. It could be they know that you and I are better educated than they are. Bragged Little Anita, daughter of Christie and Gene. She just made ten last month. Anyway, one Saturday, at the L.S.U. Senior Lab School the professors let her sit in as an observer. They were impressed with her knowledge. They are saying that within a short few years, at most, she will probably be over there running the show. Anyway, she looks like her granny did when she sits on the couch in front of the television. She reads all of the encyclopedia mess. She doesn’t take after her poppa, that’s for damn sure.

Well, my little shadow, just what seems to be your brilliant opinion on this situation? Wouldn’t you rather be with me, working in the shop’s paint lab? We could come up with a few new coloring tests, you know, I winked. Possibly some that were never before used.

Wow, Poppa! I would much rather do all that. Can I go over there with him and do that, Momma? Can I? We can all go another time to have our picnic. . Please, Momma. He needs me this time.

Anita! Ah, sorry, honey. You know that your grandpa here is trying to trick you into saying what we all have planned for a long time now. I told you to watch out for his sneakiness. Remember, he had promised to take you walking through some of the marshland around Leesville to look for shells, and he didn’t. He just took you by Mr. Vin’s camp. They just talked all day and drank beer while you fished off the platform.

But Mother, I kept catching fish and oysters. We checked out every one of each species. We also found a small sort of a pearl that we both buried beside Grandmother’s grave. You don’t remember me telling you about all that?

Okay, baby, that’s enough. Now, let’s all go to the other house and pick up our Linda. You too, Julie. That’s enough of the chocolate milk. She was Linda’s at the age of seven. Then there was tiny Tina! She is five years old now and starting to show everyone that she’ll be just like her mother, Christie, in the future. (Lord help us!)

Aunt Christie, Tina says she has to go do a number two in the bathroom right now. She says it feels like all the bottom is about to fall out. She can’t wait no longer. She also says that you can punish her later, but she’s got to go this minute, honey!

I tapped Christie on the side, as she sort of ran on by me in the kids’ direction. Kind of reminds me of you when you were little like that. No matter where we were or where we were headed, you waited until rush time before you had to go, I laughed out.

The other three put back on the television for another plus ten minutes. Then, out of the bathroom, came our little Tina on the fly. Poppa, I feel a lots better now. My momma says I must’ve lost about fifty pounds. Isn’t that just great? Daddy can’t call me fatty in his chair tonight.

Young lady, tell your grandpa what you told me in the bathroom, Christie grinned out my way, with a wink. Go ahead. Tell him what you did. You ought to be ashamed.

Do I have to, Momma? Poppa might get mad if I tell him why.

Yes you do, young lady.

Poppa, I lied to my Daddy this morning. He wanted to know if I had got finished in the bathroom at home. I told him yes, but I didn’t. He said I could eat some more breakfast over here, before we left for Nanny’s house. Well, I ate three bowls of your stuff, and I didn’t make it to the toilet. My momma had to bathe me up real good and then she used one of your new handkerchiefs to wrap around me, like it was a diaper instead of a pair of regular panties.

Well, young lady, you know a lot of us people have done that same kind of stuff when we were coming up back in the old days. We had to wear old T-shirts sometimes in place of the underwear. So Poppa forgives you this time, my baby

Then Momma was wrong, huh?

About what, darling?

About how ya’ll parents made you wear glued-on newspaper diapers instead of their T-shirts way back then.

Oh yeah, ah, that’s right. I forgot that little bitty part, my baby. Your mother was correct this time, too. We were all pretty poor way back then. As we got older, we didn’t use the newspaper anymore. We went to the shirts then. I sort of told a little fib there to kind of protect her mother’s correcting form.

Why, Poppa? T-shirts cost about twenty times as much, Momma said. And Lord, a newspaper would have lasted three weeks, at least.

Let’s go kids, before the rain starts falling down on the top of us out there. You never know what to expect when you leave the house.

Poppa, did you ever see the rain rising up to the skies instead of just falling down to the ground? That was from Julie. She was yawning.

Ah, look Christie, you and the kids go on and get into the van or whatever the mess we have out there. I need to call John and tell him something he needs to know.

If you aren’t out there in about two minutes, Daddy, we’re going to be back and get you a lots worse the next time. Right girls?

Needless to say, I was sort of expecting a phone call from either old man Tom Persack next door, or the police department, about the loud noises coming from inside the house.

I watched as they walked out and closed the door behind themselves. Then I quickly picked up the telephone to call my place across town. It rang only about one half of a time before it was answered.

Hello, this here is the Angel’s Hardware marketplace in Plaquemine. And I am John. Can we help you, sir? Or ma’am? Oh yeah, it’s a nice beautiful day out there today, too, ain’t it? So, just tell us what you feels like doing, and we can get all the good stuff to your house in jus’ a few little minutes. Or maybe a few more. The truck is out on the road already. Thanks for calling anyway. What can we start with now? I’m ready on this here end over here. How about you on that end over there?

Hello, John-boy. First off, I think someday we need to sit down and have a little schooling about the proper way to answer that phone. Now, is everything going along good over there? Or will you need me at all before about 1 p.m.?

May I ask who dis is on that end of the line?

Dis is your boss at his house. That’s who I is! Lord, what did I say. Now, what’s going on over there? Or better yet, what the hell is going on over here at my house? Do you know anything about all this crap they have planned?

Mr. Angel, sir. Oh, it is you out there, huh. Good morning to you, sir. Now you know them women don’t tell neither one of us nothing about what they all got planned all the time. All them gals just think the same female way. Also, they sure ain’t going to tell none of us men nothing. So no, sir, I can’t tell you nothing about what’s planned for either one of our weekend. If I hear any more about it all pretty soon, I’ll call you on that little bitty phone you been toting around. Now, if this is all you wants to know, sir, I had better go on back up to the front part. They is all over up there. From young to your age. Good-bye, Mr. Boss. See you whenever ya’ll all get back up here.

Wait a minute, John. What about this weekend. I understand that it is something to do with this morning. Damn it, John. John, hey John-Boy, can you hear me over there? I can hear all kind a noise. Is that there something falling or someone shouting in the background? Damn, John! Answer me!

No sir, Mr. Michael, I can’t hear you on this end. The phone’s broke. Please call back tomorrow or maybe next week sometime. Whenever you get the chance. We got to get the telephone fixed. You know you got to say that yourself a plenty of times. I can’t hear you, and I really got to go, so, good-bye, sir. And that was that. Three more calls over there, and the phone seemed to be out of order. Sounded a little bit like there was some sort of a scuffle before the hanging up, though. Probably one of the young helpers tripping over a two-by-four.

Daddy, are you coming now, or do we get to come back and get you a little worse this time?

Coming girls, I said as I locked the door behind me.

You’ve got your wallet with you, huh, Daddy? she asked as I crawled into the car.

Yes I do, my baby. You know that none of the fathers can go anywhere on a ride with you girls or wives without the thing in the back pocket. Just keep on driving.

Now that’s not true, Daddy! You know that Sister and I bought you a lunch just about two months ago. Over there at the Café in Addis, I think. Remember?

Let’s see now. Oh yeah, that’s right. Well, partially. The part that I remember was it wasn’t at the Café over there, because the line for the boiled shrimp special was at least a hundred ahead of us. Plus, that night was almost eight months ago. And—

Well, that wasn’t our fault, she smiled.

Wait a minute, young lady. I’m not through yet. We did go eat somewhere. Do you remember where that was at?

At the burger place over in Brusly. But you are the one that made us stop and pull in over there. You said you wanted some of the french fries. What was wrong with that? You made that choice yourself. Remember? Any other complaint, Mr. Smarty-Pants?

Oh there wasn’t any complaint at all from the start. But there is one more natural cause that I would like to see if you remember.

Now just what would that be, sir, may I ask? she came back as she passed under the almost red light.

That would be did either of you take care of the payment tab?

Oh yeah, that’s right. We both had forgotten our purses were locked in the van. But we said we were going to pay you the next day, and you refused it, she smiled a little and then stuck out her tongue. As though I was still the one with the wrong answer.

All right, Miss Christie, that’s enough on that subject. Now, let’s talk about the family plans that I am the star of and don’t know a darn thing about. You and the rest of my family can fill me in on just a tiny bit of it. Is that all right?

You’ll know about the complete plan in about an hour. Or maybe a couple. It all depends on if the party of the first part coincides with the parties of the second, third, and fourth parts. You got that, I hope. Now, don’t be so doggone nosey. You old devil you. Just try and keep your mind on where it’s supposed to be at all times.

Very right about that, young lady. So maybe I should relay that same message back your way. Just try to watch where you’re at when over here, in this neighborhood. You just passed your sister’s place. I smiled back. She might just be mad at you.

Oh Lord! I can see her on the road behind us, just jumping and waving. Boy is she going to be teed off. She might just kill me. I guess you know whose fault it was this time. You made me look away from her direction. Why did you do that?

Gee whiz. So sorry, my baby. Now after we get through with ya’ll nice little game here, I’ll probably cry about it all day, right behind my desk.

Daddy, Daddy. My, oh my. You look so nice in that set of slacks and a shirt that matches it. You must have some lady to go visit. You old, sneaky devil you, said Linda. Then she opened the car door to give me a big, big, big hug. You know what kind I’m talking about. Yeah, that kind. One that catches you with one foot on the outside and crams your head up against the side of the seat’s head support.

What’s up with you two? Or should I say, all you sweet animals over here? I’m pretty sure I won’t like it if you don’t tell me what its all about. So, please just go ahead and blow my mind. It must be something real special to make me proud, I’m sure.

Oh Daddy, you will never change. We’ll tell you what’s up, as you say. But only when the time is right. Okay? Now, don’t get out of the car over here. We have someplace else to visit in a few minutes. So just sit back, and enjoy the scenery. Right, girls? Linda smiled back.

I can see right now, I’m not going to enjoy this day at all. Unless I can get ’em to stop at Da Cajun Ducks All Day Place to get me at least a fifth of any brand. Who knows? Hell, I just might be able to sing, clap my hands, stomp my feet, and laugh like the young ones are doing behind my head.

Hey, Sister, is that Uncle Sam’s office building, at the end of the block over there?

Yes, Christie Ann. Just pull up and let Daddy and me get out by the door first. You and the girls can come in after the car is parked. Now, come on, Daddy, get out, please. This is where we make the first stop of the day. Uncle Sam says that at your age you need to have your health checked out. He says it has been quite a while since the last one. Like seven long years ago. So don’t complain about us three worrying about you. Someone has to. You don’t.

All right, baby. It just may not be a good time to have that done. I think it’ll be a good day to sell items at the yards today. What with all those high winds of the storms headed this way from Houston and Lake Charles. But then again, it might be better if I go get the boys to batten down all the windows and board up everything else. Yeah, maybe that might be the best thing to go do.

Daddy, you almost had me for a second, but I remember watching the Weather Channel this morning. Absolutely no rain for an entire week. Perfect vacation days. Just one night, tomorrow I think, may have only a few small clouds. So walk forward please.

Well, well. What have we got here? Good morning, Mr. Michael. It’s so nice to see you back over here once again. I found your papers of the last visit. That was nineteen and a half months ago. Welcome back. Oh, don’t worry about sitting down, sir. Dr. Samuel will take you right now. Oh by the way, might I add you still have the perfect set of buttocks you had way back then, young man. Now please follow behind me.

Those welcoming comments came from Uncle Sam’s nurse, Miss. Marlene. She was the same age as he. Seventy-one or -two, I’m not sure. They have been together for almost fifty years. May I also add she is still a very pretty lady. Anyway, she opened the door and then tapped me on the right lower cheek as I walked on by her. What’s the world coming to now? I thought. If the men would do that, charges would be filed.

There he was. Standing by the window in the exam room, looking out and waving. At his age he still appeared to be in pretty good shape. He measured in at 6'2 and weighed in at 210: about 3 inches shorter than I and 25 pounds lighter. He still has the energy of a young stud. If not more. But you know the reason for that. Either he does a lot of exercise at one of the doctors’ clubs every evening, or he takes a lots of those free sample pills drug company pushers" give him to spread out for a try. He never did get tied up with a wife. He used to tell me that it was more important to care for everybody than for just one body who was at the house. He was Anna’s idol. She would bring him lunch over here pretty regular. Lots of times he would commission her to buy his wardrobe of cruising dress wear. Of course, Anna used to smile when she waved bye toward the traveling ship. She told me that every time, a new, very beautiful woman clutched onto his arm. Well, no matter. What he did or didn’t believe in was his choice. Knowing him like I do, I kind of figure that this visit here today for a checkup was mostly from his orders.

He turned his head around a little and motioned me to come by his side to look outside the window. Look at how Jerry Khibodeaux is walking around over there. That one over there, with a newspaper under his left shoulder. Anyway, he’s a very big gambler. He tries to keep it a secret from others. Right now in that paper there is an advertisement about calling a supposed pro in White Castle if you want a sure win. I asked him if he ever won yet. He says no, but the fellow down in his part of the state, Doc something, says that he’ll probably really start winning over and over after, maybe, the twentieth try.

How much is the weekly bet?

He says only two hundred. According to his words dat ain’t bad neither. He says there are about twenty others who are losing more than twice as much. I shook my head and asked why he came over here on a visit. Did he feel as though he was catching the flu or some kind of cold?

No, not any of that normal stuff.

What did he give you for an answer? I smiled.

Well, at first he told me he wasn’t sick at all. He said he felt as though all he needed was an older doctor’s advice on stock. Now, listen to this, my boy. The man added he wants to know why he was starting to get very nervous and jumpy. Also some advice on what could he do to make ‘Doc’ pay for all of his suffering before his winning starts.

And knowing you, Uncle Sammy boy, I can just about imagine what kind of advice you had to repay him with.

Well first, I asked him how could he gamble out so much money each week, if he just retired from the plant he worked in as a maintenance guy. His answer to that was that he had just won the states lottery game, offering of three quarters of a million. So I told him, what he could do to make the other dumb guys from down the road cry their eyes out.

And what was that, may I ask?

Bet more than all the others put together. So that when his luck gets going in full strength within the next five weeks, he’d be the one that can laugh his ass off from the Bahamas’ beach. Not only that, into his ear I also whispered he could have a different thousand-dollar slut on each side of his chair, if he knew how to high step to the music of the Bahamas. I think he really believes he’ll come out ahead.

And I suppose that’s why he’s dancing like the Jackson fellow on one of his television shows?

No, not really, nephew. That, I believe, has something to do with the pretty strong, happy, nerve-relaxing pills I made him take. That should keep him footloose for a while. We both laughed to that one.

Well now, if you have a little time to check me out, I’m ready, I said as I was laughing. I think I am going to pick me up one of the newspapers myself after I leave. I need to get stupidly rich myself.

After a minute of routine checkup, he tapped me on the shoulder and let out, Okay, drop your drawers, and bend over for the finishing touches.

You don’t have to do that. I know all the insides are pretty crappy, but there’s nothing else wrong besides that.

Nephew, your ugly butt is over fifty, and starting at that age, it is a must for each man to have the all-in checked out. So drop your pretty white drawers, and bend way down now. A few seconds later, he slapped me on the bottom of the rumps and said with an ear to ear grin, Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?

No, it wasn’t that bad, I answered back as I buckled my belt. It did sort of feel a pretty good bit like the horn of a rhinoceros that wants me out of his territory. No other problem than that though. As a matter of fact, now—

Enough. Now, let’s see if we can finish up today’s rare family meeting by letting you know just what the heck is going on between your two daughters, the others, and myself. We feel that pretty soon you are going to be either in the hospital, behind matted walls, or six feet under, where no one knows who you used to be. Nope, don’t get up. Just sit there another damn minute, and you’ll understand it all. All of us have lost our Anna. Not just you, young man. Her heart reached out to us also. We miss the dickens out of her leadership. You are the only one who has put the fence in the way of everyone around. It is time for you to get off your secluded hidden rear end to help the other family members enjoy their lives without worries for you. So, whether or not you agree to hide your Anna-thought feelings means little to us. As long as you don’t show it. Honestly, my boy, do you understand exactly what I am trying to slap you in that big face up there with?

Uncle, I didn’t think it was showing. I keep thinking that it was already hidden. If not, I am sorry about it. I suppose I can get out and go eat with the others a little more often. I understand what you’re saying. Maybe by next weekend I might go ahead and take off from the job that Saturday. I might just take all four of the granddaughters to the movie for the day. Now, how about that? I smiled back with the intention of doing just exactly that.

Normally, that wouldn’t be a bad gesture, but that’s not quite what we have planned for you, my boy, he returned.

Man, isn’t that nice. What have all of you come up with? Or have I been set up for another non-needed surprising trap? To, let’s say, try and make me sit on my big rear end at the house for the whole weekend, taking store-bought relaxation pills. Oh yeah, I can do that. If I decide to be a poorer man the rest of my life. Who needs to have his own nice, private business anyway?

Will you please just stop being a martyr? Shut up and listen. What myself and a few other members of the family down south have decided with the kids is going to revive the person you used to be. There is no way out this time, young man. Try to understand that. You need to be brought back to the fun-loving trash you used to be. So, when you and the family leave here in a few minutes, please either look forward to having a hell of a good vacation with the others, or at least help the others enjoy it for themselves.

As I looked up and saw the concern and true sincerity in his eyes, I winked at him, while extending my hand. Those old blue eyes showed me that what he said was a part of their true belief of the plan. True feeling of the family enjoyment together. Also, a very true concern about my and all the others’ mentality outcome. Uncle Sam, sir, I am beginning to believe it looks like it’ll be a good time of the year to take a ride to wherever the family wants to go. So now, may I add, I think that it just might also be the right time for you to hit another one of the blue waters’ ride. Even though you may have reached the age of the ‘By Yourself Half Price Bargaining.’ I winked while I continued to wait for the handshake.

Look here, you old. sneaky, conniving hunk of old cow mess. You don’t worry about my life. If I decide to hit the waters again in the near future, you for sure will be the first one called to bring your camera to the leaving dock. Now, get that big tail of yours out of here. Pronto! I received another pinch on the rear end. Boy, that one hurt! No wonder the females comment about filing charges.

Well now, girls, here comes your fine-looking hunk of a father from behind the door of the old tightwad devil in there. May I say that by just swinging that nice rump—like he’s doing right now—on a beach, he’d be attacked by a many pretty ladies. Don’t you two think so? Then Miss Marlene added, If only his old worn-out uncle in there was in that shape. He just wants to hide his secret livelihood to the public. I really believe he could make himself a champion also. Maybe one of these days, if he ever comes to true life, I might—

Miss Marlene, you don’t have to try to hide anything from me and the girls anymore. He let it out in there about you two going on the Lovers Cruising Trip from Galveston to Cancun pretty soon. Don’t let him take advantage of you with some wild drinks out there. The way it happened on that there last trip the two of you took. You hear me, young lady?

Oh my goodness, Michael. He told you about that trip?

I didn’t say that, my very sweet lady. I just somehow believe that those new type of pills you handed him, and he was suppose to give to me, wound up in his shaving kit. Be ready next week, or month, is all I can say right now.

He told you we were going out there again next month? the lady asked as she looked up with both of the hands clasped together in sort of a praying form.

Well, he said he wasn’t exactly sure with whom or exactly when. But that he more than likely would check back with the agents soon. Maybe call them over there today.

Well honey, now that old fart in there had better check with me first, because our supposed to be real secret cruise from Miami to the Virgins starts next Wednesday.

Maybe he is thinking of another trip after you two return from this first one. Then again, maybe he doesn’t want you to know right off the bat. You can try to make him scream it out on the upper deck of the first one, you know. Give it a try, young lady.

As I reached for my daughters’ arms on the way to the door, the lady kissed me on the cheek. She then whispered into my ear, Honey bun, when we get back in this part of the country in two weeks, I’ll be the doctor over here. He’ll have to lay back on his butt at the house to get his manhood returned. Ya’ll be careful down there, and drink a few for his health. He’ll be needing it, she finished with as she swung toward his office room, pushing back her short brown hair and then adjusting her upper left side. (Not the hair, of course.)

The same to you, Miss Marlene. Also, maybe you should bring a camera to enjoy all the scenery shots you can get. What with all those pretty type of fish you can see from ya’ll ninth-floor balcony. Maybe you can probably get a few close shots to hang on the front walls in here.

Honey, the hell with those ugly fishtails. The shots I’m thinking about taking this time won’t be snapped in the daytime. Plus, he will keep them hid in one his bottom desk drawers. Now ,all of you be careful one more time. We love each of you. Have a good time, my other macho man. Bye-bye. She smiled out as she started swinging her hips even wider.

Daddy. For true, did Uncle Samuel really tell you about their secret sex lives in there a while ago? Christie asked as she very lightly scratched the side of her head and with a very wondering look.

You should know that answer yourself, my love. That old fart in there is only a listener. I just figured I owed him a good one. He wasn’t too easy on my poor body in there.

Oh yes, I can tell by that creepy smile you have covering about three-quarters of your cheeks. Poor Uncle Sam. I feel pity for him. He should know you are going to do something or other in payback. I hope your repayment wasn’t that bad.

Not that, baby. Just a fairly small one. This time.

Well, why did you do it? Probably for one of those shots in the butt? she laughed out. You are something else sometimes. I guess that’s why all of us in here love you so much. At least I was right about you getting that shot on the backside. Right?

I guess you could say that’s pretty close, my baby. Pretty darn close. Now, if all of you don’t mind, let’s head for the ice cream parlor. I’m starving.

Yahoo!

I’d forgotten that the two youngest monsters were in my arms. Both of the drums inside the skull are really ringing now! I thought for a second that Old Liberty, up north, was alerting the Yankees that the British may be coming again! Darn, but the little fots were really loud this time.

You know, maybe one of these days I’ll remember to put on a set of the earplugs we have for sale at the job. Many men use them at shooting practices to save their eardrums. I don’t do that. But something tells me I really need to keep some around. Grandchildren’s screams are very much louder than gun power noises. At this close though, these two would make a warship cannon sound like a single Rice Crispy in comparison. Maybe it might be best if I also used a winter pair of ear muffs over them.

Linda, darling, when you get uptown, please pull over there by that store. I need to go in for a minute and check something out.

CHAPTER 2

Bombs Away!

Okay, all you young ones, where should we go next? How about one of the picture shows in Baton Rouge? Or maybe the zoo? Anything you feel like doing. Together of course, I said as I opened the back door of the car.

Sweet little Anita, who was the last one to get in, said, It doesn’t matter, Poppa. As long as we can look up and eat your popcorn. You are supposed to be the only one on some kind of a diet this time, you know.

Girls, and Daddy, we do have time for a very light brunch. But we must be on the highway by at least eleven o’clock. It‘s nine forty-three right now and we have a pretty good distance to travel. So maybe we just ought to get something from a real fast place. I know we all like to eat over at Fat Daddy’s Restaurant, but it’s on the other end of the city. I believe we might ought to try some of the chicken and mashed potatoes from Darryl and Bobbie’s place right over there, since we’re headed south. I hear they have a pretty good brunch also. So, what do all of you think? Does it sound all right Christie asked.

Yes we’re ready. the others answered at once. I nodded with a grin from finger-plugged ear to ear. The daughters didn’t.

My little ones are back to normal, I thought as Christie started turning into the place’s parking lot.

I carried the two youngest into the place and sat them on each side of me at the table. They had wanted to sit in my lap. If we had been there by ourselves, I would have allowed that. It has been a while since I really felt like a proud grandpa. Maybe Uncle Sam was right about my life’s closing doors. Anyway, after some twenty-five minutes, we were back at the car, with the wallet sitting snuggly in its favorite resting area: my back pocket.

Sweet Daddy, would you like to come to the front and drive the car for a while now? Linda asked. You can, you know.

If he does, he’ll probably just quit wrestling with all the kids and turn around back toward one of the jobs. Right, Pop? That was added by none other than Christie.

No, young lady. I’ve lost the battles this time. But if you six plan on a trip for a complete day, I think I have to call John and see if he can take care of all three places.

Daddy, you aren’t referring to his race are you? Christie asked with a worried, questioning look on her face. You know he can do it just as good as you or anyone else around here.

Heck no. That crap has nothing to do with it at all. I just want to ask him if he can leave Emma Lee in charge while he is on one of those emergency runs. Then again, if I promise him a raise of twenty-five bucks for selling more in the store, it might be better if Emma Lee made the deliveries.

I think if you add that one day she’ll be in charge of the big one with more money, it will definitely be a sure thing, she smiled back. Sister, can you just imagine how long Daddy would stay there if Miss Emma was the boss right now?

I kind of doubt if he would make it until break time over there. Linda said as she pointed toward the steering wheel. Now Daddy, you can go ahead and take over the driving part. We all have a real long trip ahead of us this morning. Call him from the final stop. Okay?

Yes, Masters. Only two things I need to know first though, I added as I tossed the toothpick on the cement. (I had to pick it back up: two light kicks to the calves.)

What’s that, my sweet Daddy? Linda asked.

Well first, where to, young ladies? And then second, do you think we ought to have a little more in the tank than just the empty that’s showing on the fuel gauge?

Oh good Lord, I didn’t even look at it this morning. I thought Roy had taken it to the station yesterday evening.

The other daughter, Christie, smiled and let out, My sweet poor sister. I don’t know just what the heck we’re going to have to do to you. Every woman in the world thought you had finally learned not to give the husband any responsibility. Especially when it means he would have to use the hidden fishing money. There just ain’t no way, honey, that would ever happen here in America.

Now, where are we going, girls? I slipped in very quickly to try and get the answer I was looking for. I just knew it was one of those very intelligent moves.

I got that expected answer all right. It came from the both at once. Straight south, Daddy. Straight south, and that was that, and to the South we headed in the big Lincoln.

I stopped at the first fuel station on the