Blue Plague Survival

by Watson, Thomas A

  “Emily, get that sock,” Debbie said and she and Stephanie struggled to keep Bruce down.

  Bruce acted like he was struggling hard as Emily ran to Debbie carrying Angela’s sock. Bruce grabbed the sock and threw it at the head of the bed. Angela grabbed the sock and put it on her right foot. Then Angela scooted down to the group holding her foot up.

  “Get him Angela,” Debbie said.

  “Don’t you dare,” Bruce warned her as Angela then lowered her foot and started rubbing it on his chest.

  Bruce screamed, “Caterpillars!” They only tortured Bruce for a little while then let him up.

  “Don’t mess with us,” Debbie warned Bruce.

  Bruce looked at her then at PJ who was sitting up on the pillows. “You could help,” Bruce told PJ.

  “Dada,” PJ said clapping his hands.

  “I know who I am,” Bruce told PJ who just squealed and shook his head. “I see where your loyalties are boy,” Bruce told PJ, as he climbed in the bed.

  Everyone was getting situated in bed when a soft knock sounded on the door. “Come in,” Debbie said.

  The door opened and Danny followed by Jake walked in. Bruce jumped out of the bed, “Oh no. You are not sleeping in here,” Bruce told them.

  Debbie turned snapping at Bruce, “Shut up Bruce, if they want to sleep in here then they can.”

  “Debbie, Jake hasn’t slept with us since he was two and he gave you a black eye then. I don’t want to know what it would be like now. It’s like a full contact death match sleeping with Danny. I’m surprised that Buffy’s still alive,” Bruce told her.

  “Bruce, if they want to sleep in here then they can,” Debbie told Bruce letting him know it was not open to discussion.

  Stephanie asked looking at the open door, “Who is out in the hall?”

  Jake turned and waved out the door. Matt and Mary came into the room looking at the floor. Bruce smiled seeing all four together. Jake turned to Bruce, “Dad, can we talk to you outside?” he asked.

  Bruce smiled at Jake, “Son, your mom knows.”

  As one they all looked at Debbie who was just smiling. Mary turned and quickly closed the door. Danny looked at Jake telling him, “Told ya he would tell mama.”

  “He only told me two weeks ago,” Debbie informed her.

  Danny hearing her mother’s words looked at Bruce, “How long have you known?”

  “Known what?” Angela asked looking at Debbie.

  “Shush Angela, you deny everything you hear,” Debbie told her.

  “Depends by what you mean. If you mean that Matt stood little chance of getting away from you or do you mean that the four of you were boyfriend and girlfriend,” Bruce asked ignoring Angela and Debbie.

  “Huh that Matt-,” Danny stuttered then said. “Let’s start with us four first.”

  “Wait, do my Mom and Dad know?” Mary asked with fear in her voice.

  “No baby, not unless you told them and contrary to what your mother says. I never told her. I only left open questions for her,” Bruce told Danny.

  “Bruce you did-,” Debbie started to say then stopped in thought. “You dirty son of a bit-.”

  “Debbie,” Bruce stopped her, “you have kids beside you.” Debbie looked at Bruce with a scowl on her face. Now, Bruce was glad that Stephanie and Angela were sleeping in here after all.

  Bruce looked at the kids, “It’s not my place to tell others as long as you acted appropriately.”

  The four just looked at Bruce in shock. Then Jake shook his head, “Dad, how long have you known?”

  “Since the paintball field, the day the girls trapped both of you. I realized they had set a trap for you two when this group of boys just happens to show up to play with us,” Bruce told Jake as Danny and Mary started blushing. “The girls had been acting weird the week leading up to paintball day. I didn’t put it all together until we got to the field. I really thought until then, they were planning on sneaking out. That’s why I told everyone every morning at breakfast that mission control can record.”

  Bruce stopped looking at the girls then continued, “When I saw that group of boys waiting and how both of you girls let both Jake and Matt know that they were their waiting on you, something was up. The girls were making you two jealous. From the reaction you two showed, it worked.”

  “Is that why you tried to kill them Daddy, because they were making Jake and Matt jealous?” Danny protested.

  “Hell no! Those little freaks of nature were scoping out my little girls. They had to pay for the thoughts in their dirty little minds,” Bruce snapped at Danny.

  “Don’t worry Dad we took care of it,” Jake assured Bruce. “Especially after that one slapped Danny on the butt,” Jake finished and Danny’s face drained of color.

  “What?” Bruce said his face turning to stone.

  “It’s ok Dad, Matt threw him down and shot him thirty times in the chest standing over him until the blond baby started crying,” Jake told Bruce.

  Debbie gasped, “I thought Bruce did that.”

  “No Mama, Matt did. I tried to drown the one going after Mary in the pool,” Jake admitted.

  Bruce looked at Matt, “I love you Matt but when Danny is in gear and you-.”

  “Daddy,” Danny said cutting Bruce off.

  “How did you know?” Mary asked still amazed.

  “Your plan was way too complicated,” Bruce told her then continued. “Let me guess the boys came to you the next day. Then the boys set out your rendezvous and such like going to the catfish pond in the middle of the night kissing up a storm,” Bruce answered winking at them.

  “That’s impossible, I set the video to loop,” Jake said and Matt agreed with him.

  “Actually, I was outside waiting on the pigs in the field and heard laughing. Thinking it was Mike and Nancy, I snuck closer and boy was I surprised. Let me tell you, it’s really gross seeing your kids like that,” Bruce told them as they all blushed.

  Danny looked at him pointing her finger, “You remember that when you and mom talk about sex. That’s so gross.” Bruce laughed at her and Debbie just glared at him. He never said anything about the catfish pond.

  Matt looked at Bruce, “Daddy Bruce, how do you know it was Jake and I setting up our meetings.”

  “They were simple. That is why your Mom and Debbie never caught on,” Bruce told them as Jake and Matt gave each other high fives. Then Bruce deflated their bubbles, “If you two had started this whole thing I would have never known. I was on the lookout for stuff different about each of you. Jake has on Mary’s necklace and she has his class ring on her necklace. Danny has Matt’s bracelet on her ankle while Matt wears her charm bracelet on his ankle.” Bruce told them.

  Danny crossed her arms looking at Bruce, “Daddy sometimes I think you know more than you let on. Just to see what will happen.”

  “If I wouldn’t have known, then I couldn’t have covered for you now could I,” Bruce confronted her.

  “How do you know we haven’t done anything?” Danny almost yelled, angry that daddy knew.

  “You haven’t because none of you want your parents fighting with each other,” Bruce told her plainly.

  All four teens shoulders slumped at once as they stared at Bruce. Then Mary broke the silence, “Daddy Bruce, the reason we wanted to talk to you alone was we were going to ask you if we should quit seeing each other.”

  “That is not my decision to make guys. I will say this, if someone doesn’t quit looking at my daughter in combat gear-,” Bruce stopped as Debbie yelled, “Bruce!”

  “Debbie, he looks at her like she is wearing a bikini instead of full combat gear,” Bruce exclaimed.

  Matt blurted out, “She’s so hot in full gear.”

  Bruce clapped his hands over his ears, “I don’t want to hear that my daughter is hot in combat gear. I’m fixing to get a water hose,” Bruce told everyone as Danny kissed Matt jumping up and down saying, “I’m hot.”

  “Debbie make her stop. I’m fix
ing to spin off,” Bruce said looking toward the bed his hands still on his head. Stephanie and Angela were hugging each other trying not to laugh, but not doing a good job.

  Debbie told Danny to stop as Bruce took his hands off his ears. Danny just smiled at Bruce. Bruce looked at Danny and said, “Would you like me to tell you the real reason you came to me?”

  The smile fell off of Danny’s face as a look of disbelief washed over each face. “You were going to pretend to say you were going to break up, knowing it would make me feel like shit because I love each of you so much. Y’all were going to try to make me sell this to the other parents. Danny was going to play the biggest part. You girls came up with the plan and the boys wouldn’t go along until Danny assured you that she was goin’ to play the Daddies little girl routine,” Bruce told the four. Danny stumbled into the dresser as the others wanted to just disappear.

  “How?” Danny asked not really wanting to know.

  “Daddy’s little girl wields power over Daddy because he allows it. He wants the best for her. Daddies don’t worry so much about the boys. They can fight their way ahead in the world, daddies don’t want that for our girls. But I trained you for it anyway,” Bruce answered Danny. Then asked, “Well, was I right about why you came to me?”

  Jake nodded his head yes then Bruce asked, “I just want to know, did Danny or Mary come up with this? I think I have the right to know before I talk to Mike and Nancy.” Jake, Matt, and Danny looked at Mary who just looked down at the floor. “That makes since,” Bruce said.

  “Why?” Debbie asked.

  “A teenage girl that hangs around Mindy has been following Jake around. I figured that Mindy asked David to put in a good word for her friend to Jake. Of course David knows about you four and told Mary. You two are twins after all, so he would’ve told you first. Today in the center, I almost took Mary’s weapons from her. Everytime Mary looked at that girl, I thought she was fixing to bust a cap,” Bruce told Debbie.

  “Now, I know where Buffy got bust a cap from,” Angela said to Stephanie.

  “I’m going to cut that bitch,” Mary said with determination.

  “Mary,” Bruce said.

  Danny leaned toward Mary saying, “We can shoot her and throw her in the scrap pond.”

  “Danny, that’s enough turn down the testosterone,” Debbie told her turning to Bruce. “That’s your child. I had nothing to do with her birth,” Debbie told him.

  Bruce looked at the four. “Ok, I will talk to Nancy and Mike. Do you want me to do it slowly over weeks or just get it over with?” Bruce asked.

  “Don’t let my Daddy kill me Daddy Bruce,” Mary pleaded.

  Bruce just looked at Mary in disbelief, “Mary your Dad won’t kill you.”

  “Well don’t let him kill me,” Jake exclaimed.

  Bruce looked at Jake not believing what he was hearing, “Son, did I kill Matt for drooling over my daughter in combat gear?” Bruce asked as Matt said, “She’s so hot.”

  Bruce covered his ears, “I don’t want to hear that!” Jake, Danny and Mary started slapping Matt telling him to shut up. When they were finished, Bruce removed his hands.

  “Just tell them but break it slow,” Matt said.

  “Ok go down to the kitchen, I will get them,” Bruce told them.

  “You are goin’ to tell them in front of us,” Mary almost cried.

  “Yeah, that was how Debbie figured it out. If they see you in front of them, they can’t get mad at you about it. I had to tell Danny about Matt-,” Bruce stopped as Debbie interrupted.

  “Don’t say it Bruce. Matt has it bad,” Debbie said. Matt just smiled as Jake put his hand over Matt’s mouth.

  “Dude, don’t say it, we are really close here,” Jake told Matt. Then he turned to Bruce, “We’ll be in the kitchen, Dad.” The four filed out of the room.

  “Debbie, go to the kitchen with the kids. I’m going to get Mike and Nancy,” Bruce said putting on his lounge pants. Debbie got out of bed heading to the door as Angela picked up Cade and Emily.

  “I’m not missing this,” Angela said then looked at Stephanie, “Get the other two let’s go.” Angela told Stephanie as Stephanie picked up PJ and Sherry running out the door.

  Bruce walked to Mike’s room and knocked on the door. Bruce heard Mike say, “Come in.” Bruce walked in seeing Mike and Nancy sitting up in bed reading.

  “Hey brother what’s up?” Mike asked putting his book down.

  “Hey Mike, I was wantin’ to know if I could sleep with your wife tonight?” Bruce asked with a serious face.

  Mike looked at Nancy then back to Bruce, “Sure brother. Just don’t make a lot of noise I’m reading,” Mike told Bruce picking his book back up.

  “What?” Nancy cried in shock looking at Mike.

  “Baby, I slept with Bruce last night and I’m sore, so it’s your turn,” Mike told Nancy. Nancy slapped Mike’s arm as Bruce and Mike laughed.

  “Hey guys, I want to talk to you in the kitchen,” Bruce told them.

  “Can’t it wait until tomorrow Bruce, we were fixing to go to sleep?” Nancy said.

  “No, we need to talk about it tonight. I promise it’s better than your books. It concerns the kids,” Bruce told them.

  “OK Bruce, but it better be good because I just talked Nancy into playing around,” Mike told him.

  “You were just going to give me away,” Nancy pointed out to Mike.

  “Na, just sending in the warm up before the pro gets there,” Mike told Nancy kissing her.

  They followed Bruce to the kitchen to see the group at the table. “What’s Stephanie, Angela and the kids here for?” Nancy asked with an inquisitive look on her face.

  “I can’t miss this,” Angela said smiling. Stephanie just stared at Mike and Nancy reaching an arm around Angela’s shoulders and put her hand over Angela’s mouth.

  When they were seated, Bruce stood at his spot at the table and leaned over with his hands on the table. “Mike and Nancy I have to tell you something,” Bruce told them staring at Mike. “My son is in love with your daughter and my daughter is in love with your son,” Bruce said. The four teens just looked at Bruce in shock. That was breaking it easy.

  Nancy laughed, “Bruce, really what is it?” Nancy asked. Bruce was still looking at Mike.

  “I’m serious, they’ve been paired up for some time now. I knew from the beginning and didn’t say anything because I approved,” Bruce said, not taking his eyes off of Mike.

  Danny almost fell out of her chair as the other three continued looking at Bruce in shock. Bruce just took all the blame for allowing them to see each other. Debbie was just watching Bruce stare at Mike and Mike looking back at Bruce.

  “What? How? Why? When?” Nancy faltered looking at the kids then to Bruce who was still looking at Mike. Mike smiled and nodded his head at Bruce. Then Bruce turned to Nancy.

  “That pretty much covers everything Nancy and I will answer it in a minute. The kids have behaved appropriately but give me a minute first,” Bruce told her turning back to Mike.

  “When did you get suspicious?” Bruce asked Mike.

  “First week in September,” Mike replied. Debbie snapped her head toward Mike.

  “Which one?” Bruce asked smiling.

  “Matt, then I started watching the others,” Mike replied.

  Nancy looked at Mike, “What about my baby boy?” Nancy demanded.

  Mike looked at Nancy saying, “Baby, everytime Matt looks at Danny in combat gear-.”

  “She’s so hot,” Matt said looking at Danny. Danny just smiled at him blushing. Bruce just turned away groaning.

  “That’s what I mean. I almost took a water hose to him last week,” Mike told Nancy pointing at Matt.

  Angela fell out laughing. Nancy looked at Angela and said, “I don’t think this is something to laugh about.”

  “I’m sorry Nancy. I’m not laughing about the kids. I’m laughing at Mike and Bruce. They are so much alike it’s scary,” Angela said as she
tried to stop laughing.

  “Spill it Bruce,” Nancy told him not very kindly. Bruce told her what he knew and suspected over the next hour. Then he just looked at Nancy.

  “Debbie, why didn’t you tell me?” Nancy asked Debbie with tears in her eyes.

  “I told her not to,” Bruce told Nancy still standing at the end of the table.

  “Nobody can ‘tell’ Debbie not to do anything,” Nancy shot back as Bruce sat down.

  “He can if he tells her it would really hurt his heart if she said anything to anyone,” Bruce told Nancy shaking his head back and forth.

  “That’s not fair Bruce,” Nancy said.

  “It wasn’t her place to say. It was the kid’s,” Bruce told her.

  “You are telling it now,” Nancy pointed out.

  “They asked me too,” Bruce said.

  “So, I’m the only idiot that did not see it?” Nancy wailed crying as Debbie went over and hugged her.

  Bruce looked at her, “Nancy you did suspect it. That day in the field when Mary wanted to go to Jake you stared at them for a long time. I saw it on your face. Then when we sit down to eat, you looked from kid to kid. You just blocked it out. That’s why the kids were scared to say anything,” Bruce told Nancy smiling.

  Nancy looked at Bruce starting to doubt her own memory, “What-, No I didn’t-, Well maybe,” Nancy tried to put the thoughts in the right order.

  “See, told ya. It’s not our fault you doubted yourself,” Bruce told her.

  “Ok, so maybe I did suspect it,” Nancy yelled, “What are we going to do about it?”

  “There is only one thing we can do about it Nancy,” Bruce told Nancy as he stood up straight cracking his knuckles then turning his neck side to side making it pop. Bruce looked at Mike stating, “My son wants to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

  Mike slammed his hands on the table jumping to his feet, “Now hold on a minute Bruce!” Mike hollered. Chairs scooted back from the table as everyone even PJ looked back and forth from Mike and Bruce awaiting the clash. Mike looked at Bruce, “My son wants your daughter’s hand in marriage,” Mike growled.