The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

Dean chuckled and laid the kitten on the counter in front of Frank. “She’s clean. She isn’t carrying any foreign illnesses that I can see. She’s safe.”

  Frank snatched it up with a smile and stuffed it back in his coat pocket.

  “What are you doing with it?”

  Pointing to his temple, Frank smiled.

  “You have an idea. Oh, boy.”

  Frank started to leave, but stopped, He hurried back to the counter and to the paper and pencil he had been writing on to communicate with Dean. He scribbled some words and turned it Dean’s way.

  Dean read the note. “Yes, Frank. What the hell’s the matter with you? Of course it’s a cat.”

  Another nod and smile came from Frank and he quickly turned and darted to the door.

  “But where did . . .” Dean raised his hand and dropped it when Frank kept moving. “. . . you find a cat? That’s what I want to know.” Shaking his head, Dean made his way back to his work. He paused in thought mid-stride and scratched his head. “A kitten?”

  ^^^^

  Ellen felt the cold blast of fall air seep into the kitchen before she heard her front door close. Turning down the burner on the stove, Ellen curiously walked from the kitchen to the living room. “Frank?” she called out in question as he appeared to be searching for something. He lifted the couch cushion, looked behind the sofa, under the table, and in the playpen. “What are you looking for?”

  Frank held his hand in a measurement to his thigh.

  “One of the kids?”

  Frank nodded.

  “Which one?”

  Smiling widely, Frank poked in his cheeks making dimples.

  “Alex?”

  Frank nodded.

  “She’s in her room. Why?”

  Grabbing Ellen’s hand, Frank tugged her right along with him as he moved excitedly to Alexandra’s room. He knocked on the open door.

  Alexandra sat on her floor amongst a pile of papers she was drawing on. She looked up. “Hi.”

  Frank, pulling Ellen with him, crouched down by Alexandra and took her coloring stick. He turned over one of her pictures and wrote.

  Ellen peered at the words. “Frank has something for you.”

  Alexandra rolled her eyes and spoke in her slight ‘R’ deficient way. “Mommy, I can weed. What?” She smiled.

  The smile was so genuine on Frank’s face. Unzipping his coat pocket, he reached inside and pulled out the kitten, and extended it to Alexandra.

  A slight shriek of surprise came from Ellen as she joined them on the floor. “Oh shit, Frank, it’s a kitten. Where did you get it?”

  Frank pointed backwards and watched Alexandra reach out in such awe and take the tiny kitten.

  It squirmed as she tried to hold it in her arms and she cuddled it with the brightest of smiles. “Oh wow.” Alexandra rubbed her cheek against the fur. “Wow. For me?”

  Frank nodded and pointed at her.

  Hugging it tight, Alexandra giggled when the kitten screamed. She released the strangle hold a little and stared at her new pet.

  Ellen touched it in awe. “You have to name it, Alex.”

  Thinking for a second, Alexandra grinned. “Foe-ball.”

  “There you have it Frank. Fur-ball,” Ellen said. “Alex, what do you say to Frank?”

  Alexandra didn’t say anything. With the kitten tight in her hands, she moved to Frank and tossed her arms tightly around his neck. Despite the squirming, shrill shrieking kitten that was squashed between them, Alexandra still held on. Her little lips kissed Frank’s big cheeks over and over. Frank’s eyes closed with a peacefulness.

  Ellen knew, by seeing Frank, what the rush was and why Frank was filled with so much excitement over the kitten. It wasn’t because he was about to give Alexandra something no one else in Beginnings had, it was because Alexandra was going to give him a moment that no one else ever could. And Frank, like such a great father, basked in it.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  The bar at the Social Hall was double whammied with ashes when a drinking Joe and Jason both flicked their cigarettes and missed the ashtray.

  Joe blew the ashes then apologized to ‘Sam’ for hitting him. “Risking a long Jason explanation, where did he find it?”

  Jason snickered, intoxicated. “As Frank put it, by the tool sheds.”

  Joe laughed. “God. And he ran to Dean to find out if it was a cat.”

  Shaking his head, Jason took a drink. “He’s your son.”

  “That he is. Anyhow, I thought cats were extinct.”

  “So did I. They must not be. I look for them to have come from the Savages.”

  “The Savages?” Joe snickered.

  “Yeah, part of their food,” Jason said. “Remember these things are all over the country. They stand a chance of finding a cat more than we do here in Beginnings all secured. They probably breed them like we do cattle.”

  “And the kitten is small enough to slip through the beam.”

  “Exactly. I heard Alexandra was ecstatic.”

  “To say the least,” Joe said then looked behind him when he felt a hand on his back. “Robert.”

  Robbie grinned ornery-like. “it warms my heart to know that two old guys like yourselves can still hang out at a bar and discuss . . .”

  “Don’t,” Joe warned. “Don’t even think about being so crude as to say the word pussy to your father.”

  Robbie looked horrified when his father and Jason started to laugh. “Oh my God.” He stepped back and cringed. “Oh my God. I can’t believe you just said that.”

  Joe shook his head as Robbie walked away. “I think I . . . how do you put it, grossed him out.”

  Downat the other end of the bar, waiting for his turn at the dart board, Jess noticed Robbie’s open mouth look of disgust. “Robbie? What?”

  “My Dad just used the word pussy.”

  “My God and you’re still standing?” Jess laughed.

  “Funny.” Robbie reached for a bottle and as he did, he saw Henry walk over. “Hey, Henry.”

  Henry grabbed a drink, still holding his darts. “Look at those two.”

  Robbie looked over at the pool table where Ellen and Elliott played. “O.K.”

  “He’s all over her.” Henry griped.

  “He is not, Henry. They’re playing pool,” Robbie said.

  “Then you missed them earlier. He’s not even from Beginnings and . . . he’s taking one of our women. He should just go shopping at his own House of Lesbians.”

  Jess snickered and shook his head. “The way the men are about women in this community, I’m surprised there’s harmony.”

  “Some of us learned to share. Besides.” Robbie looked at Henry. “I don’t know what you’re worried about. It’s not like Elliott will ever sleep with her.”

  “Why wouldn’t he?” Henry asked.

  “He doesn’t have any sex organs,” Robbie answered. “He’s a eunuch.”

  It took everything Jess had not to spit out his drink when he choked.

  Henry’s mouth went crooked in disbelief. “Oh he does too have . . .”

  “No,” Robbie said seriously. “Hal told me. In a battle, not long ago, Elliott lost.” Robbie shook his head. “He almost died, too. But he made it through and now he just . . . goes on. Yep. Didn’t it ever occur to you why he’s so mild mannered?”

  “Yeah,” Henry stated.

  “Just like any animal,” Robbie continued. “Like when you spay or neuter them, it calms them and takes all spunk from them. It hasas the same effect on humans. Look at Elliott.”

  “Oh my God.” Henry set down his drink and looked at Elliott. “That poor guy.” He took a deep breath. “Oh well. I have to throw.” He held up his darts and went to the board.

  Jess shook his head. “You’re bad.”

  “What do you mean?” Robbie asked innocently.

  “Lying to Henry.”

  “I’m not lying. It’s all true.”

  Jess immediately looked back at Elliott. “Oh shit
.”

  “Oh hey.” Robbie nudged Jess. “Someone asked about you today. I mean asked about you.”

  “Who?” Jess asked.

  “Not a woman.” Robbie nodded. “Hector.”

  “Who?”

  “Hector. He runs the green houses. He’s about thirty, dark hair . . .”

  “Real ethnic looking guy? More so than Elliott?”

  “That’s the one.” Robbie pointed and poured more moonshine. “He asked me because he knows we’re friends. He wants to know if you attach.”

  “What?” Jess asked through his laughing. “What’s ‘attach’.”

  “That’s the PC term used when two men here meet up.”

  “Oh.” Jess nodded. “So Hector isn’t gay?”

  “No. He just like to occasionally . . .”

  “Attach?” Jess asked and saw Robbie nod.

  “Hey Jess!” Henry called over. “Your game. You have to play me.”

  Jess started to stand. “Robbie, you have to stop trying to hook me up on one night stands. That’s not my thing. I’m . . . doing fine.”

  Robbie watched Jess finish his drink then look over at Ellen and Elliott. “Jess, man, all the good old movies in the world aren’t gonna do it for you. That’s not what you need. You have the opportunity to get what us straight and narrows don’t. You can get what you need. I’m just trying to help you be less lonely.”

  “I appreciate it.” Jess laid his hand on Robbie’s back. “But attaching isn’t what I need either. Excuse me.”

  Robbie felt bad. He had once again unsuccessfully played Cupid. He had to wonder if he subconsciously kept trying to hook Jess up because he knew the way Jess felt about him. And thinking that’s what he might be doing made Robbie feel worse.

  ^^^^

  Elliott took a second to look at his and Ellen’s locked hands. He looked ahead as they walked, smiling a smile that was hard to see in the darkness. “I feel really bad.”

  “No, don’t,” Ellen told him. “I feel bad. You have to get up early and you’re tired. Besides, I promised Frank I would work on his talking with him before he started his shift. I hope you don’t mind the walk.”

  “I enjoyed it.”

  “Even though we took the long way back to my house?”

  “The very long way,” Elliott chuckled, then felt a sense of disappointment as Ellen let go of his hand. Before he could figure out what to do with his just dangling hand, Ellen took his arm and leaned into him.

  “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Walking like this?” Elliott shook his head. “Not at all. I enjoy it. I enjoy the company.”

  “I enjoyed our date. Are we still on for our other one or does this replace it?”

  “No, I would still like to spend an entire evening with you. Can I invite you to dinner the next overnight you spend in Bowman?”

  “You certainly may,” Ellen said. “And I accept. I’ll be there Monday. Is that good?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “Now we just have to get you to relax.”

  “I . . . I can’t.” Elliott gasped out.

  “Is it me?”

  “You can say that.”

  “Can I help?”

  “I doubt it. I just . . .” Elliott cleared his throat and pointed with his head at Ellen’s house.

  “Do you dread dropping me off at my door?” Ellen approached her porch.

  “Not dreading. Don’t say that.”

  “Are you scared I’m gonna ask for a kiss goodnight.” Ellen saw his panicked expression as she stepped up the first step.

  “Well . . .”

  “I’m not gonna ask.”

  “Thank you. Because I’m a little . . .”

  “I’m just gonna try.” Ellen slid her hands up his arms to his neck and standing on the step, nearly Elliott’s height, she leaned to him. Parting her lips, she brought them close to his mouth and waited.

  And waited.

  “Elliott?”

  Elliott swallowed harshly, especially as he felt her warm breath hit against his lips. He looked into her eyes that were so close, then shifted his views to case her face and mouth. Nervously he smiled, reached up, took her hands from his neck, and stepped back. He gave a firm squeeze to her hands. “Thank you for the evening. Goodnight, Ellen.” Giving a soft nod, Elliott smiled, turned, and walked away.

  Ellen’s mouth dropped open. She lifted her hand and Elliott kept walking. “Shit,” she whispered. Shaking her head, she walked the rest of the way up to the porch and stepped in the house. The second she shut the door and kicked off her shoes, she noticed Frank standing there doing that ‘soundless’ laugh. “What?” she asked irritated.

  Frank pointed out his index finger and proceeded to mock shooting a gun.

  “Oh, I was not shot down. and you shouldn’t have been spying.”

  Frank grinned then mimicked his finger gun again.

  “God, grow up. He’s just . . . nervous. He doesn’t . . .” Ellen looked back at the door. “He shot me down.”

  Frank nodded arrogantly.

  “Here’s some sign language for you, goof mute.” Ellen flipped him off and headed to the kitchen.

  Laughing, Frank reached out and grasped her arm.

  “What?”

  Frank pulled on her.

  “This you not talking shit is really wearing thin. What are you showing me?”

  Frank lead her to the hallway and down to Alexandra’s room. He pushed open the door to expose a sleeping Alexandra, her kitten snuggled by her.

  Ellen looked at the smile on Frank’s face. “You just love reaching idolization status, don’t you? Frank nodded.

  “Talk.”

  Frank shook his head.

  “Frank, I have never known you to be afraid to do anything. Dean, the dick, says you can do it so do it. Say something, anything. I won’t laugh.”

  Frank gave her a non-believing look.

  “Please,” Ellen whispered. “I miss hearing your voice so much. Please.

  Taking a deep breath through his nostrils, Frank just stared at her. His mouth opened slightly. There was a hesitation and then a deep, raspy, sandy voice emerged. “I love you.”

  Ellen’s eyes widened. “Oh my God.”

  Frank stood straight and clenched his fist. “Oh, yeah, I can talk.”

  “It’s very sexy like.” She smiled at him. “It turned me on. And . . . I love you too.”

  Frank grinned and kissed her quickly. “Yes. This is so great.”

  “Frank.” Ellen folded her arms and drew up a sneaky look. “The kids are asleep. It’s been a really long time since I have . . .” Ellen was silenced with Frank’s hand that covered her mouth then pulled away. “What?”

  He held up his finger then nodded and smiled. “Fuck.”

  “What?”

  “Fuck.”

  “What?”

  “I can swear again.”

  “God, Frank,” Ellen huffed out. “Weren’t you listening to me? I was hitting on you.”

  “You were?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks.” Frank kissed her on the cheek and stepped back.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I can talk.” Frank happily and quickly walked toward the living room. “Oh, yeah.”

  “Frank.” Ellen started to follow him but stopped when she heard the front door close. Confused, she crossed her arms and tilted her head. “Was that just . . . the second time I was shot down tonight?” Gasping in agitation, Ellen shook her head and started walking again.

  Frank’s stride from Ellen’s house toward the living section was filled with exuberance and determination. He was so happy that he could speak, not only did he want to share the news with everyone, but he had a few other things on his mind as well. Passing the second to last row of houses, Frank stopped. There was someone he had to share the news with.

  Picking up his pace to a trot, Frank hurried three houses down and went straight inside. “Dean.” he called out as
he entered. “D . . .” Stepping further into the living room, Frank saw the back of Dean’s head as he sat on the couch. “Hey.” Frank walked around the sofa. “Check this . . .” Frank stopped talking, not because he couldn’t, but because of Dean.

  Sitting there, straight up, eyes forward, hands on his knees, wearing the headset, Dean didn’t blink or move.

  “Dean?” Frank snapped his fingers in front of him. “Hey.” He flicked Dean on the head and immediately, without changing his sitting position, Dean plopped sideways with his legs still bent. “Dean?” Checking for a pulse, Frank reached down to Dean’s neck and found one. “Fuckin weird.” Shrugging, Frank walked away, leaving Dean to sleep.

  He moved quickly to town, knowing it was Wednesday and that signified a crowded Social Hall since it was dart night. Frank, with the ability to be vocal, had a few things to say. A lot was on his mind about the way people treated him in his days of silence. They acted not only like Frank was mute, but they shouted at him as if he were deaf as well. But that didn’t bother Frank as much as the ‘can’t talk’ jokes that they threw at him. What? Did they think he was dumb?

  A bombardment of noise blasted out the second Frank opened the Social Hall door. He kept his mouth closed and walked inside.

  “Frank.” Joe waved then nudged Jason. “There goes our conversation. With Frank around, we’ll never get a word in edgewise.”

  Frank opened his mouth with a silent ‘ha-ha-ha’ and kept moving.

  “Hey, big brother.” Robbie waved. “Are you here to get me for work? No? I can have the night off? Thanks.”

  Giving a fake grin that matched the snide one Robbie had, Frank tapped his brother on the cheek and headed straight to the stage where the equipment was set up.

  He stepped up, looked around, and then found the mixing board and amp. Pushing the volume level on the microphones all the way up, Frank proceeded to turn the small PA speakers inward to the stage then he bent over to the amp. The flick of the power switch not only booted up the PA, but blasted the Social Hall with a loud, ear piercing ring of feedback.

  Moans and complaints bellowed at Frank.

  He grinned, adjusted the volume, and stepped to the microphone. He tapped and taped until the hall went silent and then he brought his lips close to the mike.