The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Andrea’s mouth dropped open. “Can you be anymore rude? You are talking about my family.”

  “I’m sorry.” Dean lifted his hand. “It’s just that he wasn’t gone all that long.”

  “All that long?” Andrea questioned. “He’s been gone for eight years.”

  “What?” Dean asked confused. “Who’s been gone eight years?”

  Andrea looked at Jenny then to Dean. “Where have you been?”

  “What are you talking about?” Dean asked for clarification.

  “Yesterday,” Andrea explained.

  Jenny whispered. “We’re talking about Dean here, Andrea. He may not know.”

  “True.” Andrea faced Dean. “Yesterday, Danny and Henry figured out that scrambled message. It was from Jess. Jess was en route home. They sent John to pick him up.”

  Jenny held her fingers to her lips. “But no one is to know Jess is in Bowman until after Joe arrives. He was a spy, you know.”

  Dean shuddered. “I am so lost. You’re having a party for Jess?”

  Andrea nearly shrieked. “Has he been gone eight years? No! Pay attention. We’re having a homecoming party for Jimmy.”

  “Who?” Dean asked.

  “Jimmy.” Andrea folded her arms. “My long lost son, Jimmy Slagel.”

  Dean’s eyes widened. “Holy shit. No.” He graveled his last word in disbelief.

  “Yes.” Jenny nodded. “Jess found him in the Society. From what John told me, Jimmy was so far removed from everything that he hadn’t a clue about Beginnings. As soon as Jess told him, they left like this.” She snapped her fingers. “Only the message got jumbled in transmission. When it was figured out, Joe was gone and John went to get them.”

  “Where’s Jimmy now?” Dean asked.

  “With Joe,” Jenny answered “John took him to the campsite to surprise everyone then it really became a Slagel getaway.”

  “We’re sure it’s Jimmy?” Dean questioned.

  “Sweet Jesus, Dean!” Andrea snapped. “You would think I’d know my own son.”

  “Uh … yeah. You’re right. This is amazing. Oh, my God, is it amazing.” He started to chuckle. “I figured out what it is about that Slagel DNA. I can’t wait to meet him and do some testing.”

  Jenny gave a smug look to Dean. “You would think testing would be the last thing on your mind. It’s Jimmy. We all know what type of test you make them do. There’s a rumor you do it for your own perversion.”

  Cringing and waving her hand, Andrea shook her head. “No-no. Let’s let that one rest.”

  “Okay, you’re right.” Dean held up his hand. “I’ll hold off on testing talk. Let’s just say I can’t wait to meet him. Then again.” He whistled. “If I was out numbered before…”

  “John says he’s nothing like his brothers,” Jenny commented. “Of course, John hasn’t seen if there is a demented killer side to him, which there has to be. It’s inbred with the Slagels.”

  Andrea interjected “Not killer, they’re protective. My boys protect.”

  “True,” Jenny said, “but John said he is mellow.”

  “Wow,” Dean commented, “a mellow Slagel. Even more reason to meet him.”

  “And you will.” Andrea tapped him on the cheek. “But for now we have to get things ready for tomorrow. It will be a party to remember.”

  “What time is it?” Dean asked.

  Andrea and Jenny looked at each other.

  Dean saw this. “What? What time is the party?”

  “Dean,” Jenny said with a hint of a cringe. “It’s invitation only. We’re not doing a community thing like with Hal. It’s too overwhelming and we’d rather only have the close knit people here at first. Then afterwards Jimmy can go to the Hall and meet everyone.”

  “Yes,” Andrea forced a smile. “You can say it’s a family party.”

  “Okay, again,” Dean repeated. “What time? Unless … Unless you’re saying I’m not invited.”

  Jenny spoke meager. “Dean, you did divorce Ellen.”

  Dean laughed once, loud and in disbelief. “I’m not invited? Oh, that sucks and it’s not right. Joe will get pissed He will. Like it or not, I’ll be here.” He turned with a storming manner and walked out.

  “Well,” Andrea gasped. “Someone is uptight.”

  Jenny shrugged. “He’s just gonna have face what he gave up when he divorced Ellen.”

  Andrea turned. “I can’t worry about this now. We’ll deal with it tomorrow. I’ll just tell my Hal to take care of Dean if he causes problems.”

  “Or Sgt. Ryder can handle it,” Jenny said.

  “I’m too excited to let Dean damper this.”

  “He won’t.” Jenny followed her into the kitchen. “This is a big day for your family.”

  “It is, Jenny?” Andrea looked curiously at her. “I won’t be a shock to Jimmy, will I? Do you think my boys are telling him things about me?”

  “Andrea, they just aren’t telling Jimmy things.” Jenny smiled. “I’ll bet anything they are telling him nothing but great things about you.”

  ***

  “She’s fuckin’ loopy,” Frank said as they headed back to the cabin.

  Jimmy hesitated in his walk. “Our new mom is loopy?”

  Frank shrugged. “She married Dad, didn’t she? But she makes kick ass brownies.”

  “And,” Robbie added. “She’s pretty great.”

  “Really?” Jimmy asked. “How mean is she?”

  Frank laughed. “Only when she gets pissed at Dad. She never gets mad at us. Never.”

  Robbie nudged Jimmy. “She gives butterfly kisses.”

  “Tons of them,” Frank said.

  “What are butterfly kisses?” Jimmy asked.

  “Don’t forget…” Robbie said, “her welcoming dramatics.”

  “She’s over dramatic but it’s cool,” Frank commented.

  “I feel loved.” Robbie nodded.

  “You know what? Me, too. She’s a mom. Thanks, Dad.”

  Joe gave a single nod, just wanting to get to the cabin.

  “Hello?” Jimmy called out “What are butterfly kisses.”

  Robbie answered, “Tiny little pecks.”

  “Lots of them, all over you face,” Frank continued. “All while she either babies you or praises you.”

  Jimmy chuckled. “No way. How much younger than Dad is she?”

  For the first time, Joe stopped walking. “What the hell is that suppose to mean?”

  “It means,” Jimmy said, “all I remember is you marrying younger blonde haired women.”

  Frank snickered. “You’re out there. This is an apocalypse. His choices were slim.”

  “True,” Robbie said, “but Dad still got a woman. Frank, do you think the reason this is working out with her is because she’s different than his typical wife.”

  “Could be.”

  “How different?” Jimmy questioned.

  “She’s average built, not skinny, and has padding like a woman,” Frank explained. “Tall, only about six or seven years younger than Dad and … she’s black.”

  “Our new mom is black?” Jimmy asked. “This is a switch.”

  After rolling his eyes, Joe was glad to see the cabin. “All right, enough about my wife. She’s a good woman. Let’s go in and save Hal from Ellen.” He reached for the door. As soon as he did, Ellen’s voice barreled out.

  “Asshole!”

  Joe looked behind him to Frank, Robbie and Jimmy. “See what I mean.”

  Rocking back in his chair with his arms folded, Hal gave an arrogant smirk. “Ellen, if you can’t take the heat …”

  “Bite me.”

  “Ouch,” Hal said. “Write it down. Fifty-four points.”

  “I never saw anyone get that much for fellatio.” Ellen shook her head and wrote.

  “Christ,” Joe commented as he walked in. “I don’t even want to know.”

  “Know what?” Frank asked as he trailed the pack in.

  Robbie told him, “Hal used fell
atio to get ahead in the game. Get it. Head. Fellatio?”

  “Robert,” Joe warned.

  “No,” Frank answered.

  Ellen spoke up, “We’re playing sex Scrabble. Hal used the word fellatio on the triple word square.”

  “What’s that have to do with sex scrabble?” Frank asked.

  Ellen smiled. “Nothing. You’re right. Thanks, Frank.” Ellen removed the tiles.

  Frank winked. “Good thing I walked in here or he would have cheated.”

  Hal grumbled. “I quit.”

  “Sore loser.” Ellen giggled. “So who won?”

  “What’s the score?” Hal asked.

  “Never mind.” Ellen put the game away. “I’ll give you the win because I’m nice.”

  Hal smiled “I beat you that badly? Ellen, you can’t use simple words like tits, cock, and …”

  “Hey, hey, hey,” Joe halted. “All right. I’m here. Enough.”

  “I’m sorry,” Hal apologized then stood. “So how was dino bone retrieving?”

  “Fine,” Joe answered, “but Robbie’s sick. Robert, go sit by the fire so that cold doesn’t get worse.”

  “Okay,” Robbie said.

  “It looks a little low,” Joe aid. “Why don’t you add a little more fire to that?”

  Robbie sneezed.

  “I’ll do it,” Jimmy jumped toward the fireplace. “I love to strike matches. Plus, you know, Robbie’s sick.”

  Frank looked curiously. “Robbie’s not sick.”

  “Yeah, he is”, Joe insisted. “He sneezed all afternoon.”

  “That’s not because he’s sick.” Frank said.

  Hal, Jimmy, and Ellen, muttered “Frank.”

  “Really?” Joe stepped closer to Frank. “If he’s not sick, why is he sneezing so much?”

  “It’s an allergic reaction,” Frank stated assuredly.

  “To?” Joe asked.

  “No, just one.” Frank fluttered his lips. “Imagine if he had two. Fuck, he’d be sneezing all over …”

  “Frank!”

  “What!”

  “What was he allergic to?”

  “Who?”

  “Robbie!” Joe yelled.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Hal leaned in a whispering mode to Jimmy. “About this point, we await the aneurysm in our father.”

  “Hal,” Joe scolded. “Frank, you said Robbie was sneezing because he had an allergic reaction.”

  “Yeah, that’s right.”

  “To?”

  “No, just one …”

  “Uh!” Joe screamed. “Frank! You goddamn hard-headed son of a bitch. Why was Robbie sneezing?”

  “An allergic reaction.”

  “What was he allergic to? To. Allergic to!” Joe lost it.

  “Fuck, Dad, yell. Man.” Frank shook his head.

  “Frank?” Joe asked.

  “I got it” Frank snapped his fingers. “Flowers.”

  “Flowers?” Joe quizzed. “Robbie was sneezing because of flowers.”

  “Yeah.

  “In the dead of the winter.”

  “Yeah,” Frank nodded.

  “Flowers in the dead of winter.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Frank.”

  “What?”

  “You asshole, he can’t have an allergic reaction to flowers.”

  “Ya-huh,” Frank said. “That’s a common allergy.”

  “Yeah, if there are flowers to be allergic to!” Joe snapped. “It’s the dead of winter, you idiot. There are no flowers, no pollen, and no weeds. Try another one.”

  “Maybe he’s just sick.”

  Joe growled and turned.

  “What!” Frank tossed his hand. “God, pick on me, why don’t you? Man. Fuck, Robbie, now Dad’s mad at me because you’re sick.”

  Robbie shrugged. “Sorry, Frank.”

  Jimmy was bewildered. Frank stormed. Robbie looked innocent. Ellen nonchalantly, as if nothing was transpiring, put the game away. His father mumbled insidiously something Jimmy couldn’t understand. “This is amazing.”

  Hal laid his hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. “Ah.” He gave a pat to his back. “It’s good to be back with us, isn’t it?”

  “Would it be wrong to say I’m not sure yet?”

  Hal laughed and walked away.

  ***

  ‘Urgent! Joe Slagel is not to know we know that Jimmy Slagel has returned! See Andrea for secret details!’

  That was the sign posted in the Social Hall, library, all over Bowman, and on the ‘Joe Park’ bulletin board. Danny saw it for the first time on his way to a meeting with Sgt. Ryder, John Matoose, Jason, and Dean.

  Did the community or even Andrea think they could pull it off? Did they actually think Joe, for one second, would believe that Beginnings was clueless? Joe knew Beginnings too well but Danny was curious as to the end result of the charade.

  It was barely two p.m. and Danny had put in a full day. He sat alone in the office, staring at the blank Joe list, a sheet of paper that at the rate Danny was going would be filled to capacity by Joe’s return. That was only three days away.

  Three days.

  He watched the community before. Nothing happened except for Dean’s brainwashing.

  But this time was different. All hell was breaking loose and Danny felt bad. At least so far nothing was his doing. Well, except for that letter Ben from Fabrics wrote to Joe regarding street harassment by Danny and Henry. Danny opted on losing that letter but if he did he was certain Ben would compose another.

  It was time. Hopefully a saving grace would stop him but at that moment Danny had to do it. He had to write on the Joe list. Lifting his pen, he sighed out in relief when there was a knock on the door.

  “Come in,” Danny instructed.

  Elliott and Jason entered.

  Jason had that typical smirk. “I see you’re doing the deed.”

  “I know there aren’t that many,” Danny said, “but I was hoping for no problems. Now we have this. I don’t know what to do or where to even start to solve these.”

  Jason shrugged. “You could wait and let Joe handle it.”

  Elliot shook his head. “That’s not right, Danny. That’s why we are here to discuss these problems. Perhaps we can solve them, resolve them, and not have to put them down.”

  Jason took a seat. “You can look at it this way, Joe knows there’s gonna be problems to face. Why else would he make that list?”

  Elliott sat as well. “Trust me, Danny. Nothing will be a shock to Joe.”

  “Not even a meteor coming?”

  Elliott paused. “Not, uh, even that.”

  “Liar.” Danny set down the list. “All right. I’m expecting John and Dean regarding the Forrest attack.” He looked at Jason when he snickered. “Why is this so funny?”

  “You have to know Forrest.” Jason shook his head.

  Danny proceeded, “So until they get here, let’s start on what I have. First …the threatening letter to Jenny.”

  Elliott asked, “Are you looking into it?”

  “I will. I had the Forrest thing …” He paused again when Jason snickered. “The meteor.”

  “Looking into it is the best you can do,” Elliott said. “Think on the lines of what would Joe do. Mr. Slagel would take a glance at all the names of those who lost children during the new plague and start there. Who has access to a typewriter? Plus, take it to Trish. She receives all reports in the community. She’s a whiz at recognizing styles and print errors.”

  Danny nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

  Elliott continued, “If you get it under control, I wouldn’t put it on the Joe list. I would merely tell him there was a slight problem, but it was handled.”

  “Good. Good,” Danny said with enthusiasm. “I like that. Jason.”

  “It works for me. When do we discuss Forrest?” he asked.

  “When Dean and John get here. Next,” Danny said. “Ben from Fabrics wrote a letter complaining about me. You know, whe
n Henry and I were trying to get him to open the store.”

  Jason fluttered his lips in laughter. “Joe wouldn’t care. Toss it.”

  “Ben will write another,” Danny explained. “He’ll want Joe to deal with it.”

  “May I?” Elliott asked. “I’ll speak to Mr. from Fabrics. Maybe I can get him to drop it.”

  “Cool.” Danny smiled. “I’m glad you’re here, Elliott. At least at you aren’t snickering when I mention Forrest …” Danny grumbled. “Jason, please.”

  “Sorry.” Jason lifted a hand. “It’s funny. Can we discuss it now?”

  There was a knock at the office door.

  Jason looked over his shoulder. “Come in, Dean.”

  The door opened and Dean walked in. “Hey. John Matoose is right behind me. He’s kicking off his shoes.”

  Danny looked curiously. “Jason how did you know it was Dean?”

  “He taps. He doesn’t knock. It’s something Joe taught me.” Jason smiled.

  John walked in. “Sorry I’m late.”

  Danny was about to say, ‘That’s all right’, until he looked at John. John was covered from head to toe in mud, thick mud. Just as John took another step closer, Danny cringed. “Is that you that smells?”

  “I think,” John answered.

  Elliott sniffed outward.

  Dean leaned back toward John. “That’s him. It’s fecal material.”

  Danny winced. “Why do you smell like poop?”

  Jason snickered. “If you’re gonna be Joe, talk like Joe. Poop?” He chuckled. “Poop.”

  Danny waved him off.

  “Pig poop,” John corrected.

  Danny stuttered. “How … how …”

  “It had to do with the Forrest investigation.”

  Jason snorted a snicker.

  “He was found by the greenhouses,” Danny said, “not the farms.”

  “Yeah, but I was following a report that took me up to the animal division. Pigs.”

  “And did you fall into the …. poop?” Danny asked.

  “No, I was digging through it.”

  “Hold it.” Danny took a second. “You were digging through pig poop because of a report someone gave you that brought you to the farm division.”

  John swung a point at Dean. “Ask him. He made the report.”

  Elliott sat up some with interest. “It gets deeper doesn’t it? Joe would appreciate not being here for this one, Danny. Dean? Why were you at the farm?”