Johnny pushed him through the flap and waited to see what would happen.  When he didn't crawl right back out, he took a few steps back in order to stay out of other people's way. Inside the girls giggled in a small circle.  Coty tried to lean against one of the walls, but soon discovered that was impossible.  "Let's bounce," one girl said starting them off. Another of the girls, slightly larger than the others, took great delight in jumping right in front of her smaller friends, sending them flying into the air.  As her excitement grew, her jumps became harder and harder and the girls flew higher and higher.  Jenny whispered in her ear, and in a moment of bravery, she jumped right in front of the cute boy who stood watching them.  Coty, being very light, flew higher than any of the girls had, and landed face down. Jenny could hear her mother's voice in her head, scolding her for being so mean.  She hadn't meant for Becky to make him fly so high. "I'll get his dad," Theresa offered. Before she could, Coty rolled to his back, giggling his fathers giggle. "Can you do it again?" he asked Becky as he climbed to his feet to stand in front of her. Becky, thrilled to death that he'd talked to her, sent him clear to the ceiling.  A free for all broke out until it changed into a "can you do this" comparison game.  One by one they did different tricks to see how many of them could do it.  One girl bounced to her knees and returned to her feet while another did the same, bouncing on her bottom. "Can you do a summersault," Theresa asked them all. They could all do one, but Coty became determined to do one in the air, and land on his feet.  Twenty-four tries later, he nailed it to great applause. "Now do one backwards," Becky told him. "No one can do it backwards," Jenny said a little too late as Coty landed upside down. "Ow," he muttered licking his lip where his knee had bumped it. "Uncle Johnny," Jenny called dragging him outside.  "He hit his lip." Johnny hurried over, amazed his son had stayed inside for so long.  "Okay, well..." Johnny said looking it over, "let's get a drink to put on it."  Johnny got an orange soda, and pressed the cup against the boy's lip. "Don't you ever stop being a Paramedic?" Dr. Brackett teased coming up behind him, Dixie on his arm. "Hi Doc, just a little bump." "Let's see." Johnny took the cup away so he could have a look. "Oh that's not bad at all.  Keep ice on it for a couple more minutes and it shouldn't even swell." "Thanks doc.  How much do I owe you?" "Watch it hose jockey." Several firemen turned to stare at the good doctor, who in turn blushed redder that Johnny had ever seen him. "Now you've done it," Dixie said giving him a pinch in the ribs. "See you later Johnny," Dr. Brackett said as he hurriedly moved on. "Later doc," Johnny laughed.  "You ready to go?" he asked Coty. Coty didn't answer, but looked back at the Rocket. "You wanna go back in?" "Yeah." "Okay, I'll be out here somewhere, just look for me." Coty paused, unsure now that he wanted to go. "I won't be far, you'll see me." "Come on," Jenny said, grabbing his hand and then dropping it as she saw her mother walking up to her.  "He WANTS to go back in," she explained quickly. "Then I'm sure he can get there by himself.  Try not to be so grabby." "I know.  I'm sorry.  Can I go now?" "Yes, but we're eating in another hour, and I don't want to have to come looking for you, understand?" "Yes." "Have you seen Chris?" "No." "All right, well don't forget." "I won't," Jenny promised hurrying to catch up with the others and climbing back into the Rocket. Coty tried time and again to land on his feet doing a backwards flip.  All the girls gave him advice on what he was doing wrong.  After half an hour, not only could he do it, but he could land on his feet nearly every time. Kenny Corely watched the boy doing flips inside the Rocket, a sun to the planetary girls.  Never before had he seen someone do a backflip and land on their feet, not in the Rocket anyway.  He pulled his little sister inside with him to let her jump. "Hey what's your name?" he asked tapping Coty on the shoulder. "Coty," Jenny answered for him. "How old are you?" he asked ignoring her. "He's eight," Jenny filled in again. "You're eight!  You're SMALL for eight!" "How old are you?" Jenny asked. "I'm nine, why?" "I'm six." "So." "So what?" "Nothin.  Hey Coty, can you do that again...the backflip?" "Course he can.  He can do it any time he wants." "Can't he talk?" "Yeah, he can talk." "Well why don't he?" "He doesn't wanna." "Why?" "He just don't.  You have to know him a really long time first." "Oh.  Well can you do it?" he asked. Coty did a flip, landing on his knees, but impressing the boy none the less. "Man that's cool." "Let's go play in the sprinklers," Theresa suggested, not liking the fact that this boy had invaded their group.  He was too tall, and had funny freckles, not at all as cute as Coty. "Yeah," Becky agreed, pulling Jenny along. "Come on Coty," Jenny told him. Coty started to follow, feeling unsure what this kid wanted or might try to do.  "Where you goin?" Kenny asked, "Can't you stay?" "His dad want's him," Becky told him. Coty looked out at his father, chatting away with Mike Stoker.  Having no idea what this 'sprinkler' was, he decided to stay. Jenny pouted, but went with her friends. "Are you really eight?" Kenny asked jumping in front of him and sending him into the air. Coty laughed and tried to do the same to the other boy, jumping as hard as he could.  Kenny barely moved. "Boy you're light," he said picking him up and dropping him again.  "Can you pick ME up?" Coty tried, but ended up toppling them both to the rubbery floor. "Watch this," Kenny said doing a forward flip and landing on his knees. Coty did one to his feet. "I hate you," Kenny said in an envious teasing tone, tackling him to the floor.  "Okay now watch, I'm gonna do a backflip," he said trying to psyche himself up.  "You do one," he asked when he lost his nerve. Coty did one, and then another. "Okay now I'm gonna do one, but if I fall on my face, don't tell anybody." "Wait!" Coty stopped him, pulling the little sister back out or harms way as she bounced a little too close to them. "Back up Misty," Kenny cooed at the two year old, "I'm gonna do a trick." His attempt landed him straight into the wall and he slid to the floor. "You okay?" Coty asked. "I love these things," Kenny smiled patting the wall, "there's no way to hurt yourself." "Unless you try to knock your teeth out with your knee," Coty remembered. "Oh yeah, I've done that, completely knocked it out last year." "Really?" "No, but I did loose a tooth in a caramel apple once.  It just stuck there, really gross." "I lost one," Coty said pointing to his four-week-old gap, "but now I'm getting a new one." "I hate it when every time I loose one, my mom just says, 'chew on the other side'.  She always says if I don't stop complaining, she'll make me eat Misty's baby food." "Is your mom mean?" "No, she's nice, why?" Coty shrugged. "Who's YOUR mom?  My mom knows ALL the moms so I know she'll know YOURS." "No." "Sure she will, let's go ask her." "She died." "Oh...my greatgrandma died last year...something like that.  Guess what," Kenny asked doing another summersault but not quite making it to his feet, "I'm going to ask to have one of these at my birthday party next month, you wanna come?" "Hi Kenny!" a stocky blond boy called as he climbed in. "Hi Mike," Kenny cried, "when did you get here?" "Just now.  Who's that?" "Coty, he's eight." "Nah uh." "Uh huh." "His dad a fireman?" "Guess so.  Hey is your dad a fireman?" Coty nodded suddenly feeling very shy again.  Without a word, he started to slide out. "Hey, where you goin?" Coty shrugged. "Mike I'm telling," another head burst through the flap belonging to Mike's twin brother Jamie. "Oh shut up you baby." "We were BOTH suppose to bring the groceries over, not just me!" "They weren't groceries, that was picnic stuff." "If it's in paper bags, it's groceries.  Who's that?" he asked pointing at Coty. "Coty," Kenny supplied. "He's eight," Mike informed him. "No way!" "Yep," Kenny affirmed. "Hey lets play Froggy," Jamie suggested. "Froggy is stupid," Mike disagreed. "No it's not," Kenny said grabbing Coty by the shoulders and pushing him down.  "I bet I clear him by a mile," he said jumping over him.  "Okay now you go," Kenny said crouching down in front of him.  "He'll never make it!" Mike insisted. Coty looked thoroughly confused. "Jump over me." "He even doesn't know how to play!" Mike laughed. "Show him Jamie," Kenny told him. "I'll show him," Mike offered forcefully, pushing Jamie out of the way.  "Watch this."  Mike jumped over Kenny, much higher than necessary.  "Now you do it." Coty tried, landing on Kenny's back. "See, I told you," Mike howled.  "Misty could do better than that." Coty, embarrassed, started to leave. "Come on Coty, he's an idiot, try it again." Coty, angry this time, jumped over Kenny, clearing him completely. "Naaaa!" Kenny blew into Mike's face jumping up.  "Oh big deal." "If you were that short, you wouldn't be able to do it at all." "Yes I would." Chris, along with Eddie and Davis from his class, climbed into the Rocket, interrupting the other boys.  Eddie whispered to Chris and Davis while pointing at Coty, and Davis laughed. "Okay everybody out," the man running the ride demanded. "We just got here," Eddie cried. "I know, I know, but it's time to give the LITTLE kids a turn.  You can get back in soon enough." "This sucks," Eddie complained loudly. "Yeah," Davis agreed. An older woman, holding a little girl, nodded approvingly as the boys filed out.  "Oh she can stay," she told the man pointing at Kenny's little sister, "and that one," she said pointing at Coty.  "I just didn't want the bigger kids to run into her, you know?" "No problem Mrs. McKonnikee," he said catching Coty around the waist as he started to jump down, and placing him back inside.  Coty was bewildered at finding himself alone with two, two year old little girls.  Mrs. McKonnikee stood at the flap chirping "jump Sarah...jump" to her granddaughter.  The little girl stood very still on the bouncy floor, apparently afraid to even take a step, much less jump.  Coty watched for a while, seeing the girl was as clueless to what she was suppose to do in here as he had been earlier.  The girls had show HIM what to do, but who would show her?  Keeping a cautious eye on the lady, Coty carefully walked over to the little girl, making sure he didn't bounce her, and took her by both hands.  Very slowly he began to make her bounce.  At first she looked like she was going to cry, but the expression vanished into a smile as she looked up into the face of the boy holding her hands.  (Ahhh that Gage charm.)  Pretty soon she was laughing and making herself bounce, though Coty kept hold of her hands to make sure she didn't fall. "That's John Gage's boy isn't it," Mrs. McKonnikee asked the man running the ride.  "As if that were hard to tell," she added to his nod.  "Well I'll say one thing, he sure knows how to raise 'em right."  Twenty minutes later Sarah collapsed to her chubby little knees, red faced, happy, but out of breath. "Okay Sarah," Mrs. McKonnikee called, "let's go.  Thank you young man that was very nice," she said handing him a dollar. "No," Coty said handing it back. Mrs. McKonnikee stuffed it back into her purse.  "No, of course not.  I'm sorry if that was an insult.  Thank you again...definitely raising them right," she was heard to say as she carried her granddaughter away. "HE can stay," Kenny gestured flamboyantly at Coty as Mrs. McKonnikee had done, and mimicking her voice.  Coty was again caught around the waist and placed back inside as the other boys joined him.  Mike and Jamie giggled at the impression till their sides hurt. "HE can stay," Mike giggled trying to do the impression for himself. "I say he can't," Eddie cut in, "he just HAD a turn, with the BABIES!" "So," Kenny asked, "it's not like there's a line or anything." "He should still get out." "Why?" "Cause he's a midget!" "So, your a moron and nobody's keeping you out," Mike challenged. "Don't tell me you're FRIENDS with that creep." "So what if I am!" Mike said stepping closer to Eddie. "Cause you're stupid if you are." "Oh yeah?" "Yeah." "Michael, Jameson, get out of there now.  I told you we are going to eat first, and then you can go play." "Ohhhh man!" Mike groaned rolling his eyes. "Go to your mama baby," Chris teased as Mike and Jamie climbed out. "Christopher Roy?  If you're in there, you better get out here right now.  You were suppose to be back twenty minutes ago." "Great, now it's just two against two," Eddie sneered at Kenny and Coty. "For what moron," Kenny asked sliding out.  "Let's go play in the sprinklers Coty," he called back.  As Coty left, Eddie knuckle punched him in the arm.  Coty jumped to the ground rubbing where he'd been hit. "Did you bump yourself again?" Johnny asked leaving Mike Stoker and rushing up. "That jerk hit you, didn't he?" Kenny asked. "What?  Who?!" Johnny said looking up and seeing Eddie duck his head back under the flap.  "Who is that kid?" "Eddie something," Kenny filled in.  "I used to go to school with him till we moved into the fancier house when my mom got that dumb job." "Dumb job...you're Corely's kid aren't you?" Mike asked hearing what had happened and walking up.  "Your mom's a lawyer, right?" "Yeah." "You don't like that?" "No, not really.  We had to move and I had to change schools and now we can't even sit on the furniture.  I got a new bike and everything but...I don't know.  I liked it the way it was." Eddie peaked out again to see if anyone was coming. "That's Morris's kid.  You want me to talk to him?" Mike offered. "No," Johnny said, "I don't think that will solve it, they all seem to do it.  I don't know why.  They just seem to single one out and attack.  It makes me sick." "It's not all kids you know," Mike told him, "mine have never done that." "How do you know...I mean I don't mean to offend you Mike, but how do you know?" "I just do." "Yeah, well I'd never have taken Chris for someone who'd do that...but he did.  He's one of 'em." "Chris?!" "Yeah, Chris." "Man...does Roy know?" "I think so.  Look, don't say anything to anybody okay?  I really didn't mean to say anything.  I'm not trying to poison anyone against them...I just...I don't know." "Don't worry about it Johnny, they'll get tired of it eventually." "And then what, move on to some other kid?  One, that won't happen, two, what about the other kid, huh?  It just doesn't make sense." "Sir," Kenny asked quietly, touching Johnny on the arm. "I'm sorry, what?" "Can he go play in the sprinklers?" "Can he what?" "The sprinklers Johnny," Mike told him, "you should let him.  It'll give him a chance to cool down before he eats." "You want to play in the sprinklers?" Johnny asked. Coty shrugged, still having no clue what sprinklers were. "I'll show you," Kenny offered, walking slowly to lead them rather than racing ahead. On the far side of the park, the grass sprinklers were running over an open field.  Different groups of children screamed and laughed as they ran back and forth through them, getting soaked to the bone.  Mike was called to eat, leaving Johnny to sit alone under a tree and watch as this skinny red-haired kid who seemed to genuinely like his son, led Coty off into the water.  Mike was right, it wasn't all kids.  But why did the ones who did it, do it? Johnny's head shot up from playing with a flower at Coty's high-pitched scream. "It's COLD!" Coty shouted at him as he chased after Kenny through the spray. Johnny watched his son play.  He was actually playing, like any other kid.  If he could get away with it, he told himself he'd catch that Kenny and give him a kiss.  He frowned as it sank in exactly why doing such a thing might get him into trouble in the first place.  A thank you would do. Coty ran up dripping wet.  "Come on!" he cried taking his father by the hand.  "Noooo, I don't think so, I'm a little old for that." "You're sticky," Coty insisted. Johnny looked out at the spraying water, suddenly feeling just that, hot and sticky.  "Oh why not, I've got an extra pair of jeans in the car."  Johnny picked his son up and ran into the spray, falling to the grass underneath it, and not letting him get away from the cold water no matter how much he squealed. "What are you DOING to that boy," Dixie laughed walking out on to the field. "It's great Dixie, you should try it," Johnny sang, getting to his feet and walking over to her, Coty upside-down in his arms, giggling like a banshee. "No, I think I'll pass," she smiled. "Oh come on Dix," Johnny grinned evilly as he walked closer and closer, "just a little?" "Don't you dare!" "Well if you're daring me," he smiled shaking his head from side to side, spraying the woman from head to toe. "Oh I'll get you for that John Gage," she growled rushing at him. Johnny moved away, back toward the sprinklers.  "Come on Dixie...come on.  Come and get me." "You look like a drowned rat!" "Flattery will get you nowhere, COME on." "I'll pay you back later," she warned with a raised eyebrow as she walked back to the picnic grounds. "What happened to you?" Dr. Brackett laughed handing her a cup and a hot-dog. "John Gage." "Oh...HEY JOHNNY," he shouted out into the field. "Hi doc," Johnny called falling under the spray again. "You know, that kinda looks like fun," Dr. Early said as he watched them play. "Oh it does, does it, well then you go right ahead."                          ~/~/~/~/~ Johnny looked around to make sure no one was looking as he stood behind the opened door of his Rover and changed his clothes.  It took longer than he'd have liked with the clothes he had on being wet and difficult to remove.  When he managed to pull up the dry jeans and fasten them, he looked up to see Mrs. McKonnikee looking right at him as her husband dug out some lawn chairs for the fire works later that evening.  Johnny quickly looked away, hoping to God she didn't know what he'd been doing.  Inside the Rover, Coty still struggled to get out of his own wet clothes. "You need some help there Coty?  I could cover you with the towel and just grab on the bottoms and yank.  I won't see a thing."   Coty let out a frustrated gasp and collapsed on the bed, pointing his feet toward his father. Johnny laughed and covered his son's lower half.  Grabbing on to the bottom of his jean's legs only, he yanked as hard as he could.  The jeans came toward him, along with the boy.  "Well THAT'S not gonna work," Johnny giggled.  "You're just gonna hafta wiggle until they come off." A grand struggle later and the duo walked back to the park, Johnny carrying Coty's favorite soft cotton throw.  Johnny hadn't thought to bring Coty any extra clothes, and it was only by coincidence that a pair of narrow white knee length shorts had been in there for him to change into.  As it was he remained barefoot and shirtless. A cooling breeze had started to blow in, making the clean feeling they both had feel extra nice. Coty dropped down on their sleeping bag as Johnny handed him some fries and a fish sandwich.  For some strange reason Johnny couldn't figure, his son seemed to prefer it to hamburgers. Seeing the boy start to fall asleep, Johnny grabbed the last quarter of the sandwich before it could fall to the sleeping bag and leave a nice Mayo stain on the inside.  He brushed the hair from his son's face.  He'd had a long day already. "Uncle Johnny?" Jenny cried rushing up. "Shhh Jenny Bean...what?" "Can Coty come back to the Rocket?" "Maybe later." "What's he doing?" "Just taking a nap." "Why?" "Cause he's still getting better.  He's been running around a lot all day and he just needs to rest for a while." "Cause of the fire?" "Yeah Jenny, it takes a while to heal all the way from something like that." Without a shirt, Jenny could see the boys skin was still noticeably pink in some places.  "Oh," she said sympathetically, "it don't hurt anymore though, right?" "No I don't think so...not really." Joanne listened in, trying to think of something to say but coming up with nothing.  "Young man?" Mrs. McKonnikee called walking up with her husband in tow. 'Oh God, she DID see me,' Johnny thought horrified at what she may have told her husband. "Are you this little boys father?  Oh never mind that, of course you are.  I have a favor to ask of you.  Would you mind lending him to me for a little while?  I think Sarah would love to go in that jumping thing again, but I can't seem to get her to do anything by herself.  Could he go jump with her for a while?" "Jump with..." "Sarah, my granddaughter.  He was just wonderful with her earlier today." "I...uh...he's sleeping right now...and--" "Oh how rude of me.  I'm so sorry.  But maybe later?  Could you ask him?  We're right over there," she pointed. "I'll uh...I'll let him know you asked." "Thank you.  Come along dear," she said hurrying away, her husband gave him a quick shrug and rushed after her. Johnny laid back, closing his eyes. "Mr. Gage?" a boy's voice asked moments later. Johnny opened his eyes to find Kenny standing over him.  "Yeah?" he asked. "Can Coty--" "Go play in the Rocket...right?" "Yeah, how did--" "I getting to be psychic.  Maybe later...okay?" "Okay," Kenny agreed sadly. "No way he can do one anyway," another boy told him. "If Kenny says he can, he can," the twin to the first rebutted as they walked away. Johnny smiled at his son, ruffled his hair, and tried once again to nap himself. "Chris!" Joanne's loud voice shouted as he was drifting off. Johnny opened his eyes and watched the embarrassed nine year old march begrudgingly toward his mother while a couple of his 'friends' snickered behind him.  Johnny looked closely and recognized one of them as the boy who had punched his son in the arm in the Rocket.  He nearly said something to Joanne about the kids she was letting Chris hang out with, but changed his mind before he could think of a polite way to put it.  He hated people always giving him advice on what to do and what not to do with Coty, he wasn't going to presume to tell someone like Joanne how to raise her kid. Chris looked at him and Coty, and quickly looked away.  He'd been grounded for weeks for what he'd done, and his father had lectured him a hundred times about it already.  Chris was too ashamed to look Johnny in the eye, and he'd been glad Coty had not come back to school for three weeks.  But the Monday before, he HAD come back, and Chris found himself in the same jam again.  If it were up to him, he'd just avoid the kid, but his friends expected something else.  The fact that the boy lay there so near the same place as his own family's headquarters, with his friends standing there to see, made his situation all the worse.  At school on Monday, he knew he'd have to do something, or face not having a single friend himself.  Why couldn't adults understand that?  It wasn't his fault Coty was the way he was. "I want you back here by dark," Joanne told him, trying to talk low enough to not embarrass her son any more in front of his friends. "Okay," Chris agreed. "You're on probation Chris.  We said you could play with your friends during the day, but tonight is family time...don't mess it up." "Okay!" "Tone Chris." "I'm sorry, can I go now?" "Did you eat something besides sodapop and candy?" "Yes." "What?'' "I don't know." "What the worse thing your father and I hate." "Lying." "And..." "I'll go eat a hamburger." "You come back here and let me see you eat it." "Mom!" "Chris!" Chris huffed over to his friends, told them who knows what, then returned with a burger and fries. "Mom?  Do we have anything to drink?" "Beth put the soda's in Johnny's cooler...you know, the green one." "I know which one it is," Chris mumbled. "Then get one." Chris eyed Johnny as he lifted the lid.  Any other year, Johnny would have crept up behind him, grabbed some ice, and chased him with it, dropping it down the back of his mothers shirt in the end.  This time he looked at Chris and closed his eyes.  'Stupid Coty,' he thought, 'he's ruined everything.' "Okay, can I go now?" Chris asked as he finished his burger. "Yes you may," Joanne corrected without making him ask the question again. Chris ran off as fast as he could go. Johnny shook his head sadly.  He'd always liked Chris...he loved him still.  But what could he do? Roy came to grab his glove and kiss his wife.  Johnny looked to be asleep on his sleeping bag, his boy right beside him.  He longed for the early picnics when Chris used to do the same with him...Jenny too.  Now all they seemed to want to do was play with their friends. He bent over Johnny, but couldn't bring himself to wake him.  Instead he walked by himself to the game for the first time in six years. "Hey Roy, where's Johnny?" Chet called as he got to the dugout. "Uh, back at headquarters," Roy joked trying to paste on a smile. "Well go get him!" Cap exclaimed. "I don't know if he wants to--" "I'll go get him," Chet sang like Superman, flexing his muscles.  "Awwww, isn't that cute?" he asked Mike and Marco as they stood over him.  "Gage and Little Gage sleeping like a couple of babies." "Don't wake the kid Chet," Marco warned as Mike pushed him out of the way and lifted Johnny up by the arm. "What're you doing?" Johnny asked. "Game," Mike grunted. "Oh...I don't think I can--" "Beth and Joanne'll watch him, right?" "You bet," Beth volunteered along with Joanne's shy nod. "I don't know," Johnny squirmed. "I do," Mike said lifting him into a fireman's carry. "Put me down!" "Nope." "Mike...at least let me leave him note." Mike set him on his feet.  "Be quick about it, everybody's waiting on you." Beth handed him a napkin and a pen, and as soon as he'd tucked it under his son's head, Mike started to drag him away. "Look Beth," Johnny called back, "if he wakes up, tell him where I am...and make sure he can find it, okay?  If he gets scared, come get me right away!  If--" "He'll be fine Johnny...go!" Beth laughed.  "Boy is HE getting over protective!" "Not really," Joanne answered quietly.                           ~/~/~/~/~ Cap stood up from the crouched position behind home plate where Dwyer was throwing him some practice pitches.  "Thank God," he remarked upon seeing Johnny.  He stood and tried to stretch his already stiffening muscles.  "If I had to do that for the whole game, I'd have to spend the rest of my life in traction.  Here," he added, thrusting the catchers gear at him.  Several "Hey Johnny's" erupted as he took the position his Captain had just evacuated.  Johnny waved, pounded his glove, and waited for the pitch.  Unlike his Captain, Johnny caught it and threw it back.  Several guys on their team cheered.  "Knock it off out there," Cap warned, "I didn't see any of YOU volunteering to do it." "You got everybody now?" the umpire of the day asked. "Yep." "Well then let's play some ball!" Johnny was second at bat behind Dwyer, who'd struck out. "Come on Johnny," Chet shouted, "bunt it man...bunt it." "He's not going to bunt it!" Cap hissed at him. "I know that Cap, but THEY don't know that!" Johnny cracked the ball far, and hit the last base under a falling glove. "Safe!" the umpire cried. "Ahhh!" Johnny screamed as Mike hugged him and the others tried to pat him on the back.  Roy smiled as he sat down on the bench beside him, shouting at Chet to at least hit the ball this time. "That was a good hit Johnny," Roy complimented quietly. "Oh thanks," Johnny answered absent-mindedly.  "Come on Chet, don't swing at THAT!  This is baseball, not ballet." Roy grinned, "same old Johnny," he thought. "Come on Mike.  Knock it out for here," Johnny chanted after Chet had gotten a base hit.  Instead Mike struck out. "Rrrrrr!" he growled hitting the bench with his bat. "Good try Mike, you'll get it next time.  Who's up next?" "Roy...come on!" Cap called pulling him away from staring at Johnny. "Come on Roy, get a home run," he heard from many voices on his side, but he waited to here the loudest.  When he didn't he turned, but he couldn't see him anymore. "Whatcha waitin for DeSoto," the catcher cracked, "come on!" He tried to focus, but it wasn't happening, and he struck out, giving their side their third.  In the dugout, he chucked his bat down and hunted for his glove.  He took his position as shortstop and looked toward home.  Johnny wasn't there. "Hey Gage!  COME ON!" someone shouted.  Johnny hung from the fence apparently trying to see all the way to their headquarters. "I'm comin, I'm comin...just wish I could SEE him from here," Roy heard him say to Mike as he helped him get his gear on.                         ~/~/~/~/~ Joanne looked for Beth as Coty rolled to his side, but she was no where in sight.    "Stay asleep, stay asleep," she chanted silently, "Beth, where are you?" Coty rubbed his eyes, sat up and looked around. "Coty?" Joanne asked getting his attention.  "Your daddy is playing baseball...over there...he left you a note...do you see it?" Coty picked up the note, read it lazily, then laid back down and closed his eyes. Joanne let out a relieved sigh, but stopped as he sat up again. "Do...do you want me to take you over there?" Coty stretched his thin body as he worked out all the kinks.  Joanne couldn't help notice how good he looked in his narrow white shorts.  He was definitely his father's son...but how anyone could look at a child that age and want do anything to him but try to get a smile, she couldn't figure. Coty stood and looked at her expectantly. "Do you want a soda first?" she offered. Coty shook his head. "Oh that's right.  I'm an idiot.  I shouldn't have even offered.  I'm sorry." "I can have ONE today, but I want it later." "Oh..okay...how about some water?" Coty nodded and Joanne pulled out Johnny's canteen from inside the Stoker's cooler.  It dawned on her that she should be pulling it out of her own, but she pushed the thought away.  Johnny's son stood before her, and she was determined to make things better again, no matter how long it took.                           ~/~/~/~/~ Roy caught the ball giving the other side their third out. "Johnny," he heard his wife call as he ducked into the dugout.  He popped is head back out again.  "Joanne?" "Where's Johnny?" Roy saw Coty standing beside her and tried to smile at him.  "Uhhhh," he said as he looked around and finally spotted him on the bench below.  "Johnny." "Yeah?" Johnny asked. "Coty," Roy pointed. Johnny jumped up and hurried to the fence.  "Hey there, you finally wake up?" Coty scratched his face looking past him. "What's the matter...you wanna go?" His son looked at him and shook his head. "John?" Mrs. McKonnikee approached the fence with her granddaughter in her arms, "did you get a chance to ask this fine young man if he'd be willing to--" "Uh, no, not yet." "Oh, well...what's his name?" "Coty." "Coty, that's a fine strong name.  Coty?  Sarah so enjoyed jumping with you earlier, would you possibly be willing to jump with her again?" Coty looked at his father. "Completely up to you," Johnny let him know. Coty nodded at the lady. "Okay...you need me to come with you?" Johnny asked. "Johnny," someone called from behind him, "come on man, you're up!" Coty thought or a minute, looked again at the lady, and shook his head. "All right, well I'll be right here or I'll come get you there when we're done.  You can stay there as long as you want or you can come back--" "GAGE LET'S GO!" "I'll...I'll see you in a bit," he said as he watched his boy walk away. Mike slapped a helmet on his head, stuck a bat in his hands, and pointed. "All right, all right, I'm going." "Hey, it's Rip Van Winkle, sleeping on the job again," someone jeered on the other side. Johnny straightened his back, clenched his teeth, and smacked another home run. "Stuff him back in the box," the other side complained. "Na na na na na," Chet jeered. "Oh yeah Kelly, let's see YOU do it.  In fact, we'd just like to see you HIT it." "I hit it LAST time." "You call that a hit?  It barely went two inches." "I got on base didn't I?" "Just hit the ball," Cap cut in, breaking off further banter. "Come on Chet," Roy encouraged as he watched his partner by the fence, now trying to see clear to the children's game area.  He wanted to tell him to try not to worry so much, but how could he?  As it was, he found himself worrying about Chris.  Not about who might be picking on him, but who he might be picking on.  He'd talked to him till he was blue, but he still hadn't figured out why he'd done it.                         ~/~/~/~/~ Coty jumped with Sarah till the poor little girl could stand no more.  Smiling, she jumped into her grandmother's arms.  "Thank you again young man," Mrs. McKonnikee all but hummed.  "Sarah has never had such a grand time." Coty gave her a shy smile and fell backwards through the flap, and out of sight.  In no time, several of the children who had been kicked out at the arrival of the protective grandmother climbed back in.  One of them was Chris, one was Davis, one was Eddie, and another was Travis. "Well what do we have here," Travis grinned, "babies OUT," he ordered.  "This is OUR territory!" "Your what?" twin Mike asked coming in right behind him. "Wait your turn," Travis demanded turning around to face him.  "It's our turn." "You don't own it!  And more can be in here besides you!" "Says who?" "Says me dummy, what are ya, deaf?" he asked giving Travis a push that bounced him on his but.  Coty started to get out, but Jamie and Kenny coming in, got in his way.  "What's going on?" Jamie asked. Travis got to his feet and pushed Mike, but Mike was ready and pushed back at the same time.  Both boys lost their balance on the bouncy surface and fell to their knees. "Their fighting," a girl reported to the man outside as she started to climb in.  The man appeared at the flap.  "All right, everyone out." "But I didn't--" Chris started to complain as the man grabbed him in turn. "You too," he said wiggling his finger at Coty.  "I don't know who started, but you can ALL take a break, and if I catch ANY of you fighting again, you'll be kicked out for the rest of the day." "How long before we can get back in?" Travis demanded. "Until I say so," the man answered not liking the kid's tone. Travis stuck his tongue out at the man as soon as he turned his back. Coty started to walk back to the ball diamond. "Where you  going?" Kenny asked. Coty shrugged. "He'll let us back in, in a few minutes so long as you don't back talk him.  Let's just wait." Coty looked at Chris's gang standing around making rude gestures at the man at every chance they had and shook his head. "What?  You chicken of them or something?" Coty shot him an angry look and turned to leave. "Hey I didn't mean it!  I was just kidding.  You go to school with them or something?" Coty ignored him and kept walking. "I used to go to that school too, till we got rich.  Now I go to this other school.  I never liked Travis.  He's always such a jerk.  Hey, do you know Howard Winegarten?  Travis used to pick on him all the time, ever since the first grade.  Howard and Eddie were my best friends back then.  Now Eddie is just like Travis, a great big jerk.  Last year at my birthday party he tried to blow his nose in my cousin's hair.  My mom hasn't let him come over since." Coty listened, but still kept walking. "Hey, you still mad?" The small boy tilted his head up showing a small smile.  He couldn't believe this kid could care the least bit about how he felt.  It was something that had never happened before.  "Come on, let's go play in the sprinklers again." "Hey Kenny," Jamie called being followed by his brother. "What?" "He said we can go back in now." Kenny looked at Coty and at the other boys climbing in.  "Nah, maybe later." "Oh come on, you're not going to let those dorks scare you away are you?" Mike questioned. "What good is it if we get kicked out for the rest of the day?  Beside, I'm gonna get my own for my birthday." "Did your mom say yes?" "No, but she'll do it.  All I have to do is make a big deal about her going back to work after she's made me go to bed one night, and she'll say yes." "Cool," Mike said enviously. "Yeah," Kenny agreed less enthusiastically, "some good things come out of living there now." "So what are we gonna do?" Jamie asked. "Let's go play the games," Mike put out. "You wanna Coty?" Kenny asked. Coty shrugged. "Come on moron, don't you wanna win some candy?" Mike said trying to push for his idea. His face darkened and he turned for the field again. "Say you're sorry dork," Kenny pushed him. "No way!" "Say it or I'll knock your block off." "What are you doin?" Coty asked. "What?" "Wrong is wrong.  Fighting is what's easy." "Huh?" "It's just dumb.  You can never win anyway, so what's the point?" "Chicken," Mike provoked. "Kill me," Coty said stepping right in front of the boy. "What?" "You heard me, you wanna kill me, kill me!" "You're weird." "So what." "I'm gonna play some games." Mike said walking away. "Didja really want him to kill you?" Kenny asked wide-eyed. "No.  I just wanted him to shut up." "Oh...it worked," he giggled A big grin broke out across Jamie's face.  "Yeah...it did." Coty shrugged. "Let's go play some games." "Can't," Coty told him. "Why not?" "I'd have to tell my dad." "Ah, the baby has to ask his daddy," Travis sneered pushing Coty from behind. Eddie and Davis laughed as the boy fell. Coty got up, more than a little angry this time. "Knock it OFF!" Coty shouted. "HEY!  He can TALK!" "Shut up Travis," Kenny warned. "Make me." "Yeah Kenny Benny, make him," Eddie sang in agreement. "Do it," Jamie whispered in Coty's ear, but the boy felt the same tactic wouldn't work on this boy like it had on Mike.  He tried to walk away, but Travis followed him, and watched as Eddie pushed him this time, again from behind. Chris watched him fall forward and skin his hands.  He looked around for an adult, but they all seemed a little too far away.  None of them seemed to notice anything wrong. "What's a matter baby, can't you walk?" Travis taunted. Kenny shoved Travis who shoved him back. "You just let him win," Coty muttered getting to his feet. "What?" Kenny asked in disbelief. "Never let someone who does bad things make you do the same bad things.  If it's wrong, it's wrong." "But he just--" "I decide how I'm gonna be, NOT him!  And I don't fight, I don't hit, I don't push, I don't kick, and I don't bite!  Never!" "Cause you're chicken," Travis said pushing him on both shoulders and knocking him down. Coty got up looking him in the eye, and Travis shoved him again. Chris bit his lip, wondering why no adult seemed to see, and was greatly relieved to see Kenny's mom walking up. "Kenny hon, it's time to come back now." Kenny glared at the other boys, daring them to say anything in front of her. "Come on now." He watched Coty start back to the ball field again, and followed after his mother in the opposite direction. "Let's follow him," Travis grinned wickedly, rubbing his hands together.  "Just leave him alone Travis!" Chris heard himself shout. "What?!" "You heard me!" "Why?" "Cause I said so, that's why." "You think you can tell me what to do?" "I just did, didn't I?" "I always knew you were a sissy.  Chrissy the sissy." "You know how dumb you sound rhyming like that.  That's what my sister does.  Maybe you should go play with her." Davis laughed, but stopped when found he was laughing alone. "You wanna fight?" Travis said looking at Eddie and then giving Chris a push. Chris pushed him back and started to leave but Davis stepped in his way.  A moment later, he stepped aside letting him pass. "What are you doing!" Travis shouted. Davis shrugged back.  "You're dead Monday Chris," Travis warned. Chris shook his head at what he'd just done.  His dad would be glad but what of it.  His life would be miserable from now on.  Travis would see to that.                            ~/~/~/~/~ Coty kept walking until he came to the fence.  With out a second thought, he started to climb it, grabbing on to the fence with his fingers and toes.  Oblivious to everything else, walked straight up to his father crouched behind home plate. "WATCH IT!" Roy shouted as Dwyer pitched one in and the bat swung. Johnny caught the ball as a small hand touched his arm.  "WHOA!  Coty!  Where did YOU come from?!  You can't DO that.  You should have called me.  Are you all right?" Coty dropped against his father as the tears threatened to start.  Johnny picked him up letting his mask fall to the ground, and carried him to the dugout.  Forgetting the game, half of the team in the field walked in to see what had happened. Johnny shook his head, his eyes glistening in frustration as he pulled a can of soda out of the ice in a cooler and began to roll it over his son's bleeding palms.  "I don't believe it.  I just don't believe it," he muttered to himself as he caught Roy's eye.  "WHY CAN'T YOUR SON AND HIS LOUSY FRIENDS JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE!" "Johnny, you don't--" "THE HELL I DON'T!  I saw Chris with one of them earlier, the same da-- the same darn kid that hit him in that Rocket!  Mike saw him too so don't tell me--" "I'M SORRY!  WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?" "Nothing Roy, not a damn thing." Roy threw his glove to the ground and went to look for his kid.  Mike ruffled Coty's hair gently and herded the rest of the guy's back to the game.  Two strikes later and the game was over anyway.  For the first time in years, Station 51 won the game.                         ~/~/~/~/~ Johnny returned to his homebase sleeping bag.  It was growing dark, and fireworks would soon be starting. Beth gave them some sandwiches, and Johnny gave his boy his one sodapop for the day.  It was the first special occasion he'd been to, so it was the first soft drink he could remember ever having.  He decided then and there cream soda was his favorite. Johnny rolled up his sons favorite cotton throw and tucked it under his head to lay back.  Coty sat close, alternating between sitting up and using his fathers arm for a pillow. "Mom, can Becky, Theresa and me all sit together over there?" Jenny ran up begging. "Jenny, I told you we were going to watch the fireworks as a family." "I know but--" Becky whispered something in her ear while looking straight at Coty. "Can Becky and Theresa watch the fireworks with us?" "They can sit wherever they WANT to sit, but they better ask their parents first." The girls cheered and soon returned to spread out their little jackets to sit on, noticeably close to Johnny's sleeping bag.  Coty ignored their whispers and giggling, and snuggled closer his father.                          ~/~/~/~/~ Roy spotted his son under a tree near the sprinklers.  The water had been turned off and the children were all gone.  Behind him in the fair grounds, families were clustering together to enjoy the nights entertainment.  Their voices murmured and hummed as one. "Chris," Roy asked to get his attention. His son looked up at him, then returned to a twig he was busy tearing apart. "It's getting dark, the fireworks should be starting pretty soon." Chris shrugged, acting disinterested in such a display for the first time in his life.  Roy sat down beside him and picked up a leaf to turn between his fingers. "It's usually the easiest when you just come right out and say what's on your mind," Roy prompted at his boy's obvious mood.  Chris ignored him and smashed his twig into the ground with the toe of his sneaker. "What happened, and I want it straight." "Huh?" Chris asked. "Chris!" Roy said, pausing as he felt himself getting angry.  "What did you guys do?" "What guys?" "You and your FRIENDS, Chris!" "I don't HAVE any friends!" "Since when?" Roy asked in a tone that said he was just barely tolerating the kind of answers he was getting. Chris shrugged again, picking up another twig. "So you haven't seen Coty ALL day." "COTY'S not my friend!" "I THINK YOU MADE THAT CLEAR A MONTH AGO!" "I said I was sorry!  I said I was sorry a hundred times!" "Yeah I know you said it but what did you do today?!" "NOTH-ING!" "Nothing huh, he skinned up his hands and knees in the Rocket, is that it?  That rubber must really be dangerous.  I don't think I should let you or Jenny play in there EVER again." Chris made a sound of indignant injustice, but said nothing. "You weren't there huh, when those kids did all that?.....HUH?" "Yeah!" "So!" "So what?!  I didn't touch him!" "No, everybody else did, but not you." "No...Davis didn't either." "Then who did?" "I..." he stopped, unwilling to rat on his friends, even though he knew they probably weren't his friends anymore. Roy stood up biting his lip and forcing himself to count to ten.  "Get up!" "Huh?" "GET UP!" "Where are we going?!" "Your mother is going to be worried if we're not there soon, or aren't you even able to think about things like that?" Chris stood and marched angrily back into the park.  The footsteps following closely behind him made him want to run, but he had no idea where to.  His father hated him, which he felt sure of.                        ~/~/~/~/~ The first loud warning pop made Coty jump out of his skin.  He looked around and at his father, unsure WHAT had just happened. "Lay down," Johnny told him pulling him on top of himself face up.  He placed one hand on each side of Coty's head, covering both of his ears.  A couple of pops later, and a rocket went off that had orange sparks.  Johnny pointed his son's face in the right direction, and removed one hand for just a moment to point it out.  Coty missed most of whatever he was suppose to be seeing, but  he saw the next one whole, in all its beauty.  His jaw dropped as he twisted around to look at his father and point himself.  Johnny nodded with a grin and his son settled down again, pressing one of his father's hands that had become a little loose more firmly around his ear.  Red, yellow, blue, and white, streaming, flying, and falling stars; Coty was mesmerized. Roy crept over to his lawnchair carefully, trying not to step on any bodies as he went.  Plopping down with a tired sigh, he caught his son's eye, and pointed to a space on the ground directly in front of him. Coty didn't notice their arrival.  Johnny was too busy watching the many expressions crossing his child's face to give them much more than a glance. Chris sat where he was directed, and tried to not watch the fireworks.  He wanted his father to notice so he would know something was wrong, and not be so mad.  With his father sitting behind him, he had no idea if he was looking at him at all.  Eventually the oohs and ahhs of everyone else got to him, and he raised his head to watch a few.  He really did like fireworks.  He'd always liked them. A few yards in front of him, he could make out Johnny's profile every time the sky would light.  He held that boy the way he USED to hold him.  Jenny would have to sit in her daddy's lap, and Johnny would scoop him up to sit in his own.  Later, when he could no longer be seen sitting in ANYONE'S lap, he'd discovered it was far cooler to be seen with Johnny than it was his father.  Johnny had the Land Rover and the cool sunglasses.  Johnny didn't have anywhere near as many rules as his parents and he could teach him how to ride a horse.  More than once in front of his friends he'd almost told them it was Johnny who was his father.  But even if Johnny'd go back to coming over all the time, and started coming along on all the boy scout trips again, who'd believe such a claim now with this dark-haired wimp hanging all over the man.  Besides, everyone knew who his father was now.  If he was going to tell the lie, he should have done it a lot sooner. The fireworks ended and the families began to leave.  Many people carried their tired children over their shoulders, as Roy did Jenny.  Chris frowned at his little sister.  No one had carried him in years.  He sat where he was as his family started to leave.  They didn't even seem to notice he wasn't following.  Biting his lip, he tugged at the grass by his knee, trying not to cry. "Hey sport, they're gonna leave without cha," Chet teased offering his hand to help pull him up. Chris scowled at him, slapping the hand away and getting to his feet to trudge after his family on his own. Chet shot a look at Marco and shook his head in surprise. Marco shrugged back, then grinned and pointed into the darkness. Johnny and his boy lay fast asleep on their sleeping bag. "Should we wake them?" Chet asked. "Yeah you better," Mike cut in juggling his own one year old upside down with one arm and two lawn chairs with the other. "Let me give you a hand," Marco offered taking the chairs so Mike could right his sleeping child. "Make sure he wakes up and goes home," Mike ordered nodding toward Johnny.  "This park is nice, but I wouldn't feel safe spending the night in it." "Yeah you're right," Marco agreed.  "They had a robbery here just last week, and that was in broad daylight.  Some guy put a knife to a lady's throat and took off with her purse." "Make sure he wakes up," Mike reiterated strongly at the news. "Michael," Beth called in the darkness. "I'm coming," he answered.  "I swear, you've been with these guys all day and you still can't stop chattering like an old woman," Chet and Marco heard Beth tease as Mike joined her and they headed for their car. "Oh yeah, that Mike, just one big chatter box," Chet laughed. "You gonna do it or should I?" Marco asked. "Oh let me!" "Hey, he's got the kid so be nice." "I'm nice!" "Uh huh.  What are you gonna do?" "He's not gonna do anything," Roy interrupted returning for his cooler.  "Johnny...hey Johnny it's time to go." "Huh?" he asked sleepily. "It's all over, time to go." "Oh...thanks." "You okay to drive?" "Yeah, just give me a minute." "Joanne's waitin so I gotta go." "So go, I ain't stoppin you." "I didn't mean...Johnny--" "We're fine Roy, and I don't need you to--" "Whatever.  I'm not gonna stand here and argue with you.  You're always grumpy when you wake up." "I am not." "Yes you...see you next shift." As he held his son in one arm while trying to gather up the sleeping bag with the other, he felt guilty at having snapped at his friend.  He really hadn't meant  anything by his comment other than that Joanne was waiting on him.  Gazing into the darkness it was too late to apologize, Roy was gone.  Coty stirred on his shoulder and Johnny rubbed his cheek against the boy's soft hair.  It felt good to have something to carry home.  Other years he'd always felt a little cold and lonely once he'd set down witch ever of Roy's kids he'd carried to their car.  The hardest part was always watching them drive away while he returned to his Rover with nothing more to do.  Johnny kissed his boy's hair and hugged him close.  This was a hundred times better than looking for Chet to see if he'd found them a double date or not, a hundred times better.  He looked at his mustachioed friend and wondered if he knew. "No luck tonight Chet?" "Huh?" "No luck?" "Aah, all the girls are getting a little stuck up these days." "Yeah.  What about Tina?" "Workin." "Oh yeah.  Well, maybe you should go steady with her." "Why you say that?" "No reason...cept, she likes you." "Well I go to get Mama Rosita back before she falls asleep in the car.  You have no idea how grumpy she can be when she gets woken up," Marco cut in. "Grumpier than Gage?" Chet needled. "You better believe it.  Once she hit my brother Emanuel over the head with a turkey leg." "You're kidding," Johnny grinned. "No, I mean it.  A whole turkey leg.  I got to go." "See you later Marco," Johnny laughed as he parted and Chet waved good bye. "So what's up with you now?" Johnny asked him. "Oh I don't know.  Maybe hit the beach and see if anything's up." "This late?" "You never know." "You ah...you wanna come over for a while?" "Really?  Now?" "Yeah now, that's when I'm asking isn't it?" "Well since you asked so nicely...you have beer?" "Ah...no actually.  Not anymore since..." "What, you think he'll drink it?" "No!  I just...don't wanna be that kind of a dad...is all." Chet nodded.  "How bout a six pack of Coke then, we can play some cards." "May as well get a pizza." "Yeah!" Chet grinned like a Cheshire Cat, "see you in ten." "Yeah, see you in a bit."                        ~/~/~/~/~ Johnny heard a car door bang in his driveway.  Chet's ten minutes had turned out to be an hour and a half, and Johnny started to wonder why he'd asked him.  Coty was asleep upstairs and he wanted to be fresh himself in the morning when he woke up.  At the rate Chet was going, he'd probably be there all night.  The sound of two girls giggling on his porch made him leap out of his chair and hurry to the door. "Chet what are you doing?" he hissed before they could knock. "Guess what I found?" Chet grinned passing Johnny two large pizzas and the Cokes. "Have you forgotten what lives with me now?'' "Huh?  Look, I didn't bring beer.  I figured it'd be more fun playing cards with four...you know what I mean?" "No!" "You don't know what I--" "I know what you mean Chet but not here, not any more." "Aw come on Johnny." "Yeah come on Johnny," one of the girls agreed looking him over. "I'm a father, did he tell you that?" Johnny asked. "You're married?" "No, just a father." "Yeah.  Well.  Don't look at me for another.  I'm not having one until I'm married," she huffed leaving the porch. "Johnny, come on man.  It's just cards and--" "Have a good night Chet," Johnny told him closing the door. He could hear Chet apologizing for him all the way back to his car.  Johnny sighed, turning off the lights and going to bed.                        ~/~/~/~/~ Sounds of screaming and loud noises woke Johnny from a sound sleep early the next morning.  He leapt out of bed and raced down the stairs before his eyes were fully open.  By the open front door, his son stood terrified.  His dog Shawnao's excitement over finally being in the house again combined with his clumsy puppy antics had already knocked over two lamps and threatened to send an old vase crashing to the hard wood floor. "Shawnao NO!" Johnny shouted trying to get the dog under control. The happy mountain of fur bounded toward his owner causing Coty to let out another terrified scream. "Down Shawnao!  Down!  Sit!" Shawnao sat, his feelings hurt by his master's tone of voice. "It's all right Coty," Johnny said picking up his child and sitting down on the couch, trying to slow his own pounding heart.  "It's just Shawnao, see?  He's just a dog; he won't hurt you.  Shawnao won't hurt you." Hearing his name, Shawnao jumped to his feet and lunged for his master, dying to be petted.  Johnny was forced to push the dog back with his foot. "Shawnao NO!  Sit!" Shawnao sat as best as he could.  His tagged wagged so powerfully that his back side moved with it, back and forth across the floor.  As Johnny tried to adjust Coty into a more comfortable position in his lap, the dog charged for attention again. "Shawnao!  LAY DOWN!  LAY...DOWN!  NOW!" The rejected pup sank to the floor.  His big brown eyes looked for forgiveness as he sadly rested his head on his front paws. 'Aw man,' Johnny thought cuddling his son.  'If only he was more like a cat.'  But Shawnao was nothing like a cat.  He was big and loud and had the grace of a dumptruck.  As if on cue, Bu jumped up on to the couch and curled up next to them, giving off a constant purr.  Coty reached over to tickle the cat ears.  His son really did like animals.  He loved squirrels and rabbits and birds.  He'd spent hours one camping trip watching an otter play.  But none of these animals ever came at him.  Shawnao was the only one.  Every time Johnny had let the dog out of the barn, it was obvious the boy was afraid.  He'd watch Johnny play with the dog, but never once showed any desire to step off the porch and investigate the animal for himself.  Johnny could just picture the hole in the floor of his barn the dog must have dug to get out. Johnny closed his eyes and rested his head back against the couch wondering what he should do.  Suddenly his leg felt hot and wet.  He opened his eyes to discover Shawnao had snuck forward to rest his head on his knee.  The look in the dog's eyes broke his heart.  Coty sat sideways on his lap with his head resting against his fathers chest, and didn't seem to notice.  "Easy," Johnny whispered reaching to pet the dog's head.  Shawnao licked his hand but didn't leap up like Johnny was afraid he might.  When Coty turned his head, Shawnao dropped his nose to rest on Johnny's knee again.  The boy stared at him and the dog didn't move a muscle. 'Please God,' Johnny thought as he reached to pet him again with his son watching.  Coty watched until his neck grew tired and he turned back to lay against his father again. Bu walked across the two of them and batted the dog on the nose.  Shawnao dropped to the floor and rolled to his back, ready for the game.  The cat turned his back and pretended to ignore him.  Coty frowned at the big furry animal laying on the floor, thinking he was silly.  After several minutes of licking his paws, the monster cat jumped into the middle of the dog and ran around the recliner.  Shawnao crawled to the chair and poked his nose around the side.  Out of nowhere, the cat bounded over the top and right into the dog again. Coty shot his father a look that made the slender man giggle.  'Easy Shawnao,' Johnny thought, 'show him how gentle you can be.' Instead of running to hide again, Bu had held his ground.  Shawnao rolled to his back, reaching a paw out toward the cat.  Bu jumped at Shawnao's head, then proceeded to clean the dog's face.  The scene captivated Coty. "Shawnao," Johnny called quietly. Shawnao rolled quickly to his feet, but slowed down as he saw the small boy's eyes looking at him.  'You know don't you,' Johnny thought, 'ou're starting to get it.  Animals can feel it, good instincts.' "Here Shawnao," Johnny called again patting his knee.  He pet the dogs ears as the animal rested his head on his leg once again.  "He's soft," Johnny encouraged, "see?" Coty sighed, still very unsure of this big thing that has burst through the door as he tried to go out to get the paper that morning.  Shawnao eased forward until his nose was touching the boy's thin leg.  With a sideways look, and his head pressing firmly against his father's chest, Coty slowly moved his hand toward the dog's nose.  With an inch to go, and the movement being painstakingly slow, the dog finished the hands journey by darting out his tongue to give it a lick.  The boy's movement froze, so the dog did it again, then again.  Still Coty made no further move.  Getting frustrated and impatient, Shawnao lifted his head and pushed at the hand with his nose, trying to lift it up and place it on his snout.  That accomplished, he waited for the boy to move the hand.  His eyes looked up at Johnny as if begging him to teach the poor kid how to pet.  Johnny giggled and pet the dog's head until Coty's hand joined his on the dog's ear to pet him as well. "He's your dog too Coty.  Like I've told you before, everything that's here is BOTH of ours, animals included.  He'll never try hurt you, that I can promise." Coty continued to pet the dog and did not respond. "Well I don't know about you but I'm gettin hungry, pancakes, french toast, of cereal?" "French toast." "Fine," Johnny told him, "you get the stuff out, I'm going to bring Shawnao's stuff back inside...if that's okay with you.  He used to sleep in my room and he's been kinda lonely out there." Coty shrugged. "Well we'll try it anyway," he said getting to his feet and setting the boy on the couch. His movement made Shawnao jump to his feet to follow.  Coty moved back in surprise. "Shawnao," Johnny warned in a hiss, "Eaa-zee." Shawnao slowed his movement until they were outside, then bounced around his master all the way to the barn. "If you want to be back inside, you got to cool it.  No jumping and absolutely no barking, got it?" he spoke as if the dog could understand every word.  Shawnao yipped a response.  "I said NO barking ya silly mutt." Johnny climbed into the loft where he kept the large bag of dog food to make sure Shawnao didn't help himself.  Shouldering the heavy bag, he felt the boards underneath his feet shudder under the weight.  He looked to the side and noticed one of the braces holding the loft up had cracked clean through and the other brace was holding by only one nail.  "Man, better fix THAT," he thought as he carefully climbed down the ladder. The odor of french toast cooking greeted him as he came through the door.  "You start already?" Johnny grinned putting the dog food in the laundry room where it had once been stored before. Coty's face was a mirror of his father's as he placed a plate down on one of the two placemats. Johnny sampled his food like a professional magazine critic.  "Perfection," he smiled.  Coty blushed and sat down on the other stool with his own plate. "Syrup?" Johnny offered holding up the sticky jar. "Uh uh." "Humph," he smiled, "mom didn't like sweet stuff in the morning either." "Huh?" "Mom...uh...MY mom.  I uh...sorry."  Coty looked down at his plate. 'One step forward and ten steps back,' Johnny scolded himself. "Did...did you like MY mom?" Coty asked poking at his food with his fork. "Um..." Johnny sighed wishing he'd learn to watch his mouth better, "yeah...I uh...I did...when I knew her.  Ya see...I didn't...I didn't know her for a long time.  Things kinda went...  Your mom was...  She..." Johnny stuttered before giving into a helpless sigh. "She hated me," Coty stated matter of fact, showing not the least bit of emotion. Johnny swallowed hard.  How could he disagree with him.  He hadn't been there, Coty had. "I didn't like her anyway," he added quietly talking to his plate. "My mom...  My mom was nice," Johnny hesitated, wondering if he should be saying what he was saying. "Did she like you?" "Yes!  A lot!  She loved me...like I love you." Coty nodded. "She was really pretty too.  That's her up on the mantle," Johnny said nodding toward the fireplace. Coty looked at the pictures.  He knew some of the people in the color photographs from his dad's work and the picnic.  Most of the black and white pictures were still of strangers.  Some were of women, a couple had some kids, but there were none of any men.  "Where's you dad," Coty asked. "Um..." Johnny sighed, "he uh...I've got some but...they're put away." "Oh." "He uh...well I guess you could say he didn't like me.  He did...once but...it's a long story.  My mom died you see, along with my brothers...and he...drank...and got mad...and got mean...you know." "Yeah," Coty agreed. Johnny looked up at his son, so incredibly mature for his age.  He had no doubt the eight year knew exactly what he meant.  Not wanting to push the topic, Johnny went back to eating his french toast. "You had sex with my mom, right?" Coty asked.  Johnny choked on his food and had to gulp some milk down before he could answer.  "Um...well...yeah...I did.  That's how...that's how...you know, you got to be." "Why?" "Why?...why what?" Coty sighed at his plate as if giving up on the subject. "I uh...well I.  Oh man.  I uh...  When I knew your mom, she was nice.  She uh...  Well her dad was really strict ya see...and I...well she...  I'm half Indian.  Mom's Irish.  YOUR mom was half Indian too!  Only...only her DAD was white...see?  He worked on the reservation and married an Indian woman, New Fawn.  They had three daughters...very pretty daughters.  Ashley, your mother, was very nice back then, very sweet and very shy.  She'd get picked on for her blond hair.  Her sisters came out dark but your mom couldn't have been more blond." "I know," Coty confirmed. "Anyway, between her dad being dead set against his kids associating with us heathens and the fact that a lot of the kids picked on her, she really didn't have many friends.  I didn't really get to know her until the summers I came back to work on my uncle's ranch." Coty's raised eyebrows asked for an explanation. "I uh...after a while...after my mom died...I went to live with my aunt here in LA, but I'd go back every summer till I turned eighteen.  Anyway, that's when I got to know her.  She asked me every summer to take her back to LA with me.  She hated the rez and she really didn't get along with her father.  Her mom I guess wasn't much help.  She always just went along with what the father said.  That last summer...I'd graduated from high school in LA...and I'd gotten this thing for joining the Fire Academy.  I came up to work the ranch, but then I was going back to join up.  It was really what I wanted to do.  She wanted to come with me, and I wanted her to.  I asked her to marry me and she'd said yes, but I wasn't ready.  I wanted to go through the Academy and get the job first, get an apartment first and all of that so her father couldn't say I was some dead beat.  I promised her as soon as I could, I'd come back and we'd get married.  She didn't believe me, so I...we...well I showed her I meant it.  I...she wanted to...and I wanted to...and since we were going to be married anyway...  Well it took more than I thought to be able to get a decent apartment.  About a year passed before I felt it would be okay to bring this girl out to LA.  I didn't write.  We'd never written because of her father.  So I just went back and...well...she was gone.  My aunt, my other aunt, said she had started going off into the town all the time...and getting into trouble.  She'd had a big fight with her father about a month after I'd left, and nobody had seen her since.  There was no way I could ask her parents about her, and to be honest...after a year apart...I wasn't sure I still wanted to get married.  I was hoping that once I saw her...I'd want to again.  Then when she was gone...I was relieved that I didn't have to.  I never thought...I didn't know I should have tried to find her...God I wish I had." "You can't change the past." "Huh?" onto part 9