This story is based on the characters and time line from "What Was That Name Again?"
It might be helpful to read that one first. ****************** Snakes and Snails and Puppydog Tails by Nexxie ************** "Mom," Jennifer DeSoto called out plaintively, "have you seen my pink shorts?" Joanne rolled her eyes. Just about all of Jennifer's shorts are pink, she thought, I wish she would find a different color to like for a while. "Which ones, honey?" she asked, hoping they weren't the plaid ones with the matching top that were currently covered with grass stains. "The plaid ones with the matching top," Jennifer confirmed. Rather than go through a long discussion yelling the length of the house, Joanne picked up the item in question from it's particular pile in the laundry room and ran up to Jennifer's room. Holding up the shorts, the grass stain prominently displayed, Joanne asked, "You mean these?" The girl's face fell. "I wanted to wear those to the Picnic today." "I guess you'll have to find something else." "JOANNE! Aren't you ready yet?" Roy's voice was impatient as he leaned in the back door to remind his wife, yet again, that it was time to go. Everything was in the station wagon except his family. It was his first time there as a captain of Station 99, and he wanted to be as dependable in front of the whole Department as he was on the job. Besides, he was responsible for his team's baseball equipment; he really shouldn't be late to the Firemen's Picnic. "I'm coming..." Joanne's voice drifted down the stairs. "Jen, just put something else on, you've run out of time. Your dad is ready to leave." "I'll come with Chris, then," Jennifer decided, preferring to be late rather than look less than her best today. After all, he would be there. "No, you won't!" Chris yelled from his room, where he was unashamedly eavesdropping. "I'm leaving now." Chris ran down the stairs to jump into his car before there could be any argument about the matter. "Chris...you get back here!" Jennifer screamed. "Mommmm!" "JOANNE, ARE YOU COMING WITH ME OR NOT?" "You have about one minute to get your tail downstairs and into the car, Jennifer. Now pick something and get a move on." Joanne ran back down the stairs, grabbing the box of food she left on the kitchen table on her way out to the car. "I'm here," she said, "Jen's just about ready." "What's taking her so long?" "She's just trying to look nice, Roy. She's sixteen, for heaven's sake, not ten, and more picky now about her appearance than she was then. Cut her some slack; it's a tough age for a girl." "For crying out loud, Joanne, she's had all morning to get ready. What's she doing up there, anyway?" For a man with nearly limitless patience on the job, Roy could become exasperated with his family fairly quickly. "Relax, Roy," Joanne pacified him, "here she comes now." Thank goodness, she thought. Jennifer, wearing pale pink shorts and a white cotton blouse with cap sleeves, jumped into the back seat and immediately checked her image in the rearview mirror. Rolling his eyes, Roy started the car and backed out into the street. Joanne looked knowingly at her daughter. What was different about this year's picnic that she had to look 'perfect'? She could only think of one new addition to the Department...J.R. Gage. With a sigh, she hoped she was wrong, but she doubted it. ************** "So have you been looking around?" the man in the navy blue T-shirt with "Gage-1" on the back asked his younger double wearing identical apparel. His mouth was full of hotdog and the sound that actually came out was closer to "Foe hagu beh wookie gwowd?" Shaking his head "Gage-2" indicated a negative. J.R. Gage learned over the last few months to interpret his father's "food-in-mouth" dialect. Except for the "1" and "2" on the backs of their shirts, and the different numbers on their otherwise-identical ballcaps, J.R. and his father looked like bookends. This was emphasized by the fact that Johnny's cap bore the number of his fire station---"51", and J.R.'s cap sported his own station---"15". "Haven't had the time or the means, Dad," J.R. responded. "I've looked in the papers to get an idea of the price range, but there hasn't been a real chance to check out anything in person." "Well, just let me know when you wanna look and we'll work on it, ok?" Johnny looked amazed at his son's patience. The elder Gage learned to drive at fourteen and had his own truck by the time he was old enough to get a driver's license. J.R. seemed almost disinterested in the subject of acquiring his own wheels. In fact, he never even asked Johnny if he could drive the Rover. "Sure, Dad," J.R. answered, anxious to drop the subject. Thus far he was successful in always having a ride wherever he needed to go that was not within walking distance. But one of these days, the young firefighter knew, his luck would run out. I can't let anybody know...I would never hear the end of it. The two men were seated across from each other at a "neutral" picnic table...one that was not designated for any particular station. Both of them would eventually join their own groups, but for now they desired to eat as "family" at the Fireman's Picnic, a unique experience for them both. Roy and Chris DeSoto stopped by to swap greetings. Chris was old enough, at eighteen, to play on 99's baseball team this year, and in fact played for 51's the two previous years. With experience playing baseball from little league all the way through his senior year of high school, Chris was a welcome addition to 99's team. "Hey, Chris, how's it goin'?" Johnny greeted the boy with a "high five". "Hey, Johnny, it's goin' good," Chris answered. He received a frown from Roy and J.R. and a startled look, quickly hidden, from John Gage. Chris was trying his wings as an adult and wasn't nearly as confident as he sounded. It was the first time Chris ever addressed Johnny without the honorific "Uncle". Roy appeared uncomfortable with his son putting himself on the level of equal with the older man, but Chris, a high school graduate since June, was past the age when he could be required to address the man with the same title he used as a child. J.R. resented what he perceived to be disrespect of his father. Only being nineteen himself, he wouldn't dream of addressing Captain DeSoto as "Roy". But then, he conceded, Chris isn't a fireman. That thought made J.R. feel a little better. He was working as a fully trained fireman and paying Johnny rent each month while Chris was still living at home gratis and working as a clerk in a retail store to earn spending money for college this fall. To Johnny's son college was never even a remote possibility. The fire academy was a dream come true, a way to make something of himself. College was for white kids with well-to-do parents...not for Indian brats with no money. Indian brat---a title given him by his mother's parents, never leaving him in doubt of his place on the social ladder---the bottom. His parents never married and his father was a "half-breed". Well, J.R. thought, my "socially-acceptable" grandfather is in jail awaiting trial for attempted murder, and my father welcomed me into his home. Things are pretty good after all. Chris held his breath waiting for a reprimand from his father or Johnny. When none was forthcoming, he visibly relaxed. Johnny ignored the stormy look he was receiving from J.R and waited to let Roy make the call on this one. If he felt it was ok to let Chris step up to the level of equal with his best friend, Johnny would try to get used to it. Suddenly the table grew more crowded as Chet Kelly approached with Del Nichols, the engineer from 15's C-Shift and Mike Stoker. Reaching into the Gages' cooler for a soda, he passed one to Nichols and Stoker before grabbing a cold one for himself and popping the tab. "No, really, Chet," Johnny said sarcastically, "help yourself...I insist." Stoker and Nichols had the grace to look sheepish while Chet merely shrugged. "So," Nichols began, "15's plays against 127's and 99's is up against 51's. So who's gonna be in the finals against 15's? Will it be 99's or 51's?" Chet snickered, "15's ain't gonna see the finals, Nichols. The question should be will 127's beat 99's or 51's for the championship?" The ensuing argument was joined by Marco Lopez and Rudy Taylor, the engineer and firefighter from 51's C-Shift, "Johnny's Crew". Cap Riley from 15's drifted over and began defending the honor of his team vociferously as the other two captains joined in the raillery. J.R. quietly stood and headed in the direction of the Rover, feeling distinctly unhappy. His mother's long illness when he was growing up pretty much precluded his participation in sports. J.R. didn't know the first thing about baseball. He reluctantly admitted as much to Cap Riley and was excused from participation, but not without a little good-natured ribbing from his crewmates. Unfortunately, he never got up the courage to tell Johnny, who was under the impression his son would be playing for 15's today. Roy DeSoto rubbed it in that instead of playing with J.R., Johnny might just be playing against him. His father just laughed it off and teased that Roy and Chris might just have to pick from the sidelines which of them to cheer for. J.R. smiled miserably at the jokes. He was not only be letting down his shiftmates, he was letting down his father, humiliating him in front of his friends. Man, J.R. said to himself as he walked dejectedly toward the field that was serving as a parking lot, I can't play baseball, I can't even drive. I'm nothin' but a walking disappointment. What am I gonna say when he asks why I'm not playin'? J.R. leaned back on the sun-warmed side of the Rover and let himself slide to the ground against the passenger's door. He put his head in his hands. Why do they have these things, he wondered, thinking of the upcoming baseball games. It's just another opportunity to show off---like some people really need that. He was thinking of Chris DeSoto. Unnoticed, a slim figure left the gathering at 99's table and followed him to the Rover. He felt, rather than saw, another person sit down beside him. Legs crossed "Indian style", Jennifer DeSoto waited for him to look up. When J.R. raised his head, it was to meet the girl's intense violet blue eyes. "The picnic is over there," she informed him with a sunny smile. Her slender manicured finger was pointing in the direction of the crowd. "What are you doing here?" he asked, aware of how rude that sounded, but embarrassed to be caught in what looked like---and was---a pity party. "Actually, I was hoping you would tell me what's got you all upset." "Nothin'," was the glum reply. "Oh...nothin'," Jennifer looked as if she was enlightened, "that explains everything. Okay, well then why don't you give me a smile and come over to our table for a hotdog?" "No, thanks, if I go anywhere it should be 15's." "Okay, then I'll go with you to 15's," she replied. Jennifer looked at J.R. expectantly, "You gonna help me up or what?" With a sigh of regret that his mother taught him to be a gentleman, J.R. stood and offered Jennifer his hand, drawing her to her feet. Surprisingly she didn't let go once she was standing. J.R. looked pointedly at their hands but Jen just smiled sweetly and gripped tighter. "Look, Jennifer," J.R. said as he looked down at her pretty face, "we can't walk over to 15's holding hands. I want to live a while longer. He knew it was as much as his life was worth to be seen in the company of Cap DeSoto's daughter. Jennifer just smiled and swung their clasped hands back and forth, refusing to give an inch. "Jennifer, I'm not your Uncle Johnny, I can't get away with holding hands with you in a public place and have everybody assume it's all innocent!" She continued to smile complacently. Finally, out of self-preservation, he looked at her seriously and said in a low voice, "Jennifer, let go of my hand." She released his hand and turned her back. She didn't want him to see the tears that filled her eyes as she walked back to the designated area for Station 99 families. J.R. clenched his fists and sat back down. That was another thing there was never any money for...girls. Not that it would have ever been an issue anyway. No car, no money, not on an athletic team, a little geeky...what was to like? Now I've hurt Jennifer's feelings, which was the very last thing I wanted. I wish I could have been some high school football hero from a respectable family so I could...but I'm not; I'm a skinny useless Indian brat. Give it up, John Roderick Gage. You'll never be good enough for Jennifer DeSoto. I have to get out of here. Fishing in his pockets, he found enough money for bus fare. It was a long walk to the ranch from the nearest bus stop, but he didn't have much else to do. J.R. started walking. Each step was a reminder of his deficiencies...can't play ball...can't drive a car...can't talk to girls...good for nothin'...Indian brat...misfit...disappointment. ************* She was humiliated. Her whole purpose for coming to this picnic was to see J.R. again, and now to be treated like a child by the cutest guy in the park was just too much. From her spot at 99's picnic site, Jennifer watched him go. Well, good riddance! she thought. After all, I was just trying to be friendly, he didn't have to act that way, treating me like a baby. I'm not a baby, I'm a...a...young woman! so there, J.R. Gage, you jerk! **************** As he hefted the bags of baseball equipment from the back of his mom's station wagon, Chris saw Jen walk over toward Johnny's Rover and sit down. Curious, he trotted to the parking lot for a closer look and was irked to find his sister in conversation with J.R. Gage. The geek! J.R. helped Jennifer up and then held onto her hand. Chris dropped the bag of bats, determined to let the guy know just what a bad idea that was. Jen had a goofy smile on her face, but suddenly J.R. let go of her hand and she walked away. Good one, Sis, Chris thought. He saw J.R. start walking in the direction of the road, kicking stones, cans, whatever was in his way. Chris smiled, sure his sister had put the interloper in his place. I hope he doesn't come back. Chris whistled as he shouldered the bag of bats and headed for the ball diamond. *********** Joanne didn't fail to notice her daughter's stormy face or the direction she was staring as J.R. Gage was walking down the road away from the park. His shoulders slumped, feet dragging, he was a picture of dejection...or was it rejection? Perhaps it was just as well. He's too old for Jen anyway, she thought. "Jo, any hotdogs left? I'm starving." Roy DeSoto sauntered up behind his wife and, checking to see if anybody was looking, gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Plenty, in fact more than plenty. I cooked like Johnny was gonna be with our group. Why don't you bring him on over here?" "Oh, so that's all I'm good for? Disposing of unwanted food?" Johnny walked up to Joanne from behind and, imitating Roy, looked cautiously around before kissing her on the cheek. Joanne laughed in delight and Roy reddened. Johnny found it easy to be affectionate in public, but Roy was more timid about public demonstrations, even with his wife. "Where are the kids?" Johnny managed to say before stuffing half a hotdog into his mouth at once. Roy looked around and spotted his offspring. He pointed in amusement at Chris down at the ball diamond, holding forth on some topic to an admiring group of younger boys. Jennifer was walking with the Riley twins, deep in some private conversation. J.R., he didn't see. "I see mine, but yours seems to have taken off somewhere," Roy informed Johnny. With a shrug, Johnny headed over to 51's tables. "Thanks for sharing a hotdog with us, Johnny," Joanne called, chuckling. Flashing a crooked grin, Johnny waved and said, "Glad to be of service, Jo. Anytime you need help like this, just let me know." Joanne's smile faded. She felt like a traitor for not telling their friend that his son left the park, and from the set of his shoulders, was not coming back. His father really should know, but she didn't want to be the one to make Johnny feel bad. That was Roy's job, she decided. After all, what are best friends for? "Roy," Joanne began, "J.R. already left. I saw him walk down the road out of the park about an hour ago. He looked unhappy about something." "Why didn't you tell Johnny when he was here? You knew he was looking for the kid." Roy frowned at Joanne. "Well, I thought it would come better from you. He places so much importance on these picnics, and this was the first year he could have his own 'family' with him. He's gonna be upset. I didn't want to be the one to ruin his day." "Gee, thanks." Roy looked less than thrilled at delivering the news. "I think I'll wait until after the ball games and see if maybe he comes back on his own. He may just be avoiding the crowd, not used to this many people, you know?" "Maybe," Joanne looked doubtful. *********** 127's ended up losing the final game to 99's. Johnny cheered for Roy and Chris from the sidelines after they beat 51's. He looked around occasionally to see if he could spot J.R. somewhere near 15's area, but no luck. Finally, he located Cap Riley and sauntered over to where he was watching from a lawn chair near Walt and Polly Winston and their kids. Johnny hunkered down beside Gene Riley after trading greetings with his wife and giggling twin teenage daughters. "Hi, Gene, enjoying the picnic?" Johnny reached down and picked up a twig, fiddling with it to occupy his hands. He was beginning to become worried about his son. Riley nodded and looked pointedly at his wife who shepherded their daughters out of earshot. J.R. never showed up at 15's picnic area, in fact had not been seen at all since earlier at the table with his father. Johnny squinted into the sun, trying to figure out how to couch his question. He never had to. "You're wondering where J.R. got off to? I wish I could tell you. He hasn't been here all afternoon, much to my daughters' dismay." "I didn't see him playing in the game against 127's," Johnny stated, hoping Riley would explain to him why his son was made to sit out. There was an uncomfortable silence. Finally Riley sighed. "He didn't tell you, did he?" It wasn't really a question. Well, it wasn't exactly a secret...everybody at 15's knew. He looked sympathetically at Johnny as he said softly, "He didn't play because he has never played baseball in his life, John. He doesn't know the first thing about it. I suppose he didn't tell you because he didn't want you to be disappointed in him." "Oh man!" With a vicious gesture, Johnny threw down the twig he was disecting and stood with his back to Gene Riley. He nodded thanks over his shoulder to the other captain, too choked up to trust his voice as he walked distractedly to the Rover. What other things has your son never done, Johnny? What else has he shown no interest in? Cars? Girls? Movies? an education? Man! I've just acted like he had a normal childhood with all the privaliges Roy's kids had...and it was anything but. I can't believe I've been so stupid. No wonder he has no interest in owning a car, he probably never learned to drive. ***************** Roy DeSoto left his triumphant teammates still rehashing their victory when he saw his best friend slumped dispiritedly sitting on the hood of his Rover. Knowing Johnny, it had nothing to do with losing the ballgame and everything to do with why his son left early in the day and never came back. "So, what's the problem this time? What aspect of fatherhood has you down now?" Roy squeezed John's shoulder encouragingly. Johnny looked up at his best friend and nodded, indicating a correct guess. "I'm such an idiot sometimes," Johnny mumbled. "I'll buy that," Roy agreed amiably, "what is it this time?" "I keep treating J.R. as if his childhood was just like Chris'...but it was absolutely nothing like Chris experienced. Did you know J.R. has no interest in buying a car?" "Probably because he doesn't know how to drive," Roy stated logically. "Am I the only fool that didn't know that?" Johnny's voice was bitter. "Probably," Roy agreed. "Look, Johnny, J.R. most likely is doing his best to convince you that his childhood was 'normal'...whatever that is. He doesn't want you to be disappointed in him." "I'm not disappointed in him. I'm disappointed in me." Johnny looked miserable. "Roy, how do I fix this?" "I don't know. I don't really know if it needs fixed, or just understood. You might try asking him point blank whether he's ever done something before planning for him to do it. You might ask him what he would like to do. He's not a little kid and I would say, judging from his actions, that he never was a little kid. He does enjoy the times that you act like one though." Roy smiled at Johnny's embarrassed grin. The two men sat in companionable silence for a while. "Say, Johnny," Roy ventured, "as a small change of subject, I'd kind of like to do a last camping trip with Chris before he leaves for college. I think he would like you to be in on it too." "And J.R.?" Johnny questioned, knowing that their two sons didn't exactly hit it off. "Why don't you ask him if he wants to come?" Roy suggested. "All right, if you're sure you don't mind," Johnny answered. That was something he and J.R. talked about doing, but never yet managed. "Maybe I'll hunt him down and ask him now, that way you'll have an answer." Shoot! In the conversation about Chris, Roy completely forgot about his whole reason for coming down here. This was gonna put John Gage right back in the emotional basement. "Uh...Johnny." Gage turned around to glance back at Roy. "Yeah?" "Uh...he's not here." "What?" Johnny was confused. "J.R. left a few hours ago. Joanne saw him walk out of the park towards the road. She's been watching, but he hasn't come back." "And you're just now tellin' me? You didn't think I ought to have known this 'a few hours ago'?" Johnny was getting angry as his friend knew he would. Roy kicked the dirt, put his hands in his back pockets, and finally looked at his now irate former partner. "Johnny, I was kind of hoping he was just looking for some time alone. Joanne said he looked sad. I'm sorry I waited this long, I honestly thought he would probably come back." "Man! Riley told me he was ashamed of not knowing how to play baseball. He probably left because he felt like a misfit. I really blew it this time, Roy. I wish you had told me, maybe he and I could have talked this out and enjoyed the rest of the day together. I can't leave now before the picnic's over, and J.R. probably thinks I never even noticed that he left." Johnny left Roy without any further words. ********************* Johnny trudged dejectedly toward the tables at 51's area, making a wide circle around the place where Chet Kelly was rehashing the afternoon's ball games with 51's frankly irritated crew. As far as he was concerned, the day was a total loss, but he had to try and pretend he was still having a good time---he was a captain after all. The captain of 51's A-Shift waved a piece of Stoker's fried chicken at him in salute. Captain Gage managed to grin in return and wave. When Johnny arrived home that night, he hoped J.R. would be waiting for him on the porch, a sign he wanted to talk. The porch was disappointingly empty. The senior Gage peeled off his sweaty T-shirt, staring at the name "Gage-1" on the back before slam-dunking it into a waiting laundry basket. He hung his ball cap with the number "51" on a hook beside the door, noticing with relief that the companion "15" cap was already there. J.R. made it home okay. His good mood somewhat restored, Cap Gage unpacked the loot from the cooler. Always before, Station 51 wives made sure Johnny was given plenty of leftovers. This time, with a "hungry boy at home", he made a veritable killing. The Stokers gave him a package of leftover fried chicken, Polly Winston brought him a whole cherry pie, Mrs. Stanley handed him the rest of her homemade biscuits, and Joanne DeSoto carried over the remainder of the hamburgers and hotdogs from Station 99. The Riley twins hand delivered a full plate of food for J.R., on the condition that his father made sure he knew it was from them. And finally---a whole watermelon. Nobody wanted to admit they could eat a whole melon, so they laughingly awarded it to Cap Gage. He took it with a good natured grin. Tomorrow was a work day. If he let things ride tonight, the misunderstandings between him and J.R. would continue until the day after tomorrow. This was too important to wait. After setting the cooler on the back porch, John Gage went upstairs to find his son. J.R.'s room was empty. Where would he be if.... Johnny walked confidently out to the barn. The young man liked to talk things over with the horses and kittens on occasion. He had walked in on one or two serious discussions at one time or another, never letting his son know he heard. As Johnny entered the barn, he knew he wasn't wrong. A soft mewing from above indicated the cats were receiving some welcome attention. He gazed up into the loft, just catching the sight of J.R. setting a kitten aside. "Son," Johnny began hesitantly, "I have some questions and I don't want you to take them the wrong way." J.R. looked down from the loft where he was sitting quietly in the hay, letting his legs dangle over the edge. He sat unmoving and said nothing, but nodded for Johnny to procede. Feeling distinctly at a disadvantage talking up to J.R. from the floor of the barn, Johnny climbed up the ladder and sat down beside his son. After a moment of uneasy silence he began. "I made some very wrong assumptions that probably hurt you, and I want to, first of all, apologize for that. I assumed that you knew how to drive a car...had a license. I guess that probably isn't true, is it?" Looking away, J.R. shook his head miserably. "Son, that isn't your failure, it's mine. If I asked a simple question in the first place the misunderstanding wouldn't have gone on as long as it has. Your life in high school was pretty...complicated, wasn't it?" At a nod of agreement, Johnny knew he'd chosen the right word. "I can't change the past, J.R., but I can maybe help make the future a little better. Would you like to learn to drive, son?" After a moment the younger Gage nodded. "Okay, we'll start as soon as you want. The Rover is a good car to learn on...if you can drive it, you can drive just about anything with four gears or less. What about baseball?" Another nod. "Okay, we can start with going to a Dodgers game to see how it's done, then some basics and practice in the back yard. Backpacking? Camping?" Johnny waited, holding his breath. "I can do that already. I camped with a friend back in Kansas City sometimes." J.R. didn't elaborate, and Johnny decided to take his word and leave it at that. "You've done real well learning to ride," Johnny said thoughtfully, "climbing?" "I do that at work, Dad." "Okay. Anything else you'd like to learn? Swimming?" "I can swim. They had a pool at high school and I learned in gym class." "Fishing?" "Yeah, I've never done that." J.R. looked at Johnny with a gleam of interest. He seemed more excited over fishing than driving. "By the way, there's something I can teach you." Johnny looked puzzled and asked the question with his eyes. "Cooking!" J.R. smiled. "My mom taught me how when I was a kid and I learned to do the cooking and shopping for both of us. That was when she got sick." The smile faded. "What can you cook?" Johnny was anxious not to lose the mood. "You got a cookbook?" "Just one." Johnny shuddered at the memory of trying to cook dinner using Chef Michele's recipes. "It's French," he said helpfully. J.R. shook his head. "I'll get a good one next time we go to the mall. Meanwhile I don't need a cookbook for the easy stuff...fried chicken, omelets, lasagne, spaghetti, ribs, pork chops, ham..." "You can cook all that stuff?" Johnny was amazed. "Yep, and I'll teach you so you can amaze all the guys at the station...and you won't have to keep giving Marco and Rudy latrine duty to get out of cooking." J.R. grinned. "How did you know about that!" Johnny thought his clever scheme was a secret. Every time Johnny or one of the other inept cooks in his crew was up for kitchen duty, the captain gave Lopez or Taylor latrine duty, knowing they would be glad to swap details. "Oh, things get around." J.R. chuckled. "Your paramedics talk to our paramedics...your engineer talks to our engineer...Konnitsky likes to complain a lot." END OF PART I ************** |