This is Chapter 3 in a story of family, sex, violence, heroism and love. If you are a new reader, you might want to start from the beginning and read Chapters 1 and 2. Simply click on my name at the top of the story. That link will take you to my page and you'll find them there.
Although our story has its roots in fact, this is a work of fantasy and fiction. I hope you'll enjoy it, don't hesitate to comment and make suggestions. I do appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for reading; don't forget to vote, it helps me judge the success of the story.
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The racket was incredible; I jerked my head up and looked around. It was still dark but mom's trusty Big Ben alarm clock was banging away loud enough to wake the dead. I managed to turn it off, remembering not to toss it across the room. I was all alone in bed, no mother.
"Oh good! You're awake!" said my mother in her way too cheery for life voice; and then she snapped on the ceiling light.
"MOM, mother please, mercy ..."
She laughed, that's right she laughed. It was a nice, loving laugh, "Come on sleepyhead, there's lots to do ..."
"Dear God, what time is it?"
She took my head in her hands and kissed me right on top, "It's just after 6:00. So get up and pull all the linens off the bed, gather up the rest of the laundry, go out in the garage and start the laundry ... lots to do!"
I stood there blinking, my morning wood bobbing in front of me. She looked down and patted my dick right on the head and said to my boner, "No time for that today, you be a good boy now!" and went back to the kitchen. So I did as I was told, all the bed linens, the laundry basket in the closet, all the stuff from the bathroom and my leftovers from upstairs.
By the time I got the washing machine started, took a healthy pee, washed my face and stumbled into the kitchen it was full on 6:30 am. Mom just grinned at me and put a large bowl of oatmeal with raisins and chopped apple in front of me. "Eat up, you're gonna' need your strength!"
Good Lord she was in a good mood. It's easy to love my mother, really easy when she's cheery and happy like today.
I looked up as she was pouring a cup of coffee for me, "Mom, you must be happy with Dad coming home and all."
"Baby I am delighted he'll be here today and I love having important things to do. It's a great day regardless of the circumstances ... AND you're going to graduate class salutatorian!"
Her good humor was infectious, "Yes I am, and before you ask, my address is ready, practiced and set to go ... all 5 minutes of it."
She kissed me again as I polished off the oatmeal, and then directed me to vacuum the living room and hall, take out the trash, run the dust mop in the bedroom and sweep the kitchen while she cleaned the bathroom and made a few calls. The next hour was a whirlwind of activity but when we finished our little home gleamed.
"7:30 son, good time to call Mary Kate," she said waving me to the phone. It was a simple call; Mary Kate was so kind and so ready to go to the party with her hero. Hero, I really don't like people using that word but what can you do ... just be nice and hope it will all go away.
We were at the lumberyard at 8:00 picking up paint, something called demi crown molding along with brushes and a can of thinner. The guys just put everything on Uncle Bill's account; by 8:30 we were at the Furniture Barn just east of Planters Corners. Inside she made a quick selection of a really beautiful bedroom set, two bedside tables, lamps and two large low chairs. I watched as she pulled the store manager aside, "Mr. Smith I want this delivered today at 3:30, no later. Can you do it?"
He looked perplexed and started suggesting an alternative delivery time, "Nope; either deliver today on time or I go elsewhere. This is a cash deal, do you want it or not?"
He caved like a marshmallow in the oven. Mom paid him the full amount with a check and we were off. At 9:45 I was hauling in all the things we'd bought and mom was giving orders like a general on the battlefield. At 10:00 Tim Myers, a boy from a neighboring farm, rode up on his bicycle and together we cleaned up the yard, Tim started mowing the surrounding yard on Uncle Bill's big riding mower and I went to work with the weed eater.
While we worked doing that another couple of men who'd worked with dad in the past showed up and put up the crown molding in the bedroom, prepped the walls and began painting the bedroom and hallway. Two hours later Tim and I hosed ourselves off and bagged up all of the outside excess.
A little after noon dad came driving up followed by Jace and one of his guys. Dad came over and gave me a crushing hug, "God boy, it's good to see you. How're things going?"
"Honestly dad, I don't know. Haven't been inside today, but mom's been running the wheels off everybody." He just leaned back and bayed, "That's your momma. When she gets started, she's hell on wheels!"
"Come on, let's go take a look."
Inside, dad spoke to mom's two helpers. They were scrubbing the kitchen and polishing the floor. In the hall, it had been painted a soft green and the floor molding and demi crown was painted a colonial white. I looked around and said, "Jeez dad, this is really nice ..."
"Yep, that's your mother. The woman has good taste; I just never had enough money."
And then we heard her, "Jace, you be careful with that buffer, the paint's not dry yet." That was followed by a muffled, "Yes ma'am."
Dad looked at me, "I guess we better watch our step."
Just then mom came into the hall, "Dan Cox, you get over and give me some love!" She was happy to see him.
After they broke apart she said, "Let me show you what we've been doing, but don't touch the paint." We didn't. The bedroom was trimmed and painted in the same colors as the hallway and the oak floor was being polished. She'd had sconces built and trimmed out over the windows on the wall where the bed had been. All we needed was furniture and drapes hung.
Dad came up behind her and gave her a hug, "Ellen, you've done a fantastic job. Clearly, you don't need my help."
"I may not need it, but that doesn't mean I don't want it," and then they kissed again; just a peck this time.
Jace turned off the buffer, "Hey Dan, good to see ya' ... now Miz Cox, give this floor a couple of hours before you bring in the furniture and you're good to go. And ah, don't worry about paying me the balance, I looked that furniture over and ... well, we're good."
Mom looked at him carefully and then stuck out her hand. They shook and she said, "Thank you Jace."
"You're welcome Miz Cox, nice working with you. Dan, catch you later." He was loaded and gone in 5 minutes as the two guys from the kitchen came in, "Miz Cox, you want to check out the kitchen, we're done."
She said, "No, I know you've done a good job. Let me get your checks ..."
The fellow who'd spoken held up his hand, "No ma'am, this is on us. Give Bill and the missus our best." They too were gone quickly, I looked outside and Tim was gone as well. I shouldn't have been surprised but still it was nice to know neighbors really would pitch-in.
Mom tore a page off her yellow pad, "Here's how I want the furniture arranged, be sure they don't ding the walls, OK? Oh yes, the drapes are on the couch in the living room, hang those in an hour or so, be careful of the walls."
I just nodded as she looped her arm around dad, "Your dad and I are gonna' go home and go over some business while you're waiting here."
"Sure mom, you guys be sure and ah ... go over some business," I said with a grin. Dad just laughed as they left.
The movers showed up on time and everything was put where she wanted it. She'd changed everything, relocated the bed and basically changed the bedroom from traditional to English Country. It was warm and sorta' sweet.
