Mountain Magic by Sequoyah

Chapter Twelve

I guess anyone who has ever been in love can remember when you couldn't get

enough of your lover. I felt like I had missed out for sixteen years and

had to make up for lost time. Jason said he felt the same, but he was much

more reserved than I was. Saturday, when I had a swim meet and he had to

work, he seemed all business when we were dressed and ready to head

downstairs for breakfast. I felt he was holding me at arm's length and said

so. I was surprised when he agreed.

"You got to remember, I have never been loved by someone I could depend

on. As a matter of fact, I was your age before I thought anyone cared shit

about me," he said. "My Grandma was the first person I can remember who

loved me just the way I am."

"And she left you."

"Yeah, not logical and rational but, yeah, I feel like she just walked off

and left me. Maybe in the future I can risk letting myself go completely

but right now, if I think about it, I'm afraid. I'm afraid you'll leave me

too." I started to protest and he said, "Doug, that feeling has nothing to

do with you and nothing you can say will take it away. It will go away when

I realize I can turn loose and abandon myself to you. I wish things were

different and that wasn't true, but I would not be honest if I denied that

fear was there. Give me time, ok?"

I still had my arms around Jason and, to answer him, I kissed him

passionately as I pressed my groin into his and welcomed his tongue into my

mouth. I knew we both were hard and hot and I wanted to stay as we were

forever, and said so. But Jason finally broke our kiss, looked into my eyes

and gave me one of his wonderful smiles and whispered, "Not such a good

idea, lover. Besides, I need food."

November crept along and school became a complete drag. The weather

continued cold, wet and gray. The only bright spot was Thanksgiving

holidays which would begin after school Tuesday and last until the

following Monday. Monday after school, Hank told Jonathan his parents were

ready for him when he was released from the hospital. "We'll have to do

some rearranging but, actually, you could come now so far as we are

concerned," Hank added.

We were excited about Jonathan coming to live in Deep Cove but he seemed

very reserved, even frightened. On the way to Clarksville for work and swim

team practice, Hank and I talked about Jonathan's attitude until Jason

finally said, "Look, how would you feel about being booted out of your

house and going to live with perfect strangers? I know how the first part

feels since I was kicked out, but I knew my Grandma. So far as Jonathan

knows, our families may be as bad as his. He only has our word for it."

Leave it to Jason to get our thinking straight.

After swim practice, Hank and I went to the "cat house" to work. Jason

promised this would be our last day and, since we had gotten it ready on

time, Jake had said we could take off the rest of Thanksgiving week.

As we worked, finishing up the job, Hank said, "You guys mind if I ask some

questions? Maybe some foolish ones, but there are things I'm not sure

about--may be confused about, but things I'd like to know--I guess. You

know ....."

"No problem," Jason said and I agreed. "But you know we may not answer them

all."

"Sure, of course," Hank grinned and said, "I'll try not to get TOO

personal, but I won't promise. Wouldn't want to answer some questions

about--you know--me and Beth."

Some of Hank's questions had to do with how we knew we were gay, and Jason

just turned that around and asked him how he knew he wasn't. That threw

Hank for a loop, I think. Jason finally reminded him that it was not

something we had decided any more than his being straight was something he

had decided. A lot of the questions he asked were questions we had, and

needed answers for, and we said so.

On the way home, Hank and I got to complaining about the amount of time we

spent training for the swim team. We had swim practice Monday, Wednesday

and Friday of every week but had very few meets, one every other week most

of the time, although there were times when we only had one in three weeks.

When I got home I talked about it with Grandmom and Granddad. "Since I have

started working with Jason, I've been giving serious thought about the time

I spend in swim team practice. Seems a lot of effort for too few

meets.""Douglas, you know that will have to be your decision," Granddad

said.

"I know," I responded, "but I'd like to know what you think about it. Help

me sort through things."

"What about your teammates? How do they feel about it?" Grandmom asked.

"I guess most of them don't think about it. I doubt I'd be thinking about

it if I hadn't started working."

"What would they think about you quitting? Don't you think they might feel

you were letting them down? Won't you be letting them down?" Granddad

asked.

Jason hadn't said anything in the Jeep and I wondered what he thought about

the swim team. So I asked.

"Douglas, I will be going out for baseball. Are you planning to try out?"

"Sure, I want to, but there's a baseball game every week."

"What do you suppose the baseball team would think about someone who joined

a team and then dropped out? What if your baseball teammates look at your

swim team and decide you can't be depended on? You need to think about

that."

"Seems to me you need to ask yourself if you only swim to practice for

meets or if you swim because you love it. If you really like to swim, then

it wouldn't matter whether you had a meet or not," Granddad said.

"And if you are going out for baseball, you'll need to get into

shape--which I have to do as well," Jason said, "and swimming will do that

for you."

"Helps to have things pointed out when you are sorting out stuff," I

said. "Thanks. And I'll be on the swim team, meets or not."

Later, when Hank and I talked about the swim team he definitely changed his

attitude when I brought up the matter of teammates, saying he couldn't let

them down.

Of course, if I were honest with myself, what really made me think of

quitting the swim team was Jason and the thought that I could have three

more hours a week with him. When I mentioned that, he surprised me by

asking if I really needed to spend more time with him. "Sure I do. I want

to spend twenty-four/seven with you," I protested.

"You sure? Think about it," he said. "We're together almost

twenty-four/seven already. I know right now we think we will never get

tired of each other, but we also need lives of our own." I was kinda hurt

when he said that but, when we really talked through it, I realized he was

right. If we were not careful we'd end up shutting out everything except

each other, becoming a whole world of our own. "And it would be a pretty

small world," he reminded me.

Hank had said little while Jason and I talked. Finally he said, "Look, Beth

and I don't get to spend as much time together as you two and there are

times when I wish I had more time to myself. She agrees, and we have

started trying to make the time we have together more than just making

out. We are becoming great friends and, as friends, we enjoy spending time

together. Still make out--oh yes we do--but not all the time.

"Well at least I do have something besides work and school. I still have a

few more weeks of swimming and I really do like to swim. I'll still swim

after the season is over, for sure. Then, Jason, maybe you can swim with me

when the team is no longer practicing. Now all you do is work and go to

school."

"I know. Sometimes I think that's all I'll ever do. Don't get me wrong, I

really appreciate what the grandparents are doing for me, but I need to

work all the hours I can and school is not easy. I missed school so much

the last couple years that I'm having to do some catch-up and the courses

I'm taking are not easy ones. I know I need excellent grades if I am to

have a chance at something beyond high school, but I'm definitely looking

forward to something different--to starting conditioning for baseball."

Jason paused a moment and said, thoughtfully, "Yeah, I'm looking forward to

doing something beyond school and work and I need to start doing some

disciplined exercise now. Facing baseball conditioning, I know I am in for

some really sore muscles. I am not in shape."

"I like the shape you're in," I said, reaching over and running my hand

down his strong back. "But look, the Y has an exercise room with better

equipment than the school has. There's seldom anyone in it when I go for

swim practice. Why don't you join up and use it while Hank and I swim. It's

not expensive."

"Jason, that's a super idea," Hank said. "Douglas may like the shape you're

in, but I bet a couple days conditioning for baseball and you will be one

sore turkey."

"Hadn't thought about that," Jason responded. "Well, I didn't know what the

Y had to offer. Yeah, sounds like a great idea."

We were so busy talking that we were nearly home before Hank said, "Whoa!

We were supposed to go by the hospital after work. Remember?"

"Damn! Doug, you and I were talking about being careful and watching what

we were doing too. A Jeep-load of one-track minds, I guess," Jason said as

I did a U-turn and headed back to the hospital.

When we reached Jonathan's room, he was sitting in a chair, watching

TV. "Hey guys," he said. "Working late today?"

"Yeah, that would sound better than admitting we were so busy talking we

drove past the hospital, which is what really happened."

"Gee, must have been interesting."

"Not really, just running our mouths," I said, "but what's your news?"

"Depends," he answered. "I was told today that I can be discharged as soon

as I have a place to go. I'll have to come back for a checkup and maybe to

have stitches out, but I'm ready to go."

"Right now?" Hank asked.

"Well I wish, but I'm not quite that ready," he smiled. "The doctor said

he'd be in to check me over thoroughly tomorrow--late morning he

hopes. After he does that, I'll have my dressing changed or not replaced

depending on how things are going."

"You still have a dressing on your back?" Hank asked.

"Not exactly. It's my balls," Jonathan said, turning bright red.

"Oh," Hank said.

"One of my testicles was hurt when I was being beaten. I thought it was

going to be removed, but it didn't have to be. I don't know exactly what

had to be done, but everything is there and functioning--or so I have been

told."

"Makes me hurt to think about it," Hank said.

"Not half as bad as having it happen, I can assure you of that!" Jonathan

grinned.

"Oh, Mom wanted to know your sizes," Hank said. "We'll bring clothes when

we come to get you."

Jonathan was smaller than any of us. I'm sure he had lost weight in the

hospital, but he had a slight build anyway. That's not to say he didn't

have a nice build, just that it was slight. We'd learn later he was a

swimmer and could swim like a fish. Of course, he could only swim in the

summer in a pond because the religious group his family belonged to would

never allow boys and girls to swim together. "Just small everything, I

guess," he answered.

"That'll work for shirts and underwear, but not for pants," Jason said.

"Where's the jeans you had on when you came in?"

"In the closet, I guess," Jonathan replied.

Jason opened the closet, found the jeans and said, "28, 31. That's not

going to be easy to find, I bet. Boxers or briefs?"

Jonathan blushed and said, "I had to wear boxers. Well, they are even

longer than boxers I think. They were to help keep me from being sexually

aroused." Jonathan giggled and said, "They didn't work. Anyway, could I

have briefs?"

"Sure thing," Hank said. "We'll get you covered enough to get you home,"

Hank said, "and I can see a trip to the thrifts soon."

Jonathan stood when we said we had to go, and gave each of us a hug--a

habit which would soon become a regular part of the "one for all and all

for one" gang.

As we drove back to Deep Cove, we talked about Jonathan coming to live with

Hank. We knew that the Dennisons had said Jonathan could come live with

them, but nothing had really been done to get ready for him. "I think you

two need to have supper with me tonight and afterward we need to get things

ready for Jonathan."

"Makes sense," I said. "We'll need to stop by the house and let the

grandparents know what's going on."

When we got to my place, Hank's parents and the grandparents were way ahead

of us. Grandmom said, "Guys, we're all having supper at the Dennisons'

tonight so we can get ready for Jonathan. Have you seen him today?"

We told Grandmom about forgetting him and having to go back. "But how did

you know he's being released tomorrow?" Jason asked.

"Mr. Gillis, the hospital administrator, has kept us advised of how

Jonathan is doing and told us he'd be leaving tomorrow if everything

continues going well. He, of course, also called your parents, Hank, to let

them know what was going on. Your mom suggested we get together since

Jonathan is really you boys' project. I know you will do a good job of

getting ready for him, but us old folks may be able to help. So get ready

and we'll be off."Grandmom had prepared a couple of dishes to take with us

for a kind of two-family pot-luck supper.

After we had supper, we went up to Hank's room. It really was the whole

attic, undivided except the two front dormers, one of which was a bathroom

and the other a huge walk-in closet. The back ceiling sloped like the front

and had a single dormer and two skylights which could be opened. The rest

of the attic was one very large room. Hank had straightened up his room,

which usually had piles of clothes here and there and other things just

tossed about. Jason had been on his case several times without any real

results. "Glad to see you did a little cleaning up here, Hank," Jason

laughed.

"Yeah, thought I needed to set a good example for young Jonathan," Hank

grinned.

Hank's older brother was in college, so Hank had the attic to himself. He

had talked to his brother about Jonathan coming to live with the family

and, before he could say much, his brother told him he would only be home

for holidays as he had his summers planned. "I'll spend any time I am at

home in the guest room," he had said. "Actually, I've pretty much left home

unless something changes."

We all looked at the room and furniture and started planning a layout. The

center of the room was already set up as a living area, with a couple of

comfortable chairs, a couch, lamps and coffee table. There was even a rug

defining the "living room". Hank said there was another comfortable chair

in an attic cubbyhole and Jason got it out. "That's a couch and three

chairs," Hank said. "That should be enough."

One end of the large open space was Hank's "bedroom" and the other would be

Jonathan's. I noted a pipe running from wall to wall, some fifteen or so

feet from the outside walls. Just as I was about to ask about it, Hank's

mom said, "I'll go downstairs and bring the curtains up."

"Where will curtains go?" I asked, as the only windows were at the gable

ends and they had curtains.

"They go on the pipes," Hank's dad said. "We had to put them up to keep

Hank and Josh from fussing." Hank's mom and Grandmom came upstairs with the

curtains, and the two men helped the three of us get them on the

pipes. "The boys usually had the curtains pulled together except when it

was really hot and they needed more air circulating, then they pulled them

back." Each boy's "room" was separated from the living area by the

curtains, giving them privacy.

Each bedroom had a bed, chest, nightstand, lamp--all the bedroom sort of

stuff. Mrs. Dennison stripped the bed in Jonathan's end of the attic and

Grandmom asked if she should strip Hank's. Hank quickly said, "I'll do

that," and rushed to his bed. As he stripped it I saw why he wanted to do

the job himself. There was a very large spot in the center of his bottom

sheet. I just looked at him and whispered, "Dreaming of Beth?" and

grinned. He grinned back.

Hank took the soiled bedclothes downstairs. Mrs. Dennison had brought up

clean ones and she and Grandmom made up the beds while Hank and I helped

finish arranging the furniture in both bedrooms. When all was in place, the

old folks went downstairs and the three of us looked over the arrangement

and liked it. "Given Jonathan's age--yours too--and the hormone level which

will be up here, I think the curtains are a good idea," I said."They give

plenty of privacy unless you do a lot of groaning like Josh does when he

spanks his monkey," Hank laughed.

"The place looks great," Jason said, "All done--whoa--where is the computer

going?" It was sitting on the floor in a corner, forgotten. It had been in

Hank's room but had been disconnected so it could be put where it could be

used by both Hank and Jonathan.

The three of us got the computer, printer, all that stuff, set up in the

third dormer and got the cable modem connected and working.

Jason and I had talked about getting a cable modem. There was cable in the

house, so getting it installed wouldn't be a major problem and we could

split the cost. We just never seemed to get around to it, but every time we

used Hank's computer for surfing the web the question came up again.

With everything in place, we got to work doing a super cleaning job. We

went way beyond what Hank had done and probably beyond what had been done

in the past four or five years, ever since Mrs. Dennison had stopped

cleaning the boys' room. In the middle of our work Hank said, "I guess this

is putting our work experience to good use," and laughed.

"I just thought of something," Jason said as he stopped straightening up

books. "You know Mr. Duncan announced today we would be on short schedule

tomorrow. That means periods will be shortened, lunch will be a bit later

than usual and school dismissed after lunch, but he also said students will

not be allowed to leave before lunch. 'Can't leave before lunch' means we

have a vacant period--even if it is short--to do nothing before we can go

get Jonathan."

"Maybe we can get permission to leave before lunch. Mr. Duncan saying, 'I

have been assured we'll have a real Thanksgiving dinner,' didn't grab me,"

I said. "A real dinner in a school cafeteria? You gotta be kidding."

"Oh no? You guys don't know it, but the school Thanksgiving dinner lunch is

worth waiting for. Personally, I think it is as good as Mama's, but I'd

never let her know that. So, how's this?" Hank asked. "Why don't we see if

Ms. Kennedy will give us permission to go pick up Jonathan during our

off-period and bring him back to school for Thanksgiving dinner lunch?"

"You're thinking, Bro," Jason said. "'Course we need to be prepared to have

Jonathan tell us he's not interested. We don't really know his feeling

about school. Damn! I just thought of something. Suppose that preacher,

that Brother Leader jerk, has blabbed about Jonathan and it's all over

school?"

"Think we can forget about that," I answered. "I'm sure if that had

happened we would have heard about it. I can't imagine the high school

grapevine missing a juicy story like that."

"True," Hank said, "and you, we, need to remember that--I mean about you

two .... you know. But, anyway, about tomorrow ... I think it would be best

if one of you goes to see Ms. Kennedy. I know her, but she knows you two

better."

"Maybe we will both go. We'll see," I said. "In the meantime, this place is

looking great, a really nice place for two guys."

When we got downstairs, Grandmom and Mrs. Dennison had discussed getting

clothes for Jonathan and decided they'd just take him PJs and a robe. "Not

such a good idea," Hank said, "because we are going to see if he wants to

come to school for lunch. He'll need real clothes."

"You think he'll be dying for school lunch?" Mr. Dennison asked. "Seems I

have heard horror tales about school lunch."

"Not tomorrow. It'll be Thanksgiving dinner lunch," Rosemary, Hank's

sister, said.

"I'm sure you'll be busy at the store tomorrow, Ellen," Grandmom

said. "Gerald and I can run into Clarksville and get clothes for the boy."

"Why don't you just come by the store and I'll go shopping with you,"

Mrs. Dennison said. "I can be gone from the store that long. I'm sure

Gerald is like Hayden and would just as soon never go shopping."

Jason and I went straight to Ms. Kennedy's office as soon as we got to

school Tuesday, and told her the situation with Jonathan. She thought our

picking Jonathan up and bringing him to school for lunch was a great

idea--provided he wanted to come. She wrote a pass for the three of us to

leave and return to campus.

So far as school was concerned, Tuesday was a complete bust. None of my

teachers tried to accomplish anything. Given the short periods and the

holiday spirit among students and teachers, the lack of any academic

activity wasn't surprising.

As soon as the bell rang for the end of the sixth period, "the three

musketeers" dashed out of the building, mounted our trusty steed and headed

for the hospital. When we arrived, Jonathan was dressed and ready to

go. "Looking sharp, kewl dude," Hank said, his mountain accent

notwithstanding. Jonathan was dressed in cargo pants and rugby shirt and a

down jacket lay on his bed. "Ready to roll?"

"Ready to roll," Jonathan replied and his face lit up with a huge smile,

the first time I had seen such a smile on his face.

"We thought you might like to go to school before we take you home," Hank

said. "It's Thanksgiving dinner lunch day and that will be all that's left

of school by the time we get there."

"The food sounds good--I remember my older brother talking about

Coldsprings High's Thanksgiving dinner lunch. But what do I tell people who

want to know where I have been and what I have been doing? I really don't

want to say, 'I've been in the hospital recovering from a beating my dad

gave me when he found out I was a fag.'"

"In the first place, where you have been and why is none of their

business. But some students will want to know where you have been and why

they haven't seen you. Some will ask out of concern, others out of

curiosity. What you answer is up to you. You probably should just say

something like, 'I had to spend some time in the hospital recovering from

exposure.' That's true and says all that needs to be said," Jason said.

"And if they ask why you are staying with Hank--as they will when they find

that out--you can just say it is a family matter and no more. By the time

we get back from Thanksgiving something else will probably be the topic of

conversation," I added.

That was rational and logical and, of course, did not soothe away all of

Jonathan's fears. "Guys, I'm really sorta worried about going to school and

everything. I don't know anyone, really, or how I should act and all." It

was clear Jonathan was becoming more and more nervous as we stood around

and talked, trying to reassure him.

"Heck, just act natural," Hank said. "Besides, you'll be with us and you

know us."

Jonathan got a big smile on his face again. "Like big brothers?" he asked,

his face clearly expecting a yes answer.

"Big brothers and friends. Sure," Jason said. "Come on, the turkey waits."

We started walking down the hall, four abreast, our arms around each

other's waist. When we reached the nurses' station, the charge nurse said,

"Take care, Jonathan, and do come around to let us know how you're doing."

"I will, I promise. And thanks for taking care of me, especially when I was

being a jerk."

"You were never a jerk, just a hurting kid," she said, and gave Jonathan a

hug.

When we got to school, we went to Ms. Kennedy's office to let her know

Jonathan was back. She gave him a hug and said, "Jonathan, welcome back to

Coldsprings. Your friends here have kept me posted on your progress. I

understand you will be living with Hank. I hope you will come to let me

know how things are going, and after the holiday we will get a program set

up to help you get caught up in school. But now, come on, let's all go

enjoy lunch!" Ms. Kennedy said as she took Jonathan's arm.

When we reached the cafeteria, Beth, Janie and Sandra were waiting for

us. The six of us had our own table which other students respected. The

girls joined us in line as did Ms. Kennedy. When we had our food,

Ms. Kennedy came to our table rather than going to one of the faculty

tables. We snagged two chairs and added them to the six around the

table. The girls made a big fuss over Jonathan and he ate it up.

After lunch, Mr. Duncan wished everyone a happy holiday and dismissed

school. There was, of course, a mighty rush to the parking lot and the

buses. Hank was hanging onto Beth and was in no rush to go home. Before we

could get away, Sandra and Janie had made dates with us for dinner and a

movie in Asheville Saturday night. "We're paying this time," Janie

said. "Don't want people getting the wrong idea. Jonathan, we expect you to

go as well."

"I don't want to be the extra tag-along little brother," Jonathan replied.

"No problem," Sandra replied. "We're just friends out to have a good

time. You are now part of the gang. Someone you'd like to ask, go

ahead. We'll have piles of room. I'm driving Dad's van."

Sandra's dad ran a tour service in the summer. He did a lot of mountain

tours in a very fancy van which carried a dozen people comfortably. In the

winter he did things like taking people from assisted living homes to the

shops, to movies, to other activities.

"In that case, I'd love to go. I've never been to a movie," Jonathan

responded.

Needless to say, that provoked a lengthy discussion. The religious group to

which Jonathan's family belonged did not allow adherents to go to movies or

watch television. Even at that, we were all surprised that Jonathan had

never seen a movie--well he had seen instructional movies at school, but

that was it--and had only seen TV in the hospital.

When we got to Hank's, all four of us went upstairs. The curtains had been

pulled back from the center so each "room" looked like a stage set. Hank

said, "Jonathan, take your pick."

"Hank, I'm coming into your house. You tell me where to go and I will."

"Sure you will, but that's not the way it works. You pick your room."

I couldn't see any difference in the two "rooms" so wondered why Hank was

making an issue of Jonathan making a choice. Later when I mentioned it to

Jason he said, "You've never been a real outsider going into someone's

home. If you had been, you'd know you are afraid you'll do something that

will upset someone, but when Hank insisted Jonathan make a choice--even

though you are right, there is no difference--it was a way of saying, 'you

belong here as much as I do.'"

"I understand now, but I didn't offer you the choice of rooms when you came

to live with us."

"No, but we made decisions together about the space. It was very clear to

me that we were arranging our space--mine and yours--and not just

rearranging yours."

Anyway, Jonathan finally chose a room and we put in his chest the few

clothes Grandmom and Mrs. Dennison had bought for him.

"You two are off work tomorrow, right?" Hank asked.

"Sure are, and welcome time off after cleaning up the 'cat house'," Jason

answered.

"Then why don't we take young Jonathan to the thrifts in the morning?"

"Sounds good, but not too early. We can sleep in tomorrow," I responded,

"and I intend to make the most of it."

"Yeah, I'm sure Douglas will need to sleep in, because I feel a nightmare

coming on," Jason laughed and winked at me.

"What's this about nightmares?" Jonathan asked. "I have nightmares all the

time and get really scared. I sometimes scream and scream and no-one can

wake me up."

"Glad to have the warning," Hank said. "But what does your having a

nightmare have to do with Douglas sleeping in?"

Jason was behind me and had his arms around me, pulling my body to his, his

chin leaning on my shoulder. "When Doug was a kid and had a nightmare, one

of his parents slipped into bed with him and sang him a lullaby. I had a

real bad nightmare some weeks ago and Doug came and crawled in bed with me,

held me and sang me a lullaby. So I feel a nightmare coming on," Jason

laughed and nibbled one of my ears.

Jonathan turned red when he saw Jason nibbling my ear and Hank said, "Think

we need some rules around here," and laughed. Jason turned me loose and

flopped in a chair, his legs over the arm on one side, his back against the

other.

As the rest of us got settled, I asked, "Hank, what's going on with Janie

and Sandra? I didn't miss their comment about paying for Saturday's date so

people wouldn't get the wrong idea, but didn't think it was the time or

place to ask for an explanation. Not that I am displeased, if the comment

means what I think it means."

"Well, I'm pretty sure it means what you think it means, but that's about

all I know," Hank said. "Beth told me last week Sandra had mentioned your

statement, Jason, about having a commitment. She was glad because that

allowed her to just be friends and you not to expect more. Janie just said,

'That makes two of us. I really want to keep Douglas as a friend, but

nothing more.' I told Beth you two thought the girls wanted more than just

friendship and she said she did too, but guessed signs had been

misread. Anyway, you two are off the hook, at least for the time being."

"I'm glad, but I am puzzled by what seems a sudden change. Just don't want

the two to get hurt. Maybe we'll find out more later," Jason said. "Anyway,

we'll leave you to get settled, Jonathan."

"Yeah, and we'll be by about 10:30 in the morning to pick you two up for

Asheville and the thrifts," I said.

"I keep hearing about thrifts and I don't know what you're talking about,"

Jonathan said.

"Fill Jonathan in, Hank," Jason said. "We're off."

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