Monday, thankfully, went as planned for Billy who was stressed out enough without having to worry about the unexpected glitches life seemed to feel so free to toss at him on a regular basis. Lunch time was spent at the DMV testing for the permit that would allow him to ride his new bike, and, thanks to his diligence in studying the book over the weekend he was rewarded with the little piece of paper granting him the special authority. Then it was back to work where he began to experience butterflies over Kato’s impending visit for the week. They had met at Abraham’s parents’ house numerous times but never really had a chance to chat together since Clarence was quite successful in keeping them all apart. Therefore, neither Billy nor Abraham really knew that much about the young man; his likes, dislikes, interests.

Four-thirty rolled around to find Billy flying out the door, and fifteen minutes later he was ambling up the path to their house where he spotted the young man seated upon the front steps, stuffed backpack laying beside him. He was tall and skinny, just like his dad and uncle, and all in all quite a handsome young man.

“Hi Kato,” Billy greeted him with a smile, extending his hand.

Kato shook it weakly with a look of ambivalence.

“Been here long?”

“Nah.”

“Well then, shall we get in out of this heat?” Unlocking the front door, Billy issued the newcomer in. “You’ve got the spare bedroom down the hall to the right. Make yourself comfortable. You hungry?”

“No,” came the curt reply just before Kato paced down the hall and closed the bedroom door behind him.

“Oh, this is going to be so much fun,” Billy told himself and melted into the kitchen to make some coffee. An hour passed before Abraham arrived to find Billy sitting out back on the deck with an empty coffee cup.

“The kid here yet?” Abraham asked with a peck on the lips and a glance back at the house.

“Yeah. Went straight to his room and he’s been there since.”

“He say much to you?”

“’Nah’ and ‘No’. That was it.”

“A man of few words,” he said with a smile that then turned to a look of concern. “So, do I dare ask how it went at DMV today?”

Billy dug the piece of paper out of his wallet and shoved it in Abraham’s face. “Got it!”

“Fantastic. Well, I suppose we had better get you down to the bike shop and buy you a helmet so you can start riding the thing.”

No sweeter words had ever been spoken and this brought Billy directly to his feet. “I’m ready.”

“Okay,” Abraham said, handing the permit back. “Let me change and go say hello to Kato and tell him we’re going. Do you care if he goes along?”

“No, of course not.” Billy jetted out the front door and ploughed in the car to await Abraham’s arrival, which happened an agonizing ten minutes later although once Abraham got behind the steering wheel Billy could tell that something had gone terribly wrong inside the house. The look on Abraham’s face revealed volumes of a great deal of dissatisfaction, and assuming that Kato had been instrumental in the transformation, Billy was almost afraid to ask what had happened.

“Well,” Abraham said, backing the car out of the driveway and saving Billy the trouble of breaking the silence, “the kid’s going to be a handful.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say that I think we are both going to be very relieved when he goes back home.”

Billy studied his man’s face for a moment. “Dare I ask what happened?”

“I went in to say ‘hi’ to him and ask him about school and all that, and he more or less read me the Riot Act about his having to stay here with, as he put it, a ‘cracker’.”

“Meaning me,” Billy surmised in mounting disappointment.

“Meaning,” Abraham corrected, “that the when I get back there are going to be some ground rules laid down and strictly followed. Derogatory names against you or me, profanity, and street language will not be tolerated, and if that means his having to be silent the entire time he’s with us then so be it.”

“I’m sorry,” Billy said, knowing how upset Abraham was and wishing that he could do something to change it.

“It’s not your fault, Bill, so don’t apologize. The boy is living in our world now and he’ll abide by the rules, and rule number one is; never speak badly about the man I love.”

Billy wanted to thank him for his support but decided it best just to keep quiet for the time being. Abraham needed to work through these issues with no interference from him so Billy merely faced forward and watched the passing scenery in silence.

Upon their return about an hour later, Billy and Abraham walked in to find Kato on the couch watching the television with his feet propped up on the coffee table, empty bag of potato chips next to him.

Calmly, Abraham walked over to him, picked up the remote and turned the TV off, which brought a combined look of unhappiness and shock from Kato who then sat glaring up at his uncle.

“What’s with that? Ain’t I even allowed to watch no TV around here?” he complained angrily.

“Didn’t I ask you not to eat anything until we got back?” Abraham asked this nephew patiently. “That was a brand new bag of chips.”

“Yeah, so?”

“So now you’re not going to be hungry for dinner. Bill was going to make us a very nice meal.”

Kato remained still for a moment, then stood. “I hate it here!” he spat and stomped off to his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Abraham retrieved the empty chips bag and stared down at it a moment before raising his eyes to Billy and saying, “Let the fireworks begin.”

Nodding, Billy placed his new helmet in the chair nearest him. “I’d better get dinner going. You gonna go talk to him?”

“No, I don’t think so, not right now. He needs to cool off first.”

“Judging by your face I’d say he’s not the only one who needs to cool off.”

“It shows that much?” Abraham asked him.

“I can see it in your eyes.”

“Does anybody have enough patience for teenagers?” Abraham asked softly.

Selected text © 2008 Timothy Lee