The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

“Shh.” Frank held up his hands. “You’ll set off the jinx factor. The kids are upstairs. Come on in.”

  “What smells good?”

  “Dinner.” Frank was less than descriptive.

  “Wow, really?”

  Shaking his head at his brother Frank moved to the dining room. “Let me just finish putting out the plates...” He stopped when he walked by the cradle. He spun around to Robbie, a slight worried look upon his face. “You haven’t seen Nick yet have you?”

  “No.” Robbie grinned. “Is he awake? Can I hold him?”

  “Yeah but don’t say anything about the way he looks.”

  “What? Is he ugly?”

  “No!” Frank snapped. “Just don’t say anything.”

  With his hands in his pockets, Robbie walked to the cradle and peeked in at the baby whose back faced him. “Look at all the hair he has. Man . . . not even Joey had that much hair.”

  “Yeah well, that’s a gripe of mine. . . .OK.” Frank tugged at his arm. “You’ve seen enough.”

  “Wait, I want to . . .” Robbie screamed, loudly too, and it was followed by probably the most belly sustained laugh that he had in quite long time. “Oh my God Frank.”

  “Enough.” Frank covered his own face with his hand.

  “Oh my God Frank.” Robbie reached into the cradle and lifted Nick. “He’s . . . he’s . . .”

  “He’s what!?”

  “He’s Japanese!” Laughing one more single loud laugh, Robbie held Nick. “What did I tell you? I told you and told you those two were banging. But no, you didn’t believe me when I said that, did you? Now who’s the one who’s . . .”

  “They say they don’t know.”

  “Don’t know what?” Robbie asked.

  “Don’t know how it happened.”

  Robbie laughed again. “You believe them?”

  “I didn’t at first.” Frank shrugged, “But with all the freaking time trips it’s possible.”

  “Unlikely. More likely they are lying.”

  “Why would Ellen lie?”

  “Uh .. she’s done it before.” Robbie looked down at the baby.

  “She said the closest she came was a single kiss to Henry when they were drunk and her and I broke up.”

  “Maybe it was more and they don’t remember.” Robbie suggested. “How’s Henry been about Ellen lately?”

  “There’s a long story to tell you. A lot happened while you were gone. Why do you ask?”

  “Just … what if …” Robbie shook his head. “Just thinking the worst of Henry.”

  Frank stared. “Don’t let Ellen hear that?”

  “Why? Did you say something to that affect?”

  “No.”

  “But you thought it?” Robbie questioned.

  “No. Give me my kid.” Frank snatched Nick away from him.

  “Your kid? Frank? Look at him.”

  “Yeah well his name is Nick Slagel.”

  “But his genealogy is Kusakari.”

  “But the genealogy part of him can’t fuckin even burp him let alone have him for more than three hours.” Frank laid his lips to the baby’s head. “So there.”

  “Henry’s all right with this? He lets you play Dad to his kid?”

  “What do you mean ‘play Dad’? I am being a Dad to this kid,” Frank said defensively. “I look at him as if he’s mine.”

  “And you don’t see Henry?” Robbie snickered. “Sorry.” He held up his hand.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Frank laid Nick back down.

  “So when will Henry want him back? You know so he can be the Dad.”

  “Never. It’s a share thing. Only right now, Henry prefers to let me have control until he gets older, than he says he’ll participate more.”

  Robbie nodded, as he saw the reason in that. “Understandable. He wants to wait until he sleeps through the night.”

  “Nick better sleep through the night by the time Henry wants to raise him because I have a feeling Nick will be pushing eighteen by the time that happens.” As he covered Nick, his raised eyes saw Ellen standing behind Robbie. “Hey El.” Frank smiled. “Robbie was making fun of our kid.”

  “Dick.” Ellen shoved Robbie. “He’s cute isn’t he?”

  “He looks like Henry,” Robbie commented, “exactly like Henry. I hope to God he doesn’t whine and stomp and pout like Henry when he gets older.”

  Frank shook his head with a huff. “You think I’ll let him get like that? El, will I let him . . .” His question to Ellen stopped when he heard the knock at the door a light knock. Frank flung back his head and moaned. “Dean.”

  Ellen giggled. “I’ll get it. You get dinner.”

  “No.” Frank stopped her. “Don’t answer it. We’re all having dinner. I’ll get it and send him away. He’s early.”

  Shrugging, Ellen let Frank go past then she and Robbie watched as he opened the door.

  “Go away,” Frank said as he opened it then shut it. As he turned from the door there was another knock. “Dean!”

  “Fra . . . um.” Dean held up his finger. “Why are you being so rude?”

  “You’re early. We didn’t eat yet. Go away. I’ll bring them to you later,” Frank told him.

  “I’m not here to get them. I need to speak to you. Can I come in?” Dean peeked his head in.

  “Aw.” Frank stomped. “For a second.” He held the door wider.

  “Thanks.” Dean smiled and stepped in. “Robbie. Ellen.”

  After Robbie’s hello, Ellen placed on a bitch face. “Dick.”

  Dean’s smile dropped. “What was that?”

  Robbie answered for her. “She said dick, as in a short name for Richard, another name for a penis, or you. Or me, for that matter. It’s her word of the day. Don’t feel bad, Dean. I was just called it too.” He grunted when he received his nudge from Ellen.

  With a ‘hmm’ Dean stepped further into the living room. “I won’t take up too much of your time Fra . .I . . uh . . .” Dean cleared his throat after stumbling in his words. “Anyhow. You came to the lab this afternoon.”

  Frank nodded. “Yeah. Is that what you wanted? Bye.” He reached for the door.

  “Not so fast.” Dean stopped him. “You said I heard things today.”

  “You did.”

  “I don’t know about that Fra . . . um, I don’t know.”

  “Dean. You’re the one who’s fuckin going nuts, not me. You heard things.”

  About that point in the conversation, Robbie edged his way to the kitchen and whispered to Ellen as he passed her. “I’m finishing setting the table. I can tell this is going to be a nowhere conversation.”

  “Robbie wait, you’ll . . .” Ellen pouted then shrugged, “miss it.” She grinned, crossed her arms, and stepped closer to Frank and Dean.

  Dean continued. “You said you were hypnotized this afternoon?”

  “Yep,” Frank answered.

  “Do you remember anything about it?”

  “I remember it all. He put me under then woke me up. Hell, I didn’t even think I was hypnotized but they said I was.” Frank lifted his shoulders then dropped them. “Is that all? You’re interrupting my family time.”

  “One more thing. I have to know. I think I have it.”

  “Have what?”

  “This . . .” Dean held up his hand to an impatient Frank. “Ready . . .” A slight silent pause and Dean said the next word with such clarity and pronunciation. “Frank.”

  “I love you, Dean.”

  Dean shrieked, Ellen roared, and Robbie’s broke a glass when he heard that from the kitchen.

  Frank looked at Dean then Ellen. “What? Ready for what? Robbie, what the fuck did you break in there?”

  Dean clapped his hands together. “I knew it.”

  “Knew what?”

  Dean snickered. “One more time . . . Frank.”

  “I love you, Dean.”

  Robbie raced into the living room. “What the hell is that?”

  Frank
spun to him. “What?”

  “You,” Robbie told him. “Why are you saying that to Dean?”

  “Saying what?”

  Robbie looked at Ellen who laughed so hard he knew he wasn’t getting an answer out of her then he looked to Dean for one. “Dean?”

  “O.K.” Dean caught his breath. “Your brother was hypnotized. I think they put a post hypnotic suggestion into his brain. I knew they did. El, did they?” They all watched Ellen walk from the room. “Anyhow, when I say . . . Frank.”

  “I love you, Dean.”

  Dean joined Robbie in laughing. “See Robbie.”

  Frank tossed his hands in the air. “See what? They didn’t put any post whatever in my brain. No way. I’d know.”

  Dean raised his eyebrows. “Frank.”

  “I love you, Dean.”

  Robbie gave a high squeal laugh then shoved Dean playfully. “You have to knock it off. It is way too much.”

  Frank had listened to all he wanted to. “Enough! What is going on . . . Ellen!” He called into the kitchen for her.

  Robbie decided--because he knew Frank would believe him--to be the one to tell him. “Jason must have put a suggestion into you so that every time…what is it, Dean? When you say his name?” Robbie got an agreement from Dean. “When Dean says your name, you, Frank, tell Dean . . .” Robbie laughed. “You tell him you love him.”

  “I do not . . . Ellen!”

  “Say his name, Dean,” Robbie requested.

  Just as Dean opened his mouth, Frank’s hand pummeled down and covered it. “Ellen!” He looked horrified. “El!”

  Finally calming herself enough to come out of the kitchen, Ellen walked into the living room. “Oh what now Frank?”

  “Is . . . is this true. Do I tell Dean that I love him when he says my name?”

  “Afraid so, Frank. But it’s only . . .”

  “Fuck!” Frank shouted as loud as he could. “Fuck! I fuckin knew he’d make me gay. How did I know he was going to do that?” Frank walked in fast circles. “Not only am I gay, but I’m in love with Dean! Uh!”

  Ellen tried to calm him. “It’s a joke, Frank. They’ll remove it tomorrow.”

  “No. They’ll remove it now! I am not spending the rest of my night gay. Robbie . . . get Dean out of here. I don’t want to have him say something else that triggers me kissing him.”

  Ellen edged on more. “Oh, he already said that you kissed him twice already.”

  Frank’s eyes widened. “When?”

  “Just now.” Ellen answered. “Don’t you remember?”

  Looking even worse, Frank ran to the dining room , picked up the phone, and began to dial.

  Dean had his enjoyment for the evening. “I’d better go. Now for sure I feel safe in letting them mess with my mind. Thanks Robbie and Ellen.” He walked to the door. “I’ll get the kids in an hour or so when I finish at the lab.” He turned around listening to Frank bitch at Godrichson on the phone. “Uh Frank?”

  Frank lowered the phone. “I love you, Dean.”

  With a snicker, Dean walked through the door. “Thanks.” Shaking his head, he left.

  With a beep of the cellular phone, Frank walked over to Robbie and Ellen who tried to look as if they weren’t enjoying the moment. “He’s coming over in an hour.” He checked out their faces. “What?”

  Robbie lifted his hand. “Don’t look at me. I’m offended by all this. El?”

  “Me too. To think, this really throws a monkey wrench into the Dean, Frank, and Ellen triangle.”

  “Ha, ha, ha” Frank said snidely. “Very funny. Well it’s over in an hour. I’m not letting Dean in the door. Also, you lied, El. There was nothing put in my head to make me kiss Dean.”

  “Oh Frank.” She sounded so somber. “I am so sorry.” She shrugged and smiled. “Oh well. Can we eat? I’ll get the kids.” Quickly, before she could get in anymore trouble, she dashed in between Frank and Robbie and to the steps.

  Frank pointed to the kitchen. “I’ll just put dinner on the table.”

  “In case I don’t tell you...” Robbie grinned. “Thanks Frank.”

  “For what?”

  “This is turning out to be a great evening. I sort of get my understanding time with Ellen. I get a meal. I find out my new nephew is Japanese and to top it all off… I find out my brother is in love with his ex-wife’s ex-husband.” Robbie snickered. “You gotta love Beginnings.”

  <><><><>

  “Damn it,” Henry cursed when the tiniest of screws slipped from his fingers and rolled down to the floor. He set the soldering iron on its stand and bent down to the floor in search of an object he thought for sure he wouldn’t find. He had better find it too. Metals told him making those tiny screws were a pain in the ass and they weren’t going to do it if Henry kept on dropping them.

  Henry didn’t see it nor did he expect to. He had to do it. He had to break down and pull it out. He walked over to his closet in Mechanics and pulled out the metal detector. How many times had that instrument came in handy when he would lose a screw outside? He thought how every time he put the detector on he would think back to the old world when he wouldn’t think twice if he lost a screw. Now everything, no matter what, was never was wasted in Beginnings. If it was of no more use in one way, it was either conformed or made to be used in another way.

  ‘Beep’. It went off in Henry’s ear and he bent back down to the floor where his metal detector hovered. There it was and not only did he find that tiny screw but another one as well. Thinking that the screws were probably on their way to that special place where all lost objects go and are never found again, Henry scooted out from under his work bench ad banged his head on it as he jumped to his feet when his Mechanics door burst open and Jenny Matoose yelled.

  “There he is!” She belted out.

  Holding his head and whining from the pain, Henry thought he had lost consciousness and slipped into some dream state. Was there a raid? Why was Jenny Matoose raiding his Mechanics office? Slowly he turned around.

  “Let’s get him!” Jenny yelled pointing at Henry.

  Henry screamed when she and Ben came racing to him. “What?”

  “Hold still, Henry,” Jenny told him. “Ben, get out that measuring tape now. We have him.”

  “Wait a second.” Henry stepped back as Ben held the tape to him. “Go away. I told Ellen I would do this tomorrow.”

  “I’m not Ellen and I don’t believe you. For some reason you keep putting this off and putting this off. It takes ten seconds. Hold still.” Jenny held on to a wiry Henry.

  Ben tsked as he knelt before Henry. “You are gonna have to hold him a little stiller. Henry.” Ben raised his eyes to him. “I’m going in for the inseam now. Are you sure you want to jiggle around.”

  Henry stopped moving.

  “Good boy,” Ben told him. “Now is this all that painful?” Ben took a measurement and wrote down. He then stood up, grabbed Henry’s arm, and extended it.

  “Jenny can you let me go now?” Henry demanded. “Thank you. I’m getting measured. All right. Why you had to accost me is beyond me.”

  “You were putting it off,” Jenny told him.

  “I would have done it tomorrow,” Henry said back.

  “Done.” Ben stopped measuring. “We can leave the nervous groom alone.”

  “Love to.” Jenny walked toward the door with Ben. “Henry, there isn’t much time. Reverend Bob says you didn’t even schedule a marriage class yet.”

  “Not much time?” Henry scoffed. “Jenny, we have months.”

  “No we don’t. We thought we would, but things are coming along nicely. Right Ben?”

  “So true,” Ben added.

  “See Henry, everyone one is excited and they want to push this thing through.” Jenny opened the door, allowed Ben to walk through first then turned back to say an annoying goodbye to Henry. When she did, she noticed he had turned toward his work bench, laid his hand upon it, and stared down. Jenny’s voice dropped the enthusiastic, sar
castic tone. “Everyone is excited, Henry. Are you?”

  Henry turned his head to her. “Yeah . . . I am.”

  “Please act it. This is the first event like this in Beginnings and we’re all working so hard. Ellen, whether she wants to admit it or not, is excited. I can tell. It’s just that so much work is going into it.”

  “Where are you going with this, Jenny?” Henry asked.

  “If you aren’t going to go through with this Henry, say so soon. Please say so soon.” Jenny received silence back and then walked through the door of mechanics.

  Henry clenched his knuckles even harder against the surface of that table. He could see the white on his fingers as he clenched them. “Why can’t I be more excited about this Why?” he asked himself in total frustration. His mind spun on how everything became so different so quickly. A month earlier he thought he was married to Ellen and he was happy. He loved calling her his wife but now Henry stood there on total debate of ever calling her that again. His mind and his heart were full of the reasons for it, but they flew around him so fast that he couldn’t grasp a single one of those reasons. Knowing right there that all thoughts and concentration for his work were gone for the night, Henry decided to pack it up and just go get Ellen because that’s what he really needed to do.

  Henry noticed there was something old-world about the night as he walked to Frank’s house. At almost every house he passed, someone was sitting out on the porch and talking to the person sitting next to them. It was an epidemic that spread that night. It was hot. Henry, himself, preferred to stay in where the air conditioning was but that was Henry. He always wanted to be cold.

  He heard the laughing as he rounded the last row of houses. That unmistakable deep laugh of Frank's told Henry that he too had jumped on the band wagon and sat outside.

  “There he is.” Ellen’s excited voice carried to him.

  Henry looked at her with a smile as he saw Ellen walking quickly his way. “Hey El.” He gave her an embrace as soon as he met up with her. His embrace took her a little by surprise. “How was your night?”

  “Fine.” Ellen kissed him on the cheek. “I’m ready to go home.”

  “Good.” Henry broke from the embrace and took her hand walking over to where Frank sat on the porch. “Hey. How’s the baby?