O Curas Hominum!
 

FROHIKE:

I haven't been able to sleep all night. I'm exhausted, but I know that sleep won't come anytime soon.

Might as well get up and face the day.

I quietly close the door behind my sleeping son. I spent much of the night rubbing his back-he was very restless unless he had the assurance of touch. I would lift my hand from him, and he would begin to rustle about unhappily.

I confess this ritual was as much for my own comfort as for his. There is something reassuring about routines, rituals, things done on a regular basis, that serve to orient one when all has gone haywire.

Of course, when has everything not been haywire? I've spent my life craving order, system, sameness-and it never comes.

What would I do if it ever did?

I'm not sure. I've become so accustomed to living this way, I'm not certain I could cope in any different fashion.

But I'd certainly like the opportunity to try it.

Might as well face the day. I have work to do, for Ms. Russell, for the magazine. Both demand my attention, in addition to the usual parenting tasks that somehow, no matter how old your children are, never quite fade away.

Coffee. Part of the morning ritual in this household. I start a pot of French Roast-I need fully leaded fuel this morning, thank you very much. French Roast is one of my favorites, although this morning, some of the thick, heavy, supercaffeinated Puerto Rican coffee I occasionally have would be very welcome.

Michael will probably sleep for a while. I hope.

Afraid not. I hear footsteps.

He's groggy as hell, clad only in boxers and a ratted T-shirt, his glasses slightly askew. He didn't get as many hours of sleep as he should, and his expression betrays that fact. Dark circles are prominent even behind the glasses.

I'm expecting for him to head straight for the coffee pot, as is standard fare for him, but to my surprise, he heads in my direction, even though we have not verbally acknowledged the other's presence...

And throws his arms around me.

He's taken this much harder than I imagined he would. While I did not expect him to be unsympathetic, I likewise did not expect this much distress on his part.

But it's a comforting hug, too, and I realize that he's there to comfort me as much as himself.

Which is good. I need him so terribly right now.

I'm glad he's here.
 

He and I have had two cups of coffee each, and the pot is running low. Time to start a new one. I have a feeling I will have a day where my coffee cup is never empty-nor should it be.

He held on to me for a long time, but never said a word. When he finally speaks, it's almost startling.

"You okay?" he asks me softly.

"I'm fine," I lie to him. "You?"

He shrugs. "Kelly's like real upset. She took the news bad. Told her not to tell Ally and Langly yet."

Thank you. There is a god somewhere. I was concerned that once his young lady found out, it would be all over Chateau Langly-and once that occurs, you may as well post on CNN.

"I'm sorry." What else can I say?

In this case, I truly am...and I had nothing to do with it.

In some ways, these things are far worse than what you are responsible for.

"So that's what you been so upset about." He finishes off what's in his mug, gazes expectantly at the brewing coffeemaker.

I simply nod. Yes, I have been upset about that...

But that's not all.

Do I want to tell him?

Absolutely not.

In a sense, I would like to share this with him...but I somehow feel that in this area of his life, in his psyche, he's not as much an adult as he is in others. I feel that I may arouse something in him that I'm not up to dealing with right now. I'm not sure what that would be, but I'm not eager to find out.

"You working today?" He asks as he walks over to the coffeemaker, now in its final stages of brewing a fresh pot.

"I work every day."

"For Ms. Russell, I mean."

"Yes. In the morning." I'm hoping I can be finished in the morning with the task I've laid out for myself to accomplish.

"I'm gonna be at TMB for a while, then I gotta tutor for three hours, but then I'll be back. You gonna be there?"

I nod in the affirmative.

He sits down and finishes another mug of the hot, powerful brew, and when he's finished, he gets up without a word. Probably headed for the shower.

He starts down the small hallway, but then turns back some and pops his head back in the kitchen.

"Dad? Like, you think you could cook something tonight? For me and Kelly?"

That's twice in five minutes he's asked me to be present.

He is taking this very, very hard.

"And like could you ask Jo?"

"I'm not sure she'll be up to talking about this, Michael."

"Can you ask her? Please? For us?" His voice is bordering on a whine, but it's a whine with sadness and desperation thrown in.

"I'll ask her." I certainly can't guarantee she'll come.

"'Kay. Can you like make the chicken with the really cool glaze on it?"

Roast chicken with a marinade of lime-ginger marmalade and Italian dressing. Keeps the chicken moist and tasty. Served up alongside some rice pilaf and string beans and cranberry-orange muffins...

Comfort food, for him.

I'm dead tired. Why do I promise him I'll do this?

Because he's my son, that's why.
 

MICHAEL:

Christ, it's early.

I slept like shit, most of the night, except when Dad rubbed my back. Then it wasn't so bad.

Kelly and me spent about two hours on the phone. She took the news about Jo real bad. She and Jo got to be good buds on the trip to the shore. We were gonna ask Dad if we could do it again this summer...

Maybe we should. I mean, what happens...

No. Jo's gotta get better. She has to.

She is like my dad's best bud. He's got good buds all around him, but Jo is like the perfect bud for him. They're kind of alike, but she's also not so depressed as he is, so she's good for him.

And it's like, I'm always so glad they don't sleep together. I don't think I could handle that. I mean, my dad sleeping with someone. It would just be too weird.

I mean, obviously, he's done it-he did get two kids out of somewhere, and I don't think Les and me were immaculate conceptions. And he did knock Dee up, even though the kid didn't make it.

I wonder if all kids think the idea of their parents having sex is so freaky. And for me, it's even weirder, because there's my mom, of course, but then there's the idea he's done it with someone else...

No. I can't picture it. And I don't want to.

I mean, I know that it's like he's like interested in women-obviously! Else he wouldn't have what has to be the most extensive collection of smut in the western world. And I think he's been real bummed lately because a lot of the porn sites have been shut down. He's in download hell. He thinks I don't know that. But I do.

Me? I'm just watching Kelly's and my condom supply diminish...and it's gonna be torture trying to get new ones...

God, what would I ever do if he got a girlfriend? I mean, as in a real live and breathing one.

No. Couldn't happen. Wouldn't happen. He's not into that anymore. I mean, he's been through it twice, and it's not like it was a real good deal for him.

I think he gets sort of lonely sometimes, but I keep him pretty busy. And I mean, I know it sounds real selfish, but right now, I need him still a lot, and I need him around, not running around like some hormonally crazed teenager. Or an airhead, like he's been. He's been so out of it.

Least I know why now.

Why Jo? This pisses me off so bad. Jo is like THE coolest adult I know. And it pisses me off that I never even knew it till we went away to the shore.

God, he wouldn't start sleeping with her because he knows she's dying, would he? That would just be so sick.

And besides, she's not gonna die. She can't. She's too cool.

Get a grip, Frohike. Go swim some laps.
 

Weird. Usually it's been real sunny in the morning.

Not today. Sky is strange. It's sort of this pukey green color. And everything's real still. You don't even hear the birds and crickets and tree frogs.

Wonder if there's a storm coming. But you'd think there'd be wind and stuff.

Whatever. It's not raining, and what's even better, I'm early enough that Kelly's still there.

I wish they'd like put in a door or something that goes into the hallway downstairs. Right now you got to go in either through Miranda's room, or go through the kitchen.

I'm not into taking unnecessary risks right now. I opt for the kitchen.

Ally's there, typing away into her laptop.

"Whatcha doing?" I ask her.

"Modifying a model for Dana." She doesn't look up, but she knows I'm headed for the coffee pot. "Here, hit me again, would you please?" Meaning refill her mug.

Hell, why not. "I'm gonna go see Kelly."

"Figured as much. You better run and hide before Patrick sees you, or you're doomed."

This is true. Patrick sees me, and then any chances of being alone with Kelly or with the pool are like shot to hell. I beat a hasty retreat.

Her door's locked, so I knock, and I say it's me real soft so I don't disturb Sleeping Beauty across the hall.

She just about falls into my arms. "You're up early."

"Always get up early these days."

"Not this early. But you can do it again." She tries to give me her adorable impish grin, but mostly, she just looks worn out. She's real worried about Jo.

Me too.

She's not totally dressed...and something about watching her put her clothes on is, well, kind of sexy. She's so beautiful. I can barely contain myself, but I know she's gotta get to work, and she won't appreciate it if I try to jump her before she has to hit the road.

But I wouldn't mind trying.

"How're you doing?" I ask her as she twists her hair up and clips it with these things that look like chopsticks.

"I'm bummed," she admits. "I can't believe...Jo...she is like the nicest lady in the world...I just hope she's gonna be okay. I didn't sleep very well." She turns away from the mirror and gives me a soft, sweet little smile. "I think I'd have slept better if you were here."

"That goes for both of us, I think." It would have been nice to cuddle up with her.

She comes over and surprises me when she sits down in my lap. I like this. She leans her head against my shoulder, and I draw her near as I can. She smells like melons. She knows I love the smell of melons.

I also notice how skinny she's getting again.

"You're bony, girl," I tell her.

"I am not." She's sulking. "I'm just not very hungry in this heat, and I do try to get in the water at night."

"I've noticed." Sometimes I go in with her, but then we just end up carrying on and not getting any real swimming done, which is okay, but I've found myself having to wait for everyone to go in the house so I can slither by without anyone noticing I've got a massive hard-on.

The joys of guyhood.

Sorry, ladies, you don't have the market cornered on suffering.

Other times, I just watch...I open the blinds while I'm working, and I get a good look at Kelly in a bikini. Which by the way is an awesome sight. She's got great curves.

Provided she doesn't lose more weight, which I hope she doesn't. I like a little padding on my women. I like them to feel like women, not a bag of bones.

"And you're totally cut these days," she points out.

Which is true. I confess. I'm buff. No flab on this kid.

"And I'm gonna look like a slob next to you."

"No way." God, what is she thinking? She is gorgeous.

"You look killer, Michael."

If I was Langly or the prof, I'd be blushing now. But I've got a tan to go with the buff.

"You're so sexy, I could just eat you up."

"You wanna try?"

She gets off my lap. "Can't. I need to get to work." She leans over and kisses me, hard, on my mouth...oh man. What a way to start the day...

Leaving me with a major boner.

Aargh.
 

Sky still looks disgusting, but it's not raining, and Patrick hasn't found me yet. Time to get in there and work it.

You start off, you're golden, you feel great. You go a while, you get sort of tired. Then you get real tired. And finally, if you can get through being tired, you get to a place where you can swim forever. That's the goal here.

Seems to be taking me a long time to get there today. My legs and arms are killing me after only about 50 laps. Weirdness. Usually between 100-120 is when I feel like I'm dying. 50, I mean, that's nothing. I'm barely even tired at 50 on most days.

And folks, these aren't real laps. This is not a regulation size pool-Ally and Langly don't have that kind of real estate. Particularly nowadays with the pool and the photo lab we're building on the offices. We've got some contractor doing it, but he's such a screw-off. I mean, he'll be like he has to go get something and then we don't see him for four days. Fuck that. This is totally stupid. Rate he's going, we might get this done...about the year 2010. Which is not gonna work. Patrick'll be 13 by then...I don't think he's gonna be happy spending the next nine years in the alcove.

God, I feel sorry for that kid...to have to be a teenager yet. Aargh! That was the worst. I mean, I actually feel sorry for Miranda sometimes...well, not too much. She has it pretty damn good. I hope she knows that.

Being a teenager for me SUCKED.

I mean, in addition to all the horrible stuff that happens to you anyway, no matter how lucky you are, I got kicked out of my own home. I'm still mad at my mom about that. She had no right.

But I'm not as mad as I used to be. I mean, I can sort of talk to her and get along with her these days. And maybe she didn't mean it when she said not to come back until I got my act together.

I mean, I've been back, and I've hardly got it together. I still got no idea what I want to do with my life, occupationally speaking. This is starting to bug me more. I seem to think about it a lot underwater. I wonder if that's symbolic.

And I'm gonna have to make up my mind this year so I can transfer to a four-year institution. I'd like to go wherever Kelly goes, or at least be close by...I can't imagine being without her. That would be too miserable. I couldn't deal with that. I mean, shit, she lives three and a half miles away, and that's too much sometimes.

I want her in bed with me at night. I want to eat with her every night.

Forgot to tell her that Dad's cooking...but I'll catch her when she gets home.

I hope Jo's gonna come tonight.
 

Sky is still weird when I come out...and still no Patrick. Ally must not be letting him out or something.

Lots of luck, Ally. He's a little boy, and let's face it, little boys need to move around.

So do big ones. In spite of our reputation as remote-hogging couch potatoes, most guys feel the need to keep moving.

I can hear this piercing scream coming from the house, interspersed with Ally's calm, quiet tones.

Doesn't matter. She probably just made Patrick very unhappy.

I'm kind of surprised when I see her dragging him out of the house. She's like got her mind made up, but he's like, no way Jose.

"What's up?" I call to the lady of the house, already looking pretty ragged at this hour.

She straightens her ponytail. "Pediatrician. Wish me luck."

Oh God, she is gonna need it. I mean, if that kid's half as bad as I used to be...she is in for a serious hard time.

You know all the shots you get when you're a kid? Used to take four people to hold me down.

Well, whatever. This person is certainly going to work for their money today.

That makes me smile a little bit. Knowing someone else is not gonna get off easy today.

I am so bad.
 

LANGLY:

It's pretty quiet down here, not having any bosses to deal with. We file our reports, submit our timeslips, and it's like otherwise nobody knows we're here. I think this is perfect. I could keep working like this forever.

It's getting near lunchtime. Me and Bryce, even though it's brutally hot outside, are sick of eating in, so we're gonna head out to one of the Korean places that seem to have sprung up around here. Most of them are okay, and not expensive.

I'm thinking about asking Bryce if he's ready to hit the road when my phone rings, which is real weird these days. Nobody calls down here much. We e-mail everybody. I like it better that way. Fewer dickheads I have to deal with, the happier I am.

It's Ally. And she sounds like she's done about a week of bad days already.

"What's up?"

"I took Patrick to the pediatrician."

"Okay. And? Is he okay?"

"He's fine. The staff in the office, I don't know."

"Aw, c'mon Ally, he's four years old, what could he do?"

"Don't even get me started...don't tell me you didn't hear him scream when he got innoculated?"

"From Alexandria?"

"Yes, babe. Well, what can I say? I didn't need those ears, anyway."

"Yeah, so? Kid hates needles. I sympathize."

"Yeah, but Langly, he was like, he almost DESTROYED the entire office!"

"Uh-huh."

"Langly, you're not being very sympathetic here."

"Yeah, well."

"Well, what?" She's sounding like she's getting pretty snappish here. I better watch it...

Ah, maybe not.

"So he hated the pediatrician's office.   Doesn't every kid?"

"Yes, but most of them don't trash the place!"

I'm starting to get the drift here...

"How much?"

"Three hundred bucks."

"Oh, man." I'm gonna kill that kid when I get home...

Oh fuck.

"Langly? What is it?" I must've gone dead there for a moment.

"Uh...nothing. You write 'em a check?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Okay."

"Langly? Look. We got to do something about this kid in public."

"You got a suggestion?"

"No, that's why I'm asking you!"

I'm turning this over in my head...personally, okay, so he cost us a small fortune today, and he's gonna suffer for it. On the other hand, can't say as I blame the kid...I remember screaming and running a few times when I was a little kid in that situation...Joanie was cool about it and all, but I sure as hell wasn't...

All of a sudden I start cracking up.

"Langly, this isn't funny." Ally's chiding me.

"I know...but you got to admit, it sort of is."

I hear her sigh over the phone. "I don't know which one of you two is worse."

She sounds like she's gonna hang up there, so I get the last word in.

"Love you."

I'm gonna get off and let her hold that thought.
 

DC in the summer SUCKS. And today it sucks even worse.

Me and Bryce are walking down the street headed for the Korean barbecue. It's not still out anymore. It's windy as hell. But hot. You'd think it would kick up like this, we'd get some relief.

But we don't.

"I'm getting so fucking tired of this," Bryce is grumbling, and I'm like, so you think you're the only one suffering here?

Something weird in the distance. Real dark...

Hey, we didn't hear anything in crypto...

That's because it's not war. It's weather.

Dark funnel clouds of weather.

Oh shit.

END OF PART 82