VACATION

 

By: Kenda

 

*In this story I’ve taken the Simon brothers back in time in order to further flesh out the characters of Bud and Edie Krelman.  In the aired episode, Divorce, Bud tells Rick that he and A.J. are like the sons Bud never had.  Rick then reminds Bud that he and Edie have four sons.  Based on that exchange, I decided to bring the Krelman family to life within a work of fiction.

 

*Vacation is written under the assumption that Jack Simon wasn’t killed until A.J. was approximately ten years old, as alluded to in the aired episode, Revolution Number 91/2, and based on a work of fan fiction entitled Journey Into The Past by Brenda A.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

     "Are the boys asleep?" Jack Simon inquired of his wife as she entered their bedroom that Friday evening.

 

     "A.J. is." Cecilia walked over to the open suitcase she had laying on the bed. She picked up a few articles of clothing that were sitting beside it and began packing them neatly. “I just made Rick turn the light off. He was reading one of his comic books."

 

     Jack sat beside the luggage on their bed, watching his wife as she finished up her last minute preparations in anticipation of tomorrow's departure. "I think the boys are looking forward to this week as much as we are."

 

     "I think you're right," Cecilia agreed, then, added, "I hope they're not too much for Edie and Bud. Maybe six days is too long, Jack. We could just go away for the weekend."

 

     Jack smiled as he teased gently, "Having second thoughts, Mommy? Are the apron strings being let out a little too far?"

 

     Cecilia gave her husband a look of exasperation. "No, it's not that, it's just--"

 

     "Cece, come on," Jack interrupted. "You were the one who said last fall you didn't want a vacation this year that involved camping or roller coasters. You said you wanted to do something different for a change."

 

     Turning away to pick up some clothes off the bureau, Cecilia replied, "Yes, but I didn't mean without the boys. I only meant that five years of sleeping in a tent was enough, and I needed a break for one year."

 

     "And you were right, you deserve a break," Jack agreed. "I thought you were really excited about all this when I suggested it back in the spring. You were the one who said the boys would love staying at the Krelmans’ for a week; that they'd consider that a great vacation."

 

     "I know, Jack, but now--"

 

     Jack Simon got off the bed and stood behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back against his chest. "But now that we're set to leave tomorrow you're not so sure, is that it?"

 

     "Yes, that's it,” Cecilia finally admitted. “We've never left them like this before. One of us has always been here." Smiling slightly she told her husband, "I'm a little worried, that's all. We'll be in San Francisco, Jack. It's not like we're only going to be gone for the evening. I can worry you know; I have that right. I am their mother."

 

     Jack laughed as he turned his wife around and hugged her. "Yes, you have that right, Cece. But don't worry; they'll be fine at Bud and Edie's. You've already given Edie the hotel phone number, and I know you well enough to know she's been given the phone number of every doctor in San Diego."

 

     "No, Jack, you know our boys well enough to know I've given her the phone number of every San Diego doctor."

 

     "Okay, okay, so they're active. There's nothing wrong with that."

 

     "No, there never is until we spend the day sitting in the emergency room while one of them has a cast put on, or has stitches put in."

 

     Ignoring his wife's statement, Jack reiterated, "They'll be fine. I already gave Rick instructions he's to help Edie by keeping an eye on Andy, and I told him he's not to leave Andy out of any activities since there's no other kids in Bud and Edie's neighborhood Andy's age. Rick promised me he'd do those things for me. And, I gave Andy instructions to keep his big brother out of trouble," Jack chuckled. "So, I think I covered all the bases. Rick will keep an eye on Andy, and Andy will keep Rick out of trouble. It should be a good week for all of us."

 

     "I suppose you're right," Cecilia conceded. "I am looking forward to this trip, I can't deny that. And the boys are sure excited about staying at the Krelmans’. I'm a little hurt, though, because they haven't acted like they're going to miss me. Not even A.J."

 

    Jack sat back down on the bed. "Your baby's growing up, Mommy."

 

     "Don't I know it," Cecilia replied. "Speaking of Mommy, A.J. hasn't called me that in almost a year now. I can't believe he turned seven two weeks ago. It seems like we were just bringing him home from the hospital for the first time." Cecilia closed the suitcase and set it on the floor. "And Rick, my Heaven's, Jack, he's twelve! Next year we'll have a teenager. I just can't believe it sometimes. Have you noticed Rick’s now taller than me? I'm afraid he's going to be taller than you by the time he's done growing."

 

     "I'm afraid of that, too," Jack said ruefully. "Someday I'll have to look up at my own son. A father shouldn't have to do that, Cece."

 

     Cecilia just laughed as she teased, "So now you know how I feel, Daddy."

 

     "Yes, I do. They grow up too fast, you're right," Jack agreed with a thoughtful expression on his face before changing the subject. "Well, are we ready to pull out of here in the morning? I'd like to have the boys to Bud and Edie's by nine so we can get on the road."

 

     Cecilia sat beside her husband. "Yes, we’re ready. You and I are packed, and the boys are packed, so as soon as we finish breakfast we can go. I told Edie we'd be there between eight-thirty and nine."

 

     "Good," Jack nodded his approval. "Rick's finally packed, too, huh?"

 

     "Yes, finally. I told Rick he'd be kept in the house all afternoon if he didn't get it done this morning. That threat got him in motion - for all the good it did me."

 

     "What do you mean by that?"

 

     "When I checked Rick’s suitcase this afternoon to make sure he didn't forget anything all I found was his swimming trunks, one shirt, and one pair of jeans."

 

     Jack shook his head and smiled as Cecilia relayed, "When I made Rick come in to repack he told me he didn't need to. He said he was sure he had enough for one week. I told him, "Rick, you didn't even pack any underwear or socks!" Shaking her head at her laughing husband Cecilia asked, "Do you want to guess what your oldest said to that, John Simon?"

 

     "I can't imagine, but I'm sure it's interesting."

 

     "Oh, it is," Cecilia confirmed. "Rick said he planned to wear his trunks all week as underwear and swimming trunks both, that way he didn't have to pack so much. When I mentioned something about cleanliness, he told me not to worry, that if he went swimming everyday they'd stay clean, and if he didn't go swimming he'd just shower with them on. And he doesn't figure he really needs socks since it's summer time. And what's the big deal over only one pair of jeans? He'll have the clothes he wears to Bud and Edie's tomorrow, so between those and what he packed he figures he'll have enough. And he's prepared if he does happen to run short - after all, Aunt Edie does have four boys. He can always borrow something of theirs if he needs to."

 

     Over Jack's laughter Cecilia said, "I swear, I don't know what I'm going to do with that boy sometimes. I know perfectly well that suitcase hardly had a thing in it simply because Rick didn't feel like packing. He was in a hurry to get outside and play ball. The scary thing is, all his excuses made sense in kind of an absurd way."

 

     "That's our Rick," Jack confirmed as he laid back against his pillows.

 

     "I'm telling you, Jack, those two boys of ours are so different. A.J. was all packed for this trip three weeks ago. I couldn't figure out why I kept seeing him in the same T-shirt and shorts day after day, and then when I went to wash there were no dirty clothes of his in the hamper. Do you know what he had done?"

 

     Jack just shook his head no as he smiled at his wife. His children's escapades always amused him...well, most of the time anyway.

 

     "A.J. had packed almost every piece of clothing he owned, and some of Rick's clothes for him, as well." Cecilia started laughing at this point. "A.J. had so many clothes jammed in that suitcase it looked like he planned to be gone for a year. I don't have to worry about our youngest not having any underwear at Edie's. He had packed every pair he possessed and hadn't been wearing any for three days!"

 

     Jack began laughing once again, picturing in his mind this scenario.

 

     "It was all I could do to convince A.J. that he had packed too much and we needed to take some of those clothes out. Especially the underwear. I had to keep assuring him I was going to do laundry right up until our trip, just so I could get that child to put on some underwear again."

 

     "So, he was just wearing his jeans or shorts with no underwear for three days?"

 

     "Yes, Jack! I couldn't believe it either!" Cecilia laughed as she lay down beside her husband. "I don't know about these two boys of ours sometimes."  

 

     Kissing his wife, Jack Simon's eyes twinkled. "I don't either, but I think we'll keep them, don't you?"

 

     Cecilia smiled at the man.  "Yes, I think we will."

 

     Taking his wife in his arms, Jack reassured her one last time. "Everything will be fine, Cecilia. The boys will have the time of their lives at Bud's, and we'll have the time of ours in San Francisco. You deserve this, hon. We didn't have much of a honeymoon thirteen years ago, you know."

 

     Cecilia thought about that as she lay next to her husband. He had been home on leave for three weeks in July of l943 when they had gotten married. They had spent two days and nights in a small coastal town a couple hours north of San Diego before Jack had to report back to the O.S.S. offices that were housed at the naval station here in the city. Two weeks later Jack was headed back to Europe, and didn't see his new bride again until February of 1946, when she greeted him with his twenty-two month old son, Rick, in her arms.

 

     Cecilia knew in all the years since then Jack had wanted to make that lack of an extended wedding trip up to her. He had always wanted the two of them to get away for a few days alone, but with a hectic work schedule and two little boys in the intervening years, this was the first time such an opportunity arose. Therefore, Cecilia made the decision she would say no more about her concerns over leaving the boys. Jack was right. They'd be fine. She was going to enjoy this trip. Who knew when they'd be able to do something like this again? And besides, Cecilia would be calling Edie every other night to make sure things were all right. What could possibly go wrong?

 

     Cecilia decided not to answer that question as she snuggled further into her husband's chest.

 

     As Jack reached up to shut off the bedside light he said," I was thinking, Mrs. Simon, that we might want to get started on that honeymoon tonight. You know, just to get me back into practice and all."

 

     “You get enough practice, Jack Simon,” Cecilia said dryly.  “I don't think you need any more."

 

     "Oh, yes I do," Jack teased, as he held the woman he cherished in his arms.

 

     Cecilia's last thoughts before her attention was turned to other things was, Jack's right. This is going to be a good week. A second honeymoon wasn't such a bad idea after all.

 

__________________

 

 

     It was quarter to nine the next morning when the Simon family pulled into the Krelmans’ driveway. The boys spilled out of the car and were greeted by Bud and Edie's thirteen-year-old twins, Michael and Mark. Before Cecilia could stop him, Rick ran off with the twins. She grabbed A.J. by the shirt collar to prevent him from scampering after his older brother, and called to Rick, "Don't leave the yard, Rick! Dad and I want to talk to you before we go!"

 

     "Okay!"

 

     Jack pulled the boys' suitcases from the trunk of the car and set them by the front door. "Rick will take these inside for you, Edie. You just tell him where you want them."

 

     "That's fine." Edie told the blond man. "I'm going to put Rick in with the twins." Smiling down at A.J. she said, "And A.J.  can pick where he wants to sleep. I'll bet he wants to room with David."

 

     A.J. eagerly nodded his head. David was the Krelman's oldest son, and A.J. had a bad case of hero worship for the seventeen year old who was always so kind to him.

 

     "Speaking of David, where are the rest of your men, Edie?" Jack questioned.

 

     "Bud went into work today. David and Roger have been working for him this summer so they went along, too." Shaking her head she added, "Not without a good deal of complaining though. I guess when you're sixteen and seventeen year old boys, you have better ways to spend your Saturdays than working for your father." Edie smiled at Jack, "Bud didn't give them much of a choice, however."

 

     Chuckling, Jack said, "No, I don't suppose he did."

 

     Cecilia spent the next few minutes going over things with Edie.

 

"And I'll call you tonight, Edie, to give you our room number. Then I'll call again Monday night to make sure things are all right. If you need us, you call any time. We'll check with the desk clerk every time we come back to the hotel."

 

     Edie smiled as she reassured her friend, "Cece, don't worry. Everything will be fine. For goodness sake, I've got four boys of my own. What's two more?"

 

     Jack laughed as he ruffled A.J.'s hair, "Our two boys can get into enough trouble for eight boys, Edie. I'm warning you of that right now."

 

     "Oh, Jack, be serious," Edie admonished. "You two go and enjoy yourselves. Rick and A.J. won't be any trouble at all. Michael and Mark have been talking about this week since June. Having your two boys here will help keep them busy and out from under my feet. I've got some things planned to do on some days, too. We'll go to the beach at least once, and David promised he'd take all the boys to a movie tomorrow night." Walking with Cecilia and Jack to the car, Edie reiterated, "Quit worrying. There's no need to."

 

     As Cecilia and Edie talked a few more minutes, Jack called several times for Rick. The oldest Simon boy finally appeared from around the corner of the house and came to stand by his father.

 

     "Yeah, Dad?"

 

     "Mom and I are going now, Rick."

     "Okay, bye," Rick said, turning away again.

 

     "Rick, come back here!" Jack Simon demanded. Rick came to stand by his father again. "Now you behave yourself for Aunt Edie, please. And don't forget you promised me you'd help her with Andy. I'm counting on you to keep an eye on him, Rick."

 

     "I know, Dad. Don't worry, I will."

 

     "All right then," Jack said as he pulled his oldest to him in a hug. "You have a good time this week. I'll see you Friday afternoon, buddy."

 

     "Okay."

 

     Jack said his good-byes to A.J., while Cecilia hugged Rick. "Have fun this week, sweetheart."

 

     "I will, Mom," Cecilia's impatient eldest told her. Rick was anxious for the good-byes to end so he could get back to the busy day he and the twins already had planned.

 

     "Be good."

 

     "I will," Rick said, rolling his eyes. "Bye."

 

     "Rick! I'd like a kiss, please."

 

     Turning back once more, Rick gave his mother a kiss. Seeing she was finally satisfied, he asked, "Can I go now?"

 

     "Yes, dear, go ahead."

 

     Rick ran off toward the back of the house calling, "Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!"

 

     Jack just shook his head fondly at his active oldest as Cecilia knelt in front of her seven-year-old, tying an undone shoelace.

 

"You have a good time this week, A.J. And you listen to Aunt Edie and Rick for me, all right?"

 

     "All right."

 

     "You be a good boy for Aunt Edie."

 

     "Mom, I'm always a good boy," Cecilia was very seriously informed.

 

     Cecilia laughed. "Yes, you are." She hugged A.J. and told him, "Then you make sure Rick is a good boy this week. You keep him out of trouble for me, all right?"

 

     "I will. Dad already told me that was my job."

 

     The three grownups chuckled at that remark as A.J. shifted impatiently from foot to foot. "Mom, can I go? The big guys will run off without me if I don't get back there."

 

     Cecilia quickly kissed her son. "Okay. Daddy and I will be back on Friday. Will you be all right until then?"

 

     Cecilia heard Jack's sigh and, "Cece, let him go. He'll be fine."

 

     The woman reluctantly released her baby. "Go play with the other boys. Bye."

 

     "Bye, Mom," A.J. said and then turned to give his dad a final hug.

 

     "Bye, sport. I'll see you Friday. On Saturday you, Rick, and I will go on that fishing trip I promised."

 

     "Okay, Dad. Bye."

 

And with that, A.J. ran off in the direction Rick had disappeared a few minutes earlier.  He paid no attention the sound of his father’s car starting as he parents left to start their journey to San Francisco.

 

__________________

 

 

     Several hours later the Krelman twins and the Simon brothers entered the garage in search of a football. It was then that Rick and A.J. spotted the brand new identical red Schwinn bicycles.

 

     Rick couldn’t hide his admiration of the gleaming bikes. "Wow! These are really neat. When did you guys get 'em?"

 

     "Last month for our birthday," Mark replied as his brother continued to rummage through a wooden chest in search of a football. "You wanna ride one, Rick?"

 

     "Can I?"

 

     "Sure, go ahead." Mark indicated to the twelve-year-old which bike belonged to him.  “Try mine out.”

 

     As Rick started pedaling down the driveway on Mark’s bike, Michael turned from his task, football in hand.

 

"Ya’ wanna try mine, A.J.?"

 

     Eyes shining in anticipation, A.J. eagerly agreed. "Yeah, Mike, please."

 

     The bike was actually too big for the seven-year-old. Mike Krelman had to lean it over on its side so the younger boy could get on. Once A.J. was straddling the pedals, Mike lifted the bike upright.

 

     "I guess it's kinda big for you," Michael observed. "You can't reach the pedals if you sit down, can you?"

 

     "No, but I can ride it standing up," A.J. assured as he pedaled out of the garage.

 

     The little boy's fun came to a quick end when Rick caught sight of him from the street and rode back up the driveway.

 

     "Get off that bike, A.J.!"

 

     "Mike said I could ride it."

 

     "It's too big for you. If you fall, you'll get hurt. Now get off!" Rick commanded as he stopped Mark's bike next to A.J., got off, and grabbed the handlebars of Michael's bike.

 

     "Rick!" A.J. yelled in protest.

 

     Michael came to A.J.'s defense. "It's okay, Rick. He can ride it. I told him he could."

 

     "No, Mike, it's too big for him. He can hardly reach the pedals. He shouldn't be on it. If he falls, he'll do something stupid like break an arm."

 

     "I won't fall, Rick, and I won't break my arm! And you can't tell me what to do!"

 

     "Yes, I can. Mom and Dad said I was supposed to keep an eye on you. Now get off this bike! It's the same size as mine at home and you know Mom won't let you ride it for the same reasons I'm tellin' you not to ride this one." Glaring at his little brother in what Rick hoped was an imitation of their father's angriest look, he ordered, "Now, A.J.! I mean it!"

 

     "Okay, okay," A.J. gave in, climbing off the bike with help from Michael.

 

     As the four boys took the bikes back to the garage, A.J. mumbled, "I sure hope you don't plan on bossing me around all week."

 

     Rick smiled at the back of his brother's head. "Not as long as you do what I tell you. Besides, A.J., I'm not bossin’ you. I'm just keeping you from getting’ hurt."

 

     A.J. scowled up at his sibling.  "I wouldn't have fallen."

 

     "Maybe not, but with the way you were straddlin' that bar, all you would have had to do was hit the brakes hard and you would have been in real pain, let me tell ya’."

 

     A.J. ignored the three older boys as they laughed at Rick's last remark. The bikes and angry words concerning them were soon forgotten as the four boys were joined by several other neighborhood kids for a game of football.

 

__________________

 

 

     By Sunday evening the Simon boys had spent two full days playing outside with the Krelman twins and other neighborhood boys.  They’d been to a movie, as well, escorted by Bud and Edie's oldest son, David.

 

     All the men in Edie Krelman's household were sprawled out watching TV at nine o'clock that Sunday evening. Edie noticed   A.J. was just about asleep in the chair he was sitting in.

 

     "A.J., why don't you go upstairs and get your bath, hon?" Edie suggested.

 

     A.J. gave a weary nod of his head as he got out of the chair.

 

"You call me before you get out of the tub. I'll come up and see if you got all the dirt off like your mom does."

 

     Cecilia had informed Edie that while her youngest was perfectly capable of running his own bath water and washing himself, he didn't always come out of the tub perfectly clean if she or Jack didn't do a final inspection.

 

     A.J.'s eyes grew wide as he stammered, "You... you don't have to do that. I'll...I’ll get clean."

 

     "It's okay, honey. I don't mind."

 

     "No...no...really, Aunt Edie. I'll get clean, I...I promise."

 

     Rick turned his attention from the TV screen, having figured out what the problem was. "I'll go up and check on him, Aunt Edie, you don't have to." Turning to A.J., Rick said, "Go take your bath, squirt. I'll be up in a little while."

 

     The look of relief on A.J.'s face was funny to see. By this time Edie, too, had figured out what the problem was.

 

For goodness sake, A.J., I diapered your bottom when you were a baby."

 

     At that remark A.J.'s face turned red as he made a hasty retreat out of the room.

 

     Fifteen minutes later there was a knock on the bathroom door. "Who is it?" A.J. called as he played with some plastic boats in the tub.

 

     A high-pitched soprano voice was heard from the other side.

 

"It's Aunt Edie. I've come to see if you're clean, A.J. I'm coming in now."

     "Very funny, Rick," A.J. said as Rick opened the bathroom door.

 

     Rick laughed as he leaned against the sink. "What's the big deal? Why won't you let Aunt Edie check on you?"

 

     A.J. looked at his older brother as if he couldn't believe Rick would even have to ask such a question. "I don't want her to see me naked."

 

     "So," Rick shrugged. "You let Mom check on you when you're in the bathtub. What's the difference?"

 

     Rick was given a dose of typical seven-year-old philosophy. "Rick, Mom's a mom. Our mom. Aunt Edie's a girl. There's a big difference. I don't want her to see me naked, not ever."

 

     Rick teased his brother, "She did diaper your bottom, A.J."

 

     A.J. rolled his eyes. "She says that all the time. I hate it when she says that. Why does she do that, Rick?"

 

     "I don't know, 'cause she's a woman, I guess. They're kinda strange." Changing the subject, Rick ordered, "Come on, get washed up and get outta here. It's gettin' late. and me and the other guys have got to take baths, too."

 

     "Okay," came the reply as A.J. picked up the washcloth.

 

     "So, do you like sleeping in David's room?"

 

     "Yeah, I do. He's a nice guy." Looking up, A.J. informed his brother, "He doesn't tell good stories though."

 

     "Not like me, huh?"

 

     A.J. stood to get out of the tub. Rick handed the little boy the towel that was draped over the sink.

 

"No, his stories are too short. And they don't have any adventure in them like yours do." As A.J. dried himself off he added softly, like he was revealing a big secret, "They're kind of boring."

 

     Rick laughed a little as he watched his brother slip into pajama bottoms. "Well, don't tell David that. You'll hurt his feelings."

 

     "I won't," A.J. assured his brother as he threw his towel in the hamper.

 

     Rick stood up to drain the bathtub. "Come on. A.J. Help me clean the tub."

 

     "You never clean the tub at home."

 

     "Yeah, I know. But Mom said we have to help Aunt Edie do this kind of stuff. She doesn't want Aunt Edie to have a lot of extra work 'cause we're staying here." Rick handed A.J. the boats. "Put these back where you found them and I'll start cleaning up in here."

 

     Five minutes later the bathroom passed the Rick Simon inspection test. The twelve-year-old was headed back down the stairs when he turned around because he couldn't hear his younger brother following him.

 

     "Where ya' goin'?" Rick asked.

 

     "To bed," the tired boy replied.

 

     "Well, aren't you at least comin' down to say good night to everyone?"

 

     "I can't.”

 

     “Why not?”

 

“I'm too embarrassed."

 

     "Embarrassed about what?"

 

     "By what Aunt Edie said. You know, about changing my diaper."

 

     Rick laughed at his little brother and his silliness. "Geez, A.J., forget it, will ya'? What are you gonna do, hide up here until Mom and Dad come to pick us up on Friday?"

 

     "Nope.  Only for tonight."

 

     Rick just shook his head at his brother. He knew there was no use to push the issue with A.J.; the youngest Simon was notoriously stubborn.

 

"Okay, if that's the way you want it. Night, squirt."

 

     "Good night, Rick," A.J. replied as he headed down the hall toward the room he was staying in.

 

 

__________________

 

 

 

     Monday morning dawned warm and sunny. The entire Krelman household was up by seven thirty. Bud and his two oldest boys were headed off to work at Bud’s Putt and Stuff miniature golf course after breakfast. The twins, Rick, and A.J., would be left to their own devices that day.

 

     By seven forty-five everyone was sitting around the table enjoying scrambled eggs and bacon. Everyone but Bud that is. Just as the children and Edie were eating their first mouthful of eggs, Bud Krelman came storming into the room.

 

"Edie, I can't find my blue shirt! Where have you hidden it this time?"

 

     Ignoring her husband's wrath, Edie replied simply, "It's at the cleaners, Bud."

 

     "At the cleaners! What's it doing there?"

 

     "It was dirty, Bud."

     "That's it! Every Monday I ask for a certain shirt, and every Monday that shirt's at the cleaners. It's been that way for the last eighteen years. I've had it!"

 

     Rick and A.J. sat with their mouths hanging open at this exchange. The Krelman children simply sat eating their breakfast, completely ignoring their father.

 

     "Sit down and eat your breakfast, Bud. You'll be late for work," Edie told her red faced husband as she buttered herself a piece of toast.

 

     Bud huffed and puffed a moment, then sat down at his place at the table.

 

"Scrambled eggs! I hate scrambled eggs! You know I hate scrambled eggs! That's it, we're getting a divorce!"

 

     "Oh fine, Bud! Let's get a divorce over scrambled eggs. You just do that! You go find yourself a woman who will make your eggs sunnyside up. See what I care!"

 

     The couple went on like this for the next ten minutes as Bud ate his scrambled eggs between declarations of divorce. The Krelman boys continued to eat as if this whole scene was nothing out of the ordinary. Rick and A.J. sat taking it all in as their eggs grew cold. Although both boys knew Edie and Bud Krelman were somewhat unusual, they had never witnessed anything quite like this before.

 

     It got even more confusing when, fifteen minutes later, their Uncle Buddy stood up and kissed Aunt Edie good-bye as he gathered up his older boys, telling them to go out to the car. He walked by ruffling the hair of each of the four remaining boys. When he came to A.J., Bud bent down and told the youngster, "Now you keep these three hooligans in line today, A.J., and take care of your Aunt Edie for me, okay?"

 

     "Okay, Uncle Buddy, I will."

 

     A.J. and Rick just stared after the man in confusion, then transferred their confused looks to Edie, who was now humming as she cleared the table. The Simon boys looked at each other across the table and shared twin shrugs of puzzlement.

 

     An hour later all four boys were out in the backyard when  the twins' mother called, "Michael! Mark! Get in here this minute! I told you those beds were to be made before you went outside!"

 

     Michael and Mark walked through the back door and past their upset mother, followed closely by Rick and A.J. Edie smiled at the two Simon boys.

 

"You boys can stay outside. You both rolled up your sleeping bags this morning without me asking, and you helped me clear the table and do the dishes, too. I hope some of your thoughtfulness and good manners rubs off on those twins of mine."

 

     As Rick and A.J. turned to go back outside, Edie's said, "I'll be sure to tell your mother what a big help you've both been since you got here Saturday. She'll be so proud of you boys."

 

     Rick sat on the back step to await the return of his friends, A.J. sitting down beside him.

 

     "I sure hope Aunt Edie forgets to tell Mom I've been helping her," Rick commented.

 

     "Why?" a puzzled A.J. inquired.

 

     "'Cause, A.J., if she tells Mom I've been helping her do things like dishes, and cleaning the bathtub, Mom's gonna expect me to do that kinda stuff at home, too."

 

     "Oh," A.J. said, though he didn’t really understand Rick's predicament. After all, their mother had said they were to help Aunt Edie. A.J. would think Rick would want their mom and dad to know they'd been good and had been doing what they'd been told.

 

     Because his older brother's ways sometimes confused him, and because this was one of those times, A.J. changed the subject.

 

"Rick, what's a divorce?"

 

     "Well, a divorce is when two people who are married don't live together anymore. They kinda get unmarried, I guess."

 

     "But they can't do that!"

 

     "Who can't do that?" Rick questioned.

 

     "Aunt Edie and Uncle Bud, Rick. They can't not live together. They're a mom and dad! Moms and Dads are supposed to live together."

 

     "Aw, A.J., Uncle Bud and Aunt Edie aren't gonna get a divorce. They were just sayin' that. They didn't really mean it. You saw how Uncle Buddy kissed Aunt Edie when he left for work. People who are gettin' divorced don't kiss."

 

     "Yeah, but I heard him say, 'Edie, I want a divorce!' when he couldn't find his shoes on Saturday, and then I heard Uncle Buddy say, 'Edie, that's it, we're getting a divorce!' when he found out there was no ice cream left last night."

 

     By this time Rick was laughing at the younger boy. A.J. had been trying to imitate Uncle Bud's deep, gravely voice, as he related all this to Rick.

 

     "They're not getting a divorce, A.J.," Rick assured his brother after his laughter had died. "Uncle Bud and Aunt Edie are just kind of...different, I guess. Dad says they're characters."

 

     "Like in a book?"

 

     "Well, no, not really," Rick said, scowling in concentration. "This time it means that they're just people who are funny...strange. I don't know, just different, like I said before. Know what I mean?"

 

     Shrugging, A.J. squinted to look up at his older brother. "Yeah, I guess so. I guess it doesn't really matter what they are, ‘cause they're nice. And they're kinda funny, too." After a moment, A.J. commented further, "I like it here, Rick."

 

     "Yeah, I like it here, too. Mike and Mark got a lot of neat stuff, and they're fun guys to hang out with."

 

     "Yeah, they're nice. So is Roger. David's really nice."

 

     Rick smiled at the blond boy. "You really like David, don't ya,’ kid?"

 

     "Yeah, I do," A.J. acknowledged, then quickly added, "But, I don't like him better than I like you, Rick. I like you best. I wouldn't wanna live here."

 

     "You wouldn't?" Rick teased. "Gee, A.J., just think, if we

lived here you'd have five big brothers then. Wouldn't you like that?"

 

     "No," A.J. shook his head. "You're the only big brother I want, Rick."

 

     "Don't need anybody else bossing you around, huh, kid?"

 

     "No, that's not it." Shrugging his shoulders, A.J. told Rick, "I just want you for a brother, Rick, no one else. Just you."

 

     Twelve-year-old Rick felt pretty good inside as his little brother spoke those words. He put his arm around the younger boy's shoulders.

 

"And you're the only brother I want, too, A.J." Echoing A.J.'s words, Rick added as he winked at the younger boy, "No one else. Just you, squirt."

 

     Later that same day, in the afternoon, the Krelman twins and the Simon brothers were in the backyard tossing a baseball around between them. The ball was thrown just out of reach of Mark Krelman's glove and landed in a tree-lined thicket that separated Bud and Edie's property from the neighbor’s next door. As Mark was beating through the overgrowth looking for the lost ball, he called out, "Hey, you guys!  Come here! Look what I found!"

 

     The three other ball players ran toward Mark. They came upon him bent over a grassy knoll.

 

     "What is it?" asked his twin.

 

     Mark lifted up some loose grass and dirt to reveal a little den of small snakes.

 

     "Garter snakes!" Rick exclaimed.

 

     "Yeah, look at 'em all. I counted 'em,” Mark informed the other boys. “There's ten of 'em here."

 

     The boys took turns taking a closer look, then began picking the snakes up and letting them slither up their arms.

 

     "My mom really hates snakes," Mark said.

 

     "Yeah, our mom does, too,” A.J. declared.  “Doesn't she, Rick?"

 

     "She sure does," Rick said with a twinkle in his eye. "Last year one crawled in her sleeping bag when we were camping.  It was just a little California King snake, but boy, you should have heard her scream."

 

     "She screamed really loud, for a long time, too, even after our dad told her it wouldn't hurt her," A.J. said, finishing Rick's story.

 

     Michael put one of the snakes inside his T-shirt. "I have a book on snakes and it says they like warm, dark places. That's probably why that King snake crawled in your mom's sleeping bag."

 

     The four boys marveled over the snakes a little while longer, when Mark, who could get into more mischief than even Rick, had an idea.

 

"Hey! Let's put these snakes in Mom and Dad's bed. That will be real neat! Mom will scream for sure."

 

     Rick was ready to join in the fun immediately. "Yeah, then we can see if your mom can scream louder than our mom." Thinking for a moment, Rick asked, "But how will we get them in the house without your mom seein' us?"

 

     "I know," Michael chimed in. "Dad's got a bunch of burlap bags in the garage that he brings home from work. We can use one of those."