DJ Pt. 03

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(Author's quick note to the savvy: *soybean oil is marketed to the public as 'vegetable oil' and is derived from soybeans, a legume. Look at 'almost' any 'vegetable oil' in a grocery store for the ingredients, usually 100% soybean oil.)

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"I think I'd like to meet your mom," DJ commented.

I responded, tearing up a bit, "I wish I could introduce you to her, Son. Mom, rest her soul, passed away over 5 years ago, 3 years after Dad passed. I know my Mom would have liked you!"

DJ, a sad look on his face, "I'm so sorry, Dad."

"It's OK DJ, it's just a part of life that we have to accept."

We finished breakfast. DJ picked up the dishes and put them in the sink, and we both went to the bedroom and got dressed. Then we headed to the furniture store to look at mattresses and box springs. I had a plan, knowing that we both were scheduled to work today at 3:00 but I am scheduled off for Saturday. DJ is scheduled to work Saturday at 9:00 AM, covering the shift for Lois, as she wanted to be off for a friends wedding on Saturday.

The salesman at the furniture store was a typical salesman, trying to sell us a house full of new furniture. I told him, no, that all we wanted was a new mattress and box springs. He showed us soft, medium, firm and extra firm mattresses. DJ and I tried lying down on the various beds.

"What do you think, Son?" I questioned. "I want your input."

DJ tested one more time, comparing the medium, firm and extra firm.

"I think the firm feels best," DJ commented. I agreed.

The salesman and I dickered pricing, and I told him I would like them delivered on Saturday. He tried to sell us on a new bed frame, but I held my ground. It was determined that the delivery men would pick up the old set, and they would make delivery between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Saturday.

DJ and I returned home about 10:00 AM. I told DJ I had some business to attend to and would be back within about an hour. I suggested that he start to study the driver's manual, while I was gone.

I circled back to the furniture store, and got hold of the same salesman. I told him we didn't really need to have the old set picked up, and that I was making this purchase for my son's room. He looked at me a little strange.

"That was your son, that was with you earlier?" he questioned.

"Adopted," I explained. "I've never been married. I met DJ a few weeks ago and he was living in a horrible situation. I rescued him from that hell hole, and he is now living with me." I continued, "He's a great kid, and just needed a chance. I love him as much as I would the biological son I never had."

"I wanted to surprise him, and actually, I do want a new bed frame and a chest of draws to match it, and maybe a desk also, as he wants to start taking classes at the community college this fall. I just want to help him be all that he can be."

"Let me show you what we have," the salesman said, smiling. "A lot of young people really like these ebony finished furnishings. We have a couple of different sizes of dressers, and this bed also has a built in shelf for books or whatever." Then, pointing to a wider dresser, "this one also has a mirror, and four large and 2 smaller drawers for stuff like socks and underwear."

"And here is a desk with the same finish, capable of housing a computer, with plenty of workspace. What do you think?"

"I think," I replied, "that you just sold us a bedroom full of furniture! And I think DJ will love it. I asked for his assistance this morning to select a mattress, because he is the one going to be sleeping on it. What is all this going to cost me?"

The salesman started to put data into the computer. "I can do the whole thing for just $878.66 with tax and delivery."

"Can't you do a little better than that?" I said, "You need to sharpen that pencil a little."

"We did have that line on sale a couple weeks ago. Let me talk to the boss and see what I can do."

About 5 minutes later he returned, smiling. "Ok, here's the deal. He said I can give you the sale prices, even though the sale time is over, and I can give you free delivery if it is less than 10 miles. What is the address?"

I gave him our address and added, "It's only a couple miles away."

He went back to the computer changing some of the data.

"With the sale prices, and free delivery, $692.38. I cut you almost $200. Will that be cash or charge?"

"I'd like to pay cash, but"—and I laid down my VISA card. "Please do the best you can on the delivery time. DJ is working tomorrow, and I want to surprise him when he gets home. Thanks, dude."

I left the furniture store and stopped at K-Mart on the way home, and picked up a couple new pillows for DJ's bed. I didn't want DJ to see them, so I stashed them in the trunk. Looking at the time, I knew we weren't going to have time to do the chili today, as we were both scheduled at 3:00 and it was already almost 1:30.

When I walked into the house, DJ was sitting at the kitchen table, studying the manual from DMV. He looked up at me, smiling, and told me he had read almost all of it. How I love this young man. I realized he has changed, from the young, scarred and shy boy I met a few weeks ago. He is now much more open, and has developed more confidence. I think I have won the trust I really needed him to have in me.

"I think the chili is gonna have to wait," I stated, "we are both due at work in less than an hour and a half. How about some Bojangles for lunch today?"

"You know me, Dad," DJ replied, "I'll try most anything once, even if I've never had it. The only fried chicken I've ever had was what Mama sometimes brought home from Wal-Mart."

Emotionally, I melt, every time he calls me 'Dad.' It just makes me feel great. We were both ready to face another Friday evening at Southside Drug. DJ was still training with Cynthia, but tomorrow he was going to be on his own for the first time, as he was covering for Lois. Justin would be there, if he ran into any obstacles, to bail him out.

I let DJ drive us to work that day, since he had been studying the manual. He was picking up the driving pretty well, even though I was a little nervous, probably without warrant. With my guidance, he drove us to

Bojangles and we had fried chicken for lunch. DJ liked it, a lot. Then he drove us to the drug store.

When we left that night, DJ mentioned that we were nearly out of bread, so we drove to the supermarket. While there I got some store-made coleslaw from the deli as well. DJ spotted some bread that, surprisingly, I had never noticed before, called 'Daves Killer Bread.' We bought a loaf of that, plus a loaf of the bread we were in the habit of using. Then DJ drove us home.

We cut up and heated some of the roast in the left over gravy, and I fixed some instant mashed potatoes, so we had open faced hot roast beef sandwiches, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw for supper. I told DJ that, since I was off tomorrow and he had to be at work at 9:00 AM, I would catch the dishes in the morning.

By the time we were done with supper it was after 10:30. I put the left over 'left-overs' away and we both were ready to head to bed. While DJ was brushing his teeth, I prepared the coffee for morning. I told DJ that it was ready, and all one of us has to do is flip the switch on.

I set the alarm for 7:00 AM, and we both crawled into bed, and I wrapped my arm around DJ.

"Dad," DJ spoke softly, "I hope you realize how much I appreciate everything you have done, and are still doing for me, and how much I love you."

"Son," I returned, "I've been watching, as you progress into a man. I couldn't be any prouder than I am of you."

I really enjoy sleeping with DJ. Most of the time, we don't even think or talk about anything sexual, but there sure is a lot of love between us. I bless the day he walked into my yard, just wanting to cut my grass for a few dollars. We drifted off to sleep...

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Beep—Beep—Beep—Beep the alarm was sounding. How can it be 7:00 AM already? Well, maybe, as the sun was peeking through the blinds. Like myself, I think DJ would have preferred to not hear the alarm. Somehow we managed to lift our carcasses out of the bed. DJ ran out of the bedroom to the kitchen and flipped the switch on the coffee maker. I, being an older man, was attempting to make it to the bathroom without leaking on the floor.

Whew, I made it today, but once in a while I start to pee a couple of squirts before I get to the toilet. DJ barged in, sliding beside me, and aimed for the open top of the bowl, and letting a powerful stream out and into the abyss.

"Sorry, Dad, I was running out of time!" he exclaimed. "I started the coffee brewing."

I cannot believe how natural it seems for DJ to now call me 'Dad.' Not once in the last 2 days has he started to call me 'Doug'. And every time he calls me 'Dad' I can feel my head swelling. I wonder when it will explode, yet, hearing him call me 'Dad' has a wonderful ring to it, and I love hearing it.

We didn't take time to prepare an elaborate breakfast. I fried 2 eggs for myself, and 3 eggs for DJ. We tried out the 'new' killer bread, and quickly decided that was to be our bread of choice. DJ elected to only eat 2 slices of toast today, instead of his usual 3 or 4. He was already dressed for work, and I was still naked.

"Dad, I know you worry when I ride my bike to work, but today is nice. It also will still be daylight when I am coming home, as I will be getting off about 4:00 PM, so don't worry about taking me to work today."

"Are you sure, Son?" I said.

"I'm sure, Dad." DJ hugged me and I hugged him back, laying a kiss on his forehead. "I love you, Dad, see you about 4:30. Enjoy your Saturday off."

DJ mounted his bike and took off. I think it was the first time he'd ridden it in over a week. He was right, I do worry when he is riding his bike after dark, especially in some parts of town. I lounged around, sipping on a third cup of coffee.

I was expecting the furniture delivery sometime after 10:00 AM, so I went ahead and got dressed, just in case they came early, so I wouldn't get caught naked. Good thing I did, as the furniture van pulled up about 9:30. One of the men came to the front door, and verified that this was the correct house.

I showed him the nearly empty room where everything was to go. He went back outside, and they started to bring the stuff in, setting up the bed, then placing the box spring and mattress. There was a nook beside the closet that made an ideal location for the desk. The new dresser needed to go where the old chest of drawers was still standing. The old chest we moved to the end of the hallway, just outside DJ's doorway.

Once everything was in and in place, I thought the room looked great. I'm really anxious to see DJ's reaction. I signed the delivery ticket and the two deliverymen left. Looking over the room, I wished I'd thought to add a bedside table, then realized, there were sliding doors on both sides of the headboard, and plenty of room for something like a lamp or clock radio on top.

I knew I had stored some extra sheets in that old chest of drawers that had been in DJ's room, and is now in the hall. Opening a drawer, I decided maybe he would like plaid sheets, and took out a set with matching pillowcases. I had to go to my car to get the new pillows I had bought yesterday.

I went ahead and made up DJ's bed, then realized I didn't have an extra bedspread. I will get DJ a new spread, but I think I will let him choose the one he wants. For tonight, it'll just be a blanket on top. He may not even sleep in the new bed tonight.

It's only about 1:00 PM and DJ is working until 4:00. He'll be home about 4:30. I can hardly wait. I have a plan!

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About 2:00 PM UPS brought a couple of packages into the drugstore, and DJ signed for them, and took them back to Justin, who was the registered pharmacist today. Unbeknown to DJ, one of the packages contained his new polo shirts.

At 4:00 PM Cynthia had just clocked in, and came up front to relieve DJ.

"How did it go today?" Cynthia asked DJ, smiling.

"Pretty decent. It wasn't terribly busy, but everything went well. I only had to call for Justin's help once."

"You were a good trainee, DJ," Cynthia said, smiling, "I think you'll do fine here. I'm going to miss you." Cynthia gave DJ a warm hug.

"Good luck, Cynthia," DJ responded, "I'm going to miss you too. Is this your last day?"

"No, tomorrow is."

DJ went back to clock out, and Justin asked him to hold on a minute, then handed him the package with his six new polo shirts. They were red, like everyone else's, with Southside Drug and Pharmacy embroidered on the right side, and DJ embroidered on the left.

"I rode my bike in today," DJ explained. "Is it okay if I leave them here for tonight, and I'll have Dad get them tomorrow when he is here with the car."

"Dad?" Justin queried.

"Doug," DJ answered. "Well, he has been like a father to me, and I feel comfortable calling him 'Dad' and I think he likes it too."

"That'll be fine, DJ." Justin smiled.

DJ clocked out, hopped on his bike and headed home.

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I'd been doing a lot around the house today, and somehow I didn't really feel like cooking tonight. I'm also dying to see what happens when DJ discovers his room. It's 4:30 and DJ is due home any minute. The back door opened, and DJ slipped in and headed to the refrigerator to get some water, and poured himself a glass.

"Hey," I said, "How was work today?"

"It was fine, Dad, a little busier than some days. I need to ask you a favor though, my shirts came today and I'm off tomorrow, if you can put them in the car and bring them home I would appreciate it. Just ask Justin for them."

"Not a problem, Son. I did a little rearranging today. While I decide about something for dinner, why don't you go ahead and put all your clothes away. There should be adequate room in the dresser in the other bedroom now."

When approaching the bedroom, DJ noticed the chest at the end of the hallway. He had placed s few of his clothes in a couple of the drawers, and he checked them, finding only sheets and pillowcases, or towels and washcloths in any of the drawers. He cautiously opened the door to the bedroom...

"DAD!" DJ hollered, as if there was an emergency.

"DJ, are you OK?" I asked, as I approached him, and flicked on the overhead light.

DJ was at a loss for words, just pointing into the room.

"You don't like it?" I queried, smirking a little.

"It's—It's—beautiful, but who is going to use it?"

"I hope you are," I responded. "I said earlier that you really needed to have your own room. Especially when you start school in a few weeks."

"I guess you don't want me to sleep with you anymore. You could have gotten just a twin sized bed."

"I didn't say that, DJ. But if Joe happens to spend the night here with me, I wouldn't want to kick you to the couch. That would kill your back." Then, "And, as I said earlier, you might want to have someone sleep over with you and it would be really tight with a twin bed. Besides, I didn't have any twin sheets hanging around, but have plenty of full sized ones."

"I'm sorry Dad, I didn't mean to sound unappreciative. You could put a man into cardiac arrest with those kinds of shocks. I love it. So you didn't get the new mattress for your bed?"

"No, DJ. My mattress is fine."

"Then why did you want me to help you pick one out?

"Because I wanted to make sure you would find the mattress most comfortable for you. I would have agreed, to which ever one you selected. The salesman helped me out on selecting the actual furniture. He said that most young people really liked that Ebony finished style."

"He batted 100% on that." DJ responded, "I really love it, and I love you too, but you can be a real sneaky dog!" DJ grinned.

As we both went to the kitchen, DJ asked what I was planning for supper.

"I really don't feel like cooking tonight, DJ. I've done quite a bit of work today. I'm thinking, Saturday night would be a good night for pizza."

"Same place we got it last time?" DJ inquired.

"Yeah, but let's eat it in, instead of bringing it home. Maybe your cutie will be working, and can wait on us."

DJ, blushing, "Dad, you even agreed he was cute, but he's probably still in High School."

"We can find out," I stated, grinning. "Let's go, you're driving."

I handed the keys to DJ, and we headed to the car and got in. DJ carefully backed out of the driveway and we drove to the pizza parlor without incident. DJ is becoming more competent and skilled every time he drives.

We were hardly inside when this blonde, blue eyed, somewhat well built, cutie met us.

"Good evening gentlemen, are you eating in tonight?" He asked.

"If you can wait on us." I answered.

"I'd be delighted to, come this way please. By the way my name is Jamie." And he led us to a booth.

I sat in the left side of the booth, and DJ took the right.

Jamie, leaning his right forearm on DJ's shoulder, and holding the order pad in his left hand asked what our drinks would be. DJ asked for Pepsi and I was going to ask for just water, then decided on Pepsi also, though I rarely drink sodas. He laid menus in front of both of us.

"I'll be right back with your drinks."

Looking over at DJ I said, "Son, quit drooling!"

DJ, grinning and slightly red faced, "But Dad, he is so hot!"

When Jamie returned with the drinks, I asked him what school he attended. He said he had just graduated from the local High School in June, just a few days before his 18th birthday. He also said he planned to go to the community college this fall. He then asked if we were ready to order.

"We want pizza. DJ what is your preference?

Jamie said "We have a new pizza that is not on the menu, Chicken Alfredo. It has Alfredo Sauce, instead of the red sauce, and has chicken, diced tomatoes, bacon and cheese. It is, in my opinion, very tasty. Most people like it."

DJ is nodding, and I told Jamie we'd try it, in a medium.

"See DJ. He told us a lot, he's legal, graduated and planning to go to CC. My Gaydar is on high alert. You need to see if he might be looking for friends, maybe you can swap numbers. Tell him you plan to go to CC also, and ask him if he works out."

A few minutes later Jamie delivered our pizza, and asked if there was anything else we needed.

DJ spoke, "Jamie, I'm also planning to start at CC in the fall. Right now, Dad's helping me to get a drivers license and I'm trying to save some money up to buy a car and also for tuition."

"Cool! What curriculum?"

"I'm not sure, yet. Do you work out?"

"Yeah, some. I try to get into the gym at least 3 or 4 times a week. I'm looking for a workout buddy, would you be interested?"

"I've never worked out," DJ replied, "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"I can help you," Jamie replied, "Let me get you some refills."

When Jamie brought back the refills, he also brought a restaurant business card, with his name and cell number on the back, and handed it to DJ.

"I can't really talk anymore as I have other customers to serve. By the way, what is your name?"

"Dewain Jovan Jackson, but I go by DJ"

"Call me, we'll talk!" He bumped fists with DJ.

DJ and I had killed the pizza, which was, as Jamie stated, very tasty. We both left about half a glass of Pepsi. I took the ticket to the register, and Jamie slid my VISA through the machine. I signed the receipt and added a $10 tip. Jamie smiled, and thanked me graciously.

We entered the car, and DJ drove us toward home.

"You know he likes you," I said.

"How do you know that?" DJ replied, "He might have just been really friendly."

"Nobody gives their phone number to people they don't like. He did tell you to call him, and he won't have your number until you do. He seems like a really nice young man."