Chapter 6

I awoke Tuesday and started my routine by going to my gym, sensing the area. I exercised, practiced my huku using the heavy bag, did my yoga routine, showered, dressed, went to the kitchen for breakfast, vitamins, and protein drink, and waited for Mom. I had three hours of sleep, and I felt great. I wondered if that was one of the gifts from the gods. Then Mom came out and took off for the stadium. We entered the same door and were given directions to the press conference room. It took us by Stan’s office, and I got an evil feeling passing it. I told Mom I was going to the restroom and to wait. I entered Stan’s office, kicked him in the balls, and knocked him out. Searching his pockets, I found a container with liquid in it. I poured it down his throat, wiped my prints off it, put it in his hand, tagged his phone, and left.

The press conference went off like a charm, and everyone was happy. I told Mom to stay close to me, and something was wrong here. I felt eval passing Stan’s office, so let’s be cautious and stay together. The commercial was funny. I was a coach telling the players what they were doing wrong and then showing them the right way. They finally had enough and chased me out of the ballpark. A paramedic’s van and a firetruck were parked at our entrance. We went around them and left, passing two LAPD cars with emergency lights on and no sirens. Then, at the traffic light, a Coroner’s Van turns before us going to Dodger Stadium. I said something big must have happened while we were filming the commercial.

I thought about the evil feeling I got passing Stan’s office and wondered if it was one of their gifts too. We stopped at the in-n-out drive-thru for a late lunch and drove home. Eating lunch, Karen called. Mom answered and put the call on speakerphone. And I asked if she wanted me to autograph a pair of panties to frame for her office. Put a brass plaque saying TJ’s first signed pair below it. Mom and Karen were laughing, and I smiled and added it would be a great conversation piece. She could tell visitors I also have a certificate of authenticity signed by TJ Wilson, and the line went dead. I asked Mom if it was a bad connection, laughing too. Karen called back and called me an asshole. Andrew Finkleman was in the office and thought I was a great idea. I told Karen great minds think alike, and there was a roar of laughter. She said to come to the office at 1 p.m. tomorrow to review the offers and hung up.

I told Mom maybe you go in first, check out the room, and call out all clear. She thought it was a great idea, and we laughed. I asked if we should get some sunglasses and Sharpies to avoid being recognized so easily. Mom said let’s go, then get dinner on the way back. I got one pair, and mom got two, and I said I know women need more, and we laughed to the CVS. I got a package of twelve Sharpies and got Mexican takeout for dinner. We ate dinner, and then Mom showed me some advanced shuffling techniques and played some poker. When it was time, we hugged goodnight and went to bed.

After waiting 30 minutes for mom fall asleep, I grabbed my laptop, tablet, and phone and went to the workshop. I finished my dead man’s switch and copied it to the laptop. Next, I adapted it to Android and copied it to my tablet and phone. It was getting late, so I shut it down, locked it up, returned to my room, and went to bed. I fell asleep and felt a thumping on the symbol’s areas of my body. It was almost like a musical tune or receiving a signal, and then I drifted into a deep sleep.

Waking up early, I exercised, practiced my huku, sensed the area, grabbed my walking staff, and took off running my route, keeping a steady speed and stride. When I reached my turnaround point, I increased my pace on the way home. After stretching, I showered, dressed, went to the kitchen for breakfast, vitamins, and a protein drink, and then drove the golf cart to the practice range. I warmed up, went out alone, and practiced my bunker shots and swing speed. I shot a two-under after intentionally hitting bunkers and roughs to improve my game.

When I got home, I showered, dressed, put on my bracelet and medallion, and went to the kitchen. We ate lunch, put on our shades, and grabbed a Sharpie on the way to the SUV. We arrived at WME ten minutes early and were led to a conference room. I waited outside until mom said all clear and walked inside to laughter. Karen called me an asshole and threw a pen at me, laughing. I caught it, looked at her, and said Karen, you should never throw anything less than Montblanc at a client, right Mr. Finkleman? That brought a new round of laughter. After that, everyone said I should do the western and the baseball movies. It was about a teen growing up in a Midwest rural football town and playing only baseball. The Western was a revenge movie about a boy whose family was killed and who vowed to kill everyone involved. Mom and I agreed, and Mr. Finkleman said they would set up reading and then call us.

I asked him one more thing. Mom and I went SUV shopping the other day and test-drove the Cadillac Escalade-V, and we really liked it. Cadillac supports Pro Golf but not Amateur Golf. How about you approach them for an ad campaign and tell them about Rawling and Louisville ads? Straight modeling gig, use of the SUV for a year, and money. But they must promise not to sponsor the Amateur circuit, but I’m already doing that for them. I already wrote the script, so let us know, and we left.

On the way home, I asked how the country club deal was going. Mom said good, Mr. Brown has the civil lawsuits ready to file with the amounts and damages. Poor Ben Perkins is still in jail because Todd got a court order freezing his assets. He has a public defender, and the DA isn’t offering a plea deal. I said well, Bella should be enjoying herself and we both laughed. Then I said speaking of perverts have you heard from Dad. Mom said he called and left a message asking me to loan him money for his campaign. I texted him, “Not just No, but Hell No.” We laughed, stopped at our Italian restaurant for takeout, and went home. While eating, I told Mom it might be a good idea to roll the North & South Carolina properties into the trust. If desperate, Daddy would try to borrow money from them and forge your signature. Mom said shit. I’ll call first thing in the morning. We watched tv and saw a reporter at Dodger Stadium reporting on the death of Stan Thompson from an overdose of Barbiturates. Police traced the drugs to an assistant trainer working for the club. We hugged goodnight and went to bed.

Thirty minutes later, I was in the workshop changing my programs in what I call my toolbox to work with ancient computer systems Earth uses. The first program was finished, and I called it “Watching Kids Play.” It was Mom’s idea at home, but she didn’t have time to build it. So I did, and it monitors from one to fifty computers in a network. You put in what you want to watch, and it gives you the data in a daily report. That’s how Mom and I knew what the government was doing before they pushed it down our throats. One program finished and was late, so I shut down, locked up, and went to bed.

I didn’t dream tonight. I went through a body tune-up. The symbols started throbbing and spread throughout my body. Symbols at my waist went down my legs, cock, and balls. The medallion symbols went to my head, and the bracelet did my upper body. I lay in blissful, deep sleep, and it finished.

I awoke Thursday and went to the gym, sensing the area on my way. I exercised, practiced my huku using the heavy bag, did my yoga routine, showered, dressed, went to the kitchen for breakfast, vitamins, and protein drink, then drove the golf cart to the practice range. Today was practice only, so I got two buckets of balls and practiced, then returned home.

Mom was on the phone and unhappy but seemed to get it settled at the end. Mom said I’m calling a charter and getting a round trip scheduled ASAP. The movers are ready and will be at the house the day after tomorrow. If we can go out today, we will return late tomorrow. Your dad tried to get a loan on the house but was stalled at the title company. That’s how the trust found out about it. John needs to get my signature to close the deal. So, the trust is transferring the title of the house and cabin to you so it can be done quickly. John is screwed, then, and I have you to thank for alerting me.

We quickly packed our bags so we could leave and departed LAX at 3 p.m. and arrived at 11 p.m. We got a nice motel by the airport and crashed. Waking up early, Mom and I ate breakfast, rented an SUV, stopped at U-Haul for boxes and tape, and went to the house. I didn’t have much but my computer, parts, and clothes that didn’t fit. Feeling bad, Mom let me have anything I wanted of Dad’s. I took his jewelry and books on poker and found his stash behind the poker books. So, I took it, too, and we loaded the SUV.

The realtor showed up, had us sign up, and would have a cleaning crew clean it the day after tomorrow. She would also let the movers in early tomorrow. We returned to the airport, took off at 3 p.m. EST, and arrived at 6 PST. Stopping for dinner, we got home at 8 p.m. and crashed. The throbbing started as soon as I was asleep, and the repair continued until it ended before I woke up.

I awoke Saturday and went to the gym, sensing the area on my way. I exercised, practiced my huku using the heavy bag, did my yoga routine, showered, dressed, and went to the kitchen for breakfast, vitamins, and protein drink. Going to the garage, I took my computer, Dad’s books, and jewelry from the SUV to my room. Then I took the computer parts and Dad’s stash to the workroom, and my stuff was done. Mom finally got up, unloaded her stuff, and finished at 10 a.m. The gym arrived, and they set it up in the workshop and left. We ate lunch, Mom lay down, and I went upstairs and set up my decoy computer. First, I deleted my tools, then started loading a lot of crap off the internet. I hid and protected files so whoever tried to get in had something to do.

When I finished, I went to the workroom and needed to find a stash place to hold my valuables. There was nowhere to hide anything except behind the workbench, so I lifted one end and pivoted out. And surprise, there was one already there with a steel door. It was six feet deep and the width of the building. On one end was a double-door gun safe five feet tall and six feet wide. Mom’s dad must have put it in while the building was being built. On the other side was shelving floor to ceiling four feet deep made of wood. This was perfect for me to use. The custom computer I will build will go on a shelf or two, and the safe for my valuables. I went to the safe, felt the dial, turned it right, and stopped 54. Then turned, the dial left three full turns and stopped at 14. Finally, right two full turns to 24, and the safe opened.

Mom’s dad was keeping secrets from the family. The left side had rifles and shotguns on the bottom and ammo on a shelf. On the right side was shelving, half filled with knives, brass knuckles, batons, and handguns. One shelf of cash, and the last two had papers and a metal box. I locked Dad’s stash and my computer in the safe. Then I closed the metal door and looked for the key. It was under the workbench, so I locked it and put the bench back. I sat and wondered what Mom’s dad was into and sensed Mom was getting up and returned the key, locked it up, and went to the kitchen.

Mom exited her bedroom and said I don’t feel like cooking or going out. Instead, let’s order pizza and watch TV. So, we did, and Mom said that trip wore her out, but after her nap, she felt better. When the show was over, we hugged goodbye and went to bed. The throbbing started as soon as I was asleep, and the repair continued until it ended before I woke up. I subconsciously thought I went to bed early the last two nights so the repairs could be done quicker. Then I wondered what the final result would be and went deep asleep.

Waking up Sunday, I exercised, practiced my huku, sensed the area, grabbed my walking staff, and took off running my route, keeping a steady speed and stride. During my run, I decided to do a light workout on the weight machine on my yoga days. It would give me a chance to recover before playing a round. When I reached my turnaround point, I increased my pace on the way home. After stretching, I showered, dressed, went to the kitchen for breakfast, vitamins, and a protein drink, and then drove the golf cart to the practice range. I warmed up and then was first out again. I challenged myself, hitting the rough sand traps and even the trees. Finally, I shot a one under and was happy when I drove home, realizing I needed to make the competitions look challenging. And not blow everyone away and create lead changes, and some close losses were required. If I didn’t, they would find a way to ban me from the tournaments due to age or some bullshit.

Creating hype, not resentment and scorn, was the key to success and getting invited to more competitions and tournaments. I walked into the kitchen, and Mom was on the phone. When the call ended, she said that it was Karen. You have a reading tomorrow at 3 p.m. for the western at Universal Studio and a reading for the sports movie on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the same place. Your tournament in Colorado Springs is next weekend, so everything Is working perfectly so far, and we laughed. I said to schedule nothing more until after the tournament, and Mom agreed.

We ate lunch, and I told Mom we should firm up the details with Titleist on the tournament tomorrow so we can make reservations. Ask David Brooks if we should charter the 737 or go cheap and reserve the business jet for the trip, and we both laughed. We do need a two-bedroom mini suite at a hotel. It would be more affordable than two rooms or just a little more, and they should be okay with that. Mom decided to read a book and relax, so I asked if she had one for me, too. She laughed and said these are for women, not young men. But I could learn so much about girls and women that way, Mom. She said to go to your workshop and leave me alone laughing, so I left.

At my workshop, I thought about Mr. Perkins. In jail, he probably did realize I charged almost 15k to his credit card. Laughing, I opened my toolbox on the computer and found my file of notes and diagrams of the things I build at home. Selecting the computer I designed and built for Mom, I started changing the extra circuit board I bought. It wouldn’t be as good as my birth Mom’s, but it would be 100 times better than they have here. I also needed minerals to complete the computer. I’ll look for a spot close to Colorado Springs to start my hunting and let Mom shop. A day pack and a small geology kit would do. I stopped thinking of things I needed when I sensed Mom was up and in the kitchen, so I locked up and entered the house.