Black Belt Joe By BlindEagle Part 4 blindeagle@codeysworld.com Copyright © 2009 by BlindEagle. All rights reserved.

Keith listened to the Silvers converse about the various events of their day while he slowly ate dinner. He remembered how similar talks went on at dinner with his mom and dad, and the funny faces he and Kevis would make just to see who would be forced to burst out laughing, knowing that food would probably be spit out from laughing. This would cause one of their parents to remind the loser of this face-off game the long lesson on proper eating during meals.

Though they were identical twins, their personalities were quite different. Kevis was a more outgoing kid than Keith, and was always the one getting caught by their dad playing around with his golf clubs in the back yard, trying out tools from his workshop, or getting into his very expensive camera equipment.

Susan was amazed at how identical the boys were, and when they were little she often had to rely on the birthmark on Keith’s bottom to know who was who. Later Kevis took care of that problem. While playing on top of their bunk beds he fell off breaking his arm on the bedside table, and causing a gash that became a small but visible scar on his left elbow.

Keith was more reserved and was usually the quiet one. That would end when Kevis started in with the joking and playing around and Keith would get into it as well. Their antics would last until they both were too tired from laughing to continue, or when a parent made them stop and take a rest break. Cindy knew her boys well, and could always tell who did what to whom when they was arguing with each other. Whenever she had to break it up if they were fighting, which seldom happened, she made them apologize to each other. Then she would assign them a chore that they had to work together to complete. This always worked to make them quickly forget the reason they’d been fighting.

Keith loved his brother and usually took the blame when Kevis sometimes took joking and fooling around over the top. On the other hand, Kevis was very protective of his ‘little’ brother and he would often bring up their age difference, knowing Keith would come back with “You’re only 2 minutes and 45 seconds older than me. Besides, I’m better looking than you!”

The twins were very protective of each other. One day when they were six they were waiting for their grandparents to pick them up from school. Albert, the class bully, purposely shoved Keith down to the ground as he was passing by. Kevis was talking with Sandy, a girl in their class, and saw what had just happened. He ran right towards Albert and punched him directly in the face; Keith was picking himself up from the floor when he heard the smack sound. He looked around to see who had pushed him and where the sound was coming from. Albert was lying on the floor holding his nose and crying like a baby, while Kevis stood over him saying “If you touch my brother again I’ll do more then punch you in the nose!”

******

The Silvers continued their typical dinner discussion and didn’t notice that Keith was lost in thoughts about his family. Except for Joe, who kept glancing at Keith. He realized that Keith must again be somewhere far away in his mind. Keith would put a shy smile on his face and give a one or two word response when one of the Silvers would attempt to include him in their conversations, but Joe could tell that Keith was preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Keith tried focusing on the Silvers’ events of the day, but no matter how hard he tried, he would drift back to his past. He was completely unaware when his thoughts would shift. Like a gust of wind blowing through an open window, the memories of the last trip taken by his family pushed their way in and totally occupied his mind.

“Keith... Keith? ...Keith! What’s wrong honey?”

Joe and Paul looked at Wendy then at Keith. Wendy was a mother and she could tell Keith was close to breaking down. She quickly got up from her seat and knelt down beside Keith and her arm around him. Keith felt the embrace of Joe’s mom and with tears running like a river broke down sobbing while Wendy pulled him into a hug.

******

At about the same time, in office of the Clerk of County Courts in Los Angeles, Kim made a telephone call, a very personal call. The person on the other end of the line seemed excited to hear from her. “Hi Kimberly, to what do I owe this call?”

Kim used her most seductive voice. “Hello, Clarence. It’s been a long time since we discussed your little project. Do you have some time we can meet, as soon as possible? I have some donors who are willing to contribute to the project, and I’m sure you’d want to participate.”

With a tone of lust in his voice, the Honorable Judge Clarence D. Armstrong replied. “Well, Kim, you know I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity for donations. The project needs all the donations it can get!”

They continued their conversation, setting up a meeting date and location.

******

Jack sat on a stool at the bar in his entertainment room and reflected on the huge debt he and Kim had just finished paying back. It wasn’t just the amount they owed for their gambling debts, it was the enormous amount of interest that bugged him. He hated paying the extra money, but because their payments were late they had to sell off the five percent of the shares they owned in Kyle’s firm, and almost completely drained their savings account, in order to make the final payment. He’d been chilled to the bone by the loan shark’s final warning about what would happen if he didn’t get his money. “Never again,” he thought, “never again!”

Sipping on a martini, Jack amused himself with the plans Kim had shared with him. “What the hell,” he thought to himself with a resentful frown, “Mom and Dad always favored Kyle.” He recalled what his mother would say to his father: ‘Oh Melvin, I think Kyle has your mother’s eyes, and his hair is like your uncle Roy.’ Always treating Kyle as if he was a prince. Well, good old Daddy died eight years ago from a massive stroke, and Mommy Dearest is living the rest of her days in a nursing home. That’s what they get for having kids at forty. Jack grinned to himself. “And look at what happened to their favored one! Now it’s my turn!”

It was time to proceed with his part of Kim’s plan. Jack made a phone call to one of his old gambling buddies, a buddy who got him out a few serious jams in the past.

“Hello, Razor? It’s Jack... yeah it’s been a long time, but before we get into talking about old times I have a big job coming up that I think you’ll be interested in. I guarantee you’ll like this one, it’s right up your alley. And it carries a nice cash purse along with it... I knew that would perk your interest. I’ll fill you in on it later, but for now I want to keep it quiet.”

Jack continued his conversation with Razor, reminiscing about their past exploits, and finally ended the call. He fixed himself another drink. Raising the glass up into the air he said out loud, with no one but himself to hear, “Here’s to you, little prince.”

******

The Silvers moved into the family room to have their dessert. Keith sat quietly and Wendy kept a close watch over him.

Really wanting to discuss the issue at hand but realizing it probably wasn’t the right time, Paul looked at Joe. “So, Joe, were you able to finish that piece your music director requested?”

“Yes, and Mr. Appleby had me play it before the whole school orchestra.”

Smiling at hearing the news Paul said, “So when is the performance going to be?”

“I think Mr. Appleby wants to have it ready for the talent show after spring break.”

Satisfied with the news Joe just shared, Paul turned to Keith.

“How are you feeling Keith? I know you had a long day, and it didn’t exactly go the way you wanted. I’ve told you before that you are perfectly OK here and we want to help you with what ever you are going through. If you want us to, all you have to do is ask.”

Paul smiled, hoping that he had opened enough space for Keith to talk and share what was bothering him so much.

Keith knew that Paul meant every word he said. From the time Paul rushed over to him from his car to help him up when he’d been knocked onto the ground in front of the Silver’s house, to the ice pack on his forehead, to meeting Joe who was the first teen Keith felt totally relaxed around since the accident, the Silvers were nothing but nice to him from the time he entered their home, right up to sitting here in the family room having dessert.

Keith had been looking down, staring at his lap. He looked up and saw Joe smiling at him with that big smile he had come to like in Joe. Seeing Joe’s, Paul’s, and Wendy’s smiles, smiles for him, encouraged him to finally want to share everything that happened to him during the past six months, everything that he’d held inside.

He told them about his family, and his twin brother, and how much they loved each other. He told how his dad had informed him and Kevis of the trip to Florida to all of the fun at the theme parks and the chartered fishing boat. He told how everything went black after the explosion on the boat. Tears formed in his eyes as he told about waking up in hospital, and finding out his family was gone. He told about how he’d been sent to foster homes and how he’d been treated. He told about how bullies at every school attacked him, and he tried to defend himself but because he was a foster kid how it was always made into him being at fault.

He didn’t share with them about the black belt levels he held in kung fu and that he was a junior instructor. Too much had already gone wrong because he used his skills to defend himself, so the less they knew about that part of him the better things would be. That and that he really liked the Silvers. What if what Joe said could really happen? Maybe if things went wrong at the Chase’s maybe the Silvers would take him in.

Wendy, trying to hide the tears forming in her eyes, asked Paul to help her carry the dessert dishes into the kitchen.

“Paul, how horrible! That boy is only fourteen and has gone through more then most adults could handle. The loss of his entire family, then to be treated like unwanted luggage!”

With tears now running down her face, Wendy leaned onto Paul and looked up at him.

“We have to do something Paul, we just have to.”

“I know honey, I know. We just have to figure out how and what we can do.”

******

Mike and Georgia was discussing the trip they wanted to take during spring break and which relative they were going to ask to babysit while they enjoyed themselves under the bright lights of Las Vegas, enjoying the casinos and shows. When the discussion about their vacation slowed, Georgia looked at her husband with an irritated expression.

“What are we going to do when CPS gets here? We have no idea where that kid is, for all we know he could be half way to who knows where.”

“All we need to do is inform his case worker how he didn’t come home from school today, of his behavior in school, and how disrespectful he’s been to us. The least he could have done was to let us know what happened at school and where he went.”

Agreeing with Mike, Georgia continued, “Well, he knows that we’re fully aware of his fights and bad attitude at his previous schools, so Mrs. Pretty Shoes shouldn’t have any reason to give us a hard time. It’s not our fault what happened to him at school. There’s nothing that should put our fostering license in jeopardy.”

The doorbell rang.

“That must be her now. Mike, I’ll let her in while you collect his belongings and bring them downstairs.”

******

Joe moved to the couch and sat next to Keith. He was trying to figure out what to say to him.

“Are you OK?”

Keith nodded.

Joe smiled and continued, “I bet my parents are in the kitchen deciding how they can work out having you staying here.”

Keith was surprised. “How do you know they’d want me to stay?”

“Didn’t you hear anything that my dad’s been telling you? And now especially after all you’ve told them?” Joe grinned. “Let’s make a bet, OK?”

Arching an eyebrow, Keith replied, “A bet? What kind of bet are you talking about? I don’t have any money to bet.”

“Just don’t worry about what kind of bet it is. I promise if I win, the bet is something that won’t cost you anything, it’s nothing you’d have to buy, and it’d be easy for you, too!”

Joe looked at Keith and his award-winning smile. The idea of a no-cost bet peaked Keith’s interest, and with a small grin he put out his hand to shake on the bet. Joe clasped it and they shook hands as Paul and Wendy returned from the kitchen.

Wendy noticed the change on Keith’s face, that he seemed to be... happier, maybe. She sat on the other side of Keith and Paul stood directly in front of the two boys and was smiling. Joe saw the smile on his dad’s face and how his mom sat next to Keith. He was almost positive that the question he had been waiting to hear was about to change not only the life of his new found friend, but his as well, and in more ways than one, all good ways.

Paul fixed his eyes on Keith.

“Keith, we want more than anything to help you, but there is one thing you need to do.”

Guessing what Paul was about to say, Keith looked panic-stricken.

Paul continued, “Keith, calling your foster parents is something that needs to be done if there’s going to be any chance of us helping you. The quicker it gets done, the quicker we can do what we have to do to help you.”

Thinking about what Joe said, and the bet, Keith took a deep breath. With a look of confidence on his face, he looked at Paul.

“You’re right. And I need to do it right now. May I use the phone?”

Paul took a deep breath. “Of course. You know where it’s at, right over there.”

Keith got up, walked across the room, and picked up the phone.

******

After letting Mrs. Hinkle in, Georgia put on a look of concern for Keith as she said,” I don’t know what happened to Keith or where he would be.” She began sharing the phone message she received from Keith’s school.

Mike came down from Keith’s room and was headed with his belongings to the front door when the phone rang. Dropping one of the bags he was carrying, he picked up the phone. Recognizing Keith’s voice, he frowned and demanded to know where Keith was.

“What happened to you, we came home after work and you were nowhere to be found. The school called as said you’d been fighting. Again. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Georgia looked at Mike with a twitch in her eye as Mrs. Hinkle showed a real look of concern.

Replying to Keith’s reason for not being home, Mike said in a stern tone, “You need to get back here immediately. Where are you anyway... do you need a ride? ...what are you talking about, who is this Mr. Silver and what are you doing at some stranger’s house this late? ...put him on the phone and you get yourself ready, we’ll be on our way to get you.”

Paul looked at Keith’s expression, and could tell that the person on the other end of the phone wouldn’t even let Keith fully explain what happened. He decided it was time to take over. Paul placed his hand on Keith’s shoulder and reached out his other hand for the handset.

With anger in his voice, Mike tore into whoever this Mr. Silver was on the other end of the line. Mrs. Hinkle looked on in astonishment at the tone of voice Mike was using.

Finally hearing enough of Mike’s flippant remarks and swearing, Paul interrupted him by saying, “We are hiring a lawyer on Keith’s behalf, he was attacked at school and not once have you asked if he was OK. He told us that his room in your attic is like an oven and he asked that the window air conditioner in his room be fixed and that as of this moment it hasn’t been touched. He says that you verbally abuse him and that he recorded both you and your wife saying derogatory words to him because he took a shower twice a day because of the heat. There’s more if you wish to hear it!”

Georgia watched the drastic change in Mike’s expression and knew that something wasn’t going the way they had planned. Mike’s face started turning white with a look of fear.

Continuing with his tirade, Paul said, “We are getting Keith out of that hellhole of a room you put him in and clear away from the likes of you and your wife. You better be glad that’s all were going to do. You have another foster kid living there and two of your own children. I wonder what CPS would think if we played your words of encouragement you so politely said to Keith?”

Mike didn’t say a word. He just listened as Paul gave him his address and told him that he was to immediately bring his wife and all of Keith’s belongings with them. Mike ended the call by saying, “We’ll be right there.”

Mike slowly hung up the phone and looked at his wife with a blank stare. Thinking how he might get rid of Keith’s case worker, Mike tried to put on a look of relief.

“Well! That was the Silvers and it seems that Mr. Silver came upon a fight that Keith had started after school and one of the kids involved in the fight, threw a rock at Keith and put a small bump on his head.” Mike squinched his eyes and looked at Georgia. “Honey, the Silvers live a few blocks from the school and they are waiting for us to pick up Keith and talk with us about what Keith said happened to him.”

Not believing what she was hearing and how all of a sudden Mike went from a man cursing out Mr. Silver and Keith on the phone, then turning almost pale white. And now pretending to be an angel? She looked at Mike and Georgia.

“I’m going to follow you to the Silver’s and find out what happened to Keith and if he’s OK, and to see if medical attention is necessary for him.”

With a look of shock and panic, Georgia told Mrs. Hinkle, “I don’t think that’s necessary Mrs. Hinkle, we’re just going to go to the Silver’s house to collect Keith and come right back, it shouldn’t take us long.”

“It’s no bother at all, and besides it’s my job to make sure Keith is getting the help he needs, so I’ll follow you and do just that. Oh, and you’d better give me the Silver’s address in case we get separated in traffic.”

Mike handed he the notepaper with the address he’d written down, and she copied it to her notebook and handed it back. With a smirk she looked at the Chases.

“Well, let’s get going, shall we?”

******

Sweat was running down their faces as the Chases gathered their kids and foster son from the playroom to take the short ride to the Silver’s. Walking out the front door with the Chases and their kids, Mrs. Hinkle noticed all of Keith’s belongings beside the wall by the door.

******

Paul hung up the phone after his talk with Mike Chase. He turned to ask Keith if he was alright, and saw that Keith was looking at him smiling. It was the first time he could remember seeing Keith actually smiling. He smiled in return.

“Are you OK Keith? I guess you liked what you heard?”

Keith just nodded, and his smile was even broader. He looked happy. Paul ruffled Keith’s hair. “Well, son, the best is yet to come.”

Keith was amazed by what he heard. Joe’s dad had called him ‘son’. That made him feel good, sort of all warm inside. All he could do was smile.

Joe had walked over and was standing next to Keith and his dad. Joe couldn’t believe that the man who just told off Keith’s foster parent was his father. His dad had always been very mild mannered and polite, and rarely did he see his dad become angry. About the only times were when someone tried hurting him at his old school or once when a burglar tried to break into their house. Joe also knew that once his dad’s mind was made up about something, absolutely nothing was going to prevent him from fulfilling his task.

Paul and Wendy discussed their plan of action, Joe told them he was going to help Keith check the bump on his forehead and clean himself up a little before his soon-to-be ex-foster parents arrived. When they got to Joe’s room, Keith turned to him.

“Joe, do you think your dad will convince Mike and Georgia to let me stay here? All they’re interested in is the six hundred fifty dollars they get every month from CPS.”

“If my dad says he’s going to do something, especially something as important as getting you away from that place, I’m sure he’ll do just what he says he’ll do.”

With a hesitant nod, followed by a sigh of relief, Keith prepared himself for what he knew would be an unpleasant event.

******

Pulling into her driveway after an afternoon conversing with a few contacts given her by Judge Clarence Armstrong, Kim mentally pieced together her master plan that would generate huge profits for her and Jack. One person alone could dismantle her plan if it was found out, but she had every bit of confidence in her husband that everything would be put into action to finally, once and for all, take care of that problem. Jack and Kim were two bitter-hearted individuals who had long forgotten the real meaning of family. Because of the bad gambling and drug habits they acquired over the years, it was now all about survival, about doing whatever it took to stay afloat, about beating out the next guy to gain the most. This was often done at the expense of those they befriended, then to turn around and later use them for their gain.

Because of her job at the courthouse, Kim knew various judges, lawyers and important government officials, and had the uncanny ability to pull strings whenever the need to do so would arise; however, now she had to create a masterful performance pulling all the strings she had to make her plan rain down the millions that were just a reach away. All she had to do now is fill Jack in on the final touches.

******

The ticketing agent asked, “Will this be cash or credit sir?”

“Yes, cash, and how soon will the bus depart for Florida?”

“The bus will be departing the station tonight at eight-forty-five and you’ll arrive in Orlando on Tuesday at about one-thirty. Of course, that is subject to delays due to traffic or weather. With a grim expression Razor nodded as he handed the cash over to the ticketing agent. 

******