Chapter sixteen
Saturday July 27 cont'd
After Joe and Billy had a more leisurely dinner Joe looked at Billy and said, "You know Bill we can't be doing anything like that ever again."
"I dunno" Billy said, "you mad at me now?"
"Bill I ain't mad at you" Joe tried to keep it nonchalant "you didn't do anything wrong, but... well.. you know it's just not something we should be doing."
"You do hate me" Billy said storming out of the kitchen.
"I don't hate you" Joe followed after him "if anything I'm not real happy with myself right now."
"You hate me cause of what I made you do!"
"You didn't make me do anything Bill. I coulda - I shoulda stopped any of this before it happened."
"You hate me cause I stayed and watched you in front of the group, cause I bid against you. You think I sold you out."
"Damn no that wasn't your fault. But I shoulda insisted they kick you outa there when things got... well you know... a bit raunchy."
"You mean what happened, well you're okay with it, you just didn't want me to know about it."
"Well... kinda."
"So it's okay for you to do it, but not for me to know about it."
"Billy, these are things for adults, not kids like you-"
"Dad I ain't no kid!" and Billy stormed into his room and slammed the door shut.
Damn, now he really is cryin, Joe thought, I messed him up today and now he's all confused. Or else he just wants me to see him as adult now, all grown up, a man. Well maybe I'll treat him grown-up and see if that helps. Hell, it can't make it worse.
Sunday July 28
So the next day over breakfast, Joe and his wife started talking about the pool. Again. This was one of those projects Joe had been starting to do for the last two summers. At least. Cath kept saying Billy would be gone off to college before he'd ever get it finished. So when Billy made it downstairs and was well into his breakfast, Joe started,
"Well your mom and I been talkin about the pool."
"Oh great now we're not gonna do it..." and Billy looked glumly at his cereal.
"Actually no. Since we got a month or two before school starts we should start it now or it'll never get done."
"Dad?" Billy looked between his dad and mom "for real? This year for sure?"
"This week!"
"Really?" Billy had heard it before.
"And to make sure it gets done" Joe looked at his wife and winked "I think you should take charge of the project-"
"Yeah right..." Billy looked at his mom, like he was gonna believe his dad "right?"
"Right Billy" they both answered.
"But... but... but I don't know the first thing about pools-"
"That's why I'll help you find the contractors and all that. But it's your job to manage them, make sure they do the job right, make sure they get paid, not spend too much. You know, you'll be the boss."
"Really" Billy could barely contain his grin "you mean it?"
"I mean it. You get to oversee the whole thing and..." Joe looked between them "whatever money you get them to save, we put towards your college fund."
"What?"
"Well, if the contract is for let's say three thousand, and you get them to do the job for two fifty, well..." Joe baited the trap "you get to have the five hundred for college."
"Mom is this for real?"
"Yes Billy, your dad thinks you can handle it. From what he says you've been taking on a lot of responsibilities with your doctor job and all-"
Billy just about choked on his food again, and then looked at his dad. Joe face was as blank as the wall behind him.
"I think you can handle it, how about it?"
"All RIGHT" Billy was elated, but as he thought more about it, having adults answer to him and struggling with money issues and everything, he started to pale, "but dad you gotta help me with some of this stuff-"
"Tomorrow we make some calls. I know some of the contractors who come into the store, some of them would be interested."
July 29
Monday morning Joe made some calls and by eleven he made a deal with a company for thirty three hundred. They were having a slow-ish summer so far so they said they could start Wednesday.
Billy had a hunch his summer was going to turn even more "interesting" and he could not wait. And it would get his mind off last Saturday and the situation at the doc's. When the phone rang he heard the hopes for the pool evaporate.
"Hello?"
"Billy it's Doc Renolds... Billy are you there?"
"Yeah I'm here" Billy sat down "I just... y'know didn't expect to hear from you so soon after... y'know... Saturday."
"I understand you are reluctant about any further work here - "
"Well... I didn't expect - "
"Are your parents informing you to cancel your summer job after - "
"Fuck no!" Billy almost laughed "sorry... no that's not it."
"But you don't want to continue helping here, is that it?"
"Hell doc, I.. well... I don't mind y'know... the stuff... but..."
"But your father?"
"Well, I just think it might be better if I cut back a bit y'know? not every night or they're gonna start askin more questions, if you get my meaning."
"I understand" Billy heard the doc talking in spite of the muffled phone "could you come in tonight and we'll discuss it?"
Billy looked down at the floor, shit here's another of those fateful moments, "fine. What time?"
"Around five-thirty?"
"See you then" and he hung up. Okay, I'll go in to talk but I gotta cool it with the other stuff, he thought. Besides, the whole goddamn town's been done by now!