“Alright, Alvin. If you trust them, I’ll trust them. Semu? They promise not to hurt any of you. They’ve endured a lot of torture in their lives. They’re all between forty and fifty years old. That’s old for Komodas. Maybe we can give them some good years.”
“See, that wasn’t so hard was it?” smirked Mary.
“Mary, when did you decide to join the dynamic duo that is my mother and Ruby?” frowned Gaspar.
“We’ve always been partners. I’ve just been quieter,” she smiled. “Who do you think does all the computer research for them?”
The three women disappeared in a misty cloud and the animals all seemed content to welcome the four new partners.
“They don’t look like they’re dangerous,” said Luke smirking at his father. “I mean, I know they can be but hopefully they’ll behave.”
“Well, we know that they’re exceptionally strong swimmers so if we need support in the bayou or in the river, we can count on Alvin as well as them,” said Gaspar. “I really thought my life would be more relaxing in retirement.”
“Dad, that’s the funniest thing you’ve ever said. With a mother like yours, you’ll never be able to relax. Surprises will keep you young!” Gaspar scoffed as he got up off the ground.
“Yeah. Or kill me.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Archie, Tony, and Tahlako were exposed to another day of screaming and yelling. They were called every name in the book, only to be pushed beyond what should have been their limits had they been living, breathing young men.
Instead, each time they lifted more weights, pushed the boundaries and shocked Butch.
“You guys are full of surprises,” he said to the trio. Tony smiled, nodding at him. “That doesn’t mean you’re worth shit. You’re just not the weaklings I thought you were.”
Tony wanted desperately to punch him in the face but held back as Bull and Rory watched from the other side of the gym.
“Butch? Your two o’clock appointments are here,” said the receptionist.
“Be right there. Okay, you three do a two-mile treadmill run and you’re done for today.” He walked away and Tahlako stared at his friends.
“No ‘good job’? I’m crushed,” he frowned. “I don’t like this man.”
“Get used to it. He doesn’t compliment anyone and he won’t let up on you,” said a young man beside them. “I’m glad to be given this chance but my mother is working her fingers to the bone to pay for all this and I’m just praying it will get me a Division I offer.”
“Are you new here?” asked Tony.
“Just a few weeks since I joined,” he said starting the treadmill. “I’m just now heading into my junior year of high school. Butch doesn’t like it if the athletes talk to one another, so just look straight ahead as we run.”
The three men nodded, Tahlako taking the treadmill on one side of him, Archie on the other with Tony beside him.
“Are you seeing improvements in your abilities?” asked Tahlako. The young man smiled at him.
“You don’t have to be so formal,” he laughed. “Yeah. It’s definitely showing signs of improvement. I start the shots tomorrow.”
“We haven’t done those yet,” said Archie.
“You will. He likes to know he’s not wasting anything on you, so it might be a while before you get one. I’m a little worried about the effects. Some of these guys go into serious rage with the shots. Others seemed to be highly emotional, breaking down and crying for no reason.” He nodded toward a man on the bench press and frowned. “That guy was arrested the other night for beating the crap out of his girlfriend. She said he’d never been violent before but has been acting weird lately. I just don’t want to hurt my mom.”
“You don’t have to take the shots,” said Tahlako.
“If I want to stay in the program, I do. This is everything to me. My mom is working her ass off. In fact, Coach offered her a job in his manufacturing site. She works twelve-hour shifts, six days a week.”
“I didn’t realize his facility was local,” said Archie calmly.
“Yeah. I’m not sure where it is either but I know it’s not too far outside the city. I leave for school really early and mom is already gone. When I get back from training she’s either sleeping or still at work.”
“Carter!” yelled Butch. “Let’s go. We’re going to start a day early.”
