Page 4 of Teddy Tea Time

“Yes, well…” she mumbles before clearing her throat. “Your father had apparently planned on returning home last evening according to his neighbor. When he did not arrive, the authorities were contacted and to make a long story short, I was asked to find out what the arrangements are for your brother while your father is unable to leave the hospital.”

My body freezes as Ms. Stokes goes on about the situation of a babysitter and overnight in a police station.

I have a brother…

Not a foster brother from Mama Sue’s, but an actual biological link in this world.

“How old is he?” I interrupt as she is listing off the merits of foster care. I don’t really give a shit how amazing she thinks it is. I know the truth of the matter is that each home placement is luck of the draw, and I won’t subject a little kid to that. If he’s a teenager, I would let him make the choice. Teenagers are still kids that need protecting, but they have more knowledge of the world and are more attached to their lives.

“Gerald is eight-years-old, about to turn nine.”

Standing up, I try not to let it bother me when Ms. Stokes flinches, but I know exactly what I need to do. There is zero chance in hell that I am gambling an eight-year-old kid’s life in the foster care system while I can do something to prevent that.

“Where do I pick him up?”

4

ASH

“So they just cut your access and sent an email?” Eli asks reaching for another bottle of the well vodka in the backroom of McKinley’s. “They didn’t even call to tell you not to waste your time logging in?”

Shaking my head at him, I grab a couple bottles of Jack to bring out to the bar. “They even turned off the voicemail for the HR department team. They knew exactly what kind of reaction this was going to get, but they obviously don’t care. Majority of my team was not local to the office and was full of people with disabilities or people like me who aren’t exactly welcome in the traditional white-collar workplace.”

Before he could get started on defending himself as the paragon of employers, I head back to the main room to continue setting up for the graduation party that evening. Shiloh and Toby, two very good friends of mine and former roommates of Eli’s, graduated from Wrenshaw University this year. Their boyfriend, Don, decided that we should surprise the two with a big bash since neither of them got to enjoy their high school graduations, and Toby’s mother ruined his graduation from culinary school.

Hanging streamers is a much better use of my time than the previous few days of moping. My former coworkers all reached out on social media with friend requests to “keep in touch” but as soon as they saw what I post on my personal stuff, they unfriended real fast. I didn’t think I spent the last five years alongside a bunch of bigots, but I guess I was wrong. Apparently, they are an ally as long as all it involves is sharing rainbows and changing their profile photos for the month of June.

“You know not all bosses or workplaces are like that, right?” Eli’s voice cuts through the silence of the empty bar. “Please tell me I haven’t made you feel that way, Ash. I would never want you uncomfortable working for me.”

And here we go.

I pull my hands down my face in exasperation and look to the ceiling for patience. This is always the issue I have with speaking up. What is it that makes people – especially cis white men – think they need to inject themselves into things that they obviously have no business in? Granted, I was born white with a dick, but I don’t lump myself in with them.

“Just drop it, Eli. You’re a great friend and a good manager. But please don’t make it about you right now. It’s not my responsibility to reward you for showing me basic respect and decency. If you want someone to tell you that you’re a good boy, go find a Daddy for that.”

A giggle from the direction of the office almost makes me fall off the barstool I’m standing on.

Ladders are for sissies.

Actually, Eli was using the stepladder in the back room, and I am just being too much of a petty bitch to go back and grab it. As soon as I regain my balance, I glance over to the hallway and notice Lucky, another resident of Kink Manor, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

I guess he was taking a nap in the office since before I came in.

“Hey there Lucky,” I greet him with a smile that he returns with another giggle.

“Hi Ash!” he exclaims and skips over to my side. “Do you want me to beat up Uncle Eli for being a doody-brain?”

Ruffling his curls, I shake my head. As funny as it would be watching Lucky in his Little space beating up the self-proclaimed Sadist, we don’t have the time to waste today. If this party is going to go off without a hitch, we need to buckle down and get to work.

Even with the smiles surrounding me, the cloud of despair for my situation is hanging over me all evening. Of course, it doesn’t help that our resident teddy bear is still missing.

I never realized how much I rely on the big lug being around until he isn’t there. His quiet chuckles and calm observations help all of us stay grounded and centered. The pets and Littles all stay a bit calmer with him around, as well. Something about the man just… it’s just better when he’s here.

5

JACE

It was pure chance that one of the teachers at Gerry’s school is an emergency placement foster parent. Mrs. Stevens reminds me a lot of Mama Sue. Considering where I live – or rather who I live with – I would have left my little brother with her if it were possible; however, she doesn’t like to do any long term placements.