Paid Date (Take 4)

Paid Date

by Joel Matthew Rees,

November 2017 to August 2018, Amagasaki, Japan

Copyright 2017, 2018 Joel Matthew Rees

We have some minor business today in a clean, modern health food sandwich shop.

We note three young men sitting at a table, talking, but not ordering. The youngest of the three is one of our charges, and we bear certain responsibilities for the older two by dint of their relationship to him. Behind the counter, the chef and his sole staff at present, a young woman who is also one of our charges, discuss the three young men quietly.

The door of the shop jangles open and a young man, yet another of our charges, enters, carrying a basketball against his hip. He spots the three and hails the youngest.

"Hey, Bru, who's your friends?"

"Yo, Kurt," Bruce raises his fist for a back-of-the-hand bump as Kurt approaches. "My homies."

"Bru’s Bros," Kurt nods to the two young men sitting across from his friend. “Kurt Hier.”

"Robert," the younger of the two declares, kicking his head back slightly in greeting.

Kurt responds in kind.

"Rob's just back from his mission in the Ukraine." Bruce moves over a bit so Kurt can slide in beside him.

"Gareth," the older inclines his head slightly.

Kurt returns the nod.

"Gar's in his last year of college."

The four talk briefly of school and missions.

"So," Kurt leans back, "what's up?"

Gareth leans forward conspiratorially, "Bru says you get around."

Kurt gives him a blank look.

"With the women!" Robert lets his enthusiasm get ahead of him.

Kurt tilts his head, "Nah, I just make sure I date twice a month, rarely the same woman twice. Keeps the Relief Society President happy."

"Do you kiss 'em all?" Robert is not to be discouraged.

"Bruce, homies or tennis team, this is a breach of etiquette. Why am I here?"

Bruce visibly backpedals. "Guys, I don't know why I let you talk me into this."

Gareth glances in the direction of the order counter and leans forward again, speaking in a low voice. "Bru says good things about you, and we’ve got a favor to ask. Could make it worth your while, something like a fifty ..."

Kurt frowns. "I can tell I have doubts."

Gareth and Robert are suddenly quiet.

"Uhm, guys," the young woman’s voice breaks in from behind Kurt, "I don't own this place. Somebody has to order something."

We note Kurt's eyes widen slightly at the sound of her voice. "Got something 100% from the tree, no added sugar?" he asks without turning around.

"Apple or mango today," she replies, a laugh covering a catch in her voice, "if reconstituted's okay."

"Mango sounds good. Rob's buying."

Robert starts.

"Just kidding," Kurt turns with a grin to get a look at the young woman, who is studiously checking her order pad. "I'll take a mango."

She nods without looking up.

The brothers laugh. But with Kurt having ordered they find it awkward to delay further, and each orders something to drink.

"That was easier than usual. Thanks, guys."

"Sure, Bree," Bruce grins. The four all chorus their agreement.

She smiles lopsidedly and returns to the counter.

"You didn’t tell me -- that you have a sister, Bru," Kurt observes, watching her fill their drinks. "Twin?"

"Yeah, Brianna."

"She looks like you."

Bruce studies his feet.

"And, if I were guessing," Kurt continues, "you three had the less-than-stellar idea to try to pay me to insert her into my dating schedule."

"Is it such a bad idea?" Robert asks defensively.

"Ask Bru."

Bruce doesn’t look up.

"You have Bru’s recommendation," Gareth goes on the attack, "and I can think of worse reasons to date."

"I can think of better."

"True," Robert acknowledges, and the conversation wanders off into dating experiences.

"Here’s your drinks, guys."

There is a chorus of thanks and some small talk before Brianna returns to the kitchen area.

"Tell you what," Kurt swirls his ice, still observing Brianna and the chef at work, "I'll forgive you guys if you can take me in a little hoop." He nods at the park across the street, visible through the window.

"Huh?" Both older brothers evidence confusion.

"Three on one," Kurt grins.

"Bru says you can be cocky, but, ...," Gareth laughs, "forgive?"

"Meaning I refrain from punishing you for asking me to insult your sister by accepting money to take her out."

Robert raises an eyebrow, "If you somehow win?"

"I choose your penance."

"Let's see if you’re as good as Bru says," Gareth snickers.

But Bruce rolls his eyes.

The young men pay for their drinks and go outside into the summer heat.

An hour later, they file back inside, laughing and sweating profusely.

"So, what's this penance we have to do?" Robert asks as they sit down.

"Let's see if we can make the punishment fit the crime."

"Incoming," Bruce signals quietly.

"Uhm, the boss says --"

"I could use a small tofu burger and a salad after that workout," Kurt grins, with raised eyebrows. "What about you guys?"

The three brothers look at each other.

"Didn't someone mention a canceled," he coughs, "... project, and some leftover funds?"

"Uh, I guess so," Gareth hesitates.

"Well, I could think of worse things to do with it than get something to eat," Kurt says pointedly, "if the money were mine."

Persuaded, the brothers each order something, and the four talk while they eat. As they pay and leave, they all say goodbye to Brianna and the chef.

--

Three weeks later, we again have business in the area of the sandwich shop. Kurt and the three brothers are playing two-on-two in the park.

"You know," Kurt says as Gareth rebounds, "you guys still haven't finished your penance."

"Foul!" Gareth calls, "Who can play with you tossing comments like elbows?"

Everyone laughs.

Robert leans on his knees, breathing hard. "Wasn't the penance to quit pushing Bree to date?"

"How many dates has she been on since I told you to knock it off?"

"Two last week, and she's got one tonight."

"So, basically, she just needed less interference from you guys."

Kurt steals the ball and passes it to Bruce, who drops in an uncontested layup.

"Let's break for some food."

The brothers agree.

The four of them cross the street and enter the sandwich shop. (We follow, unnoticed, as always.)

"Hey, Bree!" Four young men chorus.

"Hi, guys, ya eatin' today?"

"Yeah. Mom'll complain, we know," Robert laughs.

"Your mom might, but I won’t!" the chef calls out from behind the grill.

Brianna laughs, too.

While the four talk after ordering, Kurt watches Brianna, deep in thought.

"I don't get it," Gareth asks quietly.

"What?"

"You do like Bree."

"Yeah."

"Kurt’s decided to ask her out after school starts, and he wants us to give her static about it. Reverse psychology," Bruce explains in low tones.

"What's with the whispering?" Brianna asks from behind the counter, collecting the brothers’ orders.

"Kurt says he thinks he's in love with you," Gareth replies, normal voice. "Ouch. Now he's kicking me."

"I'll kick him, too, Ddaear Tywysog," Brianna brings the brothers' orders with a laugh.

"Toy arg divvy what?" two brothers ask in unison as she returns to the counter.

"Earth Prince?” Bruce mutters to himself.

Kurt stands, slightly dazed. "Dywysoges Dŵr. Ti'n cofio!"

Three brothers turn to stare at him, puzzled.

Again Bruce mutters, “Water Princess? And what does she remember?”

"Of course I haven’t forgotten," she smiles, returning with Kurt's order. "And you can call me when we get to school next week and my brothers are nicely out of the way."

Kurt looks chagrined. "You're gonna make me wait 'til we're back at school to remind me why I've been pretending we haven't met?"

"Well, I appreciate it, anyway," Brianna winks at Kurt.

"Wait," Bruce guesses. "Last summer, I let my twin sister go to Wales without me for a little family history research with Mom and Dad, because I have basketball camp. And she comes home with the coolest boyfriend that she refuses to tell us about. But I have to re-introduce you two a year later?"

"Not exactly," Kurt hedges.

"Close enough," Brianna smiles.

Having business elsewhere, and our business here being complete for the day, we leave Earth Prince and Water Princess with her brothers, to their own devices.

[18 August 2018]

=*=*=*=*=

[I wrote the original of this, which can be found here, for a flash fiction anthology. 

It became the seed of a novel I'm working on here.

I was informed that it didn't fit in with the rest, so I tried rewriting it to fit, for example, here.

I knew that it was too cryptic, but my efforts to open up the backstory just ended in confusion until last Saturday, when I started adjusting the POV to match the novel's POV. 

This version slowly came together, and I more-or-less finished it between meetings, family business, and work, from Saturday to this afternoon, too late for the anthology.

When it goes into the novel, it will be split up a bit, so I'm putting this version here just for the record.

JMR201808132110]

=<*>=<*>=<*>=<*>=<*>=<*>=

[Version from 2018.08.13 follows:

Paid Date (Take 4)

by Joel Matthew Rees,

November 2017 to August 2018, Amagasaki, Japan

Copyright 2017, 2018, Joel Matthew Rees

The door of the sandwich shop jangles open and a young man, one of our charges, enters, carrying a basketball. He spots three more young men, also among our charges, seated together.

"Hey, Bru, who's your friends?"

"Yo, Kurt." Bruce raises his fist for a back-hand bump as Kurt approaches. "My homies."

Kurt nods to the two young men sitting across from his friend. "Bru's Bros."

"Robert." The younger of the two kicks his head back slightly in greeting and Kurt responds in kind.

"Rob's just back from his mission in the Ukraine." Bruce slides over a bit and Kurt slides in beside him, basketball in his lap.

"Gareth." The older inclines his head slightly and Kurt returns the nod.

"Gar's got one more year of college."

The four talk briefly of school and missions.

"So," Kurt leans back, "what's up?"

Gareth leans forward conspiratorially. "Bru says you get around."

Kurt gives him a blank look.

"With the women!" Robert's enthusiasm is evident.

Kurt tilts his head. "Nah, just make sure I date twice a month, rarely the same woman twice. Keeps the Relief Society President happy."

"Do you kiss 'em all?" Robert is not to be discouraged.

"Bruce, homies or tennis team, this is a breach of etiquette. Why am I here?"

Bruce backpedals. "Guys, I don't know why I let you talk me into this."

Gareth glances in the direction of the order counter and leans forward again, speaking in a low voice, "Bru says good things about you, and we've got a favor to ask. Could make it worth your while, something like a fifty ..."

Kurt frowns. "I can tell I have doubts."

"Uhm, guys." A young woman's voice breaks in from behind Kurt. "I don't own this place. Somebody has to order something."

This young woman is, of course, another of our charges. We note Kurt's eyes widen slightly at the sound of her voice.

"Got something 100% from the tree, no added sugar?" he asks without turning around.

"Apple or mango today," she replies, a laugh covering a catch in her voice. "If reconstituted's okay."

"Mango sounds good. Rob's buying."

Robert starts.

"Just kidding." Kurt turns with a grin to get a look at the young woman, who is studiously checking her order book. "I'll take a mango."

She nods without looking up.

The brothers laugh, but with Kurt having ordered they find it awkward to delay further, and each orders something to drink.

"That was easier than usual. Thanks, guys."

"Sure, Bree." Bruce grins. The four all chorus their agreement.

She smiles lopsidedly and returns to the counter.

"You didn't tell me -- that you have a sister, Bru." Kurt observes, watching her retreat. "Twin?"

"Yeah. Brianna."

"She looks like you."

Bruce studies his feet.

"And, if I were guessing," Kurt continues, "you three had the stupid idea to try to pay me to insert her into my dating schedule."

"Is it really so stupid?" Robert asks defensively.

"Ask Bru."

Bruce doesn't look up.

"You have Bru's recommendation," Gareth goes on the attack. "And I can think of worse reasons to date."

"I can think of better."

"True," Robert acknowledges, and the conversation wanders off into dating experiences.

"Here's your drinks, guys."

There is a chorus of thanks and some small talk before Brianna returns to the kitchen area.

"Tell you what." Kurt swirls his ice, observing Brianna and the chef at work. "I'll forgive you guys if you can take me in a little hoop." He nods at the park across the street, visible through the window.

"Huh?" Both older brothers evidence confusion.

"Three on one." Kurt grins.

"Bru says you can be cocky, but, ..." Gareth laughs. "Forgive?"

"Meaning I refrain from punishing you for asking me to insult your sister by accepting money to take her out."

Robert raises an eyebrow. "If you somehow win?"

"I choose your penance."

"Let's see if you're as good as Bru says." Gareth snickers.

But Bruce rolls his eyes.

The boys pay for their drinks and go outside into the summer heat.

An hour later, they file back inside, laughing and sweating profusely.

"So, what's this penance we have to do?" Robert asks as they sit down.

"Let's see if we can make the punishment fit the crime."

"Incoming!" Bruce signals.

"Uhm, the boss says --"

"I could use a small burger and a salad after that workout," Kurt grins, with raised eyebrows. "What about you guys?"

The three brothers look at each other.

"Didn't someone mention a canceled," he coughs, "... project, and some leftover funds?"

"Uh, I guess so." Gareth hesitates.

"Well, I could think of worse things to do with it than get something to eat," Kurt says pointedly, "if the money were mine."

Persuaded, the brothers each order something, and the four talk while they eat. As they pay and leave, they all say goodbye to Brianna and the chef.

--

Three weeks later, we again have business in the area of the sandwich shop. Kurt and the three brothers are playing two-on-two in the park.

"You know," Kurt says as Gareth rebounds, "you guys still haven't finished your penance."

"Foul!" Gareth calls. "Who can play with you tossing comments like elbows?"

Everyone laughs.

Robert leans on his knees, breathing hard. "Wasn't the penance to quit pushing Bree to date?"

"How many dates has she been on since I told you to knock it off?"

"Two last week, and she's got one tonight."

"So, basically, she just needed less interference from you guys." Kurt steals the ball and passes it to Bruce, who drops in an uncontested layup.

"Let's break for some food."

The brothers agree.

The four of them cross the street and enter the sandwich shop. (We follow, unnoticed, as always.)

"Hey, Bree!" Four young men chorus.

"Hi, guys, ya eatin' today?"

"Yeah. Mom'll complain, we know." Robert laughs.

"Your mom might, but I won't!" the chef calls out from behind the grill.

Brianna laughs, too.

While the four talk after ordering, Kurt watches Brianna thoughtfully.

"I don't get it." Gareth asks quietly.

"What?"

"You do like Bree."

"Yeah."

"Kurt's decided to ask her out after school starts, and he wants us to give her static about it.  Reverse psychology. " Bruce explains in low tones.

"What's with the whispering?" Brianna asks from behind the counter, collecting the brothers' orders.

"Kurt says he thinks he's in love with you," Gareth replies, normal voice. "Ouch. Now he's kicking me."

"I'll kick him, too, Ddaear Tywysog." Brianna brings the brothers' orders with a laugh.

"Toy arg divvy what?" three voices ask in unison as she returns to the counter.

Kurt stands, slightly dazed. "Dywysoges Dŵr. Ti'n cofio!"

"Of course I haven't forgotten," she smiles, returning with Kurt's order. "And yes you can call me when we get to school next week and my brothers are out of the way."

Kurt looks chagrined. "You're gonna make me wait 'til we're back at school to remind me why I've been pretending we haven't met?"

"Well, I appreciate it, anyway." Brianna winks at Kurt.

"Wait," Bruce guesses, "Last summer, I let my twin sister go to Wales without me for a little family history research with Mom and Dad, because I have basketball camp. And she comes home with the coolest boyfriend that she refuses to tell us about. But I have to re-introduce you two a year later?"

"Not exactly." Kurt hedges.

"Close enough." Brianna smiles.


JMR201808181041]