The Time--1934
The Cast of Characters--(in order of appearance)
Christopher (Babyface) Kirkpatrick
"Fat Lou" Perlman
Juju (Mad Dog) Timberlake
Joey (Muscles) Fatone
JC (Twinkletoes) Chasez
Lance Bass, Cub Reporter
...and a Supporting Cast of---none. I shoo'ed em away. More trouble than they're worth.
* * * * * * * * * *
Babyface yawned, as he stepped quietly down the creaking staircase. It was still early, and he hoped to sneak into the kitchen for breakfast, without having to endure a grilling from Jimmy the Weasel. ONE word about the width of JC's smile, and Chris would not be held accountable for his actions. Babyface pushed through the swinging doors, and what he saw, made him freeze in shock. After a moment, he stepped back, sure he hadn't been spotted. What the purple hell...who was that woman in the kitchen with LanTed? It had been a charming tableau. Like a photograph, it was etched in his mind...
LanTed had a chef's hat tilted rakishly on one side, a white apron around his chest, and flour smudged all along his cheeks. He was deeply involved in kneading a large mound of dough, occasionally blowing a lock of hair off his face. But the woman? Some tall brown-haired woman was standing right behind LanTed, standing VERY closely, and her arms encircled the young man... Chris walked through the doors non-chalantly, whistling.
"Oh hello, Mr. Kirkpatrick," LanTed greeted him. "Mrs. Vitaglia is teaching me how to make bread. Isn't this exciting?"
Mrs--? Chris' jaw dropped, when he recognized Mama Weasel under that shiny new dyed mop of chestnut brown. She looked up at Chris now, and blushed. "I'm-a teaching him...."
Chris tried not to stare, but that wasn't possible. Mama Weasel looked 20 years younger, and Chris did some quick math in his head, and remembering that Jimmy was 28 years old, and his mother had been only 15 at his birth, he quickly realized that Mama wasn't quite as ancient as he'd always assumed. Hmmm---having a son who deserved the nickname WEASEL would probably age you, all right....
"Like this, Mrs. Vitaglia?" LanTed asked anxiously.
"Please. Call me Rosa," she murmured.
LanTed blushed happily. "Rosa," he said softly. "Am I kneading it right?"
"Like this," she said, leaning into him. "Firmly at first, then gently. Always gently, but then you must finish--firmly. You see? It's-a like making love."
CLANG! Chris knocked a pan off the counter. "Sorry!" he blurted. "Um, maybe I should come back later..."
"No, no," Mama smiled, calmer and more relaxed than Chris had ever seen her. "I have-a to check on the sauce. You stay and talk to my Lannie." She pinched his cheek, before she turned to go, whispering, "He's such a GOOD boy...."
Chris was sure his eyes were bugging out, so he turned away from LanTed, before venturing, "Um, you sure are making yourself at home, here, aren't you, LanTed?"
A happy sigh. "Mr. Kirkpatrick, you have no idea. My whole world is flipped upside down. In fact--" LanTed left the counter, and came around to face Chris, wiping his hands on his apron. "I know I shouldn't tell you this, but it's like I have to confess to somebody, or I'll bust. I'm not really a dishwasher."
Chris remembered to look shocked. "Really?"
"No. I'm an undercover reporter for the Daily Bugle, sent here to uproot corruption. My editor, Mr. Armstrong, says that Jimmy the Weasel is a mid- level crime boss, whose club is a hub for a million dirty deals going down."
"Say it ain't so."
"Actually, that's what I did. I called Mr. Armstrong this morning, and resigned. I told him he's crazy, there's no criminal activity going on here, and that Rosa's son is just a hard-working man in the restaurant business."
"Mm-hmm." Chris didn't trust himself to speak.
"Yeah, I told him all that, and furthermore, that I am being trained as an Italian chef, and will be busy in my new career. So there!"
Chris merely patted LanTed on the back, and nodded. "Good for you."
"Oh, you came in for breakfast, didn't you?" LanTed walked over to one of the shelves. "I put aside these blueberry muffins for you. Rosa showed me how to make them this morning."
As Chris took the muffins, he cocked his head to the side, and tried to figure LanTed's chances for happiness. His fundamental innocence was like a bubble around him, and Mama Weasel sure did love him---(Chris was good at recognizing love, except when it was directed at him) so maybe, just maybe the blonde young man had as good a chance, or better, than anyone else.
After Chris finished a friendly cup of coffee with LanTed, he was dusting the crumbs off his hands, and heading out into the public area of the club, intent on getting his "perfomance review" over with Jimmy, when the front door slammed open.
"Let me guess..." he muttered. As soon as he saw Twinkletoes, Babyface called out, "Have you ever heard of *doorknobs*? They're these little round things, you *turn* em, and--"
But JC and Muscles stormed into the joint, and immediately proceeded to "case" it. Jimmy looked out from behind his newspaper, Vincenzo looked up from polishing a glass mug, and even Mario stopped in mid-stride to check them out. After a few moments, JC nodded to Muscles. Muscles lifted his chin slightly.
"What's the big deal?" Chris asked.
"Mad Dog is the big deal," JC came and stood opposite Babyface. "I know all about how he chased you the other day, and I just came to tell you that-- that we have reason to believe he's on his way here, coming after you. So, the sensible thing is for you to pack your things, and come stay with me for awhile, cough--maybeForever--cough, and that way you can be protected."
"Stay with you?" Chris said. "No, no. I can't do that. I've got my business to run. I can't afford to lose even a day's pay."
JC tipped his head toward Chris meaningfully. "Well, what about that little *bonus* you got last night? I would think that would tide you over for awhile..."
"It was a nice bonus," Chris agreed, "but I still have to work. I can't afford to lose a penny." He turned, and said, "Besides! Look around you. These are my people---THEY'LL protect me."
Jimmy disappeared behind his newspaper, Vincenzo spat in the glass he was holding, and Mario just laughed, as he walked back to the kitchen.
"Okay!" Chris frowned. "I'll protect myself. Fine. So, Mr. JC Chasez, I thank you for the warning, you've done your good deed for the day. You can go now."
JC sighed. "I really hoped it wouldn't come to this." He snapped his fingers, and suddenly Muscles picked Chris up, and slung him over hs shoulders.
"Hey, Jimmy, you don't mind if I take your employee with me?"
A ring of cigar smoke arose, and Jimmy waved his hand, "Help yourself."
"Thanks, I owe ya."
"Errrph..." Muscles was grimacing. "Oooooph--"
"Muscles, what's wrong?" JC asked, in some concern.
"His tiny fists are pulverizing my kidneys," Muscles gasped. He turned so JC could see Chris punching Joey in the back as hard as he could.
"PUT ME DOWN!" Babyface was snarling.
"Stop that!" Muscles barked, and he gave Chris such a smack on the backside, that his whole body jerked.
"Hey!" JC said, "Don't do that to him."
"What!?" Muscles asked. "He can pound my kidneys into pulp, and I' m not allowed to slap his ass?"
A beat. Then, "That's right." JC tried to rationalize it. "Your--your hands are much bigger than his."
"Let's just go," Muscles said, "we'll throw him in the car, and when we get to your place, I'll tie him up and throw him in the back of the hall closet."
"JC! JC Chasez!" Chris was more furious than ever. "Come around here, so I can see you."
Almost afraid to, JC stepped around. "Yeah?"
Chris swallowed, and pushed himself up, so that he could look JC in the eye. "Listen. You have just made a big mistake. I don't allow anyone to interfere with my business. As a matter of fact, I have a VERY important appointment for tonight, and I'm not missing it for you or anyone."
"Do I have to spell it out for you, Babyface? You're not going to loose out by coming with me. I will--uh, make it worth your while."
Chris looked suspiciously at him. "Are you saying you want me to live with you, and be at your beck and call twenty-four hours a day?"
"Not so much that....but yeah. I guess if you want to call it that. You could live with me, and I would pay all your expenses, and you wouldn't see anyone else--"
"In other words, he'll be your Sugar-Daddy, you little whore." Joey said. Chris punched him, and JC let him.
"Uh-unh," Chris said to JC. "I tried that once, and got burned. No. I can see it now, you get tired of me after a month, kick me out, and then when I come back here, Jimmy's already installed that Martin kid in my place."
"Hey!" Jimmy interjected. " Ricky's a nice kid."
"Nicer than you," Vincenzo had to add HIS two cents. "And better looking."
"You see what I mean?' Chris said. "So please. Just let me go, leave me alone. You go live your life, and I'll live mine." JC tried to think of something to say.
"Twinkletoes, I promise you. If you make me come with you, I will just run way the first chance I get. So save yourself the aggravation."
JC stepped back, and said, "Put him down." Wordlessly, Joey leaned down, and sat Chris on his feet. Chris blanched a little at the silent fury he saw on Chasez' face.
"I don't know what I ever saw in you, you greedy-ass whore. How much money is enough? You want all of mine, and all of every other man's, too? Or maybe, you really don't hate your job. Maybe you like it so much, you can't even think of giving it up, is that it?" JC pushed Chris aside, as he stormed out. "Muscles! Let's go."
Chris rubbed his arm, burning already where JC had shoved him. He looked around at Jimmy, and Vincenzo, who were studiously looking down. Chris ran up the stairs to his room, and slammed the door.
