Jake met them at the foot of the stairs. He slapped Brad on the back. "Let's go, man."
"I'm ready," Brad said, slapping the big man's back in a mirrored response. He turned and grinned as he looked at his dad. "Come on, son, and don't forget your books!"
Ben grabbed his son's backpack stuffed with books. He hoisted it over his shoulder, and shuddered as he realized how naturally that felt. Despite the advice he had given his son only minutes earlier, he doubted whether just trusting his gut instinct might be working against him, making him more comfortable in a kid's undeveloped body.
As they headed toward Jake's truck, Brad instinctively climbed into the back seat.
Jake stared. "What are you doing, man?"
"He's just kidding," Brad said quickly. "I'll ride in back, Dad."
"Ready to be chauffeured to the site, man?" Jake asked.
Brad laughed. "Yeah, we'll have to make a detour to the squirt's school."
"Let's hit it," Jake said, settling behind the wheel of his pick-up.
From the back seat, Ben stared at the two huge bodies of the men in the cab of the truck.
"We'll stop in at Mickey D's man for some food," Jake said.
Jakes turned his head and glanced into the back seat. "What do you want, little man?"
"I could use a cup of coffee...black."
"And I want a kid's meal and a chocolate milk, please," Brad said.
Jake looked at his friend's kid. "Coffee will stunt your growth, kid."
"We wouldn't want that," Brad said with a smirk.
Jake looked at his friend and co-worker. "What did you say, Ben?"
"Uh, Brad...Brad will want a kid's meal and a chocolate milk...I'm right...uhhhh...Brad?
Ben sighed. "Yeah, Dad."
"Well, I'll have black coffee and the sausage McMuffin," Jake said as he pulled into the neighborhood McDonald's.
Jake spoke into the box and ordered the food. He chuckled after placing the order. "You guys...that was a good one. Pulling my leg, huh?"
"Fucking A Man!" Brad said in his deep adult voice.
They picked up the food and Brad handed his father the chocolate milk and kid's meal.
Ben looked at the food and frowned. To make matters worse, he had to watch his son drinking the coffee that should have been his.
"HMMMMM, it's really good. Dad never lets me drink coffee."
Jake laughed loudly. "You can cut it out now, guys."
"What?" Brad asked. "Cut out what?"
"Pulling my leg, man."
Jake started the truck again and pulled out onto the road. "Next stop...school! Hey, Ben. Does your boy have any special girlfriend yet?"
"Her name is Darlene. She's in my, I mean, in his algebra class. And she wears a bra and everything."
Ben leaned forward and poked his son in the ribs to try to dissuade him from sharing so damn much information.
Jake laughed. "Darlene sounds like trouble."
Jake laughed some more and glanced over at his friend. "Hey, Ben. Maybe we ought to take Brad with us over to the lounge on Route 80 some evening after work."
"What lounge? I can go some night? Really?"
Ben poked his father again.
"Ouch. Stop that, Dad, uh, I mean Brad."
Jake shook his head. "You sure that's just coffee, man?"
"Mother's milk to me, J Man."
Jake pulled the truck over to the curb. Ben looked out the window and saw a terribly large, bleak building.
"Looks like we're here," Jake said. "Give Darlene my regards, little man."
"Yeah," Brad said. "Tell her I said hi..."
Brad' voice trailed off when he saw his dad glaring at him with his funny, boyish face.
"Dad, uh, can I see you outside the truck?" Ben said.
"You mean now?"
"Yes, please."
"Okay," Brad said. He opened the door of the truck.
"Don't take all day," Jake whispered. "We need to move."
Outside the truck, Ben lowered his voice to a whisper. "I really need some of your cigarettes."
"Um, ok." Brad fished out the pack. "How many you want?"
"I just need something," Ben said, embarrassed by his shaky voice. "This is more scary than I thought."
"Here, Dad. You want four of them." He counted out four cigarettes. "There's 1-2-3 and...4."
"Ben, cut the apron strings, man!" Jake joked. "We've got to go, big guy."
"Hey, cut me some slack," Brad growled in a husky voice. "The kid has questions."
He winked at his Dad. "Did that sound convincing, Dad?"
Ben gulped. "Yeah, it did," he admitted.
"Questions," Jake shot back. "That's what school's for."
"You sounded perfect, Dad," Brad said. "I mean son, uh, I mean Brad."
"Gee thanks, Dad!" A goofy grin covered Brad's face. "Oh, I almost forgot. When do you want me to spring ya from school?"
Ben glanced at the huge building. "As soon as you can."
"All right, but I got those houses down by the glade to frame. I don't know when I'll be done."
"Brad, forget the fucking houses," Ben said, his voice cracking. "Just fake it. Get sick. But get back here. Soon!"
"Ok! Ok! Chill out, Dad. Gee, I got it covered!
"Ben!" Jake called impatiently.
"What?" Brad said. "All right, I'm coming, man."
He winked down at his dad. "Bye bye, son! Have a good day at school."
Ben watched his son hoist his adult body back into the truck.
Ben felt his stomach churning as he walked slowly toward the front entrance of the school.
"It's not like I haven't been here before," he whispered to himself. Twenty years ago!"