Amoeba (The Experiments) (19 page)

The echoing ‘boom’ of Cal and Jake’s bedroom door flinging open caused them to jolt from their deep slumber. But the door didn’t disturb them as much as Rickie.

“Dudes! Santa came!”

Jake, lying on his stomach, raised his head when he heard Rickie running down the steps. Groggily, barely focusing, he looked at Cal who opened her eyes. “How old is he again?”

^^^^

Rickie snickered in his Christmas cheer as he placed the crooked Santa hat on Jake’s head. “Cool.” Rickie gave a thumbs up. “Now we’re no longer grinchin’ green. Okay.” Rickie bobbed his head looking at all of the wrapping paper he had flung about from opening his presents. “This is, like, the coolest Christmas. Am I spoiled or what?” Rickie smiled. “But, I am not one to just receive. I saved a little money from dying last month, and I got some cool gifts for my favorite people. Let me find them.”

Jake took off the hat while watching Rickie rummage through the mountain of paper. “I hope you’re picking up that wrapping.”

“Chill, Sarge, you’re, like, breaking my searching concentration. Viola!” Rickie emerged from half under the tree with two presents, a long box and a smaller one. He handed them to Cal and Jake. “Merry Christmas.” He leaned to Cal and kissed her on the cheek, then hurried and kissed Jake on the cheek with a laugh.

Jake grumbled and ripped open the paper on the long box. He could have been more convincing with his enthusiasm. “Oh. Look. A tie.” Jake lifted the bright yellow Tasmanian Devil tie out. “Look
, Cal, the creature has drool dripping from his mouth. Thank you Rickie.”

“No problem-o Sarge. When I saw it, I said, like, whoa, that is the Sarge. You can never have enough Taz stuff. Cal-babe
, open yours.”

The box was small but not too small. She tore off the badly done wrap job and exposed a grey box. She flipped open the lid and smiled. “Oh, Rickie.” She lifted out a watch
, thin, and slender for a woman, but obviously complete with compact features. “This is great.”

Jake raised one eyebrow. “Yeah
, Rickie, that’s a nice watch. It’s looks expensive.”

“Dude, it is. I paid over three hundred for it. It’s so
, like, Cal-babe can have it on the experiment. She can be the kicking fashion survival babe.” Rickie winked.

“So how come she gets a three hundred dollar watch and I get a tie?” Jake asked.

“Sarge, like everyone knows you get the dad a tie and get the mom something nice. Get with the present giving program, big guy. And, like, even though I’m enjoying the jolly old St. Nick kick, do you guys, like, mind if I take all those games you guys got and try them out before the egg feast?”

It took Jake a second to decipher, but he did. “Go on.”

“Thanks, Sarge.” Rickie dropped to the floor and shuffled through the mess.

Jake reached over the arm of the couch for his coffee taking another look at Rickie. “Cal, do you think you bought him enough?” Jake shuffled in uncomfortabl
y.

“Quit griping
, Jake. Who else do we have to spoil?” Cal watched him shift again. “And what is wrong with you?” She asked with a snicker.

“You’re making me wear jeans.” He placed his hand between the waist and his stomach.

“Yeah, Jake. And you’ll wear them all day too.”

“Cal.”

“Jake.” Cal shook her head. “I had to call the Levi factory to get a big enough pair of jeans that would be baggy on your large ass, so wear them without complaints. And . . . you ready to make the egg feast?” Cal started to get up.

“Just a second.” Jake pulled her back down. “I still have one more thing I want to give you
,” Jake told her.

Cal smiled. “Jake, you’re like the gift giving guy at Christmas, I love it. It’s the only time of year you aren’t cheap.” She looked to Rickie who still searched on the floor. “Right
, Rickie?”

“Right.”

Cal waved her hand at Rickie. “He’s not listening. What is it?”

Jake reached to the end table and grabbed the gift. It was about eight inches long and flat.
He laid it in Cal’s hand. “It may not really be a present to you, but I’m kind of hoping it will end up being mine.”

Cal looked at him
oddly. She felt the firmness of the gift. “Feels like airline tickets.” She opened the paper to expose a maroon folder. The gold lettering made her immediately look up to Jake. “Washington Reproductive Institute? Jake?”

Jake turned solemn. “The best in the country
, Cal. I spoke to them a few times. The way this thing would work for people in our situation is . . . they find a donor who closely matches my genetic makeup, and it’s done through artificial insemination.” He swallowed when he saw Cal’s speechless look. “I was hoping that during the months we’re away, you could give this some thought. If you decide no, that’s okay. If you decide yes, then maybe we can look into starting when we get back.”

“Jake.” Cal said his name softly.

“I’m sorry. I just have been . . .”

“Oh, Jake. I’d love to start a family with you.”

Jake genuinely grinned. “Really?” He received a nod and Jake embraced Cal. “Thank you.”

Rickie, finally finding his game, let out an ‘ah’ when he saw them. “So
, like, you guys are gonna give me a brother or sister. Cool.” He gave a thumbs up. “But why are you guys going to some stranger to donate? You, like, have the living sperm factory right under your roof.”

“Rickie.” Jake pulled for the embrace. “Please.”

“No dude, check it out. I’ll donate, then you know where you’re getting it from.”

Jake widened his eyes, “I also will know
what
I’m getting, Rickie, and we kind of know what you are.”

“All the more reason
, Sarge,” Rickie explained as he stood up. “With my pow-wow make up, guy, even if it’s slight, just think, there’ll be a chance Cal-babe may never lose another child. Check me out, I’m gonna hook up the new game.” Rickie hurried over to the large screen television.

Jake and Cal just looked at each other.

^^^^

Billy was so shocked when Jake answered the door, that he literally dropped his suitcase and let out a gasping laugh. “Jake?”

Jake was smiling, the Santa hat tilted on his head,
wearing a black tee shirt and jeans. And, of course, from his smiling lips dangled an unlit cigar. “Hey, Bill. Merry Christmas.” Jake shook Billy’s hand causing Billy to fumble with the gifts he held. Jake pulled him in and grabbed the suitcase then shut the door.

“Wow. You’re in the holiday spirit.”

“And you’re late. But . . . I’m not saying anything. Check this out. Cal and I are having a baby.”

Billy went speechless. “Cal’s . . . Cal’s pregnant
? I didn’t think . . .”

“No, not yet. In about ten months or so.” Jake reached into his tee shirt pocket and handed Billy a cigar. “Here. Come on in.”

Billy followed Jake into the loud living room where Chuck and Rickie were intriguing themselves with a game on the floor.

“Billy, you know Chuck. Chuck!” Jake called
out to an occupied and cheering Chuck. “Never mind him. Hey, at least now that you’re here, we have a forth for wrestling. This television-produced game stuff is really great.”

“Can I see Cal first?” Billy asked.

“Sure. She’s in the kitchen.”

Billy trailed behind a strangely upbeat Jake into the kitchen.

“Cal.” Jake drew her attention away from the turkey. “Cyber boy is here.”

Cal turned around with a smile, set down the knife
, and hurried over to Billy. He was able to set down the two gift boxes before the embrace. “I was worried. I heard about the storm over Cleveland,” she told him.

“Yeah.” Billy kissed her on the cheek. “We were grounded for three hours.” Billy noticed Jake leaving. “Jake, can you wait . . . just one second.”

“Sure.” Jake came back in. “I need a beer anyhow. Bill?”

“No. I had four Jack Daniels on the plane. I thought we were crashing.” Billy waited for Jake to get his beer. “I have gifts
, but I have one I want to give both of you at the same time.”

Jake, drinking his beer
, stepped closer to Cal.

Billy looked up with a
chuckle to Jake in his portrayal of a large Santa. “All right.” He took a breath. “I hope you guys like this. Cal, I think you will. I got a present before I left for the airport, and I wanted to share it with you.”

Cal smiled and folded her arms. “What is it?”

“I got a call.” Billy’s eyes went from Cal to Jake. “It’s not exactly as I expected it to be. In a way, it’s kind of better. Still, the end results are the same, right?”

“Bill.” Jake set down his beer on the counter. “You’re fuckin killing me. What?”

Billy smiled. “Guess what?” He hesitated in a dramatic fashion. “I’m going with you guys to Iso-Stasis Thirteen.”

Carrying his eggnog drink, Greg followed Dr. Jefferson into the study. Dr. Jefferson’s house was big and quiet, the aftermath of his family’s departure being over and done with.

“Have a seat
, Greg.” Dr. Jefferson pointed as he walked behind his desk.

“Thank you.” Greg sipped his eggnog. “Excellent.” He held it up.

“It’s from a carton.” Dr. Jefferson folded his hands. “Now tell me. What were the conditions?”

Greg took a deep breath. “I told him. Like the other people there, he would be housed and fed for the six months. We’ll supply him with his three things. He must abide by resources brought and left with him. He has to abide by the experiment participant rules. He can’t contact the outside world until he leaves.
The only is that he receives no compensation like the others, but he does get to leave with his story. And pictures, of course. I’m allowing him to bring his journalist supplies. He signed no statement of confidentiality.”

“I see.” Dr. Jefferson nodded. “So you enticed
him with this offer to cover up the fact that you were roped into bringing him along?”

“Roped
, sir?” Greg shook his head. “I wasn’t roped, I had this planned. I needed a tenth participant in order to be eligible for the Lithgow fund.”

Dr. Jefferson looked curiously at Greg. “Then why didn’t you make him into a participant
?”

“Because I wanted him
to be an unwitting participant, and I wanted him so eager to go, that he would go under any circumstances. He’s not costing us a cent other than food.”

“It doesn’t worry you about this freedom of speech you gave him
?”

“No
, sir, not at all. All information or notes he takes, along with photos or videos, are ours if he fails to emerge.”

“You seem . . . you seem awfully sure of yourself and this move. I’m not,
and it’s worrisome.”

Greg s
hook his head at Dr. Jefferson in a ‘don’t be’ manner. He took a sip of his eggnog. “I am very sure that William Griffith Jr. will
not
come back to civilization. Not with what I have planned.”

“Like father, like son?” Dr. Jefferson asked. “You think it will be mental failure?”

“Possible, but not probable,” Greg said with confidence. “I don’t see young Mr. Griffith as a bumbling, babbling, psychotic idiot. I see Mr. Griffith dead, killed in the midst of the experiment. Killed, I’m forecasting by . . . Lt. Col. Graison.”

“Cal and Billy are great friends. Jake kills Billy
, Jake kills the team.”

“Exactly.”

Dr. Jefferson leaned back in his chair running his hand under his chin. “You must have something planned.”

“Oh
, absolutely. I wouldn’t make that prediction if I didn’t. And I have had it planned for a very, very long time.”

A smile of pleasure finally graced Dr. Jefferson’s face for the first time ever over a
ny plan that Greg had had for Iso-Stasis thirteen. “This could be very interesting and rewarding entertainment for the investors. This, along with the bounty, adds an air of mystery to the experiment. For the first time it will spark some interest from the get-go.”

“And wait until you see what I have planned for the ‘get-go’.”

In a demented sort-of-way, Dr Jefferson and Greg had a happy-thought, Iso-Stasis Experiment moment.

Like seventeen-year-old boys at a high school football game, Jake and Chuck erupted in loud screams as they jumped up from their seats on the living room floor. Cal cringed as she carried four beer bottles and a bowl of popcorn through them. Her one eye fluttered in annoyance as she kept moving.

“Cal
,” Jake called out to her, swaying a little in his stance. “We won.”

Cal winked. “Good for you.” She walked further away
, mumbling, “God, I could drown in a pool of immature testosterone in there.”

“Rickie!” Billy scolded.

“Dude, I didn’t mean it.” Rickie rubbed his eyes. “I can’t see anymore. And like, you’re as hammered as Sarge and Chuck. You suck, man, at this wrestling shit.

Was it silence that Cal finally heard as she did the dishes? After six hours of what Rickie started as the tag-team wrestling frenzy tournament, and
which then turned into a drinking blast of grown men playing video games with a vengeance, she did believe it had finally came to a quiet ending.

“Chuck’s crashed on the couch
,” Jake stated, still wearing the Santa hat as he came into the kitchen with Billy. “Rickie’s on the floor.” He picked up a bowl off the counter and carried it to Cal at the sink. “Need help?”

Cal slightly chuckled as Jake’s aim for the sink basin was off. “No
, I think I can manage.”

“We’ll get you tomorrow
, Jake.” Billy leaned into the counter as he spoke. His hair was messed up, eyes glossy.

“Ha!” Jake said loudly
, causing Cal to drop a dish. “Cal, please. Noise. Anyway.” He faced Billy again. “Ha!”

“Jake!” Cal yelled. “God
, look at you two. You’re pathetic. I have never seen you this drunk, Jake, and if you plan on having another wrestling tournament, you’d better get more booze. You went through almost two cases of beer and . . . and my bottle of Jack.”

“Shit.” Jake ran his hand over his head knocking the hat off. “No wonder I’m so tired.” Jake
rubbed his eyes. “Cal, you mind if I go to bed?”

Cal smiled. “Not at all.”

“Okay.” Jake staggered to her and kissed her. “Love you.”

“I’ll be up soon
,” she told him as she did her dishes.

“O
kay, night Bill.” Jake moved to the door.

“Don’t kiss me Jake.”

“Ha!”

Crash!
Another dish dropped from Cal’s hand. “Jake, go to bed before you scream one more time and I kill you.”

“I’m gone.” Jake waved and walked from the kitchen.

Billy lifted himself from leaning on the counter as he watched Cal shut off the water, grab a towel, and proceed to pick up the broken pieces of plate. “Here.” Billy walked to her. “Let me help you.”

Cal laughed as she saw him grab pieces from the counter. “Oh
, you’re a good one to be touching sharp objects now.”

“Who
, me?” Billy snickered. “I’m fine.”

“Right.” Cal shook her head. “But . . . if you want to live dangerously, go on. Be my guest.” She held out her hand. “But I know a piece went into the dishwater.”

“Don’t cut yourself,” Billy told her while gathering the small pieces on the counter and laying them on the towel.

“Me? You. I’m not the one . . . ow!”

“Did you cut yourself?”

“Considering I screamed I’d say . . .” Cal pulled her hand from the water. “Shit.” Upon
removing her hand from the sink, her palm immediately seeped with blood.

“Oh shit is right.” Billy turned on the water and grabbed her hand placing it under the stream. He ripped a paper towel from the roll. “I don’t think it needs
to be stitched.”

“If it does, I’ll get Jake to do it.”

“Not tonight I hope.” Billy commented.

“No, I want my fingers to not be joined.”

Laughing, Billy shut off the water, placed the towel in her hand, and rolled her fingers over it. “There. Hold it up. Wait . . .” He led her to the island counter totally controlling her moves.

“Billy what are you doing?”

“Lean in.” He laid his hand on her back and took hold of Cal’s elbow resting it on the counter. “There. Now your hand is elevated.”

“Boy I’ll tell you what
, you drunks tonight are something else.”

“I’m not drunk.” Billy leaned with his back on the counter. He stood next to Cal so he could face her.

“Really?”

“O
kay, maybe just a little.” Billy winked. “But, I had a really good time tonight.”

“Good. I’m glad, and I’m glad you decided to join us for Christmas.”

“I am too. Jake was hysterical being in such a good mood. Of course, he put the damper on it when he told me the experiment would target me to kill me first to shut me up.”

“He’s right
,” Cal’s said. “They’re gonna try something with you.”

“Yeah, but you know what? I’m ready
, because you and Jake have been very helpful. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Cal smiled. “And just so you know
, I am very glad you are going.”

“So am I.”

“I guess your Christmas is complete, huh? Getting something you really wanted and have waited years for.”

Billy closed his eyes slightly and tilted his head. “I can think of something I want more,
and getting it would have made my Christmas complete.”

“Like what?” Cal seemed shocked.

“Like . . .” Billy had an open mouth grin. He turned his body a little more to face her. “Like . . .” He chuckled, almost with embarrassment. “Okay, you can’t make anything of it.” He closed one eye while still holding the same smiling expression. “I mean no harm, okay? It’s just something I’ve wanted.”

“What? Is it something deadly?”

Billy snickered. “It could kill me, yeah.”

“What is it?” Cal laughed with curiosity.

“Don’t hit me.”

Again Cal laughed at him. “Billy
, why would I hit you?”

Without warning, Billy slipped his hand behind Cal’s neck pulling her gently and just a little to him as he lowered his head to her. He pressed his lips against Cal’s softly. Parting her lips with his, and with a slow sweeping motion of his mouth, he kissed her, then pulled back. He bit his bottom lip. “
Now
my Christmas is complete.” he told a stunned Cal, quickly stepping back. “Just . . . just know that was something I have been wanting to do for a really long time. Goodnight Cal.” With a subtle closed-mouth smile, Billy took another step back, turned, and lifted his hand in a goodbye wave as he left the kitchen.

Slowly staring at the empty doorway, Cal brought her lips into her mouth, tasting
the hint of Billy’s kiss that remained. After running her hand down to her stomach, she let out a heavy breath, blinked her eyes several times, then shook her head in shocking surprise. “I am definitely watching how much they drink tomorrow.” After shaking her head, Cal exhaled, shrugged herself back into clean-up composure, and returned to finishing the dishes.