Only in Your Dreams Chapter 10
Jan spent the next 4 or 5 hours checking on everyone, making sure that Lance and Joey were resting comfortably and that the rest of the boys were following Dr. Shannon�s orders of catching up on their rest. So far, everyone had been following the doctor�s orders and Jan had noticed that everyone was pretty much in the same position that she would see them in from hour to hour. Chris remained sprawled out on the living room floor, softly snoring, with JC sleeping a few feet away on the couch. Justin was still curled up in a tight ball on his mother�s bed, but had managed to throw off the cover that Jan had placed over him when he had first fallen asleep. Joey was entangled in his sheets letting Jan know that his sleep probably wasn�t all that restful, but she kept in mind that certain kinds of medication sometimes did the same thing to her. And finally, Lance had shifted slightly to his side in attempt, Jan thought, to find a more comfortable position for his still sensitive head. Although Jan was pretty tired from her 1000+ mile trip, she figured that she would rest more tomorrow. She would stay up tonight to give everyone a chance to rest up and then she could have her turn by sleeping in the next morning. It would work. She had had many sleepless nights before and this one would not be too different from those in the past.
It was almost 5:00 and Jan had put her novel away some 2 hours ago and had taken a dip in the pool to kill time. She had even been able to shower in Lynn�s bathroom without disturbing Justin�s sleep at about 4:30 and had busied herself by doing a little dusting and picking up around the place before beginning to prepare the evening meal. Jan stood in the kitchen in front of the open freezer door. �Hum�casserole�casserole�casserole�what was Lynn thinking?�
Jan closed the freezer door and headed for the pantry. �Let�s see, I noticed ground meat in the freezer�what to fix�what to fix�wait a minute�got it!� Jan searched the shelves for ingredients for her favorite dish to fix for guests and on occasion, herself. Justin had eaten her �Mexican Straw Hat� meal before and it was a favorite of his whenever Jan came to visit or had them over to her place in Texas. The others had yet to experience her tex-mex cooking and she was looking forward to introducing them to its finer points. She gathered all of the necessary items and began cooking. She busily browned some ground meat and then after draining it, she added a few cans of ranch beans, a couple cans of rotel, a chopped onion, garlic, chili powder, and finally, the secret to the whole recipe�a good dash of oregano. She decided that she was going to let the chili cook down for the next hour or more while she waited for the sleeping beauties to awaken. She was also using the food as a sure fire way of waking up a crew of hungry young men. Jan made a quick job of cutting up several tomatoes, another onion, and a head of lettuce before making sure that Lynn had a can of black olives in the cabinet along with a bag of Fritos or tortilla chips. Jan then made sure that there was plenty of sour cream, salsa and grated cheese in the refrigerator. During her hunt in the refrigerator Jan found the makings for guacamole and quickly threw it together. Just as she had finished, she heard a yawn across the room and �What smells so good?� Jan looked up to see a bleary eyed JC standing in the doorway running his hands through his hair in an attempt to bring it back under control.
�Well, it�s about time sleepyhead,� said Jan as she quickly wiped her hands and made her way toward JC.
�It�s great to see you Aunt Jan,� JC said as he enveloped Jan in a mighty hug. �How long have you been here�what time is it anyway?�
�It�s 6:00 and I�ve been here since about 10:00 or so.�
JC quickly released Jan and gave her a very confused look as he began firing questions at her in quick succession. �What? Why didn�t you wake me? Where�s Justin?�
�Whoa there. Hold your horses and I�ll answer your questions,� Jan said as she giggled at the look on JC�s face.
JC grinned and ran his over his face in the effort to wipe away the sleepy feeling that he still had.
�Why don�t you just sit down and I�ll fix you something to drink. I�ll answer your questions while I finish up making supper, okay?�
JC nodded and gave Jan one more hug before he made his way to the kitchen table, pulled out a chair and sat down. He rested his elbows on the table�s surface and then placed his hands on either side of his face as he watched Jan head back into the kitchen and over to the refrigerator.
�What do you want to drink?�
�Um, milk sounds good.�
�Would you like me to add some chocolate syrup to it? I don�t know about you but plain, white milk is at the very bottom of my most loved drinks list.�
JC chuckled as he said, �yes ma�am.� Jan quickly stirred some chocolate syrup into the glass of milk and then handed it over to JC who immediately began drinking it.
Jan returned to the pot of chili and began stirring it as she started answering JC�s questions.�
�I got here at about 10:00 or so and I visited with Justin about an hour before he fell asleep in Lynn�s room. I didn�t wake any one of you boys because of the doctor�s orders of complete bed rest for Joey and Lance and his orders of rest for you, Justin and Chris. Besides, you boys looked so sweet and innocent while you were sleeping and I was trying to put off the ugly reality that would hit me when you would wake up.�
Just as Jan had made that statement, JC had taken a gulp of his milk. He suddenly began choking on the liquid as he laughed at her joke. Jan ran to his side to ask him if he was okay and all she receives in reply was more laughter mixed with choking. She remained by JC as she waited for the choking to end, shaking her head at the red-faced man who was doing his best to keep milk from spurting out his nose. Once JC had composed himself and was able to tell Jan that he was all right, she returned to her simmering pot of chili and again began stirring the mixture.
�As I was saying, before being rudely interrupted,� she said with mock sarcasm, �I arrived at 10ish and Justin fell asleep at 11ish. I spoke to Dr. Shannon on the phone and I think who ever chose to call him did a great job. Oh, by the way, he wants to see Lance and Joey at 8:00 Tuesday night,� she said as she stopped stirring the chili long enough to glance over at JC.
�Why so late Jan?�
�He wants to guarantee the boys� privacy.�
�Oh,� JC replied as he shook his head. He got up from the table and took his empty glass to the sink and rinsed it out.
�Back to today�s events�I read until about 3:00 then took a dip in the swimming pool for about an hour. I was even able to shower in Lynn�s bathroom without disturbing Justin.� Jan put the spoon down on the stovetop and turned to look at JC again from across the room before speaking again. �I really worry sometimes about how hard you boys push yourselves, but I am so very proud of all of you JC.�
�Thanks Aunt Jan.�
Jan had her back turned to the door way as she continued to piddle around the kitchen. She did not notice JC grinning at Chris who was steadily stalking up behind her. He was not more than 4 feet behind Jan when she began speaking again.
�You do it Chris and you�re dead meat.�
JC burst out laughing at the sudden droop of Chris� shoulders. Jan turned around and laughed herself at the pouty look that Chris was sporting. �How did you know it was me?� he said, with mock hurt in his voice.
�Remember Chris, mothers and teachers have eyes in the back of their heads.�
Chris immediately laughed out loud as he walked the last few feet toward Jan and wrapped her in a tight hug.
�It�s so good to see you Aunt Jan�it�s been a long time,� Chris said into Jan�s long red hair.
�That it has Chris�that it has.�
Chris continued to hold Jan, silently rocking back and forth. JC dropped his eyes as he began to fight tears. He knew what Chris was feeling�he was feeling it too�they all were in need of comfort at that moment and Jan would be the one to readily provide it. Finally, Chris released Jan and swiped away a stray tear or two as he looked into her eyes. �I guess you heard about what all has been going on around here.�
�Yes sweetie. Justin filled me in this morning and I also spoke with Dr. Shannon who wants to see Joey and Lance Tuesday evening at 8:00,� Jan said as she cupped Chris� face in her hands.
Chris nodded. �We�ll get them there.�
Jan put an arm around Chris� shoulder and turned to look at JC. Their tired, scared and worried expressions made her feel all the more determined to get to the bottom of all that was going on. Jan reached out an arm in JC�s directions and he walked over to her side and allowed her to encircle his shoulder. �It�ll be okay guys. The cavalry�s here.� The boys just nodded their heads and did not move out of Jan�s grasp. After a few moments of silence Jan brought up the subject of waking the rest of the crew in order to eat supper. �I know that Lance and Joey need to stay in bed as much as possible, so we could use TV trays and take our meals up to their room and all of us could eat together.�
�Yeah, that could give us a chance to hear about your trip,� said JC.
�No guys�you don�t want to do that,� said Justin as he entered the kitchen and dropped into the nearest chair.
�It�s so good to know how much love you feel for me Justy,� said Jan with a grin on her face.
�Okay, what gives?� asked Chris. He knew that he and JC must have missed something this morning.
�Aunt Jan�s travels were so interesting that I fell asleep somewhere in between how beautiful the mountains were in Alabama and how unusual some of the town names in Louisiana were.� As Justin was speaking he walked up to Jan and gave her a hug. Just as Justin wrapped his arms around Jan in a big bear hug, he yelped and quickly jerked away when Jan gave him a quick pinch in the side.
�Geez, try to show a little affection around here and you get a piece pinched off you.� Justin rubbed his side as he continued to grin at Jan.
�You deserved that one little man,� Jan said as she went back to her pot of chili on that stove.
�Is that what I think it is Aunt Jan?� Justin asked as he quickly crossed the kitchen and stood at her side to gaze into the pot.
�What are you cooking Jan?�
�It�s called chili Chris.�
�Chili in August?� he asked as he stood on the other side of Jan and took the spoon from her hand in order to stir what was in the pot. Jan began laughing as Chris busied himself with the task.
�What? I�m not doing anything that funny Jan,� said Chris in mock hurt as he stopped long enough to look at Jan before continuing to stir the chili.
�I know. It�s just that Mike used to do the same thing to me. He�d take the spoon right out of my hand and start stirring.� Jan grinned at the memory before continuing. �Or, he�d pick up the spoon to stir whatever I was cooking right after I had just finished the job myself and had laid the spoon down.�
�It�s a man thing Jan,� said JC as he pushed Chris away from the pot. �It�s my turn to do the man thingy.� That got a laugh out of everyone as they watched JC have his turn with the man thingy. �It�s our way of contributing in the kitchen.� JC continued to stir for a few seconds more before looking at Justin.
�Justin, it�s your turn,� said JC as he handed over the spoon.
�I�m not even legal yet, so therefore I am not in need of proving my manliness by stirring.� Justin turned and walked away all the while knowing that the others would not let him get away with that remark for very long. Chris was quickly on his heels as Justin�s walking quickly turned into running. Justin ran to the patio door, opened it and took off outside at a dead run with Chris not too far behind yelling at him. �I�ll teach you who the man is around here fro boy!� Jan and JC trotted to the open patio door, stepped out onto the deck and watched the spectacle going on outside. Chris had actually caught up with Justin�and Justin had him slung over his shoulder�heading for the pool.
�Wasn�t Chris supposed to be doing that to Justin?� asked Jan over her shoulder.
�Apparently you haven�t tried picking Justin up lately,� said JC dryly. Jan turned her head enough that she was able to look up at JC and see a slight evil grin on his face as he continued to watch Justin and Chris. Jan also turned her attention back to the fighting pair. Chris began yelling, �Your going down with me�you�re going down with me!� as Justin stood at the pool�s edge tightly holding on to a squirming Chris. �Just try it old man�just try it!�
Jan quickly glance over her shoulder. �He wouldn�t throw him in�would he?� Jan did a double take at the wicked grin that adorned the usually calm exterior of JC. �You�ve been away from us too long Jan. Of course your sweet nephew is going to throw the old man in.� She quickly turned back around the see Justin attempt to give Chris the heave ho into the pool. Chris lived up to his word and took Justin with him into the water. Jan and JC doubled over in laughter as they looked at the pair of men treading water and splashing each other at the same time, all the while yelling insults at each other. After a few moments the pair made their way to the shallow end and slowly climbed the steps out of the pool. They both sported ear-splitting grins, as if they were satisfied with the notion that they had both accomplished their set goals. Jan�s smile began to fade when she heard Chris yell, �Jan needs a Man-wich!� Jan took one look at the two men running toward her with their arms outstretched and immediately turned to head back into the safety of the house. Unfortunately she walked into JC who was standing right behind her. She looked up from his chest and saw that an evil grin beginning to spread its way across his face. �Oh no you don�t JC,� said Jan trying to scoot around him but was gathered up into his arms. She began to shriek with laughter as she saw the two men who resembled drowned rats approach her from either side, yelling at the top of their lungs. �Man-wich time�man-wich time!� JC had Jan firmly in his grasp and was not about to let her miss out a famous man-wich.
�Let me go JC!� Jan yelled.
�Not on your life!�
�It might be your life if you don�t!� Jan�s screams of laughter became even louder as she and JC were enveloped in a wet, messy hug. Chris made sure he rubbed his wet head all over Jan�s face as Justin gave JC the same treatment.
�Hey, I�m helping you guys here,� bellowed JC in protest as he tried to avoid Justin�s soggy head rubbing his face.
�We�re killing two birds with one stone man!� yelled Justin over Jan�s shrieks and JC�s protests.
Jan hated to admit it, but she was having the time of her life at that moment. She had the feeling that the next two or three days would be the hardest ones she would be facing since Mike�s death two years ago. It was time to enjoy herself.