Running the Rat Race Part 3

Chapter 245-2

Running the Rat Race

Part 3

 

Mr. Tate signed both me and Terry out of school allowing me to call my parents to let them know where I was going. Our school principal had no problem with the idea or letting Mr. Tate borrow his office for a minute. My parents didn’t like the idea of me leaving school and more so with Mr. Tate, but like me, they didn’t have much of a choice without tipping our hand.

Mr. Tate told them he would make it up somehow but either way, he needed to meet the deadline. Reminding them we had signed a contract, he couldn’t do anything to me but didn’t mean someone else couldn’t if their backers weren’t given what they had paid for by the agreed time period and that included a preview of the upcoming film of Tangled Hearts.

So far they had nothing in the can and the posters and handouts were still at the presses, they barely had a script and they had only recently locked down a location where they can begin shooting. They had purchased an old school building somewhere in Phoenix. That had closed down due to budget problems and due to its age being unable to provide or maintain the building to the current state standers and was scheduled to be torn down or turned into some low budget office building. It seemed to be just what we needed to where we could film and build a live set quickly without any day to day school life problems, other then the ones we were creating.

Stringum purchased it, and they are quickly modifying it to be able to shoot on Wednesday. We would have to miss school for the entire day so we could film there the first few scenes, which meant this thing with Mr. Tate today couldn’t have happened at the worst time.  Mom, Dad, and Stringum were furious, but like me, we couldn’t afford to tip our hand, and like me, they knew we couldn’t allow Mr. Tate to harm anyone else…and he knew it.

Dad stated he or Mom should come with us being as they were my parents, but Mr. Tate told them no, they would be a distraction. Dad insisted that he should be there considering he and Mr. Tate were partners as well as Mr. Stringum reminding him that they all signed a contract stating all partners would be on hand during any filming.

Mr. Tate said. “Fine, that means Nate’s mine today and tomorrow. I need him to teach Terry and two other boys by Wednesday before we fly down to Arizona and shoot the first scenes. So he can have plenty of time to prepare for his fundraiser and so I can have something I can use to show our clients.

“Remember our lives are hanging by a thread if we can’t give them what we promised. School can be made up; our lives can be put on hold, but if we don’t have this done in time. None of this will matter, because we will all be dead. I like living and I like my extravagant lifestyle. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep me alive and living my lifestyle. The question is will you Mr. Carrion? Or are you not a man of your word?”

He waited as the silence became the elephant in the room until he said. “I am leaving the school in 10 minutes with the boys If your not here by that time. I am leaving without you.” He slammed down the phone and mumbled angrily how much time they are wasting. He pointed to me and said. “Terry this is how parents should act. Notice how Nate’s Dad cares about his son.

“Your father was willing to sell you for pennies on the dollar, just so he could pay off his loans and your mother can keep drinking your future down the toilet. Nate’s Parents owe me nothing, I owe them, and they are the ones keeping you and me alive. So you better do whatever it takes to make sure we stay that way. Or you and your family will be the first to die. All I have to do is send one message, or make one phone call and you and them will be dead long before I will. Remember that when Nate tells you too do something you don’t want to do or I tell you to do something.”

Dad was at work when I called him, which meant he and Stringum were there in plenty of time with Mom. Chef Phelps to was coming along which was not discussed, but Mr. Tate acted like he wasn’t surprised by it. He didn’t care who came with us along as I did what I was told and they didn’t interfere.

Chef Phelps calmly stated he came to work out ordering details with me since it was my responsibility to make sure I had enough food and enough help to prepare it. Once he had he would return home so he could place the order. He made sure Mr. Tate understood that this fundraiser dinner was just as important as his film he was making; watching him push his fingers into his chest stating it, until he understood before he got back into the car with Mr. Stringum and Mom as Dad climbed in with me and Terry Dad taking the front seat and us boys taking the back after a short introduction.

It looked like that ride down the Canyon to visit my mother that we were going to have plenty to talk about. Dad said. “Lets go, Nate needs to be at the hospital by 6 pm so he can spend time with his mother before they call lights out, I have arranged for them to have dinner together and there is no way in hell am I going to explain that to his mother or the Judge why we missed that appointment, Mr. Tate. So don’t even think about it, I have even packed an overnight bag in case we are going to be all night. You just can’t say hey Terry this Nate. Let's get naked so we get acquainted. Just so you Mr. Tate can have Terry up to speed when I doubt he has never been with a boy more less a girl or two other than a peck on the cheek or possibly held her hand.

“Nudists are not like that, we take our time and if you don’t like it that’s tough. We agreed that none of the boys or girls that we are filming will be forced or threatened. It was you that decided that this young man of yours should be in your pictures when we have so many others that are willing to do it and have the same knowledge as Nate does. You wanted fresh new faces, which we have, but you have decided to find your own and with two days before we start shooting.”

Mr. Tate growled back as he stopped at a stop sign. “For your information Mr. Carrion, Terry wasn’t on the menu until recently when his Dad called me begging me for a handout. I am a businessman first and always. His father knew that he knew I made smut films, using young boys like him and his brother. He and his mother didn’t care, they were facing loan sharks that were willing to break their bones and slit their throats if they didn’t come up with the money. His parents saw this as a win, win situation, they need the cash and I needed young pretty boys to star in my films.” He turned left at the stop sign and got onto the canyon road and head towards Salt Lake. I looked back checking to make sure Mom and everyone was following us.

Mr. Tate said making himself comfortable and bringing his voice that sounded like he was sorry and calm. “They didn’t care what I did to make that happen as long as they got the money. I am a businessman; I paid off the loan sharks. I even helped get his mother into rehab and his father find help for his gambling problem and a nice cushy job to support his family and work off the loan. 

“I also worked out a deal that Terry and his brother would work off some of the debt by staring in my films; its five year contract, which is my standard friend’s contract, where it gives the parents time to come up with the money including the interest payments they have to make each month. Once they have paid back the money they owe me. They get their sons back, if not I keep them and they never see them again.

“It’s my responsibility to make sure they get a good education, they are fed and cared for either by me or someone else. Like those young boys, you adopted recently. Their brother will be taught the same things Terry here is going to learn. I would have brought him along as well, but time is short and I feel Terry can learn quickly. Plus if Terry gets out of line he will be reminded that his brother will suffer for it. The same would be said about Terry. It’s my guarantee that the boys will do whatever it takes to make sure the transition is smooth.

“It is sad to say that I feel their parents will not do likewise, very few parents like Terry’s and his brother ever do, even with the help I give them.  I hate the foster care system, hell I grew up in it. I think I am doing more then a broken system would have done. I provide jobs, education and medical treatment for the boy’s parents as well as the boys. In return, all I ask for is my fair share of the profits the boys and their parents make. As I said I am a businessman.

“You may think I am cruel all you want, but let me remind you Terry’s parent’s stoat me out. Like most of them do eventually. You would be surprised how many parents actually do, thinking its only sex and everyone has sex and sex makes the world go round. If I didn’t do it some else would do it, and I doubt they would be as kind as I am or provide the services I provided as part of the benefits package.

“No, you would find people like my old business partner. Who only cared what went into his pocket, he didn’t care if the boys were fed, clothed or educated or ever saw a doctor if they needed one. I hated him dearly, but he got results and that was what was important. Now that you have shone me you can provide those same results, without harming the boys, and without forcing them under gunpoint, or putting a knife to their throat and are willing to do it. I am more than happy to let you take over his position. I do apology for throwing your son Nate into this position with already a full plate, but I am against the wall as they would say.

“It took you one night; you and your son Nate to teach the basics to your new sons. There were three boys that never had been through our training program; Mark and Sal were the only boys comfortable with the idea and even they learned new things along with the other three. I am only asking Nate to do the same thing for Terry, and then his brother later.

“Not much later, more like next week or so at the latest, when he gets out of the hospital, he was too sick from whatever their parents were feeding the boys, if at all I couldn’t say and having nothing more then basically living off the streets in some shanty town where you want to puke just from the smell alone.

“You can only imagine how bad it was on a very hot day. The flies were like feasting off you I tell you, I had to scrub myself with disinfectants and burn my clothing and the boys before we got on the plane coming home. They call me a monster for what I do for a living. What their parents do to their children there makes them more of a monster then I will ever be. So you see Mr. Carrion I do have the boys interests and I am quite aware of the deal you had made with the Judge and his mother.

“Which is why we are killing two birds with one stone, I have small property not far from Salt Lake at the edge of town. Maybe about 30 or so miles give or take from the hospital Nate’s mothers at.  It’s nothing like the summer house and has nothing but a small studio, where I like to take the boys for their first time during their training.

“That way we won’t be disturbed like we would be at your place or my estate back in Heber while they are installing the new equipment and get ready for the main event on Saturday. Of course, I wasn’t planning on you and your wife or Mr. Stringum considering it was just as you say letting the boys get acquainted before we do some actual shooting. Don’t get me wrong I do plan to do some shooting enough to see how Terry is going to look on film.

“I have sent Antonio and a handful of crew to ready the place, but we won’t be doing any full makeup until we shoot the scenes for Tangled Hearts on Wednesday. I am hoping by then Terry will be ready by then, again doing it your way as we have discussed.

“Normally I would have waited until next week, but I had no guarantees that Nate would be available with the court hearing the following week. Like I said I don’t trust the system. After all, no one can promise me you would win and things would go on as we have planned. But if they don’t go into our favor, I am out a star and without a star for our film Tangled Hearts. I could be facing those sharks circling me alone. I am only looking out for my best interest Mr. Carrion.

“Like I said I like living and I like living my extravagant lifestyle. Push comes to shove I can replace Nate with Terry. I can start up my business again in a matter of weeks, without you and your fine crop of boys. Perhaps I could even take some of them with me. If I offered their parents enough money they are willing to sell them to me. Everyone has a price and I am not above finding out what that price is.

“In fact, if I would have known Nate and his parents years ago, I could have made a small fortune by purchasing him and his brother from them, knowing they would have gladly have taken the money even his two sisters would have been useful in the business. Now, of course, the waters been muddy and I couldn’t even get my foot in the door. Unless of course, you are willing to sell Nate to me and those boys back to me. I am willing to pay top dollar for them.”

Dad looked back at me and smiled and said asking. “How much Mr. Tate are you talking about?”

My guts twisted inside hearing Dad ask him that. Mr. Tate said. “Say 10 mil for each boy and Nate I willing to pay 3 times that because of his experience.”

Dad gave a loud whistle and rubbed his chin then looked back at me said. “That’s hunk a change worth considering. I would have to talk it over with my wife first, and think about it.” Dad looked at my shock face and smiled.

Mr. Tate turned his head towards Dad and said. “Are you teasing me or are we considering the matter? If we are let me sweeten the pot by adding 30 percent of the profits that Nate will earn over his entire filming career, and another 20 percent for each boy of yours you sell to me.”

Dad nodded rubbing his chin. “Let me get back to you on that like I said I would have to discuss it with my wife first. She kinda real partial to the boys and Nate is her favorite.  If it was just me I would have no problem in making that deal.

“Like you said sex is just sex and sex makes the world go around. I see as if you gave me that kinda money I could set my self up for life, and have more kids to replace the ones I no longer want, but like I said I would have to talk it over with my wife first.” Mr. Tate smiled and started to hum calculating his profits. I wasn’t sure if Dad was teasing me or not, well hoped he wasn’t, but money does a strange thing to people.