The Life of Buddy

Burt and Butch

Burt returned home to find Brian fast asleep on one of the air mattresses the Ben provided. Burt picked up his cell phone that had slid to his side and placed it on the coffee table.  He then grabbed a blanket and covered his son.

"Good night Buddy." Burt said to him.

"Good night daddy." Brian said as he pulled the blanket tightly around himself and laid on his side. "I love you daddy."

Burt could not help but smile. "Love you too."

He then looked around the living room and thought where's Butch? His unspoken question was answered by the sound of laughter from the kitchen.

Uh oh he thought.

Burt walked in and booth Butch and Byron quickly snapped to attention. Butch had been sitting at the table enjoying a bowl of ice cream while Byron was standing at the table with a water bottle in his hand.

"Relax." Burt said and Butch sat back down. "Didnt I send you to bed."

"Yes, daddy." Byron said. "I was just getting something to drink." He then showed him the bottle.

Burt nodded and then said "You best get back to bed."

"Yes, sir."  Byron then looked at Butch. "Good night."

"Good night " Butch said.

"Good night daddy." Byron said as he walked past him. 

"Good night."  Burt said with a smile and then Byron headed out. He thought how glad he was to have him with him.

I need to do it more often.

Butch finished his ice cream and said "I should go to bed too."

He stood up and Burt said "Not yet "  Butch gave him a questioning look and then sat down.

Burt took his bowl and walked to the sink. "Is Byron going home tomorrow morning?"

"No." Burt said as he rinsed off the dish. "He will be spending the day with you and Buddy."

"Cool."

He smiled in approval as he said "I'm glad you guys are getting along." He had to admit that he had his concerns but they seemed to be unjustified.

"What about Brooks?"

"Brooks is grounded." Burt said closing the dishwasher. He then sat at the table. "He will be spending the day in his room and going to dinner with me tomorrow night."

A hesitant look crossed his face a question burned inside of him. One that he feared to ask for finding out the answer. "What about me?" He asked. "Am I going home tomorrow?"

"Do you?"

Butch shook his head. "Not really."

"Then you don't have to." Burt said."Actually I think it might be best if you stay with me for awhile."

"I think so too." Butch said. "But I still want to see my mom." Despite all that has happened he still loved his mom and still wanted to see her. She may have been a little harsh on him the last couple of months she was still a good mom.

"And Wendy and Petey." Burt said.

"Of course." He nodded. "It would kill me never to see them again."

"Well you don't have to worry about that." Burt said.  "We have to hammer out the details but I think you will stay with me during and visit your mom on the weekends." He then put his hand on his shoulder. "And don't you worry about that military school nonsense."

"Thank you."

"Now let's talk about you wanting to be homeschooled."

"You know about that."

"Your mother told me." Burt said.

"She said it was okay." Butch said.

"She was at first but as she thought about she was not so sure." Burt said.

"Please daddy let me do this." Butch begged. "Its something I really want to do."

"But why?" Burt said with a mix of confusion and concern. "Did something happen at school?"

"No." Butch looked away.

"Dont't lie to me." Burt said.

"I'm not lying."  Butch said flustered. "Nothing happened at school." He then gave a hard sigh. "I'm just tired daddy."

"Tired of what?"

"Of all the high school crap." Butch said. "I'm tired of the drama, of having to deal with people and their issues. I just want to study my lessons in peace without having to worry about this person dating this person or being mad at this person for some stupid reason or being pressured to go to some dumb party which I know wu get me paddled."

He then smirked. "Buddy does not want me to do it because of the social isolation." Frustration was across his face as he said "But right now I would consider that isolation a blessing. I kind of envy Byron, he does not have to worry about the stress of high school life and he can just be a student without all the other junk getting in the way."

"I see." He said thoughtfully. "And that's it. You just need a break from high school drama. It's not that you are not being bullied or mistreated at school."

"The only place I was being bullied and mistreated was at work." Butch said. "Its just dealing with my fellow teenagers is driving me insane and I am done with it all."

A desperate look filled his eyes and he said "Please let me do it."

"I'll think about it." Burt said. A look of excitement crossed his face. "But I'm not making any promises."

"I understand." Butch said. "But thank you for not dismissing it all together."

"You're welcome." Burt then stood and said "Come here."  Butch got up and Burt gave him a hug. "I love you son you know that."

"Yes daddy." Butch had his doubts but after today they were all dispelled.

Burt stepped back and looked him in the eyes. He could see the love his son had for him. Despite all the times he let the boy down and failed him he still loved him.

I don't deserve him he thought.

"I know that I have not the best father to you." He said. "But I promise you that will change."

"Yes sir." He said.

"Now good to bed."

"Yes daddy."

I'm not going to fail you anymore. I'm not going to fail any of you. I promise that.