CHAPTER 225: MAILBOX DREAMS

Zach was waiting for Ed and Ty to arrive with the sky jumper along with Lester Francis and their kids. He was a little taken back by Ty’s headcount—said they picked up the original six but there was a +1 that was carrying 2. He had no idea what Ty meant by that statement, and when he asked about excess the mission trip, all Ty would say was to wait for the final results and he would have them by the time they landed.

Zach was surprised that his new transit runners had arrived early. Willie must’ve really kicked a ruckus to get these units out here this fast. As promised, they were extra capacity, extra-long, 95% solar powered for virtual seamless running during the day, and they would run off of an ultrasonic methane mixture with battery power backups during the dark periods. They were so perfect that other than the front counting system and park lights, you wouldn’t know which one was brand-new or the refurbished ones. Unit one was for Lester—he was in charge of the drivers when they were hired, and Willie was over the entire operations of their transit system.

Zach saw the sky jumper coming in for a quick passover and review. Madison and Robbie were at the pad waiting to bring the new residents over. The house had been completely furnished and ready to be occupied by the Roland family. Zach had looked up the Diamond H farm and it wasn’t much—maybe 20 to 25 dwellings, a small barn for the crops, the fields were poorly tended to. But now that they were part of the Z1 family, things would definitely start looking up there for all of the residents, even though there were only 45 left plus the owner.

When Zach saw Lester’s brood, he realized that this family was just what was needed at the Z1. The boys were trim, tall and fit—they got some of that from Lester in his younger days. Francis was playing a little pudgy, but that could be due to his current status. They all needed new clothing and a good grooming job, which Miss Sonja would definitely take care of.

All the boys were well mannered, and Lester introduced his family. "This is my lovely mate Francis," he began, using his little bit thinner but every time he decides to grace us with another one, he puts on the baby weight fast. "Next was the very tall and handsome Denton." Denton made sure to introduce his partner Rudy and made it very clear that he was packing twins.

"The next was Irving—nice wavy copper-tone hair, green eyes and a nice slender but muscular build with a genman ass that was built for breeding. Next was Dallas, he was taller than Irving but still needed to come into his transition—he had a little adolescent weight still on him. And the last one was Houston, he was the baby of the family at this time and your typical precocious 10½-year-old."

Zach tossed Lester a set of keys. "That’s the keys to unit number one—that’s yours. You’ll be in charge and help interview the drivers. They report to you, then you’ll report to Willie. If one of the drivers steps out of line, you have full authority to release him from his job, but remember you have to help find his replacement. Now let’s get back in the speeders and take you to where you’ll be living."

Francis could not believe his eyes. The house was pale blue, white trimmed, it had a silver metal roof with solar cells, there was a walkway that was paved going to the house with rosebushes in front. But what he was most proud of was a mailbox, and on that mailbox by the front picket fence it said The Roland Family.

Francis started to cry—a pregnant genman always is very emotional about some things.

"You can thank your neighbor down the road, Homer Romano, for the roses, the pathway and the mailbox that he said y’all needed," Zach explained. "His mate Clayton and him have a newborn, and like most new dads, his mate has been having a few issues with being a new parent. You know the usual hormone swings."

"You ain’t seen hormones till this one here has them," Lester started chuckling. "Sometimes me and the boys just leave the house." That brought a stern look from Francis.

Everyone had walked into the cabin and were looking around except Irving—he was still standing on the pathway out near the mailbox. Eleck and Brent were walking through the neighborhood on the way back to the dormitories when Brent saw the stunning Irving and elbowed Eleck.

"Look at that—definitely looks like the neighborhood is getting some more class in it. Ain’t seen a beauty like that ever," Brent observed.

"Brent, you’re dreaming, and that one there has way too much class for you," Eleck countered. "I’ll be the first one to take him out."

Brent wasn’t to be outdone and he raised his voice to catch Irving’s attention. "What you doing next Friday night at 5:45?"

"Nothing, what you have in mind?" a stunned Irving replied.

"You and me on a date in town at Constantine’s—burgers and a malt," Brent responded.

"Pick me up right here at my gate and it’s a date," Irving replied.

Not wanting to be outdone, Eleck spoke up. "5:45 Saturday night we have a date, young man—whatever you want at Constantine’s."

"Same thing—you pick me up here at the gate and it’s a date," Irving answered. "But just to let the two of you know, I might be eating burgers and drinking a malt with you, but you aren’t eating nothing here."

The two best friends high-fived each other, then waved goodbye and left.

Irving walked inside to see the house when Francis asked him what he’d been up to outside for so long.

"Nothing, Dad, just getting dates lined up for next Friday and Saturday night, so don’t hold supper for me. I’m getting burgers and fries at a place called Constantine’s. I don’t know if it’s any good, but what I saw looked good to me," he said with a grin. "And no, they’re not getting to sample my goodies."

"Did you get the guys’ names?" Zach asked him.

"Yes sir—Brent is my Friday night date, and Eleck is on schedule for Saturday night. I made it abundantly clear they might be feeding me, but they won’t be eating me," Irving explained. "When it’s my time, I’ll have a commitment and we will be joined before any man touches me. Pre-joining sex is fine for some people and I don’t judge them for that, but they’re going to have to belly up to the bar before they get to drink this nectar."

"Well, young man, you’ve got your head on right," Zach chuckled. "And I’ll make sure the boys understand that it’s a date and a date only. If they think they’re gonna get anything else or they try something, it will only result in a one-way trip to the city. And if they get too wild, they go to the back 40, and nobody comes back from there."

Irving thanked Mr. Zach for his caring thoughts and his watchful eye. "Sir, I know I shouldn’t have been so forward with those men. They looked at me and saw me, they thought I was something and they even commented that the neighborhood had definitely gone up in class. I know it’s silly, but everybody wants to hear that they’re worth something. Back on the Diamond H, the old owner didn’t take to our kind—he didn’t let my kind take to his genmen either. No, he didn’t mind me putting out 10 to 12 ounces a day, heck Denton puts out 12 to 14, but we were still considered inferior cross breeds."

"Well Irving, I can tell you right now there’s nothing inferior about you, your brothers, your dad or your father," Zach assured him. "You’re going to be just fine here at the Z1, and if anyone gives you any problems, come see me, Madison, Tim, Robbie, or the one they call Big Ben at the construction office and you won’t have any more trouble. I’ve noticed you’re well read, and you use your wording proficiently. I think I might have a job for you if you’re interested—it’ll be from seven in the morning until three in the afternoon, 5 to 6 days a week at the Travelodge as the front desk clerk."

"That sounds nice. I’d have to read up on it and make sure I could adequately do the job for you, but I have to wait to get clothing for something like that," Irving responded thoughtfully.

"No son, you won’t. You can go to Township and see Miss Sonja—I’ll send her a report of what I want you to wear and she’ll have it ready for you. Plus, she will groom you from head to toe to make sure that you appear even more lovely than you are now," Zach explained.

Irving asked if he could hug Mr. Zach’s neck for the opportunity. He promised he wouldn’t let him down—he would show him that the Roland family was worthy of the Z1.

Zach nodded okay, and the young man hugged his neck and thanked him.

"Okay Lester, I need you to also see Miss Sonja and we need to get you a proper uniform of your choice that you feel comfortable in, yet it shows professionalism for our new transit line because you’re going to be transporting a lot of genmen and a lot of humans from the city," Zach continued. "Plus, when we get the hotel opened up, there’s going to be 250+ rooms with guests that will be coming to the ranch to go through the museums, meditation gardens, the library and our new educational center."

Lester couldn’t believe his ears—Mr. Zach was really putting it out there, and he was proud to live on a place such as the Z1.

"I believe I’m hungry. I’m going to get my family and make a few more phone calls," Zach looked around and remarked. "Lester, I know you just arrived and need to gather your family, and we’re all going into the Township so you can see the place and you can dine at Constantine’s and get a taste of his delicious food and maybe a malt. This is all going to be on the Z1 account, so don’t worry about expenses."

Lester thanked Mr. Zach and told him they would be ready whenever he wanted.

"Okay, we’ll meet you at the transit in one hour," Zach confirmed.

Francis looked at Lester with wonder in his eyes. "Is this man for real? Really real? He’s not just playing with us?"

"Yes, my love, this man is for real. I told you over the years how kind and how generous he is, and this is Mr. Zach 100%," Lester assured him. "When you meet his family, you’ll understand."