See I know Prestines, all my life I was around Pristines. They were cattle rustlers at night. My elementary and high school had been full of them. If it had not been for Pristines Opahunka Florida would not have needed a police force, and Lake County could have done without a jail.
Everybody said ‘They are a low down worthless lot’. They had according to one Lake County Deputy Sheriff named Larry, the honor of, as a family making the Florida Most Wanted List more than any family ever. Of course he was counting offshoots of the family named Garge, Render, and the name used by ex-cons avoiding their probation officers, the hard to track name, SMITH.
My own family life was complicated as much as Prestines. My grandmother lived in Orlando and was sort of the family hub (she controled the money). She had placed her four sons as ‘managers’ of various assets. Mostly in California and Florida which was my Grandfathers domain, he owned the land of both.
Grandmother Mildred had a theme she said, “I really trust Jack very little so I keep him working close to home.” Jack was my father and some of the things Mildred called him was, ‘A drunk’, he was that. I figured he would drink himself to death. I mean you can treat alcoholism, but he said, “I don’t need treatments, just another shot of whisky.”
My grandmother also didn’t like my father because he didn’t honor a marriage contract my grandfather had set up, before he died. The contract was with the Kunkades Family of Miami. My father got drunk at the wedding reception and called the girl, ‘ugly’, to her face. That marriage would have added the shipping docks of Miami to the Cunninghams.
My father’s mother arranged for my marriage right after I was born to a Lydia Leper. Well the purpose of marriage was to consolidate ownership of land. The Leper family was big in Cuba. That meant they owned all the important parts of it (like the government).
Grandmother had arranged Lydia for me to bring Cuba and Florida together with our male child. I grew up watching films of Lydia. She didn’t live in Cuba, but a place called Stanton New Jersey.
I was the most important grandchild according to Mildred, “Even though your mother is the wrong mother.”
My mother Angel seemed fine to me. She only brought some South Georgia peanut farms to the Cunningham holdings It was the best 2nd choice marriage my grandmother could get for ‘the drunk’, as she called him.
In Opahunka, in Lake County, near Leesburg, Jack and Angel lived in a modest home (compared to grandmother’s palace in Orlando). It was the biggest house in the area and no one saw it except for a few delivery people. No other kids visited my home, but I did have a place in Leesburg where my mother could have parties for me, like on my birthday.
I went to the public school in Opahunka and later in Leesburg. Everyone, mostly, rode the school bus but me.
My father in his sober moments would explain to me how we owned ‘everything’ and as he put it could, “Get away with it”.
He would say, “Henry we are the bank and control who gets money and who doesn’t. If Prestines steal cattle well we can enslave them, or enslave the people they make poor who can’t pay the debts they owe. Sometimes the best slaves are picked up because of criminal acts. Cunninghams are the banks and the government.”
When I started 9th grade at Leesburg High my principal’s name was Mr. Pratmore. Well my father took me to school the day before classes started. Well the introductions started in the outer office, with the principals secretary in the room. I shook hands with the principal, and dad said, “Brad we need to go in your office for a private chat.”
As soon as the door was closed Brad got on his knees and began sucking dad’s shoes, “Henry” dad said, “this is your new slave Brad,” Brad quickly scooted over to my shoes and began slurping then he opened his whole mouth and licked my sneakers.
“Stand up slave and takeoff your clothes so you master Henry can see his animal” The principal jumped up and began taking off all his clothes. He was a small man and he put his clothes on the guest chair. Dad and I were standing in his office.
Just when he was totally naked his phone rang, and dad said laughing, “Better get it, might be the superintendent.”
He rushed to his phone and it was rather funny seeing that proper guy with no pants on, at the phone.
“Could I call you back sir. I’m in an important meeting with Mr. Cunningham and his son Henry.”
“Yes of course” you could hear.
Well then dad did what he always does with slaves who might think their important like mayors, sheriffs or police chiefs, he smacks their flesh and puts his fingers in their mouth, and other holes. He de-humanizes them. With the principal he let me do it also. When I had slapped his ass cheeks and looked at his teeth dad said, “Show Brad your gun.” Of course guns were absolutely not allowed even near a school, unless you owned the school. I pulled back my coat and pulled out my little twelve shot. I put it out close to his face.
“So what did I tell you about guns son?”
“That I should shoot anyone who needed shooting. But I think I can use Brad here at school as my slave.”
“He’s getting sort of old Henry. Lots of people would do anything to have such a plum job like this.”
“I’ll do anything master!” Brad said, “please don’t shoot me.” I still had my gun out on his desk.
“Tell Henry about your family slave. You know how boys are at age 14, you know, about sex.”
“My family is ignorant master about Cunninghams and our position here as your slaves.”
“Ignorant, innocent, whatever? Henry wants to know what women he owns at the house we let you live in.”
“My wife Sandra is age 45. My 2nd wife Nancy is 29 — she has twin girls age 4. My oldest girl is a senior this year.”
“I think she’s a cheerleader, Connie Pratmore?” I said.
“Yes master.”
“I also have a girl 12 and one 11 and a boy 10.”
“Perfect,” dad said, “and to reinforce what is said here Brad I’m going to ask my son a question that I want him to answer truthfully.”
“What is it dad?”
“Have I ever told you it’s OK to shoot someone before?”
“No never dad.”
“So you really think it would be OK to shoot Brad if you wanted to, really no problem?”
“Sure dad I’ve seen you shoot five or six men and a couple of women. One guy you shot between the legs, that was a mess.”
“Why didn’t you pop our principal here in the head?”
“Well dad I thought he was humble enough and I might find him useful in school. I told you at the basketball game that, ‘I don’t really like basketball, but I like to watch Connie Pratmore twist around so I can see her white panties.
I figure this is your way of giving me Connie Pratmore as a present.”
“She’s a better gift than Bridget Prestines. That was the girl Brad that tried to break into my house last year to, ‘Give Henry my virginity.’ She had a strong sex smell about her, maybe it was a lack of proper baths. Bridget claimed to be fourteen, but Prestines don’t record birth records, but her head lights were double gallon size and just the nipples were as big as Henry’s hand in width.
I slapped tracking devices in her and branded her hand. Preston’s don’t want them back with big ‘c’s’ on a hand. The parents searched for her and I sent the sheriff to see them, he told them the story and I paid them 50 credits just because I’m nice.
I checked her out first and she was not even close to virginity. She admitted 5 others. Then I let Henry try her out, making her wish come true. She was not Henry’s choice chick.
Of course Brad it would be awkward if you stayed on Seashell Drive where Connie, Nancy and the others are living with Henry. We don’t want anything awkward do we Brad?”
“No master.”
“So go explain what’s going on to your family. We want to do things really civilized, and your new apartment is above Sam’s Real Bar on Hwy 441, one block from school, down toward town. You can leave your car at home for Sandra to drive. If Henry lets her.
Two barmaids will be up in your apartment each night. It’s a fair exchange, their both a bit over age twenty.
This Henry is all per instructions from Grandma Mildred. She told me to, ‘Find a nice non-drinking family for Henry to get experiences with.’
I looked at the sheriff, states attorney and a county judge– all with teen age daughters, and no drinking. Until the basketball game I didn’t know what to do. My mother, your grandmother is very pushy, Mildred said, ‘Do something now, today, the boy needs experiences with girls and women!
This afternoon I will call her castle at the Magic Kingdon and tell Mickey Mouse (who answers her phone) that Donald Duck (code for you) has found a place to quack.”
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Ray Cates is a teacher in Ocala, Florida His school site is:
Some of his stories with links is: http://unsightlyteeth.wordpress.com
http://shirleyjones.wordpress.com
http://bigblackmole.wordpress.com
http://patricidekinda.wordpress.com
http://veryweird.wordpress.com
http://dreamsofalbert.wordpress.com
http://notfreedom.wordpress.com
http://jackisbusted.wordpress.com 2nd part: http://readingminds1.wordpress.com
http://lastcheck.wordpress.com
http://littlemax.wordpress.com
