Different Circles

“They really believe it because they want to believe it,” Jake said. “And none of the newspapers or media outlets want to publish the Pocatello story because they have no interest in telling the truth about us. They cannot write a story about the allegation because it is provably untrue and would open them up to libel charges, but they are under no obligation to declare the rumor untrue.”

“Wow,” Chase said. “I see what you mean about the bad side of your life.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Jake said. “So, you’ll understand when I tell you I am a little concerned about all of those pictures you took of me and Laura and Celia, particularly the ones with you two in them.”

Both girls eyes got a little wider. “Are you saying,” Chase said, “that you think people will think that ... that ... me and Gracie and ... and you are ... you know... doing it?”

“If those pictures were to get out into general circulation,” Jake said, “yes, there are people out there who would suggest that, would possibly even come up with a story like what they came up with about me and Laura and Ron the ramper.”

“That is so disgusting!” Grace said, genuinely appalled at that thought. “You’re our uncle! And old enough to be our dad!”

“That doesn’t matter to the people who pass these sort of things around,” Jake said. “They could put any story they want on it and a certain amount of people will believe it. They might put in the story that you are my nieces and that I’m giving your mom and dad money to look the other way about what we or doing or they might say you’re a couple of sex slaves I bought in New York City. They might even say that Laura or Celia is involved in this thing as well.”

“Gross!” Grace said. “I mean, Aunt Laura is nice and all, and Celia is too, and they’re both beautiful, but they’re women! Older women!”

“That doesn’t matter to these kind of people,” Jake said.

“What are you saying then?” Grace asked. “You don’t want us to develop the pictures?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying at all,” Jake told her. “I want you to have your pictures of your vacation and I want you to treasure them. I want you to be able to show the prints to your friends. What I don’t want is for any of those pictures or negatives or, worst of all, digital copies of the shots, to end up floating around on the internet or in a chain email. Where do you get your pictures developed?”

“At the Walgreens by our house,” Grace said. “That’s the closest place and the cheapest.”

“Very good,” Jake said. “Walgreens does them in the automatic machine. Most of the time, nobody even looks at them before they give them to you. And even if they do look at them, it is unlikely anyone would steal a copy because it would not be hard to trace where it came from. Go ahead and get them developed, show the prints to anyone you like, but please promise me that you will not give anyone any of the prints, or the negatives, or ever send any of the shots out digitally in email or any other way if they have Laura or me or Celia in them.”

“I promise,” Grace said. “I don’t want anyone thinking that I’m some New York sex slave or some incestuous slut.”

“I promise too,” Chase said. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“And stick a needle in your eye?” Jake asked.

Chase giggled. “And stick a needle in my eye,” she agreed.

“All right then,” Jake said. “I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.”

“Like I said, Uncle Jake,” Chase said. “Anything for you. You’re the raddist uncle ever.”

“A title I will embrace proudly,” Jake said, knowing that he was the only uncle on either side of their family that they had anything to do with. “Now then, are we ready for another match?”

The two girls looked at each other and nodded, smiles on their faces. “Let’s do it,” Chase said.

They did it. This time, they cooperated a little bit more and only lost by a score of 14-7.

Joey, in the tradition of the Best family when it came to thanking a host for having them stay in their house, took everyone out to dinner that last night. He insisted on paying for the meal himself. Since Jake knew that his pride demanded he do this, he did not argue the point and did not suggest a restaurant, knowing that anything he (Jake) suggested would probably bankrupt the waste management employee. Instead, he heartily agreed when Joey suggested the local Black Angus steakhouse in Santa Clarita. The entire group arrived there at 7:00 PM, all of them dressed in jeans and pullover shirts. The adults who were not pregnant drank bottled Budweiser. The kids and Laura all had soda of varying kind. Jake ordered the sirloin steak and shrimp and was happy to find that it was not all that bad. Joey paid the bill with his credit card. Jake did not even offer to pick up the tip, knowing that such a gesture would be offensive to his brother-in-law.