Untitled - Chapter 2 - Aiden and Mr. Green Jeans

Aiden spent the next day or so pulling the last of the unwanted weeds from the yard, it was still hard work, especially those "lions." By the end of the week, there was no trace of of any plants except for the grass which was still quite yellow and had many dirt patches, where weeds had been. He wanted to do something about that. Aiden realized that he would need some grass seed, so he thought of Mr. Green Jeans and made his way to his garage. Peeking inside he could see his neighbor was mixing liquids in different jars. Some of the jars were bubbling over little burners and releasing smoke into tubes that led to glass bottles. Hello? Aiden announced himself.

Turning his head to look and smiling Mr. Green Jeans removed his goggles and mask and said, "Well hi there Aiden. How did your 'bout with the lions go?"

"I was tough, but your idea is what did the trick." the boy said modestly. He looked down at his hands which were still very blistered.

Mr. Green Jeans looked at the boys small injured hands and pulled off his long, blue, rubber gloves and patted Aiden on the shoulder. "Oh don't sell yourself short son, you did quite a share work hard all week, and you showed just how persistent you are. Persistence my boy, a very good quality. A quality that is very valuable in times of trouble. Now, what can I do for you young man?"

Aiden smiled and said, "I think I need some grass seed to cover the dirt patches where the weeds were. I thought you might have some." Looking around, Aiden thought for sure all the ingredients for the universe must be in all these containers, jars, bags, boxes and sacks with little white labels written in foreign languages. He had the equipment to make stars and rainbows and tornadoes too.

"Well," clapping his hands, let's see what we can find." He straightened his green suspenders and began sorting through various cabinets that were filled with boxes and colorful bottles of different powders and liquids from behind the biggest jar he pulled out a brown papered sack. "Ah Ha!" he said, "here we go Aiden, a sack of plain old grass seed. He paused. "But hold on, this seed has no fertilizer in it, nor weed killer for that matter." He fiddled through some bigger metal cans with pumps and handles on them. "It seems I have only the fertilizer. No matter, you have already pulled the weeds in your lawn. Holding up a large orange can to the light, "Oh, yes, this really industrial strength fertilizer, I will have to dilute the solution down for grass."

"What is fertilizer?" Aiden inquired, stepping up closer. He was fascinated with Mr. Green Jeans and his experiments, inventions, and secret knowledge of the science and the heavens.

"Fertilizer is like food for plants, they need nitrogen and phosphate as well as water." He grabbed a green sprinkle bucket and the fertilizer and led Aiden outside the garage next to the spicket on his house. "Now, this batch here was made so that a lot of fertilizer could transported in a small container for diluting down later. I made it for use in Africa. It should never be used in its full concentration. It is too potent for any use. I will, ... huh?" He was interrupted by a car's horn blown from in front of his house. Setting the two containers down next to the spout, "Aiden my boy, you will have excuse me for now, I have a prior engagement, an experiment on some super-grip paint for my friend on who is restricted to a wheel chair. I hope to find a formula that will allow his wheels to grip better on slippery surfaces. I think this time I may have it!" Scooping up the grass seed and holding it out to Aiden, "Go ahead and sprinkle some of this all over your lawn and be sure to water it well. I have to go now. Guten Tag!"

Aiden took the grass seed and said, "Thanks Mr. Green Jeans!"

Mr. Green Jeans stopped and knelt down to Aiden's eye level, smiled and put his hand out, "My name is not Mr. Green Jeans, Aiden." Aiden's face took on a surprised look. "That is just the name people who think I am strange around here have given me because of my green overalls. I wear them all the time at home, here in my shop and in the yard. My name is Reinhardt Von SchlusselMeister. I do not mind if you call me green jeans, but I wanted to properly introduce my self."

Aiden grabbed and shook the outstretched hand and smiled, "It is nice to meet you Mister Reinhardt Von slusenstangster, er I mean.." he knew he was fumbling the name badly and began frowning.

"Green Jeans, call me Greens Jeans," Reinhardt laughed loudly, Aiden smiled and laughed as well . They both waved and went their separate directions.

Aiden made his way around the fence and saw his little sister Izabella playing with his beloved "Power-Man" figure, grinding the head into the dirt. Aiden began running over and grabbed the green and blue toy and inspected it, they face was unsatisfactorily dirty for a superhero. He murmured, "Dumb Belle, always breaking my stuff." He went to the hose, turned it on and washed the dirt away and spoke to the figure, "Sorry Power-Man." He set the toy up so it could watch him as he spread the seeds all over the lawn. It did not take him very long to spread all of the seed around. Aiden felt that he had done well and began to water the lawn. Aiden glanced over at the toy again and suddenly it occurred to him that "The Power-Man Show" should be on right now, so he shut off the hose, detached it, grabbed Power-man and jumped over his little sister to make his way to the back door and ran in. He glanced at the clock in the hallway, it was 3:59 P.M. "Yes!" he celebrated quietly as he hopped over the couch and pulled the knob on the TV. He positioned the toy on the floor and clapped his hands together, "Now, let's see what we can find . He slowly backed up as the screen began to light up. He sat down on the floor cross-legged and rested his head on his hands, wide-eyed. It was the right station and the right time.

The show was just beginning.

"Power-Man! Fighting for freedom, truth, and a better world! Power-Man will fight evil doers no matter the challenge!! You can count on Power-Man to save the day!! Dramatic music followed as Aiden sang along to the "Power-Man Theme."

"When there's trouble, and hope is fading, danger is doubled, and someone needs aiding, Power-Man is there to do the saving!! P O W E R - M A N!" Aiden was swept away in the world of heroes and danger.

An hour later the show was over and Aiden was charged up with supernal adventure. He flew his Power-Man back outside to check on the grass seed he had planted. "Aw, nothing yet Power-man." He continued to fly the toy around higher and higher, he stood on the porch chairs and then on the table, flying it as high as he could get. From this height he could see all around the neighborhood and over the fences, even to Mr. Green Jeans house. Aiden could also see the two containers Mr. Green Jeans left by the water spout. He looked at the grass in his yard, hopped of the table and then ran inside the house.

Aiden clambered down the basement stairs and ran up to his mother in her familiar blue dress, who was doing laundry. He hopped up onto the dryer and asked, "What does dilute mean Mom?"

His mother stopped, pulled off her long yellow gloves and stroked the young cherubs face and said, "Well, my love, it means to add water to make something thinner, why?"

The little boy's face lit up and he said, "Aw, no reason. I love you Mom!" Then he hopped off the dryer and ran up the stairs to the back door. He beelined for Mr. Green Jeans water spout. His little hands unscrewed the metal lid to the orange fertilizer can and sloppily let the liquid pour into the opening of the sprinkle bucket. Some of the fluid splashed onto the ground missing the plastic container He filled it almost to full and put the can down. He carried the sprinkle bucket carefully back to his backyard and placed it under the spicket on his back patio and turned on the water. The pressure of the water coming out caused the container to fall over and spill its' contents onto the cement patio. "Oh no!" Aiden exclaimed as the liquid ran down the length of the patio and emptied onto the grass. The liquid was red in color and so it looked like a very nasty mess. Aiden ran to the hose, hurriedly attached it to the spicket and sprayed the patio clean of all the red liquid. He had cleaned it off well and was happy he would not be in trouble for the mess. He looked around for witnesses and saw his sister by the corner of the house, she was chewing on power-man's foot! "NO! he yelled, dropping the hose forgetting to turn it off. Izabella saw him coming so she ran happily around the corner. She loved being chased, Aiden ran after her and her blue eyes beamed as she laughed. Again she rounded the corner to the front of the house with Aiden close behind, she was running so fast and having so much fun that she dropped the toy, forgetting that that was why she was being chased. Aiden stopped to pick up the toy and inspect it. "You're okay Power-Man, I've got you." He gave his sister a snarl, who was disappointed the chase was over.

"Aiden, Izabella!" Their mother called, "It's time to come in!" They both headed in the front door to smell dinner cooking. "Go clean up kids and get up to the table!" The sounds of silverware and dishes clanging came from the kitchen.

At dinner they all sat around the table but one chair was empty. Aiden asked, "Mom, Where's dad?"

"Well Daddy had to stay late for a meeting with some new clients about closing a deal." She scooped mashed potatoes on each of their plates, "Let's all hope Daddy has good luck today!" After she finished serving all the food, they all sat down and then the front door opened, it was..

"Daddy!" all three exclaimed. Each of them began saying their own thing, the room was suddenly filled with chatter.

"Hold on now everybody!" The room calmed, "I am home early because I closed the deal and I'm gonna take all of you away for the weekend to the Wolfhound Lodge!" The family cheered together as they always go to the Lodge whenever Daddy closes a deal. Daddy sat down and they all finished dinner chatting with excitement. Aiden thought of how he would go swimming in the lake, swing from the rope swing and climb up to that point where you can make and hear echoes.

That night Aiden went to bed thinking of all the fun things he would do at Wolfhound Lodge all weekend. "Campfires, fishing, climbing, swimming, marshmallows, mom and dad quiet and still, scary stories..." Aiden fell asleep with a smile as beautiful as any.

Untitled - Chapter One - Aiden and the Lions