Enticing An Angel by Leo Charles Taylor Page B

rapid movement of his brother's shoulders and the
hand over his mouth that the man was about to bust a gut.
    Michael turned to his other brothers and they
both appeared amused. He was pleased that Joshua was being
entertained, but he was not so sure he liked the reasoning. Turning
back to his mother, he could see that the head of the household was
unhappy.
    "All right, boys. That's enough," she
said.
    Nathan ignored his mother.
    "So, Melanie, is he any good?" Nathan
asked.
    "I'm still grading him," she replied as she
eyed her roll and began to spread butter on it.
    Joshua gave an honest chuckle, smiled, and
looked at Michael as he spoke. "Well let me know how he does.
Michael's always checking on my grades. If he slacks off, I'll make
sure he works harder for you."
    Melanie stopped spreading her butter and
looked to Joshua. He actually turned to her as well and kept his
smile in place.
    "All right, Joshua, for your birthday present
I'll keep you informed," Melanie said with a smile that spoke of
innocence.
    Michael could hear Brian laughing in the
kitchen; the man obviously found the conversation too amusing to be
able to contain himself at the table.
    "I said enough," their mother said. "This is
not appropriate conversation for dinner."
    "Come on, Mom," Nathan said as he sat back
and smiled to his mother. "You brought it up."
    "Yeah," Joshua agreed with his brother.
"Besides, it's not like we're talking about analingus."
    "Ooh, Michael loves that," Melanie chimed in
loudly and with an eager face.
    The kitchen door to the garage opened quickly
and before it shut, Brian could be heard laughing hysterically as
he exited the house.
    "That's enough!" their mother said loudly as
her hand slapped the table. "I will not have this talk at my
table!"
    The boys quieted quickly and Michael heard a
couple of "Sorry, Mom's" and one barely audible but ever so cute
"Sorry, Mrs. Angel."
    Once again, Michael felt like he should be
embarrassed, but as he looked at Melanie, with her head hung down
in shame, his hand went to his mouth and he covered a wide grin. He
looked over to his mother who only glared at him. Michael chuckled
and stared back at her. He didn’t care what she thought. She had
started this conversation, and if she didn't like where it ended,
then tough.
    Matters only became worse for Mrs. Angel when
Katherine, who was confused by the actions of the grownups, asked a
curious question. She was seated in between Melanie and her father,
and her nose scrunched with confusion.
    "What's anlulla nus?" she asked.
    Nathan smiled and bent down to her. "That's
an old friend of the Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street," he
said.
    "Oh," she said knowingly, and everyone at the
table laughed; all except for Mrs. Angel who rolled her eyes at her
entire family.
     
     
    "I'll admit that she's nice," Joshua said as
he watched Melanie being chased across the front yard by his niece
and nephew.
    "Thanks, Josh," Michael replied.
    Michael and Melanie were making ready to
leave, but the kids insisted on one quick game of tag before
leaving. Joshua had taken the opportunity to give his tacit
approval of the relationship, and Michael knew how difficult that
was for the man.
    "Anyway," Joshua said. "Thanks for the
present and thanks for the support with school."
    "Hey, you’re my kid brother, it's what I do,"
Michael replied.
    Joshua shook his head, gave Michael a hug and
headed for the front door.
    "Josh," Michael said and his brother turned
around. "Are you ever going to forgive us?" Michael asked.
    "For what?" Joshua asked curiously.
    "Being right," Michael replied coldly.
    Anger flashed across Joshua's face and his
jaw set. He didn't reply to the comment, he just turned around and
headed for the front door.
    "Nice going, Moron," Brian said.
    Michael turned at the words and located his
brother leaning against the open garage frame with a beer in his
hand.
    "Couldn't leave fucking well enough alone
could you?" Brian asked, and then took a sip of