Page 61 of Pooh

“You’re very welcome. See you soon.”

Me: I’m going to be late. NH may have an intake.

Pooh: Need help?

Me: I don’t think so. I’ll call if I do. Sorry about dinner.

Pooh: Don’t worry about it. Ava will understand.

Me: Is Craig doing okay?

Pooh: Yeah. Bring a change of clothes for him. Don’t ask why.

Me: Not asking! Cyl

Pooh

About an hour earlier…

It’s been a good day. I’m currently enjoying a beer in the clubhouse with a few of my brothers, swapping bullshit and stories. Ava has the whole clubhouse smelling amazing and my mouth is watering for whatever it is she’s cooking. Axel is strutting around, proud and happy as hell. Craig is outside playing with Gee, Loki, Mac and Bella. Duffy has found Vex snoozing on the couch and has planted his considerably large ass on Vex’s stomach and is purring loud enough I can hear it at the bar. Pippa should be here soon. My day can’t really get much better than this. And just by thinking that thought, I jinx everything.

“I think that if you…” Petey trails off mid-sentence. His head swivels and I see a strange look on his face.

“Petey? What’s the…” I start and then stop suddenly when the smell hits my nose.

“What the fuck is that smell?” asks Trigger while wrinkling his nose.

“Jesus Christ, Reno! Did you just shit yourself?” hollers Axel as he starts backing away.

Chubs pushes his full plate of snacks away from him and buries his nose in his shirt sleeve. You know the smell is bad if it causes Chubs to push food away.

Gunner strolls into the room and comes to a sudden stop. The smell is getting worse instead of fading.

“Did somebody die in here?” he asks while cupping his hand over his nose and mouth.

Ava comes through the door that connects the kitchen to the main room and instantly covers her mouth and nose, eyes watering.

“What the hell?” she mutters.

At that moment, I spot Craig standing near the end of the bar, munching on pretzels he’s sharing with Gee. Craig is covered in mud from head to toe. I can barely make out his eyes through the grime.

“I’m so sorry, Pooh! I just ran into the house to get us drink boxes! I was only gone a couple of minutes and when I came back out, he stunk!” exclaims Bella, from the doorway, that she, Loki and Mac are standing in. Smart kid, dog and bird because at least they are getting some fresh air.

“It’s Craig that’s stinking up the place?” Axel asks. “Jesus, kid, you reek like hell!”

“Not nice, Axel! I don’t tell you that you stink!” shouts Craig.

“I don’t stink!” returns Axel.

“Do too, swamp ass!”

“Do not!”

“Miss Ava, do you have any more pretzels?” Craig asks completely unconcerned with the smell rolling off of him and deciding not to argue with Axel anymore.

“Craig, what do you have all over yourself?” I ask while keeping my distance.

“Don’t know.”

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