Big Poppa

15.



“Gentlemen! If you would be so kind… Gather here, please. You too, Poppa.” Chapman had come out of his office, and was now standing in the middle of the garage, looking excited. “Thank you. Now I have your attention… Friday we’ll have our annual barbeque, as you may all remember.”



There were groans from the audience, including from Poppa. It didn’t seem to affect Chapman’s mood. “I hear you all remembered, and are looking forward to it,” he grinned. “So bring clean clothes, your best smile, and tell your ladies to come here at six. Alright? Any questions?”



“Yeah, what about those who have no ladies to bring over?” Mark glanced at Poppa and Delwyn as he spoke. Delwyn wondered if he meant anything by it.



“They can bring their best lady-friends,” shrugged Chapman. “Like we do each year. I don’t want all men’s talk, and the dames should meet at least once a year.”



“Last year Big Poppa didn’t bring anybody…”



“This year, he will. Won’t you, Poppa?”



The big mechanic stared at his boss, his lip pulled up in a disgusted expression. “No,” he said. “Why would I? I have no lady-friends. I’ll go with Delwyn, and that’s the end of it.”



“Poppa…” Chapman sighed, and walked to his best worker. He put a hand on his shoulder in a dramatic gesture, and looked up at him, shaking his head. “It’s time you meet someone,” he said sincerely. “Maybe Delwyn can bring two ladies! Do you know women, Delwyn?”



“Plenty,” shrugged the blonde. “But I’m not going to hook them up, thank you very much; I’d like to live another day.”



“No women.” Poppa brushed the hand off his shoulder as if it was a fly. “Delwyn and I will be together. Anything else?”



“Aww… He would look cute in a dress!”



Delwyn stepped in front of Poppa when there were one or two soft sniggers. No one thought it was funny, really, but they didn’t want to let Mark down either. “I bet I will,” he smiled sweetly. “And then you’d have a hard time staying away from me, hm?”



“I’m not gay!” Mark broadened himself, trying to impress the blonde. It was difficult, with such a large man behind his opponent.



“Well…” One of the other mechanics scratched his head, and looked furtively at Mark. “I did find two used rubbers in the bin, this morning…”



Everybody uttered sounds of disgust, and Delwyn tried to keep his face straight.



“And I know Poppa found a jar of anal lube in the stockroom, when he was showing Delwyn around… So I don’t know, Mark… You’ve been off the floor an awful lot, lately…”



“What?!” Mark stared at his colleague, and tried to find backup from the others. Everybody stepped back though. “What do you mean, I was off the floor! Those two were of the floor together, yesterday! Poppa found lube? And there were rubbers in the bin? Hello-o! Am I the only one finding that suspicious?”



The men mumbled, and shrugged. “Yes,” said the spokesman, also with a shrug. Delwyn tried to keep himself from pressing his back against Poppa, or better, from hiding behind him. Even Chapman began to interfere.



“What have you been doing in the storage room all the time, Mark?” he asked thoughtfully. “I must admit you’ve been in there very often… And you’re here in the weekends, I’ve been told.”



“I wasn’t having sex!” Mark stamped his feet in despair. “Aren’t you listening? Are you deaf? Delwyn got out all sweaty yesterday! Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it? Are you blind as well as deaf?”



“Well, I didn’t notice… Did anybody?” No one had noticed. “I wonder who was with you, there. No one else is off the floor as often as you…”



“Maybe he has a prisoner locked up at the back!”

“A slave in a cage…”



Even Poppa chuckled at the thought, but he didn’t say anything. Delwyn was feeling sorry for the desperate man in the middle of the crowd, and wondered what he could do to make them stop. “Poppa tried to show me everything,” he tried. “No slaves, I’m afraid…”



Mark jerked towards him, and pointed with a trembling finger. “You—”



“Maybe you could explain us what you’ve been doing,” interrupted Chapman calmly. “I have to say, it’s a bit suspicious, now I think of it… When was the last time we inventoried?”



Since Delwyn was looking at Mark, he saw how the man went all pale. Oh dear. So that was the problem…



“It’s been a while…” continued the boss. “We could do it today, as we’re pretty much done with the projects. Any volunteers?”



There were plenty volunteers. About every man in the garage raised his hand. Mark paled some more, and took a step back. “What does that have to do with used condoms and lube?” he asked.



It was no use anymore. “Nothing,” said Chapman. “But it may have to do with your future. Poppa, please keep an eye on him, and we’ll see what’s he been stealing all the time.”



“My pleasure and duty, John…” Poppa walked leisurely to the door, dragging a chair behind him. Mark would have to jump through a window if he wanted to get out now.



Delwyn didn’t join in the stockroom, and took a seat at a distance. With every mechanic out of earshot, he sighed softly. “You brought it onto yourself, Mark,” he said. “Crime doesn’t pay…”



“Shut up, you faggot,” growled Mark. “We all know it was you with Poppa, yesterday.” He glanced at Poppa, but the big man didn’t respond. “Just… shut up.”



After hours –Delwyn had made fresh coffee for Poppa; Mark didn’t want anything– Chapman returned with his men behind him. They were all remarkably quiet, noticed Delwyn. He made sure he stayed in the shadows.



“Well. That was it, then. Poppa, if you would be so kind to let our ex-coworker out… You’re fired, Mr. Williams. I’ll file a report against you with all the items we’re missing.”



“Can’t he just return them…?” Delwyn decided he would step up after all. It was he who brought this onto the man…



“Oh, he will return every piece,” nodded Chapman. “Don’t you worry, lad. But I’ll report it to the police anyway. Let him out, Poppa…”



Mark left without protesting, but he gave Delwyn a hard glare as he walked out. The youth realized he had a new enemy now. And he hadn’t done anything. At least, nothing which could have caused this.



“There’s still the mystery of the condoms and lube in Poppa’s hand,” reminded the mechanic who’d mentioned it earlier. “Are you going to do anything about that?”



“No.” Chapman turned away, but Delwyn would’ve sworn he gave Poppa a wink first. Or at least an understanding smile. “Some mysteries will always be unexplained. Carry on, lads… I bet we have homes to attend to. I have to go to the police with our stock list.”



“It’s unfair,” whispered Delwyn when he was alone with his lover. “Isn’t it?”



“What is? The fact Mark has been fired because he has systematically stolen goods? I don’t think so, love. And no one else will be blamed about the, eh… found items.”



“Chapman knows about us now, doesn’t he?” Delwyn fretted about it, looking up at Poppa with pleading eyes. “Will we –or I– be in trouble?”



“Chapman is as blind as a bat,” shrugged Poppa. “Don’t worry about it. It won’t be mentioned again.”



Delwyn wasn’t so sure about that. Somehow, he had the feeling a lot would be mentioned next Friday, at that barbeque. There would be women around. And women noticed things, far faster than any man would ever notice. And they would talk… “If you say so… Wanna grab a bite, somewhere?”



“Now we’re talking! We’ll get my car. Then I can take you home later. I still have that one unused condom burning in my pocket.”



Delwyn rolled his eyes. Poppa would always be that insatiable beast… And he wasn’t complaining.



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