What Happens on the Cruise

87. Children, Go Where I Send Thee

"Hi, guys!" Adam greeted.

"Hey, man! Where's Rob and Chris?" Austin asked.

"They were further back in the plane. Got the new leg on, I see."

"Yeah. Got my boots modified so I can wear them with the prosthetic."

"One crutch?"

"Still a little wobbly," Austin admitted. "How's Ericha? You nervous about leaving her?"

"She's doing good. I am nervous, yeah. But we've got a live-in assistant hired for her, and of course we've got Leigh, so she's been pretty adamant that I get out of her hair for a couple days."

"Wow, your little family's sure growing."

"Not exactly the way we'd planned. So where's Tim?"

"Parking the car. We got here late, so he let me off to meet you."

"Oh. Here I figured it would be the other way around." Austin gave him a weird look. "I'm missing something, aren't I?"

"Dude, I can't drive. My right leg was my driving leg, and I can't feel the pedals through the prosthetic."

"Damn. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."

"Hey, buddy!" Rob called.

"It's okay," Austin assured Adam, then smiled at Rob and Chris. "Hey, guys! Tim's parking the car. Have you got stuff at baggage claim?" All three nodded. "All right. I'll text him to meet us there."

***

"Okay, I am never getting used to that," Rob said, pizza halfway to his mouth, as Austin pulled his prosthetic off with a sigh and set it next to the couch.

"Sorry, I'm still breaking it in," Austin explained. "It doesn't bother you, does it?"

"Doesn't bother me," Chris answered.

Adam shrugged. "I'm getting used to a lot of new things lately."

"Yeah," Rob replied. "It doesn't bother me, I'd just forgotten for a minute. It's not every day you see a guy casually pull his leg in half."

"Well, it will be everyday when we start touring, 'cause I'm probably not wearing it all the time on the bus."

"I can see the first time the bus makes a sudden stop," Chris said.

"Austin's going to start kicking ass at a distance," Tim joked, coming back into the living room where they were having a casual dinner. He handed Austin a glass of water and plate of soft foods, then pulled cans of beer from his pockets and distributed them to the others.

"That's me. Kickin' ass and takin' names."

***

"And there they all are!" Kenny Rogers exclaimed as they walked into the studio.

"So good to meet you," Chris said, extending a hand. "Thank you so much for rescheduling this recording."

"It's no problem. You boys have been through the ringer it sounds like."

"Well some of us have. I'm Chris Rupp, the artistic director and baritone. This is my brother Adam, beatboxer. Rob Lundquist, lead tenor. Tim Foust, our bass, and his husband, Austin, high tenor."

"Good to meet you all. That's a mighty fine walking stick you got there, Austin. Leg still not healed?"

Austin leaned over and knocked on the side of his leg. "Not used to the prosthetic yet. But I think I'll be okay without the cane for the video recording."