with thy name

Max popped in for a bit at Bex's with some leftovers from Mrs. Wilson's. He could only take so much of her chicken and rice casserole.

"I thought maybe you two could use some," he just said knowing they both had to be off somewhere else besides home. "It keeps really well."

"Sure," Bex poured him some coffee and sat down for a bit while Oliver was racing around waiting for his shirt to de-wrinkle in the dryer.

"So what's up?" Bex looked at him as if she knew this had nothing to do with leftovers.

"How well do you know this Chris?"

"Dayton's best friend?" Bex looked at him with a slight smirk. "Just what do you have in mind? Are you planning on saving him or something?"

"Just from Dayton." Max shrugged.

"Well, I'm pretty sure Dayton's got Chris wrapped around his finger. When he says jump. Chris always jumps. He's always getting Dayton out of tight spot."

"I see. So he's loyal. Faithful. That kind of thing?"

"Well, I don't know if he's made a religion out of Dayton or not, but they're tight. Not sure why. But they work together. I'd think Chris was wiser of the two. He's older. Like twenty-four, I guess. Maybe he loves Dayton like a little brother, you know. But Chris' got plenty of little brothers and I never see him hanging around any of them. He is kind of loner." She drank her coffee then and spread jam on an English muffin and practically force fed Oliver. "He always forgets breakfast. Its the most important meal of the day." Bex sighed. And with that, and Oliver's fresh shirt buttoned up and sweater on, they were getting ready to get out the door.

"Thanks sis," Max just nodded. "I'll clean up, OK?"

"Thanks," She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and she and Oliver were out the door.

Max clamped his hands together then. He was going to pray. Pray fierce that he could somehow save Chris from Dayton through the lord's help, naturally. Max just didn't know how. How could he make him see there was a life worth living without Dayton.