GirlySmile wanted to write a Spider-Man centered story, and asked me if she could compile some of the scenes of my previous stories as an initial setup for her series, and if I could help her write the final text.
At first, I was reluctant, but, in time, I grew fond of the refactoring idea. By using the best elements of some already publish texts, it was possible to polish it further. Those who read my other stories will recognize some of the passages, but rest assured that the following chapters will contain all new scenes and some new twists.
***
The middle of summer, tradition holds, is a good time for a company trip; at least John Jonah Jameson, the publisher of the Daily Bugle, likes to think so. Not that he is interested in creating a bound with the employees, nor building a better work environment, he simply couldn't care less.
The main motivation for the annual endeavor was to avoid additional stress-related health costs. Human resources told him it was a good idea and J.J. didn't even argue. "A penny spent is a dollar saved... or whatever!" was all he had to say on the matter.
Year after year, he announced that the event would have a different approach, with lots of possibilities, and promised that the whole thing would be a unique experience. Truth was nothing ever changed, and all the employees were stuck to the trip tradition: marathon drives, arguments, shouting, and lousy music all along the way.
Obviously, the compulsory occasion had always bothered most of the staff, including Peter Parker. Mostly, the forced isolation affected his alter-ego activities. At first, it seemed like a good idea, taking a yearly vacation from his Spider-Man duties. However, the event soon proved to be one of J.J.'s lame attempts of money saving, which led to more trouble than it intended to solve in the first place.
It didn't help the fact that he had to cope with every male employee ogling at his supermodel wife, Mary Jane Watson Parker. Not that he was the suspicious or the excessively jealous type. It's just that he couldn't even relax and have a good time with the love of his live, without some dude prying into their affairs with a "trying-to-bond" excuse.
Peter couldn't blame them, MJ was a revelation to behold; not only had she turned a lot of heads with her long red hair, delicate and beautiful face, perky 36D breasts, slim waist and a perfect nice and round behind, but she had always been completely dedicated to their relation and faithful.
She kept herself in shape by long strenuous bike rides, and daily laps in the pool. Also, she was very successful in her professional career, which is not much of a surprise, since she had always been very intelligent and centered.
According to Jameson, though, the event was not couple oriented, but officially a "father-son journey", which sounded ominous, but it really wasn't as sentimental as it sounded. He had a tendency to reminisce often; every employee had a personal connection to him (or so he'd like them to think). The fact alone was more of a minor annoyance than a genuine irritant, though.
It was keeping in line with the sentimental father-son bonding idea, which, if that was what one was looking for in a company trip story, could consider it nice. Even if it was not, JJ was sharp, knowledgeable, and witty, although cranky. Embracing some of the proposed nostalgia could actually feel good.
Also, sitting in a cramped bus was not the idea of an ideal vacation; it was the most heard complaint. Jameson made a publicity deal, so the Bugle would have rides totally redesigned as lounge on wheels. Pillows, couches and the seating could be transformed into "bus beds" so anyone could catch some shuteye while they cruised on to their destination. Looked like the old man was keeping his promise this time.
The year's choice was a small, somewhat isolated resort in Long Beach, a city in Nassau County, New York on a barrier island off the South Shore of Long Island. The main motivation was finding a place large enough to accommodate the staff and provide some additional options, like the beach, but not overly huge, so everyone would be scattered around, on their own individual vacation.
Long Beach was still a small city, but it attracted a fair number of tourists, also being a well established place on the backpacker trail. Many visit for the numerous art and craft shops and tailors, who produce made-to-measure clothes for a fraction of the market price. Several Internet cafés, bars and restaurants had opened along the shore.
Unable to avoid the inevitable, Peter packed up about a week earlier. It helped building the psychological strength needed to endure what he considered an awful task. At the schedule date, he took a deep breath, and, along with his wife, marched towards the virtual ordeal. They were supposed to take the fancy bus at the Bugle headquarters, and travel to the proposed getaway from there.
***
Surprisingly enough, the going trip wasn't all that bad. Joe "Robbie" Robertson, a long time friend of the couple, and editor-in-chief at the Bugle, happened to sit next to them, and they chatted along the way. It was a smooth ride, and the sightseeing was very pleasant.
The staff boarded off the bus and gathered their stuff. They went inside and checked in for the week. The resort had similar cabin-like rooms for everyone, which helped set a bucolic mood. JJ figured that if they were going to be staying a week, it would be nice if they were "neighbors"; they would have to settle their eventual differences and that could actually improve work productivity. After a brief introduction to the place, the team had everything unpacked and they were settling into their rooms.
The lodge wasn't very big, but it was sort of comfy, and Peter was reconsidering giving a chance to those annual trips. They decided to go for a walk, to get acquainted to the place; there seemed to have a lot of work put behind the event, and maybe he could actually enjoy the company of his wife and friends.
That thought started to fade away when he bumped into someone on his way out. Unfortunately for Peter, it was none other than Nick Katzenberg, obnoxious photographer and rival. He stared for a moment at the awful man in front of him; in his late forties, nature had not been kind to Nick. Only a miniscule amount of hair remained on his head. In fact, it looked like he had more hair in his nose and ears than on his sweating head. Not to mention he was extremely overweight. The expression 'morbid obesity' did come to mind.
He was with a very pale and skinny looking teenager, about as short as Katzenberg himself. It was almost comical, actually. The kid was the extreme opposite of Nick, and he looked like a lost puppy, following the fat man around.
"Parker!" Katzenberg greeted him, while openly eyeballing Mary Jane's cleavage.
"What the hell are you doing here, Katzenberg?" Peter pouted, as his wife stood behind him, in order to avoid the bastard's glare.
"Haven't you heard?" Katzenberg tried to make fun of Peter. "Old Jameson wants a father-son bounding party this year."
