This is a work of pure fiction, but based on the author's feelings, beliefs, and in some cases, experience. Come to think of it -- it might not be very pure either! There may be graphic sexual encounters at times between men, so if this offends you, you are invited to retreat. If you are too young or it is otherwise illegal for you to be reading this kind if story, shame on you for reading it - - please stop here. If not, - - ENJOY!
Cast of characters:
Ben Hastings -- That's me!
Bill "Bubba" Hastings -- My Dad
Veronica Hastings -- My Mom.
Reyna -- My Best Friend
Ranj Kumar-- Another friend
Jared -- A football whore.
Sargeant Shipley -- High School Friend
Rex Majors -- Ranj's roommate.
Everett Majors - Rex's younger brother
Mick and Mack Majors - The twins
Kirby and Wyatt -- the youngest Majors
From Chapter 21:
When we landed, and came down to the baggage area at LAX, my dad was waiting there for us. There were lots of people gathering to pick up their bags, but one young guy stuck out. He was smallish, but very striking in his appearance, with creamy white skin and coal black hair. He had on denim cargo pants, with a light blue ribbed tee, showing a not-too buff, but nicely shaped torso.
He seemed to smile for a moment when he saw me, but then he looked past me and kept staring at Everett. Then I noticed Everett staring back. He had one of those familiar looking faces. I was beginning to wonder if maybe he and Everett knew each other from somewhere, when my dad said, "Aren't you gonna introduce Everett to Jared?"
I did a double-take on him and then said, "No WAY! Is it really you, Jared?" Then he grinned full face, and I could see -- it IS Jared! "WOW! You look GREAT!" Jared beamed even more. "My mom's cooking must have agreed with you!"
He bobbed his head, and said, "That, and your dad." Jared looked lovingly up at my dad, who also looked very pleased. "Ben, I never had anyone who cared for me before." He hugged me and whispered, "Thank you for bringing me home. I didn't know what a family was really like." He pulled away, then turned to Everett. "And this must be the big brother I've heard so much about!"
Everett and Jared stood for a prolonged moment, ensnared in one another's gaze. They didn't say anything, but both their countenances said, "Wow!"
I was mesmerized for a moment by the show they were putting on. Finally I snapped out of it. "Oh! Yeah! Jared, this is my friend, Everett."
Jared didn't say anything, but Everett finally said, dreamily, "I know."
Chapter 22:
Funny how I immediately felt jealous! Less than 2 hours earlier, I was trying to think of a way to "break it to HIM gently".
We got home and my mom was beaming when we all walked in the door. She gave Jared a warm hug -- because he walked in first. Then she almost devoured me. "Hey!" I said, "I have only been gone less than two weeks."
"I didn't know that!" She said. "As far as I knew, when you left, you were gone indefinitely. So -- are you back to stay?"
"(Sigh!) I'm afraid so."
"And who is this nice looking boy behind you?"
"This is Everett." I said. "Ev, meet my mom."
"And you may as well call me Mom! All your brothers do!" My mom seemed very pleased to all of a sudden have so many sons. I had to wonder how Mom and Dad were managing to feed 4 extra mouths -- now increased to six! A month ago they were childless - - they thought!
Everett was almost hiding behind me. When I looked at him, he all of a sudden realized what he had done and he got a terribly guilty look. Too many things were happening at once, I guess, he forgot my mom and started to say something to me -- I'll never know what. "So nice to have you here, Everett!" Said my mom quickly, looking between Everett and me, THINKING she understood something.
Everett almost jumped away from me. That hurt!
I am amazed at the confusion in my own subconscious. Everett looked around almost wildly for some safety. He found it: His twin brothers appeared as if they were joined at the hip. Everett ran to them and hugged them both as if he had not really just seen them two weeks ago. Then his two youngest brothers came and hugged him too. I'm sure they were sad and confused to be yanked out of their environment.
"What are your plans now, Ben?" Asked my mom.
"I really haven't had time to think that far. Maybe I'll try for a job where Jared works or something like that until I figure a few things out."
"Maybe you could try for UCLA. If I could get in there, you could!" Said Jared. "We could ride together!" he added then, "Hey, where are you going in the fall, Ev?" He said as if he was Everett's bosom buddy.
Am I just a little on edge or what?
What was even more confusing was, Everett seemingly ignored both Jared and me over the next few hours until bed time. Jared said goodbye and went home -- or at least to his parents house. He obviously felt more at home at our house.
"Mick and Mack (the twins) are in the den, and Kirby and Wyatt are in the room next to us." My mom said. "I saved your bedroom, so I guess you and Everett will have to sleep in there."
Goody!
"I'll put the little boys to bed, if it's okay, Mrs. Majors."
"You can call me Mom if you want." She said.
"If it's all the same, I have a mom, ma'am." Said Everett. "But -- can I call you -- what's your first name?"
"Oh! I'd love that! It's Veronica. You can call me Ronnie if you like."
Everett hugged Mom and said, "Thanks Ronnie - - Mr. Majors."
Everett looked awkward after hugging mom and then speaking to Dad. Dad stepped up and hugged him. "Welcome, Everett. Call me `Bubba'."
Everett grinned nervously. When we got into my bedroom, he said, "That was awkward."
"What?" I said.
"Hugging your dad. My body was feeling like I should expect him to come to my bed soon. But I know he's not that way."
"Not all men are like that, Ev. Very few are!"
"Your friend Jared is pretty cute, huh?"
"You noticed?" I said, trying not to sound jealous.
"How could I not. Now I know why you have been kind of cold to me."
"Wha -- at?" I said.
"I didn't know what to expect, Ben. Out of the blue there was this cute boy that I didn't expect to see and then you were hugging him like you couldn't get enough. I have to admit, I was definitely blown away at first by him."
"Only at first?" I said.
"I still think he's cute. But no more so than you, and you have one advantage."
"What's that?" I stepped into that without as much as a thought!
"Duh! I LOVE you!"
"Oh." I said, taken by surprise for the umpteenth time today.
"What does that mean?"
"Huh?"
"That's about the third time you have said `Oh' to me. I can't quite figure out what you mean by it."
"Well -- uh -- in the first place, I don't have anything going with Jared -- at all. And besides that,"
Oh, please God, give me the right words to say!
"and besides that, I've been having the most confusing feelings I've ever felt, since we came into the L.A. Airport."
"Oh. What -- I mean -- can you explain them to me?"
"Probably not. Ev, I -- geez this is hard -- I just think you're too young. Hell, I think I'M too young -- to have a forever relationship with anyone."
"Who said anything about forever?"
"You have told me -- several times now -- that you love me. I'm -- I mean -- I just am not ready for that -- I think."
"You said you loved Ranj."
"Yeah, and I still do. But he and I have more than a week of history with each other. I'm still not over him, Ev. I really like you -- a lot! But -- and -- I have to admit, when I saw you looking all googly-eyed at Jard, I was -- jealous!"
"Gooly-eyed? What??!! I wasn't -- wait a minute! Did you say you were jealous?"
"Yes. I was. I was trying to think of a way to tell you that I don't love you, when -- I mean I DO love you, but -- just not that way, I mean -- Shit! This is so hard! I love you, Ev. I do! But it's more like -- I really like you and -- I love you as a friend, and -- I was so surprised that I felt jealousy when I seemed to notice you and Jared obviously eyeing each other. It's so confusing!"
"Now THAT I can understand, Ben. Ben, I guess I love you too -- as a friend. But there's something more. We have -- done things -- that `just friends' don't normally do."
"I know, and I'm sorry for that."
"Don't be! Ben, I'm not sorry. I loved doing what we did. I want -- I want -- Ben, I just want you to be my boyfriend. That's all."
"That would be very awkward. Living with my parents -- in the same room."
"We don't have to tell them -- or anyone. We can just - "
"Ev, my parents aren't stupid."
"What can we do? Ben, I want you. I dunno if it's a forever want, but -- I want to find out."
"I don't know what to say." I said after a long pause.
"Say you'll be my boyfriend."
"We'll have to find a different way to sleep. I can't lie to my parents. You'll have to maybe sleep with your brothers. And another thing. You said you're almost 18. When will you be 18?"
"In August." He said.
"August what?"
"11th."
"Nuh-uh! I exclaimed.
"Yeah-huh! Why?"
"That's the day I will be 21!!"
"Nuh-uh!"
"Ha-ha! See?"
"Well, we'd never have to worry about forgetting each other's birthday!"
"If we were women that might be important -- right?" I laughed.
"Huh?"
"Never mind. Let's see about getting separate rooms."
"Does that mean you want to be my boyfriend?" He grinned.
"Yup!" I said, and picked him up and swung him around before kissing him.
"Why -- why are you crying, Ben?"
"I dunno. I can't help it. I think this is the first time I've felt happy and at peace since -- since before I went to North Carolina. Since before that, really. O my God, I'm sorry!" I said. And I overflowed for apparently no reason. "Ev, it's not you. I mean it IS you that has made me happy. But it's not you that's making me cry." I smiled. "I guess I didn't realize the tension I was under. It's like it's all gone!" I laughed through my tears.
Everett hugged me close and wiped my eyes. "You see? This is why I love you!" He said. You're a geek -- just like me!"
KNOCK KNOCK! "Boys?" Said my mom. "I know it's kinda late, but are you hungry? I don't think they serve growing boy food on those planes."
I opened the door. "I just noticed that I am starved!" I said. My mom looked at my face.
"What's wrong dear?" She said.
Oops, I forgot my eyes were still all red from crying.
"Mom, I -- I mean -- we -- I mean -- Ev and me -- er -- Eve and I -- can't stay in the same room."
"Oh." She said, but there was a definite "why" in that one word.
"Mom, we're kinda -- I mean -- SHIT! Ooops! Sorry Mom." I turned red and was flustered. "Ev and I are boyfriends, Mom!"
"Oh!"
"I can stay with my little brothers, Mrs. -- I mean, Ronnie."
"The twins?" She said.
"No, Kirby and Wyatt."
"You know, that's not a bad idea. They cry every night for their momma. Maybe you can make them feel better."
"I surely can, Ma'am." Everett smiled and shot me a delighted look. Ev took his suitcase over to the other room, leaving me with Mom.
"He's a cute boy, Ben. Kinda young - ?" She frown-smiled.
"Yeah. But so am I!" I said. He'll be 18 on August 11th."
"Oh! My! That's convenient!"
"Yeah! I grinned.
"What would you like for supper?" She asked.
Anything you fix would be great. One thing I really missed was my mom's cooking!"
"I have some leftover stuffed green peppers. Do you think Everett would like them?"
Ev was coming back toward my room. "You like stuffed green peppers?" I asked.
"Love em! My mom makes em -- well, made `em -- all the time."
Mom put out the food and went to bed. The twins came out and ate with us. They were quite shy, preferring to only communicate with each other until,
"Hey Mick -- Mack! Don't be rude! This is my friend, Ben. Say hi!"
"Hi Ben." Said one of them. (They were identical. I couldn't tell the difference yet!)
"Thanks for - "
" - letting us - "
" - stay here." They spoke alternately.
"Thank my parents." I said. "But welcome anyway."
"Rex said this was - "
" - your idea."
"Uh, yeah, I guess it was." I said.
"And you two are - "
" - staying together?" They said,
"Nope. I'm staying in the boys room." Said Everett.
"OH!" both twins said together, smiling.
"Ben and I are boyfriends."
"Oh." They said, their smiles disappearing.
"Then I guess you won't be - "
Before the other twin could finish, Ev said, "No, I won't."
The twins glared at me.
"Oh stop, you two!" Said Everett. "You have each other! Right?"
They looked at each other and reluctantly said, "Yeah." Obviously they were disappointed that their brother would not be joining them any more.
Mick and Mack were a very young 15. They disappeared back into their shells the rest of the meal. When they left the table for their room, Everett pointedly said,, "G'night, guys!"
"G'night." They threw back over their shoulders.
I guess I didn't make a very good impression on Mick and Mack.
After cleaning up the kitchen, Everett followed me back to my room. He closed the door behind him and wrapped himself around me. After a long, deep kiss, he said, "when are we going to be able to - "
"Don't worry, Ev. We'll figure it out." I didn't express my other concern to him.
Everett went to his bedroom -- with the little boys. I undressed and put on a clean sleep short and climbed deep into my sheets. I thought about the events of the long day. How our lives had all changed! I couldn't sleep. I went and knocked on my parents door.
"Yes?" My dad said. "Come in whoever it is."
"I couldn't sleep." I said, knowing I probably interrupted their sleep as well.
"Why, son?" My dad said. "You mother told me the good decision that you and Everett made. Why can't you sleep?"
"Dad, it seemed like a sacrifice when you helped me go back east. Now you act like it's no big deal that you have 5 more mouths to feed."
"Oh, that's what's worrying you, is it." Said my dad. "Well, thank you for being concerned.
My mom chuckled. "The county in Texas where the boys are from is helping quite a bit." She said.
"And I got a substantial raise, Ben. We didn't plan to spend our retirement this way, but - "
"What?" I exclaimed. Whattaya mean, retirement?"
"We got a settlement from that accident we had when you were 13. We were wondering what we were going to do when we got the call from you. That made up our minds for us."
"You're giving up your retirement to take care of five boys you don't know?" I said.
"No, not giving it up. Just changing the course of it for awhile." Mom said. "Honey, your grades weren't good enough to get a scholarship, but I think we can help you with tuition for a university, now." My dad nodded.
"Maybe, as Jared said, you can go to UCLA with him." Noticing my lack of enthusiasm, he asked, "What else is bothering you, Ben?"
"Ev has a scholarship to Duke -- where his brother is."
"Oh!" Said Dad. "I guess you do have some major decisions to make. How serious are you two?"
"I dunno. Not that serious -- yet." I said.
But that's not what it felt like.
"I hope we haven't given you even more to worry about." Said Mom.
"I -- I -- dunno." I said, again right on the edge. More stress again!
"You wanna lie down here with us for awhile?" Said my dad. That put me over the edge. My dad would never have said that a month ago. I collapsed on to the bed. I sat there, trying with all my might to hold in what was bursting to get out. Mom got out of bed and pushed me under the covers, then climbed in, so I was between both of them.
The damn broke and I started blubbering like a baby -- as quiet as I could. I felt so ashamed and humiliated. "It's okay, sweetheart." My mom said.
"A man's not supposed to - " I started.
"Baloney!" said my dad. "Besides you aren't really a man for at least a couple months!"
I put my head on my moms breast, and cried. And then my dad did something that blew me away. He scooted closer and sandwiched me between them. I started to gasp big sobs. "We learned we should have been doing this a long time ago, Benny!" Said Dad. "I hope it's not too late."
I turned and hugged my dad. It was kind of embarrassing since he always slept nude. But it felt good. I couldn't remember the last time I hugged my own dad.
"You're gonna be fine, Ben -- just fine!" Said dad.
"Let's try to sleep." Mom said.
I fell asleep almost immediately, still sobbing like a 5 year old.
Notes: What a big BABY Ben is! Almost as bad as the author! Hee hee!
Comments always welcome, to Steve at stevethomas535@hotmail.com . Thanks and love, Steve