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.
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 26:
We brushed our teeth and went to breakfast. Mack looked at me sheepishly. I winked at him and he smiled broadly, with a look of relief on his face. Mick gave me an impish look -- who knows what went on between the two of them.
Chapter 27:
After breakfast I borrowed mom's car and went out to find employment. I started at the place Jared was working, but they weren't hiring. I bought lunch there, though and just as I started to eat, a nicely dressed guy stopped by my table and asked, "Mind if I sit here?"
I looked up at him and my heart almost stopped. My mouth dropped open and for a moment I was speechless. When I finally gathered myself, I shrugged, nodded and pointed to the chair opposite me. As he walked around to the other side of the table, I checked my watch: 11:05. I looked around the room of the fast food place and -- there was only one other table with anyone sitting at it.
Why was this gorgeous guy wanting to sit with me?
Seated opposite me, he looked a little older -- maybe 30.
"I overheard you asking about a job." He said. It was then I could hear a faint accent. "I'm sorry to intrude like this, but -- I am new in town, and - "
"Oh!" I said. "Misery loves company, huh?"
"Huh?" He said.
"You're looking for a job too?" I asked.
"Wha - - ohhhh! Nooooo." He chuckled. "I have a job. I am moving here to start a new area for my company. I am needing someone to help me and -- when I heard you -- and saw that you fit the profile -- well, naturally, I wanted to talk to you."
"Profile? What profile?" I asked, trying no to be offensive. "What do -- er -- does your company do?"
"My company sells exotic automobiles."
"To whom?" I asked.
"You see? No one I've met so far would even know how to use that word -- whom! I get weird looks every time I use it! You will definitely fit the profile -- if you're anything like what I have observed so far."
I started to get suspicious, but -- just in case, I tried to hide it. "So what did you have in mind - - for me to do?"
He looked at me as if it was obvious. "Sell automobiles, of course."
A CAR SALESMAN??!! I hoped that my reaction didn't register on my face.
It did.
"This is no ordinary automobile salesman job. We - "
I finally let myself be more real: "Look, no offense, but -- I am not the type -- to sell anything."
"Well, that's just it -- you don't have to be!"
Well, even at my young age -- I've heard that one before. "Heh, nothing sells itself." I said.
"That's true!" He said. "That's why we need people to sell them. But all you have to do with this job, is be yourself -- they won't even care that your gay -- as long as you can be somewhat literate and articulate and -"
"What? What makes you think I'm gay?" I said it in a tone that let him know that It was an affront to me.
"Well, are you going to sit here and tell me you're not?" He challenged.
"No." I said, feeling somewhat defeated. "How did you know?"
"Experience -- call it gaydar if you like -- but -- I couldn't help noticing how you checked me out when you looked up at me -- then looked down and up again -- when I first approached you."
"Gaydar? So you're gay too?"
"Duh! What straight guy dresses like this and polishes his fingernails?" He held out his right hand. I looked at his nails and they were perfectly cut, clean and looked like polished glass.
I looked at him and smirked. "Are you out then?" I asked.
"Oh, heavens yes!"
"And -- you just moved here from - - ?"
"Quebec."
"Ah~!" I exclaimed. "That's the accent, then."
"Accent?" He said. "I never said, `eh', even once!" He pouted. His protruding lower lip made something lower down on me twitch.
"Oh, it wasn't a Canadian accent!" I said. "It is a slight French accent I picked up."
He smiled at that. Then he wiped his brow -- with his tongue.
NO HE DIDN'T! But I was sure that would be next!
"Ah, mon ami, je suis attrapé !" He said.
"Huh?"
"I said, `You got me, friend'! So -- um -- I'm Etienne. What do you like to be called?"
"I'm Ben."
"Nuh-uh!" He said, suddenly sounding very American.
"Why?" I asked.
"My last -- erm -- I had a friend -- named Ben."
"Oh." I said, trying to think fast to say something else.
"I think you'd really do well in this job. I mean, what else are you doing right now?"
"Ja- sooey -- whatever you said! You got me there! But I -- I need to make money now. Car salesmen usually are on commission."
"How long have you been out of work, Ben?"
"I've been mooching off my parents too long! I'm in-between college terms, and I need to pull my weight."
"Tell you what," said Etienne, "Why don't you come over and watch the game with me tonight -- and I can show you how easy it is."
Is he coming on to me?
"I -- er -- have already made plans -- to watch Monday night football with my dad and my -- boyfriend."
"Your boyfriend?" He wasn't able to hide his disappointment.
"Look, Etienne, there are a couple of my other friends coming over to watch the game with us. Why don't you come too?"
"Your other friends -- are they -- er -- gay?"
"Yeah -- all of them."
"Do your parents know?"
"Yes."
"And they're okay with this?"
"Well -- of course they'd rather I was straight, but -- so do I! But - - what can they do?"
"They could kick you out and disown you -- like my parents did!" He said bitterly.
"So do you want to come over?"
"Um -- sure! Okay! Maybe we can -- erm -- do you have a place we can make a couple phone calls -- maybe during half time?"
"Well -- maybe my room, but my parents phone - "
"Oh no, we would use my phone. We just need someplace quiet. I just want to show you how simple this process is. We have ads in strategic magazines, targeting wealthy people. They have already been answering our ads. We have been getting a lot of responses from the L.A. area, so this is why I was sent here. It's also why I need your help."
"Uh -- okay -- I guess we can do that -- during half time. Mind if my boyfriend sits in with us?"
Again, he was not very good at hiding his disappointment. "Sure." He said, smiling weakly. "So -- what are you doing the rest of the day?"
"I still need to find a job."
"Oh - - that!" He said. "I was hoping you'd give this a try."
"Like I said, I need money now. I have to buy a car and - No offense, but I just don't think - "
"How about this: I'll give you $25.00 for every call you make, and -- I'll take half the commission. You'll make twice what you'd make in a fast food place, and -- when you're ready, you can tell me when you want to be full commission."
"Hmm -- that sounds too good to be true." I said.
"Erm -- yess -- well, truth is -- as I said -- I need some help immediately. I have too many leads to take care of myself. I really like you -- and -- sorry, but I mean REALLY -- and from our little conversation, I think you'd be good at this. And -- you would have to drive one of our cars. It's important for the image."
I hung my head. "And - - I suppose I can pay nothing down and a dollar a month for the rest of my life to own one of -- what -- a Ferrari?"
"No, they won't let us have those. Come on out and look at my `company car'."
We finished our burgers and he led me to his car. It looked like a Buick to me, but I recognized the Maserati logo on it.
"Can I give you a lift somewhere?"
"So -- this is your exotic car?"
"Well, not so exotic as the ones I usually sell. But it's nice. And with four doors, it's good if I have more than one client -- or maybe his wife -- to transport. Can I drive you somewhere?"
"Naw, I have my mom's car." I said, then felt immediately embarrassed. "That's why I have to get a car!" I added, much chagrinned.
"I wish I could have driven my mom's car." He said sadly. "But -- um -- where shall I come to watch the game with your family?"
I gave him directions. "I'll be there in time for the game. Here's my card. And -- erm -- you haven't answered whether you want to work with me."
"I'll tell you the truth, Etienne. Everything in me says `if it seems too good to be true - "
"Yeah," he said sadly, "If it seems too good to be true -- it probably is!"
"but -- I think I'll let you at least show me how it works."
Etienne immediately brightened. "Great! See you tonight!" He grinned, looking much younger when his face was not worried.
I felt like driving around for awhile -- to sort out what just happened. I mean -- what really did happen? A guy offered me a job. A job that seems too good to be true. With a company car -- a Maserati, no less -- even if it does look like my father's Maserati! I tried to think of a hundred things to drive the other thoughts to the back of my mind. But I could not get rid of them.
He's too old and -- I already have a boyfriend!
I never really asked his age. I wonder - maybe he's not THAT old. Maybe people age faster in Canada.
But it doesn't matter -- I already have a boyfriend - - !
On the way home, I passed the Supercuts, and wished I had a few bucks to at least get my hair trimmed. I checked it out in the rear view mirror. A little shaggy around the ears! Then I remembered Etienne's clothes. I don't have anything that looks that good! Suddenly, I felt like a little teenager again!
Am I nervous about looking good for the job -- or the sexy man?!!
I decided to not worry about it, (yeah - - right!) and drove home.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" My mom said. "You look a little flushed." At my alarmed reaction, she said, " Oh! You didn't find a job? Don't worry about it. You will soon enough."
"Actually -- I did."
"Oh~! You did? You don't seem that excited about it."
"Actually I invited the -- well, - my boss -- over to watch the game tonight."
"Oh! My!" Mom exclaimed. "Did you forget who else would be here? Do you think he'll be okay with all your -- um -- friends?"
"No -- that part's okay. He's gay too."
"OH! Where did you meet him -- or maybe I shouldn't know!?"
"No it's okay. It was at McDonalds. He overheard me asking for a job -- which they aren't taking applications for at the moment -- and - " I told her the rest. I did NOT tell her my reaction to his -- um -- well -- to him!
"Your father is ordering several kinds of pizza, and of course soft drinks and beer -- to eat during the game."
I was worried that with the whole family this might depress Etienne. But I called him and told him to come with an appetite, " -- that is if a Maserati driver eats pizza!" I chuckled.
"If I had a driver and rode around in a Rolls Royce -- I'd still have pizza whenever I wanted!" He assured. "What can I bring?"
"Nothing -- Nada -- Rien!"
Later, as I was getting ready for the game, "You look so good!" Said Everett. "Your hair is getting so -- so -- well, I like it when it curls around your ears like that!"
I ran to the bathroom mirror and smoothed my hair out behind my ears.
"Sorry I said anything!" Pouted Everett.
"Oh -- sorry, Ev. It's just Etienne will be here and - "
"Et -- who?"
"Etienne. He's from Québec."
"Oh." Said Everett. "and you need to look good for Etyen?"
"It's not like -- it's like -- a -- a -- job interview!"
"Oh!" and he's coming -- when?"
"For the game. He didn't want to miss it, so I invited him to watch it with us."
"Oh." Said Everett, sounding bewildered.
"During half time. He and I are coming in here and - "
"You and he are coming in the bedroom during halftime?" He said, unbelieving, "Sue-weet!
"Oh, I told him that you had to come too!" I said. "He's just going to show me his business."
Everett stared, the burst our laughing. "Wha -- oh!" Then I started laughing at what I had said. "I meant -- he's going to give me a demonstration -- how he handles clients."
Everett laughed again. Is he gonna handle both of us? Or just you?"
"I'm sure when he sees you, he may want to handle you!" I quipped. "No, he's going to call some people -- to show me how he talks to clients -- to sell them cars."
"He's a car salesman?"
"Well -- yeah. An exotic car salesman."
"Exotic?"
"You know, Ferrari, Maserati -- like that."
"Wow! And -- you say it's `like' a job interview?"
"Well, kind of. He's trying to sell me on the idea of working for this company."
"And let me guess -- you'll be working under him -- right?" Again he smirked. "And you think he'll want to handle me? So he's gay?"
"Very."
"And if he does want to handle me -- are you gonna let him?" He grinned.
"That won't be my choice, will it? You obviously have a mind of your own." I said, and then wished I could take it back.
"Ben -- I'm sorry! Just pretend I didn't say anything. I'll just stand back and watch him handle you! Or maybe better yet, I'll just stay and watch the half time show -- and you and he can go at it like a couple of bunnies!"
"Ev!" I said. At that Everett turned and quickly vacated the room.
Wow! That went well, didn't it?
I got dressed in a pair of over-washed jeans that mom had ironed a sharp crease in for me at my request. I put on white crew sox and a melon colored ribbed tee. I was about to leave the room and Everett came back in. He was also in jeans -- not ironed -- and shirtless.
"You wanna wear one of my shirts, Ev?"
"No matter what I wear, I won't look that good!" he said almost bitterly.
I walked to him and said, "You look so good in what you have on right now!" I bent over and kissed his left nipple. "That's why I want you to cover it up." With my foot, I closed the door and drew him into my arms. Nose to nose, I said, "I told Etienne that I have a boyfriend, and I told him you were GOING to be in the room while he makes his calls."
"Then -- why -- are you making yourself look so sexy?" He asked, laying his head on my shoulder.
"I dunno," I lied, "I guess since I can't afford to dress expensive like he does -- maybe I was trying to make up for it."
"I'll wear a shirt tonight -- as you asked, but - could -- could you maybe wear another shirt that doesn't make you look so -- hot?"
I immediately took off my shirt and handed it to him. "You can wear this. I'll get something else."
"I'll get something else too! You don't wear one of these unless you can fill it out!"
"Okay. Tell you what! YOU pick out shirts for both of but -- but just remember, I AM trying to look good for a possible employer."
Everett went to my closet and grabbed a white dress shirt that mom had starched and ironed. "This will go well with your ironed jeans!" He said. He grabbed one of his own striped tees. "This will be fine for me." I smiled approvingly. He looked like a little boy!
As Promised, just before the game started, there was a knock at the door. I restrained myself from running to get it. Dad went to the door, and I sauntered up behind him. "You must be Etienne!" Said Dad, smiling.
"Good evening sir! Yes, and you are Mr. - - ?"
"I'm Ben's dad. You can call me Bill."
"Thank you, Bill." Etienne said, smiling sweetly. "Ben!" He said upon seeing me behind my dad.
"What would you like to drink, Etienne? We have beer and several choices of soda."
"Aw, Dad!" said Mack. "Canadians like beer, of course!"
"I'll take any soda, Sir. If you have root beer, I'd - "
"One root beer coming up! What's happening with youth today? No one wants beer!"
"I want beer!" said Mack.
"You're too young!" Said Everett to his younger brother, who gave him a dirty look. "Right - - Dad?" He said emphasizing the last word.
About that time, the door opened and Jared walked in. "Hi Dad!" he said.
The little boys were playing in their room, not much interested in football. I saw Etienne sweep the room. Obviously Mick was Mack's twin, and there was only one person in the room that didn't call Dad, "Dad".
Smiling, Etienne shook everyone's hand and when he came to Ranj, he said, "And -- you must be the boyfriend!" Grinning a little enviously.
"Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend at the moment. What?" Ranj looked at me.
"I'm so sorry -- and so embarrassed!" It was the first time that I saw Etienne looking as if he was not in control of the situation.
Red faced, he swept the room again, as my dad said, "Things aren't always as they seem, Etienne. Ben is my only biological son. The others are foster sons that we have had the privilege to stay with us for awhile."
"Oh." Etienne said, looking at me, puzzled.
"Etienne, this is Everett -- my boyfriend." I blushed and so did Everett and Etienne. Etienne immediately walked 2 steps to Everett and warmly shook his hand.
"You're a very lucky boy, Everett." He said. I wondered if Everett caught the `boy' reference.
Immediately, Etienne opened the root beer that dad handed him and he went and sat in the only obviously empty place in the room -- next to Ranj.
Notes: Any comments are always welcome. Please send them to Steve at stevethomas535@hotmail.com. Thanks and love, Steve