Briarwood

All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language, please exit now.

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"BRIARWOOD"

Copyright Ritchris, 2005

aka "Whence Cometh My Help"

Copyright Ritchris, 2003

Revised Version

A dramatic saga

by

Ritch Christopher

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BOOK EIGHT

"UNTO THE HILLS"

Chapter-Eighty-one

"You're my guy, the boys all know.

You're my guy, I've told them so.

You should have seen how their faces fell

When they were wishing me well.

They called me a lucky boy,

And I couldn't hide a feeling of pride.

You're my guy; I've chosen you

To be mine, my whole life through.

And if this heart of mine had a voice,

You'd hear it second my choice,

You're what I've waited for,

And you're my guy.

The kids that see me come to call

Have written your name and my name on the wall.

It's common gossip everywhere,

That you and I have got it bad for fair.

You're my guy, I've chosen you

To be mine my whole life through,

And if this heart of mine had a voice,

You'd hear it second my choice,

You're what I've waited for,

And you're my guy."

Paraphrased lyrics of "You're My Girl"

from the Broadway musical, "High Button Shoes".

Music by Jules Styne, Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

Copyrighted 1947.

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Billy Leighton was the happiest fifteen-year-old kid on the planet when he heard the news that Father Cliff and Roger had legally adopted him. He didn't realize that it meant that he'd become the heir to millions of dollars, a legacy he would receive one day from Cliff and mostly from his share of Roger's fortune. That wouldn't have mattered much to Billy, not even the fact that he would be living in a large mansion with the most influential priests in the country and one of the most famous medical-field benefactors in the world. All that seemed important to him was that he had a family---a family!-- consisting of two dads who loved him very much. Everything else was inconsequential.

Billy vowed to be a good son and promised to maintain the stature of his new family throughout Briarwood. He was still full of impish, boyish qualities and felt free to be gay without fear of being beaten or persecuted. His hormones were raging and he was ready for action if only he could find a boyfriend. He kept one eye open every day at Briarwood High School for that "certain" guy.

Word had spread throughout the school of Billy's being adopted by two gay parents. He tried his darndest to ignore his female classmates who chose to flirt with him. None of them knew for certain that Billy was gay, but if by chance he was, they were sure they could change him. If he was straight, then all the better for them. They would be candidates to become the steady girlfriend of the cutest guy in the sophomore class.

Some guy classmates were envious while others were afraid of becoming good friends with the son of a priest. They knew Billy would not fit in should they decide to light a joint or slip off into the woods with a six-pack of beer. God would be watching every move Billy made, not to mention those whom he ran around with.

There was this one kid, though, Sammy Moore, whom Billy liked above all others. Whether Sammy was gay didn't matter to Billy, he wanted Sammy for a friend. The first chance Billy had to speak to Sammy was during lunch period. Billy went through the cafeteria line piling food nearly six inches high and he turned around to find an empty table and a place to sit and eat. He noticed that in the far corner of the room, Sammy was sitting alone and so Billy decided to join him.

"Hey there!" Billy said to Sammy.

"Hey, yourself!"

"Can I sit with you?"

"There's no reserved seats at this table."

"I'm Billy!" he said, sitting down across from Sammy.

"I know who you are...EVERYONE knows who you are."

"Oh?"

"You're the kid that killed his folks, aren't you?"

Billy wasn't expecting this kind of greeting.

"Well...yes," Billy replied, quietly, and added, "Look, if you'd rather I sit some place else..."

"No, sit down. I just hope you don't want to kill anyone else...me, for example."

"I'm really sorry. I...I'm not dangerous. Yeah, I did kill my folks but I had no choice. It was them or me...the judge ruled it self-defense."

"Why did you do it?"

"It was...I...it doesn't matter!" Billy snapped, becoming a little angry. "I just sat down here because I wanted to get to know you, but if that's a problem..."

"Come off it!" Sammy replied. "Don't be on the defensive. All guys think of killing their parents at one time or another...only ninety-nine percent of us DON'T do it."

"And...and I'm the one percent who did?"

"Fact is fact!"

"Can I ask you what your name is?"

"Yeah, but I'm not telling you where I live. I don't want you coming around my house late at night when I'm asleep...and by the way, my name is Sammy...Sammy Moore."

"Pleased to meet you, Sammy...and don't worry--I don't go stalking people to kill at night."

"You can't tell me why you did it?"

"OK, MY MOM AND DAD HATED ME!" Billy exclaimed. "They were beating me...coming toward me with a butcher knife, trying to kill me!"

"What did you do so bad that made them come after you like that?"

"You want my whole life story? I just met you!"

"It would help if I knew...NONE of us kids know why you did it!"

"All right, I'll tell you if it's so darned important to you, but after I do, you can ask me to leave and I won't hold any grudge against you. Agreed?"

"Agreed! Now tell me."

"I...my dad...my mom and my dad found out that I was...gay. There! Are you satisfied?"

"They wanted to kill you for that?"

"Yes."

"Heck, I'm gay, but my parents don't know."

The air of anger hovering above the two of them began to lighten.

"You...you are?"

"Yeah, only don't tell it to anyone. Why do you think I sit alone to eat my lunch? Lots of guys think I am, but none of them know for sure. I get bullied all the time by those huge senior jocks."

"Damn! You...you don't look gay. I mean, you look like a jock yourself."

"How do gays look? What do you see when you look at yourself in a mirror? Do you think YOU look gay?"

"Well...no."

"Then that's my point!"

"Do you...do you have...I mean, have you ever...you know...been with another guy?"

"Actually...no."

"Then how do you know if you're gay?"

"How did you know about yourself? I'm sure you've been with lots of guys."

"No, I haven't...REALLY...not one! But I just know. I know that I'm more attracted to boys than girls."

"And you came here to prey upon me."

"I didn't know you were gay...honest! Even if you weren't...I just wanted someone to sit with and talk."

"Well, you're sitting here...so talk!"

"Do you have any close friends...or maybe a best buddy?"

"Nope...Don't want none!"

"Why?"

"So they can make fun of me or spread nasty rumors about me all over the school?"

"If I'm gay, too, why would I want to do that?"

"I didn't say YOU. I hardly know you."

"Then why can't the two of us be friends?"

"What sense is there in that?"

"We'd have someone to talk with...to do things with...to go places together."

"Like where?"

"Movies, MacDonald's, The Radical Video to play games, go on hikes, camping, sleepovers...all kinds of places!"

"You can afford to go to those places and do those sort of things. My dad's out of work and I don't have money to do things like that. You're rich!"

"What makes you think that?"

"I know all about your being adopted by the two richest guys in Briarwood and that you live in a huge mansion with a pool and you have everything you want!"

"Well, if you think I'm that rich, let me take you places and buy you things."

"And become your slave?"

"No, be my friend. That's what I want. That's what I need...and I think you need a friend as well."

"Yeah, but..."

"Look, Sammy, I know most kids here at school think of me the way you do. I'm a murderer with new rich adopted parents. It's harder for me to make friends than you. I want to be your friend...if you'll let me."

"What kind of video games do you like to play?"

"I got Republic', 'Uru', and "Zelda, Wind-Walker'".

"Wow, all the new ones! The last one I bought before money became scarce at my house was 'X-Men-2'. What kind of music is your favorite?"

"I like lots of 'em...especially heavy metal!"

"That's my favorite, too! How about your favorite TV shows?"

"Monday nights I like 'Las Vegas' with Josh Duhamel and Thursday's I watch '24' with that young guy...I can't think of his real name, but he's Kiefer Sutherland's assistant, 'Chase'! He goes by three names!"

"James Badge Dale!"

"Yeah, that's it!"

"Geez, I never miss either of those shows! Favorite movie stars?"

"Probably the same as you...Tobey Maguire, Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, Colin Farrell, and Heath Ledger..."

"Favorite all time movie?"

"Uh, 'The Lord Of The Rings' trilogy!'

"This is un-fuckin'-believable! We like the same things in every category!" Sammy exclaimed, becoming more and more enthusiastic toward Billy.

"Looks like we'd have a lot in common IF, we became friends," Billy said, earnestly.

"Yeah, it looks like it, don't it!!"

"You could come over to the house any time you want and swim in the pool or we could go to my room and play videos or watch movies. You wouldn't need any money that way. There's this guy, Jay, who lives with my two dads. He has a boyfriend named Troy...but at any rate, Jay likes to cook...practically all the time. He makes all these wild snacks and concoctions for me. He lets me try them out before he serves them to anybody else at the house. I...I'm sorta like his guinea pig. You and I can have lots of things to eat. I just wish you'd trust me and give our friendship a try. I think we'd have a lot of fun together!"

"Uh...don't get me wrong, but...maybe could we have other kinds of fun?"

"Sure, so long as it doesn't involve drugs or alcohol. I...I'm on probation and I could get into a lot of trouble with the judge."

"I don't mess with that stuff anyway...even if I could, I don't have money to buy any of the stuff. I was referring to...y'know, 'other' kinds of fun."

"You mean like...messin' around with...with sex, maybe?"

"Why not? We're both gay and neither of us has any experience. Who knows we both might like it!"

"We'd have to be REAL friends before I did that!"

"OK...let's be friends...buddies! Deal?"

"Deal!"

"Shake on it!"

The two of them bumped fists, entwined their fists and went through the whole teen ritual which all the guys used when greeting.

"How about this Friday night, Sammy? Do you think your parents would let you come to my house for a sleepover? They wouldn't get suspicious or anything, would they?"

"Nah, my dad doesn't care where I go just so long as I don't break the law or ask him for money."

"You're safe on both counts!" Billy promised him.

The bell rang and lunch was over. Billy hadn't eaten a bite. The two of them got up and went off to their respective fifth period classes...both feeling happier than they were a half hour ago.

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Billy wasn't the only new student at Briarwood High. There were two students who enrolled to complete their junior and senior year in high school, respectively...two brothers who had just moved to Briarwood from Fort Stockton, Texas...Jake and Lee Malone.

Due to Lee's receiving treatment for HIV and Jake's recovering from the death of his dad, plus the fact his house had burned down while Mike and Tom were visiting, both Lee and Jake's schooling had been sadly neglected, but now they were going to make it up in a much better school while living in better surroundings.

'Better surroundings' was putting it mildly. When Jake and Lee moved in with Tom and Mike, they found themselves in a dream house with more luxury than either Texas boy had ever seen or dreamt of. A mansion with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms! Tom offered Jake and Lee each his choice of rooms, but the two brothers opted to share the same room as they had done their entire life in Fort Stockton.

The treatment Lee received from Cole had all but erased any indication of HIV, and he definitely had no AIDS . But Jake wanted to be close to his brother just in case Lee needed him, not to mention the fact that they were used to sharing and spending most of their spare time together.

Mike showed no disappointment about his yearlong trip being cancelled. He and Tom were still newlyweds and could have lived happily on a postage stamp so long as they were together.

Tom surmised that Jake and Lee might be closer than just brothers and if brotherly love, including incest, was what the two of them wanted, then so be it! Perhaps next summer, the four of them could tour Europe. Tom tried to encourage Mike to attend college, which had been delayed for their trip, but Mike was not ready to go back to school. Mike had his high school diploma and was practically the poster child for the Cole Institute, having been cured of AIDS so miraculously, and he wanted to spend his days at Cole with other victims of the disease, giving them hope and encouragement that they could get well the same as he.

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When the lunch bell rang, Billy said goodbye to Sammy, telling him he would try to see him later after school, and ran to his locker to get his books and was horrified to see that someone had painted "MURDERER" in red paint on the front of his locker. Even his combination lock was still wet and red. He couldn't open it without getting paint on his fingers.

Troy had bought Billy two dozen new handkerchiefs and Billy pulled one from his hip pocket to try to finagle the numbers of the combination with the handkerchief. He couldn't see the numbers for the paint and he knew he'd never get the locker open in time to get his notebook and textbook out in time for his class. He would be late for his first English class. He looked at the red mess in fear and almost cried when he became aware of two guys, much taller than he, had walked up behind him.

"Having trouble, 'Ripper'?" asked one of them.

"Pardon? My...my name is Billy," Billy said, fearfully.

"We know your name," said the other, "and we know what you did, Mr. Wyatt Earp."

"Please, leave me alone," Billy said, his voice trembling. "I don't know who you are, but I'm late for class and I need to..."

"You mean, you're late for your execution, don't you?" said the first guy. "Boys who kill their parents and get off scott-free deserve to be executed, don't you think so, Lar?"

"Definitely!" replied Larry, the second guy. "I think he should be executed immediately and do what the judge was too scared to do."

"Do you think we ought to hang him over the railing at the staircase?" asked Jody, the first guy, "or should we take him into the bathroom, take off his clothes and take my knife and cut his balls off, then let him bleed to death."

"Guys," Billy said, catching his breath, "I know you're not going to kill me. You just want to scare me...and all right! I'm scared. Now please leave me alone!"

"Who says we're not gonna kill you? Hey, Jody, I've got an idea. You remember that book we had to read about that woman they put a big "A" on her dress because she committed adultery?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, murder is a worse crime than adultery. We oughta take off his clothes and carve a big "M" from his chest to his dick!"

"That's a great idea, Lar, THEN we can cut his balls off!"

Billy tried to make a run for it, but Larry stuck out his sneakered foot and tripped him. Billy landed on his face, his nose starting to bleed immediately. He hoarsely cried out, "HELP!", but Jody muffled Billy's mouth with his hand, lifting Billy's upper torso, and Larry grabbed Billy's legs. Billy kicked, or at least tried, but the two large boys were stronger with their hold on him and they quickly carried him to the boys' room, which was only twenty or so feet down the hall.

Once inside the restroom, Larry and Jody dropped Billy onto the cold, hard terrazzo floor. Jody stooped down to pull Billy's shirt off over his head and stuffed a good portion of the material into Billy's mouth. Larry straddled Billy's knees and unbuckled Billy's belt, unbuttoned the jeans, pulled down the zipper and yanked Billy's pants and boxers down to his ankles in one movement. Billy was naked and vulnerable for what was to happen next.

Jody reached into his right front pocket and pulled out a nine-inch switchblade knife and whirled it around Billy's face as the blade quickly opened. The two older boys laughed with glee at the fearful expression which came over Billy's face. None of the three had heard the sound of a toilet flushing in the second closed booth. Nor had they seen the tall young man standing at the hinged door assessing the situation.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?" shouted the boy by the booth.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP OR YOU'RE NEXT!" screamed Jody.

"NO! I WANT TO BE FIRST...LET THE KID GO!" replied the boy, who in a quick gesture kicked the knife out of Jody's hand. The boy retrieved the knife from where it fell and instantly cut a large gash across his own palm.

"What the fuck are you doin', stud?" asked Larry.

"Do you guys see the blood in my hand? DO YOU?" asked the boy. "Well, it's diseased blood...filled with the AIDS virus! Now let that kid go or I'll fill each of your mouths with it...then you'll both die a long, painful death!"

"You're crazy!" shouted Jody.

The boy started toward Jody with his open hand flowing with dark red blood. "That's right, I'm crazy, but you're gonna get AIDS in about two seconds if you don't move away from him."

Now Jody was afraid. "Come on, Larry, let's get the fuck out of here."

"YOU'D BETTER NOT GO NEAR HIM, EVER AGAIN? YOU GOT IT?"

"Yeah!" Jody and Larry replied as they ran out of the restroom.

The boy dropped to his knees to tend to Billy.

"You all right?" said the boy with a Texan accent.

"I'm...I'm OK, but what about your hand?"

"I didn't cut it that deeply. It's no more than a scratch. What's your name?"

"I thought everyone at the school knew my name...it's Billy."

"This is my first day at this school and I don't know anyone's name. I'm Lee...Lee Malone. I'm a senior and my brother Jake is a junior."

"Nice to meet you, Lee. I...I guess I owe you my life...you just saved it!"

"This is one time I'm glad I had diarrhea. I was about to go to class and had this bad urge to go to the bathroom. I guess those guys didn't think there'd be anyone in here. What did they have against you to try something like that?"

"You may as well know...everyone else does. You might as well hear it from me."

Lee got up while Billy put on his clothes.

"So let's hear it!"

"I...I just...well, a couple of weeks ago, I...well, my mom and dad tried to kill me."

"What?"

"They...well, the judge said it was self-defense and we..we got into a scuffle and...and somehow, I killed my mom and dad with a gun."

"Holy shit!"

"Everyone...like those two guys, thinks I got off lightly and should've been punished more."

"Not if it was self-defense. There are laws about that."

"I know...but some people think that killing is killing."

"You're folks hated you that much?"

"I guess..."

"Whatever for?"

"My dad thought I was a queer and wanted to kill me before I got AIDS...or at least that's what he said."

Lee smiled, "AIDS, huh?"

"Do you REALLY have it?"

"Not any more. I did have it, but I'm cured."

"Did you go to Cole Institute?"

"Sure did."

"Did you ever meet the owner, Mr. Cole?"

"Mr. Roger Cole?"

"Yes."

"He's my new dad. He adopted me."

"You're Roger and Father Cliff's kid?"

"Since last week."

"Shoot! Jake and I know both your dads."

"For real?"

"Heck, if it weren't for your dads and Cole Institute, I'd be dead! They saved MY life. I guess it was my turn to do something back for him."

"Daddy Roger will be very grateful to you, but not near as much as I am!"

"I come from Texas originally. My dad and I didn't get along either. He died while I was at a hospital in Dallas. We met a couple of guys from Briarwood and somehow, Mike, one of the guys we met, had connections at Cole and they drove us here to the Institute. Jake and I just moved in with them in their new house."

"Looks like we have a lot in common, Lee. I just moved into my new house. Here, use my handkerchief to tie up your hand." Billy looked at his soiled handkerchief covered with red paint. They both laughed.

"Not MY shade of red, partner! Thanks, but I'll use some paper towels."

"I guess we both better get to class."

"Not before you and I go to the principal's office and tell him what happened. Those guys and others who try to do things like 'em should be prosecuted."

"It'll only make things worse, Lee."

"Not while I'm around, it won't! Come on hitch up your britches and let's go report a crime."

Billy stopped before opening the door. "Can I ask you something, Lee?"

"Sure. There's an old Indian legend where I come from, that if you save someone's life...they kind of belong to you...so I guess you can ask me whatever you like."

"You said you had AIDS..."

"Yeah..."

"Were you gay when you got it? I mean...are you still gay?"

"Well, I guess. I'm not really gay 'gay', but I have had some homosexual experiences. Why did you ask?"

"I just wanted to see if we had something else in common..."

"You're gay?"

"Yep...only like you...I haven't done much to prove it!"

"Then I'll be sure and look after you now. We'll have to look out for one another and fight off all the guys that don't want us to be gay. Come on, pal!"

Lee put his arm around Billy's shoulder and the two of them walked together to see the principal. Lee felt as if he'd saved Jake, his own brother...and he might as well have TWO younger brothers now. Billy was happy that he'd made TWO friends in one day...Sammy and Lee. He might like Briarwood High after all.

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Dr. Simon Latham, principal at Briarwood High and a deacon at St. Genesius Church, not only called Cliff to report Billy's incident in the boys bathroom, he personally went to Larry's and Cody's respective classes and ordered them to accompany him to his office. Since he was aware Dr. Latham was also aware that this could tarnish the reputation of his school; he proceeded to call the Briarwood Police to send over a blue and white team to arrest the two roughnecks.

Cliff, in turn, called Roger at the hospital and notified him, then he called Walter to be alert in case the episode got back to the judge who had granted Billy's adoption. It would be difficult to choose which among them showed the most rage. In the news...TV, Internet, and newspapers, stories were reported daily on the increasing number of bullying in schools across 'civilized' America.

When the arresting officers arrived at BHS, Dr. Latham delayed the policemen until he could call an assembly of the entire student body in the school auditorium. All the students were glad to have their classes interrupted but no one knew why as they entered the huge theatre, only to discover Cody and Larry were seated center stage with a policeman behind each of them.

Dr. Latham tested his microphone before starting his angry declaration.

"Young men and young women, teachers, and staff, I've called this assembly for you to focus on two of your classmates, seated on stage before you. This is still America where everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but I want all of you to know that I'm personally having these two young men arrested and I will testify against them, when and if they are brought to trial. Let me warn each of you that I, the same as Almighty God, am no respecter of persons. These two are accused of bullying one of your fellow students to the point of trying to kill him with a switchblade knife."

There was a gasp among the students followed by a buzz of low conversation and tittering amongst all of them.

Dr. Latham continued, "This is bullying almost in its highest form and I will not tolerate it! Briarwood High will NOT become another Columbine. When I was in grammar school, years ago, I witnessed many degrees of bullying and persecution during the desegregation in the 60's. Black students were beaten and intimidated daily...not because they were guilty of a crime or had broken a rule. Their only crime was being born another color, a stigma over which they had no control. Fortunately with the help of the NAACP, the ACLU, and a hoard of liberal Democrats, schools WERE integrated and black children gained equal rights with the non-blacks. That was forty years ago.

"Now we're living in a different world and time, which brings new changes daily. I'm speaking primarily about gays, lesbians, and homosexuals in general. Contrary to the religious right, including some black churches, gay people have no more control over their inborn sexuality than people of color have over their skin. Do you think a young person CHOOSES to be gay and suffer daily verbal and physical abuse? Do you think they are able to walk down a hall of any school with the knowledge they will arrive at their next class, alive, uninjured, or unjeered?

"I'm not deaf nor blind. I hear the reasons given by anti-gay groups and I find those people ignorant in their intolerance of people's rights. They take one little verse out of the Bible and quote a verse about homosexuality being an abomination...and I guarantee them that not ONE of them have ever read the whole book of Leviticus. I'm afraid if they did so, they might learn that every one of them is guilty of other sins worse than homosexual abomination! Did you know it was just as sinful to look when another member of your family is naked and perhaps about to bathe? Did you know it was just as sinful for a man to have sex with his own wife if she was having her monthly period? Did you know it was just as much a sin to eat shellfish...or--in the Old Testament--to eat ham or pork chops? Of course you didn't! People who accuse homosexuals of being an abomination commit these other sins, BUT because it's they who commit them and they are 'righteous people', the same law doesn't apply to them.

"NOW! Here's MY law and it applies to EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM...even those students who may be absent today. Cruel remarks will NOT be tolerated by anyone aimed at any other student...Anyone who commits any violence or harmful act rendered on gays or any other discriminated person or persons will be arrested immediately...NO EXCEPTION! and I will testify and see that you are prosecuted to the highest extent of the law!"

The room was totally silent from comment.

"DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR? NO EXCEPTION! Now officers, if you will kindly put handcuffs on the two so-called gentlemen seated in front of you, I will escort you to your police vehicle, following which I will proceed to the police station and press charges for attempted murder! That's all, students! Please return to your classes...NOW!"

As the two cuffed boys were marched out, not a person moved. Not one word was spoken in the auditorium by any student. They remained silent as they walked back to their classrooms. None seemed to notice Cliff or Walter, both of whom were standing in the back of the room while Dr. Latham issued his proclamation.

When all the students had left, Dr. Latham came down from the stage to meet Cliff and Walter.

"Father, do you think I could fill in for your sermon some Sunday at church?" Dr. Latham tried to joke, lamely.

"I was ready to take off my collar and offer it to you. We, or rather I, don't give hellfire and damnation sermons at St. Genesius, but should I ever need one, I'll call on you first thing!"

"Where's Billy?" Walter asked.

"In my office with the young man who rescued him," replied Dr. Latham.

"Could we see them?" Cliff asked. "I'd like to meet the young Lancelot!"

"He's more like Wild Bill Hickok. This was his first day at school here. He's from Fort Stockton, Texas."

"Not Lee or Jake Malone?" Cliff, quickly asked.

"Yes, Lee...Lee Malone."

"Good heavens! I know the boy. He was a patient at Cole."

"Then I guess it's a good thing Lee got well enough to start school today. Lucky, I guess one could say."

"Oh, Simon, I don't think it was ALL luck. You know I teach the subject of divine intervention almost every Sunday."

"Then it was God who looked after Billy and saw to it that Lee should be here today to protect him."

The three of them, priest, lawyer, and principal walked back to Dr. Latham's office. As soon as Billy saw Cliff, he ran into Cliff's arms and shouted, "Oh, Daddy Cliff! I'm so glad you came!"

"Billy, Roger and I will always be here for you when you need us. You're our son now and we belong to you as much as you do to us."

"Daddy Cliff, I want you to meet my new friend, Lee. He says he knows you!"

"Hi, Lee," Cliff said. "Do you mind if I give you a big hug?"

"No, Father! I'll give YOU one," Lee replied as the two of them embraced.

Cliff gave Lee a big squeeze and whispered, "Thank you, son. Thank you for saving Billy's life."

"You and Mr. Cole saved mine. I've been thinkin'-- maybe God sent me here to do the same for Billy!" Lee answered.

"I'll never forget it. NEVER!" Cliff said, "and neither will Billy nor Roger. I wonder if you and Jake would come over for dinner this weekend so we can thank you formally?"

"Sure, if we can bring Mike and Tom too."

"We'd like to have ANYONE you bring. You're special to us...and more so because of what you did for Billy."

"I'm no hero, Father, I was almost gay-bashed on my way from Fort Stockton to Dallas. Those same guys killed my piano teacher a couple of weeks earlier...only this time it was Tom and Mike who saved me."

"I guess we all have to look out for each other if no one else will."

"I've told Billy, he's not to ever worry again about anything happening to him as long as he can call on me."

"I know you mean that and it means everything to me and to Billy."

"Hey, Daddy Cliff," Billy chimed in. "Would it be all right if I invited this boy I met today named Sammy?"

"Little man, you can invite ANYONE you like. The more the merrier!"

"Thanks, Dad."

Cliff's throat tightened with a huge lump hearing Billy call him 'Dad'. He never dreamt he would hear those words but 'Dad' resounded throughout his body, his mind, and echoed in his heart. Cliff had a son...as did Roger, and he thanked God for it!

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Everything seemed to be happening in 'two's' because Friday, Cliff had Lee, Jake, Tom, Mike, and Sammy over for dinner, as well as Jay and Troy. Billy had arranged the seating so that he was sitting next to his new close friend, Sammy. Throughout dinner the two young boys played a game of 'kneezy' under the table, bumping one another's knees secretly under the table, each becoming more sexually aroused by each touch.

A thousand miles north of Briarwood, another aggregation was sitting around another dinner table in Mackintosh, New Hampshire, ready for dinner. This consisted of Father Jeff, Johnny, his lover, Alex, Jeff's brother, Ted who was Alex's lover, and their honored guests, Steve. Johnny's cousin from Carolina, and his new young lover, Wade. Johnny and Jeff's infant twin sons had been fed and put to bed by 7:30PM, so it was just the "guys" around the Mackintosh table.

Both settings were filled with celebration and welcome, Jake and Lee at Cliff's table and home, and Steve and Wade at Jeff and Johnny's.

As Cliff's meal was finished, Roger clinked his wine goblet with a fork and arose to make a toast, "Here's to our ever growing family of Briarwood boys. I hope that our four guests will learn the deep meaning of this elite group who honor Cliff's ever-growing family. We must be close to twenty members by now...each of you becoming a part of a fraternity of love and support and each of you becoming special, supporting each other's happiness as well as your needs. We, speaking for Cliff and myself, are proud to have our new son, Billy, at our first formal dinner. I, or we, are indebted forever to Lee for his championing our new son in his hour of need. Lee, you'll notice under you dinner plate an envelope containing a token of our appreciation and Cliff and I hope you'll accept it with all our love and thanks."

Lee moved his plate and the envelope read, "To Lee, our son's Galahad, with love from Cliff, Roger, and Billy." Lee slowly ran his finger under the sealed mouth of the envelope and retrieved a bank cashier check made out to "Pay to Lee Malone, the sum of one-hundred thousand dollars".

Lee looked at the amount of the check and gulped at the figure. He'd never seen so many zeros together, not even on television or in movies. He couldn't believe his eyes and was speechless.

"Gee, Mr. Cole, haven't you already given me enough. Wasn't it your hospital who gave me back my life when you cured my HIV?"

"Lee," Roger replied, "at Cole, we've cured hundreds of HIV and AIDS patients, but none of them showed as much bravery as you did at BHS earlier this week!"

"Good Lord! I don't know what to say," Lee stuttered.

"Good Lord, yourself!" Jay quickly added, "just say thanks before my baked Alaska melts in the kitchen! It's not only baked ice cream but I put a chocolate mousse on top of it."

"Well, thanks...." Lee said and was about to make a short speech when Jay interrupted him.

"All right, on three, give Lee 'snaps'. One, two, THREE!" Lee and Troy, two young members at table, stretched out their hands and began snapping their fingers, which by today's standards or in gay circles, had replaced the old-fashioned conventional, hand-clapping kudos. This amused everyone at the table, but all followed Jay's lead by extending their arms forward, snapping their fingers, quickly, loudly, and often as possible. As they were doing this gesture, Jake reached over to read the number on Lee's check.

"JUMPING JEHOVAH!" Jake shouted with glee, and then remembered what he said in the presence of a man of God, "OOPS! I didn't mean to show no disrespect, Father Cliff!"

Everyone laughed out loud as Cliff jokingly replied to Jake, "That's quite all right, son, I'm sure if God were to see a member of our congregation donate HALF that amount on the check into the offering plate at St. Genesius...it wouldn't surprise me if Almighty Jehovah did jump!" All those at the table laughed even harder at Cliff's remark.

At the same moment in Mackintosh, Jeff arose at his table, to toast a warm welcome to Steve and Jake. "Here's to our new brothers. May they both feel love from the four of us. May God bless their union and to Him, we extend a mighty praise for His sending you to us!"

"HEAR! HEAR!" exclaimed Johnny to his cousin and cousin-in-law.

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Another 'two' was about to happen, but not so joyfully. When Jay's dessert was served, the phone rang.

Roger rose from the table, "Everyone finish your 'baked Alaskan chocolate mousse while I go see who's calling us on this happy occasion!"

Roger went to the phone.

"Hello?"

"Roger?"

"Yes?"

"This is Chris...Chris Curtis..."

"Hello son, how are you and where are you?"

"Let me just say that the journey is over..."

"You and Ed are coming home?"

"Not just yet. I'll be coming home soon, but I'm afraid I lost Ed a few minutes ago."

"Chris, I am SO sorry. Where are you? Where were you when it happened?"

"We came to Bern, Switzerland, a couple of months ago, when Ed started getting worse. I found a nice rest home, one with a beautiful view of the Alps, Ed could see from his bed. As the days passed, his mind was completely gone from recognition. He didn't know me or where we were. Then, just as we expected, his vitals organs seemed to follow suit and one by one, they shut down. He died peacefully while I was holding his hand."

"Chris, I...I don't know what to say. I mean Ed was so dear to all of us. His work will continue to be honored and recognized all over the world for years to come."

"Thank you, Roger."

"I realize this might be premature, but are you going to bring him back to Briarwood for his interment?"

"No, I've been staying at a small cottage in a little village outside Bern. They have a small little cemetery and I want to lay Ed to rest here."

"Whatever you want, Chris, our thoughts are with you."

"Thanks."

"Do you have an idea of when and IF you're going to come back here yourself?"

"Before I answer, I should ask if my position at St. Genesius' is still vacant?"

"Vacant and waiting for your return. Stay as long as you like, then give me or Cliff a call and tell us your plan. Chris, we'll be waiting for you with open arms."

"I wish yours and Cliff's arms were around me right now."

"You want us to fly to Switzerland?"

"No way. Who would celebrate Sunday's eleven o'clock mass with Cliff here?"

"I see your point...but I could come."

"No, I'll...I'll see you soon enough."

"I'm sure Cliff will hold a mass in memory of Ed. One this week, and another when you get back."

"That would be nice."

"Chris, please contact Walter and have him how much you need for Ed's funeral."

"I...I will. Walter has been so good to us while we were traveling, of course, it was really YOU."

"Nonsense, it was my idea for you to take Ed on the trip in the first place. I don't deal with financial matters, Walter does all of that for me."

"I...I DO appreciate it, Roger."

"Look, Chris, if you're not in a hurry to get back to Briarwood, travel some more...just keep in touch with Cliff and me."

"I...I'll think about it. Right now, I can't think past today."

"I know. You've suffered a great loss as has the entire world."

"I suppose that's all I had to say to you...just thanks, and I love you and Cliff. You're about all the family I have now."

"And don't you forget it!"

"I won't...goodbye, Roger."

"Goodbye, son."

Roger hated to go back into the dining room with bad news. He took a deep breath and decided it could wait until later.

Almost at the exact time, Roger was talking with Chris, part two of the grief was about to occur at Cole Institute as Kyle sat beside Ryan's hospital bed.

"Can I get you anything, my love?" Kyle asked Ryan.

"About a dozen more years to spend with you and our two sons," Ryan replied in a weak voice.

"You know I would if I could, sweetheart!" Kyle said through new tears.

"I've been lying here thinking, Kyle, and you know the worst thing about dying? It's the unfairness that you and the boys will miss me but I won't be able to miss you."

"That's crazy, Ryan. You know the church teaches that you'll be with us in spirit until our time to join you."

"You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Sweetheart, do you remember the story of Harry Houdini, the magician when he died?"

"No."

"Well, he was the greatest escape artist of all time. He was sure that if anyone could find his way back to his loved ones, he would. The story goes that he died on Halloween and his wife and family believed that he would contact them or give them a sign of his presence the following Halloween. His family met on Halloween the following year and waited all day and all night and never got a sign of any kind. They met there for years and years, every Halloween, and so far as I know, his fans and followers have been doing that ever since...nearly seventy years ago...and the son-of-a-bitch hasn't come back yet...once."

"Maybe he wasn't religious. Maybe he needed God to help him find his way back to earth."

"You mean like that fucking idiot on TV who tries to make old ladies believe he can communicate with dead people who had crossed over? He's a fucking phony, too."

"I've never seen his show."

"Oh, he'll say things to his audience...Hmm...someone on this side of the audience has the initial "B"...then every Betty, Barbara, Bruce, and Bert raise their hands thinking it's one of them. Then, he says...'There is an "M" trying to contact me. Shit, everyone there had a mother, so all believe it HAS to be him or her to which the idiot is referring. 'This "M" suffered a long hard death'...which again figures into everyone's scenario. Then, he says, 'I see a picture of "M" on a mantel or a bedside table.' The asshole goes on and on this way until half the audience believes that he or she MUST be the one he's talking to, that the 'crossed-over' person MUST be a member of his or her family. It's all bullshit, Kyle. That's why I'm promising you here and now...don't expect me to contact you when I go...because there's no sense in getting your hope up for nothing."

"I won't. I promise," Kyle replied.

"There ARE two things I want you to promise me."

"What?"

"That if some guy comes along who you think you could be happy with and you think he'd make a good dad for Danny and Little Pete, go for it! Fall in love with him! Marry him and spend a long happy life together."

"I don't think I could..."

"Hush and listen, Kyle. Please! That's what I want and if you don't pursue the idea, I'll do my damnedest to come back in the form of a poltergeist and rattle every pot and pan in the kitchen, break all the windows, and rattle the shutters!"

Kyle laughed through his tears. "What's the second promise?"

"If you don't find someone right away, I want you to choose a friend, a Briarwood boy, or someone who the kids like and take our trip. I want our boys to see the world just as we promised them. They'll suffer enough disappointment with my death. Ease their pain by taking them to Europe, Egypt, India, and the North Pole to see Santa Claus. Just don't let them down. Do you promise?"

"My love, how could I refuse you? Of course I will."

"And now, sweetheart, since I'm had my say, I'm...I'm rather tired. I've talked too much, but these were important things to me and I had to say them to you."

"All right, lover, get some rest. I'll go see that the boys have everything ready for school tomorrow."

"Kiss them for me and read 'em a quick story."

"I will, only what story would you like me to read to them tonight?"

"Well, Danny is six and Little Pete is almost five, so read 'em something light...something like "Catcher in the Rye". They'll love it!"

"You idiot! The only catcher in the rye they'll hear from me is about Peter Rabbit!"

Ryan laughed weakly. "I love you, Kyle."

"I love you, too, my darling. See you first thing in the morning." Kyle gave him a gentle kiss, left Ryan's room and went home to the kids.

At approximately, 4:00 AM, Dr. Clay Lawson, Ryan's attending physician pronounced Ryan's time of death. Clay stood there at his looking at his patient's dead body and broke into tears. This job was becoming too much for Clay. How many more young deaths would he have to watch? He had to get away for a few days to think. He'd been invited by two married friends to come visit them in New York and Ryan's death convinced Clay he should make the trip.

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(To be continued in "Briarwood"--BOOK EIGHT---Chapter-eighty-two.)