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-three

"If I could've been what I could've been,

I could've been somethin'..."

Lyrics by Micki Grant

From the Broadway musical, "Working"

Copyright 1978

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In spite of their financial wealth and long-lasting, loving relationship, Kyle and Ryan had always thought of themselves as nothing more than average American 'friends of Dorothy'.. They both loved Streisand, Taylor, and Garland and, just as Liza planned for her mother, Judy's, funeral, Kyle borrowed her 'grief motif' and arranged for Ryan to have a yellow funeral at St. Genesius. All the flowers were to be bright yellow jonquils, chrysanthemums, asters, roses, orchids, carnations, daisies, and calla lilies. The male guests were requested to wear yellow shirts and/or ties and the females, yellow dresses, hats, and gloves. It was to be a yellow celebration of Ryan's life and death.

Father Cliff and Jeff wore yellow vestments, as did the altar boys. Nothing about the service was to appear gloomy. Instead of the usual hymns sung at funerals, all the songs were to be Sondheim compositions, Ryan's favorites...some even comical, such as "The Little Things We Do Together (make perfect relationships!)", others, more serious, like "Being Alive", "No One Is Alone", "Move On", and "Soon, I Promise", all sung by Rob and accompanied by Timmy on the piano. The two had flown down from New York. Rather than taking his scripture from the Bible or the Anglican Prayer Book, Cliff chose his text from Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" which Ryan had read so often, he could almost recite it from memory.

Solemnization was replaced by jubilation. It was a joyous occasion, just as Ryan had wished. Barely a tear was shed by anyone, including Kyle.

There were six rows of pews roped off down front for Kyle, Petey, and Danny to be surrounded by the immediate family of Briarwood Boys. Alex and Ted flew down from Mackintosh. Scott, the bartender who had been cured at Cole accompanied Ted and Alex on their flight. Tom and Mike asked Jake and Lee to sit next to them, along with Jay, Troy, Walter, Dave, and Roger with his arm around Billy, sat behind them as forefathers of the clan. Beside them were Doug and Charlie, the elder Briarwood adoptees. The only Briarwood Boy not in attendance was Johnny, who had remained at home to care for the twins.

Jeff acted as Father Cliff's deacon for the mass. Cliff's funeral sermon was as cheerful as he could make it. After the sermon, each Briarwood Boy arose and came to the lectern to relate his favorite anecdote about Ryan. There were many laughs during their remembrances. The church was overflowing with guests, friends, and well-wishers whose paths had crossed Ryan's over the years. Far in the back of the church on the last row sat Hal, whom Jeff had met at Denny's and was still a guest at Walter's house. Hal watched the ceremony wide-eyed in disbelief...first at the grandeur of the funeral and secondly, at the splendor of St. Genesius and its congregation. He was still in awe of the bidet in the guest bathroom and now all this? Wow! How great are these people and how wonderful is this town, this Briarwood?!!

After Cliff's benediction, Ted, Alex, Jay, Troy, Rob, and Timmy arose and came forward to assume the duties of pallbearers for Ryan's coffin, which incidentally, was white French Provincial with yellow trim. The six 'boys' hoisted the casket onto their shoulders as was the procedure in Old English churches and carried it up the aisle and out the door. It was followed by Kyle and his two boys and the rest of the Briarwood brothers and the entire assembly of mourners. They walked in a procession from the church to Cliff's house and driveway, and then to the far back lawn where Ryan's grave had been opened...next to Kendall's.

Any stranger passing through Briarwood for the first time would have thought they were all crazy for while they were marching, everyone was singing Sondheim's, "Side by Side by Side". Even though the tune was bouncy and cheerful, quite a few tears were shed anyway.

Hal was the last person to join the parade. He was still in shock at what he had just witnessed. "Boy, these folks know how to give a guy a good send-off!" he said to himself.

When the graveside service was over, Roger invited everyone inside the house for refreshments which Jay had spent two whole days preparing...yellow hors d'oeuvres, yellow sheet cakes and a yellow-colored punch made from Grand Marnier. The table was decorated with yellow candles, flowers, tablecloth, and napkins. The room looked as if Tinkerbelle had developed jaundice in her wand and zapped the entire dining and living rooms of Cliff and Roger's house.

Kyle, Cliff, Roger, Walter, and Dave formed a receiving line to greet the guests individually while Jeff took Petey and Danny outside to swing them in the huge roped swing which hung from a large oak tree. Hal felt like a stranger in a strangely wonderful land skipped the crowd and went outside to be with Jeff and Kyle's two kids.

When Jeff saw Hal, he asked, "Well, what did you think?"

"You mean about the funeral?"

"Yes."

"It was like something from a movie. Something I never could've imagined. Heck, back home in Hawthorne everyone that goes to a funeral whoops and hollers, sometimes they roll on the floor even if they don't know the dead person. I kept sittin' there in back of the church waiting on horses or elephants to come down the aisle. I didn't know what to expect next."

"That's the way Ryan wanted his funeral to be."

"He must've been a fun guy!"

"He was...so is Kyle, his lover."

"How long were they together?"

"Oh, about ten years."

"He didn't seem sad at all..."

"Why should he be? They had ten wonderful years together and I suppose they both did all their crying while Ryan was sick," Jeff replied, while pushing Petey higher on the swing.

"These are their two boys?"

"Sure are," Jeff said, as he stopped the swing. "Danny, Petey, I want you to meet a new friend of mine. His name is Hal."

"Hi, guys," Hal said.

"Hi," they answered, then Danny looked at Jeff and said, "Boy, he sure talks funny?"

Hal and Jeff laughed, "Danny, Hal has a southern accent. People from different parts of the country talk in different ways. You oughta hear what someone who's from Brooklyn, New York, sounds like. You'd really find that funny."

"What kind of accent do we have, Uncle Jeff?" Danny asked.

"Just plain old Briarwood, that's all."

"Hey, Hal, did you know that Petey and me are going to Europe and other places?"

"That's swell!"

"You ever been to Europe?"

"No, Danny, the biggest place I've ever seen is Atlanta, Georgia, and that was just for one night."

"Is Europe bigger than Atlanta?"

"I'm sure it is! There are lots of cities in Europe, though, which are larger, I think...London, Paris, Rome...lots of 'em!"

"My Daddy Ryan showed me a picture of Paris and they've got this big Ferris wheel there...the biggest one in the world and I'm gonna ride it!"

"Just be careful and don't fall off it!"

"I won't. I'm getting bigger every day."

Just then, Kyle came out of the house to join Jeff and his kids.

"Hey, Jeff," Kyle said.

"How you doin', bro?"

"Better since I came outside. How many times can I hear, 'I'm so sorry, Kyle,' without going nuts?"

"Why do you think I made a fast exit with Danny and Petey? Back in Mackintosh, I performed over a dozen funerals every week, that is until they all found out that they could live longer by coming to Cole."

"Why so many funerals in Mackintosh?" Hal asked.

Jeff suddenly realized he had failed to introduce Hal and Kyle. "Oh, excuse me, guys, for being so rude. Kyle, this is a new friend of mine, Hal. Hal, this is one of my 'adopted' brothers, Kyle."

"Nice to meet you, Hal," Kyle said, offering his hand.

"Same here, Kyle, I'm so sorry...oh, dammit! I forgot. I really AM sorry now."

Kyle took Hal's hand and grinned, "That's all right. I suppose I would've said the same thing to you if our situations had been reversed. Are you the guy staying at Walt and Dave's house?"

"Yeah, just for a day or so. I should've already been gone by now."

"Oh, where are you headed?"

"Gotta coin?" Hal asked. "Just flip it and I'll tell you."

"Kyle, Hal lost his brother a couple of weeks ago. It was very tragic."

"Oh, I'm sorry...heck, now I'm doing it to you," Kyle said to Hal.

"That's all right. Just call it 'pay back'. I didn't get to go to my brother's funeral, so I was spared of everyone telling me how sorry he was."

"Was your brother in an accident?"

Hal stood there unable to speak until Jeff intervened. "He was murdered, Kyle." Petey and Danny were playing tag on the lawn and weren't able to hear what Jeff said. "He was raped and murdered."

"Oh, my God!" Kyle said. "Did they catch the person or persons who did it to him?"

"Not that I know of."

"Jesus, going to Ryan's funeral today must have been hard on you!"

"I know it sounds kinda mean and cruel for me to say it, but I had a great time at the funeral. Everything was so cheerful and beautiful...not like anything I've ever seen back in Hawthorne...in the Carolinas."

"That's not mean and cruel, Hal. I thought it was lovely myself."

Jeff was watching Kyle and Hal together and they appeared to be quite compatible. He wanted to leave and see if a friendship might develop between them just as his dad, Walter, had hoped.

"Hey, would you two keep an eye on the kids while I go inside and tap a kidney? I won't be gone long," Jeff lied.

"Go ahead, the kids'll be fine and anyway, Hal and I have a lot in common to share."

Jeff almost shouted 'Yippee!' as he ran toward Cliff's house. Glancing back, he saw Hal and Kyle sit on a white wrought-iron settee.

"How old was your brother, Hal?"

"Just turned seventeen."

"God, that's terrible!"

"I...I was on the road, travelin' to God knows where and I wound up in Briarwood late the other night...and here's the strange part...I went into Denny's for breakfast and it just so happened that Jeff was in there at the same time...and we got to talkin' and I was askin' him about a motel to spend the night in...and, well, one thing led to another, and I mentioned that I was from Hawthorne and Jeff looked like I'd swatted him with a baseball bat because he said that two guys from Hawthorne had just moved into his house with him. I knew 'em both...and then he asked if I knew a young boy named, Noah? Noah! That's my brother's name...and then that's when Jeff figured it all out. He knew about Noah being killed and told me about it. That's the first I knew of...of what happened to him."

"God works wonders in strange ways," Kyle said.

"That's the same thing Jeff said."

"You said that Noah, your brother, was raped first?"

"Yeah...and then murdered?"

"Hal, would you be insulted if I asked if Noah was gay?"

"No, I wouldn't be insulted. Noah would be the first to tell you that he WAS gay."

"But you're not?"

"Nope, I don't think so. I had every girl in Hawthorne meowin' after me like alley cats."

"Did you go to school...I mean college?"

"I graduated high school, but college was not for me. I'm not 'book-minded' like Noah---well, like Noah was."

"So you held no grudge about Noah's being gay?"

"Shoot, no! I'm an open-minded liberal Democrat like my daddy was. Anything goes as far as I'm concerned."

A strange idea was coming into Kyle's thoughts.

"Hal, can I ask you a few personal questions?"

"I got nothin' to hide."

"Are you married or do you have an ex-wife or girlfriend?"

"Since Noah's gone, I got nobody...nobody except me."

"There's no family back in Hawthorne?"

"Some second and third cousins, I guess."

"How about...how about your life back in Hawthorne? What did you do for a living?"

"I was a mechanic! I can fix any car, any year, any model...I can do it all?"

"Did you ever get into trouble with the law?"

"Good Lord, no! There ain't no law in Hawthorne. If you do somethin' bad to someone or steal somethin' from somebody, then THAT person takes the law into his own hands and either beats the crap out of you or shoots you if it's necessary. No! I'm not a criminal."

"How are you around children? I mean, do you get along with kids? Do you like them?"

"I raised Noah like he was my own kid, not my brother. He had the cleanest reputation in all of Hawthorne and wound up as an all 'A's' student at a private school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I bathed him, clothed him, saw that he got three square meals every day. I taught him not to drink; not to smoke; not to use curse words...and he went to Sunday school every week, whether I went with him or not! I brought him up knowin' right from wrong and how to stand up and speak for himself like a man!"

Hal paused with a lump in his throat before continuing, "Noah was a perfect kid. I never knew why he turned out gay, but if that's what he wanted, then I supported his way of living. That's why it hurts so bad when I think of what happened to him. He didn't deserve it! Even though he was my brother, he was the finest kid I ever saw."

The longer Hal talked, the more impressed Kyle became with him. Kyle had heard Walter's hint that there might be someone who could accompany him and the kids on their tour. Hal must be the one Walt was referring to. Hal was straight and he had no problem about being around a gay person. Better yet, there would be nothing romantic that could develop between the two of them. He would be a good companion for Petey and Danny. Lord knows, Hal could protect them from anyone who might want to inflict harm upon them. He said he had no plans and no place to go. Perhaps, if Hal were to stay a few extra days in Briarwood for Kyle to evaluate him as a fellow traveler, the tour might be possible and the kids wouldn't suffer another disappointment, the possibility of which loomed after Ryan's unexpected death.

"Hal, how long to you plan on staying with Walter?" Kyle finally asked.

"I guess I was plannin' on leavin' tomorrow or the next day."

"How are you fixed for cash?"

"I got a few bucks and some credit cards. Why?"

"I was wondering if you might stay a few days and would like to earn some extra money before you go your way."

"What did you have in mind, Kyle?"

"I have tons of Ryan's belongings I would like to pack and store. So far, I don't think their father's death had really sunk in yet, as far as Danny and Petey are concerned. I don't want to erase any good memories that they have of him, but there are so many things Ryan left around the house. Things that NEED to be put away before they get in the way as a reminder of him. Ryan had books, tapes, movies, clothes, and loads of items I'll never use or read or wear. If there was just some way I could casually pick them up piece by piece in a manner so that they wouldn't think I was trying to hide them or destroy Ryan's memory...but I need someone to help me. I need someone to occupy their time or move things while I draw their attention. I'd be willing to offer you room and board and pay one hundred dollars an hour for assistance."

"A hundred bucks an hour? Nobody in the history of Hawthorne ever made TWENTY bucks an hour! Jesus! How many days are we talking about?"

"A week...maybe two.:

"Are you serious! Do you know how much money that is?"

"I could pay you more if it isn't worth your time."

"Christ Almighty! I'd do it for minimum wage just so long as I had a place to stay and food to eat."

"Then you'll consider it?"

"Heck, yeah! Let's go! Right NOW, and let's get to packin'!"

"Hal, if you really want to, when all the crowd inside Cliff's have gone home, you can go to Walter's and get your belongings and follow me to my house."

"Where do you live?"

"Don't laugh! Next door to Walter!"

"Criminy! What Jeff told me about the Briarwood Boys...you guys sure know how to stick together."

"We're just one big family from Briarwood to New York and now Mackintosh, New Hampshire."

"I wish my two friends up there knew where I was and what's happening to me!"

"Would you like to call them?"

Hal paused.

"I...I can't!"

"Oh?"

"It's a long story, Kyle. I'll tell you about it some time."

"I'd love to hear it, when you're ready...NOW, one final question!"

"Uh oh...I knew there was a catch..."

"Do you like broccoli?"

"That's it? You wanna know if I like broccoli?"

"Yep!"

"Shit, I used to grow it back home and grind it up and feed it to Noah for baby food!"

"Then it's all settled. You're coming home to live with Danny, Petey, and me!"

Unbeknownst to Kyle and Hal, while they were in the garden talking, Jeff was inside Roger and Cliff's house praying a 'miracle' would happen between the two of them. Little did Jeff know that his prayer was answered and an instant 'miracle' HAD occurred in the garden.

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With Ted and Alex having gone to Briarwood to attend Ryan's funeral, and with Jeff being gone, too, Johnny had his hands full tending to the twins and trying to manage the center in Mackintosh at the same time. He decided that as long as Wade and Steve had planned on moving there permanently, he might as well put them to work.

Neither of the former Hawthorne natives had any experience with filing or office work of any kind. The only reason either had ever used a phone was to call members of their immediate gang and challenge them to play pool at Smiley's. But they were both young, they were madly in love with each other, and they were eager to learn how to earn their keep.

The two were amazed at the orderly fashion in which Johnny kept the center. When Johnny had first taken over, every entry, every case history, every progress note, and all the personal information about the residents and clients had either been written by hand or by typewriter. Now, thanks to Doug and Charlie's benefaction, every item of information was computerized. Except for records or documents which contained important signatures or sign-offs, every folder had been destroyed in a huge bonfire.

It was assumed that over ninety percent of Mackintosh's population was comprised of HIV or AIDS patients or victims and many items were not necessary to keep in filing cabinets. Much information was just assumed for confidentiality's sake.

"Can either of you type?" Johnny asked Steve and Wade.

"Typewriter or computer keyboard?" Wade asked, innocently.

"They're the same, jughead!" Steve replied to him, smiling.

"Then, yes! I can!" Wade replied.

"All right, Wade," Johnny said, "THIS is your desk...your own personal desk!"

"Good Golly!" Wade exclaimed, sitting in his swivel chair and giving it a 'go-around'. "All the stuff on this desk is mine?" he said, looking at the stapler, the pens, pads, and secretarial supplies.

"All yours!" Johnny said. "Now, let's see what we can find for you to do, Steve."

"I suppose I can clean up, sweep, mop, dust, carry out garbage..."

"No, that job is assigned to someone else. Do you suppose you could use some of your southern accent and talk charmingly on the phone when someone calls for help?"

"I can try."

"Usually, someone calls asking to speak to me or one of the counselors. Other times, people may be asking for directions on how to get to Mackintosh or maybe there's something a resident needs such as food, medicine, or some other staple. Soon you'll learn how to handle these requests. The most important call that you might get is from someone who says he needs to talk...just talk."

"Why is that so important?"

"Because lots of times, he's calling for help. He might be considering suicide or maybe he's already taken an overdose or cut his wrists..."

"My God, people call here for that?"

"Not as often as they used to...but it still does happen."

"What do I do?"

"Try to get my or someone else's attention and transfer the call. You can almost tell by the sound of their voice. If you feel they're not suicidal and just want to talk...well, just talk with them. Be kind...friendly...become a pal, but don't let yourself get involved personally. Don't be frightened but sometimes some guy will call in and try to use the 'call for help' line to jerk off and try to get you to join him."

"Are you serious?"

"As a plane crash!"

"What do I do?"

"Don't upset them or make them angry, tell them that you have an important call on another line and put them on hold...then ignore them and discontinue your conversation."

"Do all cities have crisis centers?"

"Most do."

"Not in Hawthorne. Every guy I know would be calling all the time and the whole town would be jerking off at the same time!"

Steve's remark forced Wade to giggle.

"Okay, I'll be in my office getting some records for Wade to enter into his computer and you'll be on your own for a few minutes."

"Where do I sit?" Steve asked.

"Your desk is the one up front with the master phone. There are about a dozen lines you'll have to monitor, so if you get real busy, come get me! When the phone rings, just answer, 'Mackintosh Help Center'!"

"Johnny, before you go, I want to thank you for the way you've treated me and Wade since we got here. I know we've had family quarrels in the past, but I hope they're all behind us."

"Steve, we're kin. We have the same blood flowing through our veins. Jeff, the twins, and I are your family now. All is forgiven and forgotten and we love you...you AND Wade."

"We love you too, Johnny!" Wade chimed in.

"Okay, our work day has officially started. Let's help our friends and neighbors!" Johnny said as he went into his office.

When Johnny had closed the door to his office, Wade looked at Steve and said, "Wow! Do you feel as important as I do?"

"I never thought Johnny would find us work like this. It's great!"

Back in Hawthorne, Wade was one of the few guys who owned his own computer and had become quite a whiz at it. He began by clicking on odd-looking keys to see what would appear on the monitor. The first screen showed, "Active AIDS Patient Roster" and suddenly thousands of names started scrolling. "My Lord, Steve, you oughta see this!"

"What is it?"

"Millions of names...all living in Mackintosh and everyone of them has or has had AIDS!"

"It can't be millions. The town is not that big," Steve told him.

"Well, it looks like millions."

The phone rang, giving Steve his first call, "Good morning, Mackintosh Help Line!" Steve announced.

"Could you tell me if Father Jeff is there?" the voice asked.

"No, sir, Father Jeff is out of town for a few days. Could I help you?"

"I don't know. Who are you?"

Steve thought it best not to give out his name, so he replied, "My name is...is Hal." That was the first name that came to his mind.

"Hal...I need someone to talk to."

"All right, I have a few minutes. What would you like to talk about? I told you mine...so can you tell me your name?"

"I...I'm, uh, William."

"Nice to meet you, William. Do you live in Mackintosh?"

"No, but I'm thinking about moving there. I had a friend who used to live there and he told me that if I ever decided to come there, call this number and ask for Father Jeff."

"I'm sorry he isn't here to talk with you, but I am awfully glad you decided to call anyway."

"Hal? This place? Mackintosh? Do they still house AIDS patients there?"

"Yes, of course, William."

"Do you know if there are any vacancies?"

"From what Father Jeff told me, there are always vacancies in Mackintosh."

"And you DO have to have AIDS to live there?"

"Not necessarily. Why, I know of two people who moved here just a few days ago and neither of them has AIDS!", Steve was referring to Wade and himself, of course.

"How do you go about becoming a resident there?"

"We have a center right in the middle of Mackintosh where one can come in and be interviewed, fill out a few papers, and go looking for a place to live...all in the same day."

"God, it sounds so simple!"

"It is, William, believe me."

"Hal, I'll be frank with you. I need to come to Mackintosh!"

"You're sick?"

"I'm gravely ill."

"Is there a doctor you're seeing now?"

"Not any longer. He just sorta 'gave up' on me...and...I guess I did the same thing...I just 'gave up' on myself."

"Then, William, you've GOT to come to Mackintosh. Father Jeff told me about all kinds of miracles that have happened here...when everything else seemed hopeless!"

"Hal, have you ever heard the expression, 'look before you leap'?"

"All my life."

"Well, I'm afraid I leaped before I called you?"

"What do you mean, William?" Steve felt a pang of fear in his abdomen. He wished he weren't talking to William and he was afraid of what William would say next.

"I...I..." William began to cry. Steve turned around to Wade and mouthed, "Get Johnny, QUICK!" Wade ran to get Johnny.

"Just take it slow and easy, William, and tell me what you meant." Steve said.

"I'm afraid I took a whole bottle of Xanax before I called you."

"How many were in the bottle, William?"

"I don't know...forty...fifty...maybe more."

"How do you feel right now?"

"Kinda dopey. Like I want to go to bed."

In a flash, Johnny was at Steve's desk. He whispered, "What is it, Steve?"

Steve placed his hand over the phone's mouthpiece. "This kid on the phone...he has AIDS and he's just taken a whole bottle of Xanax."

"Steve, don't let him fall asleep. Keep talking to him while I have the telephone call traced."

"Uh, William, the last thing you want to do is go to sleep! I've got all kinds of things to show you once you get to Mackintosh!"

"If I had called sooner...maybe I would've got to see them."

"You still can. Listen, I want you to stay awake...and...and SING to me!"

Johnny was on another line talking to the New Hampshire Highway Patrol. They were having the phone traced. In a matter of seconds they had located William's phone number and address. It was in Coburn, New Hampshire, fifty miles west of Mackintosh. The NHHP dispatched a car to William's address immediately.

"SING to you?" William said. "WHY, FOR GOD'S SAKE?"

Johnny returned to Steve's desk and asked him to turn the phone call over to him. Steve handed the phone to Johnny.

"His name is William..." Steve whispered.

"Hey, William?" Johnny spoke to him.

"What? Who are you?" William asked Johnny.

"My name is Wesley." Johnny replied.

"I don't want to talk to you! I wanna talk to Hal."

"Er, Hal's on another line at the moment, he asked if I would talk with you."

"I DON'T WANNA FUCKIN' TALK TO YOU! I HAVE TO SING FOR HAL! PUT HAL BACK ON THE FUCKIN' PHONE OR I'M GONNA HANG UP!"

Feeling almost helpless, Johnny had deterred thousands of suicides in his lifetime and thought it best to turn the conversation back over to Steve, whom William trusted.

"Here!" Johnny said, giving the phone back to Steve.

"What?" Steve said, "Johnny, I can't..."

"DO IT, COUSIN!" Johnny ordered.

Steve returned to the phone. "William, are you still there?"

"Yep...all tuned up and ready to sing with you."

"All right, William, listen! I used to live in North Carolina and I'm a bit homesick...so do you know, 'On Top Of Old Smoky'?"

"Sure...you start and I'll join you!"

Steve was all but tone deaf but if it meant saving William's life, he wearily began to croon, "On top of old Smoky...all covered in snow..."

William joined Steve on the next line, "I lost my true lover...for courtin' too slow."

Steve wasn't sure of the words to the next three verses but he managed to make them up as he went. William wasn't listening, he was just singing incoherently, anything that came to his mind."

As they were about to go into the fourth refrain, Steve heard another voice on William's phone. "Is this Mackintosh Crisis Center?", the voice asked.

"Yes!" Steve replied.

"This is Officer Franklin, we have your 'jumper'. His breathing is labored but I think we found him in time. Thank you for your good work!"

"Thanks, Officer. If you see William when he's alert, tell him I want to see him in Mackintosh, ASAP."

"I'll do that, sir, and again, thanks!"

Tears of relief streaked down Steve's face. Wade had watched the entire episode from his desk and had already broken into tears. Johnny had his arm around Steve's shoulder as Steve stood up and all but collapsed in Johnny's arms. Johnny didn't let Steve fall. He held him close to his chest and hugged him for all his worth.

"You done good, Cuz!" Johnny said, "You just earned your first star in your crown."

"Thanks, Johnny! This is the first time in my life I've ever helped anyone besides myself."

"How does it feel?"

"I can't find any words...I'm just so glad I have you, Wade, and Jeff and for once I guess I feel my life IS worthwhile, after all."

"You're gonna get lots more chances just like that one. Get used to it! There's a whole lot of people who need you."

By now, all three, Johnny, Steve, and Wade, were crying. This was a moment that would change Steve's life forever.

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All the attendees at Ryan's funeral had left Cliff and Roger's house finally. Troy was helping Jay clean up the dining room and refrigerating the leftovers. Jeff was watching videos with Petey and Danny in the 'theatre room' where DVD's could be shown on a theatre-size screen with 5.1 stereo surround sound. The two kids wanted to watch "Finding Nemo" but Jeff had talked them out of it and chosen Disney's "Aladdin" instead.

In spite of Jeff's mischievous youth and all the wild shenanigans he played on Alex when they were teenagers. Jeff had sounded like a harsh conservative a few Sunday's ago when he preached his sermon on "Nemo". Granted, the c.g.i. animated film was a landmark achievement production-wise and had garnered over one billion dollars at the worldwide box offices; Jeff had all but been horrified when he viewed it for his one and only time. It seemed that every two or three minutes of the plot, one or more of the characters was being terrorized by some dangerous encounter. Even Jeff had looked away from the screen several times. Were the Hollywood critics and adult audiences so enthralled by the cartoonization that they were unaware of how frightening the sequences were to children?

Some members of Jeff's congregation were amused by his sermon, others were outraged and thought Jeff was ignorant of what kids today enjoyed. Just as he had used Bambi's mother's death to illustrate the loss of a parent, there always seemed to be one segment of a Disney film to either scare or bring a child on the verge of tears. Jeff had only seen Old Yeller's death once. That was enough...and having seen "Finding Nemo" once, later that night he had nightmares of sharks, whales, scary little girls with plastic bags, and so on. Robin Williams playing the genie was safe as far as Jeff's parental oversight was concerned.

Cliff, Roger, Walt, and Dave were sitting out in the screened-in veranda, enjoying a snifter of brandy, reminiscing about Ryan's funeral earlier in the day.

"It was a lovely service, Cliff," Walt said.

"Thanks, Walt, I tried to follow Ryan's wishes to a 'T'," Cliff replied. "We'll all miss him."

"Somehow, God's ways don't always seem fair," Dave added.

"I know, Dave," Roger spoke up. "Often when I see a young person expire at Cole, I wonder if they achieved the goal God had in mind for him when he was born. A baby, for example, who never got a chance to enjoy much of life, suddenly 'taken' so soon. Sometimes I say the purpose of the child's death was to strengthen its mother or father in accomplishing some task yet to come. BUT, when the child has no father...he's either dead or completely out of the picture and the child's mother is on another floor at Cole dying from AIDS...I can't see any reasoning in the Almighty's plan."

"Maybe you're right, Rog...maybe not...but their lives and their deaths affected you and other members of your staff. Maybe their purpose was to help all of us to strive harder to find cures or treatments so that hundreds of other kids and young mothers could benefit from them," Cliff said, wisely.

"Even so," Roger continued, "I look at Kyle, Petey, and Danny, knowing how happy they were and how much they loved Ryan. If Ryan's death served a purpose, I fail to see it."

"You will in time, Walt," Cliff said, "we all will...and speaking of Kyle, he left early with that young man who's staying at your house. I didn't get a chance to meet him. Am I correct in assuming that he went home with Kyle?"

"I thought Jeff introduced him to you, Cliff. His name is Hal Carson. He's a fine young man... with a somewhat bucolic personality...handsome, rugged, with a heavy southern Carolinian accent. Jeff recently had two of Hal's friends move in with him in Mackintosh. As a matter of fact, one of those boys is Johnny's cousin...the other. the cousin's new boyfriend."

"Good Lord, Walt, Jeff DOES get around. Bless him!"

"And Cliff, in case you're wondering about Hal's going home with Kyle, let me assure you that he's strictly heterosexual. His younger brother was gay and unfortunately was raped and murdered a couple of weeks ago while attending a private school in Chattanooga."

"Gay bashing?" Roger asked, quite concerned.

"No one knows for sure. The mere fact that the kid was raped first usually shows signs of abnormal psychosis. The police haven't caught the murderer yet, but I suspect the perpetrator was either gay or had latent homosexual tendencies. Gay bashers always seem to kill their victims or mutilate the sex organs. They don't take time to rape their prey to orgasm before killing them. Call it guilt or whatever, they don't want to let their victims know that they are enjoying having sex with them."

"So Kyle and Hal only met this afternoon and Kyle asked him to move in? What's that all about?" Roger asked, changing the subject.

"Well," Walt said, "I suppose I'm partly to blame...along with Jeff."

"You devil!" Cliff mused, "What deviousness are you two up to?"

"Kyle mentioned to me that he wished he could find someone to help him pack a lot of Ryan's personal things...you know to get them out of Petey and Danny's sight as constant reminders. I knew that Hal was not heavy in dough, so I thought he might pick up a few extra bucks by helping Kyle."

"So what's so devious about that?" Cliff asked.

"Well...now Cliff, don't get your dander up and deliver a wrathful sermon because of me next Sunday. I talked it over first with Dave and Jeff and wondered if it might be in God's plan for Hal to accompany Kyle and the kids on their tour. I know how much the kids looked forward to it and you know as well as I that Kyle wouldn't go away without another adult to help look after the kids...and, well,...Jeff arranged for Kyle and Hal to meet. I think he even prayed about it...to see if God would let them get to like one another well-enough to take a trip together."

"Walt! When in hell did you ever play 'Dolly Levi' before? I'm shocked...amazed...and...rather pleased." Roger said, smiling.

"Well, my loves, I'd better tell Jeff to get the kids back home to Kyle," Walt said, "Hopefully, Hal and Kyle have become friends by now. That's enough accomplishment for one day."

"Well, at least Hal's straight," Roger said, "Kyle can rest knowing that he won't have to be tempted so soon after becoming a widower...not that he would, of course,... it's just that..."

"We all know what you mean, Roger," Dave said. "Even though I had no part in Walt and Jeff's tomfoolery, I hope it does work out between them so that they can take the kids to Europe and beyond..."

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Hal was thunderstruck when he saw his room at Kyle's house. It was equally as large, roomy, and luxurious as the one he had slept in at Jeff's dad's house. 'Jesus!' Hal thought, 'Is EVERYONE in Briarwood rich?' Then he walked into his bathroom and once again, he noticed a bidet. 'Christ! Don't any of them know how to wipe their asses on regular toilet paper? The only times I ever bathed my butt was when I took a bath twice a week', he thought to himself.

"Hal, I hope you like your room," Kyle said. "Also, when you're sleeping, you might want to lock your door."

"Oh? This rich part of town has burglaries?"

"Oh, no, but you might be invaded by two little monsters who might decide you need something other than a teddy bear to sleep with...like a toad, a garden snake, or a cage full of crickets."

"Heck, Kyle, that won't bother me none. Down in Hawthorne everyone had frogs, lizards, garden snakes, and all kinds of creepy-crawly bugs in their houses all the time."

"Well, don't say that you weren't warned," Kyle laughed. "Petey and Danny are wonderful kids, but they have their Daddy Ryan's disposition when it comes to playing pranks. One day I was in the kitchen and took out a large pot to fill with water. I got called away to the phone and when I returned, I picked the pot up to put it on the stove and the damned pot jiggled in my hands. I sat it down quickly and took off the lid and a small wild Canadian goose flew up at me and kept circling the kitchen while Ryan and the boys stood in the doorway laughing their heads off!"

Hal laughed at Kyle's story; then his face became more somber. "You guys must've been pretty doggoned happy together."

"Mornings, noons, nights, days, weeks, months, years...forever."

"Please, don't take this the wrong way...but I envy you."

"You're life wasn't so great, huh?" Kyle asked, seriously.

"Oh, it was fun most of the time...but nothing like you. I mean, I never had anyone I could.....I mean, Momma and Poppa were both gone and there was just me and Noah. I was sixteen and Noah was twelve when we were left all alone. Many folks wanted to take Noah home with them and raise him, but there was this judge who knew my folks...he lived just down the road from us...and he said I could keep Noah and he'd look in on us to make sure we had food and stuff."

"You had no uncles or aunts?"

"Nah, just some cousins. I had a bunch of buddies who spent most of their spare time at my house. They'd bring food and stuff from their own homes for Noah and me. Steve, my best friend, is livin' with Jeff up in Mackintosh now...along with another friend, Wade."

"How did Jeff know Steve?"

"Steve is Johnny's first cousin. They're family."

"I also had a couple of buddies, Randy and Tyler. We was all close. They'd baby-sit with Noah while I went cavortin' on the weekends with every available girl in Hawthorne."

"Did you ever get serious with one of them?"

"Yeah, Carolyn. She and I were gonna get married the same week Noah was killed."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, she was pregnant and we got into a big argument about her wanting an abortion and we broke up. She left me without telling me where she was goin'. That's when I drove to Chattanooga to see Noah, I had no idea it'd be the last time I'd ever see him."

"Jesus, Hal, it sounds as if you've been through hell. You must be awful lonely."

"I'm kinda numb with the feeling. Since I didn't see Noah's body or get to go to his funeral, in my mind, I guess, he's not really dead. He's just off at school and I'll see him at Christmas when he comes home...only...only he won't come home...and I won't be there either."

"I suppose I'm lucky to have Petey and Danny. As long as they're around, I feel that Ryan is too."

"They're lucky to have you."

"Hal, it's plain to see that you're suffering with grief as much as I. I only met you this afternoon, but do you think we might be able to offer one another some kind of support system."

"I don't have much money, but you're welcome to have what I can give you."

"I don't mean money, Hal. God knows, you'd probably keel over if you knew how much money Ryan and I have--I mean had. Well, you know what I mean....."

"Then, I guess I misunderstood you when you said, 'support system'. I don't need your money either. You offered me a good payin' job and, heck, I'd've helped you for nothin'...even if you don't want to pay me."

"Oh, I'm going to pay you what I promised, Hal. Our work agreement and our contract stands as I proposed, I was talking about an emotional support system."

"OH?"

"Now, please don't take ME the wrong way. You know that I'm gay and I know you're not and I think we respect each other's lifestyles. I've worked many hours at the Cole Institute and counseled many grieving parents, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, best friends, yes, and lovers...and the thing they need most is someone to talk to. Someone to open up to and bare their grief and sorrow. I think that's what you and I both need. Someone to just...'be there' for. If either of us wants to talk or if we feel like crying, then neither of us will have to do it alone."

"I think that would be nice, Kyle."

"When the kids are at school, this house can seem awfully big and lonely. Ryan and I were together 24/7...hardly ever out of the other's sight. We were constant companions for over ten years...and very frankly, it's going to be difficult learning to live without him."

"There wouldn't be any kind of sex involved if I stayed around for a while?"

"None whatsoever. We have four cars in the garage and I want you to feel free to drive any or all of them...and if you should find some young lady in Briarwood and want to take her on a date...you'd be free to do so. I'll also add that if you want to bring one of them here to your room for sex or whatever, do it, but just be discreet around the children. They've never seen a naked woman in this house ever."

"Oh, I'd never do that. I never let Noah see me come home with a girl. When I had sex, it was usually in the back seat of my car or in some cheap motel room...but hardly ever...the price of the room wasn't worth the price of pussy. Oops! I guess I'll have to start using better language, huh?"

"You'll get used to it. Ryan and I could never use foul words without Danny preaching us a sermon. Believe me, he'll keep your vocabulary clean."

Hal dropped his head, grinning. Then he looked at Kyle, more seriously.

"Kyle...can I ask why you're offering all of this to me? I mean, I'm sure there are lots of gay guys in Briarwood that would jump at this chance. Hell, I must've seen hundreds of them at the funeral this afternoon."

"Hal, for the present, I don't want a gay guy living with me. I don't want to have to watch over my shoulder when I'm about to shower or if I should walk around the house in my underwear wondering if he's having private thoughts about me. Ryan, myself, and our two kids often go around the house stark naked. Living with a straight guy would allow me to have that same freedom."

"Yeah, but what if the shoe's on the other foot? I like to walk around in my shorts or sometimes without 'em. You're gay. Are you gonna be givin' me the fish eye?"

"Ryan was the last person I ever seduced...and will probably be THE last one, period. All my life I've been gay and I've lived long enough to know it's useless to try to make eyes at someone who doesn't play for the same team as I!"

"Okay, as long as that's understood. I'll just try not to look at you if you won't look at me if we're naked."

"That's a deal!" Kyle said, "Now if you'd like to unpack your clothes and scout around in your bathroom to see if there's anything you need...or if you'd like to explore the house or outside near the pool...make this your home."

"Thanks, Kyle."

"No, thank you, Hal."

"Uh...listen..."

"Yes?"

"About that support system...?"

"Yes?"

"Would it be breaking a rule if from time to time we needed a hug? I mean I made such a big deal about this straight/gay business...but, hell, I used to hug my best friend when either of us felt like we needed one."

"You feel like you need a hug, Hal?"

"Kinda..."

"Me, too."

Slowly and timidly, they walked toward one another. Neither knew who was to make the first move. Twice, they both raised their arms to embrace, but both times they lowered their arms in the same movement.

Finally, Hal took the initiative and said, "Ah, hell!" and he grabbed Kyle, putting both arms around his back and drawing their bodies tightly together. Each turned his head from the other's to avoid any temptation of a kiss. They embraced for a long time, releasing whatever emotion of grief and loneliness either had locked inside. Tears were forming in their eyes. Neither of them wanted to break the mood or end the moment. Just a plain, good old-fashioned hug was what they both needed. They were unaware of how long they had been standing there until the door to Hal's room suddenly burst open and Jeff yelled, "Hey! We're home!"

Call it d'éja vu, but Jeff had the same embarrassed feeling he experienced when he was nine years old and walked into Walter and his mother's bedroom to view their naked bodies having intercourse.

"Oh, my God!" Jeff said. Fortunately he was alone; he had left the kids downstairs in the kitchen. "I..I'm so sorry...I..." Speechless, Jeff left and closed the door behind him.

Hal was pale as an Easter lily, "Good Lord, what will he think...?"

"Nothing..." Kyle said with assurance. Jeff is not only my adopted brother and closest friend, but remember, he's a priest!"

"Oh, shit, I forgot!" Hal said.

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(To be continued in "Briarwood"---BOOK EIGHT--chapter--eighty-four.)