This is a fictional story. It is based on many experiences and fantasies of the author. If you are really into graphic sex, it may not satisfy your purpose for coming here. If you like to hear of real love and real teen angst, with a little sex thrown in, you are in the right place. There may be some amount of graphic sex between males. If this is objectionable to you, or you are legally too young to be here, you are cordially invited to press your back button.
Characters: Denny (Dennis Andrew Miggs), 20
Garth Roth, 22
Randy Small, 24
Bob, Denny's Brother 3 years older
Gail, Bob's wife
Jack, Denny's oldest brother, 9 years older
Jack's son's, Jacky, Bobby and DennyToo
Denny's dad, James
Denny's mom, Carol
Ray, Denny's dad's Deputy D.A. friend
Randy's mom and step dad, who shall remain nameless!
Roddy, Flight Attendant
Rollie, Garth's dad
Rob, Garth's cousin
From Chapter 12:
"Are you -- that is -- I mean" I stammered, "Are you with anyone -- at the moment?" I asked Rob.
"I have never been with anyone. I was really fond of this little guy who is more like a brother, Seth, but it's too MUCH like he's my brother. And the only guy I ever kissed was another young guy. I can't even remember his name! Were thrown together by an emergency. He is almost as tall as me. Oh! His name is Lenny! He and I were both pretty mixed up that night. He was already in kind of a relationship, and I was -- well, had just admitted it to myself that I was gay. One thing led to another and we found ourselves alone in a parking lot of a restaurant. It was a cold night and the windows had gotten fogged up from talking. Before I knew it we were kissing! He's the only guy I ever kissed. I was so ashamed!" His expression changed. "You know what my friends -- all gay -- told me when I told them, don't you?"
"Something like, DUH!?"
"That's EXACTLY what they said! I wonder how many times it is that everyone else knows before the gay guy knows!" He looked down and his pajamas were tented. He looked down at mine -- but my covers were still around me. He turned red. "Excuse me -- better get dressed." and he jumped out and headed for the other room.
I got dressed and we knocked on the other guys' door. Roddy answered, looked at us and gave me an undeserved "knowing look"! Rob drove us to the airport, and insisted in treating us all to breakfast before taking us to our terminal. We hugged goodbye (Only Rob and I) and he drove off.
As soon as he was two car lengths away, Randy and Roddy, grinning, both exclaimed, "Well -- what happened?"
"Nothing."
Chapter 13
"Nothing??" Roddy asked incredulously.
"Nothing!"
"Not even a kiss?" Said Randy.
"A kiss?" I repeated. "A kiss is one of the most intimate things you can do!"
"He's right, Randy." Roddy verified.
"Well -- I -- ah - " For some reason,. Randy looked hurt.
"Randy -- that's why I have not kissed you." Rod said. "We have had lots of fun getting reacquainted -- well considering we were never acquainted in the first place - "
Randy stood, legs and arms open. "Well?"
"Well - - ?" Roddy looked bewildered. "Well, what?"
"I'm ready -- if you are."
"What -- you want to Kiss me -- right here in the middle of the airport?"
"We're in Kansas City! Who will see us -- that we care about?"
"Dude, I am a flight attendant! Any number of - "
"Oh!" Randy looked whipped. "Sorry." He looked at me. I was feeling a little uncomfortable -- since I had already kissed Randy. He gave me the slightest smile. Was that an encouragement? He looked so silly standing there with his head bandaged up, smiling like Goofy!
"What??" Roddy said, now more confused than ever.
"Nothin'." Randy said. "When does out plane take off?"
"Actually we better get up there. We're pretty late, considering I have to get all checked in, and stuff."
"I thought," I started, "that you guys just showed up at the last minute."
"Let's go! We can talk on the way up!" Roddy said. "Yeah, if it was just me -- I could show up at the last minute -- but in order to get you guys bumped up and to make sure I am in first class -- we should have been there a little earlier. But I wanted to give you and Rob as much time as possible."
"Thanks, but -- I doubt I'll ever see him again." I said.
"What?" They both replied.
"I don't know -- he seems to -- er -- refined or something -- I don't think he would even consider seeing me in that way."
"I think you're wrong!" Randy proclaimed. "I saw the way he looked at you -- hungrily!"
"I don't know about that!" I replied. "He may have been just horny -- what do you think, Roddy?" I was really hoping Rod would agree with Randy. Roddy was more experienced than we were.
"You -- you may be right, Denny. It's hard to say. So you know he's gay -- for sure?"
"I -- well - " I stammered, trying to get my disappointment under control, "He's just barely admitted it to himself."
"Oh!" Roddy said. As I was trying to read something good into that "oh" he continued. "Well, he's probably pretty confused right now. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you."
Completely deflated, I said, "Well, I wasn't anyway. He's about to graduate from UCSB. He'll be up to his eyeballs for the next few weeks." We arrived at the airline employees room. We were too late. Assignments were already made. Another flight attendant wanted to be in first class, and he could not bump us up this time. We were assigned to the back of the plane. Well, at least he would be serving us.
As we took off, the sun was already disappearing over the horizon. It "Came up" again as we gained altitude, but quickly was replaced by stars. No clouds on this night. They turned the lights off in the cabin. It was a little cool in the cabin, so when the flight attendant offered a blanket, I said yes. It wasn't Roddy. As it turned out, he was assigned way up front, just outside first class. We never saw him except when we set down in LAX.
Well, that's not exactly true.
Randy was not cold when she offered the blankets, but soon he was uncomfortable. I let him use part of mine. Both covered up, we had raised the armrest between us. He laid his head on my shoulder, and took hold of my hand. It felt very natural. I was next to the window, and as I was relaxing -- leaned on a pillow against the window frame, almost asleep myself, I saw Rod coming toward us. I closed my eyes. It was dark enough that he could not see me peeking. He stopped and looked at us, looked up and down the aisle, and then sighed. Even though we were covered, I'm sure he saw that Randy had my hand in his, and they were on top of his crotch. I felt bad for Rod, but -- for me -- I felt very warm and fuzzy -- and good!
When we landed, we of course had to wait for Rod to greet everyone exiting the plane. We walked in silence -- total silence -- to my car. Rod had left his at my parent's house. On the drive home, Roddy broke the silence. "So you guys looked pretty cozy on the plane."
"Yeah -- I slept most of the way!" Randy said. "Big ol' Denny's swimmer body is nice and soft! It really did feel like I had a big brother for awhile."
That's what it was, huh? Ho-kay. I did not comment. It felt better than that to me. I was depressed -- sort of. When we got to my parents house, Roddy transferred his stuff to his car and took off for home. Randy and I went in and my parents were waiting. They hugged both of us, and told us to worry about our unpacking for later. We gratefully went in and collapsed on my bed.
As I lay there, I reviewed the weekend. How uneasy I had felt when I had to help dress Garth's body. How easily I was distracted by a new face. How hopeful I was on the airplane. Were these just manifestations of the grieving process, I reasoned. Or was I maybe not as "in love" with Garth as I romantically wanted to believe. I was confused and melancholy. As I was pondering these things, I felt my breathing get slower and slower.
Then I felt a hand on my face. "You awake, Denny?"
"Yeah." I was barely. "You need something, Bro?"
"Yeah -- well more like `want' something."
"Anything!"
"You may change your mind when you find out what I want."
I turned fully to him, and could see his outline from the window behind him. "Whatever you want, I will do for you -- if it's in my power. What is it?"
"Could you -- kiss me -- goodnight?"
Tears sprang immediately to my eyes. I was again confused, but I wanted this so much! I rolled closer and gently touched his lips with mine, almost afraid what his reaction would be. He pulled my head in closer with his hand and thrust his tongue between my lips. I opened my mouth and let it happen. I didn't know where it would go -- or why he was doing this -- after our conversation earlier about kissing being the most intimate thing.
As I was kissing him and pondering this, he pushed me down and crawled on top of me, kissing me ever so much more powerfully. "Hey!" I warned, "Be careful, Dude. You don't want to hurt yourself."
"I'm okay. Just -- Denny -- I -- I really think that -- I love you."
"You know I love you, Randy -- I do!"
"No! I mean -- I think I am falling in love with you!" He said as he ground his groin into mine.
"I think maybe you're just horny!" I said, afraid to believe it could be true.
And BOY! I WANTED it to be true!
"I am horny! But it's more than that."
"But -- but -- you and Rod -- what - - ?"
"Rod and I did exactly -- nothing."
"But you seemed so -- close!"
"We are! I told you I sort of knew him a long time ago. But -- now that we both know we're gay -- and we know each other are -- it's like he's my old best friend!"
"Randy -- when you were asleep -- on the airplane -- he came back to see us. You were holding my hand, and your were sleeping on my shoulder. I -- I -- pretended to be asleep - "
"Why did you do that?"
"I didn't want to -- Well -- I just didn't want -- (ahem!) I felt bad for him. And it was dark, so he could not tell I was watching him. Randy -- he looked so disappointed!"
"Really?" Randy asked. "I had no idea."
"I can't believe that! I saw the way you were looking at him!"
"You were seeing what you thought you wanted to see, maybe. I could not show you how I felt about you while you were -- at Garth's funeral. I even feel bad putting this on you now! But -- I just wanted you to know."
"Wow! Well, now I'm -- more confused -- that I ever was. I just," I paused.
"Well, take your time, Denny -- really. But for this moment in time, - I owe you something."
"What?"
"This." He kissed me again and then went down on me. He was clumsy -- probably as clumsy as I was the first time I did this -- to him. I at first lay there -- my body almost convulsing, as he played and licked at my manhood. Then he took me into his mouth, and started to bob quickly up and down. I felt myself starting to rise, and tried to get him to stop, but he persisted and milked me dry! Then he came back up and kissed me again. "Does that taste good to you? It's your own, you know."
Then he lay his bandaged head on my chest and squeezed my quickly softening piece, and kissing my chest and nipples. His kisses became more and more soft, until I heard a sigh and he was asleep on my chest. I squeezed him and rolled us to our sides. It was more than an hour later when I fell asleep. So much to think about. So much to consider.
I opened my eyes, and it was getting light in my room. I looked directly into Randy's eyes. He simply said, "We're even". And he pecked me on the nose.
I knew we weren't. He had told me he loved me -- that he was in love with me -- or at least that he thought he was. I did not make that commission. Maybe because he was so much older than I was, he was surer of how he felt. 20 years old is very young to be deciding things like that. Or maybe he was as confused as I was. He was no more experienced than I was -- actually less, at least physically! He went into the bathroom. I followed. He peed, then stepped into the shower. I peed. then locked both doors and stepped into the shower. He was surprised. "I thought maybe you could use some help washing your back.."
"Only if I get to wash yours too!" Then he added, "Your back that is!"
"What else?" I said, as I soaped up a wash cloth.
"Your choice!" He said and giggled.
I started scrubbing his back, then worked on his shoulders and on down to his chest. He turned around and put his slippery, soapy chest against my own, then tip-toed up and kissed me again. I grabbed his butt and massaged it with my slippery fingers, letting my fingers go deep into the crack. He moaned and kissed me deeper. I moved both my hands up to his back and shoulders again, and he grabed my already swollen woody! I had a very sharp intake of air, then he slowly stroked down it with his soapy hand. I moaned louder than I meant to. This only encouraged him, so he started to go faster. I stopped him.
"Randy -- I'm -- not -- are you sure you want to do this?"
"I am," he said, breathlessly -- and a little hoarse, "If you are. I -- I don't wanna push you but - "
"But it was I who followed you in here!"
At that he kissed me again, and stroked faster. I grabbed him and started doing him at the same time.
All of a sudden, I felt my self "getting there", and I stopped him. "WAIT!" I said in a hushed but eager whisper. I continued to stroke and when he started to breath heavier, he seemed to know it was time. He started to jack as fast as he could and then he was spouting all over me -- then it was my turn! We shot our stuff all over each other, then came back together for another kiss, Slipping around with all the soap and cum between us! Then we soaped down again and washed it all off. I got out and handed him his towel.
There was a knock at the door. "Can you boys come out for breakfast soon?"
"We'll be there in a minute, Mom!" And we both had to stifle our giggles. We got dressed and as I started to unlock the door, he grabbed me.
"Suck buddies?"
"Well -- how about `suck brothers'?"
"For now?"
"For now!"
We went to school, and then back to the dorm, after classes and band practice. But we promised my parents to come back and stay with them until at least the bandages are off -- and then only when the doc said it was okay. The doctor was permissive in letting randy go to KC, but he still wanted Randy close to the hospital now.
We commuted for a week. The bandages came off the second day, and at the end of the week, the doc said it was okay to go back to the dorm. So we packed up our stuff on Sunday night. We loved sleeping in my big bed -- but the one at the dorm was a double -- and we didn't sleep that far apart anyway. And at the dorm we would have more privacy.
We carried our stuff into the dorm room,, threw it on his bed and immediately grabbed each other and started kissing each other passionately The light was off, but it was still late afternoon, so the room was lighted from outside.
"So I guess I can presume that you two are a couple?"
We stopped cold! Stunned, we turned toward the upper bunk, where there was a guy we had never seen!
"Sorry! The dean said you were not going to be here for about a week."
We just stood there, stunned -- until finally I said, "Oh my God, I'm so sorry!"
" `S okay, stud! I'm straight, actually -- but I'm cool with it!" Then he added, "Actually it looked pretty hot! I'm Tad." And he jumped down and offered his hand. He was a "tad" taller than I, and I guess he was telling the truth about it looking hot. He was in boxer briefs, and they were tented! He looked down and chuckled. "I told you!"
We all laughed nervously, and shook hands all around. I was pretty new to the gay scene -- well, actually I had no idea what the "scene" was. I only had been intimate with Garth and now with Randy, but - - - I was pretty sure that any guy who was that "affected" by seeing us kiss was not totally straight. But I didn't argue the point. This snapped through my mind, before I finally said, Oh! Well! Hey! It's nice to meet you, Tad." I looked a little closer, and he was an average looking guy -- about like me -- but he had the clearest blue eyes I had ever seen, and a delicious smile. And I also couldn't help notice that his tented shorts were not abating.
"I guess maybe you need a little explanation." Tad said. "I have been driving to school every day since September, from Downey. The dean seemed to think that I might fit in here okay. I'm not sure exactly what he means by that, now that I'm here, but as I said, I'm okay with it."
Well, I was pretty sure what the dean meant. This boy was almost swishy. He even had a bit of a tongue thrust. (Another way of saying he had a lisp!) But I was so taken in by that wonderful smile -- and those eyes! Is this the way 20 years old is supposed to be? Is it normal for me to be turned on by every cute guy I see? Is it okay?
One thing I was sure of was I was disappointed that Randy and I were not going to have the privacy we wanted. "So, Tad -- you are -- welcome here. Standard rules here, of course."
"Standard rules?"
Now I had to think of some standard rules! "Oh, you know, no loud music -- or anything after 9:00 PM, always knock before entering -- especially if you have someone else with you -- stuff like that -- mostly just respect your roommates."
"No problem. By the way -- it looked like you two had already chosen the lower beds, so I hope it's okay that I have the upper there."
"It's okay, but -- maybe you'd rather have my bed." Randy said. Don't know if the dean filled you in on our other roommate - "
"He did. Wow! What a bummer! That's gotta be hella hard for you guys. Sorry."
"Well, yeah. Anyway, Garth had the upper bunk before, but since Denny and I are -- closer -- and you may want the lower bunk -- I mean -- that is - "
"What Randy is trying to say is -- that -- we may want to sleep together -- sometimes. And you may be more comfortable over there, rather than above us!"
"OH! Heh! Maybe I would. And also -- if I bring someone back here, it would not be cool to make her climb up there! Hee hee!"
"Okay!" Randy said. "Then it's settled."
"Randy and I don't want to make this a public issue, Tad. And -- uh -- that's another unwritten rule in dorm rooms. What goes on in the room is no one else's business."
"That makes sense to me. Your secret is safe with me." Of course that goes both ways!"
"You have secrets too?"
"Doesn't everyone?"
"Randy and I are both transfers form JC's, so we are new here, but we're juniors. How about you?"
"Frosh. Is that a problem?"
"Not at all. We may be able to help you." I said.
"How old are you guys?"
"I'm 24, and Denny's 20." Randy answered. "You?"
"17."
"Wo! Jail bait!" I said.
Tad looked between the two of us and then said, a sly grin on his face, "You weren't planning to molest me were you?"
"Are you sure you're straight, Dude?" Randy said. "You almost seemed like you were asking for something!"
"NOT! I just thought it was hot when you guys were kissing was all. I don't -- I mean -- well -- I don't know -- maybe I'm -- I don't know."
"Maybe you're bi?" I offered.
"What's `bi'?"
"Boy, you've led a sheltered life, haven't you?" Randy said, laughing. Tad looked deeply wounded.
"What's the matter, Tad?" I said, genuinely concerned.
He got a far away look in his eyes. "People make fun of me -- a lot!"
"Dude!' Randy said, "I wasn't meaning to make fun -- well I guess I was -- but -- not to make you feel bad."
"I know. I just -- I'm kinda -- gun shy, I guess. My analyst - "
"You see an analyst?" Randy said. Tad looked like any moment he was going to cry, but then Randy said, "That's so cool!"
"What's cool about seeing a shrink?" Tad said incredulously.
"I wish I could have afforded it, that's all. My step-dad really screwed me up, and my mom did nothing about it. I really would like to talk to a shrink!"
"What? You too??!!" Tad exclaimed. "I was abused by my step-dad too! I HATE him! I am so happy to be out of that house!"
"Believe me I know!" and then Randy let out a sob. They stood there, looking each other in wet eyes. My mom - " that was too much for Randy. He broke down. "Sorry dude! But - " Randy waved to me to continue.
"Randy's mom was murdered by his step-dad, and -- see the scar on Randy's forehead? He shot randy too!"
That shocked Tad out of his emotional state. "Really??!! Dude! My problems are nothing compared to that."
"Don't bet on it." Randy said. "I didn't think mine were either. Probably most guys would not kill you, - oh by the way -- he also killed himself -- but the psychological damage is still done. I have not even talked to a shrink, but I've done a lot of reading."
"Talking to the shrink is okay, but it has not stopped the hurt. It has not stopped how I appear to others. People just seem to know that `this guy is screwed up!' And they pick on me. What can a guy do?"
Randy looked at me, knowingly. I shrugged. I didn't know what he was trying to tell me. "Shall we give him some energy?" Randy asked me.
"OH! Definitely! Tad -- is it okay -- I mean -- would you be comfortable if we hugged you?"
"What!?"
"It really works!" Randy said.
"I don't think - "
"Aw, just go with it, Dude!" said Randy and he started to put his arms around Tad. Tad grabbed him and hurled him on the bed.
"NO! Don't touch me!"
"Dude!" I said. "Chill! He was only trying to - "
Tad was crying like a baby by now. "I'm sorry, I -- I -- can't stand to be touched!" he took a few moments to stop gasping. "I -- shit! I hate this! You probably think I am really screwed up! Well, you're right!"
"Dude! Tad, I am so sorry! I had no idea. Is there anything we can do?"
"I -- I doubt it. I fuck up every friendship I have!"
"Tad, I know what it feels like to be screwed up! My step-dad made sure of that!" Randy said empathetically.
"You think you do. But you have no idea!"
"Care to tell us?"
"I don't want to ever talk about it again. I just want to -- need to -- forget it."
"That won't help, Tad." I offered. "You have to go through the shit to escape it."
"Not now, guy -- just not now -- please?"
"Tad, sit down." Randy was still on the bed. He patted a spot well to his right.
"Really I don't want to talk about it now." Tad said, emphatically.
"I don't want you to." Randy said. He looked at me, almost scared looking, then proceeded. "I want to -- NEED to -- tell you about me."
I wondered how much Randy was going to tell him. I knew it was traumatic for Randy to talk about. He had not done so yet. Maybe it was time.
"Tad, last week my mother was murdered -- by my stepfather."
"Holy SHIT! It was just last WEEK?" Tad exclaimed.
"Let me just finish, k?"
"Sorry."
"My mother was trying to defend me to him. He was drunk and started abusing her and so she called me. She should have called the police. So should I have. But we didn't. He was already under investigation for sexually abusing me since I was a young teen. The last time was last September. At Christmastime I went over there -- luckily with Denny, his brothers and his dad, to see my mom, and to get my stuff, and when we left, I heard him hit her. I then decided to press charges for all those years.
"Tad, you have to know -- my mom knew that it was happening. I told her! She would not believe me. Or at least that's what she said. But she knew. I hated her and loved her. She was my mom!" Randy's voice broke here, and he had to wait a moment to go on.
"I hated and loved her, but I hated and hated him!" He had to stop once again. "He did everything you can imagine to me -- maybe more. And I was not allowed to whimper or even throw up -- when he would make me suck him after he had been fucking me!. I was so afraid of making any noise or calling attention to myself -- I used to go to the toilet and if I had to pee, I would take off my clothes and kneel on the floor next to the toilet, so there would be no chance of it making any noise. I don't know why I never thought about just sitting on it! But I did not really think rationally.
"So last week, I got the call from my mom, and I immediately went. I luckily left a note, which Denny found in time, to get the police there in time -- or I would probably be dead too. I just got the bandage off this morning. He shot both me and my mom in the head. Somehow -- miraculously -- I survived. Mom was dead before I got there. He was laying wait for me. After he shot me, he turned the gun on himself."
Randy was sniffing and staring at the floor. Assuming he was finished, Tad said, "Wow, man! I -- I -- had no -- no -- idea -- that - "
"No, you couldn't." Randy replied.
"I -- I -- guess maybe -- maybe I'm not so bad off after all. My complaints are nothing -- well -- compared to yours."
"That may or may not be true, Dude, but -- it's still your reality." Randy replied. "That's why I put off ever telling anyone about my situation. First of all, it was all I knew. And also, it seemed insignificant in comparison to other things I saw or heard about. I never really knew what a normal family was -- until I went home with Denny for Christmas!"
"Wait a minute! Who are you calling `normal'?" I inserted.
"I meant it in a good way." Randy said, not catching that I was trying to lighten the moment.
"I wasn't allowed to bring anyone home." Tad said. "Or go to anyone else's home. I guess that was that bastard's way -- well both of them -- it was their way to make sure family secrets stayed secret!"
"Did you hear that, Denny?" Randy said.
"What?" I asked.
"Did you hear what he called his stepfather?"
"Yeah. Same as you, hunh?
"Secrets?" Randy said. "When we went to visit relatives, we were strictly instructed what we could talk about and what we couldn't!"
"I KNOW! Same here!" said Tad. "He didn't sexually abuse me, but -- he did my sister -- and she was his own daughter! But he came home drunk all the time and was physically abusive to all of us. This was not to be discussed -- in or outside the immediate family. And -- I know all about your saying you hated and loved your mom!"
"Did your sister tell anyone?"
"She told me -- and my mom." He said bitterly. "It was the same. She acted like it was no big thing, or that she didn't believe it. What I got out of it was, among other things -- shit! I guess you are going to have to find out eventually -- I can't hide it from you forever."
"What, Dude? You can tell us -- anything. Talk about secrets! We have some of our own -- obviously!"
"I wear special - pants -- to bed. I have wet the bed every night since he married my mom. I know it's because of him, but I can't seem to stop it. That's another reason I -- didn't -- come here at the beginning of the semester. I finally decided I would risk it -- try to hide it -- so I could get out of the house." He was a deep red color by now.
"Tad?" I said.
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever pray?"
"You're kidding, right?"
"Nope."
"Where would I have learned to pray? Not at home!"
"Well, it helps me. And -- I never did it out loud -- until recently. It really made me feel better. I don't know -- maybe it helped in other ways. I'm not sure God approves of everything I do -- well actually I'm sure he doesn't approve of a lot of what I do! Is anyone perfect?" I said. But anyway, I think you should start."
"I wouldn't know the first thing about even starting."
"Want some help?"
"I -- I guess."
I knelt down by the bed. He looked at me curiously and then knelt beside me. I looked up at Randy. He looked bewildered. I beckoned him down with us. He complied.
"Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Father, we seem to only come to you when we are in need. Please forgive us for that -- and probably so much more. Right now we each have stuff in our lives that we need your spirit to help us with. We need comfort. Father -- please -- help us in our specific needs." (I paused in the prayer for a moment to tell the other guys to think of what they needed help with. I waited for about a minute.) Thank you, Father for the good stuff in our life. In your Son's name, Amen"
None of us moved for about thirty seconds.
"Wow!" Randy said. "You just talked to God as if he were here in the room."
"I felt like he was!" Tad said. "How did you learn to pray like that?"
"It's like Randy said. I just talk to him."
"Yeah but all that Father-in heaven' and in your son's name' and stuff like that. Who taught you that?"
"I guess I learned it in church -- and at home. The pattern is in the `Lord's Prayer'."
"Oh yeah, I've heard that. Every time I have been in a church they say it."
"We don't do that in my church. The Bible says -- actually Jesus says IN the Bible -- well, he says don't be like the hypocrites -- praying vain repetition -- rather when you pray, pray in this manner'. Then he gives the Lord's Prayer. As a pattern how to pray. Not as something that we should say. So then most churches turn right around and make his words into a vain repetition! Vain because it means nothing to most people who repeat it mindlessly from memory. That's what vain means -- meaningless."
"Wow! You know a lot!" Tad exclaimed.
"Not really." I answered. But I know that much."
I wanted to ask if either of the other two guys actually prayed for anything when I gave them the chance, but I did not want to intrude.
If he had not told us, we would have never noticed the extra thick underwear he had on under his pajamas. We switched the bedding so Tad could take the bed across the room from us, and we both slept in the lower bunk. AS I was falling asleep, I kept thinking how selfish I felt for earlier wishing Tad was not here. We didn't have the privacy we thought we would have -- but that was never a given anyway.
The next morning, I woke up looking directly into Tad's eyes. He was sitting on the floor next to our bed. It took me a moment to remember last night, and I think I startled a bit as I first saw him.
"Sorry, Denny," he whispered, "I just wanted to tell you as soon as you woke up!"
"What, Dude?" I said, mirroring some of his enthusiasm.
"God answered my prayer."
"Wow!" I said. "That's -- that's great!" I still was not going to be too invasive.
"Well -- don't you wonder what is was?" He could scarcely contain himself.
"Of course!" I said.
"Last night is the first night -- in years -- that I have not wet in my sleep!"
I had to stifle a laugh. But this was serious to him. "That's great! So -- is that -- that must be what you prayed for?"
"Yup!"
"Tad -- uh -- I - " I didn't want to water down his first experience with prayer, but I also did not want him to think that was the way it always happened. "I -- have to tell you -- it could just be that -- you stopped because you are away from your stepfather."
"No! He's been gone before -- for weeks -- and I still did it! Also, I didn't have the nightmare!"
"Nightmare?"
"Yeah. My wetting always came after a nightmare, in which I wanted to cry out -- but I could not cry out at all, so I wet instead. I prayed for that too."
"Oh! Wow! Well this is great!"
"What's great?" Randy said turning over.
"Tad -- he got his prayer answered!" I exulted.
"Oh. Cool." He replied.
I was up by now and grabbed my boxers and headed for the bathroom to relieve my pee-woody. When I came out, Randy was trying in vain to hide his and he ran for the toilet. I giggled, and looked at Tad. "I already went!" He said -- and then I noticed -- his pajamas were not bulging with extra padding any more.
When Randy came back, he said, "Tad -- so are you ready for a hug?"
"I'm not sure."
"I won't hug you -- you just hug me -- first."
Tad looked unsure of himself and then slowly edged closer to Randy and put his arms around his shoulders. I could see his body was as stiff as a board. Randy slowly, gradually enclosed him in his own arms. Tad stiffened a little more, then relaxed a little. Then Randy started to rub his back. Tad then took Randy's head and hugged it to his chest. With out asking, I slowly came up behind Tad. "I feel so left out!" I said as I wrapped my arms around them both.
Tad stiffened again, then relaxed again. We stood there for a full three minutes, and then Tad took his hand and put it on my head, as he lay his head back on my chest. He let out a long sigh and a little moan. I squeezed them even harder and Tad turned his head and put his cheek against my own. He seemed to be purring. I lightly kissed his cheek. He giggled.
"I didn't pray for this." Tad said. "Maybe God knows what we SHOULD have prayed for!"
Notes: I promise you -- I did not know Tad was there until Randy and Denny were kissing as they came into the room! I had to quickly come up with a name! I like that name! Comments, as always, are welcome! Be sure to mention Denny in the subject line. Steve at s4d@hotmail.com. Thanks and love, Steve