Chapter 7
It was on a gray Monday morning in November when Marian showed up looking haggard. Landon wondered what could have affected this normally upbeat woman. Her explanation was quickly forthcoming.
She had received a distress call on Sunday evening from The Department of Human Services about her 16 year old grandson who lived in another city about 120 miles away. His mother and stepfather had kicked him out of the house and he hoped that she could intervene in some way or other. He had no transportation and no money for a ticket to come to her house - not even enough to take the bus. With worrying about how to deal with his situation, Marian hadn't slept much.
"I hate to ask for the day off without ample notice, but I have to go and see what I can do for him. I can't bear the thought of Rory being sent to a juvenile home or foster care. The social worker said I can have custody of him and prevent that from happening if I come soon. They can keep him only so many days before the court will make those decisions without my input. I know it's a terrible inconvenience for you and I really don't want to lose this job. I love Corbin, and you guys too!"
"You're not endangering your job for taking time off to help your grandson!" Landon exclaimed. "Are you comfortable about driving your car out of town? I remember you said that two of your tires need replacing soon. Can you trust getting there and back without having a flat?"
"I can't take the time to replace them today; I'll have to chance it."
"Maybe not. Let me call Michael to see what we can do."
Between the two men, they came up with a plan for Landon to take Marian in the SUV to rescue her grandson from his plight. Michael had sufficient time between appointments to drive home and switch vehicles so there would be enough room for everyone to be comfortable for the trip.
The drive to get Marian's grandson wouldn't be stressful for Corbin because he liked riding in his car seat as long as someone stayed near him to keep him amused. Marian could sit in back and read to him. It would entertain him and help keep her mind off her troubles at the same time. There should be no problem in making the roundtrip before dinner.
When Landon told Marian of the plans, she was deeply touched by his generosity.
"I can't expect you to do that for me!"
"Hey, you've become part of this family. Aren't family members supposed to help each other?"
Marian smiled through her tears of gratitude.
What should have been little more than a two-hour drive was extended by several minutes because of Corbin's need for a change and a bottle. However, they made it to the social services office well before noon.
"Thank you for coming so quickly, Mrs. Thompson," Ms. Perez smiled. "Your grandson is in the lounge on pins and needles awaiting your arrival. I'll get him."
Moments later, she returned with Rory who was carrying a plastic bag with a few things in it. He nearly flung himself into his grandmother's embrace and stayed there for several minutes as both shed tears.
Landon observed that the boy was a little on the thin side, but rather cute, despite the black eye and bruise on his cheek. While Landon's gaydar didn't go off big-time, he thought he knew the reason the boy had been disowned.
"Excuse me, there are some legal documents that we'll need to fill out if you're going to be taking Rory," Ms. Perez stated. "You'll need to be authorized as his guardian for medical and other decisions."
"Of course," Marian replied. "My daughter-in-law and her husband will relinquish all rights in return, I assume."
"Yes, they want nothing to do with him."
"Have they signed a statement to that effect?"
"Yes. I got them to come in early this morning. It's signed and notarized."
"Good! I don't want them to have any legal grounds if they change their minds.
Oh, Mr. Brooks, this is my grandson Rory Thompson. Rory, this is Mr. Landon Brooks who is my employer and was kind enough to bring me today. Please get acquainted while I deal with the paperwork."
Man and boy shook hands. Landon was impressed by the firmness of Rory's handshake. The boy seemed as masculine as any kid his age, not that a solid grip was necessarily a measure of orientation, but perhaps Landon's initial assessment had been off the mark.
"Thanks so much for coming to get me. I spent Saturday night on the streets and it was awful. Some people who make meals for the homeless put me in touch with DHS on Sunday night. They've been nice to me here, but it's only temporary and they would have to place me somewhere, a foster home or shelter."
"You're most welcome, Rory. Please call me Landon or I'll feel like an old man. I'm working on your grandmother to do the same. She's always very formal and proper, as you may know."
"Okay, Landon. Is this Corbin?"
"Yes, this is little Lord Corbin," Landon joked. "He thinks the world revolves around him, and in a way he's right."
"Grandma emailed me when she started working for you. She said he's the best baby she's ever seen. I guess I was a pistol. They say I had colic a lot. May I hold him?"
"Sure."
Rory held Corbin close to his chest. The little boy seemed to sense that this was another friendly big person and nestled against him. Rory walked around the office smiling and talking to Corbin quietly. Again, Landon was well impressed.
"You seem to know how to handle babies. Is that from experience?"
"Yes, I've done a lot to help with Ryan, my little brother, since the time he was born. He's the only thing I'm gonna miss about leaving this town."
When the paperwork was all filled out, checked, and notarized, Ms. Perez released Rory to the guardianship of his grandmother. By then it was past noon, so Landon suggested they get something to eat before the ride home.
Marian sat in back with Corbin again, and Rory rode shotgun. He enjoyed sitting in front with Landon and being able to help navigate.
"Rory, please check my iPhone and see if there's a place like Perkins or Applebee's in the area."
"It shows a Perkins about two miles ahead on the right, just after we cross Broad Street."
"Okay, that's where we'll go. They'll have a variety to choose from. I'm treating, so order anything you like."
"Thanks!" Rory said. "I think I'd like a Reuben sandwich. It's one of my favorites and I haven't had one in a long time."
On the trip home after lunch, Corbin fell asleep once the car was in motion and Marian soon joined him because she was exhausted. Rory stayed awake, chattering. He seemed full of nervous energy, probably a result of worrying about what would happen to him.
"Don't you want to know why I got thrown out?"
"I figured it was none of my business, but I'll be glad to listen if you want to talk about it."
"Haven't you guessed the reason?"
"Well, I'll admit I theorized about it. I've known teens who've been thrown out for several reasons. Some were violent and out of control. That doesn't seem to fit your personality. Corbin would have sensed it.
Others got into drugs. I've been around enough to spot heavy drug users, so either you're hiding it especially well or that doesn't apply either.
Another major reason, especially for male children, is orientation. You don't come off as being obviously gay, but that's a possibility. I hope I'm not upsetting you for bringing it up, but you did ask."
"You're right on target." Rory whispered. "My mother and her man figured out that I'm gay and chose to disown me without any warning on Saturday night, the worst possible time to find anyone to take me in. I couldn't even come up with a schoolmate that I knew well enough to ask if I could couch surf."
"My parents never knew until I came out to them this past summer." Landon confided. "I had some suspicions when I was your age, but I actually didn't know for sure until I met Michael."
"You're gay?" Rory exclaimed a bit louder than he'd intended. "I can't believe it. You seem so normal and you've got a kid." He said in a quieter voice.
"Gay people ARE normal. You're normal; I'm normal. I hate labels. I don't know if I'm gay or bi or something else. I know I'm in love with a particular man. And just because I am doesn't mean I can't function in bed with a woman."
"I'm almost sure I couldn't" Rory said, shaking his head. "Girls don't do anything for me. I've known since I was 10 that I preferred boys."
"In some ways, you're lucky to have found out so early. Sometimes I wish I had, but then I probably wouldn't be living with Michael and we wouldn't have our little bundle of joy."
"Wow! I've never heard anyone talk so casually about being, um, different. It's like you're okay with it and everything. I mean..."
"I AM okay with it. Whatever I am, it's how God made me. Who am I to question the plans of the Almighty?"
"That's so cool! I've always been ashamed of being gay even though I haven't acted on it. I'm not even sure how I had the guts to open up to you."
"Perhaps you sensed that I'm like you, or that I would at least be accepting."
"Maybe it's because you were kind enough to bring Grandma to rescue me. Even before they kicked me out, I cried myself to sleep various times not knowing what to do if the day came. It was awful!"
"Well, we'll do our best to change that!" Landon said with determination.
Rory was quiet for a while and Landon assumed that he was deep in thought. However, when the boy began to snore softly, Landon realized he'd fallen asleep. Glancing over at the young, angelic face wreathed in shaggy blond hair, Landon couldn't imagine how anyone could even think of throwing away a likeable kid like this one.
No one awakened during the rest of the trip until Landon pulled the SUV into the garage. Then Marian stirred, followed by Corbin. Rory remained asleep until his grandmother gently roused him. When she did, he woke up with a start as if he were in danger. It took him a few seconds to get his bearings.
"Oh, look at the time; I need to get your dinner started if you're going to have anything substantial to eat! I'm not sure what it will be since I forgot to get the pork roast out to thaw in my haste this morning."
"There's no need to cook. I'll call Michael and have him bring something for all of us. You need to sit down and rest a bit."
"But it's MY job to take care of YOU!"
"Your first priority is to take care of yourself. Then you need to think about Rory. We'll make do in the meantime. We don't want to wear you out; you're too valuable to us.
Marian accepted Landon's hospitality because she could see the wisdom of his words. She didn't lounge in the recliner like Landon had offered, but sat at the breakfast bar feeding Corbin while Landon called Michael, and Rory began to set the table with the dishes Landon had put out.
Michael came home half an hour later laden with containers of Italian carryout. It wasn't the healthiest of meals, considering the amount of carbs, but it was genuine comfort food.
It was a joy to see Rory dig in. Both men were thinking that he could use a little more meat on his bones.
After things were cleaned up and Marian was preparing to take Rory home to her condo, she hugged both men as if they were her sons. Rory hugged them too.
"We can't thank you enough," Marian said through the tears in her eyes. "Last night I didn't know where to turn. Now I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel."
"We're always here for you," Michael assured her.
"Rory, why don't you come back with your grandma in the morning? I'm sure there isn't a lot to occupy you in senior housing, and I at least have books to read and an old laptop you can play on." Landon suggested.
"Thanks Mr., uh, Landon. I'll do that. Maybe I could play with Corbin too."
`Great! He loves all the attention he can get and you'll be doing us a favor. It's been proven that kids who are read to and talked to when they're babies are smarter in the long run. You're always welcome to entertain him all you want.
After they'd left, Michael turned to Landon.
"I think our family is about to grow; I have a feeling we may be bringing him into our home to live."
"I have no objection, but why do you think so?"
"That senior housing facility isn't going to let him stay there long. I'm sure they don't let grandchildren have lengthy visits, much less reside there. Teens most likely wouldn't be welcome simply because they're young. Their security guard would probably shoot him if he were caught wearing a hoodie and carrying a bag of Skittles!"
"I'll bet you're right. Well, we don't really use that bedroom in the basement."
When Marian and Rory arrived the next morning, both looked better than they had the night before. Rory appeared to be squeaky clean and cheerful despite being a bit sleepy. Marian was nearly as upbeat as she usually was, but Landon could tell that something bothering her, so he decided to tell them what he and Michael had discussed.
"How would you feel about it if we invited Rory to live in the spare room in the basement? I know it's small, but he'd have privacy and there is a three-quarter bath down there."
"It would be an answer to prayer!" Marian exclaimed on the verge of tears. "You know he won't be welcome in senior housing for long. They have strict rules. The inmates there don't want anyone around with any life in them – old farts!"
"Grandma!" Rory gasped in an exaggerated manner. "You need to watch what you say around an impressionable child like me." He giggled.
"What do you think about the arrangement?" Landon asked him.
"It would be awesome for me, but what about you guys?" Rory asked. "Having a strange teenager in your home might be awkward."
"We think it would be great to have you here or we wouldn't have made the offer. I know there's a high school less than a mile away. You could walk or bike there easily in warm weather and someone could drive you in winter. It won't be ideal for you sleeping in the basement, but it's the best we can offer at the moment."
"I'd be content in a closet under the stairs like Harry Potter for a chance to live here." Rory exclaimed, looking like he was ready to get as emotional as his grandmother had.
"Then, consider it a done deal. As soon as Corbin wakes up from his morning nap, you and I will go to the mall and buy you some school clothes. While checking the reputation of Washington High, I discovered there's a dress code of sorts. It's not a uniform, but it's kind of dress-casual with slacks, collared shirts, leather shoes, and belts so that boys don't show their underwear. The administration seems to think it's helping with discipline and student achievement."
"I have a pair of khakis and couple of shirts that might do for a while. I'll have to get by until I can earn some money."
"This will be on Michael and me."
"Landon, you can't do all that," Marian insisted. "Let me get my checkbook."
"We can afford it, and we want to do it. Every month, through St. Stephen's, we send money abroad for kids who have nothing to wear. The least we can do is to extend the same kind of help to a deserving one at home."
"We can go to the Goodwill for jeans and stuff." Rory suggested. "I'm not ashamed to wear used things. Some of them are pretty decent."
"After we get you outfitted appropriately for school, we'll consider it for knock-around clothes to get grubby in. There is also a thrift store at church which has very nice used things. As your grandma knows, the congregation is fairly well off, and what they donate often looks like new. There might even be things appropriate for school.
Oh, that reminds me, we need to call about getting your transcript sent."
While talking to the school secretary on the phone, Landon made an appointment for Rory, Marian, and him to confer with a counselor the following day. Getting Rory into a schedule as quickly as possible would not only keep him from falling behind in his education, but would also give him something to take his mind off of his mother and stepfather's heartlessness.
School wasn't in session for students because of the long Thanksgiving break, but several of the clerical staff kept hours through noon on Wednesday. It would be an ideal time to get everything sorted out.
While Corbin was awake, the three of them went to the mall, leaving Marian home to catch up on her housework. She gave them the key to her apartment so they could pick up Rory's few possessions while they were running their errands. She said she would call the housing office to alert the manager lest he turn them in to the police as suspected thieves.
Landon bought Rory several different colors of plain shirts with collars, some woven and some knit, that were acceptable for wearing at school. He also insisted that the boy have several changes of khakis too. No jeans were allowed except on Fridays, so, they picked up one new pair of classic dark blue Wrangler's for that. Then Rory got fitted for casual leather shoes and gym shoes.
After a quick lunch in the food court, during which man and boy took turns feeding Corbin, they made a stop at the Goodwill. There, Rory found a couple more pairs of jeans which were fashionably tattered, a pair of gym shorts, and was going to buy underwear which they'd forgotten to look for at the department stores. Landon said they'd go to Target for those and swim trunks. He didn't want Rory feeling forced to wear someone's used undies, unless that prospect sounded hot to him.
Rory blushed, but appreciated that Landon would make a kind of "off-color" remark, showing that he wasn't treating him like a little kid.
Corbin fell asleep on the way home and Rory, showing his initiative once again, carefully transferred the baby to his crib when they got there.
As Marian started planning dinner, Landon asked her to prepare for four people. From that day on, he would expect her to take all her meals with them instead of leaving before they'd eaten their evening meal.
Then Landon retreated to the loft to get some work done. But before he disappeared, he dug out an old laptop for Rory to use. The boy's eyes lit up like it was Christmas.
Rory thanked Landon again for his generosity before he went to his room to sort his clothes for laundering. He'd read the labels on the new ones that said to wash before wearing and he'd feel better about the used ones if he knew for certain they were clean.
After he'd done that, he went upstairs to check with Marian to make sure it was okay for him to use the washer and dryer by himself.
In bed later that night as they cuddled after making love, Michael and Landon discussed the need for a bigger house. If this arrangement turned out to be permanent, as they expected it would, they could use more space for their family.
Author's notes: Thanks to the faithful readers who responded this week: Mendy D, Tony W, Dave F, Jim L, Wayne, Harry T, Jim W, Bill T, Tony F, Paul R, Trish R, Dick M, Tom A, Walt S, Ott H, Desert D, and Paul F.
I hope you're not disappointed in the new direction this story has taken. When I first began this tale, I toyed with the idea of ending it with chapter 6. However, Rory popped up and I felt he would make a good addition to the family. His story will be woven into the total fabric. Don't forget the Nifty is dependent on contributions to keep going.
Love and Peace,
David