This is a story about a man and a handicapped teenage boy that meet and fall in love. If you are underage or offended by the subject matter, please leave. Up to the point where they talk for quite some time, the story is real for the most part. We did part without ever exchanging anything more than conversation. He was just as beautiful as described. Maybe if I had been more agressive...who knows? The rest is strictly fiction on my part. Please send any comments to redfordtodd_@hotmail.com. Be kind as this is my first effort. No offense to handicapped persons is intended. I already have additional chapters ready, if you the reader are interested. It may come across as long winded and I don't always get right to the sex. (there is more in later chapters) I wanted the reader to feel like these were real people, and get to know them. I want to give credit to my good friend, Wilson, who has helped me more than he will admit as my editor.
Chapter 6- Todd's Journey
We had breakfast and then I drove him and Tattoo back to his car. We both were crying as he drove off. I followed for a few miles before turning off on another highway.
Gerry was on my mind constantly. Thinking of the last several hours, had me on cloud nine. Everything about him had me falling so fast a furious, but I didn't care. We loved each other, of that I was sure. I daydreamed about last night and the many days and nights to come with Gerry beside me.
For some reason, about three hours later I almost had a panic attack. I had to pull off the road and wait for it to pass. It eased up some, so that I was able to drive again, but felt an almost unbearable need to turn around. I made it most of the way that night, but for some reason I felt an urgency.
Every few hours, I had tried to call his personal number but didn't get any answer. About midnight, I pulled into a motel for the night, and tried his number again. I let it ring several times. Just as I was about to hang up, a tired voice answered.
"Gerry?" I asked.
"No. Gerry isn't here. Who is this?" the voice demanded.
I hung up. Something wasn't right, but what? I didn't sleep well that night. I finally got up about four hours later and hit the road again.
About mid morning I tried calling Gerry again. Still no answer.
A sense of dread and panic began to hit me. All sorts of things ran through my mind. I just did my best to put my worries to rest.
I arrived at my destination a few hours later. My father tried to give me a lecture, but I didn't hear.
The service was set for late in the day. After my mother was put to rest, I stayed behind. I missed her so. I kneeled there, thinking over all that had happened to me since I had left Detroit. I swear I could almost hear my mother's voice. I began to let my grief out. After a while, I felt better and left.
It was early evening, and I decided to leave for the return trip. My relatives and my father tried to talk me out of it, but I didn't listen. The feeling of urgency hadn't let up. I had to get to London, but I didn't know why.
I tried calling Gerry again. Still no answer. The panick was starting again. This time it was worse. Trying two more times that night brought the same results. Nothing. I drove until almost one. Another fitfull night's sleep. By six o'clock I was on the road again. I called again at nine and then at one. No answer. I was full of mixed emotions, and knew I could be in London by four. It wasn't on my way back, but I had to try and find out what was going on.
Four o'clock came and I was on the outskirts of London.
I was so frustrated I couldn't think, and called again with no luck. What could I do? I didn't have his address. I didn't know his grandparents name or number. Sitting in my truck with tears in my eyes, and as luck would have it my tape player began Embraceable You.
The only proof that he wasn't imagined was the receipt for the room. I took it out and glanced at it. I closed my eyes and began to cry harder. Nothing like a fool. I was so sure about him. I still felt sure of him. How could I be so wrong? I crumpled up the paper.
I tried to think through whatever it was that had brought me to this. The memories of that night all seemed so warm and tender. So independent in so many ways. He had even put up a fuss about paying for half the room as well as the phone call to his grandparents. He asked how much it was, and I said that I didn't know. Then he pulled the room receipt out of my hand and pointed to it. I tried to say it was my call to my father, but he had pointed out that both of the numbers were listed and he should know his own number by now.
My eyes flew open. I looked down at the paper in my hand and smoothed it out. There were both of the numbers we had dialed. I couldn't beleive it. I had the answer all the time. I jumped out of my truck so fast I almost broke the door. Fumbling for the change, I hurried to dial the number. It began to ring. Oh, God, please let him answer. I was about to give up when there was a click.
"Hello," I heard an older woman's voice say.
"Hello, may I speak with Gerry please?" I asked nervously.
"Look, I don't know who you are, but Gerry isn't here," she responded.
I felt at a loss as to what I should say next.
"Well, thank you. And would you please tell him that Todd called," I said sadly.
"Wait! Don't hang up!" she sounded panicked. "Did you say Todd?"
"Yes, mam. I was passing through and thought that I'd give Gerry a call," I said, hoping to come up with whatever explanations were needed.
I could hear her call out to someone, "Bill, it's Gerry's Todd on the phone."
I heard them exchange words, but couldn't make them out. My nerves were getting to me. Maybe they were going to lynch me for what I had done to their Gerry.
"Could you please tell me where you are calling from?" she asked, with an urgency in her voice.
I hesistated, then gave her the information. What was going on?
"We'll be there in about ten minutes, please say you'll wait?" she pleaded.
"Well, okay, I guess," I replied.
"For Gerry's sake, dear God, wait!" she ordered.
I felt an immense panick almost overtake me. A heavy chill ran the length of my spine.
"What do you mean 'for Gerry's sake'?"
My nerves were about shot.
"We'll explain shortly, you will wait?"
"I promise I'll wait," I said solemnly.
I heard the click as she hung up. My mind began to race with the panick she had put into me. I kept trying to stay calm until I knew what was happening. I tried pacing, and then running back and forth a short distance. I was becoming a wreck.
Finally a car pulled toward me from a nearby road. As it pulled up, I saw an older couple. She put down her window.
"Todd?" she asked in desperation.
I could only nod, as this stranger got out of the car and hugged me tight to her. She was crying softly. After a minute she pulled back.
"I'm Em and this is Bill, we're Gerry's grandparents. Please come with us, and I'll explain," she said pleadingly.
She opened the back door and I got in. She got in next to me. She squeezed my hand so hard that I thought it would break.
"Let me start at the beginning," she smiled warmly, the tears still in her eyes. "When Gerry got home Friday he told us all about you. We've never talked much about him being gay because there hasn't been anything to talk about. He told us everthing about you. I'd never seen him like this before in his life. He was so excited. So happy. He could hardly wait for you to come back later this week and for us to meet."
She paused and looked at me. I felt her scrutiny as good as any my mother had ever given me. "We understood that you wouldn't be here for at least four more days."
"I had a feeling that I was needed back here," I explained. "Soon after we parted, maybe about three that afternoon, I started to feel on edge. I did everything thinkable to get here as soon as I could. Every time I tried to call, there wasn't any answer. Except for Friday night late."
"We haven't been home very much to answer the phone."
"I noticed. Now won't you please tell me where Gerry is?" I begged.
She squeezed my hand and nodded, as she continued,
"Gerry couldn't seem to stay still. He took Tattoo to the groomers, and was back in a very short time. He went into his room and stared at the phone I don't know how often. That's when he got the idea to go buy an answering machine to make sure he didn't miss your calls. We heard his phone every so often, but we promised him we would never interfere. I didn't realize how long he had been gone, until the groomers called. I sent Bill for Tattoo. I began to pace. It wasn't that far to the store and back, and he's such a good driver. Bill came back a short time later with Tattoo."
I wasn't very comfortable with this conversation, but I listened.
"I knew looking at him that something was very wrong. He told me that he had seen Gerry's car on the way back. It was completely smashed between a concrete wall and the front of a truck. He couldn't get too near because of the police and traffic. We just held each other and cried. A few minutes later our phone rang. It was the police. They told us that Gerry was still alive, but not in very good shape. His spinal cord took another beating. He's been pretty much in a coma since it happened."
I felt like someone had just torn out my heart and beat it to a pulp. I was almost numb.
"Todd, he's been asking for you ever since," she whispered, "but he doesn't seem to want to wake up."