Guardian Angel, Chapter 7
The young lovers were about to be separated again for a few days. Bret was going to visit his other grandparents, leaving late in the morning on Christmas Eve Day. Therefore, Caleb and he had their own celebration about the same time Caleb's parents were having theirs.
Though some might feel it was too early in their relationship to exchange any kind of jewelry, they had gone to the mall to purchase matching bracelets to commemorate their first Christmas together, and symbolize what they felt for each other. The one Bret gave to Caleb had Caleb's name on the front where people would see it, but Bret's on the back where it would come into contact with his skin. Caleb did the reverse for Bret. Made of titanium, the bracelets could withstand a lot of wear and tear without looking "used."
So, before they climbed in bed, they performed a little ceremony in which they pledged themselves to each other. Then, they kissed. Naturally, that led to making out, and it ended with sharing a sticky souvenir of their desire.
In the morning, the boys awoke fairly early to the smell of coffee brewing. Caleb and Bret put on the sleep-shorts and T-shirts, they'd discarded when they climbed in bed, and rapped lightly on Vin's door.
"Come," he announced.
"We did that last night," Caleb snickered. "I'll bet you did too."
Calvin didn't say anything, but his grin confirmed Caleb's suspicion. It felt cool to be able to joke like that with other guys. Having been alone so much, he'd never experienced that kind of comradery.
He climbed out of bed, not displaying an erection, so the other guys assumed he had probably had expended some sperm. He looked cute in his T-shirt and the hand-me-down sleep-shorts which showed off his legs quite nicely.
Since this was their normal breakfast attire, no one thought anything about it until they got to the kitchen where the adults all had on bathrobes.
Vin blushed as he realized that Grandma Ruth was looking intently at his bare legs.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I'll go put something more on."
"Oh, Calvin, I'm the one who should apologize. I didn't mean to stare, but would it be okay if I have a better look at your birthmark?"
"Um, yeah, I'm okay with that," he gulped, nervously, as he came and stood close to her chair.
"Does anyone else in your family have that V-shaped mark on their thigh?" Grandma asked.
"I don't think my mother does, and I don't know who my father was. When I was little, I couldn't pronounce my name right and I would say Calbin,' so Aunt Vi would stress the second syllable and say Cal-VIN,' and point to my birth mark. So, I thought it stood for Vin.' She would laugh and say the V' was for varmint!"
"Carol, do you still have that picture of Ted in his team swimsuit when he was 15?"
"I haven't looked at it for a long time, but I'm sure it's in a box in my closet. I'll go get it."
"We can wait," Grandpa Rich suggested. "Things aren't going to change in half an hour; other than the kids will be starving before then!"
"We're okay," Grandpa, Caleb insisted. "I want to know what's going on, and I'm sure Vin does."
"Okay, but don't blame me when you're hungry," Rich grinned.
"I think Grandpa's the hungry one," Ruth teased.
Caleb's mother returned quickly with a photo that Caleb didn't remember seeing before. It gave him goose pimples. Calvin had the same reaction.
"Oh, my God! Are we related?" he exclaimed.
"You boys might be cousins," Carol said. "'Calvin' was Ted's middle name, and from the moment we met, I felt drawn to you. I don't know why I didn't see how much you look like my brother. Perhaps it's because he died so long ago, and he'd changed by the time he was an adult. The only way we'll know for sure is to do some kind of test."
"Well, I guess I'll spoil my surprise," Rich shrugged. "There was a sale on Ancestry.com and I bought kits for the whole family. However, I didn't know about Vin at the time."
"I think you should give mine to him and let me buy a replacement later," Hollis offered. "My DNA wouldn't figure into his ancestry, and I can wait to discover my heritage."
"That's good of you, Hollis, but I insist on paying for yours. I'll get on line and order one right after we eat. Even if we get a sample from Calvin today, I'm sure it's not likely to be dealt with until after the holidays."
At the mention of food, Hollis got up from the table to start breakfast, Caleb and Bret assisted him. A few minutes later, the family was sitting down to eat. Everyone hoped that their suspicions were correct, and that Vin was a blood relative. Either way, Caleb figured they had a shot at adopting him.
After a quick shower, which he shared with Caleb, Bret had to dress and go home so his family wouldn't be held up in leaving for his grandparent's house. He would be a few minutes ahead of schedule because he knew it would impress his parents, and ensure their permissive attitude concerning his relationship with Caleb. He'd heard horror stories about kids whose parents were bigots, and he knew how lucky he was.
"Dad, may I use the car to take Vin to the mall?" Caleb asked after lunch. I want to get a little something extra for him."
"That's fine with me," Hollis answered. "Are you buying something special for Bret too?"
"Um, well, we exchanged last night," he blushed, holding up his arm to show off his new bracelet. "He gave me this, and I gave him one with his name on it."
"Am I right in guessing there's something else written on the back?"
"Yup."
"That's cool. I won't ask what it says."
"My name's on the back of his and his is on mine, each with a little love note," he blushed again.
"That's sweet," Hollis commented, putting an arm around his shoulder. "I hope you guys don't suffer abuse over that if someone finds out."
"Our closest friends already suspect that we're boyfriends, so I don't think that'll happen. If anyone tries to bully us, we'll fight back, and probably win. After word spread about us taking down Don and Matt, other guys haven't crossed us."
"So, do you have anything special in mind to buy for Vin?"
"I'm thinking super-hero underwear, and possibly boxers or sleep-shorts with a Christmas theme. You know, the kind of unnecessary stuff a kid doesn't get unless he has extra money. He's never had anything that wasn't inexpensive and practical, and a lot of times it wasn't new."
"That's a great idea. Do you need a little extra money?"
"Nope, I'll spend some of what I've made working at Fareway, and Bret gave me some too. We want this stuff to be from both of us."
"So, do you like the pair with the picture of the mistletoe above the fly, or do you prefer Rudolph?" Caleb asked as they were checking out things in Target.
"I love the mistletoe, but it's kinda suggestive, and I'd be embarrassed to wear them around your patents! So, I guess I'll go with Rudolph..., no, I think maybe the ones with the sleigh-bell print. But you shouldn't buy them for me. You're already getting me these cool 2(xi)st briefs."
"Yes, I should! Bret and I want you to have them. I know stuff like that makes us feel sexy."
"You make me feel like I'm not all alone," Vin exclaimed, blinking away a tear. "Do you think we might really be cousins?"
"I hope so!"
On Christmas morning, Caleb went across the hall and tapped lightly on Vin's bedroom door.
"Come in," Vin said.
"I've got the bow and sign ready. All we need to do is slip into the family room before anyone else is up. Put this elf-hat on your head to complete the look."
The boys tiptoed down the hall, Vin holding the bell on the tip of his hat to keep it from jingling. They could hear movement in the master bedroom, so they scurried to put their plan into action. Clad in a red T-shirt and coordinating sleep shorts with sleigh-bells, Calvin sat cross-legged in front of the Christmas tree. Caleb stuck a gold bow on his chest, and put the sign, which read "From Santa," in his hands. Then he took a photo with his phone.
"You do look like one of Santa's helpers!"
Carol and Hollis were making their way to the kitchen by then, so Caleb ran to get them.
"You have to see what Santa left under our tree!" he exclaimed.
"They hurried in to see what he was talking about. Then, they laughed heartily.
"If Santa left him, can we keep him?" Caleb asked, hopefully.
"We'll do everything in our power," Carol said with tears running down her cheeks. "Your dad and I discussed it last night. If we can convince Vi to let us raise him, I'd say it's a done deal."
"What if I turn out not to be related?" Vin asked, biting his lower lip.
"It won't matter either way," Hollis assured him. "We want you."
Ruth and Rich came in at that point, and agreed with what their son-in-law had just said. Then, they all wanted their pictures taken with Vin. Hollis dug his tripod out of the hall closet, so everyone could get into the photograph at the same time.
Caleb sent a copy of the best one to Bret, along with a Christmas greeting.
After breakfast, the family opened their gifts. Calvin was overwhelmed by the generosity shown to him. He not only had the presents Vi had left for him but also a large number of things from the people who might be his relatives. Among those, were new clothes and gift certificates so that he could pick out items he wanted, that no one else knew about but him. His favorite gift was a gi which he'd received from Carol and Hollis. He would wear it proudly to karate club in the new term.
He texted photos to Aunt Vi, along with his thanks for what she had given him. He didn't say anything about the family's hoping he was related to them, because he didn't want to mess things up if he weren't. If he prematurely expressed a desire to live with them, and then it didn't work out, he worried about not have a roof over his head.
Dinner was splendid, with a wider variety of foods than Vin had ever seen on the same table at once. He found that he liked everything, including the Yorkshire pudding Hollis made to go with the prime rib which was the main meat entree.
There was also a small roasted goose, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, a corn casserole, and several salads.
For dessert, there was a choice of pie - pumpkin, chocolate meringue, and pecan. Plates of cookies and homemade candies were spread on the buffet if anyone had room for them. Some decided to wait until later in the afternoon to partake.
In the evening, each person chose whatever leftovers they wanted to eat and nuked them in the microwave. Again, it was like a feast.
All in all, Christmas was a grand success.
The next day, Carol, Caleb, and Calvin filled their vials with the correct amount of saliva and sealed them for sending to Ancestry. Hollis took the kits directly to the post office, so they would be shipped as quickly as possible. With the holidays, no one expected a fast return of the results, but they were hopeful it wouldn't take too long.
Caleb was happy to have his "little bro" to play video games with, and go sledding on the hill in the park. Only a small amount of snow had fallen, but it was enough for their old toboggan to glide down. Some other kids had saucers which did pretty well too.
The park brought back memories of being beaten up several months ago, but Caleb didn't dwell on them. The snow made it all look fresh and pure. Everyone around him seemed to be nice, and he knew he could take care of himself if they weren't.
Having Calvin to share those good times with kept him from missing Bret as much as he would have. Still, he felt lonely when it was time to go to sleep.
Vin and he sat on his bed and talked for probably 20 minutes before getting drowsy. Caleb asked Vin if he'd like to sleep on the other side of his bed. Vin was hesitant because he didn't know if Bret would be jealous. When Caleb assured him that they'd discussed it ahead of time, Vin said he'd like to. With a big body-pillow between them to cuddle up to, they happily drifted off.
Caleb's grandparents left for their home on the 28th, and Bret came back the same day. The boys thought it would be good to go over their karate moves and break in Vin's new uniform.
Vin asked if they could include Caen Pearson when they practiced. He had been texting Caen, and knew he was kind of bored at home.
The other two liked the idea, and soon they were on their way to Caen's house in Bret's pickup.
Caen's mother was impressed with the boys' manners, and immediately gave her permission for him to spend the rest of the day with them.
Caen had received a gi as one of his presents, but he'd been hesitant to mention it until he learned that Vin had one too. He knew something of Vin's financial situation, and didn't want to make him feel bad.
Caleb figured it out why Caen had held back in mentioning his new uniform, and he was impressed that the boy was sensitive to Calvin's feelings. He could be a good friend.
The boys had a great time at Caleb's house. The younger ones, especially, felt they had gained a lot with Bret's help. They hoped to do more things together.
Both Caleb and Bret had to sack groceries several hours that week because some of the regular bag-boys had begged off, so they could go to visit relatives. Making a bit of money was a good thing, though it cut into the time the guys could be practicing or playing video games.
After he'd cleared it with Carol, Caleb asked if Caen would like to spend New Year's Eve with them, and sleep over. Caen jumped at the chance, hoping his parents would approve. They were going to attend a party that would run late, and he would be left home alone with his younger sister and the lady who was babysitting her. Being with other guys was way cooler!
The boys began to plan for their quiet New Year's Eve party at home. They asked Vin if he had anyone else he'd like to invite over. Vin kind of blushed when he said that Caen was the only kid he was interested in being with.
Bret and Caleb thought that was just fine. The four of them had hit it off well. They also suspected the younger boys might have a crush on each other.
Carol and Hollis would be attending a party that one of her colleagues was hosting, so they would be gone until after midnight. There were strict rules about no alcohol, and no pot if the guys were left on their own.
"Mom, we don't do stuff like that! You know Bret and I are good boys."
"That's true, but even good boys can get in trouble if someone else provides the temptation. I don't know Caen very well, and I don't know what he might do."
"Didn't you have a long discussion with his mom, and didn't she have the same worries about Bret and me?"
"Well, yes, I guess so."
"Then you know we're all probably as pure as priests."
"Hmm, that's not the best example of purity these days. Just make sure you keep your hands off the altar-boys."
"M-o-o-o-m!"
"Now, don't get your undies in a bunch. I'm sure you're not gonna be unfaithful to Bret."
Caleb blushed greatly, but figured he'd better shut up, lest he say something dumb and invite more teasing.
The boys' party turned out to be a big success, as far as they were concerned. They practiced their karate moves for a while early in the evening. Then they brought out the snacks Carol had made, and had sodas to drink.
They switched to playing video games for another hour. After that, they made popcorn.
Caen had brought a deck of cards and suggested playing poker. As they were trying to decide on whether to play for chips or toothpicks, Caen suggested they play for their clothes – in other words, strip poker. The rest thought it would be a blast, so they all had to make sure they were wearing an equal number of items.
All of them had some experience playing cards, so it wasn't unfair to anyone, but Bret seemed to have the best luck of all, and Caen had the worst. He was down to his T-shirt and underwear before the others had lost more than their shoes and socks.
However, his luck changed, and pretty soon Vin was in the same boat. When Caen lost his shirt, Vin got cocky and teased him that he was going to be the first one naked. Somehow, the fates must have been angry with him because he lost his shirt next. The following hand was close, but Caen won that round, and Vin had to take off his briefs. He turned a bright shade of red, but he didn't renege. He did start to throw wood though.
Caen bet on a pair the next hand, and lost his underwear too. Caleb was willing to wager that it was on purpose, either to make Vin feel better, or to show off to him.
A few minutes later, Bret was the winner, having not lost his boxers. He made a smart remark, and the others relieved him of them. By this time, everyone had chubbed up, and they were all grinning. Just as it looked like things might get out of hand (or possibly into someone's hand), the TV, which had been on low in the background, announced that the countdown leading up to the fireworks in Chicago had begun. The boys grabbed their soda glasses to toast in the New Year. Bret and Caleb kissed passionately, and the younger boys kissed each other too. Then, they put their underwear back on and picked up their dishes and put away the games.
Bret and Caleb went into Caleb's room and climbed into bed naked. Vin and Caen went to Vin's room, closing and locking the door behind them. What happened in either of those rooms wouldn't be discussed in the morning.
Author's notes: Thanks to all who emailed since last week. Several are new readers. The list includes: Paul R, Caleb, Ott H, Tamaterai, Bill K, Rick P, Max P, Wes W, Tony C, Skip M, Geoff S, Charles G, Tim T, Tony F, Daz, Hotrod, Bill T, Mendy D, Gordon, Joe W, Steve C, John L, Greg W, Rick P, Allan M, JLF, Tim, Avid R, Jeff, Allen, Randy McC, Jim W, Les H, and Jai.
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Chapter 8 will end this tale, and then I'm going to beg off for a while. Lots of things are happening this summer.
Love and peace,
David