Lawn Boy, Chapter 17
With two shovels, Liam's big two-stage blower and his small single-stage model, in addition to the one he'd borrowed from his dad, there was more than enough equipment to keep four people occupied. They traded off using the machines, so the teens each had a chance to run the big one. It would help in future jobs for everyone to be familiar with everything. The boys seemed to enjoy operating the heavier equipment, but they hadn't been allowed to until they got the safety briefing from Liam about keeping their hands away from the auger when the chute got plugged with snow. Fortunately, this was a light, fluffy snow instead of a wet one, so clogging wasn't an issue.
Liam was impressed with the work ethic both boys displayed. So often critics of the welfare system insist that all recipients of aid were free-loaders. No doubt there were some, but these boys were not among them.
When he decided it was time for a break, the kids were still eager to continue. However, he felt they'd all benefit from warming up for a while and having a snack to replenish the calories they'd expended in the cold.
Instead of going into the toasty warm showroom, the guys opted to stay in the area where drivers brought their cars to check in for servicing. It was kept at a lower temperature, and there would be less shock from going out into the elements again.
They were nearly finished by noon, and the teens chose to keep at it until it was completely done. That made more sense than getting warmed up, only to have to go out in the cold again when they would be lethargic from digesting their meal.
Juanita called Perrin to say that she would have a late lunch ready for the four of them when they returned to the shelter.
Baxter Motor's general manager, Kyle Pearson called Liam into his office to discuss the payment for the snow removal. He was very generous, and said that he would pay in cash from a slush-fund to avoid the hassle of taxes, social security, etc. Since it was a one-time event, he could do that without raising red flags. This would give the teens more profit, and Liam too, for that matter.
He indicated that Baxter's might like to contract with Lawn Guys in the future, especially if their current company couldn't get back to operating in a timely manner.
Liam, in turn, kept very little for overhead and for the labor Perrin and he had expended. He would rather reward the boys with a "Christmas bonus" for their hard work.
Kyle asked to speak to the teens before they left. He wanted to offer them an opportunity to earn more money detailing cars if they were interested.
It turned out that they were thrilled to be considered.
Juanita outdid herself on lunch. She was trying out a variation of a recipe for carnitas that she hoped to feature as their signature dish in the restaurant. If their customers were as impressed with it as the young men seemed to be, she had a hit on her hands.
She enjoyed listening to the teens interact with the men who would be their houseparents next year. The easy flow of conversation gave her a feeling that all would go well, even when she was no longer there to take care of them.
This Christmas Loren and Cindy invited both sets of parents as they often did. However, only William and Margaret Neuhaus were able to come. Cindy's mother was recovering from a bad case of flu and didn't want to infect anyone else. It was good that she didn't attempt to make the trip because she had a setback and spent two days in the hospital on IV's to treat her dehydration. She insisted that no one come to see her until after she'd fully recovered.
The rest of the family missed them, but it did cut down on the bedroom roulette. That left Liam's room for Perrin and him, and Kellan was free to have Max stay over a couple of nights.
Besides the usual festivities, the break was a time for the young men to plan their wedding in more detail. On December 28th, with Parker and Adam back from the Chicago suburbs, they finalized the date of March 10th for their ceremony. Paul Cox, who handled the calendar for Stone Manor sat in on the meeting. He was also the one who coordinated everything with the florist, caterer, and clergy, when desired. It was a one-stop shopping opportunity for most couples.
They didn't need the latter service since they had already contacted Pastor Lund about officiating. He had been pleased to be asked. So, now there wasn't a lot to do but compose a small guest list and wait for spring break.
The guys did have one other important consideration. That was how to prepare for consummating their union in a physical way. Both were anal virgins, and they didn't want their trip to be spoiled by a painful experience when they gave themselves to each other completely. They didn't know if they should ask advice from Parker and Adam since they hadn't known them for very long. Their dilemma was resolved as they were booking Stone Manor for their wedding venue. Right after Paul left for another appointment, Parker brought up the subject. "I'm going to offer some unsolicited advice. This may be too much information, but Adam and I would be willing to give you a few pointers on how to be ready for your first night if you've not already, um, shared your bodies in that way." "Awesome!" Liam exclaimed. "We've been trying to find a way to ask you for advice without making it an awkward situation. We're virgins, and we don't want to, um, spoil our honeymoon with discomfort." "You're not alone; a lot of guys find themselves in those circumstances. As counselors, we thought gay men in general might benefit from some help, so we've put together information that we've shared with our friends." Parker gave them the packet which discussed techniques for stretching, along with suggestions for the best lubricant and condoms (if those were desired). It also provided links to videos which might be of help. It was written in a clinical way, to avoid causing undue embarrassment. The guys were very happy to receive the info. Liam and Perrin purchased supplies that very day and began preparing each other later that night. ----------
At one point, Perrin and Liam thought they might stay in Stone Manner for their honeymoon. It was an elegant environment, and they could save a lot of money. However, their plans changed after Grandma Flo got wind of it and insisted they go on a short cruise. She wanted them to have a memorable trip, and she would pay for it. Knowing she wouldn't take "no" for an answer, the guys began to research which ships offered routes they'd be able to take in the limited time-span they had available. They chose the four-day, roundtrip cruise from Florida to Cuba, with an overnight stay in Havana that would give them more time to tour. They would be traveling at night part of the time but would have a whole day at sea to bask in the sunshine on the way back. Grandma booked them a port-side balcony suite on the 11th deck of the Carnival Paradise. It was close to the exercise equipment on 12, and not far from the adult serenity deck at the top of the ship. There, they could enjoy their leisure without noise and interruptions from children. ---------- The first part of the spring semester was a time-warp. On the one hand, they were busy with their coursework and had little time to spare. On the other, they could scarcely wait until their wedding, making it difficult not to get distracted.
Perrin had to deal with a few problems as RA, but nothing like he'd had to do in the past. Having several more-mature guys residing in his wing, it was a more settled atmosphere. Compared to the past year, he felt like he wasn't earning his money. Liam insisted that he'd more than earned it before.
Finally, their special day arrived. March 10th started with sunshine and a cloudless sky. Earth was ready to awake from her hibernation.
Stone Manor never looked more beautiful. Although it was too early for a green lawn and an abundance of spring blossoms in the yard, the interior looked like a garden with strategically placed vases of flowers complementing the fiscus trees, ti plants, and other live vegetation that were kept growing year-round.
Their guest list was relatively small, including family members, close friends from high school and college, and a few special ones from church.
Prominent among them were Garth, Clay, Austin, and Mikki. The four of them arrived together.
While people were assembling in the large parlors, the organist from church played a medley of Broadway love songs on a small electric keyboard. Their mothers both participated in the candle-lighting. That was a huge step for Madeline, and a sign that she fully accepted her elder son's orientation.
At the appointed hour, Kellan and Max descended the grand staircase dressed in black tuxedos with pale rose ties and matching cummerbunds. Perrin and Liam followed a few steps behind in white tuxes with rainbow accessories. The effect was stunning.
This was Pastor Lund's first same-sex wedding, and he handled it much like other ceremonies he'd performed in the past. He had made notes in his prayer book to make sure he used all masculine pronouns. He didn't want to have any awkward slip-ups.
The young grooms used the standard liturgical form instead of writing their own vows. Though both were good with words, they feared they might not be able to get through them without having their voices crack from the emotion they were feeling. That was probably a good idea because both had tears flowing freely at the end when Pastor Lund pronounced them to be a married couple.
Guests were invited to explore other parts of the mansion while tables were set up for lunch. Paul was there to direct his staff which turned out to be a mix of several of Adam's old high school friends and a few college students who had delaying leaving town, so they could earn a little extra money.
The health-conscious grooms had ordered a menu which included lean meats and several interesting vegetable dishes. Everyone who came seemed to be delighted with the offerings on the buffet line. The caterer had a small dish with business cards near the condiments for those interested in requesting their services.
There were various toasts made with non-alcoholic beverages toward the end of the meal. Instead of a formal wedding cake, "trees" of beautifully decorated cupcakes were placed on each table for dessert. There were enough choices to give everyone something they liked best.
As the festivities were winding down, Perrin and Liam bade their guest goodbye and left for the airport with Kellan at the wheel and Max riding shotgun. Their ship didn't sail until Monday, but they thought they'd spend a day enjoying the beach in Florida. Besides, it couldn't hurt to allow plenty of time for any glitches in plane schedules. ---------- The flight was routine. Their first-class seats were roomy. They chose to nap rather than to watch any of the movies available. They did have juice and a snack a couple of hours into the trip. The shuttle to their hotel was easy to find, and it wasn't long before they were settled in their room. The first thing Perrin did was to extract a small bottle of Champagne from the middle of their shared suitcase while Liam took their ice bucket to the machine down the hall. Once that was chilling, they went to eat a light meal at a nearby restaurant. ---------- Liam was ready to be the receiver in their first act of intercourse, but seeing how much Perrin want to play that role, he didn't press the issue. Originally both had considered themselves to be more tops than bottoms but having played with vibrating dildos the past couple of months, they felt versatile. They began by drinking a toast to each other. They consumed just enough alcohol to relax them without deadening their senses. Liam began by undressing his husband, and Perrin followed his moves until they were both naked. Then, to feel their freshest, they shared a shower, making out a lot in the process. After drying off, Liam gently prepared Perrin for entry. When at last he aligned his throbbing phallus with Perrin's chute, they were both ready. They lay in the missionary position because Perrin wanted to be able to kiss while they made love. He was amazed at how easily they coupled. Their preparation time was worth every minute. The excitement of this new experience kept them from forestalling their orgasms for the length of time they might have liked, but they were still powerful. After a short rest for recharging, they took another shower and changed positions. Before they slept that night, both had experienced giving and receiving. ---------- Before eating breakfast, Perrin arranged with the shuttle driver to drop them at a nearby rental agency where he'd reserved a car for the day. The process didn't take long because of having made arrangements ahead of time. Soon, they were on their way to a beach. Unfortunately, it wasn't a clothing-optional place, but they managed to expose a lot of skin in the tiny bikinis they'd purchased on-line. They frequently applied a generous amount of number 15 sunscreen to prevent burning, and they also got out of the sun at times to cool off. Their lunch was rather expensive for what they got, but worth it not to be bothered with carrying a lot of extra stuff. ---------- The next day, they checked out of their hotel as late as possible because the ship didn't sail until 4:00 p.m. The taxi ride was short, but so was the check-in process. It wasn't long before they were able to occupy their suite. Instead of waiting there for their luggage, they explored the upper decks and ended up on the lido deck where they ordered a small four-cheese pizza to share. It was a delicious way to spend the time. Dinner in the dining room was very casual that night, but the food was excellent. They were careful not to overeat so that they wouldn't feel stuffed for later activities. Finding that the air was warm enough, they made love on the balcony. The partitions made it private enough, so long as they didn't make a lot of noise to attract attention. It was exciting and sweet. ---------- The next day, the guys ate brunch on the lido deck, so they'd be ready for their tour of the city which began shortly after docking at 11:30. Being young and fit, they might have walked it on their own, but having a guide and transportation between some of the sites was a good thing too. Seeing so much in a short period was almost overwhelming.
Surrounded on the streets by American automobiles from the 1950's it felt like a scene from the movie, Back to the Future. Then, arriving in the old part of Havana, it was like being transported back to the 17th Century in a time machine. The Baroque architecture, cobblestone streets, combined with unfamiliar sounds and smells made it a totally other-world experience for them.
El Morro and other Spanish fortifications were equally impressive. They took loads of snapshots to share with their friends and family. Perrin would send several to Grandma Flo the minute they got back to phone service.
They had thought of her near the start of their tour when an elderly couple was having difficulties. The wife couldn't walk well, and her husband was doing his best to push her in a lightweight folding wheelchair. It was great on smooth sidewalks, but not in places which were rough.
"I'm sorry, Edna, I'll have to ask you to walk across this street because these wheels are too small to negotiate the curbs."
"It's okay, Arnold. I'll just sit in the bus the rest of the time. I didn't realize it would be this difficult, or I'd never have asked to go on the tour. I can see a lot through the windows. That's still enough to cross it off my bucket list."
The newlyweds looked at each other and exchanged a silent communication.
"Please let us help," Liam requested and they each took an arm of the chair and easily carried the lady to the other side.
"We'll stay with you to make sure you can keep up," Perrin said.
"Oh, I don't want to be a bother! You young men should enjoy your trip without having to look after an old fossil like me," Edna insisted.
"We'll enjoy it more knowing that you'll get to see what you want," Perrin assured her.
For the rest of the morning, it was a foursome.
They went back to the ship for a late lunch and a nap. Edna and Arnold were done for the day, but the guys wanted to be ready for their evening experiences.
The older couple thanked them several times. She said they reminded her of her grandsons, and she hoped someone would do them a similar kindness when they were old.
The evening tour began with a casual dinner at Havana Central Restaurant and Bar. Their guide explained what gave Cuban cuisine its distinctive flavor. She called the mixture of aromatic vegetables, herbs, and spices which are used in many dishes, "sofrito."
She encouraged them to try the pork or other meats which had been marinated in citrus juices and roasted slowly for hours.
"It's like what is used in a Cuban sandwich in Florida, only much better!" she insisted.
The guys had the pork along with fried plantain and vegetables flavored with a marinade called mojo. They liked everything they tasted. The pork reminded them of Juanita's carnitas. She had mentioned using limes and oranges in flavoring them.
After dinner, the group continued to La Zorra y El Cuervo, one of the premier jazz clubs in the city. There they were treated to a variety of musical styles, including some Afro-Cuban numbers.
When the official tour was over, they were given the option of staying until closing time or returning to the ship. The guys opted for the latter. Much as they enjoyed the music, they felt safer returning with their guide, and they had other pressing issues to take care of before going to sleep. After all, it was their honeymoon.
Instead of taking a tour the second morning, Perrin and Liam walked around the old part of Havana to take more photos. They had missed a few shots the day before while helping Edna and Arnold, and they figured this might be their only visit to the island nation.
The following day at sea, they spent quite a bit of time catching some rays. The decks were crowded with others who were also trying to get as tan as possible in the time they had. To their delight, their balcony faced the sun for most of the day. Thus, they had the privacy to partially erase their tan-lines by sunning naked. With plenty of sunscreen, they avoided getting burned. Of course, the need to baste each other's body frequently meant that other problems arose.
Toward evening, they disembarked to catch the shuttle to the airport. They barely made their flight to O'Hare, but once through security it was smooth going from there to the Eastern Iowa airport.
Kellan and Max met them at the gate. They had coordinated their trip down to the minute.
On Sunday after dinner with Liam's parents, the guys headed to the dorm to beat the rush. Actually, people had been straggling in since late afternoon.
When they got to Perrin's room, he opened it, and then picked Liam up to carry him over the threshold as if he were a new bride. They were laughing so hard that Perrin nearly dropped him on the floor before dumping him, unceremoniously, on the bed.
"What is this? Am I your bitch now?" Liam joked.
"Only if you want to be, or I could be your bitch," Perrin grinned.
"Maybe we could be each other's," Liam concluded. "Either way, you know I'm moving into your bed for the rest of the term."
"That's how it should be," Perrin agreed. "I know some of the RA's have their love interests sleeping with them on a regular basis, so if the powers-that-be turn a blind eye to that, they'd better not hassle us for living together as a married couple."
"Oh, I love being a married couple!" Liam enthused. "I know it's been a week already, but the newness hasn't worn off."
Clay and Garth came down the hall to "harass" the newlyweds, and soon Austin joined them.
"Am I going to have to room alone for the rest of the semester?" Austin asked.
"Is that a problem?" Liam grinned.
"Nope, I'm just checking so I can fill out my date-book."
"Oh, Jeez! Are you gonna to be like Mike and Thad and get laid every night?"
"No, but I might invite another guy for a sleepover. I guess that sounds like middle school."
"A guy instead of a girl? Have we turned you gay?" Perrin raised an eyebrow.
"Nope. I have an old high school buddy who would like to visit campus for a few days. His spring break is next week. Bunking with me would save him a few bucks."
"I'll change the sheets on my bed so he can stay with you," Liam said. I plan to sleep in this bed from now on. And before you say it, no, it won't be non-stop sex!"
The guys didn't lack for loving, but they had plenty of other things to do for the rest of the term. There were the usual projects and papers to do, as well as making the transition to becoming house parents the minute school was out for the summer.
Fortunately, the Acosta's offered to spend periods of time, with the kids in the shelter and them together, to help make the change as smooth as possible. Having children of their own in college made them more understanding about the pressures the guys would be under.
Manuel's construction company had been hired to transform the former Gospel Tabernacle into an auditorium and convention center. Parker's dads had drawn up the plans at cost. Other than the removal of a large cross inside the former sanctuary, that part of the interior remained mostly the same. The seats were comfortable and serviceable. The carpet didn't show much wear.
The area behind the platform was extended to become a stage with fly systems for curtains and backdrops so that a wide range of productions could be staged there.
New state-of-the are lighting was also installed, but the sound system needed only a little tweaking to fulfill its new role.
Rooms that had been used for Sunday school classes would function well as lecture venues for conventions. Several of them had folding panels which allowed them to be opened for larger audiences.
The gym had a regulation-size basketball court. By creating two locker rooms from nearby class rooms, it could be put into service when there were tournaments in town that needed additional sites.
The exterior was also altered. The cross was removed from the bell tower and replace by cell phone equipment. Verizon had previously tried to contract with the church to place it there. The company was elated to use the spot and paid handsomely for the right to do so.
Down the front of the tower, large, lighted letters read B & G Centre. Above the entrance doors a new electronic billboard announced future events planned for the facility.
With the month of May came opportunities for the lawn business. The high school boys were kept busy around their activities. Besides their private customers, Parker contracted with Lawn Guys to keep up the grounds of the former Gospel Tabernacle. He wanted it to be a showplace.
One weekend, when Max and Kellan didn't have any track meets or other pressing obligations, they were enlisted to plant a slanted, raised flowerbed in colors that resembled the gay-pride flag. Brady and Mitch helped.
Adam oversaw the operations since Perrin and Liam were in the midst of studying for finals. He was finished with his course work and enjoyed the opportunity to get his hands in the dirt and interact with the younger boys at the same time.
It pleased him to see how well two of his "rescues" worked with other teens who were a year older. He was especially happy that Kellan and Max treated the two like friends instead of employees. They seemed to have a lot of the same traits as their older brothers.
On Sunday afternoon, Perrin and Liam joined the other guys to survey their handiwork. Adam set up a camera on a tripod, so he could take photographs of all of them in front of the new center.
Lots of thoughts went through the minds of the newlyweds. They remembered taking nude photos by the pool when this building represented a dark, repressive period in Perrin's life. They realized how lucky they were.
Perrin smiled as a fleeting image of the confident, slightly arrogant, Lawn Boy he'd hired appeared in his head. Their first meeting had been quite by accident, or had it? Either way, they'd been in the right place at the right time.
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Author's notes: While I hate to say goodbye to the characters in this tale, it's time. Who knows when they may show up in a later story? Thanks to all the faithful readers who have made this journey with me. This week I heard from Walter Sz, Avid R, Tom S, Derrick M, Steve C, Jimmy P, Chandra B, Tony F, Paul R, Bill K, Wayne, David H, Jim M, John L, Geoff S, Skip M, Charles G, Gordon, Tom A, Randy McC, Neal H, Bill T, Tony C, GCD, Joe W, Mendy D, Douglas and Lawrence, Tim T, Jim W, Lance C, and Zero S. Thanks to David (Boxerdude) who edited it.
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I find it difficult to close without remembering the 17 high school students and teachers who were gunned down in Florida. I know stopping such violence is a complex issue. Definitely, we need to concentrate on mental health. However, I don't think anyone needs an assault rifle to hunt pheasants...
My best,
David
P.S. I think I'll post a very short story next week in the high school section called, Angels Unawares. It's a bit of a whimsical fantasy tale.