This is a fictional story. It is based on many experiences and fantasies of the authors. 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.
Cast of Characters:
Leonard Kirk Harston (Lenny) Lawrence Olivier Goodwin (Rennie)
Minnie Harston, Lenny's mom Randal Harston, Lenny's dad
Mr. Goodwin, Rennie's dad Mrs. Goodwin, Rennie's mom
Joy -- Rennie's older sister Jennifer -- Rennie's younger sister
Bobby -- Joy's husband Seth -- Lenny's friend
Luke -- Seth's lover Chris -- Seth's Brother
Craig -- Chris's lover Jake Smith -- Seth and Chris's cousin.
Colin -- Jake's husband & Bobby's brother Morty -- Rennie's Cousin
Ursula -- Jake & Colins daughter Uri -- Jake and Colin's son
Carrie -- Jake's sister Uncle Jake -- Jake's dad
Aunt Lindy -- Jake's mom Renate -- The Goodwin's housekeeper
Etta -- the Smith's housekeper Shelley -- Friend at University
DeVon -- Shelley's cousin Marcus -- DeVon's brother
Arthur -- A team leader at the shelter George - Ren's tennant
Ty -- new friend from Oklahoma Ricky, Ty's cousin
David - Toyota Dearlership owner Jason, waiter
Suzanne -- Jason's wife Jamie Hocking -- A new friend from school
Kevin -- Jamies brother Joe, Ernie and Bret -- Str8 (?) Friends
James Hocking, Jamie's dad Esther Hocking -- Jamie's mom
Officer Tom Whatley
From Chapter 23:
"My friend Ricky came over and was here when I got the news of my mom's stroke."
"Okay." Said Tom. "Well, I'll be there at one."
"No -- really. I can take the bus to the hospital."
"Well, if you're sure. Call me if you need any assistance -- okay?"
"Thanks, Tom."
"You can call me Tommy."
"Oh. Thanks. See yah!"
Why was I reacting this way to him? Twice my age! And he couldn't possibly be interested in me. He's just being a nice guy!
Chapter 24
When I got to the Hospital, my mom was alone in her room. It was dark in her room, so I peeked in and then moved slowly into the room.
"Mom?" I said very quietly.
(I'm not going to try to imitate her speech, so please be aware that it was barely recognizable as speech. It was more frustrating to her than it was to me. She let me know that she was as sharp in her thinking as ever.)
"Hello Leonard."
"How are you feeling today?"
"Oh, it's not that bad. I do get very angry with myself sometimes when I can't say what I want."
"Oh. But other than that, how does the doctor say you are?"
"He says I have no permanent damage -- at least that my brain cannot repair. He says my stroke was minor. It doesn't feel minor, but I believe him."
"Oh. Okay. Good."
"Lenny -- I - -"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry."
"For - - ?"
"For not -- saying more to -- your father."
"I was very hurt."
"I know. And I feel very bad. I was afraid."
"You were afraid -- of DAD?" I exclaimed. The hair stood up on my neck!
"Afraid he might leave me. I don't have any -- skills to support myself, honey."
"So - - how do you feel about -- about -- my gayness?"
"I try not to think of it."
"I guess I don't blame you for that. I can't do that." I said.
"I'm so sorry. It was a way of coping with missing you."
"I never felt so -- bad, Mom -- so abandoned." She started to cry. "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't really come here to -- to -- make you feel bad. But you asked -- or started the conversation. Mom, I am a millionaire now."
"But if he decides he doesn't like you any more, then where will you be?"
"Mom, I think we will always love each other. But we are not together."
"What?"
"I don't know why we were in each other's lives. I can't understand why his family were all killed like that. I can't believe God meant for that to happen." I said, becoming more sad as I spoke. "But -- maybe -- somehow -- he put me there -- at that time -- to take care of Rennie when he needed me. Now we don't seem to have as much in common."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So -- are you dating other -- um -- someone else -- now?"
"Sort of. More like I'm playing the field. I'm not in a hurry to -- just date one guy -- for now, at least."
"Well, so -- if you're not with Rennie any more -- where did you get that kind of money?"
"He gave it to me -- after we broke up."
"Why?"
"I told you -- I think we will always love each other. He just wanted me to be -- comfortable I guess -- and happy."
"How -- how much did he give you?"
"Enough so I won't ever have to worry about money."
"Oh. That was very kind of him. Are you -- are you still going to the University?"
"Yeah."
"And Rennie? What is he doing?"
"I -- I don't know. He's not going to school -- I know that. He dropped out of the JC he was attending for awhile. He has gotten messed up with drugs and alcohol once or twice. And -- well, I could not accept what he was doing to himself -- and me."
"What was he doing to you?" She asked me drowsily.
"He was -- well -- it just hurt me -- to see him -- what he was doing. Please don't ask any more - - now. I don't want to talk about it." She started to fall asleep.
"I probably better let you sleep. I -- love you, Mom." I said. I don't think she heard it. I really didn't want her to hear it. But I wanted to say it. I quietly left the room. I felt relieved as I left. I didn't really want to be there when my dad got there.
I felt pretty tired by the time I picked up my car and then went home. But I wasn't willing to put off my studies any longer. I was researching something about the Byzantine Empire on the internet when the phone rang.
"Yeah -- what's up?" I answered.
"Wow! That was cold."
"Ricky?"
"What're you doin'?" he asked.
"Homework I should have done two days ago."
"Oh. Well, what -- I mean -- okay. I won't bother you."
"Can you make it quick?"
"I -- um -- feel funny asking you, but - "
"You like him don't you?"
"Huh?" He said.
"Jamie! You like him don't you?"
Well -- yeah, but -- why did you - - ?"
"I just thought you two would hit it off. That's all."
"Thanks! What do you think about him?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"I know - we're the same age and all. But you're more experienced than I am."
"I think he is a geeky but really cute guy. Please don't tell him I said that! Most of all, I thought that he would appreciate your inexperience. You can learn things together -- if you hit it off."
"We already have."
"Whaddaya mean?"
"We've already done everything you taught both of us!"
"Well, now you can have fun learning on your own -- like I did with - " I got a big lump in my throat.
"with - - ?"
"My -- uh -- first boyfriend."
"Lenny - -?"
"Yeah?"
"I -- I just -- I wish you were -- I don't know! Jamie's like, well, like a great friend that I really like a lot. I wish it was you!"
"Oh! Well! Well, I `m not seeing anyone -- exclusively. Why do you have to?"
"I just -- wanna -- have -- well, you know -- with only one guy -- at a time"
OUCH!
"Well, I understand that -- I guess. I feel like I've been kinda slutty these past few weeks myself. And I'm not -- comfortable with it either."
"But Lenny -- I still would rather it was you."
SIGH!
"Okay. I'm sorry. See yah." I couldn't say anything more.
"Bye."
After I hung up I felt such an empty feeling in my stomach. And it wasn't hunger -- at least not for food. I reached for the phone. I dialed his number from memory.
"Hello?" He answered
"Hi, Tommy."
"Lenny?"
"Yeah."
"You sound down, Bud. What's going on?"
"I don't know. I don't even know why I called. I guess I was just lonely."
"Want me to come over?" He asked.
"I don't know. I'm so confused! And tired."
"I'll be right over!"
"No -- wait - "
CLICK!
I redialed. "Hello?"
"You don't have to come over now." I protested.
"I'm already out the door. It'll only take a few minutes. See yah!"
"K."
I set the receiver down, and stared blankly at the wall. What am I doing? OH! He's on his way!!!
I ran to the bathroom and checked out my hair and face, and brushed my teeth. I didn't have time for a shower, but I wasn't really dirty. I changed into a clean shirt.
Knock knock knock!
Damn! My hair was still wet! Oh well.
"Hi!" I said, opening the door wide enough to let him in.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"It's nothing." I said.
"M-hm! And I'm not picking up some major stuff from you!"
"Really! I'll get over it. I'm just a little -- um -- introspective tonight."
"Is that another word for depressed?"
"I just -- I mean -- it's just -- I want to have someone special -- and -- I mean - "
"I want to at least have a shot at that, dude!"
"Huh?" I exclaimed.
"I have felt something special ever since that first day, Lenny. And - - I've seen the way you look at me! I keep telling myself that you're too young -- that you couldn't possibly be interested in an old dude like me. But then I catch you looking at me -- and I have to wonder."
"That's pretty rich." I said. "I have thought that anyone so mature and experienced could not possibly be interested in me."
"Well, you are more mature than most guys your age. Somehow I got the feeling that you are sometimes more mature than I am." He paused for a moment, thinking. "So -- to be perfectly clear -- I am definitely interested in you. Can I now assume that you are also interested in me? You don't have to say any more than that. After all, we just met. But I would love to see more of you -- and see where we could go."
"So -- oh! Well, first -- yes! I'd like that too. And then, well, I guess we will both be free to date other guys too?"
"Y-y-yeah. I couldn't ask any more -- at this point. I -- um -- do have sort of -- well - <AHEM!> well, some advice -- or something, I guess."
"What?"
"Um -- oh never mind -- it's not my place to - "
"Too late! You already started! Go ahead."
"I -- well, I don't want to presume to -- um -- tell you how to live your life - "
"But - - ?"
"Ha ha! You saw that coming! But as for ME, I am not going to -- erm -- have sex with anyone while we are dating -- others -- not even you. I want to get to know the real you, and not just feel how my body feels as I'm anticipating seeing you." He stopped, then continued. "Okay -- that's for me! I'm not telling you that YOU have to do that."
"But you'd like it -- huh?"
"<sigh!> I'm sorry. This is none of my business. We haven't even dated yet. Just let me dig a hole and climb in it!"
I didn't know what to say. He obviously felt he said too much. And I didn't know how to respond. Finally after too long a pause, I said, "Okay."
"Okay? Okay what?" He asked.
"Okay. I agree. To tell you the truth, it has been bothering me a lot lately."
"What has?"
"Oh! Ummmmm - " Oh shit now what do I say? "I -- uhm -- I've been feeling kind of -- um -- slutty -- lately."
"Oh! Well, I know what that is like! I don't have such active hormones as you any more, so it's not such a compulsion as it used to be. Well, I can only ask -- whatever you do -- for your sake AND mine -- please be careful."
"Oh I am anyway -- but I think I like your idea better. No sex until I decide to become exclusive with someone."
"Well, that's not for everyone -- especially a guy your age."
"But you said I am more mature than most guys my age. I like your idea. So - - do you want to go out with me Friday night?"
"Cool!" He answered. What do you want to do?"
"Um -- I think we should have a party -- here -- with all my friends -- and yours too. I have -- heh heh -- been doing some matchmaking. Hee hee! And I'd like them to see you and me as a couple -- at least for now -- to reaffirm that I want -- them -- to -- well - "
"Uh -- are you trying to dump someone?"
"I don't like that term, but yeah. Actually several!"
"You are so awesome!"
"This is so -- um -- different -- for me. Strange to me -- but when I was in high school, I was such a nerd, no one looked twice at me -- well almost no one."
"Well, I am looking twice and more! And I am seriously interested. Okay?"
"Okay! Deal! And --- me too." I said shyly.
He closed his eyes and took deep breath. "You know I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight."
"Sorry." I said shrugging.
NOTE: No real notes today. If you have comments, I'd love to read them. Send them to Steve at s4d@hotmail.com. Please put "Lenny" on the subject line so I don't throw it away. Thanks and love, Steve
Bottom line: Love will Rule in the end.