Pop

The following is a work of fiction and is the property of the author. If you are looking to get off quick, read something else This is a story about the inter-relationships of males of differing ages. It's a story with some sex, not sex with some story.

Pop

Chapter 23

I was not concerned about leaving the boys. It was only a four day weekend, Thursday through to Sunday afternoon. True, Dex and I would both be gone, as would be Betty and Millie, but the second string had a strong lineup and they were prepared with a schedule of activities which should wear out even the most active youth.

Brenda had moved into one of the spare rooms on Tuesday and was up to speed on everyone's activities. She would remain in residence the entire time we were gone. Cliff and John were off duty for the weekend and would be sleeping in our room. Theo and Peter were looking after the Club and had Brenda upstairs if they needed any problem solving done. Everything was set and yet Dex and I both experienced some anxiety. It was the first time either of us had been away from our boys overnight since Dex had moved in.

The boys had all been very accepting of our going away. They understood an old friend of mine was retiring. There had been no end to their comments about my need to retire if my friends were doing so. They knew also I was to speak at the retirement ceremony and kept wanting to hear my speech, which I had not yet actually completed preparing. Thursday morning, we had all eaten breakfast together, then we herded them off to school, just like any regular day. I checked to make certain Brenda had the list of telephone numbers and locations where we could be reached and before I knew it, the taxi was there to take us to the airport.

Betty and Millie were flying out tomorrow afternoon, as they could not afford the extra time away from their desks and responsibilities these two days represented. Our flight was on time and we landed at our destination just before noon. Dex and I were standing in the airport baggage section, waiting for our bags to appear in the line of luggage flowing on the conveyor past us, when Dex noticed a man in a uniform waving a sign over his head for everyone to see. On the sign, very clearly printed was, "Dr. David Merrill". Dex remained by the conveyor trying to snag our bags while I went to see what the man required.

"You're looking for me." I stated as I approached the man.

"Dr. Merrill," he replied, "the University Chancellor's Office sent a limousine to pick you up, Sir. I'm Frank, the driver." I wondered how they knew when I would be arriving. I imagine Eleanor must have told them for some reason. Then I wondered why on earth the Chancellor's Office would send a limousine for me.

"What's up ?" Dex asked as he came along side me, carrying our three bags.

"I'll take those, Sir." Frank said as he relieved Dex of the load.

"That's Frank." I informed Dex. "He says, the University sent him with a limo to pick us up." Dex got a pleased smile on his face.

"Good. They're going to recognize how lucky they are to have you come back." he expressed triumphantly.

"I don't think so." I warned him. "Eleanor's retirement is so important, they likely couldn't take a chance on snubbing me. They likely know she'd have made them pay, if they did."

"We need to go, Sir." Frank suggested. "The meeting is at one o'clock and we must start out if we are to be on time."

"What meeting ?" I asked.

"I don't know, Sir." Frank responded. "I was only told to pick up Dr. McDivott on the way and get everyone there on time. Please Sir, I'll be to blame if we're late." Dex and I followed Frank to his limousine.

Dex was fascinated with the limo. He confided this was his first ride in one. I must admit, the comfort and luxury were hard to equal in any other type of transportation. It seemed a very short ride through the familiar terrain before we were pulling up in front of Eleanor McDivott's house. Her old family home was located on the campus and was a recognized landmark. On seeing the house, Dex let out a low whistle. He had a great appreciation of architectural design and had demonstrated his knowledge during many intense discussions with Neil. This house was a prime example for anyone who appreciated quality. Frank climbed out of his seat, I supposed to go and knock on the door, but I asked him to let me go. It was like strolling back into a long past portion of my life as I walked the concrete sidewalk up to the entry and rang the bell. The pleasantly surprised expression on her face when she opened the door made the entire trip worthwhile.

Always the proper lady, Eleanor was the picture of poise and grace. I had been correct, the job had aged her, but she bore the years with elegance. There was little delay in leaving, other than the hug and kiss on the cheek I received. She was ready to go, apparently eager to charge ahead with whatever task was on the table. I escorted her to the limo where Frank stood holding the door for both of us. She greeted him in a manner which indicated they were frequently acquainted. A hand extended from the limo and taking her hand, guided her into a seat.

"And you of course, are Dexter." Eleanor greeted Dex with a friendly smile when we were again underway. "David, you said he was good looking, not that he was gorgeous." Dex blushed. "I apologize to you Dexter, it was not my intention to embarrass you, only to reprimand David for the inaccuracy of his statements."

"Thank you for your kind words, Ma'am." Dex replied. "Please call me Dex." Eleanor pondered briefly, gazing at him.

"No, I don't think so." she finally replied. "I think you and I will be much closer friends, if I continue to call you `Dexter'."

"Yes, Ma'am." he responded. "No one, except David, has called me that since my Mother passed, Ma'am. It would be nice if you did so."

"Then Dexter it will be," she declared, "and you must call me Eleanor. I am not yet old enough to be a Ma'am." I knew by then their friendship was sealed and it really pleased me.

"Excuse my interrupting this budding relationship between you two," I interjected, "but I wonder if you would like to enlighten us about this meeting we are being rushed off to attend ?" Eleanor sat back in her seat, took a deep breath and looked directly at me.

"Since you left here, David, a lot has changed." she stated. "You may be surprised to learn much of it is because of you. Your writings became very popular with the students as well as many of the more progressive minded members of the faculty. As people left here and moved out into other academic settings, they took your thoughts and ideas with them and spread them like fertile seeds. A large part of why I was selected as Dean of the School of Psychology was because of my association with you."

"I think you are being far too modest, Eleanor." I interrupted. "I know for a fact your work is still widely distributed and admired. Two social workers we have association with were familiar with both your name and work, I found in a recent discussion we had."

"I imagine they must have known your writings as well then." she mused.

"Actually they did." I admitted. "It surprised me."

"It shouldn't have. You obviously have really cut yourself off from the professional news sources." Eleanor concluded. "All the work I have done in the past five years has been based on and promoting your theories. I told you a long time ago you were way ahead of the field. They are just now catching up and they want you to lead them."

"What do you mean ?" I asked.

"They are going to offer you the job I have been doing, David." Eleanor proudly announced. "They want you to become Dean of the School of Psychology. It is your rightful place. I have just been keeping the chair warm for you over the past few years." It was easy to see the pride and enthusiasm Eleanor felt about this. She very quickly picked up the absence of it in me. "What is the problem, David ? You worked very hard for this recognition and you deserve every bit of it."

"He has his life, Eleanor." Dex said. "A wonderful life with everything in it he wants and needs. We have six wonderful boys who love and need him. I need him. Our lives are far away from here. He has a very successful business with three branches which are going strong and are ready to expand."

"I know with David's guidance you have all been able to help make better lives for the six boys, Dexter," she explained, "but from this position, he can guide at least a couple decades of future therapists and empower them to help thousands and thousands of boys and girls. Just wait and see what they have to say when we get there. They want you badly, David. Badly enough to schedule this special Board of Governors meeting to see you." We rode the rest of the trip in silence, each of us thinking about this unexpected turn in events.

Chapter 24

"Brenda. Are you here ?" Billy called as he exited the elevator into the third floor apartment.

"I'm in the kitchen." Brenda called back as she bent to put the roasting pan she held containing a casserole for dinner into the oven. She turned to find the young man and a guest standing behind her. "Well, who do we have here ?"

"Brenda, I'd like to introduce my friend, Karen." he responded. "Karen's Mom is out of town this weekend and her Dad will be coming to the Health Club after work, so I wondered if it would be all right for her to visit with us until he arrives and completes his workout. If it's okay with you, she can call her Dad and let him know she'll be here."

"Well, I don't see any problem with Karen visiting." Brenda replied. "What were your original arrangements with your Dad, Dear ?"

"I was just going to go home and stick around `til Daddy got home," she answered, "but I'd much sooner visit with Bill and meet his family. He tells me his parents are away this weekend."

"That's right, Dear," Brenda confirmed, "but he has me and my boys to keep him and his brothers company." Billy was starting to fidget. Brenda didn't know how much he may or may not have told his friends about his home life, so she thought it prudent to say as little specific as possible.

"We're going to go down to my room and hang." Billy announced.

"Think again, Sherlock." Brenda responded. "I'm an old fashion girl and young men do not take young ladies to their rooms. You are free to entertain Karen in the lounge, or the games area, but no bedrooms."

"Aw, Brenda." he objected. "I'm not a little kid."

"Then I'm sure you won't act like one when you're told `No'." she affirmed. It was obvious Billy was not pleased, but he also was not about to raise a fuss with Karen standing there. "Why don't you show Karen where the phone is in David's office, so she can call her father and I'll try to remember to ask Timmy to set an extra place for dinner. Cliff and John should arrive very shortly now." Billy's eyes lit up at her comment. He showed Karen to the phone.

Billy and Karen were sitting in the lounge area of the apartment's living space when most of the other boys arrived home. Jim had continued to attend his own high school on the other side of town and didn't usually arrive home until the others had been there for 15 or 20 minutes. As usual the four younger males spilled noisily out of the elevator and Brenda found herself thinking how nice it was to have an end to all the peace and quiet she had been enveloped in all day. On the way to their rooms to put away their school packs and change their clothes, Billy introduced them to his guest. Brenda watched quietly from the kitchen and noted each of the boys was polite in greeting Karen. As the boys spoke briefly with Karen, she noticed Timmy was holding back watching everyone without saying anything. She didn't know what it would be, but she knew it was no doubt coming.

"You gonna be Billy's girlfriend ?" Timmy finally asked after listening to everyone else talk.

"Hey, Timmy !" Billy interceded, his face colouring pinkish. "You shouldn't ask stuff like that." Timmy immediately backed away. He didn't mean to be rude and he was very concerned because he liked Billy too much to want him angry with him.

"It's all right." Karen spoke out. "He didn't mean anything. It's okay, Timmy. What do you think ? Would Bill make a good boyfriend ?"

"I guess so." Timmy offered hesitantly. "I don't know what you need to make a good boyfriend."

"Well, someone who's smart and kind. Someone who will love you and do things with you." Karen listed. "I guess it doesn't hurt if he's handsome and sexy too." She giggled.

"Billy is smart." Timmy offered. "And I guess he's kind, too, but I don't know about handsome. Dex and Cliff are a lot better lookin' than him."

"Dex and Cliff are better looking than everyone." Tom interjected.

"I got a boil on my butt that's better lookin'........." Greg started.

"That's it, you guys." Bill rumbled. "My job while Pop and Dex are gone is to kick kid butt, so get movin'." As he started to get up off the couch, all four boys took off for their rooms, laughing joyfully at the fun they were having at Billy's expense.

"Oh, Bill. They're all so cute." Karen gushed as he settled back into his seat with a big grin on his face.

"Yeah, they are." he agreed. "And I love them all."

"It's not hard to see they love you right back." Karen commented.

As she was speaking, the elevator doors opened and he heard Karen gasp as two, rugged, uniformed, State Troopers stepped out and walked into the apartment area. Billy didn't even need to look behind him to know what she was seeing. What he wasn't expecting was the two hoofing right over to where they were sitting.

"You Billy Horton ?" the blonde headed Trooper inquired. Billy looked up at him with a `go jump in the lake' expression on his face.

"What d'ya want ?" he snarled at the Officer.

"Watch your tone of voice, please Sir." the dark headed one cautioned him. "Now answer his question." Billy gave him a scowl.

"Yes, I'm Billy Horton." he admitted in an exasperated voice.

"We have a report you may be concealing an illegal substance on your person, Sir." the blonde Trooper stated. "Would you mind turning around and looking the other way, Miss, while we strip the suspect and conduct a body cavity search on this fine, strapping example of young manhood ?" Karen's eyes were wide open and her mouth had dropped open with shock as the events had been unfolding, but when she heard what had just been said she seemed to stop breathing.

"Karen, I think I should introduce Brenda's son, John and his partner, Cliff, who are also my, sometimes not as funny as they think they are', big brothers." Billy explained before their charade went any further. "This one is John and the other one is Timmy's nomination for most handsome', Cliff." The two big men broke out laughing.

"The people here are really crazy." Karen stated, then paused. "I like it." All of them enjoyed a round of laugher.

Jim said very little when he arrived home. After being introduced, he nodded, grumbled something no one understood and went to his room. There he remained until called for dinner. At the dinner table, Jim spent most of his time scowling in Karen and Bill's direction.

Neil arrived as dinner was ending. As arranged earlier, the three young men took the six younger guys bowling for the evening. Karen's father was consulted on their way out and arrangements were made for her to go with the group and be dropped off at her home as they were returning.

While Cliff was busy organizing teams at the bowling alley, John had time to take note of two things which concerned him. Both Jim and Neil were very withdrawn and uncommunicative. They each participated as their turn came round, but neither seemed to take pleasure in the evening. He did not think the absence of their principle counselors had anything to do with what he was seeing and decided he and Cliff would need to investigate further.

After the group had returned home, almost everyone busied themselves with the preparation of popcorn for snack. Jim however was not involved and left the group to spend his time alone in his room. John allowed him five minutes and after briefly filling Cliff in on his observations, went to Jim's room and knocked on the door. When there was no response, he opened the bedroom door slowly and entered the room. Jim was laying prone on his bed with his pillow over his head. John closed the door behind himself and walking over to the side of the bed, sat down.

"You going to try to make up for......." Jim started to say, pushing the pillow from his head, but stopping his sentence when he realized it was John sitting beside him. After glancing at John, he lay his head down again.

"If you just went ahead and finished that sentence, it would likely set me on the right path as to what's happening." John suggested quietly. He sat and waited. Slowly, Jim turned onto his side and looked up at the handsome man sitting beside him. He had always admired the two Troopers, imagining one day he might be able to join their ranks and enjoy a close relationship with John and Cliff.

"You're going to think I'm being immature and childish." Jim muttered.

"Because you're jealous ?" John asked, noting the immediate reaction on Jim's face. "We all feel jealous and angry and lost when we believe our first love is being threatened. I can understand how you feel, I went through the same feelings at one time."

"I think I love him, but he doesn't feel the same way." Jim told him.

"Bill is a wonderful, sexy teen who is growing into a wonderful, sexy man." John observed. "Unlike you, he has not made a lot of his decisions yet. You have decided who you are and what you want, but he is still exploring and experiencing. I'm sure he cares for you, but not necessarily in the way you desire. I know how difficult it is, but you must decide whether to accept and enjoy him at the level he is prepared to share with you, or end up losing him, maybe even as a friend."

"He brought her home just to hurt me." Jim suggested.

"He brought Karen home, because he is trying to understand in a safe place, the feelings he is having toward her as a friend and maybe even as a potential love interest." John stated. "You could have shared his experience with her as a friend, but by isolating yourself you left him with no option other than to concentrate all his attention to Karen."

"What would you do if Cliff brought home a woman with him ?" Jim asked.

"I'd cheer the roof off." John answered. "We've needed a cleaning lady for months." Even Jim's mood could not keep a smile from his face. "You have to realize your relationship with Bill is a lot different than the relationship Cliff and I share. For one thing, we are in agreement on the extent and depth of our relationship. We are mutually committed, stress the work MUTUALLY. A relationship cannot be what one person thinks it should be. It needs to be agreed upon and shaped by those committed to it, stress the word COMMITTED." John stopped speaking and looked piercingly at his young friend. "I am willing to bet you and Bill have a friendship which you have allowed yourself to think of as more."

"He's the only person I ever had sex with because we both wanted to, not because I felt I had to." the youngster slowly admitted. "I would like our intimacy to go further and have asked him, but he hasn't responded, other than to say he won't do anything until he knows it won't hurt me. I've been hurt before and I appreciate his thinking, but I don't know when he is going to feel confident and I don't think we can move toward any commitment until he does. And now he brings Karen home, so what am I to think ?"

"Maybe you should think about talking with him about your feelings." John suggested. "Number one element of a relationship is communication. Without it you can never hope to have understanding." The room was quiet briefly while Jim thought over what had been said and what he could do.

"You're pretty good to talk with, for a cop." Jim observed. John smiled.

"All of us are people, no matter what we do with 8 to 12 hours of our day when we work." John responded. "Number one element of a relationship is communication, as I said before and that means any type of relationship, even friends trying to help each other."

"I understand." Jim confirmed. "Instead of laying around feeling bad, I should talk with a friend."

"Someone you can trust, who might have some different way of looking at things which will give you some answers." John suggested. "By the way, I don't think I'm saying anything wrong by telling you, Bill has done some investigation into the not hurting you question, so it's certainly not been forgotten." Jim's face lit up at the new information. "Just be patient and see what happens."

"All right, Hot Dog," Cliff addressed him directly, "what's the matter ?"

The younger boys had gone to bed. Bill remained sitting with the adults in the lounge area. The mood had been light, but once the chatter had disappeared with the youth, Neil's lack of enthusiasm had stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb.

Neil's relationship with Cliff and John had become well established. They had adopted him as part of their life and his additional relationship to Tom had endeared him to them even more. What had started as a project to expand Neil's sexual experience and knowledge had ended up with both of the muscular men caring deeply about their younger friend. Neil in turn had bonded closely to both men and looked to them as the older brothers he never previously had.

"Don't make me have to come over there and beat it out of you, Cub." Cliff threatened. His relationship with Neil had always had a domineering tone to it and both men were satisfied with responding to each other in that manner.

"I don't know where to start." Neil finally began to speak. "My family, who have never been very supportive of me anyway, have suggested I move out of the house and support myself until I am ready to settle down to marriage and a family. They think they can direct my life by controlling my finances. The problem is, I have no where to go. I don't make enough to support myself and still go to school, but I still have a year left `til I graduate."

"So what's the problem ?" Cliff asked.

"I just told you the problem." Neil stated with some exasperation. "I have nowhere to go, I can't continue school and my prospects of getting a decent job are minimal."

"I still don't see the problem," Cliff repeated, "except maybe you don't give your friends and other family any credit. I can offhand think of at least three places you have to go. Our place, Brenda's place or here. I feel safe speaking for all of us. You never need to worry about where to sleep."

"He's right, Neil." Brenda assured him. "You can stay with me as long as you want and I know David and Dex would move you in immediately."

"His first place is with us." John interjected. "He is with us enough now, he practically lives at our place."

"I think that's what has my parents upset." Neil suggested. "They think I'm out with my friends, male friends that is, too much. At 21 they think I should be half way to the marriage alter by now. This is about my being gay. They know it and just won't accept it. That's why they've never accepted me since my early teens."

"You're gay ?" Bill asked, with a surprised look on his face. Neil was taken back by the younger boy's reaction. It never occurred to him Bill wouldn't know. How could he have not guessed ?

"Yeah, Bill. I'm gay." Neil said to the young man.

"Well if you're gay and you hang with Cliff and John all the time, does that mean they're gay too ?" Bill asked Neil, seeming to get more upset as he spoke. "My very best friends are gay ?" He looked to Neil waiting for an answer. Neil wasn't sure what to do. How could Bill not know about Cliff and by association, John ?

"It's time you grew up and faced these things." Cliff said to Bill. "It doesn't make me any different, I'm the same friend you've always known."

"But Cliff, I can never again see you look at me without thinking you're probably undressing me in your mind." Bill said disgustedly to his friend. "And it's all because Neil went and said he was gay." Neil just sat there with his mouth hanging open unsure what to say next. They just couldn't hold it any longer. Billy and Cliff burst out laughing. Brenda and John were chuckling as well.

"I got him good." Bill crowed as he laughed some more. "I didn't think he'd be so easy."

"It wasn't you, little boy." Cliff told him. "It was me backing you up that really sold it."

"No way, you big ape." Bill retorted. "I already had him hooked before you even got there."

"All right, you two." Brenda interrupted. "If you've finished your little game, at Neil's expense, we were talking about his problems."

"He doesn't have any problems." John responded. "All he has is a lack of trust in his friends. He has all the support in the world, he just has to learn to believe we all care about him. Is that really so hard, Neil ?"

"I can't impose on you guys." Neil stated. "If my family don't want me.........."

"You are a part of our family, Hot Dog." Cliff cut in. "You're coming home with us and that's all there is to it."

"I agree." John added. "This problem is ended."