Second Chance, Chapter 27
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Chapter 27
Rob had had no intention of speaking to Luc again - ever, but had no choice when the latter accosted him as he was leaving the lunchroom with Robbie.
"So it's true! You have a baby. Mom's in a royal snit. She has a painting that looks just like this kid on the wall in her bedroom and she goes in there and cries half the time. The rest of the time she's on the warpath. Dad can't do anything with her. Yesterday he tried to calm her with a drink, but she screamed and tossed it in his face. She threw a lot of other things too. He says she's broken hundreds of dollars worth of Waterford crystal.
Now he's decided because you made a baby you're not queer after all and it's my fault you got thrown out. He's not giving me your name because I'm the bad seed. But I guess the state wouldn't let him anyway. Anyway, I'm really in trouble!"
"So, he's figured out that you're a faggot. Ah, the Bible says something like `those who live by the sword shall die by the sword'," Rob said with a smug look.
"Huh?"
"It means that people who try to destroy others can have it come back and bite them in the ass too. How does it feel? Not like I care!"
"Please help me Robbie; you've always used to fix things for me with Dad."
"First, I'm not Robbie' anymore; my son is. I'm not even Roberto' thanks to you. Second, the operative words are `used to' meaning in the past, back when. There'll be ice skating in hell before I lift a finger to save your butt."
"Have it your way. I was going to ask you to forgive me, but I see it's too late. I guess I have it coming."
Luc walked away, his shoulders sagging under an unseen burden. Rob felt a twinge of guilt.
Upon hearing the brothers shouting, Garret had left the cafeteria and gone to the hallway thinking that Rob might need someone to cover his back. He got there in time to overhear most of the exchange. It was a revelation to him. No one had ever said why Rob had looked like a street person when school began or why he was now living with Josh and Eric. Garret was beginning to piece together the fragments of information that he heard. Evidently, there was bad blood between Rob and his father. His father must have booted him because he thought his son was gay. It would explain a lot of things. Unfortunately, all of this information had arrived too late for Garret to act on it. He'd have to remain the helpful babysitter if he wanted to be in Rob's circle at all. Garret felt about as sad as Luc.
Most of the students hurrying to their classes after lunch didn't stop to witness the confrontation between the brothers and those who did soon lost interest. It wasn't entirely unusual for two guys who were arguing to throw around words like "queer" or "faggot" when an adult wasn't nearby, so no one paid much heed.
Rob decided to play it cool and not make an issue of it. Whatever was said would not likely be remembered by tomorrow morning. Part of him had wanted to protect his brother from the wrath of their father despite what Luc had done, but part of him didn't mind seeing the kid get his comeuppance.
Another interesting situation presented itself when Rob went to his gym class. He had to hurry to get dressed because Robbie had needed to be changed when he got to the locker room. Peter, from the parenting class, hung back to observe the procedure again. He was still there as Rob undressed and he checked Rob out.
Rob caught him at it and Peter turned away blushing.
"It's okay, Pete; you can look."
"I, uh, didn't mean to. I haven't seen foreskin other than on your baby. I'm sorry. Please don't tell anyone! I don't want to get pegged as `queer'."
"I said it's okay. You're curious and I probably would be too. Watch. If I pull my skin back from the head, it looks like most of the ones you see around here."
"Only bigger!" Peter blurted out.
"Thanks for saying so," Rob smiled as he pulled up his supporter and shorts. "I'm not ashamed of what I've got and you shouldn't be either."
"It's about time you slackers got out here," the teacher yelled at the two boys as they entered the gym. Give me one reason why I shouldn't count you tardy."
"Sorry coach, but I had to change my baby."
"I like Miss Hovland's teaching aids, but you can't use those robots as an excuse for being late!"
Rob didn't answer back, but sprinted over to the teacher bringing Robbie in his carrier.
"Oh my God! It's a real baby!"
"Yeah that's what I was trying to tell you. Uh, Pete helped me with the diaper, so it made him late too. It's not his fault."
"Okay, I won't count either of you tardy since you really do have a legitimate excuse. You guys might con Tom over there into watching the babies since he can't dress out today because he forgot his clothes.
Tom, are you willing to babysit. I'll count it as a makeup so you don't have to come in after school tomorrow?"
The boy was quite pleased to watch Robbie and the mechanical baby instead of having to come another time to compensate for his oversight.
"Thanks Tom," the boys said in chorus.
"Thank you for covering my butt," Pete said quietly to Rob as they began their run around the gym.
The next week went by pretty routinely. Rob didn't hear from the Mancini's and Luc wouldn't even look at him when their paths crossed. The younger boy's shoulders still sagged and he seemed dejected all the time. Rob began to have second thoughts about what he'd said to his bro. He really couldn't hate the little schemer.
Josh continued to get favorable news from La Galleria D'Arte Moderna. Sometimes it was Charles who called, but other times it was Norm himself. They were busy preparing for the show that would replace "Genesis" but were still selling Josh's work. They planned to keep several paintings displayed in one of the smaller rooms so that people could see and buy them.
Josh chose one of his small figure studies to have professionally matted and framed as a gift for his art teacher, Mr. Gilbert. He debated on whether a landscape might be more appropriate than a nude boy, but decided that an artist wouldn't be offended by the depiction of the human figure unclothed especially since the genitals were not visible.
He was correct in his assumption; the gift was warmly received.
It was at the end of the second week that Luc again sought out Rob at school. This time there was no shouting match. Instead, Luc had tears in his eyes as he implored Rob to help him.
"I can't take it at home anymore. I know you hate me, but can you loan me enough cash to get a bus ticket out of here? I promise I'll pay it back – cross my heart! I'm pretty sure that Cousin Angelo will take me in if I can get to New York. Please! You don't know how bad it is."
Rob put an arm around his little brother and that made it even more difficult for the fifteen year old to hold himself together.
"Luc, I don't hate you and I could scrape up the money, but I don't think that's the best solution. I don't want to see you on the road alone. It's not safe even for a big boy like you. Someone could take advantage of you. You've never had to deal with the problems you could face. You're a smart kid, but you're not street-smart. Besides, it'll screw up your credits if you go before the term is over."
"Rob, I swear I'll jump off a bridge if I don't get away."
"Don't even think that! There has to be a solution. Promise that you won't do anything rash. I'll work on it and get back to you."
"Thanks, Robbie. I'm really sorry about what I did. I really blew it. I'm such a shit!"
"Don't beat yourself up too much; let me do it!" Rob joked trying to lighten Luc's mood with a playful punch to his shoulder. "But seriously, I still care about you in spite of it all. You're my bro."
Rob didn't know how he could ask his foster fathers to take in another boy, but he felt he had to get advice from responsible adults and they were the best ones he knew. Josh and Eric encouraged him to bring it up at dinner that night because they were sure that their dads would be willing to help find a resolution to the problem.
Ben and Scott were agreeable to providing a place for Luc to stay if it came to that. They weren't sure how Roberto would feel about having two of his sons under their roof, but Luc could certainly come to their house for a respite from his family when he needed to. They encouraged everyone to brainstorm for a more permanent solution.
An event that happened after school the next afternoon provided Rob with an opportunity to do something. A large black Mercedes pulled up to the curb as he was walking to the parking lot with his two foster brothers. The window on the passenger side rolled down.
"Get in," a female voice demanded.
"What do you want, lady? I was taught never to get into a car with a stranger."
"Cut it out, Roberto. We have to have a serious talk. I demand to see my grandchild!"
"You are in no position to demand anything. I have a live-in attorney who will be happy to explain to you the rights that you DON"T have!"
"Please Robbie, I'm begging you..."
"Thanks to your husband, I'm not "Roberto" anymore and I'm not "Robbie" to you either. I will seek a no-contact order and make sure that you don't see my child ever, unless you do something for me. I won't even promise that I will let you see my son, regardless, but I promise that you won't ever see him unless you do as I ask."
"What is it you want? I'll do anything."
"You make sure that no one in your house mistreats Luc. I want you to send him to school tomorrow with enough clothes to stay the weekend with me. Send plenty of money with him to take us all to dinner as well so that he's not imposing on my family."
"Okay, I'll do it, but why? He's the one who led you astray. It wasn't your fault. He should be punished. He ruined our family!"
"No one led anyone astray, as you put it. I'm gay and I'm not ashamed of it. He may be too, but I don't know that for sure. It's your attitude about gays – both you and that man you live with – that's the problem."
"Rob, he's your father. Don't refer to him in those terms."
"He may be my biological sire, but he's not my father! He insisted on giving up that right when he threw me out. I don't give a damn about him!
If you care about Luc or me, you need to read up on what it means to be gay. There are sites on the Internet. Join PFLAG or something. Be informed instead of taking the word of someone who only quotes old misinterpreted scriptures that priests and ministers use to promote their preconceived notions."
"If I do all of that, may I then hold my grandson?"
"We'll see; I make no promises."
The window rolled up and the Mercedes pulled away. Josh and Eric each put an arm around Rob's shoulder as they headed for Eric's car.
"You drive a hard bargain, Rob. You're as tough as Eric was with his mom. I think Dad could use you both in the firm."
"Did I come off as a complete bastard?"
"No, just a partial one," Eric joked. Seriously, I can empathize. You stood your ground and didn't let her intimidate you. You were strong and you needed to be. I've been in the same spot only I don't have the bargaining power you have with Robbie."
"But I don't want to use my son like a stick and carrot. I just wish things were different."
"Still, you did the right thing. You need to be in the driver's seat. She started out demanding and left pleading. That's where she needs to be, believe me."
On Friday morning, Luc came rushing up the hall and grabbed his big brother in a hug. Anyone could tell from the look on his face that his day had started well.
"God! I don't know what you did, but it sure as shit worked! I know there was a big row between Mom and Dad after he got home from work. The cook fed us kids in the kitchen and we didn't see either of the `rents until later. In fact, Dad left the house around 7:00 and I didn't hear him come home. Mom came into the kitchen with a glass of wine and ate a bite before she excused the younger kids. Then she told me that I was to stay with you for the weekend. She hugged me. She actually hugged me! And when I got my bag packed she gave me $200 to take you and everyone out to dinner. I can't believe it!"
"Luc, I'm really pleased. You'd better make sure the money's safe."
"Here, you take it."
"What if I ditch you and keep the money? Aren't you worried about that?"
"No, I trust you. And if you did, it wouldn't be anything more than I deserve."
"I'm not going to do that. I've forgiven you. Holding a grudge is just like holding nuclear waste. It's toxic."
"So, can we sleep together?" Luc whispered in his ear.
"Uh, I don't think that would be a good idea."
"I could prove how much I appreciate you." Luc said quietly.
"Look, you're my brother and I'm going to love you like a brother, nothing more. Okay?"
"Okay. I'll meet you in the foyer at 2:45. I'm still willing to help you out if you change your mind."
Luc was very quiet on the way to the Brady/Larson home. He wasn't sure how much Rob had told the other boys about him and his role in getting Rob kicked out. It wasn't that the other guys ignored him, but he could see how much they cared for his brother and knew that they would surely take his side in any dispute.
Eric offered his bedroom for Luc to stay in because he would sleep with Josh as usual. He didn't mention that in front of Luc because he would rather remain in the closet at school for the present. He wasn't sure how Luc would react if he knew he was in an all gay household.
Luc wanted to hold his infant nephew while Rob warmed his bottle. He looked so cute that Josh couldn't resist taking a photo for the baby's picture file.
Rob took his son back to feed him. He didn't mind having others hold him, but after being separated for the day, it was good to have the warm bundle against his chest. Since the parenting class project had ended, he had to leave Robbie with Scott again. It would be difficult to convince school officials to allow him to bring a baby to school when it wasn't part of the class, so he had to make the most of his time with Robbie.
When Scott came into the kitchen to begin dinner preparations, he welcomed Luc. He was pleased to see that the boy had sufficient manners to offer to be of assistance, so he put him in charge of scrubbing potatoes for baking and helping chop celery for the meatloaf.
Scott had a meatloaf recipe that everyone loved. It was delicious, low-carb, and helped stretch their food budget. The men were doing fine financially, but it didn't hurt to be thrifty given the state of the economy.
Ben came home not long after the food went into the oven. It would be an hour or so before their meal was ready, so the two men poured a glass of wine each and offered soft drinks to the younger guys.
Rob went to the den with his dads to burp Robbie and to catch the early news on TV while Luc went up with Josh and Eric to see where he would sleep. They did their best to make him feel at home. He seemed eager to talk with them.
"It's nice of you to let me stay with you. I can see why my brother loves it here. You all treat him like family."
"He is family. He has become our bro. And you can be our little brother if you're anything like he is."
"I'll try, but I don't want to be him anymore. I've always looked up to him because he's a great guy. But I obsessed over trying to be like him to the point that I wanted to BE him. Does that make any sense?"
"Yeah, I think it does," Josh said. "That would account for why you wanted to take over his place in the family."
"So, he told you what a prick I was." Luc stated more than asked.
"Well, kind of. You came off as a bit Machiavellian." Eric admitted.
"I'm not sure what that is, but if it means "Italian asshole" it fits." Luc said with a half smile.
"Okay, we'll agree that you've been a butthole. But your bother still cares about you and if he can forgive you the rest of us can too." Josh affirmed. "I think you should still do something to make up for what he went through. I'm going to show you the short version of our documentary about him living on the street. Then you can decide what kind of penance you should do."
Luc watched the video on Josh's laptop without saying anything. He bit his lower lip a couple of times and gave one audible gasp when he saw where Rob had slept under the bridge. When it was over, he had tears in his eyes.
"Oh God, I didn't know how bad it was. Do you have a belt with a heavy buckle on it?"
"Huh?" the boys asked.
"I'll take off my shirt and he can whip me as hard as he wants to. He needs to make me bleed. I'd feel better if he really hurts me."
Luc hadn't realized that Rob had come to the door and didn't know that he had overheard their conversation. Rob came into the room and removed the wide belt from his jeans. He stood there slapping the soft end of his belt against his left hand. Luc swallowed hard as he removed his shirt and T-shirt. He turned his back to Rob and bent slightly forward awaiting the first blow. The room was deadly still for several moments. Then Rob came up behind his little brother and put his arms around the quivering boy.
"Little Bro, I might have wanted to beat the crap out of you when I was cold and hungry, but I can't do that now! I've loved you since the day they brought you home from the hospital. You and the other kids are still my family."
Luc couldn't answer because he was sobbing too hard. He turned around and clung to Rob as if his very life depended upon it. Eric instinctively put a hand on the backs of both brothers. Josh gave them a squeeze on the neck like his father would have.
Ben, who had come up to call them for dinner, smiled tenderly at the scene. He felt like he was on sacred ground and hated to break the spell. Dinner would hold for a few more minutes without overcooking, so he tiptoed back downstairs and called up a bit later.
Author's notes: Paul R put me on to an article about a gay teen who was in the kind of predicament that Rob was in. Here's the link: http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090608/NEWS04/906080349
Thanks to all who wrote since last posting: Polar, Rutabaga, John McD, Dave J, Paul R, Bill K, Tom A, Jim We, Jim C, Ashley B, Gary McC, Rocky (Tales), Chea, Carroll, Polar, Tim E, and Paul L.
Hope you're all having a great late spring/early summer.
David