Second Chance, Chapter 73
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Second Chance, Chapter 73
Jay had to pinch himself on Christmas morning to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He was clean, warm, and resting in a safe place among kind, loving people. He'd never been one to believe in miracles, but he was beginning to question his skepticism.
A very light tapping at his door startled him out of his musing.
"Yes, come in please," he responded.
"Our dads are fixing breakfast and want to know if you're up and hungry." Josh told him.
"Yeah! I'll need to get dressed."
"Here's a pair of lounge pants and a T to put on. That's as formal as we are at breakfast in the winter. In summer we show up in boxers or less."
"Thanks, I'll come down as soon as I pee."
"The bathroom next door is occupied. Come up to our apartment and use our facilities. We have a new toothbrush for you and there's hair gel in there and stuff. Help yourself."
Jay was well impressed with the small tidy apartment. He wondered why these two guys occupied this particular space. It seemed as though everyone had a special spot in the household, but why were these two sharing it. He supposed they were brothers since they had the same last name, but then so did everyone else in the house it seemed. He worked up the courage to ask.
"Is everyone in this place related? Are you two brothers?"
"We're an extended family. Four of us are related by blood, but we're all connected by love. Some chose to take the name and others hyphenated their surnames when they got married."
"Huh?"
"Take Eric and me," Josh said. "His name was Larson and mine was Brady, so we combined them when we got married last summer. Our dads did the same thing. Rob legally changed his name after he came to live with us and Blake chose to take it when he married Rob. It's really quite simple."
"You're all married to other guys?" Jay exclaimed. "Wow! I can't believe it; you all seem so, uh, regular."
"Aren't you a regular guy as well as being gay?" Josh asked.
Jay turned as white as a ghost.
"How did you know? Does it show? Will your dads throw me out?"
"Jay, calm down and think for a minute. If our dads and everyone else here are gay, why would we pitch you for being like us?" Eric said reassuringly.
"Jeez! I'm so used to assuming people will hate me, I didn't even use my head. But, still, how did you figure me out?"
"We knew your family had dumped you and it evidently wasn't for drugs. You didn't talk about getting a girl in trouble. Lots of straight guys would have bragged about that. So, being gay was the next possibility. Believe me, you'll fit right in with this household," Eric assured him.
"You mean I'm free to talk about guys' cute butts and all without worrying about who hears me? I can't believe it! Speaking of which, the guy in that pastel has an awesome bod. I can't see his face, but that's a body I could kiss all over!"
"You can enjoy his picture, but keep your lips off of him! That's a study of Eric I'm doing for the creation of man. You saw my biggest angel painting yesterday. I've done Eric as an angel several times, but got inspired to paint him as Adam. I think I'm going to do a whole series and call it `Genesis' after the title of my first show."
"You're a great painter and I can see how Eric could be an inspiration. He could inspire a whole series of wet dreams! Oops, I think I just overstepped the boundary line again."
"Not at all," Josh laughed. "You can make remarks about his cute bod, and you can drool if you like; you just aren't allowed to touch."
Their conversation ended abruptly when the whistle on the speaking tube sounded. Josh answered and told Scott they'd be right down for breakfast.
Scott was just removing an egg casserole and homemade cinnamon rolls from the oven. There was crisp bacon, sausages, orange juice, and a variety of cereal boxes set out on the counter. The aroma in the kitchen was awesome.
Jay's mouth watered just looking at the hot rolls. They reminded him of the ones his grandmother used to bake for special occasions.
Conversation around the table was mostly light, but Ben quizzed Jay about his plans for the future.
"I really haven't thought past just surviving for several months," Jay confessed. "I managed to finish high school last spring because there were only a couple of weeks left when my mother made me leave. Friends put me up in their homes until I graduated, but their parents weren't open to the idea of keeping me forever, and I told them I was coming to the Twin Cities where I had relatives. It was a lie, but I figured it would let them off the hook and I could find work here more easily than in a small town. I'm babbling, aren't I?"
"You're fine," Ben insisted. "Have you thought of continuing your education?"
"Yeah, I actually took one class at the junior college here in the summer, but I couldn't take additional ones because I didn't have the money for tuition. Then I lost my crummy job and couldn't even pay the rent on the flop house I was living in. The worst was when someone stole most of the few things I had. I was lucky they didn't get my driver's license.
Okay, I'm getting off the subject again and it's sounding like a pity party. I do want to continue my education. I hope to get a degree in electrical engineering someday. My math and science grades in high school were high and I had been accepted at the University of Minnesota. I even had money in the bank to help me pay tuition, but my mother confiscated all of it because her name was on the account too."
"Would you consider working part time and taking your core courses at the junior college?" Scott asked.
"I'd do almost anything to make that happen. There aren't any jobs out there right now that would pay for more than my basic needs even if I could get hired. I was offered a `modeling' job by a sleazy guy, but I wasn't ready to sell my body. I can't judge anyone who's had to."
"Let me call the food manager at the country club tomorrow," Blake offered. "He recently told me he is in serious need of good help. I'll bet he would hire you for the New Year's parties and dinners. He'd likely keep you on if you work out well."
"That would be cool, but I don't have the clothes for the job."
"If you get hired, we'll come up with the clothes. The guys here could loan you some and we can buy you shoes." Ben said.
"Thanks! I can't believe my good fortune. I feel like I have a second chance."
The other topic of conversation was Sam Bradbury's absence from the Christmas Eve Day dinner. Josh had meant to ask Rob about it yesterday, but got side-tracked with all the commotion surrounding Jay's addition to their household.
"I'm not sure what happened. He was planning to be there. He'd gone a few days ago to be with his other son, Gary, but he was supposed to be back. I think I'll call Mike later to make sure he's okay. It's not like him to miss a special event like that. I hope he hasn't fallen off the wagon."
Ben was in charge of dinner. He put a large standing rib roast in the oven at a medium-low temperature for several hours. While that was cooking, he prepared several side dishes to go into the oven at various times so all would be done at once. Scott helped of course.
The boys pitched in to prepare salad and get the table set. When they were finished with their chores, they built a fire in the living room in anticipation of opening gifts.
Jay went up to take a shower. He felt like it would be good to stay out of the way in the guest room while the family was celebrating because he had nothing to give them and he wouldn't be receiving anything either. Still, it was a far better Christmas than he'd envisioned.
While he was gone, the rest of the guys put their heads together.
"I bought you two shirts, Eric," Josh said. "Could we put Jay's name on one of the packages? He's the same size we are. I'll get you another later."
"Please give him one. I have plenty of clothes. I bought you those cool boxer briefs with the pouch that show off your junk. Should I give one package to Jay, or would he think they were too sexy?"
"I'm sure he'd appreciate them," Rob spoke up. "He picked out a couple of sexy bikinis from the mission store.
I didn't buy anything for Blake that Jay could use. I think Blake, Robbie, and I could give him a card with cash for spending money."
"We bought several mall gift cards for each other," Ben said. "Scott and I can spare a couple of those. I think we have enough so he won't feel left out."
Josh and Eric went up to ask Jay to join them. He was sitting on the bed with his legs drawn up and his head in his hands looking lonely.
"Come and join us, Jay. We're about to open presents."
"I don't want to intrude on your celebration," Jay said without looking up."
"Come on, Dude," Josh tugged at his arm. "You're becoming part of this family even if your last name isn't Larson-Brady! Santa knows that and he's left things for you too."
Jay managed a small smile because he could tell the guys were really trying to make him feel at home.
"I'm gonna do something really gay and cry if you keep this up," he stammered.
"Come `ere," Josh ordered, and Jay stood up. "It's not gay to cry."
Josh pulled him into a bear hug while Eric embraced him from behind. Jay made good on his promise, shedding tears for a couple of minutes.
"Here's a tissue," Eric said. "Dry your eyes and blow your nose. You're going to have a Merry Christmas!"
Jay's eyes sparkled as he opened his gifts. He had a huge grin when he opened the underwear. The picture of the guy on the box filled out the pouch well. Jay hoped he would look as good in them.
His biggest gift came in the form of a card signed by Ben and Scott. In it, they promised to give him a place in their home for as long as he worked toward his degree and didn't get involved in drugs and alcohol.
When he read it, his eyes filled with tears again.
"I could just hug you," he whispered.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Ben asked and he took the young man in his arms.
Scott hugged him next and each of the young guys did as well. When it was Rob's turn, Robbie put his arms around Jay's neck and clung to him like he would the rest of the people in the house.
"Thanks, little guy," Jay smiled. "Now I really feel like I belong."
"Cool," Rob grinned. "All family members get a turn at changing Robbie, so now we have one more person to call on when there's a really nasty diaper!"
"It couldn't be much stinkier than I was yesterday," Jay said. "I owe you plenty of diaper changes for helping me clean up and feel human again."
"I was kidding, Jay. Besides, Blake loves diaper duty."
"You wish!" Blake countered.
Robbie had received a few toys for Christmas and would get several more after dinner for his birthday. It was difficult buying for a one-year-old who didn't need much. The guys had all put money into his education fund instead of spoiling the tyke with trinkets he'd soon lose interest in.
Dinner was excellent and nutritious. The only high calorie thing on the menu was the birthday cake which would be served later in the afternoon. Needless to say, no one went hungry.
Jay had to hold back because he was going to feel over-stuffed if he didn't. After being deprived of adequate food for several months, he could scarcely resist taking more helpings than his body required. The roast beef melted in his mouth.
After dinner, Scott and Ben retired to the master bedroom.
"I noticed they ate fairly light," Eric snickered. "Do you think the old guys are going to nap or what?"
"I'd bet on `or what' if I know them." Josh giggled.
"How can you call them `old guys'? They're both hot!" Jay blurted out. "I mean they're attractive men. They can't be over 35."
"Do you prefer daddies?" Josh teased.
"No, I meant, they're nice looking. I'm not gonna hit on your dads!"
"I'm just yanking your chain," Josh said. "Actually, they're both 41. They eat right and exercise, so they keep in shape. Scott was mistaken for a teenager at the bank last year when he was with us. The teller asked what she could do for us boys. When Scott said his son wanted to open a savings account, the woman apologized all over the place. She was embarrassed by assuming he was a boy, but he loved it!"
"Robbie needs his nap and I think Rob and I will lie down at the same time," Blake said as he scooped his son off the floor.
"Are you planning to nap for real," Josh grinned.
"Yes, you pervert! Unlike you boys, we men need sleep."
"Jeez, Rob's barely an adult and worn out already. I hope we don't end up like that in a few months!"
Rob grinned and flipped Josh off, making sure Robbie couldn't see the gesture.
"I guess I should go nap too," Jay said.
"Are you sleepy or trying to stay out of our way?" Josh asked.
"Well..."
"I thought so. Why don't you come up to our apartment and play poker or something? I promise it's not for money or your clothes!"
"Okay, that'd be fun. I can't remember the last time I played a game. Do you have video games?"
"Yup, we can do that instead. I'll bet I can beat your pants off, figuratively speaking, that is."
"Don't listen to him, he's all talk." Eric laughed.
"All talk, am I? I might make you remove an article of clothing every time you lose," Josh threatened.
"In that case you know I'll throw the game." Eric said.
The boys continued to banter up two flights of stairs. Jay felt more at home with them by the minute. His recent hardships seemed light-years away. This awesome extended family was giving him a new lease on life.
In the afterglow, Ben and Scott dozed a few minutes. When they awakened, their conversation eventually turned toward the new guy under their roof.
"I really feel for that boy," Ben exclaimed. "His story parallels Rob's in a number of ways. I hope he'll stay on the straight and narrow. We are taking a chance offering the run of our home to a complete stranger. He seems nice enough. I pray it's true."
"I hope we've done the right thing by taking him in also. He's a real cutie and I don't want him to be a temptation for our recently married sons." Scott said.
"I doubt there'll be any problem that way. Josh and Eric are head over heels in love and they've never been anything but monogamous as far as I know." Ben responded. "They'll probably fix him up with a friend, if he's looking for a relationship."
"No doubt you're right, but I remember Keith in our dorm."
"Yeah, he did hit on you a lot," Ben agreed. "I was afraid I'd lose you and then I did, only to a female."
"And I lost you the same way. Too bad we let social pressures force us into roles we weren't cut out for. I'm so glad we got a second shot at it." Scott sighed. "I'll never let that happen again!"
"Speaking of a second shot, could I interest you in changing positions?"
"Oh yeah!" Scott smiled. "I still have to give you your special Christmas present."
Rob did make the call to Mike Bradbury's house in the early evening, hoping it was late enough in the day not to interfere with their holiday celebration.
Mike let Rob speak to Sam who had just arrived with Gary and family. Sam felt terrible about having missed the celebration, but explained that he'd had the worst case of flu he'd ever experienced.
"Even when I was a drunk on the streets, I never got it this bad. I guess my blood-alcohol level was too high for the germs to survive," Sam laughed. "But seriously, I'm thankful to be celebrating 352 days of sobriety and I'm looking forward to moving into my new apartment at Lundy House. How proud Willie would be to know it bears his name. I think maybe he's looking down on it and smiling.
Thanks for checking up on me. It means a lot. I'll see you soon."
Author's notes: Thanks to the following people who emailed since last posting: : Rutabaga, Bill K, Paul R, Walt S, Jim We, Tommie, Damon W, Victor S, Paul F, Nick F, Steve (Peter & Tim), Tom A, and Carroll.
THERE WILL BE A DELAY IN THE NEXT POSTING BECAUSE I WILL BE ON VACATION AND HAVE NO INTERNET ACCESS. I WON'T BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO EMAILS EITHER. SORRY!