Second Chance, Chapter 84
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Second Chance, Chapter 84
During the week of break, Rob made an appointment to meet with Mr. Worthington about some suggestions he had for the Lundy Center. Knowing what an asset Rob had been in making the place what it was becoming, Herb rearranged his calendar to accommodate him.
"Something that happened in our home this past Sunday got me to thinking about a need we could fill. I know we have to have lots of rooms for emergency shelter for families next winter, but I was thinking that there's another population being neglected by society – gay teens.
A really nice kid was brought to us by the police because his parents booted him out. You know my foster dads; they took him in even though all the bedrooms are filled already. I'm wondering if we could devote one floor of the center for guys like that to have a place to come."
"That's a wonderful idea. I'll bring it up at the next board meeting. Since Tinker Bell, Sam Bradbury, and your mother are now on the board, I don't think there will be any problem getting enough votes. Both your mother and Sam know how you had to fend for yourself on the streets. Sam can certainly testify to the hardships and dangers that people face trying to stay alive out there. I know there may be a couple of dissenters, but I'm sure there will be enough in favor to not only approve it, but whole- heartedly endorse it!
Then we'll need to find a live-in counselor to be a kind of houseparent and father-confessor for them too – or perhaps a couple."
"That was my other suggestion. I know a couple of guys who are graduating from the University of Minnesota this spring with degrees in social work. They really want to help gay teens, so I think they'd be perfect."
"That sounds great. You might feel them out on it without actually offering them a position. We couldn't pay much in salary at this point, but we can provide housing and meals if they wanted. They could also have enough free time to carry on a part-time private practice. I like this whole idea even better as we discuss it."
Rob was getting more excited about the prospect by the minute too. He knew that such a facility would have saved him many cold, depressing nights. It would have kept Jay from being as hopeless as he'd been. It could literally save the lives of kids who had no other place to turn.
When he got home, he called Reese. He might have used his mobile to make the call on the way, but hadn't done that from behind the wheel since becoming a parent.
"Hi Reese, this is Rob Larson-Brady."
"Hey Rob, great to hear from you. I hope all is going well."
"Yeah it is, and I hope things are good with Cam and you. This is actually a professional call. I'm not in the position to offer you a job, but I want to feel you out, not up," he giggled, "on a possibility. What would you and Cam think about being house fathers in a facility that would house gay teens who'd been thrown out by their parents?"
"I'd jump at the chance and I'm sure Cam would too. I'll discuss it with him when he gets home. This could be a great opportunity for us!"
"Well, there wouldn't be much salary involved initially, but there would be other perks – housing for sure, and meals if you wanted them. You both could carry on a private counseling practice, perhaps splitting the job so you'd be available at the facility part time to work with anyone there – not just teenagers."
"We could do that. Rob, it's awesome that you'd think of me! I can't believe you're so kind to your husband's former lover."
"Hey, you're okay - as long as I know you're not going to encroach on my territory!"
"You have my word on that, dude! I'm whipped."
Rob laughed at Reese's choice of expressions.
"I'm glad Cam has you tamed. He's a cool guy. But don't get your hopes up for the position until I can see if my idea flies with the board. I'm proposing that we set aside at least one floor of the Lundy Center for gay teens. I'm guessing it will be mostly boys because they're the ones who usually get pitched by their fathers. Anyway, I'll certainly push to have you and Cam involved if it goes through."
"Thanks Rob! I'll discuss it with Cam. I'm sure he'd be game."
"Cool. I'll let you know when I know. Bye."
"Bye."
When Reese told Cam about Rob's call, Cam was delighted.
"That would give us security while we try to build up some kind of service for gay kids. Wow! That's like an answer to prayer. We'd have a place to live and we could save up money for a house someday while doing a lot of good at the same time. I'd call that win/win."
Early in the week, Dane and Colt asked Josh and Eric to come over to Wade's place. They were ready to pose for their portrait and wanted a spot in the backyard as the setting.
It was too early for the leaves to be out, but the rustic park bench and the trunks of a white birch behind it would provide the look they were after. Josh could "invent" the green grass later.
Because the weather wasn't quite warm enough for the guys to remain there clad comfortably only in shorts, he did a few quick sketches and several photos. Then he allowed them to go into the house to sit for the studies of their faces.
Josh was determined to get a lot of painting done during the break. He had a few details to finish on some of his "Genesis" series and had a couple of other projects in mind.
He invited Brayden over to draw with him during part of that time. Brayden was quick to take advantage of the opportunity to practice figure sketching. He had been taking a life drawing class at the museum, but felt like he progressed more when working with Josh.
Jay had some hours off in the mornings and offered to pose again with Eric for the Cain and Abel painting. He did it for the company as much as anything. After living a lonely existence on the streets, he treasured being with others who cared about him. When he wasn't at work or with Isaac, he often entertained Robbie just to have someone to talk to.
"Do you want us in jocks or nude?" Eric asked as Josh brought Brayden up to their attic hideaway.
"Nude to begin with, if that's okay with Brayden."
"It's fine with me. I've been working with completely naked figures at the museum, mostly female. Some of them have nice curves, but I appreciate working with the male form when I have the chance."
"Wow, are you guys gonna bare it all?" Troy asked as he came up the stairs behind Josh and Brayden. "That could make a lot of things harder!"
"Sure," Eric answered. "I've posed bare-ass so much that I feel like a piece of fruit in a still life at this point."
"Maybe a big banana," Troy giggled as he watched Eric remove his shorts.
Jay pulled off his sweatpants (he was going commando) and sprawled on the floor next to Eric. Troy's eyes were as big as saucers in the presence of that much bare male flesh.
"I've taken some drawing classes. Could I sketch too?" he asked, a bit too eagerly.
"Sure" Josh said. "I'll find you a board, paper, and charcoal to use. Try to draw more than their dicks!" he snickered.
Troy blushed.
Josh posed the two models like Greek wrestlers for short, warm-up sketches. Jay began to plump up, but gradually relaxed as time went on. He was thoroughly in love with Isaac, but touching Eric's body even in a non-sensuous way had the effect of turning him on.
When they took their first break, everyone looked at what the artists had done thus far. Josh and Brayden were both impressed with Troy's abilities and they told him so. He was pleased, but felt he wasn't worthy of their praise as he noticed how advanced their work looked.
"I'm kind of rusty because I haven't taken any art this semester," he said. "I'd like to get back into it. Do you think I can get into a drawing class for the little time left in the term?"
"I'll do my best to get you in if there's room in your schedule. But if I can't, you can still work with me. We'll have to see about what credits will transfer if you're going to school with us for the final couple of months."
"I want to transfer, but I can't afford to lose any credits. I'm going to study hard and make it in life without my parents!"
"Way to go, young stud," Jay exclaimed, high-fiving him. "I feel the same way. We have the support in this house to make it happen. I know if we work hard Ben and Scott will have our backs and we can go anywhere."
After the break, Josh posed the guys as Cain and Abel, with their loin cloths on again, in order to put the finishing touches on his painting. Brayden was eager to complete the painting he'd started of Jay as a baseball player. Troy would be happy with whatever came out of the session. He decided to draw Jay, possibly because the tip of his dick was just peeking out below his loin cloth. The crotch of Troy's jeans remained uncomfortably snug the whole time he worked.
Rob was not surprised at the mission board's reaction to his proposal. Naturally Sam, Tinker, and his mother were behind him 100 per cent. Several more agreed that it sounded like a good cause. One of the members wasn't for it initially, but went along with the majority view. In the end, there was a unanimous vote to create a haven for kids who had been thrown out because of their orientation. Of course there would be rules that the kids had to stay sober and drug-free, but that was true for the rest of the people housed in Lundy House too. Anyone who couldn't stay clean was referred to rehab facilities, not just pitched into the street without a second chance.
The 7th floor was just about completely refurbished and would be ideal because it consisted almost entirely of individual bedrooms or small suites which could house one or two people. Each had its own nicely appointed bath. There was one larger suite on a corner which had a sitting room and small kitchen as well as a rather large bedroom. The passage door between it and the next single room would make it possible for the suite to be used as a two-bedroom apartment. It would be an ideal home for the counselor/house parent.
The whole floor would be ready within a short time. Now the problem was how to spread the word so gay kids would know there was a safe haven for them. An announcement could be made at the next LGBT meeting at school, but that would have a limited audience. Rob decided to call Tiffany Jones to see if she'd be willing to do at least a short segment about it.
When Rob discussed it at dinner that evening, Isaac said he could get the word out on a website started by some of his fellow "refugees" from the camp he and Troy had been subjected to. Its initial intent was to provide members with mutual support, but he knew that some of the kids were facing the possibility of being disowned and they would be thrilled to have a safe haven if family situations made it necessary for them to leave home on short notice.
"I'll bet Tyler and Shane would put it on their web page too," Josh said. "They're trying to get all the guys from the retreat signed up for continuing conversations. I'm sure some of them might know of kids who need a place to go even if they didn't."
Rob smiled at how eagerly everyone was getting involved. Troy's presence had inspired a whole new direction for the mission.
Josh had convinced Ben to take a few days off from the office during the time the high school students were on spring break. Scott was free of his "grandpa" duties with Robbie because Rob was taking care of his son during the daytime. Scott and Ben could spend a few leisurely mornings sleeping late, having a morning romp, and generally relaxing.
However, that wasn't Josh's only motive. He wanted the two of them to pose for him. Since he'd done portraits of Jay and Isaac together, and was doing Dane and Colt, he felt he should do one of his dads as well.
The "old guys" were pleased with his suggestion and willing to pose whenever he wanted to paint them. For their dual portrait, they chose to lie propped up on the sofa in the den clad in silk boxers. They looked pleasantly erotic without seeming pornographic. Ben had his back against the back of the sofa with his legs intertwined with Scott's. Scott was lying on his back. They were looking lovingly into each other's faces, a pose that was rather natural for them. At times during the sessions, their boxers looked fuller than others. Josh didn't over-emphasize that feature, but didn't disguise the fact that they were virile men in love.
Eric chose to spend the time with them asking questions about how they met and getting as many details as possible about their early lives so he could present them with a biographical sketch.
He had thoughtfully downloaded Josh's favorite Baroque music on his IPod so that it would keep their conversations from being a distraction. It proved to be a way for the four to spend hours together and further the boys' aims at the same time.
The two men couldn't hold the pose for great lengths of time without Ben having his arm fall asleep, so Josh took several photos to use in order to get them back into the position easily.
"Do we really look that, I don't know, uh sensuous?" Scott asked during one of the breaks.
"Hell yeah!" Josh responded. "We may tease you guys about being `old,' but it's only teasing. You're both hot!
"Jeez, I don't know how I feel about my son calling my husband hot," Ben laughed.
"Don't worry; I'm not going after my father-in-law when I have his sexy son in my bed every night! And I'm not into incest even though I think you're a stud too, Dad."
Troy was entering the room at that moment and looked amazed. He couldn't imagine his father and him ever discussing anything like that in the casual way these guys interacted. He also noticed that Josh was right. The men did look gorgeous. Damn, he needed to find a boyfriend!
After lunch, Scott and Ben decided to take a "nap." Josh grinned because he knew they wouldn't sleep unless it was to rest up after they taken care of other pressing business. He hadn't missed the wet spots on their boxers. He wouldn't include those in the painting because he didn't want to embarrass them, but he had recorded them with the camera.
Once in their bedroom, Scott and Ben rolled around on their big bed kissing and nuzzling. Scott kissed his way down Ben's chest. He came back up to bathe his nipples for several minutes. Then he tongued his navel on the way to his crotch.
Normally, Scott would have licked Ben's inner thighs before going for his package, but today he couldn't resist tasting the wet spot on his boxers.
Ben responded with a contented sigh.
"You keep that up and I'm not going to last much longer. All that time this morning being skin to skin with one son sketching us and the other asking us to recall our college days has made me so hot I'm about to boil over."
"I can taste your desire," Scott said as he went back to sucking the precum out of the black silk.
Ben began to whimper and claw the bottom sheet, so Scott knew he'd better back off and let him cool down if their "nap" was to last as long as he'd like it to.
After Ben's breathing returned somewhere close to normal, he "attacked" Scott with similar moves.
"Reminiscing about how we met reminds me of the first time I got brave enough to take your beautiful cock in my mouth. As I recall, I nervously pulled it through the fly on your briefs, milked back the skin, and ran my tongue under the slit something like this..."
Scott shuddered with pleasure and Ben repeated what he had done when they were both 18. As he closed his eyes, he could picture the two of them in their dorm room timidly beginning what was destined to become a torrid love affair. He remembered how Ben's hands shook and how his whole body was nearly in shock as Ben broke the ice for them.
Recalling how he had responded, he pulled Ben's face up to his so that they could kiss deeply and then went down on Ben again.
"Let's do 69 like we did that first time," Ben requested breathlessly.
"I hoped you'd remember," Scott smiled.
From that point on, until they both climaxed forcefully, the room was quiet except for their moans and slurping sounds. When they came, it was like two teenagers. In the throes of their ecstasy, they sounded as if they were headed for the cardiac ward. It was a good thing that the solid construction of their old house kept their private moment private!
Peter Staley used several days of his break working with his father's team on the 7th floor of Lundy House. He was there for a couple of reasons. Of course he was eager to complete it so that Rob's plan could be put into action, but he also needed the money if he was going to be able to go to college in the fall. His father insisted that Peter shouldn't take a year off to earn extra money, and said they could take out student loans. Peter appreciated that, but didn't want to burden his family with additional financial responsibilities. This current job had saved the company from bankruptcy. Yet the future was uncertain as long as the economy lagged.
Tinker Bell came up to check on the progress on one of those days and engaged Peter in conversation during his lunch break.
"Young man, you are really conscientious! I hope you'll be working at the club again this summer. We really value people with a great work ethic."
"Thanks! I'd like to. It depends partly on where I can earn the most money. Sometimes Dad needs me to work for him and it's pretty good pay."
"I can understand that. I think I can convince Cliff to work around your schedule again if your father needs you. I'm thinking that I might be able to give you a bit more incentive to continue with us as well. I'll talk to my Peter when he gets home tonight. Please don't discount the idea of working at the club this summer."
"I certainly won't. You've all treated me well there."
"Peter, I have to have a word with you," Tinker said as they sat down with a cocktail before dinner."
"Yes Dear. How much is it going to cost me this time?" he chuckled.
"You know me well," she laughed. "I'm hatching up a plan to provide scholarship money for the kids who've been faithful in working at the country club. I know I can put the squeeze on several people to help, so it won't all be funded by us. You know we have more than we'll ever need. You also know that several others there are millionaires and some don't even have children to leave their money to. They can get an income tax credit for donating and get to see their contributions go to a good cause at the same time."
"I like your idea, Tinker! How are you going to distribute it?"
"I plan to write up the requirements in such a way that boys like Peter, Damian, Josh, Eric, Dylan and the rest can benefit. I also want to figure out how to make Jay a beneficiary of the fund even though he hasn't worked there long. If anyone needs help, he does. Peter too, I strongly suspect. That young man is working over spring break trying to save up tuition money. I'm sure Josh and Eric don't need it all that badly, but I can't exclude them or it will look like it's rigged."
"And it won't be rigged?" Peter laughed.
"Well, maybe just a little, but I want to avoid the appearance of that!"
Early the next day, Tinker set her plan into motion.
Cam and Reese were both at home when the phone rang on Thursday. Cam hastened to answer it before it awakened Reese who was taking a nap.
"Hello."
"Hello, this is Herb Worthington from the Lundy Center. May I speak to Mr. Payne or Mr. Nelson?"
"I'm Cameron Nelson. How may I help you?"
"I think Rob Larson-Brady talked to Mr. Payne about the possibility of having the two of you live at our facility as house parents and counselors in a residential program we're setting up for gay teens."
"Yes, Reese told me he'd called."
"Rob was going to call you today, but I asked him to let me do it so that we could set up an interview. I know this is sudden, but could you and Reese come in tomorrow to see what we're doing and to apply for the position if you're interested after you get the tour?"
"I know my schedule is clear, but I need to double check with Reese. Just a minute, please."
"Babe, are you awake?" Cam whispered.
"Yeah, I heard the phone. Who was it?"
"It's Mr. Worthington from Lundy House. He wants us to come in tomorrow to interview for the job! Are you free?"
"Absolutely! Whenever he wants us, I'm able to go."
"Uh, Mr. Worthington, give us a time and place and we'll be there."
"How about 10:00 a.m. in the lobby of Lundy House?"
"Great! Is there anything special you'd like us to bring?"
"It would help if you could bring resumes of your education and work experience. I know it's short notice, so whatever you can cobble together will be fine."
"It's no problem because both of us have been sending them out applying for jobs already. If you give me an email address, I can send them to you immediately."
"Good thinking. I like working with people who are organized and plan ahead. Send them to www.lundyhouse.org. See you at 10:00."
About the time Reese and Cam were headed for their interview, Rob was leaving for the TV studio. This time Blake and Robbie weren't with him, but Isaac, Jay, and Troy were. Tiffany wanted Rob to come early so she could have his input on some of the questions she planned to ask. She was also eager to have the other teens there who had been disowned by their families and who could vouch for the importance of the Lundy House's new venture. She knew about Rob's situation and respected the fact he couldn't tell his story in detail without jeopardizing the financial settlement with his birth father.
While she realized Rob's main interest in the TV spot was for letting other outcasts know there was a place of refuge for them, she also knew that she might be able to garner extra contributions from the public at the same time. It couldn't hurt to try.
When it was time for the noon broadcast, the three newcomers were so comfortable with Tiffany's approach that they didn't feel nervous at all. Each was prompted to say a few words about what it meant to be disowned by his family. Jay was given more minutes because he had been on the streets and could speak about how the outreach of Lundy House had transformed his life through the kindness of Rob and his guardians.
Rob didn't ask for donations, but did request that people spread the word about the new program. However, when the broadcast ended, several viewers called asking how they could make donations. Tiffany had been so low-key about it that many had missed the information scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
There were other calls too. Most were positive, but a few were hate-filled tirades about how Channel 10 was promoting the "gay agenda." The people who answered the calls had been trained to deal with them.
"Well, you've seen the facility and the apartment that we're offering. Do you think you'd be interested in the job?" Mr. Worthington asked the two young men.
"Yes," they answered in concert.
"It would be ideal for us and we feel we could be of service to the kids," Reese said.
"It's been my hope to counsel gay kids ever since I admitted to myself that I'm gay," Cam added.
"I've interviewed three other people, well two individuals and a couple, for this position in order to fulfill the requirements of advertising the job fairly. One man and wife had no interest in living on the premises. One young man didn't have the background, though he really loves kids. The third, a middle aged man, struck me as being almost too eager to be in close contact with gay boys, if you know what I mean. I'm looking for people who will be loving and caring, just not lusting. You two seem to be a mature young couple who act almost like you're married."
"We're engaged and plan to marry in the summer in Iowa." Cam smiled.
"We could get married sooner if that would help," Reese said.
"Some members of our board would probably be happier if you did. However, I'm not going to push you. Since I've had the chance to review your qualifications and really wanted you two after Rob's enthusiastic endorsement, I'm offering you the position. Here are copies of the contract outlining your responsibilities and your compensation package. Please take them home and read them carefully before signing. I'd like them back in a week if you please. Thank you for a great interview."
"Thank you, Sir," Reese said as he offered his hand.
"Yes, thanks very much Mr. Worthington." Cam added.
"Thank you both. Whether or not you decide to come onboard, please call me Herb. And see to it that you get Rob to do that too! He's always been more formal with me than he needs to be. He may be a generation younger, but he's a colleague. Without him NONE of this would be happening."
Author's notes: My editor, David, sent me this link
http://www.intergenerational.org/truecolors.php Here is the statement frpm the homepage:
"The True Colors Residence, a project of West End Intergenerational Residence and partners Cyndi Lauper and her manager Lisa Barbaris, is slated to open in Central Harlem in Spring 2011. True Colors will be the first permanent, supportive housing facility for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in New York State."
This will be a haven in New York City that will serve homeless gay youth. Perhaps it will inspire more people around the country.
As always, thanks to those who have kept in touch this past week: Roger L, Paul R, Rutabaga, Tom A, Bill K, Vann, Jim W, Karserus, Walt S, Tom P, Paul F, and Vann.