Thief in the Night © 2021
By David Lee
Phil Keller was a light sleeper, so the vibration of his iPhone brought him to consciousness quickly in the wee hours of Saturday morning, 1:37 AM to be exact. What he saw, via the security camera pointed toward the garden shed, concerned him. It looked like someone was trying to break in.
He slipped quietly out of bed to avoid disturbing his husband, Mitch, and hurried down the stairs to get a closer look from the family room window. From that vantage point, he could see the back of someone in jeans and a winter coat who appeared to be a little under six feet in height. On his phone, he could see the person's face -- that of a young white male.
Phil decided to have some fun and scare the kid away. He could always turn in the footage to the police later, and they had better things to do at that hour of the night than check out footprints in the snow. So, he used the sound system which was attached to the camera.
"Who are you; and what are you doing?" his voice cut into the cold night air.
The person trying to gain entry to the shed looked panicked and ran around the house toward the front. Other security cameras picked him up as he fled. The one mounted on the front of the garage caught him getting into a car and driving away. The rear license plate was visible and Phil would be able to enlarge the image from the recording later. This kid was toast!
"Hey, Pops, you want your morning coffee now and eat later?" Bevin asked as Phil entered the kitchen around 8:00.
"That would be great!"
Bevin handed him a mug of the hot brew, bringing along a carton of heavy cream which he knew would be welcome.
Phil set them down on the breakfast bar before putting Bevin in a headlock and tousling his hair.
"I'm not that much older than you are, sassy brat!"
Bevin giggled in response. He loved the attention and physical contact.
"It's meant as a mark of respect and fealty, my lord," Bevin said, making a sweeping bow.
"Jeez! So what am I being softened up for? I know your modus operandi by now. Come on; out with it!"
"I was wondering if I could have a friend for a sleepover. I'm pretty sure his family stays in a small bubble."
"Like tonight?"
"Nah, I'm thinking next weekend."
"That's fine with me. Did you check with Mitch?"
"No need to. He always goes along with what you want."
"Are you saying I dominate him?"
"Nope. If it were reversed, you'd agree with him. You guys always seem to be on the same wavelength. You're very equal as partners, I think."
"You're very astute as well as sassy, Bevin. I don't remember what we did for excitement before you came into our lives."
"Humph! Without me around, you were probably getting laid on the kitchen table!"
"Only once or twice, as I recall," Phil bantered back.
"What's this about getting laid?" Mitch asked as he entered the room.
"Our surrogate son is inventing a salacious scenario about our love-life. We were having a conversation about a sleepover he wants next weekend and it degenerated into something with sexual connotations. What are we going to do with him?"
"We could take him to PetSmart and have him fitted for a muzzle, I guess," Mitch grinned.
"Do you know how much I appreciate you guys?" Bevin asked, as he put an arm around both men. "No one ever goofed around like this but you. You're my family!"
"If it's anywhere in the ballpark of how we feel about you, then we have some idea?" Mitch smiled.
"Not to change the subject, but I should go to Menards with my 15%-off bag before the sale expires. Anyone want to go with or are you too hungry?"
Both Bevin and Mitch declined, so Phil decided to go alone and get it over with. Before he went, he asked Bevin to look at the recording of the attempted break-in to see if he knew the perpetrator.
No more than half a mile on his way toward the store, Phil spied a car parked on a drive that accessed an empty lot. The license plate matched the one he'd seen on the security camera. He turned around and pulled in behind it, blocking its path of escape.
Tapping on the driver's side window, Phil startled the young sleeping occupant who awoke and lowered it a crack.
"Who are you and what do you want," the teen demanded.
"Hmm... That's the same thing I asked you about 1:30 this morning."
"Oh, shit!"
"Yes," Phil cocked an eyebrow. "You need to come back to the scene of the crime, Dion, if you know what's good for you. I can give the security tape to the cops if you don't cooperate."
"Okay, I'll go with you. How did you know who I am?"
"I have mystical powers. I know a lot about you; probably more than you can imagine."
"Okay, you're holding the winning hand, I guess," Dion quickly yielded, not able to meet Phil's gaze.
"We won't go there directly. I have to use my discount bag for K-cups and pretzels first, but that won't take long. You okay with that?"
"Yeah, I don't think I have a choice."
"Hey guys, I'm home and I have a bonus I picked up along the way!"
Mitch looked up from the table at the scraggly-looking kid and smiled.
"This is Dion Benda. Dion, this is my husband Mitch."
The two shook hands and Mitch motioned for them to sit.
"Will you be wanting breakfast now?"
"Yup, we're both starved," Phil said.
"Okay, Bevin and I didn't wait for you, but the bacon can be zapped and the griddle hasn't cooled completely, so pancakes will be up in a few. Should I rewarm the scrambled eggs too?"
"Sure, I'll help. I don't need to be waited on."
Hearing more voices than he expected, Bevin came down the stairs.
"Dion! It's good to see you. I've missed you at school lately on the days we're in the building."
"Um, that's because I haven't been there. And on some of the days that we're virtual, I didn't have access to an internet connection."
"Oh, I hope you didn't get the virus."
"Nah, I called in sick but that's not the real problem. My parents kicked me out and I've been living in my car. I didn't have anything clean to wear to school and I know I must stink. I can even smell me."
"Well, after we get you fed, you can have a shower. I'm sure Bevin can find a T-shirt and some sweats for you to put on," Phil said.
"You'd do that for someone who tried to break into your shed?"
"Yes. I suspect there's an explanation."
"There is, but why would you believe a thief?"
"Because from what Bevin's told us, you're a decent kid. He was the source of my `mystical" knowledge, by the way. So, why were you trying to get into our out-building?"
"It wasn't to steal. I was looking for a place to crash that would be warmer than my car; a spot where I might lie down flat under a tarp or something."
"Okay, that gives me a good reason NOT to call the police. I could give you the combination to the lock so you could sleep there, but I think you'll be more comfortable in the house. We have an extra bedroom."
"You could use the other twin bed in my room if you want," Bevin offered. "I know you and I don't mind sharing."
"You might when you find out why my parents disowned me!" Dion looked at the floor.
"Do you think your orientation would be a problem in the house of a gay married couple?" Phil asked.
"Um, how did you know about me? I'm not out at school."
"I may have gained some of my info about you from Bevin, but I do have gaydar," Phil grinned.
"Damn, do I project gayness?"
"Not really; I made an educated guess based on my knowledge of a major reason guys get the boot from their families. I'm a counselor for social services, so I hear a lot of similar stories."
"That's how they got me," Bevin confided. "I originally got pitched like you did and then I was in a bad placement."
"Are you of age yet, Dion?" Mitch asked. "If not, we'll have to apply for guardianship of you too; that is, if you'd like to move in with us."
"I'm 17, just like Bevin.
"You'd actually consider taking me in?"
"Yup."
Dion bowed his head for a few seconds over the appetizing plate put before him and sained at the end. For the first time in recent memory, he was truly thankful for his food. Tears formed in his eyes as the tasted the first bite.
"Thank you! You have no idea how much I appreciate this."
"You're welcome," Mitch and Phil said in chorus.
"I haven't had a lot to eat lately, though I've been getting one meal a day from Green Square at least."
"But no place to sleep?" Mitch asked.
"The shelters have been full and they won't take unaccompanied minors. I tried to lie about my age but I got caught and they threatened to call the cops. I guess they're afraid of losing their license of something."
"You could have come to social services," Phil informed him.
"I know; the shelter told me that when they turned me away. I was afraid I'd be put in a group home or some foster situation where I might be abused. I've heard horror stories."
"They rescued me from one of those," Bevin murmured. "They're awesome!"
After he'd showered, and dressed in clean clothes, Dion looked like a new kid. His hair was a bit shaggy, but it didn't look bad on him when it was clean and combed.
The former look of despair in his eyes was beginning to turn into one of hope.
Phil suggested that they should move Dion's car before someone had it towed away.
"Um, I think it's out of gas. I ran it a little in the night to warm up and it wouldn't start this morning or you wouldn't have found me. There's a service station about half a mile away from where I was but I didn't have a gas can or enough money to get much anyway."
"We have some in the shed for the snow blower. It should be enough to get it to the station to fill it up," Mitch said. "Why don't you boys go out and get it? Bevin knows the combination."
"By the way, do you think one of us should drive it, or do you have insurance?"
"That's probably run out too. I suppose I can't legally drive it."
"One of us could because our liability policy covers us, even when using someone else's car."
"Okay, here's the key."
With Dion's vehicle stored safely in the third garage, the boys began unpacking what he had in the trunk. His school-issued laptop and books were there along with a couple of bags of clothes which were in serious need of washing.
Their next chore was dealing with Dion's laundry. Given the size of the front-loader washer and dryer the men had, it took only a couple of loads to do everything.
Dion was famished again by lunchtime. He tried not to stuff himself because he'd gone hungry long enough that he feared his stomach might turn on him if he overindulged. Phil reminded him that he was always welcome to raid the refrigerator and pantry if he needed a snack before dinner. Dion was certain that he wouldn't.
He had, however, worked up an appetite again by dinner. He had spent the afternoon trying to catch up on some of the schoolwork he'd missed. Bevin was in several of his classes and had helped him determine the assignments he needed to complete. The boys had called a couple of other kids they knew to find what he'd missed in other classes. It would take several more hours of serious study over the weekend for him to catch up most of it. He was determined to do it.
Dion was happy be have a full belly and sleep in a warm place, but he had some qualms about the situation he was in. He didn't deserve it, and he wondered what he might have to do to earn his keep.
"Um, what do Phil and Mitch get out of taking guys in?" he asked Bevin as they prepared to go to sleep.
"I guess it's the satisfaction of helping others. They get a few dollars from the state, but that's not enough to pay for my keep.
"So, what's expected from you? I mean how do you pay for being here?"
"I'm supposed to keep my schoolwork up and pick up after myself. They expect me to clean the bathroom I use. Now that you're here, you can help me!"
"Um, do they want you to do stuff with them?"
"We play cards sometimes. They always include me in activities if I want to do them. Is that what you mean?"
"No, I mean more personal stuff."
"Oh, I get it -- like the orgy every couple of weeks."
"Does it hurt? They look like they're hung."
"Dion, I was teasing. They would never lay a hand on me!"
"Whew! That's a relief. I have another question. Are you really gonna be okay having me sleep in your room?"
"Sure, I'm hungry for company with the amount of isolation we've been through for almost a whole year. Besides, I'm the one who suggested it."
"But what if I have Covid and spread it to you? And what about Phil and Mitch? They've hugged me."
"We get tested at school every other day we're there, so I think we're as safe as we can be. My guardians are both considered essential workers, so they've had their first and second shots. You know it'll be at least summer before they get to our age-group - possibly next fall unless they get more vaccines approved. We aren't as likely to die from it though."
"I'm glad Phil and Mitch are protected. They seem to be saints!"
"I agree.
"It's gonna be great having you here. I've always wanted to get to know you better. You always seemed distant. I felt like we could never get acquainted."
"You're right; I've been avoiding people. I was afraid of what would happen if they found out I'm gay."
"Is that why you didn't like to undress in front of anyone after gym?"
"Yeah, I guess. I thought I might pop a boner, so I used to shower at home instead of at school; at least when I still had a home," Dion sniffled.
"I know how you feel," Bevin empathized as he put an arm around his new friend.
I guess it's a good thing you're not a sound sleeper," Mitch said to his husband as they snuggled in their bed.
"Well, I think my insomnia, or whatever it is, just added another dimension to our lives," Phil joked.
"And saved a good kid from a bad fate."
"Are you in favor of making the arrangement permanent, or did I make the offer prematurely?"
"I talked about being his guardian too. We can afford it, and I think Bevin would appreciate a brother."
Or maybe a live-in lover?"
"Whatever. Bevin WAS quick to share his room. That makes me think he might have a crush."
"He could be just lonely for a boy his own age."
"I'd be lonely without a husband," Mitch said, nibbling on Phil's ear.
For all practical purposes, their conversation was replaced by kisses which led to terrific orgasms.
"You're welcome to join us for virtual church if you want," Mitch told Dion at breakfast. "I'm not pushing you, but Father James gives an uplifting homily. He's doing communion long-distance with consecrated wafers which I picked up yesterday afternoon. I got one for you as well, assuming that you're a baptized believer after you signed the cross at breakfast."
"Um, I was raised Catholic, but I haven't been to confession in a long time -- only once since my first communion."
"We're Episcopalian, and we say a confession in the service, so you'd be welcome to participate if you want to. Like I said, I'm not pushing."
"Are you doin' it, Bevin?" Dion asked.
"Yup."
"Okay, count me in too."
Dion hadn't been sold on the idea of hearing any message from a priest, even if the cleric wasn't Catholic. It had been the priest of his childhood parish whose anti-gay rhetoric had led his parents to disown him.
However, since Bevin was okay with Fr. James, he figured he'd go with the flow. Just because he sat there watching the livestreaming of the service didn't mean he had to listen. He could simply go through the motions.
Surprisingly, Dion found comfort in the rite of the eucharist. It began to dawn on him that he didn't have a quarrel with God, only with how some people interpreted the will of the Almighty.
He was also touched by the short sermon based on Matthew 25 which exhorted the followers of Christ to be charitable toward others. That was exactly how this unusual family was treating him. Maybe they were onto something.
Again, in the afternoon, Dion hit his studies. He had been down so low emotionally that he'd all but given up on school. Now, he was determined to prove his worth to his benefactors as well as his teachers.
By working with Dion, Bevin absorbed some of the material he'd not focused on before. The two of them learned a lot on the weekend as a team.
After dinner, Phil suggested they all take a break and watch a movie. He had a number of old classic comedies on DVD. The four of them spent an hour and a half laughing and eating popcorn.
The teens went to their room fairly early but didn't go to sleep immediately. Like the previous night, they shared bits about their lives in the past as they sat propped up on Bevin's bed.
There were parallels. Both had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of adults they should have been able to trust. Dion had been touched inappropriately by the very priest who denounced homosexuals and Bevin had a similar experience with foster parents. In both cases, other adults hadn't believed them at first.
Dion's parents accused him of tempting the priest, and Bevin's foster family was considered above reproach by the head of social services. Bevin had finally convinced his school counselor after playing a conversation he'd secretly recorded. Ms. Warren had contacted Phil who became Bevin's advocate and later his guardian.
At the end of their "confession-session" as they called it, they hugged. Human touch was something they both craved and sometimes feared. Their physical contact was comfortable as well as comforting.
Monday was a busy day for all in the household. Phil would be adding Dion's case to his already-loaded schedule. He had managed to do a kind of informal interview with the kid during breaks in studying. He'd put the details into a form on his laptop so he could finish the paperwork quickly.
Mitch had a number of teens to counsel who were having emotional problems from being isolated due to Covid.
However, he didn't have to be at the clinic as early as Phil needed to be in his office. Therefore, Mitch gave the boys a ride to Jefferson High instead of having them take the bus. It was a cold, windy day, and he hated for them to have to wait on the corner. Besides, he wasn't sure if the driver would allow Dion to ride since he hadn't lived on this route before. Then too, he needed to meet briefly with the staff at the school to make an official change in Dion's address and contact information.
For the boys' part, they went through the usual temperature-taking routine and headed to separate homerooms. They would see one another in some of their classes and at lunch.
Bevin's day started off very well because there was a pop quiz in the social studies section they shared. On the surface, having a quiz on Monday morning doesn't sound like a plus. In his case, he was ready for it, having helped Dion catch up. He aced it! Dion did too.
All of Dion's teachers were pleased with the work he'd managed to turn in. It looked like his grades would go back up to what they'd been in the past. The kid was well-liked by the staff, and they were delighted to see him succeeding.
At noon, they sat side by side in the cafeteria, eating the lunches they'd brought from home. About 10 minutes into the period, one of the people on lunchroom duty came to the table wearing a frown.
"Boys, I think you're breaking protocol. You aren't supposed to sit so close to someone outside your home bubble."
"It's okay, Ms. Warren, honest." Bevin said. "Dion's living with me. We share a room at home. If you don't believe me, you can call Phil Keller."
"I'm sure you're telling me the truth. Sorry, I didn't know Dion was part of your household."
"Mitch, um, Dr. Corrigan, made the changes in my address early this morning," Dion told her. "Actually, I'd been living out of my car since New Year's Day."
"Oh dear! I had no idea. Why didn't you let us know?"
"Like I told Phil, I was afraid of winding up in a worse situation in the system."
"Unfortunately, such things do happen sometimes. I was in here for breakfast duty because so many teachers are out sick, so I missed the new info. I'll get caught up tonight. Please make an appointment with me if you need anything. I mean that!"
The afternoon went as well as the morning had. At gym class, which the boys shared, Coach Wendt asked how Dion was doing. He'd been concerned when the boy was absent. He was pleased to see the kid looking happy and dressed in gym shorts which didn't have a funky aroma. He gave Dion a friendly shoulder hug which was greatly appreciated.
In the shower later, Dion and Bevin furtively checked each other out. They'd been modest at home, but there was no hiding anything in the gang-type facility at school. Both grinned bigtime knowing they had fewer secrets than they'd had that morning.
They rode the school bus home.
"I noticed you didn't cringe when Coach put his arm around your shoulder," Bevin said, as they snacked on some cheese, crackers, and fruit at the breakfast bar.
"That's because his touch isn't creepy."
"I agree. What I feel from him is caring instead of, um, perving or whatever. It's not like with my foster family. They both wanted to use me. He felt me up and he wanted me to lick his wife's pussy while he watched. Before he could force me, I managed to lock myself in my bedroom and escape out the window. I suppose a lot of straight guys would have loved the opportunity to have sex with an older woman, but she turned me off!"
"The thought of licking that would gag me!" Dion shuddered.
"Would you feel the same about licking a guy there?" Bevin asked before he thought better of it.
"I guess it would depend on the guy. I wouldn't want to lick some old pervert. Father O'Brien wanted me to go commando under my cassock. He said he would demonstrate how to pleasure a man by licking my balls and sucking my dick. I'll admit it sounded hot, but I didn't want it to be with him."
"I'm not sure I could have resisted it if some guy had offered me a blowjob," Bevin sighed.
The bulge in his jeans was living proof that he was turned on by the thought.
In his mind, Dion wondered if Bevin would be interested in a little mutual exploration, but before he got the nerve to ask, they heard the garage door go up. It was just as well. He was a guest here in a tenuous situation. He wasn't worthy to be there after trying to break into the garden shed. He'd be a fool do anything to jeopardize his new life.
"In a few days, when there's another virtual school day, I'm going to work from home," Mitch announced. "Does anyone want to schedule a haircut with Curt at Penney's?"
"I already have an appointment with him on that afternoon when our classwork is done," Bevin said. "Did you forget?"
"I remembered. I thought maybe Dion would like to go too. I'm not pushing, him to cut it if he likes it long."
"I hate it this long," Dion exclaimed. "I was hoping to save up enough to get it cut, if Fareway will let me come back to work."
`We'll pay for it," Phil insisted. "You have enough on your plate without bagging groceries on top of everything else."
"Well, I'm almost caught up with all my school stuff."
"Do you think they'd hire me too?" Bevin asked.
"Their TV commercial said they're adding workers. We could find out. We could work in the afternoons on days when we're virtual and others are going in-person. We could cover each other's hours, like people who do job-sharing."
"We're fine with the idea, as long as it doesn't keep you from doing your best in school. We'll give you an allowance to help with extras," Phil assured Dion.
The minute classes were over on Thursday, Mitch drove the boys to the mall. He was going to shop for groceries at Aldi while they were having their hair done.
For health reasons, there weren't any chairs in the former waiting area. So, Dion was allowed to sit in one of the styling chairs while Bevin was getting his haircut, and Bevin could stay in that chair when Curt did Dion's. About halfway through, Bevin would have to vacate the spot so it could be sanitized before another customer needed it.
Bevin was fine with that because he could wonder around the store to see if there were any bargains.
When Mitch came to settle the bill and pick up the boys, he found that he had two 10-dollar rewards on his charge account. He told the boys they could each spend one on something they wanted and not to worry if the cost went over that amount. They would have to do it quickly, or they'd have to come back another day because he had groceries, including ice cream which could melt some despite the winter temperatures.
Dion headed directly to the underwear section. He wanted some new briefs that he wouldn't be ashamed to be seen in when he changed in the locker room. He could get only a couple of pairs for that amount of money, but it was better than nothing.
Bevin chose the same thing, asking Dion what colors he liked besides the ones he'd chosen.
In their room, the guys opened up their packages and removed the stickers so that the new pairs of underwear could be laundered before they were worn.
"Here, these are for you," Bevin handed his package to Dion.
"Um, they're yours."
"No, I bought them for you. I have plenty and I know you wanted a few more new ones."
"Oh man, how will I pay you back?"
"No need to."
"I know; I could give you a backrub. I had a massage once, and I think I could give you one."
"That would be cool! Okay, when should we do it?"
"Probably before we go to bed but after we've showered again."
That night, Dion made good on his promise. When the boys returned to their room clad only in towels, Bevin spread a large beach towel on his bed to keep from getting the sheets messed up. He had a bottle of baby oil in the nightstand which his guardians had given him for treating his dry hands. He suspected they knew a teenager might use it for other purposes as well.
Bevin lay on the bed and Dion straddled his body, massaging his neck and shoulders. For an amateur, he had an excellent technique. Bevin felt his body relaxing; well, all except for one part which seemed to be about as hard as it could get.
After working several minutes on Bevin's back, going down to the top of his towel, Dion went to the foot of the bed and massaged Bevin's feet and calves. Eventually, he moved up toward Bevin's buns.
Bevin had squirmed around and rearranged his junk to be more comfortable. His erection was now pointing toward his feet, so it was very visible, sticking out from under his butt. With the towel riding up on his body, it provided a pleasant spot for Dion's eyes to focus on.
Emboldened by the sight, Dion kneaded the firm, fleshy globes, further dislodging the towel in the process. He finally removed it completely, tossing it on the floor.
"Would you like me to do your chest?"
Bevin was fully aroused by then. He quickly turned over on his back and pulled Dion down on top of him, tugging away Dion's covering in the process.
Their initial kisses were fervent, almost savage. They wrestled as one. Dion grabbed the bottle of oil, spreading it on their crotches before continuing their frottage session. In a matter of minutes, their passion erupted in a flood of jizz.
Then, their kisses became tender and intimate in the afterglow.
"I hope you're not mad at me for starting this," Dion said, softly.
"If you hadn't, I would have, eventually. You may have started it; I'm the one who escalated it. Then, we both brought it to a great climax!"
"Whoa, we're covered in cum. I think I can reach my towel so we don't soak your sheets," Dion offered.
"How about we spread it all over one another and throw my bedding in the washer tomorrow? Would you sleep with me tonight?"
"You bet!"
It was a tight fit. However, neither complained.
The boys awoke in the gray, predawn light. The first thing they did was hold each other closely.
"I take it you're still okay about last night," Dion grinned.
"More that okay! I'm ecstatic!" Bevin exclaimed. "I've never felt better. I'm so glad you're here."
"Me too. I'd love to stay in bed and snuggle all day."
"We can do that tomorrow. Right now, we need to hose the cum off our bods and get ready for school."
When they came back to their room after showering, it smelled a bit funky to them, so they temporarily opened a window while they stripped the beds. They put their sheets in the washer before they went to eat.
Phil noticed how bright and sunny the boys were at breakfast. Perhaps it was a TGIF euphoria, but he suspected it was something deeper. He loved to horse around and tease Bevin, but he held back in this case. If they did have a crush on one another, he wasn't about to poke fun at it.
There was a pop-quiz in language arts that day. Again, both teens were ready for it because they'd worked as a team on the material. They were among the few who aced it!
The last period of the day was a coed volleyball game in gym class. The fun exercise was a fitting cap for the end of the week.
A week later, Bevin awoke with a fever. It was on a virtual school day, so he decided to tough it out and go to class online. Phil was home with the boys and offered to call the school to have him excused, but he didn't prevent him from participating after Bevin insisted he was up to it.
By dinnertime that night, Bevin was too miserable to eat. Dion did his best to comfort him.
Mitch and Phil suggested that the boys might want to quarantine from one another for a period of time.
"Dion, you probably should gather some clothes and move into the guest room."
"I don't want to be away from Bevin. What if he needs help in the night? I might be asymptomatic and could have given him Covid," Dion speculated.
"But what if you're not, and I give it to you?" Bevin said.
In the end, Dion agreed to sleeping in the larger bed but only if Bevin accompanied him.
Phil shook his head in wonder. He felt they might be physically safer apart but, perhaps not emotionally. He decided it might be detrimental to separate the pair, so he didn't try.
During the night, Dion acted as Bevin's nurse. He got up to bring him ice water about 2:00 AM when Bevin felt like he was burning up. Later he held Bevin in his arms when the fever broke and he was cold. The best part for Bevin was knowing he wasn't alone. By morning, his temperature was normal and he felt much better.
Mitch called to excuse the teens from school until both were symptom-free. In the afternoon, he drove them to a test-site for verification of their status.
It turned out that neither tested positive. The clinician suspected that Bevin had suffered from the 24-hour flu.
The major side effect from the incident was that the boys continued to sleep together in the queen bed. No one said anything about the arrangement, so they eventually moved into it permanently.
On Sunday, Father James constructed his short sermon around the passage in Matthew 24 which says that Christ will return like a thief in the night. Dion gave a start when he heard the passage read. He had a sense of guilt. Did the priest know about him? Had Mitch sent him an email? The choice of scripture made Dion listen very closely.
The priest said that the pandemic, and certain natural catastrophes like fires in the West and the derecho in the heartland, were seen by some as signs of the end of times. He personally didn't see it that way. He felt that God's children should be comforted by the passage instead of frightened because they were people of the light and wouldn't be caught off guard. God would provide for them.
In the darkness of their room, Dion brought up his take on the homily.
"Did someone tell he priest about me?"
"What do you mean?"
"About being a thief in the night."
"I'm sure they didn't. The world doesn't necessarily revolve around you, just like it didn't revolve around our former president."
"Okay, but it doesn't seem like a coincidence. My whole life these past few weeks seems like it's being shaped by forces I don't understand. I mean, how did Phil happen to spot me? If he hadn't, I wouldn't be in this warm bed with you.
"If I had gotten into the shed, I might have been tempted to, um, borrow some of the gas. Then, my car wouldn't have run out where Phil would have passed it on his way to the store. It's all like fate or something."
"And I wouldn't be getting to know you better. Maybe God is looking out for me! Now I'm the center of the universe," Bevin giggled.
"Okay, I get it. I'm not special."
"Yeah, you are."
Dion wondered if Bevin was going to say more, but he didn't. The next sounds he made were from a change in breathing. Bevin was asleep.
"You DO make me feel special," Dion whispered in the darkness.
Dion couldn't get over the guilty feelings he had about what he might have done had he gained entrance to the shed. He felt that he should confess it to someone. He finally asked Mitch if he would drive him to the church if he could make an appointment with Father James to use the confessional. Mitch couldn't imagine what a decent teenager would have done to require the service, but he was all for doing whatever made Dion feel better.
"Forgive me Father, for I have sinned."
"What is the nature of your sin, my son?"
"I tried to break into the shed of the people who took me in."
"What was your motivation for doing it?"
"It was when I was homeless and I was looking for a place to sleep."
"So it wasn't for the purpose of stealing anything?"
"No, but if I'd have gotten in, I might have stolen some gas for my car."
"But that wasn't your original motive, was it?"
"No, Father, but I might have been tempted."
"If I were down on my luck, I might have been tempted too, my son."
"But you wouldn't do it, would you?"
"And you didn't either, did you? I know the Bible tells us that if we lust in our hearts, we are guilty of adultery. But, thinking of something is different from acting on it. You weren't even a thief in your heart."
"I still feel like I should do penance to be granted absolution."
"If you have asked God for forgiveness, he has already absolved you. Christ paid for our sins. However, if you want me to give you something to do, here it is. Over the next three weeks, I'd like you to perform three acts of random kindness. It need not be a big thing like buying someone's lunch. It could be as simple as saying a kind word to a person who's down or picking up a book someone dropped. Do you think you can do that?"
"Yes, Father! Thank you!"
"Go in peace and know that you are forgiven."
It wasn't long before Dion performed his first act of kindness. A freshman boy tripped on a step at school and several things flew out of his unzipped backpack when he lost his balance. While Bevin was helping the kid up, Dion gathered up his papers so they wouldn't get trampled on. Seeing him do that, inspired another guy to pick up his pen and pencil.
"Here you go, I've caught my heel on that last step a time or two. I hope your ankle is okay," Dion said.
"Thanks Guys, I feel like an idiot."
"Nah, we all do that sometimes."
The kind words meant more to the boy than the saving of his stuff.
The next afternoon while bagging groceries, Dion had the chance to do another kindness. This one cost him a little money, but it made him feel even better.
A young mother, who was trying to comfort her crying child while finishing her shopping, came up about two dollars short of being able to pay for her groceries.
"This is all I have, can you take back something," she asked of the cashier.
"Hey, let me get that," Dion insisted, pulling some money out of his billfold.
The young lady had tears in her eyes as she thanked him. Bevin, who was sacking at the next lane, blinked back a bit of moisture too. He was very proud of his boyfriend.
A few days later, Dion found a little boy crying near the dairy case because he'd lost his mother. Dion offered to put the tot on his shoulders so he could look over other customers to find his mom. The boy was soon reunited with his parent and wanted to know if they could take Dion home with them.
It suddenly struck Dion that he'd done his penance and was now free. He was so happy that he decided he would continue to help others who needed him.
That night, as the teens cuddled in their bed, Dion told Bevin the reason he'd been trying to help others.
"You see, I had a motive for what I was doing. It wasn't just out of the kindness of my heart."
"Maybe you don't think so, but I know you have a kind heart. You put yourself at risk being my nurse when I had the flu."
"Yeah, but it turned out not to be a risk because you didn't have Covid."
"But you didn't know that! You were ready to chance getting sick to help me."
"Yeah, well, I still had a motive. I did it so you'd know I care, so that's kinda selfish on my part."
"Love is never selfish! I'd do the same for you."
"Does that mean you love me?"
"Yup!"
"Cool!"
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Thanks to David (Boxerdude) for editing this chapter.
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