Tommy and Tanner Chapter 15
Warning:
This story contains scenes of love and sexual interaction between males of similar age. If the reading or possessing this material is illegal in your country, state, province, county, municipality, etc., please leave this site immediately and do not proceed further. If you are under the legal age to read this, please do not do so. It is not my intention to offend anyone or to get you in trouble.
The author retains the copyright, and any other rights, to this original story. You may not publish it or any part of it without explicit authorization from me.
This is not my first attempt at writing fiction. My longer stories on Nifty include: "Always and Forever" (March 25, 2004), "Jacob and Jacques" (May 30, 2004), "Zeke" (August 29, 2005), "Tales from Bentonville" (November 16, 2008), and "Second Chance" (September 24, 2010) under "High School" and "Someone to Watch over Me" under "Beginnings" in the gay male section. There are a few short stories also: "Brad and Alan's Canoe Trip" (April 22, 2004 under "Camping", "Of Angels and Dragons" (November 8, 2008) under "Camping", "A Christmas Tale" (December 22, 2009) under "High School", "Brazil Affair" (October 1, 2010) under "Beginnings" and "Seth's Gift" (October 10, 2010) under the Science Fiction/Fantasy category.
I am now listed on Nifty under the category of "Prolific Net Authors" which will make it easier for you to access earlier stories. Some of these stories are also posted at: www.storylover.us along with those of other writers that may interest you.
My only reward for contributing to Nifty is your emails. Please write if you like the story. Please include the name of the story in the title of your email because my email service sometimes puts them in the "spam" file.
Finally, thanks and hugs to Tom and David (boxerdude) who edit for me so that there are fewer mistakes! They not only proof-read, but make other valuable suggestions.
David (dlee169@hotmail.com)
Tommy and Tanner, Chapter 15
Tim went over to visit Ms. Cranston even before he was officially installed as a member of the board of deacons. He thought she might like to take a ride in the car she used to own, and he was eager to show her how well he's maintained it.
He'd been to her house only once before, when picking up the car, and never inside. He was impressed with how large and gracious it was.
"Hello Timothy! To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I thought you might like to get out on this beautiful summer day. Do you have anything you need from the store?"
"I do need a few things from the market, but I've been putting off sending for them until I have enough to make it worthwhile paying their delivery charges. I haven't been shopping for a while and I'd be delighted to get out."
"Didn't Jared take you to the market?"
"Oh, I couldn't ask him to do that! He was my deacon, not my errand boy. He came to see me each month and we visited. He'd call sometimes in between."
"I'm going to be your new deacon and I plan to be here every week when possible. I'll take you shopping whenever you need to go too. I'd really like to get to know you."
"Well, aren't you sweet? That's really too much to expect from a high school student. Aren't you a senior this fall?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then you'll be involved in lots of activities and won't have that much time for an old lady like me."
"I'll make the time. Do you have a list of what you need?"
"Yes I do. Let me get my purse and I'll be very pleased to have you take me to the store. Let's go to John's grocery because it's smaller and I won't have so many miles of aisles to walk as I would in the supermarket."
I think Tori is a splendid name for a girl, Tuck. Have you guys come up with any boys' names? We don't know it's going to be a girl."
"Let me check," Tuck grinned as he place his right hand on his mother's belly. "Yup, it's a girl!"
"Tucker Floyd Terrance, you are full of it!" Teri laughed. "I'm sure you have the power to divine the gender of our baby, but humor me and come up with a boy's name just in case. I know you and Tommy aren't especially thrilled with your given names."
"I'm okay with mine. I used to get mad when kids called me `Tucker-fucker' back in elementary," Tuck told her, hoping he hadn't stepped too far over the line.
"Oh Baby, I'm so sorry! You never told me that before. I should have known kids might do that. I was so naive. Do you want to change your name? I'd be okay with it if you do."
"Nah, a guy my age doesn't mind being called that," he grinned. "But, nobody says it now that I know what it's about."
"You know you're being naughty, don't you?"
Tuck only grinned in response.
"And I know you're old enough to be treated like an adult, but please don't develop a potty-mouth. So called `adult' language is really an excuse to talk dirty."
"I know, Mom. Dad and the guys have warned me. It's kinda hard because a lot of my friends talk like that."
"Well, you rise above it and be the good apple that stops the rest from rotting!"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
Around the dinner table, Tim was eager to tell about his afternoon with Dorothy Cranston. He sounded really excited about having the opportunity to hear her stories of former times.
"She's a very sharp lady! She remembers stuff from World War II and she knows more history than I'll ever remember!
I had no idea she's had such a full life. There's been a lot of tragedy, but she's not bitter at all. Her daughter, her son, and his wife were all killed in a small plane crash when they were in their 20's and left no children. She and her husband were too old to begin a new family by then, so they spent years taking in foster children. They kept their big house for that reason and even added a wing to it. Thought it's really too large for her now, she's been content to live there alone with all her memories since her husband, Frank, died 10 years ago."
"Did she adopt any of the kids so she has family?" Teri asked.
"Nope, that's why she didn't have anyone to give her car to. For some reason, the state thought they were too old to raise children, but I can see they were wrong! She could have done it, but she got only short-term placements -- kids who needed love and care until they were adopted. It's too bad. I think we should adopt her as another grandmother. I'm going to treat her that way."
"We could do her yard work for free if that would help," Tanner spoke up.
"She has a lawn man. From what I could gather, she wants to keep him because his wife left him and he's trying to raise two kids on whatever he can scrape up for income. So I'm sure she wouldn't take you up on the mowing offer. I think she would like someone to visit with more than anything." Tim concluded.
"I guess I could visit her sometime too," Tuck offered. "She's always been nice to me at church. She takes time to ask how school is going and stuff like that. She does that with any of the kids who'll stop to visit with her."
"I'm proud of all of you," Tark beamed. "We need to support our seniors emotionally as much as financially, sometimes more so. They need to feel a connection with younger people. It keeps them sharper. I often assign students to interview an older person to get a perspective on how it was to grow up in a different time."
"She may be older, but she's already on top of it!" Tim enthused. "She has a laptop and even has a page on Facebook! I know people younger than she is who don't even know how to email."
"I'm not trying to change the subject, but I want to know if Tanner and I can take kempo classes. Tuck might like to too."
"Hey, what about me," Tim asked.
"You're a big enough jock that nobody is gonna mess with you, but I think it's probably gonna get out that we're gay before we graduate from high school." Tommy replied.
"I'm not gay!" Tuck objected.
"I know, but wouldn't you like to know how to take care of yourself in case you get picked on because you have two brothers that are?" Tanner asked.
"I'm not really familiar with kempo. Is it like karate?" Tark said.
"Something like it. It's a kind of hybrid of martial arts and was originally called `kenpo' by the Japanese. Andy started recently and he recommended it highly. His dad thought he should take it."
"Well, I guess we can spring for that if it will keep you from getting hurt," Tark agreed.
"We'll pay for it with our mowing money," Tanner insisted. "We know there's going to be more expense when our little sister arrives."
"We might even let Tuck work in our mowing business so he can earn his way too. That's only if he wants to," Tommy said.
"Thanks, bro, I'd like to do that," Tucker smiled.
Andy called the following day to see if he could stay over with the guys for a few days. His father was going out of town for mandatory training and his mother planned to take his younger siblings and him to Aunt Doris's house while Chris was gone. (Doris was his mother's aunt.)
"You can't imagine how boring it is there!" he gasped. "She's about a hundred years old and treats me like I'm five. The younger kids don't seem to mind it, but I have no one to hang with. Dad refers to her as Dor-ass when Mom's not around to hear it. Mom said I can't stay alone, but I can come to your house if you clear it with your folks and if she sends money to pay for feeding me. I'm really embarrassed to beg, but I just CAN'T go there again."
"I'll talk to Mom," Tommy said. "Knowing her, she'll be fine with it. She may be a little upset if your mom offers money. But, she might accept a gift certificate for Dad and her to go to Red Lobster or somewhere, depending on what your mother was planning to spend."
"Mom makes pretty good money in her law practice. It's not like we're rolling in dough, but we're doing okay. I'll tell her that she might send it afterwards as a thank-you."
"Sounds like a plan! We'd love to have you."
"Good. Should I pack anything special?"
"You should bring something to wear to church if you're here Sunday and bring a swimsuit and whatever shorts you want to knock around in."
"What do you guys wear to bed?"
"We used to wear boxers in the summer, but now we just keep them by the bed to slip into when we leave the room," Tommy giggled.
"Really?"
"Yup. We prefer our birthday suits because we always have them with us and it's a nice way to cuddle!"
"Cool! Call me when you know if it's okay."
"Will do."
Ten minutes later, it was all settled. The mothers had conferred, and the boys were looking forward to having Andy with them. They hadn't had much time to talk since they all came out to each other. This would be an opportunity to do that.
Tark was almost as pleased as his middle sons at the prospect of having Andy as a house guest. Andy was a high-achieving student who, despite his shyness in some social situations, was usually the "sparkplug" in small group discussions. Not only did he participate, but his answers were on target and his questions were stimulating.
Tuck was happy from the moment he met their guest because Andy treated him like an equal and didn't act like he was a kid. Tuck felt even more like he was being accepted as an almost-adult. Interestingly, his language was all "G" rated when in the company of this new acquaintance. Something inside his brain caused Tuck subconsciously to want to make a good impression.
Tim was off to a movie with Chas and the girls they were dating at the moment, so he wasn't around to join in the video games and other things the boys did to occupy their hours before bedtime the first night.
Tuck felt a bit left out when the other three went off to the bedroom to sleep. Of course he knew that Andy was a classmate of Tommy and Tanner and that he had no right to feel that way, but he missed the camaraderie of the group.
Inside their room, Tommy and Tanner could speak more freely. They had carefully steered away from mentioning anything about sexual orientation because Andy wasn't out to anyone but them.
"Have you thought anymore about whether you're really gay?" Tanner asked their guest.
"I have, and I know it's true. I wish Mason had been different. I might actually have gone for him."
"But he is what he is," Tommy commented. "I once thought he might be someone I could fall for, but it didn't work out. I'm really glad now because Tanner has always been my soul-mate."
"Tommy didn't know how much alike we were until the first night we kissed," Tanner said. "I didn't either until then. It was awesome!"
"Yeah," Tommy added. "It was like New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July combined. I can't remember ever seeing that many fireworks before!"
"You guys are making me envious. I need to find someone who'll do that for me."
"It'll happen, I believe," Tommy said. "He may come along when you least expect it. I'd really given up on Tanner when all of a sudden it all came together."
"I'd like to widen my circle of friends, especially gay ones. Do you think I should go out for swimming next season?"
"From what I saw of your technique that day at the pool, you're good enough," Tommy encouraged. "But, it might not be a place where you'll meet a lot of gay guys even if everyone does strut around in tiny Speedos. We haven't met anyone who's out. In fact, other than Mason, you're the only gay guy we know in the whole school. I'm not saying there aren't more, because Tim says statistically there could be as many as 50 to 100 guys in a school of roughly 2,000, and possibly that many girls."
"They're probably as scared to come out as I am," Andy sighed. "With some of the jocks around school, a guy could get killed. That's why I wanted to take kempo. Dad was all for it, not that he knows I'm gay, but because I'm not a big guy like he is. God, he'd probably kill me himself, if he knew the real me."
"He seems nice enough," Tanner interjected.
"He is for the most part, especially when he's in the company of a man like your dad. Then he's comfortable enough to drop some of the super-macho façade. But given his line of work, I think he feels like he has to act tough."
"Tough doesn't necessarily mean insensitive," Tanner said. "Look at our dad. You saw how he faced off Mason's father and then hugged us later in front of God and everybody."
"I know. That's why he's my all-time favorite teacher. I feel like I could tell him anything and he'd understand. I'm pretty sure a couple of guys have told him really personal stuff."
"I wouldn't be surprised," Tommy agreed. "He'd keep a confidence."
"So, is there more hot dick swinging in the locker room after swim practice than after track?" Andy giggled.
"Uh, it does get that way at times," Tanner grinned. "You should have been there last season when we all shaved other guys' pubes."
"You did what?!" Andy exclaimed.
Tommy and Tanner had to explain the whole hazing incident with Jordan and the scene that ensued. Andy was throwing serious wood before they were finished.
"You held other guys' cocks in your hands?"
"Yup," Tanner snickered.
"Didn't you get hard?"
"You mean like you are now?"
"Oops, sorry!" Andy blushed as he rearranged his package.
"Don't make excuses for a bulge that big," Tommy giggled. "Besides we're not exactly soft either after talking about it."
"I guess we should turn in," Tanner suggested, dropping his shorts and briefs in one smooth move.
Tommy followed suit, while Andy stood there staring.
"Come on, Andy, we're showing hard. You have to show too," Tanner grinned.
"Okay, here goes nothing."
"That's a hell ova lot more than nothing!" Tommy exclaimed.
The three boys openly assessed each other's equipment; impressed, but not feeling embarrassed about their own.
"Here's some Kleenex for later," Tommy said cheekily, handing the box to Andy.
Andy blushed a deep shade of crimson, but didn't refuse the offer.
Tark took all three younger boys to enroll in the Shogun Martial Arts kempo program. Andy had a session that day and the boys were allowed to observe once Tark had made the initial payment. This would not count as one of their lessons since they were not participating. They were, however, measured for their uniforms which should be ready by the next meeting.
Despite not being involved in the activities, the Torrance boys did learn a number of things. They felt like they'd catch on quickly in their first class because of it.
The instructor sent home a DVD with them which demonstrated some of the basic moves. He said it would help them catch up to where Andy was currently and that he could probably coach them to do that, if they had problems. His motives were not completely altruistic. He'd learned that if friends could participate at the same level they were more likely to continue taking lessons.
When Tark arrived to pick them up, they were all excited and asked if they could get a couple of mats to put on the floor when they practiced. Of course, they were allowed to.
Tark was particularly pleased that Tuck was included with the middle two. He felt it would strengthen their bonds as brothers just as the canoeing and camping had done. After all, Tuck was only 14 months younger than Tommy, even though they were two grades apart in school. He had always wanted to do everything his older brothers did.
Author's notes: I'm on the road, so this may be messed up a bit. The following is a list of those who wrote to me since last posting. I hope it's complete! T&T14: Rutabaga, Laurence and Douglas, Bill K, Wayne, Bert H, Bill T, Jim C, Paul R, Trish R, Walt S, Roger L, Jim W, Mark H, and KT (who is #85 in new responders since fall).
In other news, the Presbyterian Church USA (my denominations) has made a breakthrough. No doubt it will cause more fracturing, but it's about time for this to happen -- actually it's long overdue!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_rel_presbyterians_gays