Tommy and Tanner Chapter 63
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," "Seth's Gift" (October 10, 2010) under the Science Fiction/Fantasy category, and "A Technological Christmas" (December 23, 2011) under "Beginnings."
I am 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.
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.
Finally, David has a new site that is hosting a number of authors. It's at: www.saberpeak.com. My first story, "Always and Forever," is posted there.
David (dlee169@hotmail.com)
Tommy and Tanner, Chapter 63
After an early breakfast, Tim drove them all to the Metra station in the family minivan. It would be less expensive, and a lot less hassle, to take the train than to negotiate freeway traffic and pay a fortune to park downtown. In addition, they could look at the cityscape without distractions while the train ran above ground.
It was a very short walk from the subway station to the neoclassical structure that Frank Lloyd Wright had once dubbed, "the roadblock at the end of Adams Street." Although the sun was shining, the air was crisp and felt invigorating.
They soon found the main desk where they were to pick up their tickets.
"Ah, yes. I was told to ask for the credit card of the person turning in the afternoon tickets," the volunteer clerk informed them.
Tim looked quizzical as he pulled out his card.
"Is there an exchange charge?" he asked.
"No, I'm supposed to give you a refund. Your morning tickets are courtesy of Mrs. Bell. A runner is bringing them all over as we speak. It should be only a few minutes...
Ah, here is the lady with them now, she grinned."
"Tinker, what are you doing here?" Josh exclaimed as he turned to hug his patron.
"I thought you didn't know that Peter and I were going to be here this weekend to see the show, so I decided to surprise you. I guess we didn't have that much time to chat at the club Christmas party when I was telling about our plans. There were SO many people there.
Anyway, Peter and I had to view the exhibition more than once. There's so much to take in. I hope you don't mind if we join you."
"Of course not, we'd love it!"
Introductions were made all round, and soon the party of eight was on its way to the galleries where the exhibition was being held. In exchange for their tickets, they received not only entry, but headsets and small receivers to hang around their necks or put into their pockets. The people at the table explained how to operate the devices for best results.
Transmitters were located by the main work of each artist and would broadcast the lecture when they approached that painting or object. The recordings were on a loop and would keep repeating as long as people stayed there. So, if you wanted more time to look without the narrative, there was a mute button.
With the rest of an artist's examples, people needed to rely on their own knowledge or read from the placards posted by the works.
As the small group progressed, various members turned to Josh for information. He quickly assumed the role of their personal guide and all were pleased to learn what he knew.
Tommy and Tanner both scribbled hurried notes on the pads they'd brought along for that purpose. They figured their humanities project was going to be about half finished by lunch time.
Soon other people in the area were crowding around trying to listen too. Some asked questions, which Josh politely answered, even though he didn't feel responsible for educating the whole gallery of people.
Someone nearby must have felt that they were intruding on a private party because he asked Peter how to obtain the service.
"We didn't see anything about having docents," the man said. "Where can we sign up for one? Actually, we'd be happy to chip in on the cost of this one because he is so knowledgeable!"
"Sorry to tell you," Peter Bell explained. "There are none for hire. This young man is Joshua, an up and coming artist from St. Paul, and he is leading our small group of friends."
"Mr. Joshua could my wife, daughter, and I join you? We're willing to pay whatever the going rate is for docents. You seem to know everything!"
"Thanks for the compliment," Josh smiled. "With the permission of the others, you may tag along, but it wouldn't be ethical for me to charge you because I'm not an employee of the Art Institute. If you wish to compensate in some way for my services, I suggest you drop the money in one of the donation boxes that are scattered around the museum."
The people happily joined them for the next few hours and they turned out to be pleasant company for the most part. The parents were eager to learn everything they could. Their daughter, Jenna, who had recently turned 16, paid more attention to the two boys her age than she did to the works of art. At one point, she crowded into Tommy's personal space more than was necessitated by the amount of traffic in the room. It was making him uncomfortable as well as distracting him from taking notes.
Tanner wasn't jealous, but he had empathy with his boyfriend and eventually decided to intervene in a subtle way. When they were toward the back of the crowd looking at one of Monet's large water lily paintings, Tommy reached over to take Tommy's hand in his. Then he leaned in and said, just loudly enough for the girl to overhear, "Love ya, Babe."
That was all it took for the Jenna to turn bright red and move about four feet away. Tommy squeezed Tanner's hand and gave him a quick peck on the cheek to make sure the message was clear.
In one of the larger galleries, they managed to find a couple of unoccupied benches for a breather about halfway through the show. The middle aged adults were the most relieved to find a place to crash for a few minutes. The younger ones went to find the restrooms and drinking fountains. Melody stood in the restroom line and Jenna joined her.
"I feel like such a fool!" she confided. "I thought those guys were brothers and not boyfriends."
"It's complicated, and a natural mistake." Melody said quietly. "They aren't actually related; Tanner's adopted. They have been in love since before they knew or admitted it. You had no way of knowing."
"I'd like to apologize, but I don't know how."
"They're cool; they won't try to embarrass you. Just tell them you think they're cute and you're sorry they're not available. That will get you off the hook and flatter them at the same time."
"It wouldn't be flattery. They're both hunks!"
"I agree, but neither is as big a hunk as my fiancé."
When their tour was over, the group was ready to return to its original size. While Jenna's parents were expressing their thanks to Joshua, she was standing apart with Tommy and Tanner. At the end of their short conversation, she gave them both a peck on the cheek and they parted smiling. Then her parents and she left to go back to Oak Park after receiving a business card from Josh.
Bells headed up to the restaurant with their original party to have an elegant lunch. The facility was packed, but there was a table for eight reserved for them with ice water garnished with lemon slices already at their places.
"Tinker, there are no prices on these menus," Josh remarked.
"That's right, dear. I don't want anyone to feel that they need to scrimp on our account. You need to order what looks good to you. Personally, I'm having the prime rib sandwich with a side salad and a tall iced tea, but I'm not sure that would be enough to sustain an active young man `til dinner time."
While waiting for their orders, they discussed several of the things they'd seen in the morning. Tommy and Tanner were very happy because it gave them a chance to flesh out their notes with more detail.
The sandwiches that were placed before them were not the tiny tea room types that they had feared. There was ample food to satisfy everyone.
When lunch was over and they'd had a few more minutes to visit, the young people thanked their hosts for a great day at the museum. Then they walked back to the underground station to board their train to the outer suburbs.
After dinner at the Torrance residence, the whole family sat down to look at the pictures Eric had taken the day before. It took some time, but finally all agreed on using one of the formal poses that had recorded everyone looking fine except Tori. Josh promised to use her likeness from the second favorite one.
"That's the advantage the artist has, he can move people and objects at will. Of course, Eric can do it almost as easily with Photoshop."
"I'll get right on that so we can have large prints made of it while you're waiting for my partner to do his magic with the pastels. Did you have others you want?"
There were several more that the family decided upon and eventually got their list completed.
When that was all taken care of, they broke up into smaller conversational groups, some drifting off to bed.
Tuck was one of the earliest to turn in. His long day "tuckered" him out, as Tark joked. It was not only the many hours on the slopes, but the ride to Galina and back that made him tired.
Tommy and Tanner again picked Josh's brain a bit, but this time it was about some of the art they'd seen at the exhibition. When that was done, they talked about other things they had in common.
By 10:30, all were nestled in their beds and heading for dreamland.
Josh and Eric said their goodbyes and thank-yous shortly after breakfast. They received enough hugs to feel like they were leaving family. It made them eager to continue the new relationship they'd formed.
"We'd love to get together with you guys again," Eric said in departing. "We come down every so often to visit Alma and we'll let you know next time so we can maybe catch lunch or something."
"How `bout meeting up near you guys in the summer and go canoeing and stuff," Tuck asked.
"That would be great too! Perhaps we could organize a Boundary Waters expedition like you were talking about," Eric suggested. "If we do, you need to start saving your money because it will cost around $1,000 each if we use an outfitter and that's really the best way to go. They provide everything including very tasty meals."
"I've got mowing money saved up," Tuck assured them. "I'm careful with it, but I'd splurge on that. It would be the trip of a lifetime!"
Before Josh and Eric left, they presented the family with an autographed copy of "Armadillo Rap" for Tori to have. Teri promised that they'd read it to her often. She was sure that Tuck would see to that.
All too soon, their guests were gone and the house felt a bit emptier.
"I guess it's time for the quieter holiday we thought we were having," Teri joked. "I'm not complaining about having unexpected company though. I really loved having them here. If the painting we're getting is even half as fine as the one Dad has from last year, I'll be thrilled."
"I'm sure it will be even better," Tanner said. "We have a new member in it, and it will be done from sketches as well as photos. That's the way Josh said he prefers to work.
Hey Tommy boy, let's go change the beds and see if we can complete our humanities project while the sheets are in the laundry. If we do it while it's fresh in our minds, it will be top notch and it won't be hanging over our heads in the midst of swimming finals."
"We'd better scramble then because we have a practice this afternoon, remember?" Tommy said.
"I was trying to forget!"
When the boys got back from practice, there was a letter waiting for them. Tanner opened it and raised his eyebrows as he read it.
"Come look at this," he said to Tommy. "I can't believe they're doing it, but I guess it's okay."
Tommy read the note and looked at the check made out to both of them in the amount of $300.
"The Cooks evidently only recently found out that Jordan slashed our tire, huh? I agree that it's okay for them to try to make amends for his actions, especially if it comes out of the proceeds from selling his car. It's kinda like he's being responsible for his misdeeds."
"I'm sure Lance doesn't want that car even if it is nicer than the one he's driving. There would be too many memories surrounding it. I hope it gets bought by someone from out of town. I certainly don't want to see it again," Tanner shuddered.
"Well, since we've already spent the money on the tires, I think we should put this back into our saving account so we can use it on something good, like maybe a canoe trip. This would help if we go to the Boundary Waters!"
"Okay. Let's make a snack. I'm starved and I know I can't hold out until dinner."
While the Torrance boys had been having their Christmas and entertaining guests, their friends had been busy with their own celebrations.
The men who had gathered at Chris's dad's house had a great time. Although it was an all-male affair, there was no lack of excellent food or gracious serving.
Peter and Lee had pitched in with making side dishes and it turned out that John was the one in the household who had always roasted the turkey. Therefore, nothing was lacking because of John's being single again.
Jared and Jake got along famously. They were less than a year apart, although in different grades. It wasn't a sexual attraction. Jake seemed to be as straight as the proverbial arrow, but not as narrow. He was comfortable with having a buddy who might be gay. After all, his older brother was, and that hadn't made any difference in their relationship once their mother was out of the picture.
Jared did miss Bobby, however, and invited him for a sleepover the day after Christmas before they all went skiing. Bobby and he wasted no time in pleasuring each other before they went to sleep that night. They also cuddled like two pups when they finally did head for dreamland.
Andy's and Devin's families had spent this holiday together as they had Thanksgiving. Devin's one set of grandparents were there too and seemed to be comfortable with seeing the boys loving interactions. It wasn't that the two made out in public or anything, but they did hug and hold hands without being self-conscious about it.
Devin had always been open with all of his relatives after coming out, with varying results. It had, for all practical purposes, lost him his aunt and uncle, but his cousins still maintained contact through texting and emails, being careful to erase the evidence. Oddly, his grandparents weren't upset, nor were the kids his age. It was the middle generation that had problems with his orientation.
As in other households, there was plenty to eat. Cathy made sure that no one went hungry and that anyone trying to maintain weight would have nutritious selections that wouldn't cause them to pack on extra pounds.
Lance and Michael didn't get as much time together as they would have liked. Lance's paternal grandparents who lived downstate wanted his family to visit for Christmas. He managed to get them to hold off driving down until Christmas Day so that he could attend Christmas Eve services with Michael. They spent that night together at Michael's, so it made him feel a little better about the arrangement. They were planning to come back the day after Christmas and have several days together.
Fate, however, dealt them a blow when Michael's grandmother in Alabama passed away on Christmas Day and the family flew down immediately. It wasn't a big shock, as the lady had been failing for years and was in a nursing home for Alzheimer's patients at the time.
Michael wasn't at all sure why they had to go so quickly. His grandmother hadn't even known who he was for the past several years, but he didn't complain. It was the "correct" thing to do, and he would humor his mother on this one. She'd been really good to him in cutting him a bit more slack since his injury – especially in his relationship with Lance.
He sighed in relief when he heard that Grandma had been cremated, according to her wishes, and he wouldn't be forced to see her dead body lying in a casket. It would help him remember the times years ago when she had been a lively, loving grandparent instead of a hollow shell.
There was a simple memorial service at the funeral home two days later. It was attended mostly by family and a few people who were her age and still mobile enough to get there.
Tessa's brother, GW (George Washington) and his family were there, of course. He carried on as if he'd lost his mother in the prime of her life. That irritated Michael because the man hadn't even made the "guilt" visits in recent years that Michael's family had.
To top it off, George's main topic of conversation at the luncheon that followed had been about how America was going to Hell in a handcar because of being soft on gay lifestyles and abortion. It got so irritating that JJ had to get up and leave the room to keep from punching his brother-in-law in the mouth.
Michael took a different approach. Instead of acting out in anger, he took the road of expressing sadness.
"Uncle George, I'm really sorry that you hate people like me. I would think with all the prejudice our people have had to fight that you'd be kinder toward other minorities."
"What are you talking about, boy?" GW asked.
"It hurts me that you hate me." Michael responded.
"I don't hate you; it's those queers I can't stand. Why would you think that I hate you?"
"Because I'm one of those gay people you can't stand. And, calling me queer' is like calling me nigger' and I'm offended in both cases!"
"Tessa, how can you sit there quietly while your firstborn is talking like that?"
"I'm staying quiet because he's handling you quite well in my opinion. I'm only sorry that you turned out to be a bigot. I really thought better of you. I hope Our Lord will see fit to forgive you," she smiled sweetly.
GW knew he'd been put in his place and didn't have a comeback for his sister. He gulped down the rest of his coffee and left saying that he needed a cigarette.
"Thanks, Momma," Michael grinned at his mother appreciatively. "I love you."
"I know you do, Son. I love you too, and Damon. I can't leave him out."
"You love me even though I'm a straight boy?" Damon asked in mock surprise.
"I do. Now go find your daddy lest he and GW run into each other and duke it out. If JJ starts yelling at my brother, tell him I need him immediately."
"Yes, ma'am," Damon chuckled.
George's wife excused herself to look for her husband, leaving her 16 year old twins, Darius and Donna for the moment.
"Are you really gay, Michael?" Darius asked in awe of his older cousin.
"I am. Does that bother you?"
"Nope, you're cool with me. I know kids at school who are out and they're okay."
"Me too," Donna chimed in. "Daddy can be so old fashioned. He's still living in the 19th century, I think."
"I'm glad his attitude hasn't rubbed off on you," Michael nodded. "So, can we still be friends on Facebook?"
"Sure," the twins answered as one.
"If you have a boyfriend, you'd better post his picture." Donna teased.
"I do have, and his picture is on there with me in our football uniforms before I got injured."
"Is it the cute boy named Lance?"
"It is. How did you know?"
"He's such as stud! I'm jealous," Donna exclaimed. "How come all the cute ones are either taken or gay?"
"Or both," Michael countered.
Their conversation was cut short when George came for them, saying that it was time to go. He was barely civil to his sister and nephew as he swept out of the room.
"I have a sneaking suspicion that we won't be seeing much of them in the coming years. It's too bad because the kids are really sweet," Tessa observed. "Ah well, that's his loss."
Lance was sitting on the Bryant's front step on the 29th when the airport limo brought the family home. Michael and he embraced and kissed like they'd been separated for months instead of days.
"Did you get a message from Tommy and Tanner," Lance asked as soon as they were in the house."
"They texted me with a message of sympathy," Michael said.
"Didn't they tell you about the New Year's Eve party?"
"No, I think they probably didn't want to talk about partying when I was at a funeral. You know how they held off bothering you after Jordan's death."
"Yeah, I do. Anyway, they're having a party at their house for several other friends and we're on the list. I think it's so cool! They could have treated me like dirt after all that's happened."
"They already told you you're not your brother's keeper."
"But he tried to kill them!"
"And you didn't. They know you've got a good heart, just like I know. And you're got a good hard too!" he whispered.
Lance's jeans began to bulge at the mention of it.
"Can you stay over tonight?" Michael asked.
"Mom thinks I should give you some space while you're still grieving."
"I loved my grandma very much, but she died inside about five years ago. We celebrated her life yesterday and I'm going to continue living mine. Please tell your mother that I need you."
"Okay..."
Author's notes: The following are the names that I got into my file. I know there are others and I'm sorry if I've left you off. It's not intentional - Paul R, Walter Sz, Jim C, Roger L, Rutabaga, Danny A, Ott H, Tom A, Walt S, Trish R, JJ, Wayne, Bill T, Jay M, Jim W, Oz, and Bill K.
Thanks to the several of you who inquired about my health. I'm fine, but rather tired and busy. That's why I haven't kept my regular posting schedule. If the muse cooperates, I may be able to post more frequently than every two weeks.
I recently finished reading the final posting of "Rock and a Hard Place," by Hans. If you haven't read this, you really should. It's awesome! He divided the LONG chapter into 4 sections for breaks, but you may not be able to stop until the end.
A reader who's listed here as Paul R collects quotes. In some he sent recently, this one stood out. It should be posted in every legislative chamber in the world! "Once you attempt legislation upon religious grounds, you open the way for every kind of intolerance and religious persecution. "~ William Butler Yeats
David