Author's note: I got the following in my e-mail this morning and it has a very important message so get out that Kleenex box and read on.
A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.
"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."
"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."
The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.
"I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"
"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle, "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared; this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....
"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.
The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."
With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.
Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."
The world is full of people who need someone who understands.
I love reader feedback so if you wish to e-mail me, my address is :
jim72401@swbell.net.
Dedication: To the loving memory of Marcus Aaron, sweet little sixteen. I still miss you sweetie even after 4 hard years. There's a hole in my heart that will never be replaced but the fond memories of our time in the sun and the love we showered each other with warm me continually. I love you, MAC. Peace and love to your Mom and Aunt Wilma.
This story is protected by copyright. You may copy this file for your own personal enjoyment but any reproduction for gain or profit will be swiftly dealt with in a court of law.
Why Me Thumbnail
"It's all kinda hazy. I understand I got a hold of some bad dope." Eric answered.
Doctor Abrams began "Well Eric, the `dope' that you ingested was laced with arsenic. Arsenic is basically a metal and once it gets into your body it does strange things. It's too early to know exactly what damage has been done or to what extent. We're going to have to run a lot of test in order to try and prevent any permanent damage to your system. In many cases the metal can get in the nervous system and, in layman's terms, short out certain body functions. Sometimes these functions are permanently affected and sometimes it's only temporary. Right now the only damage that we can detect is in your eyes. Don't get alarmed, Eric. This may be only a short term problem. I need to look in your eyes."
The Doctor took his opthalmoscope and began the check on Eric's eyes. "Let me know what you see." the Doctor said.
Chapter 11
"Doc, all I ...all I..... all I can see are a few shafts of light coming from a circle, kinda like a halo. What's wrong? What the fuck has happened?" Eric stammered.
"I don't want to alarm you . It's really too soon to tell for sure. My guess, and I'm no Opthamalogist, is that there is some nerve damage to the cornea. I'm going to have a specialist come by and check you out. Now, don't freak out on me yet, Eric. Like I said, this is probably just temporary and as your system cleans out the poison you will regain at least some of your eyesight. Now let me check the rest of your vital signs." Doctor Abrams said in his reassuring bedside manner.
"Jon, are you there?" Eric asked.
"Sure am Buddy. Whatcha need?" Jon replied.
"Just come here and hold my hand." Eric asked holding out his hand and almost knocking over the IV stand.
Jon chuckled as he moved the pole back a little and moved in to hold Eric's hand. "Don't get in too big a hurry there, Bud. I'm not going anywhere and I'll be here for you till everything heals." Jon replied.
Eric's eyes started to tear up and, while muffled, his audible sobbing could be heard above the monitoring equipment.
"Well, son, your vitals are very strong right now and that is a good sign. In the morning I have set up several test from blood chemistry to a liver and kidney function test and if they all look okay you can go home and just come back on an outpatient basis. Also, I have arranged for a specialist to come by and check your eyes." Doctor Abrams said.
As the Doctor was finishing up Eric's family walked back into the room. The Doctor gave them an assessment of Eric's condition and left. The family settled into the room. Eric's father stood at the foot of the bed looking angrily at his son. Eric's mother sat and his brother stood beside his mother.
"Son, do you realize what a mess you have made of our lives?" his father asked.
Tears started flowing from Eric's eyes and he sobbed "I'm sorry Daddy, I really am. It's my own fault and I take full responsibility for it. And I can promise you one thing, there will never be any kind of drug in my body again.".
"I've heard that before." His other smugly said under her breath.
"Okay Mom. I may have fibbed about it in the past, but I swear on all that's Holy, that it's the truth this time." Eric blurted out.
"You guys excuse me, I'm gonna grab a bite to eat." Jon said and he left the room so that the family could talk.
Jon had been through this all before with his parents when he had been in the hospital with an overdose and knew what Eric was going through. But he knew if he stayed that he was going to get angry and maybe say something that he or Eric would regret. So he went to the cafeteria and grabbed a cold sandwich and a pop and walked back up to the waiting room next to Eric's room. He was finishing up his snack when Tony and Kurt dropped by.
"How's it going?" Tony asked.
"Well, physically he seems to have suffered no damage but he is blind and they can't tell if that is temporary or permanent." Jon replied.
"Tony, have you forgotten your manners." Kurt asked and Tony blushed and introduced Jon to Kurt.
"Is there anything we can do for you?" Tony asked.
"Right now it's just a waiting game. The Doc said that they were going to run some test in the morning and if they all turned out Okay that he could go home and just come back on an out patient basis." Jon said
"Hey, I just thought of something. Eric's car is still over at Richard's house. Let me ask him if he wants me to take it over to his house for him. Could you guys run me over to Richard's and then pick me up at Eric's house and bring me back over here?" Jon asked.
"Do we need to take you home or back here?" Tony asked.
"I'm not leaving him alone but if you don't mind could you run me by my house and I can tell my folks and pick up a change of clothes and a few toiletries?" Jon asked.
"No problem, man. Happy to oblige. We don't have any plans until later." Tony replied.
Jon went in Eric's room and explained what was happening, got the keys to Eric's car and returned to the waiting room and he and Tony and Kurt left. As they exited the hospital, Jon looked at the ground and said "He told me "A lot of good a car is gonna do me now that I can't see." and I almost lost it guys.".
"Well, keep your hopes up. They did say it might be temporary and keep it `up tempo' when you're around him." Kurt said.
"I know. It just hurts to think that he may never be able to see again and it was something I could have stopped if I had been a strong person." Jon said.
The ride over to Richard's was shrouded in silence. Tony and Kurt sat in the front seat holding hands and glancing back and forth, smiling at each other. They were two of the lucky ones and they knew it. They owed a lot to Richard for his doggedness in reuniting Tony and his Dad but more so Tony with Kurt. When they pulled up at Richard's, Tony and Kurt stayed in the car while Jon ran in to give them an update on Eric's condition. Kurt noticed a tear running down Tony's cheek.
"What's wrong?" Kurt asked.
Oh, man. There but for the grace of God go I. When I was roaming the streets of Chicago homeless, it wasn't unusual to trip over a cold body in the alley. Most of the time it was from an overdose of either alcohol or drugs. I'm so thankful that a guardian angel rescued me. I can understand how people turn to drugs when all hope is lost. It is an escape from the harsh reality of a world that has turned it's back on them." Tony said.
"And I remember that guardian angel every night in my prayers, Tony. I am more grateful than you that he saved you from yourself." Kurt replied.
"From myself?" Tony asked.
"Yes, from yourself. Your self esteem was zero. You thought you had no value as a human being. If you could have seen how your Mom and Dad and I suffered in your absence, not knowing if you were one of those cold bodies or a warm one in a coma not knowing you were in this world. All because you took what you thought was the easy way out." Kurt replied.
"I know that what you are saying is true. But lessons were learned, Kurt. Hard lessons. And like steel that is tempered in the forge, I think that I am a better person for it. I will regret to my grave not being here for my Mom and I feel a great deal of guilt and remorse. Somehow, I wonder if I had not run off if she would still be alive." Tony said.
"Since you are not God, you can't beat yourself up over that one. True, it is regrettable. You and I and your Dad all know that your Mother loved you dearly and know that she would not want you to feel guilty on that count. But she will if you don't pick up the pieces and charge ahead." Kurt said.
Meanwhile inside the house Richard and Chad are getting the update on Eric's condition.
"So now you know as much as I do Guys." Jon said.
"Okay, so you're going to take the car back over to Eric's and then go back to the hospital?" Richard asked.
"Yeah. But I will need to stop at my house and get some stuff and let my folks know what I am doing." Jon replied.
"One thing, Jon. You don't need to take this all on yourself. That's what friends like me and Chad are for. We love you and Eric both and you have to get some rest yourself sometime. How long have you been at the hospital now? Five hours or so?" Richard asked.
"Yeah, I guess that's pretty close." Jon replied.
"Well, it's almost 9 now so if you want to you go on to the hospital and Chad or I will be up there at midnight and spell you for a while so you can get some rest." Richard said.
"Guys, that's not really necessary. There's a recliner in the room. I've spent many a night sleeping in the recliner at my house. If I wasn't there I couldn't sleep anyway - wondering how he was doing. This way I can do both - but I do appreciate the offer." Jon replied and hugged Richard and Chad. He then started out the door and Richard said "Well, if there's anything, and I mean anything that we can do, you better call. No, call us anyway and keep us up to date.".
Jon ran back outside and jumped in Eric's car, started it and put it in reverse. Tony and Kurt were behind him but for some reason they weren't backing out. Jon put the car back in Park and got out and walked back to Tony's car and saw the two of them in an embrace. He tapped on the window and a blushing Tony rolled down the window.
"Get a room, guys." Jon teased. " I live over on Windsor Circle. Know where that is?" Jon asked.
"I do. But we'll follow you anyway." Kurt responded.
The followed Jon and pulled in the drive. As Jon was getting in the backseat of the car, Eric's parents pulled up in front of the house.
"I dropped the keys in the mailbox guys." Jon said.
"Okay. Thanks Jon." Eric's dad called to him.
Tony, Kurt and Jon drove off. Eric's parents and brother walked in the house. Once inside Eric's dad said "Wasn't that that Jenkins Queer driving that car?".
"You better be grateful that that Jenkins Queer was there otherwise Eric probably would be dead." Eric's brother retorted and stormed off to his room.
Once up in his room Jason, Eric's brother, laid his head on his pillow and the emotions that had welled up inside him broke loose. He and Eric had grown apart over the past couple of years and the shock of almost losing him today was too much for this 14 year old to fathom. In the privacy of his bedroom he bawled like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum. In the Den his Dad just looked confused and said "Wonder where that bee in his bonnet came from?" and sat on the sofa.
Tony pulled in the parking lot of the hospital and Jon grabbed his overnight bag and thanked them for all their help. Tony pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and wrote his phone number and Kurt's cell phone number on it and told him if ever he should need them for anything to not hesitate and call. Jon thanked them and hurriedly went up to Eric's room. By this time visiting hours were over and he was confronted by the nurse at the desk.
"And just where do you think you are going young man?" the Desk Nurse asked him.
"Room 412 - Eric Dever's room." Jon replied.
"Visiting hours are over. You'll have to come back in the morning." the Nurse said.
Jon didn't bother saying anything. He just turned and went back to the elevator and went down to the main floor. He found the stairwell and went back up and looked out the small window in the door once he got to the 4th floor. "Good. No one's in the hall." he thought to himself and he quietly opened the door and crept down the hall to Eric's room. Once inside he went to Eric's side and saw that he was sound asleep. Jon pulled the recliner over next to the bed and pushed it back and before closing his eyes found Eric's hand and held it in one hand and stroked it with the other hand. He fell asleep with his loves hand on his shoulder.
"Hey. I thought I told you visiting hours were over!" Jon heard the Desk Nurse yell at him as she shook him out of a sound sleep.
"Look, I left his side once today and it almost cost him his life. I don't plan on leaving him on his own until he's well enough." Jon shot back at the nurse.
"What's going on here?" Eric asked.
"Your visitor is giving me a hard time about leaving, Mr. Devers. It's way past visiting hours." the Nurse responded.
The door opened and the Charge Nurse walked in. "What's the problem here Ms. Gandy?" the Charge Nurse asked. Ms. Gandy explained that Jon was giving her a hard time about leaving and that Eric needed his rest.
"Well, if my memory serves me correctly, Nurse Gandy, I was peacefully asleep when you charged in here, woke Jon up, and then woke me up. Maybe you are the problem here and you should leave and let US get some rest." Eric spat back at the Nurse.
"Outside!" the Charge Nurse said and motioned for Nurse Gandy to leave with her bringing up the rear. Jon and Eric sat motionless waiting to see what was going to happen.
They heard loud whispers and then Nurse Gandy said "Yes Maam. If that's your decision."
The door opened a crack and the Charge Nurse stuck her head through the door, smiled and turned the overhead light out.
"What's going on?" Eric asked in response to the giggle that Jon let out.
"Oh, sorry. You couldn't tell, could you? The head nurse just stuck her head in and turned out the lights.
"So now we're alone?" Eric asked.
"Yep, Lover Boy. Jess you and l'il ole me." Jon replied.
"Well, L'il ole me, bend over here and give your Lover Boy a goodnight kiss." Eric said.
Jon bent over Eric and their lips met. It wasn't an erotic tongue duel, just two star crossed lovers.
Jon pulled the covers back over Eric and pulled his hand back through the rail and placed it on his shoulder, rubbing it in circular motions. In minutes both boys were out like the light the nurse had turned off.
Morning always comes too early in the hospital. But today the call of nature woke Eric up before the clattering of breakfast trays on the rickety cart had a chance to.
"Hey. Anyone there?" Eric said.
"Huh? Wha? Oh, what's up?" Jon said rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"I gotta pee like a racehorse Jon." Eric said.
"Can you get up or do you have to do it in a jug?" Jon asked.
"They have been making me go in a jug but I want to go to the john." Eric said.
"Okay, let's get this rail down. Damn, hope this cord on the IV stuff will reach that far." Jon said and he slid the rail down and helped Eric get on the floor. At first Eric was wobbly but once he got his legs stabilized all he needed was guidance. They moved toward the bathroom and drug the IV stand behind them. Once they got to the door they ran out of cord on the IV pump.
"Almost there. Can't get the IV stand any further, it's outa cord. Okay, just a little bit more. Dammit, now you're about to run out of tubing from the IV pump to your arm." Jon said.
"Dammit, Jon. Hurry up. I'm about to piss in my pants, or gown or whatever they call this thing. Hell, pull the plug on the IV pump and move it in with us." Eric cried.
Jon went out and unplugged the pump and immediately an alarm went off. Jon hurriedly pushed the IV stand into the bathroom and they shut the door to quieten the alarm. Jon moved Eric over to the commode and then Eric sat down.
Suddenly there was a rapping on the door.
"Everything okay in there?" the voice said.
"Yeah. Eric had to pee." Jon replied.
All the time this is happening you can hear the loud spray of Eric relieving himself against the porcelain bowl.
"Uh, he's not using the commode, is he?" the voice asked.
"Uh, yeah, I am." Eric replied.
"Dammit. We have to measure all your discharges." the voice said.
"Too late now." Jon replied and he giggled as he said it.
"Well, don't flush." the voice commanded.
When Eric had finished, he got up off the commode, arranged his gown for modesty and Jon noticed a pink tinge to the waste in the bowl. They opened the door and strode out past the Desk Nurse from the night before.
The nurse plugged the pump back in and the alarm went silent.
"Uh, come in here just a second." Jon asked the nurse.
Hey went in the bathroom and closed the door.
Jon whispered "Look at the color of that urine.".
"Oh, that's normal for patients who had a catheter inserted. It will clear up in less than 48 hours." the Nurse said.
Jon didn't understand what she was talking about but decided to not pursue it any further and they returned to the room.
The nurse asked Eric "Well, since you didn't use any container to keep track of the quantity, how much would you guess you eliminated?" the nurse asked.
"I have no idea BUT I did have to piss like a racehorse so how much does a racehorse `eliminate' when they pee?" Eric quipped.
The nurse just chuckled and wrote an arbitrary amount on his chart. "Next time, I don't mind if you use the bathroom but please take that stainless steel "pisser" as it's commonly called and pee in there so we can keep track of it." the nurse said.
"Okey Dokey." Eric replied.
The nurse helped get Eric settled back in bed and left the room.
"Hey Jon. We alone, man?" Eric asked.
"Yep. Why?" Jon asked.
"Come here and let me show you why." Eric said. Jon knew what this was leading to and his face lit up like a Christmas tree and walked over and took Eric's head in his hands and guided their lips together. This time is was more intense than their goodnight kiss from last night. Jon noticed the sheet covering Eric's lap was beginning to rise and he nipped Eric's tongue with his teeth and withdrew.
"What was that all about?" Eric asked.
"Well, your little racehorse dick was starting to show through the sheets and we have no privacy in here. Besides, they are putting out breakfast trays and someone may walk in at any moment." Jon replied.
"What time is it?" Eric asked.
"Quarter after 6." Jon answered.
"AM or PM?" Eric asked.
"That's AM as in Ass Munch." Jon joked back to Eric.
Back in the Dean household, a sleepy Richard Dean blinked awake as he felt an intrusion creeping up between the cheeks of his butt. "Chad?" he whispered. "Chad, what are you doing?" he whispered again. He got no answer and he gently rolled over and found Chad soundly sleeping behind him. He lifted the covers up to expose his boyfriends engorged cock pointing to the exact spot where his butt had previously been. Richard was turned on by the idea of his boyfriend making love to him but knew that this would take them to another level faster than either of them needed to get there so he just laid there and stared at the cherub beside him. He gently pushed Chad on his back and then took his fingertips and lightly brushed the hairs on Chad's balls. He rolled them around in his hand being careful to not squeeze them and awaken Chad and then he brushed them with his fingertips again. Without warning Chad shot his load. It surprised Richard and he broke out laughing. Chad sat bolt upright.
"What's so damn...." Chad said realizing mid sentence that semen was running down his chest.
"Richard, what did you do to me?" Chad asked.
Richard could hardly contain himself. Once his composure was back he explained how he had witnessed a strange `nocturnal emission'.
"You jerked me off, now admit it." Chad said.
"No, honest. You just blew all on your own. I never touched your dick, man." Richard said and he started chuckling to himself. "But I did kinda tickle your balls a little to help get it started."
Chad pulled Richard into him and the gooey sperm was smeared between them.
"How about a good morning kiss Lover Boy?" Chad asked.
"Eeeeh yew. Not with your morning brown mouth." Richard joked.
That's all for now folks. Hope you enjoyed it. If there are any Medical Professionals reading this story, please remember that this is a FICTIONAL story and any semblance to ailments, diagnosis, etc are totally fictional.
Comments are welcome, good or bad. Reply to: jim72401@swbell.net