Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 03:22:09 EDT
From: RitchChristopher@cs.com
Subject: briarwood:the-clayton-clan-22

All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or
are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language,
please exit now.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


                                  "BRIARWOOD"

                          aka "Whence Cometh My Help"

                                 Revised Version


                                 A dramatic saga

                                      by

			         Ritch Christopher

                             Literary enhancement by

                                   Les Martin

                                    <><><><><>

                                     BOOK TWO

                                "The Clayton Clan"

                                Chapter Twenty-Two

<><><><><><><>


	Ryan and Kyle decided on Tremelo's Cafe to have lunch. Since it was
only two blocks away and since the weather was inviting, they walked in a
leisurely manner to the cafe. After being seated, Ryan ordered a turkey
club sandwich and Coke. Kyle, having no appetite, ordered a salad with
mayonnaise dressing and a bottle of mineral water with a lime slice. But
when their lunches were served, Kyle didn't actually eat, but rather played
with the Romaine lettuce with his fork.

	"Most prisoners on death row usually order a steak or lobster. Ha!
Look what I chose," Kyle said.

	"Hey! Now watch it! You promised there would be no conversation
concerning death and dying."

	"I didn't actually 'promise'"

	"Then, PLEASE, don't do it---for my sake?"

	"All right, I'm sorry. But I do want you to know I'm not afraid of
dying. I thought it through months ago. That's the main reason I don't
think homosexuality is a sin."

	"Why?"

	"Because I don't believe there's a heaven or hell."

	"Do you believe in God?"

	"I did when I was a child. Neither of my folks were very big on
going to church. But as I grew old enough to realize that my mother was
auctioning me off as a child slave to the highest bidder...,"

	"Your mother made you a child sex-slave?"

	"No, the sex came much later, but I was responsible for that
part. No, I was the pretty poster boy. She used my childlike good looks as
a weapon to use against agents in New York who put me on the covers of
video games, magazines, TV commercials. I still think they may have signed
me in self-defense. Have you ever been to New York?"

	"No, but I've always wanted to go."

	"There's this huge billboard on Broadway, just north of Times
Square and I DO mean HUGE. It's a block long and almost three stories
high. My picture was up there once. Just little me in a pair of scanty
Calvin bikinis. The bulge of my dick was around sixty or seventy feet
long."

	"All real?" Ryan joked.

	"Don't I wish! Yes, it was all real, just blown up with the rest of
the photo, but all in proportion. BUT back to what I was trying to say--I
never really believed in God until I found out I was HIV positive. Then I
began to pray day and night. I went to mass four or five mornings per week
and then again to HIGH mass on Sundays. I did that for about two months and
then I went back to have my 'count' checked again. I was just naive to
believe that God would hear my prayers and the new blood tests would show
I'd been cured by some miraculous intervention."

	"Were the tests better than before?"

	"Fuck. My meager HIV had turned into full blown AIDS. Thank you,
LORD!"

	"I'm sorry, Kyle."

	"The funny thing was...I no longer blamed Lonnie for making me
sick. Hell, Lonnie had only made me HIV positive, but GOD? God had made me
even sicker. So I blamed God instead until I came to a conclusion
that...there is no God...no heaven... no hell. When we die...we DIE...the
same as any living things...trees, fish, birds, dogs, cats, flowers,
dinosaurs. Can you see a dinosaur at heaven's gate trying to ask St. Peter
to let him in? Can you see St. Peter trying to refuse him?"

	"I'm glad my dad can't hear you!"

	"Uh oh! Is he one of those who tithes at the church and gives
another ten percent to Paul and Jan on 'Praise The Lord' network?"

	"TWENTY!"

	"No wonder you're not welcome at home," Kyle joked.

	"I only wish I had something that would make me feel guilty. I
wasn't kidding when I told the group that I didn't know if I'm gay or
not. Heck, I don't even know if I'm straight."

	"Are you serious? How old are you, Ryan?"

	"I'll be twenty-one next week."

	"If I don't get a chance to see you, Happy Birthday!".

	"I want you around, Kyle."

	"Do you have any birthday plans for a celebration on becoming a
legal adult?"

	"LEGAL? There's nothing illegal about me now."

	"I've never met a twenty-one year old virgin who wasn't at least
handicapped or some kind of freak that stayed hidden all his life."

	"Then let me introduce you to one--me."

	"Ryan--haven't you ONCE had some kind of sex? You said you were
kicked out at your friend's house. What about him? Didn't you two grow up
together and have a 'I'll show you mine, if you'll show me yours' session?
Mutual jerk-offs? Solos?"

	"I've really never had the chance."

	"I don't know why that's so difficult for me to believe. Have you
ever taken a good look at yourself?"

	"Sure, I look like 'Plain John', 'Plain Jane's' plain brother."

	"That's 'plain' fuckin' nonsense!"

	"God, if I had come back to Briarwood healthy and plague-free,
I'd've jumped your bones in a minute! I hope you realize that I find you
very attractive."

	"You must be sicker than you say you are. I didn't know that AIDS
affected one's eyesight."

	"Oh, it does. Some AIDS guys go blind. But I can see VERY clearly
and what I see, looking at you, is a hot number, hiding behind antiquated
morals, badly in need of a new style of clothes and definitely a new and
different haircut."

	"Then you're agreeing that I'm plain?"

	"Nope. You make yourself plain by thinking plain and dressing
plain. If I weren't going to the hospital tomorrow and if you could stay
with me a couple or three days, I'd have you looking like the sexiest
twenty-one year old stud in Briarwood."

	"You've been watching too many reality 'makeover' shows on TV."

	"And YOU'VE been running away from reality. Damn, if I weren't
sick, I'd want to be your first boyfriend."

	"I wish to God I could believe you...even more, I wish you weren't
sick, for YOUR sake."

	"So tell me more about your new digs!"

	"My what?"

	"Your new home!"

	"Oh! It's still like a dream to me. I can't wait to get off from
work today and rush back there to see if my new home has faded like,
'Brigadoon' and it won't come back for a hundred years."

	"Oh, you know that show?"

	"I've never seen it on stage, but I've watched the movie dozens of
times. It was 'G' rated and my parents approved of my seeing it."

	"Dear God, Ryan! You sound as if you've been a prisoner your entire
life! Tell me, do you drink? Have you ever smoked cigarettes?"

	"NO to both!"

	"Jesus! I'm almost afraid to ask, but you DO masturbate, don't
you?"

	"Sometimes, but never at home. If I feel like it, I go to the
bathroom at the music shop."

	"Thank God your parents don't own the music shop!"

	"Last night at the Clayton's house...before I was asked to move in,
Walter--Mr. Clayton--brought a movie home from Blockbuster. It was about a
gay kid who wrecks his car when his parents refuse to accept his
homosexuality. He had a boyfriend. The two of them had had sex and the kid
KNEW for himself that he was gay. I identified with him so much...only I've
never had sex...and I don't have a boyfriend. But the strangest thing
happened to during the film. I don't drink and I've never been aware of
hallucinating, but somehow, I got so caught up in the story, I reached over
to Jeff, Walter's youngest son, and took his hand. I don't know how long I
held it and I have no idea what made me do it."

	"Did Jeff pull his hand away?"

	"No. Jeff squeezed my hand. That's when I became aware of what I
had done...subconsciously, I guess."

	"Is Jeff gay? I mean you told me about Alex and his lover."

	"The impression I got of Jeff was from Walter. He said that Jeff
was horny all the time and would have sex with practically anyone...male or
female, as long as it was human and had an open orifice."

	"And how old is Jeff?"

	"Sixteen."

	"In your wildest imagination, would it occur to you to go to bed
with Jeff? I mean, I realize you're four, almost five years older than he,
but sixteen is legal in this state. If Jeff was willing, you couldn't be
arrested for statutory rape."

	"Yeah, but--well, Jeff is a kid!"

	"A KID with sexual experience! So where does that leave you?"

	"An almost-adult, 'without'! The same as it's been all my life."

	"Let's just pretend for a moment. Tell me, do you find Jeff
physically attractive? I mean is he good-looking to you? Or does he just
look like a kid to you?"

	"Jeff is extremely good looking. He has a nice build on
him. Beautiful dirty blonde hair...green eyes. He could pass for eighteen
or nineteen. He has an impish quality...more like a brazen daredevil, I
guess, than a kid."

	"OK, it appears you gave Jeff the 'once-over', but did you find him
sexy?"

	"Shoot, yeah! He's sexy!"

	"Then why don't you throw caution to the wind and GO FOR IT? Or are
you afraid Jeff's dad would kick you out of the house? That DOES seems to
be your trend."

	"Ha! Walter all but gave me permission to go to bed with Jeff! He
respects Jeff's wishes and tries to treat him like an adult, even though
Jeff acts like a kid some of the time."

	"Then what the fuck are you waiting for?"

	"You make it sound so easy..."

	"It is, if you have a willing partner."

	"But what about love? Shouldn't love come before sex?"

	"In prehistoric times, maybe. Today, most straight couples don't
fall in love until they've fucked at least a dozen times to see if they
like what they're gonna get after they're married."

	"I'm sure you know how my parents raised me?"

	"Sure, NO SEX until the marriage night!"

	"Exactly."

	"But as of now, gays can't marry! So how long are they supposed to
wait?---and wait for what? The fucking do-gooders, the fucking
right-wingers are nothing but fucking hypocrites! Do you honestly believe
that that purple-haired bitch on the fucking religion channel was a virgin
when she married her purple-haired husband. She was probably one of the
biggest whores in fourteen counties. Probably she's still fucking every
preacher who comes on her network, not to mention the camera operators, the
sound men, the tech crew..."

	Ryan laughed for the first time. "You know, Kyle, I've wondered
about that myself. She DOES look like a whore. Dad's twenty-percent which
he sends to her probably goes to buy her hair dye and make up. God, that's
funny!"

	"I'm sorry I got off the subject. But all I'm saying is...Did you
ever see the movie 'Auntie Mame' with Rosalind Russell---either in the
movies or on television?"

	"No, but we have the Broadway recording at the shop."

	"Well, Mame is a wild, wild woman, but she enjoys life even when it
deals her a handful of shit. But her most memorable line is, 'Life's a
banquet and most poor sons-of-bitches are starving to death! Live! Live!
Live!' and that's what I'm saying to you, Ryan, on your first and last
date, when it comes along. Go out and live! You're no longer living at
home. You don't have to answer to either of your parents. Put that
Paleolithic lifestyle behind you and join the twentieth-first century
universe. If you're gay, go out and fuck a few guys! Unzip your pants and
don't be afraid if someone offers you a blow job. Close your eyes, throw
your head back and enjoy it!"

	"I...I'll think about it. Uh oh, look at the time. My lunch hour
was over ten minutes ago. I should be getting back to the store."

	"Yes, and I have to go back to my tiny little rented palace and
pack up some stuff and get my gear ready for the hospital."

	"Would it be all right if I came to see you?"

	"There's nothing I'd like better."

	"I'll come. I'm sure Alex will, too...and maybe Ted, his lover."

	"Why don't you bring Jeff? I'd love to meet him. Only I'd like it
more if you brought Jeff and could introduce him to me as your boyfriend."

	"You really don't think that our age difference matters?"

	"Jeff's having sex at sixteen. You didn't have sex when you were
sixteen. So maybe it's about time you backtracked a bit to catch up."

	"Kyle, I'm so glad you came by and we had this talk. We hardly know
one another really, but..."

	"I know! It's as if you've known me all your life?"

	"Yes. Sorry, my phraseology is antiquated, like the rest of me."

	"Don't worry. From the way you described Walter, you're in good
hands with a good role model."

	"Would it be all right if I invited Walter to come visit you?"

	"Sweetheart, I have no one left in the world. Bring Macy's parade
if you like--I might not be around when Thanksgiving comes. Just make sure
that anyone you bring is not afraid of catching the DREADED DISEASE!"

	"Kyle, I WANT you to be around for Thanksgiving--and Christmas--and
New Year's. and.."

	"Then you'd better call Anne Bancroft and see if she can come to
Briarwood and play 'The Miracle Worker' one more time."

	Kyle and Ryan got up to pay the check. Ryan reached into his
pocket, but Kyle simply said "Let me?", dug for his wallet and handed the
cashier a credit card. then they went outside.

	Kyle gave Ryan a 'longing' look and said, "Well, Horace, you go
your way',", pointing to the left, "and I'll go mine," pointing left
again. Ryan looked puzzled. "Hello, Dolly!" Kyle said in explanation and
Ryan smiled his understanding.

	Ryan put out his hand for Kyle to shake. Kyle grabbed Ryan's hand
and firmly pulled Ryan's body close to his. Kyle gave Ryan a big hug. Ryan
thought he would die and melt right there in Kyle's arms.

	"Goodbye, little friend," Kyle said, speaking low into Ryan's ear.

	"Goodbye, Kyle. I'll see you soon."

	Kyle broke the embrace, turned and walked away in the opposite
direction, away from Ryan and the music store. Ryan just stood there
watching as Kyle left, tears in his eyes and dreams of 'what might have
been' in his heart.


<><><><><><><><><><>><>

	As the excitement of Bruce's announcement of Jane's pregnancy
subsided, they all came back to reality. It was nearly one o'clock in the
afternoon and Walter. Alex, and Ted all had places they should be. Jane's
doctor wanted her to be admitted at Kimbrough hospital for a night or two
in order to run tests to prepare her with a diet, medications, as well as a
general physical examination. No one, not even her doctor, had expected
such an occurrence, especially since Jane had tried so hard to become
pregnant again for many years, and all concerned wanted her pregnancy to be
totally normal and safe. Bruce called his office to cancel the rest of his
afternoon appointments. Knowing now that the news about Jane was good and
that she was not in life-threatening danger, Walter felt free to return to
his office to keep an appointment with a new client, Roger Cole, who was
interested in having Walter's firm manage Roger's financial estate.

	Walter realized that Ted had an excuse, i.e., Mr. Bartolli's
message, for his absence from school, but that Alex had missed several days
during the past week. Walter encouraged Alex to go back and finish his last
two periods to keep from getting too far behind in his studies. Ted decided
to go back to Briarwood High with Alex...also, Jeff would need a ride home
after school let out at 3:30 PM.

	Returning to school, Alex's next class was World History, a subject
he found boring, as most high-school kids did. Ted's fifth period class was
English literature. The two boys said a brief 'goodbye' and a quiet 'I love
you' as they split up to dash down the halls in opposite directions. There
was just a little more than one minute left before the bell rang and so
Alex and Ted were both on time for their designated classes.

	Unbeknownst to Ted and Alex, Cheryl Kahn, the girl who had brought
the message to Ted about his mom, had once again proven that her mouth was
bigger than her tits. Nearly everyone had seen Ted and Alex hurry out of
the cafeteria to make a fast getaway in the red Mustang. Cheryl eased
everyone's mind by saying that Ted's mother had taken ill and was at the
hospital. Then the same thought came to many minds, if Ted's mother was
ill, why did Alex go with him? They were best friends, but they weren't
blood relations.

	Brenda Suit, another BHS cheerleader who gossiped almost louder
than she led cheers, casually mentioned in a loud voice, "Did anyone notice
the way Ted and Alex were looking at each other when they arrived this
morning? They were almost swooning over one another!"

	"Look out!" Charlie Cross said, adding fuel the fiery gossip, "We
just might have the first same-sex couple at the Senior Prom this year!"

	Laura Caulder, who had carried a secret torch for Ted ever since
junior high, was the only one to come to the defense of Alex and Jeff,
primarily because she didn't want to believe that Ted liked boys. That, if
true, would mean not being invited to the prom by Ted. She spoke up, saying
"I think all of you are crazy. Ted and Alex have been like brothers all
their lives and I don't believe any or you if you're trying to insinuate
that they're gay for each other!"

	Charlie Gross shouted, "Laura, when's the last time Ted licked your
pussy?"

	"Shut up, Charlie Gross!" Laura shouted back.

	Charlie continued, "Come to think of it, when has Ted OR Alex
licked any of your pussies?"

	"Charlie, are you trying to say that Ted has licked your dick?"
Laura rebutted as the whole group assembled in the classroom laughed at
Charlie.

	The laughter went from a roar to a tittering giggle as Alex entered
the room. Since no one had spoken to him all day and probably most had seen
him leave in the car with Ted during lunch, Alex ignored everyone and went
straight to his seat.

	Charlie was bound and determined to strike one last blow. He looked
at Alex and sneered, "Say, Alex, how's your mother-in-law?" Most of the
boys laughed at Charlie's remark while the girls remained quiet, but
everyone in the class had their eyes focused on Alex to see his reaction.

	Alex was not affected by the ridicule. Instead, he said, politely,
"She's fine! Thank your Charlie for asking. I'll tell her that you asked
about her. I'm sure she will be 'touched'"

	"Then you're ADMITTING that she's your mother-in-law?---that you
and Ted are a gay couple now?"

	"I really can't speak about private family matters, but I'm sure if
Mrs. Baxter wants to announce that she's now my mother-in-law, more than
likely she'll send a note to the society section of the Briarwood
News. Then you can read all about it!"

	Alex had shocked everyone in the room just as if he had fired a
fifty volt stun gun at each of them. As luck would have it, Mrs. Grissom
came in the room just then to save the moment by beginning the history
lesson.

	"Good afternoon, young ladies and gentlemen, I want everyone to
turn to page 263 in the textbook. Today, we're going to examine the Crimean
War."

	Every student in the room groaned in unison, but Alex's mind
raced. He now was wondering if the silent treatment bestowed on him all day
was the result of the rumors concerning his overdose or if came from fresh
rumors about him and Ted. Alex would have to see if anyone in Ted's English
Lit class confronted him as Alex's class had him. After school, Alex met
Ted by their car to go home. During the Alex's encounter with Charlie, Alex
had seemed to remain calm as if nothing Charlie said had affected him one
way or the other, but inside, Alex had suppressed enough rage to put
Krakatoa to shame during its violent eruption. Ted didn't need to ask---he
could tell that something had made Alex more than just a little bit angry.

	"Hey, babe, did I do something wrong? Did I talk to someone to make
you jealous?"

	"NO!" Alex shouted. "It was that fucking lame-brain, Charlie Gross!
He embarrassed me in front of the entire history class!"

	"He knew about what you did and why you were absent last week?"

	"I wish it had been that, but he heard from Cheryl that your mom
was in the hospital and he saw me leave with you. When I came into class,
he loudly asked how was my mother-in-law was...meaning your mom!"

	"That son-of-a-bitch! I think I'll go find him and punch his lights
out!"

	"No, please let it go! I was almost afraid to tell you for fear you
would punch him or worse."

	"Well, he sure as hell's not gonna get away with it!"

	"Let's just wait on Jeff and go home."

	"God damn! Now I'm boiling inside. That fucking asshole!"

	"I don't know who, why, or how everyone found out about us, but
apparently that's the reason no one spoke to me today."

	"Yeah, I noticed that. I just hoped you wouldn't notice it!"

	"How could I keep from suspecting something was up by the way Tom
Humphreys and Carol Tate turned their heads when I spoke to them this
morning. You and I are the main topic of gossip all over the entire
school!"

	"What do you want to do about it, Alex?"

	"What can either of us do? If someone is bigoted toward you,
there's really nothing we can do to change his attitude."

	"Hey, here comes Jeff."

	Jeff came running out the door toward the parking lot.

	"Ready to go, squirt?" Alex asked Jeff.

	"Can't!"

	"What do you mean you can't?"

	"I got detention...for today and ten more days."

	"Damn, Jeff! What did you do now?"

	"Aw, you know Chuck Brindley. His dad is that holy-roller
preacher."

	"Yeah, what about him?"

	"That sack of shit walked up to me and asked how I liked having a
faggot for a brother. I know he's a senior and I'm just a sophomore and
he's bigger than me, so when I didn't answer him at first, he said, 'What's
the matter? Does being a faggot run in your family? Are you a faggot, too?'
Well, that was the last straw! I kicked him in the nuts so hard he started
crying. Old Miss Copenhaver didn't hear what he said to me. She only saw me
kick him. Then she came over and grabbed my right ear and didn't let go
until she took me to Mr. Bartolli's office. She told Bartolli that my
'improper display of pugilism shouldn't go unpunished', So I got ten
detentions!"

	"Didn't you tell Mr. B. what Chuck said to you?"

	"He wouldn't give me a chance. As I was trying to explain, he told
me to be quiet---he wouldn't listen to what I had to say. He said there was
no name Chuck could have called me that would warrant what I did to Chuck."

	"Ten detentions, huh?" Ted said. "It might be worth ten detentions
for me go kick Charlie Gross in the balls so that they'd pop out of his
ass."

	"No, Ted, if you do that, it'll only make matters worse for all
three of us. We can't fight everyone in the school who looks down on us!"

	"Yeah, Alex, but we're not guilty of anything other than being in
love with each other! Why should we have to be humiliated? In my opinion,
what Chuck said to Jeff was just as harmful as what Jeff did to him! I
think we ought to tell our dads and let them come talk to Bartolli."

	"That might be wise in the long run," Alex replied.

	"Listen, bro's...hey, that's the first time I ever said
that...BRO'S! I got two now! At any rate, I've got to head to study hall
and report for my first detention!"

	"You'll be free in an hour, Jeff?" Ted asked.

	"I oughta be, unless I do some more kick-ass!"

	"I'll come back in an hour and pick you up."

	"I can take the bus!"

	"No way, BRO!" Ted said, "You stood up for Alex and me. That's the
least I can do for you."

	"Oh, OK! See ya around four-thirty!"

	"I'll be here, Jeff, in the parking lot."

	Jeff scampered back toward the school.

	Alex said to Ted, "I wouldn't want Jeff to hear me, but I'm really
proud of what he did. To me, it just shows that, not only has he accepted
our relationship, he's ready to fight for us."

	"I guess that was one way for Jeff to show his love for us, even
though Chuck paid the consequences."

	"Come on, let's go home," Alex said. "We've got the whole house to
ourselves for almost an hour."

	"Whatchu got in mind, big boy?" Ted's grin was ear-to-ear!

	"I want to show you how I show MY love and it's not by kicking you
in the nuts."

	"You know, I read that some guys actually like that! They get
strapped down with leather, chains, and stuff and..."

	"Shut up and don't get any ideas!"

	They got into the Mustang and drove home for a 'quickie' which was
soon followed by another.


<><><><><><><><><><>


	Ruth Nesbitt, Walter's secretary, buzzed Walter on the office
intercom to let him know his client had arrived for his scheduled
appointment.

	"Mr. Clayton, there's a gentleman here to see you for your
two-thirty..."

	"Thanks, Ruth, please have him come in."

	"Mr. Clayton will see you now, sir." Her voice followed the visitor
into Walter's office, as did her eyes.

	"Thank you," and Roger Cole went into Walter's office.

	"Mr. Clayton?"

	"Mr. Cole! It's very nice to meet you. Won't you have a seat so
that we can talk."

	"I'd prefer if you called me, 'Roger'.

	"Only if you'll call me 'Walter' or 'Walt!"

	They shook hands and Roger settled into the leather chair facing
Walter and his mahogany desk.

	"Walter, before I begin, I want you to know a few things about
myself. I never seek legal or medical advice unless I make an investigation
of the potential provider first. Let me say that you qualify far above my
expectations."

	"Thank you, Roger, It's nice to hear that"

	"First of all, I need someone to handle my personal financial
situation, but before I give you the details, I would like for us each to
sign a contract stating that I have employed you to be my attorney and
everything we say from this point will be considered client-attorney
privileged."

	"Certainly. I have a standardized form that takes care of that
procedure quickly."

	Walter opened his bottom right desk drawer and selected the proper
legal form. He handed it to Roger to read. Roger scanned it for about ten
seconds and signed on the dotted line marked 'client' and handed it back
for Walter to add his signature.

	"Now--are we all legal and confidential?" Roger asked.

	"One hundred per cent."

	"Good, then I'll continue. I'll try to be brief, as we have a lot
to discuss."

	"We have the rest of the afternoon should you need it, Roger,"

	"Thank you...Now,, Walter, a few months ago, my grandfather died
and left me his entire estate as I was the only surviving grandson. Both of
my parents are deceased. Had my father been alive, most of the inheritance
would have gone to him while I would be getting a monthly stipend. To say I
was shocked when I learned the size of the wealth that my grandfather had
racked up during his lifetime would be an extreme understatement. I won't
say out loud just how much money he had because it embarrasses me every
time I try to remember the exact figure. I've always thought that anyone
who had a bank account with six zeros...maybe even seven, was enough for
anyone...but believe me, his fortune had additional zeros...several, in
fact!"

	"Good Lord, you MUST have been astonished!"

	"That's putting it mildly. My grandfather in his hey-day could have
bought the entire town of Briarwood. I still don't know what to do with it
all. When that large a sum is dropped into one's lap, practically
overnight, money no longer means anything to him. No doubt you'd be
surprised if I told you I was a priest just before receiving my
inheritance, living from one church offering to the next."

	"Probably, but nothing would surprise me as much as you were
apparently."

	"Walter, the stuff has all but destroyed me. I quit my church. I
lost God, A huge weight descended on my shoulders and I ran as fast as I
could to be with my best friend...the only person in my life I have truly
loved. His name is Cliff. He is the priest at St. Genesius', here in
Briarwood."

	"As your lawyer, would I be impertinent if I asked if you and Cliff
are..well, more than just friends?"

	"Walter, Cliff makes up the other half of me...my body and my
soul. I'm not ashamed to say I love him more than any woman, man, or
beast. In case you're wondering, we've been homosexual lovers off and on
our whole lives."

	"And I presume Cliff feels the same way about you?"

	"If that's possible...yes."

	"Do you need me to make out a will?"

	"Not exactly. I have nothing to make me believe I'm going to die
any time soon.  However, my purpose for hiring you is twofold. In the next
few days, I will leaving on a journey to parts which are unknown at
present. No one, including you and Cliff, will be able to reach me. I have
no idea how long I'll be gone, nor when I'll return. I'll contact you on
the 17th of every third month, beginning in September. If, for any reason,
you have not heard from me by that date, then I want you to assume
something unexpected has happened to me and I want my entire estate
transferred to Cliff's name.  I'm not anticipating anything going wrong
with my schedule, so I would like you to proceed with my primary
arrangement. Assuming that I am all right and will return to Briarwood to
resume my life with Cliff, I would like you to create a slush fund for
Cliff to use however he sees fit. I want you to oversee it and make sure
the balance never drops below a seven-figure level. If it should, the
account will automatically be replenished. Are you following me so far?"

	"Yes, I think so. But I presume I'll have to contact Cliff from
time to time. What should I tell him about your journey or disappearance?"

	"You won't have any more knowledge about my whereabouts than you do
now. You will simply tell him the truth...that you don't know anything."

	"That should be easy enough." Walter's actual feelings didn't match
his words.

	"I've never lied to Cliff and I know how hurt he'll be by my
absence. I don't want to cause him any undue stress. If you can have the
papers filled out--say by Friday?-- I'll pick them up and send back the
signed copies after I'm gone. I'll probably include a letter that I'll want
you to give to Cliff."

	"You won't let anyone know why you're leaving so mysteriously??"

	"I'm not fleeing from any kind of trouble, if that's what you're
hinting at. I have a personal quest that only I can pursue...and I must do
it alone...independently, even from the one I love most.  There is
something missing in my life and I don't even know where to look for
it...as matter of fact, I'm not even sure if it exists...but I have to find
that out for myself. If I DO find it, my life will be complete. If I'm
disappointed and I'm not able to find it, then I'll see if what I have now
is enough for me for the rest of my life."

	"You make it sound so intriguing, Roger. Clandestine?"

	"Sort of, but I know that, if I don't make an attempt to find it
and to fill this void in my life, I'm not sure I'll ever be content."

	"I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you can return
soon."

	"In the meantime, I hope you get to know Cliff and the four guys
who live with us. They're wonderful.  They're my life and joy.  Cliff will
see to it that their needs are met, once he's made aware of the slush
fund."

	"This procedure is a bit unusual, but I'll do the best I can to see
that your wishes and your desire for confidentially are met."

	"I have full confidence in you. The reports I have say that you are
one of the best. I have an envelope to give you containing my bank account
numbers, the name and number of the lawyer who formulated my grandfather's
testamentary, plus a thumbnail bio of Cliff so that you will know how and
when to contact him. As I said, I would like to pick up your drafts on
Friday, if that's possible."

	"I can rearrange my schedule so that this gets my priority
attention. Friday should be fine."

	"Then after Friday, the next time you hear from me will be after
I've departed and you receive the documents. Do you have any questions,
Walter?"

	"A bundle, but if you would consent, I would like to talk to you
some place outside this office at a more informal setting. Perhaps coffee
or a cocktail? You choose the place."

	"I'd like that. We can take my car."


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(To be continued in "Briarwood"---BOOK TWO-chapter-twenty-three)


Copyright Ritchris, 2005.