Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 15:56:56 -0800 (PST)
From: ecd1@snet.net
Subject: Bobby P. & Me, Chapter 1

The roads leading to Bobby's grandmother's house were as congested as a
one=lunged chain-smoker with pneumonia. The fact that it was Friday night
and we'd just lost an hour to daylight savings time this past weekend made
things that much worse. It was now 6:15 pm, pitch dark, unseasonably warm,
with dead leaves blowing in every conceivable direction.

My heart sank over having to deal with Bobby on such a sore subject, as I
really liked the kid and wished things could have been different between
us. I would have left well-enough alone had I not had to work with the boy
on weekends, Bobby having taken a part-time job in the Food Service
Department at the hospital I cook for.

Simply put, the boy had accused me of stealing his girlfriend, which would
be a fairly accurate assessment had the girl in question not regarded Bobby
as being nothing more than a close friend. Once Karen and I agreed to be an
item, she'd assured me that she and Bobby had no romantic side to their
relatively lengthy relationship. I took her for her word and proceeded in
my advancements, only to have Bobby calling me a rat and a thief behind my
back. It was nearly two weeks before I could convince the boy to at least
hear me out.

So here I was making the journey to pick-up Bobby to talk about the things
that caused our estrangement. Having no prior experience with love
triangles, I wasn't sure how things would go, or what I would say for that
matter. I only knew that I cared for the boy and didn't want him hating
me. My intentions were well-conceived and never could I have imagined
things would turn-out the way they did. Herein tells the story of a man and
a teenage boy coming to grips with a reality neither knew they shared.

The Nissan's headlights passed across the house before landing along the
driveway's shiny black surface. The boy stood at the driveway's middle; the
headlights having him appear as the featured performer in a one-man show.
He gave a begrudging wave of his hand as I stopped the car just short of
his medium frame. Moving to the passenger side of the car, Bobby opened the
door and climbed down onto the seat, quickly vocalizing a desire for us to
get the hell away from his house.

"There a problem?" I asked with concern.

"Grandma's giving me a lot of shit about going out with you," he answered
candidly. "She says I shouldn't be giving you the time of day; quote -
unquote."

"Well I'm glad you have because this thing between us has gone far enough.
I'm having trouble looking at myself in the mirror knowing you hate my
guts," I acknowledged candidly. I pulled out onto the street and continued
in my attempts to break the proverbial ice.

"You're really breaking my heart, Rick," said the boy venomously.

"Not for nothin', Bobby, but the one you should be mad at is Karen, not
me. Apparently she should have been more upfront with you on what her
feelings were for you."

Bobby turned his head to eye me in silhouette and said, "She didn't have a
problem with her feelings for me when I was fucking her in a rented hot tub
less than three weeks ago."

This unforeseen development hit me like a forearm to the chin. I tried to
act nonchalant about the revelation, yet the wind had suddenly been taken
from my proverbial sails.

"For what it's worth, your new girlfriend has eaten my dick more times than
I can count, including the night at the hot tub place," Bobby added
uncouthly, yet with a bravado that left me wanting to punch his cute little
nose in.

At hearing that, I pulled the car to the road's shoulder, turning my hips
toward the passenger side to face the boy eye-to-eye. Bobby looked prepared
to deflect a swinging fist, yet I remained cool and spoke slowly and with
great patience.

"Bobby, I didn't ask you to come out tonight to trade sex stories involving
Karen. I'm not a big fan of `kiss and tell,' so I'm going to ask that you
respect her and refrain from any further graphic accounts involving the
private times you two shared."

"So why did you ask me to come out tonight, Rick?" asked Bobby in a
sarcastic tone. "A pat on the head and slap on my ass isn't gonna change
how I feel about you - or her for that matter."

I took the Nissan back to the road and set a course for an area of back
roads where I could drive without being subjected to the concentration
necessary to drive safely within the bustling city. I told Bobby where we
were headed and he shrugged his shoulders in a display of indifference.

"I bought some beer if you want one," I offered amiably. "And if you don't
mind reaching behind my seat, I'll have one myself."

Bobby twisted his young, lithesome upper-body to pull two beers from the
back floor, surprising me a bit by opening mine before handing it to me. I
nodded in thanks while taking several sideways glances to size-up my
boyishly handsome arch enemy.

There was no denying Bobby was an exceptionally good-looking
sixteen-year-old boy. His facial features were in perfect proportion to his
classically oval-shaped face. Hazel eyes with long, almost feminine lashes
demanded and received the attention they rightfully deserved. A thin upper
lip over a somewhat pouty lower one gave the impression of a passsive
aloofness. His nose and chin were both quite masculine and complimented his
more prominent features quite splendidly. As if all that weren't enough,
Bobby maintained a deep golden hue all year round, thanks in part to the
wonders of today's tanning bed technology.

"You know, Bobby, I feel rather foolish saying this, but I'm a bit jealous
of your good-looks and I'd be the first to question why Karen decided to
take me over you, at least she has for the time being, anyway."

Bobby pulled from his beer before sarcastically replying, "Gee, ya think it
might be because you're eleven years older than me, have a license and a
car, have all kinds of cash, and last but not least, have a personality
that makes everybody gravitate to you the minute you step into a room?"

"I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit.  I'm sure you have
much more substance than you're pretty face implies," I countered
caustically.  We drove along slowly through a series of back roads, rather
enjoying their serenity after the hustle and bustle I'd endured in picking
Bobby up. Downing the last of my beer once it was clear Bobby had finished
his, I handed the boy my empty and motioned for him to grab us each
another.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked in confusion. "I ain't no pretty-boy,
man! Just because I'm better-looking than you, it doesn't mean I'm a
pretty-boy."

"I don't mean only your looks, Bobby. If what you're telling me about the
two of you is true, and I'm taking your word that it is, then Karen
obviously liked other things about you as well. You've said she likes to
suck your dick," I added while wincing over my own words, "but you haven't
told me why that is."

"She always told me I had the best body she'd ever seen," Bobby recounted
painfully, "but I guess that was just a lie seeing as she's messing with
you, too."

I placed my free hand on Bobby's shoulder and squeezed it lightly, my
fingertips quickly finding the smooth, bare flesh at his open collar. I
felt his neck muscles relax, wondering if Bobby needed nothing more than a
good cry and a caring hug to relieve the hurt he so desperately tried to
conceal.  We continued on our aimless journey, finishing off our second
beers and opening our third and last. I found an unpaved clearing at the
side of a narrow old road, presumably used by hikers or mountain bikers to
park their vehicles during the daylight hours. Thankfully, it was now
completely deserted. Pulling in, I shut off the headlights and sat with my
rival in the heavily wooded area for a full minute before either of us
spoke.

"I don't think it's a secret that every girl in the hospital thinks you're
cute," I remarked affably. "Some actually go a bit further in voicing their
appreciation for you," I added with a chuckle.

Bobby placed his right foot up on the dash and jockeyed his body to face
mine. A slight grin appeared along his handsome features, one that would
certainly pull the heartstrings of all aforementioned females.

"What kind of things do they say?" he asked as only a curious, na‹ve
teenager would.

We both took another long pull off our beers, giving me time to decide just
how much I should boost his ego with what amounted to nothing more than
workplace gossip. As honesty is certainly always being the best policy, I
decided to share the tidbits I'd heard.

"Let's see. they say you're a good dresser - I've heard that over and over
and I must say I fully agree. Not to sound like I'm jumping on your fan
club's bandwagon, but I think tonight is evidence of how well you dress."

Honestly, and though I hated to admit it, Bobby always looked great.
Clothes just seemed to fit him better than they did others. His jeans
appeared tailored to his hips and thighs. His shirts accentuated a chest
any male teenager would be proud to possess, with each shirt bottom
seemingly tapering down to hug his flat stomach. What really surprised me
is the fact that Bobby seemed unaware or unsure of his good-looks and sexy
body.

"I've also heard comments on your great skin, the color of your eyes, how
tanned you are, the size of your hands, the shape of your ass, the bulge at
your crotch, you name it - I've heard it. That's why I'm surprised Karen
hasn't been able to overlook the fact that you're a little young for
her. Shit, if I was her, I'd take you over me myself," I stated with a
solid dose of self-depreciation. "And I haven't even seen you with your
shirt off, which, from what I hear, you could probably charge admission
for," I added judiciously.

Bobby placed his other foot up on the dashboard, the boy now facing out at
the darkness through the Nissan's windshield. He drained the last of his
remaining beer while I enjoyed a quick whiff of the somewhat sweet, yet
pleasant cologne his body seemed to emit at will.

"Are you saying you want to see me with my shirt off?" asked Bobby
confusedly, his free hand toying nervously with the buttons on his fitted
polo.

"Actually, I want to take a piss," I answered, ducking the question while
opening the car door to have the dome light blind us properly.

"I have to go, too," Bobby announced eagerly, opening his door to climb out
from the car's compact enclosure.

I walked around to Bobby's side of the car, away from the threat of any
approaching vehicles. Bobby hadn't bothered to venture to the tree line, so
I figured why bother as well. The lot seemed as deserted as being on the
moon just now, so I wasn't quite sure why I harbored such concern for our
privacy.  Bobby courteously waited for me choose my spot before opening his
zipper and commencing in urination. I leaned my ass against the car's front
fender as I pissed, while Bobby had taken no more than three steps away
from the open passenger-side door. Although the boy was back-lit by the
car's interior dome light, I was nevertheless afforded a poorly-lighted
view of Bobby's young penis, cautiously using a series of casual glances to
fulfill my natural curiosity as to its size and girth. My initial glance,
however, was more than enough to have me understand why Karen so enjoyed
blowing this particular sixteen-year-old.

"Shit Bobby, I guess you really had to go. You're stream would make a
rainbow if the sun was out," I said between spurts of nervous laughter.

"You're not doing too badly yourself," Bobby answered with a giggle, a sure
sign he was gradually warming up to me, if only for the moment. "Nothin'
like lettin' it loose outdoors, man," he added with a touch of male
bravado.

I finished pissing and zippered my fly, my once subtle glances in Bobby's
direction quickly becoming stares of shocked disbelief. Bobby was still
going strong as I fought the losing battle of remaining where I was and
instead took short strides to draw in closer to the subject holding my
interest. Bobby looked up at the sound of my boots biting the course dirt
of the lot. He smiled sheepishly, presumably over the amount of urine he
continued to expel.

"You drank three beers and you're pissing-out six," I mused while expending
great effort to keep my sights well above his open fly. Bobby seemed not
the least bit modest, actually shifting his body in my direction rather
than away. He certainly had no reason for shielding himself, as he was
packing enough meat between his legs to open a butcher shop.

"I don't get a chance to drink beer too much, but when I do I don't hold
onto it for long," he announced in a surprisingly meek tone.  "No crime -
no foul," I answered in yet another clich‚ I've come to be infamous
for. "It's actually kind of nice out here. I thought it would be chillier
than it is."

When in doubt over what to say, talk about the weather. Realizing the
lameness of my forced dialogue, I decided on a different line of
conversation that would most likely ruffle the young man's feathers.

"I apologize for taking a peek at your `junk,' but I'm glad I did. Now I
have the visual that explains why Karen liked to give you head," I stated
with controlled animosity.

As Bobby's urine stream began to decline, he said, "I probably shouldn't
have told you about all that, and I'm sorry I did. I hope it's not going to
cause any trouble between you two. I'm upset with her, but I don't hate
her, ya know. In a lot of ways, she was my best friend."

I moved to put an arm around Bobby's shoulder as he zipped himself up and
shifted down the bottom of his shirt. It took me by total surprise when he
turned his head into my chest and wept the silent tears of the terminally
heartbroken.

The gesture broke my heart as well. I decided just then that there were
more Karen's in the world and I needed to do the right thing and give her
up for Bobby's well-being. I felt I was beginning to like Bobby better than
I'd ever liked Karen anyway, and having the boy as a good friend could
prove to be invaluable down the road.

"It's okay," I whispered softly, dropping my arm from his shoulder to his
waist, my arm now joining its twin to offer a full-scale, brother-like
hug. "I don't feel right about this situation anyway, Bobby. Consider Karen
dumped and free game for you to take her back."

Bobby lifted his head from my chest, lines of tears streaking his face like
a little boy who'd skidded his knee on the blacktop. I felt for him almost
as if he were my own child, squeezing him tighter with each passing
moment. The boy's tight Polo shirt rode up along the small of his back in
response to my hug, his bare flesh left exposed to greet my rough,
calloused hands.

"She came over last night after you brought her home," Bobby acknowledged
shamefully between sniffles. "I swear I had no idea she was coming. She
just appeared at my bedroom window like she always did."

"What did she want, Bobby?" I asked while quite confident I already knew
the answer to that question. We'd had a little spat last evening over my
insistence on making things right between Bobby and me. Now I'm thinking
she was getting-off on driving a wedge between us, yet for what gain I
hadn't any idea. "Was she there to talk you out of seeing me tonight?"

Bobby rested his head back to my chest while my hands involuntarily climbed
higher along the boy's back, taking in the incredible sensation his young,
supple skin within the displaced shirt.

"She said she just wanted to talk, so I threw on some jeans and met her out
at her car," Bobby replied tentatively. "First thing she asked was if my
Gram was asleep. When I told her she was, Karen started in on kissing me
and putting her hand between my legs and stuff. I wasn't wearing a shirt,
because I was going to bed soon, and she started feeling my chest and
shoulders, too."

"What was it she wanted to talk about?" I asked while becoming more furious
with Karen every time Bobby opened his mouth.  "She never really talked."

"So basically she just came over to grope you?" I asked incredulously.

"No," answered Bobby sheepishly. "She came over to give me a blow-job, I
guess."

"You're telling me Karen sucked your dick last night in your driveway?"

Bobby's sniffles graduated to weeping once again, his tears now soaking
through my thread-bare flannel shirt at the chest as he shook his head to
confirm my worst fears. Although the news of Karen's improprieties hurt me
deeply, the warmth of the boy's silky skin along my roaming fingertips
eased the pain of feeling so totally blindsided.

"Did she say anything to you afterwards?" I asked in a whisper just outside
his ear. "Certainly she didn't just blow you and push you out of her car."

Bobby took his time in gathering his thoughts. When he was set to reply, he
cocked his head once again to meet my blazing eyes. "She just said that she
wished I wasn't so much younger than she was, and that if it was alright
with me, she'd still find time to have sex with me if that would keep me
happy till I got older. She also wanted me to promise I wouldn't go out and
get another girlfriend."

"And what did you say to that?" I asked carefully as my hands moved to
caress the oblique muscles on each side of Bobby's sound, medium frame.

"I said I'd let her know, but deep inside I was mad that she thought I only
liked her for the sex," Bobby said sadly. "Just between you and me, I've
got two other friends that give me the same thing Karen gives me, but I
don't like them like I like Karen."

"You okay, kiddo?" I asked in complete sincerity, realizing at once just
how much I'd grown to like the young man in just an hour or so's time.

"I'm fine," Bobby replied before lifting his chin to meet me eye-to-eye and
man-to man. "I'll bet you're not, though."

"You're wrong about that," I answered with more cheer than I'd actually
felt. "I'm pretty sure I'd rather have you as a good friend than Karen as a
half-hearted girlfriend."

"No lie?"

"That is unless you still don't want us to be friends."

"I do want to be your friend, Rick," he responded with enthusiasm. "I think
you're a cool guy. Maybe if you take me out again, I'll let you see me with
my shirt off so you can get another one of your `visuals' on what the buzz
is all about at the hospital," he offered along with a cute, boyish giggle.

"Sure was some visual I got tonight," I countered with justifiable
praise. "If I had a cock like yours, we wouldn't have needed this little
meeting, now would we?"

Bobby giggled once again, this time over embarrassment rather than thinking
what I said was humorous. I knew the wheels were turning inside his head
just now; most probably trying to decide whether I'd just made a pass at
him, or whether I'd paid him an ill-conceived compliment. I'm not sure I
knew the answer to that question myself.

 "Let's go home, Kiddo," I announced while reluctantly pulling my hands
away from Bobby's partially bared back. "None of this is your fault and I
have no problem with anything you've done. I need you to know that. This
mess was configured and executed by Karen, and she'll be the one who'll
have to deal with the consequences when it's all said and done."

I headed around the front of the car to hop into the driver's seat,
realizing just then that not one stray vehicle had passed the makeshift lot
while we were parked. I'm not even sure what they would have seen anyway,
and to be honest, I didn't really care. I chalked it up as a good omen and
let the thought blow away with the breeze. What mattered to me just now was
this semi-broken boy to my right, and not unlike the classic tale of
Humpty-Dumpty, I was determined to try and put him back together again.

End of Chapter 1