Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:02:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Pear III David <drakanian32@yahoo.ca>
Subject: Crash Survivor Chapter 3

CRASH SURVIVOR

By Drake

General Disclaimer and copyrights:
This is just a fantasy work of fiction.  Any resemblance to persons or
places is a coincidence. 
If you aren't old enough to read this in your country, don't read.
If it's a criminal offence to read this in your country, don't read.
If male to male relationships and sexuality offend you, don't read.
If you think the story will be lame and boring, don't read it.
All rights reserved.


>From last chapter:

"Jake, could you help me to get near your teacher?  I wanna see how he's
before we go to sleep."

"Yeah sure Greg, put your arm around my shoulder, I'll drag you over to
him."  Jake replied.

"Wait, I'll help you!" Matt said.

So both guys took me from where I was to a spot near their teacher.  First
off, I wanted to take his vital signs.  Matt was studiously watching
everything I was doing.

"Did someone see a flashlight or electric torch inside the survival kit
bag?"

"Yes, wait I'll find it for you." Wil said with a degree of enthusiasm.

"Thanks Wil"

After some shuffling in the bag, Wil finally found the flashlight and gave
it to me.  I started to take Mr. Jackson's vital signs.

"Shit" I said.

"Wh...  what?" came from Jake.

"I hope it's just... no...  shit..." I said as I tried again to get a
pulse.

"What?" Matt and Wil said together.

"I'm really sorry, I don't have good news for you guys..."

I could feel the fear they had in their look, although it was almost dark
inside the tent.  It's never easy when it's time to give bad new to
somebody, especially to a child.

With the situation I was in, the only thing I could do was to blurt it out.

"Sorry kids, your teacher's just died..."

--------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 3

I didn't see any reaction from the boys, but I could feel it deep within my
chest.  Their facial expressions were frozen as I moved my eyes from one to
the other.  I was going to repeat my fatal announcement, but I retracted
that thought quickly, waiting for a reaction from them, that I in turn,
could react to.  They were powerless regarding this event.  Another brick
had struck them hard.  It was as if the world had stopped turning - you
know, when everything around you seems to go slower than it really does?  I
waited as time seemed to stand still - then it began.

As I continued to look from Matt to Jake to Wil, then back to Jake and then
Matt, I saw the fear and sadness in each the boy's eyes as the anguish in
their tender souls was bared to the tragedy of the moment.

I didn't expect my own reaction to the overwhelming innocence I saw in
their eyes.  I was ashamed, period.  I was just too late to give the proper
help to Mr. Jackson.  I didn't have to find a pulse on him, but I did try;
his eyes had remained dilated in reaction to the light, and he was already
cold and stiff when I touched him.  I cursed myself as I realized that if I
hadn't had been so egotistical trying to figure out what happened to ME,
and if I'd looked at him sooner, I'd have provided a better chance for
Mr. Jackson's survival.  Now, he was dead, and cold.  At the moment, I
couldn't investigate what caused him to die, I was too lost within my own
thoughts, starting to think about this man I'd never known.  I know my raft
mates really cared for him a lot; he'd been very special to them.  Before
the crash and before I found him dead, he was one of the important people
that the boys could attach themselves to; and now, the remembrance of the
life they once had before the crash, was gone.  I started crying, I was sad
for them, and I was very angry with myself.

I snapped back to reality when I heard some sobbing beside me.  I looked at
each of the boys, they were all crying uncontrollably; Wil rocking back and
forth with his face in both hands; Jake huddling himself on the floor
crying hysterically; and Matt was at the tent opening against the edge of
the raft wall, choking on heart-wrenching sobs and starting to heave the
contents of his stomach.

Now I had a new crisis in progress, God, won't it never stop!  I didn't
know where to start.  I've a dead man on one hand, and three painfully
grieving kids on the other, who are starting to panic from the debilitating
sadness within each of them.

I was overwhelmed by my own emotions, and to say the least, I really didn't
know what to do.  I'd never had kids, I just did some babysitting in the
past, but I never had to face such problem like this.

"Mom!!!"  I screamed in my head!!  "What do I do now?!?!?!"  No response.

OK, let's put the things in the right order, maybe that will help.  First
off, I'm the adult here, so I have to show that I'm solid as a rock, that
they can count on me and that I'll be able to stand up to the situation,
although I'm almost as grief stricken as they are together with my shame,
but they don't have to know that.  I have to look after the more crucial
things, like a kid ready to drop into the ocean while he's puking.  My legs
still unable to move, so I tried to drag myself to Matt who was dangling
over the raft wall while he was vomiting.  I knew he wasn't aware of the
danger that he may fall into the water.  With a lot of effort, I was able
to get beside him as quickly as I could and grab him, just as he was about
to slip off the raft.  All I could do was to hold him by his tiny waist
with one hand, stroking his bare back with the other.

"Matt..."

No response.

"Matt..."

"WHAT!!!  Brrwwwwaaaaaa!!!" The wretching and sobbing continued.

"Are you ok, angel?"

"OK?  You're asking me if I'm OK?  He's dead!!!!" then pointing toward his
teacher.  "That fuckin' plane took his fuckin' life!!  Brrwwwwaaaaaa!!!"
He continued to sob hysterically between gut- wrenching heaves.

What could I add to that - that he was right, even if his words were free
and crude!  Welcome to Matt's world!

"I know Matt...  but..."

"BUT WHAT!  He's gone now, and we'll all die too!"  He yelled at the top of
his lungs.

That caused Jake and Wil to turn around and look at us.  I held my index to
my lips hoping they'd know to stay quiet.  I didn't need them to add their
emotional hysteria to an already fragile situation.

"Listen Matt, I know you're angry, that you're shocked, but please don't
yell at us.  We didn't have anything to do with that plane crash, we're the
victims, just like you.  I just wanna give a little help here, ya know?" I
said in a somewhat calm voice.  I continued to gently rub his back while I
waited for him to compose himself and be able to speak.

"Sorry Greg...  This time, I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at
you."  He said still crying.

"It's OK buddy, I know you must have loved him a lot and that you have to
let the anger out, maybe we all feel the same, but it's not fair for you to
yell at the rest of us guys who really care about you.  It's OK to be
angry, but we're all here to support each other, you know?"

"Yeah, I know...  I understand.  Will you pull me in?  I'm finished. I
can't puke anymore," he added with tears still in his eyes and coursing
down his face.

I didn't have to pull him at all, Jake was there in a flash and pulled his
friend inside the raft, looking at me with a 'don't-say-anything' look.  I
gave Jake an understanding approbation.  Matt crawled weakly, then sat in
the middle of the floor and crossed his legs.  Jake followed behind him,
put his legs on each side of Matt, and held him in his arms, his chin
resting on Matt's left shoulder, his cheek rubbing against Matt's; Matt's
hands holding Jake's to his chest.  The only sound was a quiet whimpering
from each of them.  Wil and I just looked to each other, with astonishment!
Something was happening; together, they looked like they were only one,
each boy quietly soothing the other.

Wil was left out of this sympathetic intimacy.  I didn't know how he'd
react to such closeness, but I took a chance; patted my hip and opened my
arms while I was looking at him.  Opposite to what I thought, he came
quickly into my embrace, burying his head in my chest and continued sobbing
a little.  I started to gently stroke my hand in his hair to relax him.
Each boy seemed to avoid looking directly where Mr. Jackson was.  We stayed
like that for more than fifteen minutes.  I was heart- broken for the boys
as each of us overcame our initial grief.

Eventually, Wil lifted his head and looked at me with his deep sorrowful
eyes.

"What we'll do with him?" he whispered.

It surprised me that the shy boy was the first to bring this up.  "What do
you think we should do with him Wil?"  I asked.

"I dunno, I don't want him to stay here in the raft, but I don't want to
leave him either...  it's confusing!"

"I want to give him a decent ceremony at least," Matt said calmly as his
mind started to reason with the problem at hand.

"What would you like to do for a ceremony?" I replied.

"I want to give him my respect, I think that each one of us should talk to
him sincerely, and maybe we should offer a prayer..." Matt said still
holding onto Jake.

"I want to relate some past events we had with him," Jake added.

Then there was some silence.  Wil was again in his introverted mood, not
giving his own opinion while everyone sat there looking at him.  So, as I
continued to hold him, I helped a little by asking, "And you, my little
Wil, do you have any idea for a ceremony?"

"Hmm...  I just want to hold his hand, and tell him something in my head."

"Hey, that's no fair if he doesn't..."  Jake quietly protested.

I cut Jake's whining quickly by saying, "Everything's fair young man, this
is what Wil needs do for himself and Mr. Jackson, and we'll respect him and
his private thoughts, is that OK with you?" I emphasized the 'OK'.

"Yes, sir..."  Both Jake and Matt said dejectedly.

"Listen boys, we're all exhausted from the events since the crash, but we
DO have to respect each other's self being, wills, thoughts and
differences.  We can't let anyone be isolated from our group as a whole.
Each of us has to understand that we're in this together, and our lives at
sometime or another will depend on it.  Is that clear to everyone?"

A mumbled, "OK" came from each of the kids.

"Now with that little problem solved, I think you have a lot to think about
before saying your last goodbye to Mr. Jackson...  please take your time to
calm down; I think we all need to, and let's try to prepare our own
thoughts for the debt of gratitude we owe Mr. Jackson.... and God, for the
life he shared with us.  When everyone is ready, we'll begin."

While the boys prepared their thoughts about Mr. Jackson, my mind wandered;
I was overwhelmed by the things that had just happened.  First, I was angry
that Jake had commented about Wil's desire to keep his thoughts private.
The most sombre event in a person's life had just occurred and any person's
reaction to the pain of death should be allowed to be personal.  For the
few hours I'd been with these three, I was sensing that something was odd
between each of them.  They said they were all friends.  OK, I could admit
that they seem to know each other very well.  However, I can tell by the
look in Wil's eyes that he doesn't seem to like Jake at all.  Jake probably
suffers from that because he seems to love everyone around him.  Jake is a
little too direct and never knows when it's time to shut up, but otherwise,
he's a good kid with good intentions.  I think the way he acts with Wil is
just because he'd like to be closer to him, but Wil, for the most part,
seems to shun any degree of intimacy.  On the other hand, Matt seems to be
very friendly with both of them, if not with everyone on earth, - I knew
from the beginning, even aboard the plane, that that's how Matt is, a big
open heart on two feet!  Matt and Jake seem to be very attached to each
other, like two brothers, they always take care of the other one.  With
Matt, Wil looks like his little brother.  Wil always relies on what Matt
thinks or does.  I'm not sure if I'm right with what I see between these
guys, but I know I'll have to be very careful to avoid distension within
the group.  We need to stay bonded together to ensure our security and our
survival.

As my thoughts faded, I looked up from the floor of the raft and saw that
the boys had been doing the same as me.  They were doing nothing, just
looking down, Matt playing with his fingers, Jake tapping on the floor, and
Wil looking at a safety notice on the raft wall.

"Is everybody's ready?" I asked.

"Hmm hmm..." they mumbled altogether.

"Sorry to ask, but who want to be the first?"

For a moment there was no response, then Jake said, "I'll start... I won't
be able to do it if I wait too much longer..."

"OK, so go on...  I want everyone to be patient and respectful of Jake, and
to the others after him.  This is not an easy thing for anyone to do..."

So, Jake approached his teacher calmly, with tears in his eyes, then
started to speak through a few sniffles.

"Dear Mr. Jackson, never had I thought this could have happened. I never
thought I'd give this kind of ceremony to you on a stupid orange raft.
It's just too dumb.  I mean, you shouldn't have died....  you shouldn't
have been hurt so bad that you died.  You were my best teacher, the only
one I could rely on.  You were our math teacher and our class tutor, the
best one I ever had!  You were the coolest teacher in the school.  You
always had time for me, you never judged me.  Do you remember when I peed
myself in the class last year?  You protected me.... you told everyone to
shut up and you took care of me.  I was ashamed, but you taught me how to
be proud of myself and to forget that little incident.  Do you remember
when it was too hot in the school at the beginning of the year?  No one was
listening because it was too hot inside the classroom, so you took everyone
outside near the service door, and then you took the janitor's water hose
and splashed us until we were all wet... even soaking our clothes from head
to toe!  Then we stripped to our boxers and you continued to give our math
lesson outside in the shadow of a big elm.  That was sick!" he added with a
small tearful smile.  "At Christmas, you gave each one of us a special
gift.  It was a personalized one.  Knowing that I wanted to be an engineer,
you gave me a book about the world's largest bridges and sky scrappers.
That book must have cost over eighty dollars!  I'd almost refused it, but
you told me that I shouldn't refuse, because you'd have to put a 'D' on my
next math exam.  I must have read that book more than ten times and I got
three 'A's on my exams!  You organized this winter break trip too... and
this is what caused your death...."  Each of us respected the silence while
Jake, with great effort tried to compose himself before he continued.  "You
proposed this trip to 'Down Under' like you used to say.  You prepared us
for the trip.... you gave lots of evening information meetings for our
parents.... you taught us what Australia was like and you let us decide
where to go and what to do for the trip.  I'd like to thank you 'cause
you're the only one that really believed in our potential, and you never
treated us as dumb kids.  When I grow up, I wanna be just like you.  I'll
miss you a lot.  I hope we can see each other sometime.  I..."  then, Jake
started to cry, "...I...  I'm... I can't....!  Bye bye Mr. Jackson, I'll
always love you..."  Then Jake took the cold man's hand in his, and touched
it to his lips.

Everyone's eyes were watering by now.  Matt moved beside his friend to
comfort him and then he started his own recitation while holding Jake in
his arms.

"Well, Hi Mr Jackson..." he started with a shy grin.  "Not easy to do,
Jake's told almost everything!"  Jake smiled slightly to that comment.
"First, I'd like to thank you for the help and support you gave me
throughout last autumn.  We both know how important your help was to me
then.  I won't say anything here, but I can say I'm here today because you
were there at that time.  What happened between you and me will always stay
between us.  I know I'm the person I am today because of you.  You were
more than a father for me, as hard as it is for me to tell what a real
father is."  He said with a sad look.  "I dunno what will happen with me,
but for sure, you're part of it because of the way you shared your life
with me.  I'll always owe you one.  I hope to see you again one day..."  He
said pointing upward.  "I have a favour to ask you, Mr. Jackson.  Will you
protect us while you're there in heaven?  If ever we're able to get back
home, I'll erect a monument in your memory."  He choked back a quiet sob
and ended with, "G'bye my teacher, I will never forget you..."

Matt held onto Jake, burying is head on Jake's shoulder.

I thought Matt would explode into tears but no, he kneeled there like a
real gentleman, offering his blessing to his beloved teacher.

Then Wil, moved nearer his teacher's lifeless body, to give his silent
dedication.  He started taking Mr. Jackson's hand in his, but feeling it
cold, he retracted.  I looked at his furrowed brow and I too could feel his
level of discomfort, however, with determination and courage, he took the
hand again.  We remained silent for more than five minutes before Wil
released Mr. Jackson's hand. "I'm finished, I told him everything I wanted
to and.... I'll never forget his voice..."  he sniffed and then added, "We
should give him a prayer before we let him go..."

OK, I'm not too involved when it comes to the religious things, but that's
what the boys wanted.  So, I started slowly with what I felt in my heart.

"Lord, you know I'm not a deeply religious person, but I am well aware of
your presence and strength.  Lord, we owe you a debt of gratitude for
sparing our lives through this horrific event.  We've yet to learn why, in
your wisdom, you spared our lives, but we know that this experience will
enrich and strengthen our future until it's our time to join Mr. Jackson.
I too would like to provide gratitude for the life of Glenn Jackson,
because without him, these three boys and I would never have met.  His
intellectual values, guidance, and profound love of life provided these
boys with the courage they've needed to survive this ordeal, and in doing
so, also saved my life.  I can only hope that we can emulate the wholesome
values that Glenn Jackson portrayed throughout his life.  It is with
deepest respect that we commit his life to your service and please accept
our respect when we pray -

"Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name..."

The boys followed me in the prayer.  All our eyes closed in respect.

"Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us
this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from eveil: For
thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen."

It was something special, to hear those little voices, in the middle of
nowhere, offering an innocent heartfelt prayer to a beloved one.

After the prayer, we all knew that the difficult job was yet to come.  Matt
was the first to speak.

"Who's gonna put him into the water?  Greg, would you...  hmm...  I mean...
I can't...  We can't...  He's our teacher, we can't do that..."

"Boys, although I'd honestly like to do it for you, I can barely support
myself and I can't move my legs at all.  There's another thing that's
bugging me..."

"I know," Jake said.  Then he added, "You shouldn't have to be the only one
to do a very hard job.  Later, I don't want us to hate you because you're
the one that pushed him into the water..."

"So what do you propose?"

"I say that we should all give a hand together to lift him out of the boat
and drop him in the water," Jake said calmly.

"Jake...  I'm very proud of you!"  I said sincerely.  "You're showing a lot
of self control and confidence.... and I think you're right, it would be
best."

"Yeah Jake, what you said may be hard to do, but Mr Jackson deserves our
respect and that we should all do something for him." Matt said.

"I agree too.  I'll take the tent top down, and we'll all do it."  Wil
added.

"Guys, I'm speechless, you're demonstrating a lot of maturity, and I'm very
proud of you.  I should add that it won't be easy, but we have to do it
together."

No response came from the group, but their sad eyes were agreeing with me.
Wil finished removing the tent top, rolled it into its small pack, and then
secured the pack by strapping it to the boat with the provided attachment.

In unison, we moved as close to the teacher as we could, then in a common
move, we all lifted him against the raft wall and rolled him over.  With
just a little splash from the fall of the weight into the water, the body
of Mr. Glenn Jackson was committed to the sea.  With only the light of a
near full moon, he was gone, into the black ink of the ocean.  Just a small
whirlpool from the spot where he sank was visible for a little time and
then it faded to nothing.

The boys continued to look at the spot where the body left the water's
surface and they stayed there, looking at the ocean for more than fifteen
minutes.  I did the same.

It was the cold breeze that brought us back to reality.  We started to feel
the bitter cold enter our bodies.  We were all shivering, only in our
boxers, so the boys quickly put the tent top up and zipped the door almost
completely.

"Ok, boys, it's finished, come here..." I said.  "I know we're all sad, but
we have to get some sleep too."  Then I took Wil's arm to see what time it
was.  "It's past four AM, so I want each of you to have some rest.  Before
that, I want you to secure everything properly to the raft strapping kit
and I want you to put your life jackets back on while we're sleeping."

"Nooo!!  It's a...  It's uncomfortable...  I mean we can't exchange body
heat with those things on.  I'm still shivering!" Jake exclaimed.

"OK, I agree, but I want you to put it near you, a hand into it at least."

"OK, thanks!"  Jake said

Then I lay down as they organized themselves in the same position as last
night.  Matt's belly against my back, his left arm crossing over my chest.
Jake was glued to Matt from head to toe.  Surprisingly, Wil asked Jake if
he could stick to him.  Jake smiled him gently and offered the place behind
him.  Wil took Jake in his arm and put his face in Jake's hair.  We pulled
the thermal sheet over us and we slept until it was too hot in the raft,
five hours later.

When we woke in the morning, we were all thirsty, so we removed the thermal
sheet and drank a little sip of water.  Before returning to sleep, Wil
opened the door and the opposite window.  The light ocean breeze was enough
to freshen the air in the raft and the temperature was comfortable for
sleeping.

I told the guys to leave the orange tent top on because I'd noticed that
the sun was starting to burn Matt's back.  The top provided us with the
shade we needed under the sunlight, so we wouldn't catch severe sun burns
anymore.

I awoke for the second time this day around noon.  I turned my head to look
at the boys.  They were all sleeping, but something was poking me in my
back.  So I turned over to see Matt supporting a major boner in his boxers,
probably from the need to take a morning piss; understandable for a
sleeping boy of this age.  What was a bit startling and less understandable
was Jake's left hand in Matt's boxer.  He probably didn't know what he was
doing so, to avoid any embarrassment, I gently removed his hand to his side
before waking all them.  I was relieved to see that my legs started to
work.  I couldn't stand on them, but I was able to move them a little,
which made the boys very happy and relieved.

We started our third day in the raft by emptying our bladders, this time
with Wil joining the boys as they peed over the side.  After they finished,
I was a little constrained to ask for help - to find a way to get mine
emptied.  I didn't have anything at hand to pee into.  I'd have to go at
the door opening to get over the raft wall like they had, but I wasn't able
to stand by myself.  Then Jake suggested that I should sit on the edge of
the wall, my feet near to the water with someone holding me while I peed.
Wow!  Jake thought of everything, but forgot one thing that Matt thought
about.

"Hmm, sorry to destroy your almost genius plan Jake, but it won't work at
all."  Matt said

"Huh?  Noooo?!!  Everything will be fine Matt, he just has to..."  Jake
started to add, but was quickly cut off by Matt.

"Jake, he'll pee on his boxers in that position!!"

"Duh!!!" Matt said dumbfounded by the thought.

OK, I should say that Matt was correct.  It was the only way I'd be able to
do it, but the more I thought about a solution, the more I was afraid they
came to the same one as me.

"Hmm...  sorry Greg, but we'll have a hard time helping you...  maybe if...
no...  you won't allow us...  but..."  a unwilling Matt stumbled over his
words.  There he was; with the same solution as me.

"You want me to remove them before climbing on top of the wall?"  I said
pointing my boxers.

"Hmm, sorry, yeah.  It's the only way we'd be able to help you."

"Hey it's Ok Matt.  I'm not ashamed of my body, but I don't want to cause
you some embarrassment.  I don't really want to be the only one in the nude
here, but if it's what it takes, I can get over it.  We're all guys here
and everybody here knows what dangles between our legs..."  While each of
the boys giggled, I continued, "....so there's no problem at all with me if
there's no problem with all of you.  Is that OK?"

I hoped that the boys wouldn't mind because the pressure in my bladder was
becoming unbearable.

"I don't have any problem.  If you want, we can remove ours too so you
won't be the only one embarrassed." Jake eagerly added.

"You don't have to do that boys!"  I replied almost upset.  "With the
situation I'm in right now, it's the only way I'll be able to pee, I can't
do it any other way.  You don't have to remove your boxers and I'll never
force you to or even ask you to!"

"Yeah, but we just want to be as equal as you.  You don't have to be
embarrassed by yourself while we aren't.... that's not fair!"  Matt said.

"Are you boys sure?"

"Yeah, we like to be nude sometimes!"  Both boys replied.  I thought
quickly about what they just said; nude sometimes?  Oh, OK that's their own
business.  Then Jake added, "Otherwise, why would we have brought it up?"

Matt added shyly, "And... hmm, our shorts are starting to stink a little
too ..."

"OK, I agree...  but do it ONLY if you all want to, is that Ok?"  I asked.

 "No," came a single response from the opposite side of the boat.  Shit, I
forgot the shy one, Wil.

"I won't do it.  Don't any of you ever think I will.  They'd probably call
our raft the "Queer Mary II" when they find us."  Wil said with a devilish
grin that I didn't like at all.

"Listen Wil," I started to tell him.  "We won't ask you to do something you
don't want to, however if there was something that would put you in danger,
we'll probably pry a little bit," I said giggling.  "Your friends just
offered me to be nude to put me at ease because I have no choice, but to
remove my clothes to be able to pee..."  I added.  "They want to be nude
against my will and I think they won't stop bugging me until I agree, so
I'll let it go.  And for God sakes my little man, stop the gay thing, we're
in a kind of abnormal situation here, we'd all like to have some privacy,
but since we're all in the same spot, we'll have to share this little space
with everyone.  Remember, we aren't in a house here, it won't be that easy
sometimes, like...  like right now..."

"Yeah, it's OK.  I understand...  you guys can do whatever you want.... I
won't mind, but I won't take mine off..."

"We'll respect everyone here Wil," Matt added.  "If you feel you wanna join
us, just do it, but we won't mind either if you don't want to, OK?"

"Thanks Matt, you're such a friend," Wil replied sincerely.

"Hell yeah, I know I'm the greatest!"  Matt said trying to do his best
Mohamed Ali imitation.

"OK, so if both of you are up to it, we should start getting me out there
before I make a mess on the floor!" I interjected.

So, Matt, Jake and I quickly removed the only clothes left on us, with Wil
giving a glimpse our way from time to time, but trying to be unnoticed.

"Wow!!  Yours is a lot bigger than ours!"  Matt said.

"Hmm yeah, maybe.  But I'm a grown-up and you're just about to start
puberty.  Don't despair, yours will grow too!"

"You sure?  I mean, I never saw my father's or an adult one; I didn't think
it would be that big!"

"Yeah I'm sure.  Just give it the time to grow."  I replied.

"I want mine to be as big as yours when I get older!"  Matt giggled.

I took a quick look at the boy's equipment, then added, "You shouldn't be
ashamed for the size of your penis, they're pretty big for boys of your
age...  I was smaller than that at your age."

"Wow, does that mean that we'll be bigger than you?"  Matt asked.

"Maybe, maybe not.  I should say that it's not the quantity, but the
quality that matters!"  I grinned.

"Huh?!?!"  both boys said, looking at me with question mark in their eyes.

I laughed adding, "I mean, it's not the size that's important, it's more
important how you use it..."

"Oh, hmm... okay!  I think I understand... it's like when I..."  Jake
started to add.

"That should be a private matter young man, we don't have to know all about
your sexual history!"  I said with a big smile while I put my hand over my
ears.

"Duh!"

"Hey, guys, help me to get over this wall!"  I smiled.

So they helped me to climb up onto the raft wall.  I sat on the edge; my
body facing the center of the boat.  Then while Jake was holding my waist
to help me to keep my balance, Matt took my legs and used them to turn me
so I was facing the water.  He carefully released them near the water.
After they'd lifted me, each one supported me under my armpits and inched
me as close to the to the water as they could.  They both grabbed one leg
and my waist to holding me secure and then I was ready to do my job.

OK, now I'd like to explain that it's easy to remove some clothes, being
nude and everything, but when it comes to peeing while a child is holding
you to keep you from falling in the water, I must say - nothing seems to
happen.  I was there, ready to pee, but nothing would come out.  What was
very odd is that the kids were looking at what I was trying to do - create
a golden thread into this vast ocean - and it wasn't happening!  I'd never
had a hang-up with other guys watching me pee before.  I was stressed as
hell and so uncomfortable with the situation.

"Hmm, Greg?"  Matt attempted to ask.  "Not workin', huh?"

"I...  It...  It's coming..."  I shyly replied.

Then, I tried to relax, because I was just about to get hard.  Knowing the
turmoil my dick caused with the boys while it was soft, I wouldn't stand a
chance if it started growing!!  Soon it started to release, God that hurt!!
Considering the volume I released, I really did need to pee!!!

When I finished, the boys turned me around and slid me to the floor of the
raft.  While Matt and Jake supported my arms, I tried to kneel and support
myself on my knees.  It took some effort, but I was supporting myself - a
bit wobbly at the hips, but bit by bit I was gaining some balance.  That
was very encouraging.  For the time being, I thought maybe I'd be able to
get around the raft on my hands and knees doggy style.

Once we were back inside the raft, we found Wil by the window opening,
verifying the attachment that kept the other raft secured to ours.  He said
that everything looked fine.  We sat there on the floor, our backs against
the wall.  Wil avoided looking at us, he seemed very uncomfortable with the
nudity situation.  Matt seemed to sense it and went over to sit beside Wil,
so he could talk to him discreetly.  I looked at them, Matt taking Wil by
his shoulder and talking quietly to him, and then I looked at Jake, who
smiled at me warmly.  I was wondering what they were talking about, but I
thought it wasn't of my business - until Matt approached me with a shy
grin.

"Sorry Greg, I think Wil's having a problem."  He said.

"Oh, and what it is?"  I replied.

"Hmm, I think you should talk to him, he'll explain it himself.  He really
does have a problem, and I guess we'll all have to face it sometime..." he
said without any explanation.

I looked at Wil, who now had his head buried between his knees.  He was
looking down and seemed to be very sad.  Poor Wil, what is it that doesn't
work with him?  What can I do to make a connection with him?  He's so
unstable, always shy, yet angry about many things.  The only one that he
seems to rely on, is Matt.

"OK, help me to get over to him...  I'll have a talk with him," I said.

With a bit of support from Matt, I kneed myself over to Wil, slow and
steady.  I sat beside Wil and started to stroke his back.

He turned his face toward me, and although he looked at my face, he wasn't
making eye contact.  "I'm sorry Greg.  I...  I want to apologize...  I want
to apologize for the gay thing...  I didn't mean it."

"It's OK Wil.  It just that if someone here is gay, you could have
misjudged him unknowingly, and hurt his feelings, without knowing what you
were doing..."

"Yeah, it's what I thought too...  I said that to Matt."  He said with a
rather calm voice.  "It's just that, sometimes, I feel like the odd fellow
in the group.  I know I'm different, but I can't tell why.  I know when I
say or do something bad, but I can't help it....it's as if I do it against
my will."

"You know my little friend, I'll try everything that's possible so you'll
be at ease around me and especially around all of us as a group.  But
first, maybe you should think twice before saying or doing something. Ya
think that might work?"

"That's what my mom's always says!"  He replied surprised.

"Uhh?  So if mom's saying it, it should be true.  Our moms always tell the
truth, didn't you know that?"  I smiled.

"Yeah!" He giggled.

"So, from now on, if you feel like crap, or you have something that's
bugging you, don't wait; just come to me, I'll take the time to talk with
you.  Is that a deal?"

"Yeah, thanks Greg.  Now I know why Matt likes you so much..."

"Thanks.  I like him a lot too.  In fact, the more I know about all of you,
the more I like each of you.  You're the kids I never had, but you Wil, I
don't know you very well because you're a little shy and closed.  However,
if you give me a just a little chance, I think I'll happily grow to know a
very kind young man.  Just let your happy side out sometimes and you'll see
that without any effort, your life will be easier for you and for those
around you.  Don't be shy to stick to us, to fool around with us, to be
dumb, or to show us what's buried deep inside you.  We may be together for
a long time and we have to be comfortable with each other."

"Geeze, I'll really try hard.  But sometimes, I know it won't be that
easy."

"It's OK providing you try; just don't set your sites too high.  Go at it
little by little, before you know it, things will change faster than you'd
think.  Not only that, Matt, Jake, and I are pretty understanding and we'll
talk you through any tough times if you give us the chance."

"Ok, I'll try.  Thanks, I really appreciate what you said.  I've never had
anyone talk to me like that...  my parents don't give a shit what's
happening to me.  The only thing they do is to yell about nothing and
everything."

"Oh, I'm sorry Wil, I didn't know..."  I said sadly.

"You don't have to be sorry Greg.  I'm probably the only one here that
doesn't want to go back home.  For the first time of my life, I'm free, I
can breath freely.  I don't feel the tightness in my chest like I normally
do at home.  I'd like to stay here forever.  I have my friends around me, I
have the sun, the air.... if I had to die right now, I'm exactly where I'd
like to be."

"That's a very deep thought Wil.  It's shows a great deal of maturity on
your part.  I wouldn't have thought you were in such distress at home."

"Matt's got lots of problems at home too.  The only one who seems to be
happy at home is Jake.  His parents are funny as hell, he has a little
brother, Jim.  He's the brother everyone would like to have.  I really envy
him."

"Well, I can understand how you appreciate watching how a happy family
interacts."

"Can I tell you something else?" he asked, for the first time not in a shy
mood, but more proud of himself.

"What is it dear boy?"

"Greg, I wish I could put my shyness aside forever.  I really want to
because I feel bad for the others every time I'm shy.  It stops me from
doing a lots of things I'd like to do.  Maybe sometimes I might fall into
my old self, but right now, I really want to give something a try..."
Then, he surprised me by adding, "So, I decided something for a good
start.... I think I'll be the same as all of you.  I'll get naked too."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, because one day or another, I won't have the choice.  You'll all
have the time to inspect my dick and my beauty when I take a crap in the
ocean!  So why should I wait 'til then, since all you guys are naked
already!"  He said with a big grin.

"Well, THAT seems to make sense!"  I replied chuckling, then laughing.
That caught the attention of Matt and Jake and then their eyes watched in
astonishment while Wil dropped his boxers, and more surprised that he was
supporting a major boner, which seemed just at bit larger than it should be
for his body size and years!

"What!  Are you jealous?  Does it get you a little excited?"  Wil said
giving two quick strokes to his dick to entertain his audience with a wink
and a big grin from ear to ear.

We all started to laugh uncontrollably with Wil.  I could tell he was doing
a really great job to put himself at ease.

"OK guys!  No more pee, poop, dick or ass talk for a while because we might
get too distracted and do something crazy!  Now, let's get ready to eat, we
have a lot to do this afternoon!"  I said chuckling, trying to recompose
myself.

Now with the gloom of the last 24 hours lifted, we all moved toward the
center of the boat to start preparing our lunch.  I didn't know why, but I
thought we'd have a great one!!


To be continued...
____________________________

He he!!!  I told you this one would not be a sad ending or a cliffhanger!

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to write me.  All the
feedbacks to this story were positive.  It helps the author (that is me,
duh!) to know that I'm on the right track, doing a job that the readers
appreciate.  I'd like to thanks some of you for the help that's been
offered.  I'll never know when it should come handy, so I appreciate it a
lot.  I would have been ashamed if I had forgotten to thanks my editor.
This chapter was really hard to write for me.  I didn't wanted to miss some
details and wanted my readers to feel like they were in the raft.  I think
he did a really great job to wrap this one up.  So there it is; thanks my
friend!

For those who write me, and because I'm curious as hell, let me know where
you're from and how old you are, so I can get some personal statistics of
my readers.

As usual, let me know if you like the story or not.
Flames will be ignored.

Drake
drakanian32@yahoo.ca