Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2000 20:27:51 -0500
From: Charlie <charlieje@nc.rr.com>
Subject: David's Christmas Present - 3

The following story is total fiction. Any relationship to persons living or
dead is purely accidental.

This story depicts sexual acts between people of the same sex (male), some
of whom are under age. If you find this concept distasteful, or if it is
illegal where you live, or if you are underage, please stop reading now.


                               III. Christmas Day

When Adam opened his eyes in the morning, he didn't know where he was.
He looked around at the immense wood paneled room, but he hadn't seen it
last night. He wondered if he'd frozen to death and was now in some sort of
purgatory, or perhaps even Heaven? He certainly was warm and comfortable!
He had always heard that when people freeze to death, they simply go to
sleep and have wonderful dreams until the end comes. How people could
know that was something of a mystery to Adam. After all, it wasn't as if they
had come back and told someone what it was like. But it would certainly
explain his current situation. But then he heard the steady breathing of
someone else, and at the same time he felt the twitch of a hand that was
attached to the arm that was wrapped loosely around him. He turned his head
and saw David's face as he slept, and he remembered. It was true! All of it! It
wasn't a dream and he wasn't dead! He was very, very much alive! Oh man,
was he alive!

David woke a few minutes later. He opened his eyes and found himself
looking directly into the strong, sculptured, beautiful face of a teenager.
Those deep dark liquid eyes were looking directly at him, and there were
tears falling from them. "Adam?" he questioned. "What's wrong, Adam? You
ok?"
"Yeah," Adam whispered. "I'm sorry, it's just that... you looked so peaceful
sleeping there! I love you so much! I've had such a great time, but it's all over
in just a few days. I'll be gone back to my world and you'll still be here in
yours. I can't believe how much I love you after such a short time! I don't
want it ever to end, David!"

David held Adam close and let him cry. "It isn't going to end, Adam," he
whispered. "If you don't want it to end, it won't! It's just that simple, you'll
see. If I ever had any doubts, they melted as soon as I opened my eyes this
morning and looked into your gorgeous face. I don't ever want to wake up
again without you to look at! I love you, Adam! And I'm gonna take care of
you. Forever, if you want me to."

Adam didn't answer. He pulled away far enough to get his face up to
David's, and he kissed him. The kiss lasted far longer than he had intended.
He ventured his tongue into David's mouth and found the sensations, the
tastes, the reaction, much to his liking. He felt himself get hard and push
against David's stomach, and at the same time he felt David's penis growing
and pushing itself between his legs. "Now, David?" he whispered when they
finally broke the kiss. "Can I suck it now?"
"If you want to," David replied. He was completely in Adam's control now,
had thrown caution totally to the wind.

He didn't have to be told twice. Adam kissed David once more, then slithered
down his body as David had done to him. He took David's seven inch
member in his hand. He inspected it, sniffed it. His tongue flicked it, wiping
the precum that had accumulated at the tip. "It's big," he commented.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," David said.
"Are you kidding?" Adam said as he licked the head again. "I was just sayin'
that it's bigger than mine. I want to, David. Is it ok now?"
"Any time you're ready."

Adam was more than ready. David felt the heat and dampness of his mouth as
he encircled the thing he'd been admiring, licking, longing for. It felt so
incredible to Adam, and tasted even better. All the talk at school, all the
comments and jokes, all had been wrong! There was nothing dirty about this!
There couldn't possibly be anything dirty about something that tasted so
good, felt so right! In a stall of the boys' washroom perhaps it was less than
great; but when the thing in your mouth belonged to one you love, it was a
truly beautiful thing! And what was even more beautiful was the way that
David was responding to his ministrations. David, his lover, the person he
had not yet known twenty-four hours, and who was now the most important
person in Adam's life! Perhaps in the whole universe! David was moaning
loudly, writhing about the bed as if being tortured with pleasure, kneading
Adam's head with his hands, absolutely unable, it seemed, to lie still.

Adam didn't know what he was doing, or so he thought. But the memory of
what had happened to him last night, the absolute total love he felt for David
and the desire to please, not to mention the pleasure he was enjoying himself,
drove him to heights he'd never imagined possible. When he felt the head of
David's member strike the back of his mouth, causing him to gag slightly, he
reminded himself what it was in his mouth: his lover's most intimate body
part! Unfortunately, Adam's efforts had their effects long before either
participant was ready. "I'm gonna cum," David said hoarsely as he continued
to writhe and squirm. Adam moaned loudly, but he made no effort to release
his hold on the instrument that was about to explode. Like David, he knew
what was coming; also like David, he couldn't wait! This was what he'd
wanted last night! This was the consummation of his love for David! This was
the very essence of the man he had fallen for so completely! And then the first
volley of David's orgasm blasted the back of his throat.

When the storm was over and both David and Adam were coming down from
their incredible high, Adam wriggled up in the bed until they were again face
to face. "Your turn," he said with a grin. "Thanks man, that was totally
awesome! I had no idea that could be so special! I love you, David!"
"I love you too, Adam," David answered. "Thanks for the offer, and believe
me I'm gonna take you up on it, but not right now. I'm afraid I'm gonna have
to go in to work for a few minutes. We can't stay in bed all day, much as I'd
like to."
"Work?" Adam questioned. "You work?"
"Course I work, dude! You think this house, the pool, all those toys in the
garage just materialized out of thin air?"
"I guess I never thought about it. I guess I just thought, you know, rich folks
are just... well... rich! And if you're rich, you don't have to work."
"Not that simple, my friend. Maybe someday, but for now I have to go in just
to check on things. With all that snow the other guys might not be able to get
in, so it's up to me. I guess I really don't have to work if I don't want to, but I
love my job, and it does impose certain responsibilities."

"Where do you work?" Adam asked as he realized that he really knew very
little about his new lover, his benefactor, perhaps his future adoptive father.
"PowerNet. It's an Internet provider company."
"No way! You work for PowerNet?"
"Uh-huh. You've heard of it?"
"You kidding? Man, PowerNet rocks! They're at my school, and all the kids
that I know that have computers either have PowerNet or wish they did.
They're where it's at, man!"
'Do you have a computer, Adam?"
"Oh yeah, man! I got the very latest multimedia system. Social Services
bought it for me, the same day they bought my complete new wardrobe, along
with my new Chevy Blazer complete with chauffeur 'cause I'm not old
enough to drive yet. Hell no, David! I use the computers at school, but there's
no hope of me ever getting my own computer."
"Never say never, Adam. This is Christmas, remember? This is a magical
day. Today you will have your own room, with your own computer in it."
"Yeah, right!" Adam laughed. "I suppose I'll also have my own closet full of
clothes, right?"

David regarded Adam. He was sitting up in bed now, still naked, still the
most beautiful thing on the face of the earth. His long straight black hair was
draped on his bare shoulders now, framing his beautiful dark face, those
incredible liquid eyes. "The wardrobe might have to wait till tomorrow," he
said with a laugh. "The stores are closed, and by the time we get dressed and
have breakfast the day will be half gone anyway. But tomorrow the stores'll
all be open, and then we'll see about the wardrobe. You like clothes, Adam?"
"Well," Adam stammered, realizing that David had taken him deadly
seriously. "Uhhhh.... yeah, I love clothes! But... well, that's just one of those
dreams kids have, ya know?"
"Not any more. Trust me, little brother, that dream just came true! Now, let's
find you some of my clothes that you can wear, and we'll go check on things
at PowerNet, ok?"

"Wow!" David whistled as he glanced out the window. "It must've snowed a
foot last night, and it's still comin' down. I don't think I've ever seen this
much snow here, and I've never seen more than an inch or two at Christmas.
Those stores we were talkin' about might not be open tomorrow after all. Oh
well, no matter. I think I can find things for you to wear. They'll be a little big
for you, but that's the style anyway, right?"

David told Adam as they dressed that the snow still looked quite deep on the
roads, so they would have to take the red pickup. "It's a four wheel drive," he
explained. That was perfectly fine with Adam, who had spied that truck the
minute they'd driven in the garage last night and had fallen in love with it
instantly. "We'll grab some breakfast on the way," David said as they went
downstairs. "I'm pretty sure that same Jewish restaurant where we ate last
night will be open, if that's ok."
"Fine with me," Adam said cheerfully. "I usually don't eat that much
breakfast."
"We'll fix that," David said as he handed Adam a heavy jacket he thought
would more or less fit.

It didn't take Adam very long, once they were in the pickup, to discover all
the options it had to offer, including a very high grade stereo complete with
CD changer. "Wow!" he exclaimed. "What kinda CD's you got in the
changer?"
"Just ones I made up," David answered. "I hate it when you buy a CD and
there's only one song you like, so I make my own CD's with songs I like.
Help yourself to the six in the machine, or if there's nothing there you like
there's a case in the console. But we won't be in the truck all that long."
"Prob'ly nothing here I like anyway," Adam grumbled good naturedly. "What
kinda music do you like?"
"Just about anything, dude. Country, Gospel, Classical, some light rock, folk,
oldies, just about anything except heavy metal and rap. There should be
something there you like." Adam was about to push the eject button to nix the
CD in the player when a song started. He recognized it instantly: the group
Alabama with a song he'd heard hundreds of times.

David had heard this song too, many times actually. After all, David himself
had chosen this song and included it on the CD that was in the player. Why
had he liked it so much anyway? It hadn't meant anything special to him at
the time... it must have been just the musical qualities that attracted him. But
now as Randy Owen began to sing, David heard the song, really heard it, for
perhaps the first time. Suddenly the chatter in the truck fell silent, leaving
only the deep throaty sound of the truck's exhaust, and the voice of Randy as
he sang the song:

If I had you,
We'd run like Gypsies in the wind
We'd be lovers, we'd be friends
If I had you.

If I had you
We'd count the stars all one by one
We'd make love 'till they were gone
Oh, if I had you.

Cause you light a fire, 'way down in my soul
The flame keeps growin' stronger,
There ain't no control
And there's nothing, no there's nothing
No there's nothing that I wouldn't do....
If I had you.

If I had you
We'd sail the seven seas as one
We'd never say it can't be done
Oh, If I had you.

Cause you light a fire 'way down in my soul
The flame keeps growin' stronger
There ain't no control
And there's nothin', no there's nothin'
I know there's nothing that I wouldn't do....
If I had you...
If I had you.

David glanced over to Adam. He was staring at David, eyes glassy and
watery as if he'd had a sudden allergy attack. But David knew it wasn't an
allergy attack because he was suffering from the same affliction. They had
both been affected by that song. He pulled the truck to the side of the road
and stopped. Adam melted into his waiting arms and they both cried. "We're
gonna do it," David soothed. "Wait and see, Adam. You're never gonna be
alone again. Never!"
"You're somethin' David," Adam said as he looked into his eyes. "I can't
explain it, but I know just from lookin' at you that I'm safe with you. I dunno
how, but... it's just in your face. I love you, David!"

They found the restaurant still closed, probably because of the snow. "No
problem," David said, "We'll make a quick stop at the office while I check
things, then pick up your computer so you can have something to do this
afternoon. Putting it together will be your first assignment."
"Where are you gonna get a computer today?" Adam wondered.
"PowerNet, of course. Where else? We always keep a few systems on hand
for special needs, stuff like that."
"But... isn't that stealing? Won't ya get in trouble?"
"No, I don't think so. It'll be fine. Besides, today is Christmas. I already told
you, this is a magical day."

"Someone is already here," David observed as he saw tire tracks
disappearing into the parking garage. He followed the tracks to the security
station, inserted his badge into the slot, then pulled into the garage when the
door pulled open. There were three vans parked in a row, all three painted
with the PowerNet logo. Next to them was a green Jeep Wagoneer, still
covered with melting snow. "Just as I figured," David said half to himself,
"Arnie."
"Arnie?" Adam questioned.
"Yeah. I knew he had a four wheel drive, so I figured if anyone came in to
check things it'd be him. He's one of our best men."

They exited the truck and got in the elevator. David again used his security
badge, then pushed 2. When the doors opened on the second floor, they came
face to face with a man in his early forties. "Hey, David," he said cheerily. "I
figured that was probably you. Merry Christmas, my friend!"
"Thanks, Arnie," David said as they shook hands. "This is Adam, Arnie.
He's my little brother."
"Pleased to meet you, Adam," Arnie said as he shook Adam's hand. "David,
it's funny, but I guess I kinda assumed you didn't have any family. You've
never mentioned any of them. Where do you live, Adam?"
"He's gonna be moving in with me," David said before Adam had a chance to
answer. "He's not really my brother... YET. I'm going to be seeking legal
custody. Adam's homeless."
"Really! Well, David, no one can ever say you're not full of surprises. You
could do a lot worse, Adam. But I know you won't believe me, I'm just
buttering up the boss, right?"

Adam snapped his head toward David. "Boss?" he repeated.
"He didn't tell you?" Adam said with a grin. Yeah, David's the boss. He
owns the company, the building, and all fifty of us employees. He's the
master and we're the slaves, right David?"
"You got it, Arnie. So tell me, slave, how are things here?"
"Ok now. I had to reboot that stupid mail server again. I assumed that's why
you came in. It crashed sometime this morning."
"No," David said, "I didn't know it had crashed. Come to think of it, I
haven't checked my email since some time yesterday morning."
"That's gotta be a first. You've been keeping him pretty busy, Adam? He has
to be pretty involved not to even check his email. I'm not even gonna ask
what you're doing to keep him that busy."

Adam didn't know how to respond to this line of questioning. At better
moments he would probably have smirked, possibly busted out laughing; but
he was still in a state of shock over the revelation that he'd just spent the
night with, been seduced by, was about to become the adopted son of, none
other than the owner of PowerNet. The OWNER!

"Thanks for coming in, Arnie," David was saying. "Now why don't you get
your tail outta here? You've got those kids waiting at home, and if I know
Valerie there'll probably be a pretty big meal waiting before too long. So get
outta here!"
"I'm going," Arnie assured him. "What are you and Adam doing for dinner?"
"To be honest, we hadn't really thought about it. Ordinarily we would go to
that Jewish restaurant I like, but they're not open yet. We've got lots of
things in the freezer, so I'll probably cook up something."

"Ughhh!" Arnie groaned. "That's child abuse if I ever heard of it, making him
eat your cooking. Why don't you both join us? I know Valerie would love to
have y'all, and the kids haven't seen you for a long time. I know they'd love
to meet you, Adam."
"Gee," David answered doubtfully, "I really appreciate it, but... well, things
have been happening pretty fast for Adam. I don't want to throw the whole
world at him in one day."
"He'll be fine, won't you Adam? My daughter Karen is thirteen, and Billy is
fifteen. I know they'd make you welcome, and you can't spend all your time
with that boring old computer geek who calls himself your big brother."
"Up to you, Adam," David said.
Adam shrugged. "If you'd like to," he said. "It's ok with me. Actually it
might be fun, if you're sure it'd be ok?"
"Great!" Arnie exclaimed enthusiastically. "I'll get my tail home and let them
know you'll be along about four. We'll have a blast! The kids have lots of
new computer games and other stuff I know they're dying to share."

After he was gone, David got a cart and took it to the stock room, where he
and Adam loaded it up with a new computer, a large monitor, sound system,
scanner and printer. "The network card is already in it," David said. "Our
standard basic software has already been loaded, and the rest of it you can get
off our internet FTP site. This should keep you busy for a while."
"WOW!" was about all Adam could say.
"I've been waiting a long time to have a kid," David continued. "I suspect
there won't be any more, so I might as well spoil the one I've got."
"But... you don't have me yet," Adam reminded him.
"Matter of time, my boy. Just a matter of time. Now, would you like to see
your new office?"
"My office? What on earth..."

David explained that things get a little busy sometimes, and there might not
be anyone available to drive Adam home after school. "If you have an office
here," he explained, "you'll be able to do your homework, and it won't be
long before you'll be working along with the rest of us, that is if you want
to."
"Want to!" Adam exclaimed, "I never dreamed you'd let me near this place!"
"You're one of the family, man! You gotta pull your weight. But all of that is
in the future. Right now let's get that computer loaded in the truck, then we'll
go home so you can get a start hooking it all up before we have to go to
Arnie's. You sure you don't mind going?"
"Not really. I think it's cool that he invited us. He seems like a really nice
guy."
"Arnie's one of the best. He and I started this business together. I consider
him my best friend. He's also vice president."
"Does he know you're... er... gay?"
"Adam, I didn't know myself till last night. But he knows all about Gwen and
what a fiasco that was, so I'm sure he's got his suspicions. But he's that good
a friend that he won't ask."

David showed Adam around the PowerNet offices, including the server room
and communications equipment. Adam was convinced he'd never be able to
figure out all the equipment and gadgets, and what they all did. David assured
him that he'd be in here working on it all before he knew it. "Not me," Adam
said. "You haven't seen my grades."
"That'll change. You had no reason to get good grades. Now you do. You
wait, and you'll see what I mean."

They took the elevator to the third floor: the Executive level. There Adam
was shown the most luxurious offices he'd ever seen in his life! There was a
gigantic office with David's name on the door, one only slightly smaller with
Arnie's name. Next to Arnie's office were two with the names "Karen
McDougal" on one, "William McDougal" on the other. Next to those were
two empty rooms. "One of those will be yours," David said. "It'll probably
take a few days to get the furniture, computer and all. But that's gonna be
your office, if it's all right."
"All right!" Adam whistled. "David, this time yesterday I didn't have a bed to
sleep in or a pot to piss in. Now you're telling me I'm gonna have my own
office on the executive floor at PowerNet? Yeah, man, I'd say it's ok."

As soon as they were home again, Adam was in David's arms. "You're
spoiling me so bad," he panted as they broke a long, deep kiss. "Guess I'm
just gonna have to spoil you back with my body."
"I hope you don't think that's why I'm spoiling you," David questioned.
"No, David. I know better'n that. But... how do you know that I'm not just
out to get all I can from you? How do you know I'm not just using you?"
"I guess I don't," David admitted, "if you mean iron clad guarantees. But I
think it's pretty hard to fake the kind of feelings we've got going on here.
And you didn't really come on to me, at least not at first. I'm certainly no
expert on love, in fact I guess I know now that I've never been in love before;
but I think I know enough to know it'd be pretty hard to fool me. And
besides, I love you enough to take the chance. You've made this the best
Christmas I've had in years! Maybe ever!"
"Me too, David. I think that really this is the first Christmas that's meant
anything to me at all. And going to that house for dinner, well, I'm kinda
scared in a way, but if they're your friends, I want them to be mine too."
"Speaking of which," David said with a grin, "You better get your hand off
my dick. It's time for us to go, and it wouldn't do for me to walk in there with
a big hard on, would it?"

Karen and Billy knew instantly that Adam's heritage was American Indian,
and they were absolutely thrilled when he told them he was full-blooded
Cherokee. No matter that he'd spent his entire life in the white man's world
and knew nothing of his own culture, he was still Indian and so the ice was
broken. They ate dinner shortly after David and Adam arrived, and dinner
was what David knew it would be with Valerie in charge: fantastic! The food
was great, the general happy chatter even better. As soon as they were done
eating, the three kids helped clear the table, then they were gone upstairs.
Arnie grabbed David and led him into the den and closed the door.

"What are your plans for Adam?" he asked as soon as he had David alone.
"I'm still putting that all together," David answered. "First thing in the
morning I thought I'd call Ben. I dunno if he can handle adoptions, but if he
can't I'm sure he'll know someone who can. Actually I think there's a lot
more to deal with here than simple adoption. I mean, the kid's been thrown
out of his foster home every time they want his bed for company! He needs
treatments for a hormone deficiency, and they told him that Social Services
couldn't afford it! Damn, Arnie, that's child abuse!"
"Are there any other issues, David? Is there anything else you want to tell
me?"
"I don't know what you mean. What sort of issues?" David asked nervously.
"I think you know exactly what I mean, David. You and Adam... there's
something going on between you two, isn't there?"

David went limp. He could see his life dissolving before his eyes. He could
hear the steel doors clanging shut, locking him in a small cell for the rest of
his life. It was all over! "Going on?" he echoed weakly. "What makes you
think..."
"Come on, David, this is me! I know you better than you know yourself. I
knew the minute I saw you at the office today! And relax, I'm not gonna say
anything. I just want to be sure you know what you're doing."
"So you're calling me a queer, is that it?"
"Of course you are, David! Shit, man, I've known that for years! I saw you
try to make a life with Gwen, and I saw it fall apart because it's just not in
you. I've watched you notice cute guys, seen how you completely ignore
gorgeous girls that I'd have killed for when I was single. Of course you're
gay!"

"But... your kids! Billy! I mean, you've let him go off with me, spend nights
at my house, swim with me in my pool, sometimes nude! I even took Billy to
Mexico last summer. If you knew..."
"I said I've always known you're gay. I've also always known you're not a
monster. I knew my kids are as safe with you as they are with me. But Adam
is different, isn't he? You and he are lovers, aren't you?"
"Yes. I tried to fight it, Arnie, but it was no use! I know he's just a kid, and I
know I should be ashamed of myself and I am. But I love him, dammit! And
he loves me!"

Arnie looked hard at his friend. He saw the hint of a tear. He saw the change
in expression at the very mention of Adam's name. "I know you do, David,"
he whispered. "Trouble is, the world won't understand. That's why we've got
to be very careful..."
"That's why you're better off not knowing. With today's laws, if you know
about it and don't report it, you're as guilty as I am."
"David, don't talk so fuckin' crazy! Dammit, man, I'm your friend! Your
FRIEND! When are you ever gonna get that in your head? I'm standing here
watching my best friend in the world fall in love for the first time in his life!
I'm not gonna do anything to interfere with that. But we've got to plan this
carefully!"

"Plan what?" Valerie asked as she opened the door. "You guys are doing a
lot of hollering in here, what's going on?"
"Nothing, Hun," Arnie replied. "We were just talking about Adam, figuring
the best way to proceed, all that sort of thing. We'll be out in a minute."
"I think you need me to help," Valerie said as she sat down, making no effort
to close the door.
"Val," Arnie argued, "it's... well, it's kinda private..."
"That's precisely why you need me! If word ever gets out that you two are
lovers, David, it's game over. I assume you know that."

"Damn!" David exclaimed in frustration. "Does everybody know? Jesus
Christ, how the hell do I ever keep a secret?"
"Calm down," Valerie said. "Of course I know! I'm a woman, David! I'm a
mother! I have a fifteen year old son! Don't you think I can read a teenager's
emotions? I think in many ways I think of myself as your mother. I know I'm
too young to be your mother, but I also know I'm the closest thing you've
ever had to one. I saw the way you two looked at each other! I saw the fire in
your eyes: the fire I've never seen before. It's written all over both your
faces, David. Of course you're in love! Now let's quit wasting time playing
word games and dancing around, and figure out how we're gonna get you two
together for good, ok?"

David sat astonished as Valerie and Arnie took over. Adam would of course
go to Rivercrest Academy, the same school their kids attended. It was an
exclusive private school, very expensive and extremely highly rated in the
country. Valerie confirmed that her kids had concluded long ago that David
was gay, and more than likely had already figured out that he and Adam were
lovers. She also affirmed that their attitude would be the same as their
parents: that they were delighted that two lonely people had found love, that a
homeless kid had found a wonderful home, and that all of the above was for
the moment irrelevant to the task at hand: to establish David as Adam's
adopted father, guardian, whatever word they chose to use.

"You'll have to tell Ben," Valerie said as they ironed out the details.
"Sure," David said sarcastically. "Why don't I just take an ad in the paper?
I'll make a general announcement on the PowerNet website and then the
whole world will know!"
"He's gonna figure it out anyway," Arnie said. "David, Ben has pulled some
pretty tricky deals on your behalf, some of which might be less than what the
Bar Association would call legal. He's gonna do what's right, David, and not
what's legal. You know that! You've got to trust him! He'll find out anyway,
but you've got to trust him!"
"Arnie," David protested, "I've seen Ben give people the third degree. He'll
do that to Adam and me, and I don't want that for Adam. He'll tear him
apart."
"Yes, he will," Arnie agreed. "It's time somebody did. He's pretty young,
David, and someone needs to help him discover his true feelings. He's not
stupid either. There's always the chance that he's just taking you for a giant
ride. Ben will find that out. Is that what you're afraid of? That Adam will
break down and say some things you don't want to hear?"

"Who's Ben?" Adam asked as he appeared in the doorway.
"Adam," David said, "I'm sorry... No one meant..."
"I know exactly what he meant, David! Of course they're suspicious! You're
right, sir, I'm not stupid! I'm surprised it took this long for someone to
wonder if I'm for real. But who's Ben?"
"He's our attorney," David replied. "We've got to see him in the morning
about your adoption, and Arnie was just saying we should tell him about you
and me, and that he would really give you the third degree over the whole
thing."
"Bring him on!" Adam said defiantly.

"Uncle David," Billy said as he joined them, "you've got to give Adam a
chance! You can't shelter him from reality, and really, there's no need! He
loves you so much, Uncle David! And Karen and I are so happy for you!
We're looking forward to going to school with Adam, and bein' his friend,
and... but you have to give him a chance to speak for himself. He's been doin'
it for fourteen years, and he can do it now! Adam's cool, Unc! He's the
greatest!"
"Billy?" David said weakly. He was totally aghast now. "He... Adam told
you?"
"He didn't have to, Unc. It was so obvious! We asked him how you met, and
he started to cry. He said you were so good to him! Of course we've always
known how great you are, but... well, it didn't take long to figure out that it
was more than just you being nice to a homeless kid."

Now it was David's turn to get weepy. "I never knew," he said as he broke
down. "All these years I've kinda felt sorry for myself because I don't really
have a family, at least not one who cares about me; now I find out I've had
one all along!"
"You've always known," Valerie said as she hugged him. "You just had
those defensive walls built so high you couldn't see over them. But now you
need a family, and we're gonna be here for you - BOTH of you!"

It was almost 10 PM before David and Adam left for home. "Damn, David,"
Adam exclaimed, "I never dreamed a family could be like that! I mean, Arnie
and Valerie are one thing. They've seen a lot, they're open minded, and I can
understand them accepting us the way we are. But Karen and Billy! God, I
was so scared of them finding out! They're such great kids, and I wanted to
be their friend so bad! And when they figured it all out, they hugged me,
David! Both of them hugged me! Billy said he was happy for both of us, and
then he warned me that if I ever hurt you, I'd have to deal with him! David,
those kids would do anything for you! I mean, kids aren't like that, are they?"
"Not usually," David replied. "But I guess you know now, they aren't your
average run of the mill kids."
"You can say that again. But they're so excited about me goin' to their
school. By the way, what is Rivercrest Academy anyway?"

		     *               *               *

I sincerely hope you enjoy my writing efforts. If you do, or for that matter if
you don't, I would appreciate if you would write to me. My email address is
charlieje@mindspring.com.