Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 18:25:08 -0400
From: chris james <drmeta4@gmail.com>
Subject: Gene, Chapters 5 & 6

Dear Readers:it is most unfortunate, but if you are not of an age to read
adult material then you must turn back now, remember us once you turn 18
and you will be welcome.

	The series continues, my thanks for the wonderful e-mails about
this story. As always, reader comments are most welcome.

	drmeta4@gmail,com



				Gene (M/B)

				 Chapter 5

      Ben realized that his life was about to take a serious turn. The
following morning, he stood razor in hand and stared at his reflection in
the bathroom mirror. The adolescent feelings he had about Gene brought him
to the conclusion that he wished the boy had been in his life during high
school.

      Those were times of great turmoil. Ben had hated the thoughts that
seemed to sweep through his head back then. Gay was bad, everyone around
him thought that and it did nothing but make him question his sanity for
the feelings deep inside. And then there was Roger.

      Roger Wilson was a year ahead of him in school and everyone knew the
boy was gay. Ben watched the way others treated the slightly effeminate
boy. Ben felt helpless to stop the taunting and physical abuse Roger
received. But what had terrified him most, some of the abusers were Ben's
own friends.

      It didn't matter that he found Roger attractive, there was just no
way he would reveal himself to the boy...and then it was too late. Taking
matters into his own hands at the age of seventeen, Roger used his daddy's
pistol to end his life.

      The suicide shook the whole school for weeks and made a lot of people
rethink their actions towards the boy, but by then it was too late. Too
late for him, and too late for me, Ben remembered thinking. It was the
first time he could remember crying over someone who died that wasn't a
member of his family. But Roger's death molded his life for the last two
years of school. Ben barricaded the closeted feelings and hid his emotions
from everyone.

      He didn't allow himself to be gay until college at the state
university. It was there that he met Joseph during the second year. This
tall lanky handsome classmate was everything Ben had ever imagined a gay
person to be, and best of all...he wasn't afraid of it.

      Flamboyant and silly, brilliant and talented, these were just words
compared to the reality of his first solid gay friend. They met at the
first dorm party held that semester. Two weeks later they were
roommates...and lovers.

      Joseph was everything Ben was not and that was part of the
attraction, at least in the beginning. Possessing a quiet inner strength,
Joseph was the seducer and Ben was more than willing to be seduced, but the
guy was a gentle lover. He approached Ben as a work in progress, much like
one of his fabulous art works which covered every square inch of their dorm
room for three years.

      Ben majored in psychology and Joseph in art, there could not be two
more disparate fields of study, but they melded them together and made it
work. The budding artist once took almost eight months to complete the
painting of an angel, and he still wasn't satisfied. Ben stood in awe of
the piece which presented the figure of the angel, wings swept back and
struggling through a field of developing matter at the creation of the
universe.

      The concept and the painting, religious and yet not, held him
transfixed whenever he saw it. It was the struggle for life personified; a
glory of feeling about the beginning of time as we know it and yet, somehow
it symbolized Ben's own development as a gay man.

      For graduation Joseph gave him the painting and Ben could not accept
it without giving something in return.  He bought Joseph a used van to
carry the vast collection of art work to the west coast where he would
continue his art studies. It was a struggle for Ben to deal with the
feelings about losing this first love, but by then this passionate young
man had given him the courage to go on alone.

      Joseph still sent photos of his works in progress and Ben would
always cherish the memory of what they had together. It had all been eight
years ago and now Joseph had built a studio north of San Francisco with his
life partner. Ben could only envy that success and give thanks that Joseph
had allowed him those few precious years together. It probably saved his
life, something poor Roger never had the chance to experience.

      Ben knew that there was something familiar about the way Gene reacted
to him and the attention he paid. Being a twin was one clue, since not
always, but sometimes...if one was gay so was the other. Not that Gene had
given much away in that direction, but then Ben understood what it meant to
hide disturbing feelings deep inside.

      No, there was no way to say for certain what the boy really thought;
only time would bring him out of that shell. Time and...Me, Ben
thought. And for that reason, to overcome the helplessness he felt at
Roger's singular act of despair, he felt a need to give Gene the chance at
coming to terms with his young life.

      The image reflected back at him in the mirror and Ben stood up
straight, glaring back at himself. He raised his right hand and swore.

      "Ben, you wonderful gay man. If you promise to be a good caregiver,
teach the boy compassion and love, give him hope for the future...then you
may be rewarded. You have so much to give and he is someone with so many
needs...."

      He dropped the hand, pausing as the emotion of loving someone again
swept through him. God, the boy was seventeen but it felt like he would be
taking a ten year old into his life. Everything would change; both their
lives would be different. For Gene that seemed a good thing, but for...?
Was this right?

      The boy had a daddy, though Lord knows where the man had gone. Work
on it. And the mother, there were thousands of inept women out there who
gave birth and didn't care for their children the way they should. Could he
stand in judgment?

      And then he thought of Dean, the twin. That boy had chosen to live
openly with the coach and he wondered how they answered questions about
their relationship. But Dean had made his escape from momma, he was the
brave twin. He had taken his shot at leaving her behind and won. Ben knew
he had to give Gene the same chance.

      Serious face, right hand back up. "I swear to give Gene everything he
needs to make positive changes in his life. I swear to guide and support
him until he is old enough to make his own decisions. And
finally....finally...I swear to love him just as much as I hope he learns
to love me."

      Ben lowered his hand and grinned at himself in the mirror. Yes, this
was gonna work, it just had to.

      Florence raised an eyebrow when he came bustling through the door
with a skip to his step.

      "Oh someone is happy I see," she said.

      Ben leaned on the reception desk and gave her a wicked grin.

      "I am going to take that boy away from his momma and try not to kill
her in the process, the wicked bitch. Will you please call Southeast High
School and see when a Mr. Hanover has a free period today? I need to meet
with him."

      "Yes, boss," Flo replied. "Sounds like some heads gonna roll."

      "In fact they are not," he said. "But if you must know, some people
are going to get a rude awakening today. I have a meeting with the boy's
mother at four and she's not going to like what I have to say."

      "You want me to call the sheriff?" she asked.

      "It won't go that way, at least she better hope it doesn't. Her kind
of child abuse could get her serious jail time in this state."

      "Oh my, the poor kid. I'm glad he became our client. Nobody better
than you, Ben."

      "Thank you, my dear, but I like to think we do our very best for each
and every one of them."

      "You got that right, I'll call the school."

      In two hours Ben accomplished a pile of paperwork and wrote a
preliminary report on Gene. He just hoped it would never see the light of
day and that his meeting with Hanover would quash this whole thing right at
the start. The appointment was for one thirty, right after the guy finished
his lunch monitoring duties.

      Ben had considered telling Hanover he was gay, but then decided it
wouldn't be the only avenue. He wondered if Hanover knew about the coach
and Dean. No, any teacher who knowingly discovered such information was
bound to tell the authorities, their livelihood depended upon it. But the
gay card was in his pocket if needed.

      At eleven-thirty Ben had Flo order up some lunch from the deli across
the way. Today was soup and salad for him, she chose the roast pork. He had
been wound up last night and had forgotten to run or even use the weights
out in the garage. He reminded himself to get Gene into some kind of
exercise program. The boy's body was screaming for fitness....and
nourishment.

      He figured Gene was in the free lunch program at school, since it was
a sure bet that momma was on public assistance. Probably why she wanted
Gene around too, a bigger state paycheck. He would have to plan a balanced
menu for them both. There must be some way to disguise veggies in a way
that would encourage a boy to eat them. He knew one thing; Gene would be
taking vitamin supplements the minute he could get some.

      There would need to be some legal documents for the mother to
sign. If Gene became injured Ben needed the right to have him treated. But
he had friends to help him there, nothing illegal about what he was
doing. She was the one with a bucket load of worry to contemplate.

      After lunch Ben drove home and parked the Vette in the garage,
switching into the truck. The 4 x 4 was one of Chevy's smartest moves and a
kid's wet dream. It wasn't too jacked up since he never planned to off-road
the damn thing, but it looked respectable for an older machine. Ben had
bought the truck for its looks. Now he could laugh, thinking it might have
been because he was overcompensating for the 'gay thing.' To him it always
said gays can be macho too.

      Ben drove out to the high school and hoped he wouldn't run into
Gene. He checked into the office and was told that Hanover would meet him
in the conference room in ten minutes, after the lunch duty.  He stood in
the office and looked through the windows at the students flowing up and
down the hall...and that was when he saw the boy.

      At first he thought it was Gene, but then realized the hair was
different and so were the clothes. This had to be Dean. Ben stared at the
boy, who stood talking to several girls, until a teacher approached and
seemed to urge them all off to class. Then it happened.

      The man put a hand on Dean's shoulder and Ben saw the look they
exchanged. This had to be the coach Gene had told him about. The brother's
look said it all and for a second he thought the boy might kiss the man
right there in front of the whole school.

      The body language, the touch, their personal interaction all spoke
volumes about their high regard for one another. Hell, it was like watching
lovers meet. Dean was a handsome boy, but then Ben already knew he would
be. He filled those clothes out very nicely; at least he was being taken
care of. Not something Gene could say about himself.

      But looking at the coach Ben felt a mild shock; physically they had a
lot in common. He was Ben's age and height. Being a coach didn't always
mean a man would be fit and trim, but this one was. Maybe he'd had a few
preconceived notions about the man before now, but he wasn't just some
dirty old man. Ben realized maybe he would have been happier if the guy had
been just that.

	Gene had insisted that the man tried to molest him, but in so many
ways that didn't make sense. The man was in love with Dean, was Gene's
description of the events merely wishful thinking? Ben was beginning to
think so, Gene had a lot of baggage to carry around in his head.

      He also wondered if Gene saw a comparison between the two of them?
Was the image important as part of this jealousy he had towards Dean? Ben
didn't want to think of himself as a surrogate for the coach. That would
make Gene's image of him a little twisted. But it was something he couldn't
dwell on right then. Bells rang and the scene in front of him dissolved,
the coach going one way and Dean the other. It was time to meet Hanover.

      A student office worker took him down the now empty halls to a
doorway next to the guidance office, this was the conference room. Ben
knocked and opened the door. The man inside didn't fit his image of Hanover
either; he had to be at least fifty years of age.

      "Simon Hanover?" Ben ventured.

      "Yes...Mr. Bradshaw, I assume?"

      "Ben Bradshaw, Ben if you prefer. It's been a long time since I set
foot in this building."

      "Oh, you went to school here?" Hanover asked.

      "Class of '95...Valedictorian at that. But that was a dozen years
ago."

      "Well congratulations. Always nice to meet a Southeast success
story. I've only been here four years myself. They said you were here to
talk about Gene Carr. Difficult student at the best of times," Hanover
said.

      "Yes. I hear he put you through the wringer."

      "He did, and at first I thought to let it pass but the situation
dictated that I couldn't. Gene is a bright kid, Ben, but not at all focused
on his class work. He just passes the tests, a low C most of the time."

      "But he passes," Ben said. "What do you suppose set him off that day
in class? Was it the photo you showed the students?"

      "Maybe, but I received permission to discuss my sexuality with the
classes if they ever brought it up. Things are a lot different than they
were in your day; we are encouraged to be more open, support diversity. Can
you understand that?"

      Ben chuckled; it was time to use the hole card. "You're asking if I
support you? I'm also gay, Simon, although I don't often discuss it with my
clients."

      Hanover raised his eyebrows and then laughed.

      "Does this issue with Gene put us on opposite sides of the table?" he
asked.

      "Lord, no. But I know why it happened and you don't."

      "Oh, he had a reason behind his little outburst besides personally
embarrassing me?"

      "Yes....he has a gay relative and he hadn't come to terms with it
before yesterday when we spoke for the first time. Clinically he has his
own feelings of inadequacy to worry about, abusive parents and a general
misunderstanding of what he should and should not say to a gay person."

      "You're a psychologist I gather," Hanover said. "But why the
language? Pardon me, but he asked if this was the guy I butt fucked."

      "Would there have been any better words in his vocabulary to discuss
a most delicate issue? I don't believe any words he chose would have made a
difference. I'm sure by showing that picture of your partner that you
weren't intending to open a discussion about your activities in the
bedroom. I don't even imagine Gene knows the word intercourse.

      "Pardon me back," Ben continued, "but fuck is about all these kids
use to describe a sexual liaison, and the anatomy involved is usually held
to hetero standards. At least he didn't voice his thoughts on that
particular activity, just the place of the activity it seems."

      "And he called me a faggot," Hanover said.

      Ben laughed, "And we both are, but gay is the preferred term these
days. Gene stopped using that word the minute I told him that gay was the
correct choice."

      "He knows about you?"

      "No, I choose not to tell him. He's a client after all and in this
situation it would just muddy the water. Look, Simon, I think showing that
picture to your class was a good thing. I just wish Gene had been a little
more prepared to see it. Maybe he would have been more reluctant to sound
off and end up saying the wrong thing. I think it was a very immature
reaction."

      "So you want me to just drop the issue?"

      "No, I don't want it to be that easy for him; he needs to learn a
lesson. And since you're his teacher, I believe he needs to learn some
respect for your position in life. I told him he needs to apologize to you
in front of the other students. And then I think as punishment maybe a
report on something gay related might be helpful. You teach social studies,
how about a little research into violence against gay citizens in this
country?"

      "You think he'll do that?"

      "I already know he will, if we give him a chance to repent."

      Hanover smiled. "You're good, Ben. You would have made a fine
teacher."

      "I personally don't know how you guys do it year after year," Ben
said.

      "Because of kids like Gene...and you. Ralph and I have been partners
for almost twenty years now; he's my comfort zone and my lifetime
commitment. But I have a commitment to these kids as well; I feel their
success is also mine. If Gene can learn something valuable from this then I
will feel he has succeeded. I will accept the apology and give him the
assignment, hell...I'll even give him extra credit for the report if he
does a good job."

      Ben smiled. "And that's why you're a good teacher. Show me the
picture of Ralph...."

      They talked for a while after that. Simon had not always found it so
easy to be gay in the educational field, but things had changed. He was a
good man and Ralph was a handsome older guy. They had met on a gay travel
cruse in the Caribbean. Ralph had been their travel guide since he co-owned
the business. Simon had been the young lover who fell for the older gay man
first time out. Ben could only envy what they had.

      He left the school about two-fifteen, beating the end of classes by
about ten minutes. He could have stayed and taken Gene home but he didn't
want to be seen with the boy, not yet anyway.

      Ben called Flo and said he was going to stop by the courthouse before
he met with Gene's mother, she wished him luck with the bitch. Ben really,
really liked Flo; she picked up on his moods so quickly.

      He went to the tax records office to see if Gene's father was still
in the county, no luck there. He tried the court records and discovered the
man had several possession arrests and a robbery charge still pending. No
wonder he had vanished, mom had to know about the felony charge. Maybe it
was a good thing she hadn't told Gene anything. The boy had an inflated
view of his father as a good parent.

      Criminals have families too, and Ben knew most of them loved their
kids as well. But it made no sense to risk jail time when the needs of a
family are paramount. Gene needed his father at home and the man had failed
him. Ben knew that given the chance he wouldn't.

      He arrived at the long driveway to the trailer park just before four
o'clock and found Gene waiting for him inside the fence line. The boy
laughed when he saw the truck and realized who was driving. Ben revved the
engine as the boy climbed up.

      "Wow...you sure are full of surprises...sweet truck, dude."

      "Glad you like it, goes with my image don't you think?  Duh, am I a
redneck country boy or what?"

      Gene dissolved into hysterics and that meant he didn't agree, so much
for that country boy cover. They sat a moment and Ben told of the meeting
with Hanover.

      "You mean it's over? Oh, Ben, you're an ace," Gene screamed, and then
threw his arms around Ben's neck.

      Ben patted his back. God, it felt good to be like this. All too soon
the boy let go, his face a little flush with emotion. Maybe somewhat
embarrassed at his display of affection.

      "So now I have the real difficult meeting," Ben said.

      "She's sober anyway," Gene said.

      "She better be or I'm calling the sheriff."

      Gene's eyes got wide. "You...you'd have her arrested?"

      "No, I'd do it just to scare her and get my way, but I don't think
that will be needed. Uh, Gene...do you still want to live with me?"

      "Oh, Ben...I said I did, don't you believe me? It's what I thought
about all day long."

      "I dunno, teenage boys change their minds a lot," Ben said, just
teasing.

      "Well I don't...I'll kiss your ass if you tell me too."

      "Now that brings a pretty picture into my head...nope, it won't be
necessary. But I'll let you wipe it if you're so set on seeing my ass."

      "Eww...gross. I love it when you fuck with me like that."

      Ben couldn't help himself, he had to respond.

      "Is that all you love about me?"

      Gene looked shocked at the question, but then his eyes said it all
and he replied.

      "Nope."

      And then he grinned, putting his forehead against Ben's and their
eyes locked.

      "I love the rest of you too," he said.

      He pulled back right away and Ben smiled, reaching over to brush the
hair from the boy's face.

      "You are just so...so special, Gene."

      And Gene blushed. It was the cutest thing, making Ben want to kiss
him right there in the driveway. But that would have been too much for the
moment. The dashboard clock said four and that spurred a reprieve from
their intense feelings. He put the truck in gear and headed up to the
trailer. The bitch was waiting.

      It wasn't going to be a pleasant chat, Ben could tell from the way
she stomped down the steps of the trailer and came at the truck. She walked
up to the driver's side window and didn't even give Ben a chance to get
out.

      "Gene said you met with that faggot ass teacher of his, is he gonna
drop the charges or what?"

      Well hello to you too. "He is," Ben said.

      "Good, that mother fucker."

      "Now I know where Gene gets his charm," Ben said.

      She had picked a fight with the wrong guy. Let her swing at him and
he would have her in cuffs within the hour.

      "What the hell is that supposed to mean," she snorted.

      "Mr. Hanover is agreeing to drop the charges when Gene apologizes and
writes a report he will assign. I think it's a very good deal."

      "You do? He don't need to be apologizing to that..."

      And he'd had about enough of her at that point. Ben popped the door
open and pushed her back as he got out. She glared up at him and he almost
laughed, she was a good six inches shorter, although with her fat belly she
might have outweighed him a mite.

      "He needs to do everything I tell him to stay in that school, don't
you agree?" Ben asked.

      "I suppose," she agreed.

      Ben could tell she was intimidated by his physical presence in front
of her like this.

      "We both want what's best for the boy," he said, looking at Gene
still seated in the truck.

      "What's that supposed to mean?" she said.

      "We need to talk," Ben said.

      She didn't want him in the trailer so that's where he guided
her. Gene remained outside, a nervous look on his face. The home was a
dump, no surprise there.

      "Ok," Ben said once the door was shut. "Let me lay this out for you
plain and simple. You don't really want Gene here, he gets in the way of
your...uh, activities. So I am going to take him home with me and he is
going to stay there until he graduates. After that it will be his choice."
She started to say something but Ben held up a hand.

      "I am not finished. I am not like Dean's coach, and yes I know all
about that little game. I will not give you money like he does, but you may
continue to report Gene to the SSI folks in order to keep receiving his
check. Now I will be back later this week with a paper for you to sign, it
will give me control over Gene. I will need that if he gets sick or there
has to be some legal decision on his behalf.

      "But understand me clearly, you fuck with me and you won't need any
money where they're going to send you. I have a friend who wears black
robes and he sits in judgment over cases like yours, so don't fuck with
me. Gene will be fine; he'll get a good education and live in a nice
home. He may want to contact you, but you are never going to contact
him. Any future he has with you will be his decision and his alone."

      She glared at him but remained scared. "Uh...my husband will want to
know about Gene when he gets back."

      "And when will that be?" Ben asked.

      "He's in prison. With good behavior he'll be out in about three
years."

      "Gene doesn't know about this, does he?"

      "No...I couldn't tell him."

      "That's the first right thing you've done for the boy. Look, this is
all about him and not you or me. He deserves a chance to succeed in life
and I can make that happen. Gene will be safe with me and maybe a little
time away will make you understand what kind of a parent you've
been. Everyone can change; even you deserve a chance to do that. Now I'm
gonna call him in here and you can say goodbye, he might need to pack a few
things too."

      Ben went to the door and waved Gene into the trailer. The boy got out
of the truck and they met on the steps.

      "She wants to say goodbye," was all Ben said.

      Gene positively glowed at the news, the smile just about busting his
face. Ben went back to the truck and sat inside...waiting. The news about
Gene's father wasn't a surprise; he was just locked up for a while. The boy
would be eighteen long before the man got out, then he could decide about
their relationship.

      It took all of five minutes for Gene to come out the door, hauling a
battered suitcase behind him. Ben got out and helped the boy sling it up
into the truck bed.

      "Anything else?" Ben asked.

      "Nope, nothing worth taking anyway," Gene replied.

      His mother didn't even stick her nose out the door, she just wanted
them gone. Well she had her monthly check, probably for both the boys he
would bet, and now it was all hers. That would land her in jail just like
the child abuse, but Ben wasn't bothering with her anymore. He would send a
process server out here in a few days to get the papers signed. He never
wanted to see her again.

      Ben started the engine and Gene remembered about the seat belt, what
a good kid. He took the driveway slowly, more to judge the boy's reactions
than for any other reason. Gene didn't even look back.



Chapter 6

      Ben drove into town, the slow way home. He wanted to give Gene a
chance to think, to understand how he felt about leaving her. The smiles
were nice but they only masked what was going on inside. On the way down
Third, Ben heard the kid's stomach growl.

      "You hungry?" Ben asked.

      "Um....a little, but you don't have to buy anything. I'll eat
whatever you have leftover in the fridge."

      That did it. Ben pulled over to the curb and turned off the engine.

      "What...did I say something wrong?"

      "Gene, I need to tell you something just so we understand each
other. My business is doing just fine and I have lots of money in the bank
to spend on things I want. What I really want now is to feed you, clothe
you and help you get healthy and strong. That's all I want, but you have to
be willing to let me help you.

      "That means you don't have to worry about what I spend; I'll do the
worrying for the both of us. And just so you know, I plan to give you
everything you need, but I may not give you everything you want. It might
seem crazy but I need to do this...understand?"

      The little speech seemed to tip the emotional scale. The boy sat
there with tears streaming down his face and Ben felt guilty that he had
caused the dam to break. It broke his heart.

      "Gene, I'm sorry..."

      "No...It's fine...I am just so fucking happy, Ben."

      Oh God, he had misread the feelings...it was only happy tears. And so
Ben cried too. But when Gene looked up and saw those tears he just about
leapt in Ben's lap.

      "Ben...Ben...don't cry...why are you crying now?"

      His fingers brushed across Ben's cheeks, wiping away the tears. It
felt like a loving caress which made Ben cry even more. He didn't know why
he was reacting like this, because he felt happy too. Gene hugged him and
Ben felt the boy's lips kiss his forehead. It was all he ever wanted...just
to know Gene cared brought about the most wonderful feelings.

      Ben reached in the glove box and pulled out some tissues, wiping away
his tears. But Gene was still clinging to him.

      "It's ok, Gene. I'm OK now," Ben said.

      "Are you sure? Wow, I didn't know you were so much like me. I cry at
everything."

      "I'll remember that next time I need the lawn watered," Ben said, and
then he started to chuckle.

      Gene started to smirk and that turned in to great peals of
laughter. They both laughed for a while until the moment passed. And then
the boy expressed what they were both feeling.

      "This is real isn't it? We're really here...together. It was all I
could think about last night. I had to get away from her and you came to
rescue me."

      "Somebody had to care for you and I...you mean so much to me."

      And then with new found boldness, Ben leaned over and kissed Gene on
the cheek, not once but twice in the same spot.

      "And part of that caring says I need to get you some supper," Ben
said, breaking the spell they were both under. "What would you like?"

      Gene gave up a naughty grin. "I want you to kiss me again."

      "Hmm...OK, but after we eat, huh? I'll kiss you for dessert since
you're so sweet."

      "Aw, I bet you say that to everyone you kiss," Gene laughed.

      "No, in fact I don't...just you."

      Gene was quiet after that. There had to be so many thoughts spinning
in his head. Ben knew he had probably said too much already. OK, he was
falling for the boy and it was hard to hold back the feelings. If he kept
thinking about Gene as a little boy, one who needed affection and
protection, then things would be all right. Unfortunately it was entirely
up to Gene to keep that image afloat.

      They went out for Chinese, something totally new to Gene's
palate. Ben was going to get some veggies in the kid if it meant stuffing
it down his throat. But the boy loved the sweet and sour chicken, and even
ate the vegetable lo mein. Ben was amazed as Gene chewed on the bean
sprouts with relish. Maybe he just never had much of an appetite for what
his mother served. They ordered enough to take home a ton of leftovers.

      Ben took Third Street to the park and then swung down Church towards
the old part of town. Turning onto grand old Trent Street just because he
wanted the boy to see the fancy houses there with all their gardens lit
up. The view was not wasted.

      "Wow, look at all these houses...so big."

      "I live up around the next corner," Ben said.

      "Your house is this big?"

      "Afraid so, but I'll draw you a map of the house in case you get
lost," he grinned.

      "You said this was your family home, how come you live there all
alone?"

      "Well I don't any more, now do I?"

      "No, I live there too," Gene said.

      Ben pulled the truck into the driveway and rolled forward towards the
garage door. He stopped and handed Gene the opener.

      "This will be your first job every time we come home; you have to
open the door for us."

      Gene hit the button and the door rolled up. Ben pulled the truck in
beside the Vette and shut down.

      "Do I have to hit the button again for it to close?"

      "Can if you want, but there's also a button over there beside the
door to the mud room."

      "What's a mud room?"

      "Hmm...no jokes this time, I'll just show you."

      The mud room had a shower off of it, and Ben had to explain it was
only one of four bathrooms in the house. Gene was in awe of the kitchen,
the next room on the tour, and said it looked bigger than his mom's whole
trailer. Ben didn't comment...he was hoping to forget he had ever met
Gene's mother.

      The sitting room was close by and Ben explained it was now just the
television room because it was close to the kitchen. They walked down the
hall to the living room where Gene's mouth dropped open.

      This was Ben's play room. There was only one couch but the best
stereo system he could find, German of course, with speakers stacked to the
ceiling and the CD collection.

      "Oh...wow, how many CD's do you have?"

      "Um...last count, about four thousand. You may play them any time you
want, but I will have to show you how to take care of them first."

      "No way, I won't touch any of your stuff," Gene said.

      "Our stuff now, isn't it?"

      Gene laughed. "I bet the neighbors go crazy over the sound, huh?"

      "Nope, the walls are a foot thick on this old house and I have the
windows soundproofed in this room. A thousand watts if you can stand the
noise. But don't turn it up that loud, the ceiling might cave in."

      Ben took him upstairs to show the boy his room; it had been Ben's for
eighteen years and there was something compelling about giving it to
Gene. It was a boy's room, complete with model airplanes on the wall and a
bookshelf full of adventure stories. Gene just stood there in awe. For once
Ben hoped he wouldn't cry. Instead Gene turned and threw his arms up for
another hug.

      "Thank you...Thank you...Thank you..." he said.

      "We'll make changes to anything you want..."

      "No, I love it just the way it is," Gene said. "This was your
room...I can tell. But where do you sleep now?"

      "Across the hall from you, wanna see?"

      He nodded and Ben opened the door to his room. The king-sized bed he
had never shared with anyone, the whirlpool tub that he sat in alone, it
was all mocking him now as he took the boy on a mini tour.

      "Your parents just gave you this house?" Gene asked.

      "Yup, my dad had it all fixed up before they moved south and handed
me the keys. Good thing it was paid for or I wouldn't have that Vette, I'd
be walking."

      "You're rich, Ben...wow."

      "Rich is a relative term, young man. To you I am rich; to others who
live around here I am the poor boy down the street." Ben stood behind the
boy and wrapped his arms around Gene's slender waist. "But now I feel like
the richest man in the world."

      Gene reached back and rubbed Ben's head, it felt so nice being like
this. But the moment he started developing an erection Ben backed off. No
sense in getting himself entangled in that. The affection they shared was a
necessary part of their relationship...but nothing else.

      They went back downstairs and opened Gene's suitcase in the mud
room. Ben would have done it in the driveway if he'd thought better of it
first. A couple of roaches abandoned the suitcase and scurried under the
sink. Gene yelped and went after them.

      Ben laughed. "They'll be dead within the hour, I promise you. I have
an exterminator in here every few months; about time he earned his keep."

      "I sprayed and sprayed until I coughed my head off, but those damn
bugs kept coming back, sorry Ben."

      They stacked a few books on the washer and threw the lot of his
clothing into the wash; there wasn't much else to see. No games, no
toys...nothing.

      "Sure you didn't leave anything you want behind?" Ben asked.

      "I had some PS2 games but my system got stolen right out of the
trailer," Gene said.

      "No problem there," Ben said. "Follow me."

      They went back into the sitting room and he opened the closet
door. Gene looked like he was going to faint. "PS2...X Box, whatever you
need I'll get it." Ben said. "The games I have are in those drawers down
there." He didn't know how many, but there were a lot.

      "You beat all of these?" Gene asked.

      "No way, half of them maybe," Ben said.

      He made himself some coffee and a hot chocolate for Gene, and then
they settled in to watch a movie on cable. Ben sat on the couch with his
feet up, Gene sat in the lounge chair and giggled when it reclined. The
film was another one of those Die Hard things. Number five or six, who
knows? Would they never tire of making those things?

      Halfway through the film Gene got up and took Ben's coffee mug and
his back into the kitchen. He ran the water and washed them out. Ben heard
him open the washer and throw his stuff into the dryer. The sense of
responsibility the boy felt for doing that gave him a warm feeling. Gene
wanted to belong here. When he came back Ben took his feet off the couch
and patted the seat beside him. Gene sat down and rested his head on Ben's
shoulder.

      By the end of the film Gene was horizontal with his head in Ben's lap
resting on a pillow. Ben stroked the boy's fine hair and rubbed his back
until he could almost hear the boy purring. But Ben also saw him sneak a
hand down the front of his jeans and rearrange the furniture. After a few
more minutes of stroking, Gene got up and excused himself to the bathroom.

      Ben knew it was going to happen, it had to happen sometime or
another. But he had been the cause of it this time and that made him
smile. Hell, Gene was an adolescent; if he didn't jerk off the kid would
probably explode. He was a perfectly normal young man in that respect. Ben
was almost proud of himself, and that was plain silly.

      Five minutes later Gene was back and resumed his position on the
couch. Ben wouldn't have uttered a word about what the boy had been doing,
but he didn't have to...Gene did.

      "I just jerked off in there," he said. "You made me do that."

      Ben laughed. "I appreciate the honesty, but why are you telling me
this?"

      "I told you I was horny all the time. You rubbing my back just turned
me on so much...I had to do something about it."

      "Then I'll keep my hands to myself," Ben said.

      "No...I like it, it feels so...so nice. But expect me to run out
every time you do it, I can't help myself."

      "I don't ever want to make you feel uncomfortable, Gene. I love
touching...giving you affection like that. But I don't want you to run to
the bathroom every time I touch you."

      "Hmm, OK...I'll work on controlling myself then."

      And nothing more was said for the moment, but Ben knew the discussion
wasn't over.

      At ten o'clock he said they ought to think about going to bed, Gene
had school in the morning.

      "Besides, you need to apologize to Mr. Hanover tomorrow."

      "Huh, what do I say...just an 'I'm sorry,' will that make him happy?"

      "I would say I'm sorry, but then you might tell him, and the whole
class, that you were rude and insensitive to his feelings, and then say
sorry again just to top it off."

      "Yeah, I can do that."

      "He likes you Gene. He says you're a good person, but he worries that
you don't take your school work serious enough."

      "I couldn't study with all the crap goin on at my house, why do you
think I flunked a whole year? I'll do better here, you'll see."

      "I'll help you with your school work in any way I can, you know
that. OK, now it's bedtime. Do you usually shower in the morning or at
night before bed?"

      He smiled, "Can I do both?"

      "It's 'may I do both,' you're asking for permission. Of course you
'can do both,' you already know how to shower."

      "I'll remember that... may I shower tonight and in the morning?"

      "Yes you may, we have lots of hot water in this house," Ben said.

      Ben got him sorted out with towels, soap and shampoo, then pointed
him into his bathroom through the door in his bedroom.

      "I'll come say goodnight when you're done; I'm going to shower too."

      "Wanna tuck me in, do ya?" Gene grinned.

      "Yes I do, so there."

      Ben showered and put on a clean pair of boxers, his usual sleeping
attire. He heard the water shut off in the other bathroom and decided to
give the boy a few minutes. After school tomorrow they needed to go
shopping, Gene needed stuff to wear very badly.

      Ben knocked lightly on the bedroom door and Gene yelled "Come in." He
was wrapped in a towel as Ben entered the room.

      "Ready to sleep?" Ben asked.

      But Gene was staring at him, his eyes taking a slow look up and down.

      "Wow, you're in great shape, you work out?"

      "I do, and so will you. When we get the time I'll show you my
weights...do you run?"

      "I have...do you?" the boy asked.

      "Only when the cops are after me...yes, I run a couple mornings a
week."

      "Can I come with you?"

      "Then we have to get you some running gear. We're going shopping
tomorrow after school, you need clothes. What do you sleep in?"

      "Uh, nothing usually...is that ok?"

      "Naked is all right with me, just don't go shaking your booty in
front of the window. Mrs. Henderson next door might have a heart attack."

      "Will you leave the door open?"

      "Sure. If you need anything just give me a yell. Good night, Gene."

      "What, no kiss?"

      "OK, sure."

      Gene dropped his towel and stood naked for a moment before turning
back the covers and crawling into bed. Ben picked up the damp towel and
hung it in the bathroom. When he came back into the bedroom Gene was under
the covers waiting. Ben pulled the sheets up to the boy's chin, kissing him
on the cheek. Gene smiled and kissed him back.

      "Sleep well, Ben."

      "You too, Gene...good night."

      Ben returned to his room and almost laughed out loud. Gene had
flashed him on purpose and the show had been outstanding. But he was so
skinny, his ass barely had any meat to it, still...it was a nice ass. And
his equipment was...was fucking awesome, no wonder he played with it so
much.

      Ben crawled into bed and turned out the light. Please Gene, just stay
in your bed, he thought. It was almost a prayer. Because he knew if the boy
crawled into his bed right then that he wouldn't have the strength to say
no.